BOSTON -- A registered Level 3 sex offender was arrested in New Bedford, Mass., and charged with raping a 13-year-old girl, police said Tuesday.

William Garfield, 31, was charged with assaulting the girl, who he allegedly met in an Internet chat room. The alleged assault took place in Garfield's home at 321 Union St.

The alleged victim’s mother notified police Sunday that an assault took place.

Police said that an investigation revealed that girl had met the suspect in a chat room sometime last month, and that their conversations continued for several weeks until a meeting was arranged.

At some point, the girl's mother became suspicious and confronted her daughter and notified police.