Registered sex offender accused of abusing adopted son

ATTLEBORO, Mass.—A convicted sex offender was ordered held on $500,000 cash bail after being charged with sexually abusing his mentally challenged adopted son over the last three years.

James Ramaglia, of Attleboro, was arraigned in Attleboro District Court on Monday. He was charged with four counts of rape of a minor.

His wife, Linda, was arrested on Monday on a charge of reckless endangerment of a child, for knowing about the alleged abuse and not reporting it. She’s scheduled to be arraigned later Monday afternoon.

The adopted son is 19 years old. Police said James Ramaglia began sexually abusing him when he was 16.

According to police, James Ramaglia performed numerous sexual acts on his adopted son, forced his son to perform sexual acts on him, and forced him to view pornography.

At one point, the adopted son told police his father told him he was having sex with him “because my wife can’t satisfy me.“

The adopted son’s brother, Nathan, alerted police after the adopted son told him that their father was sexually molesting him.

“He told me my father was sexually molesting him,“ Nathan Ramaglia said.

The adopted son’s biological mother said she can’t understand how her son ended up in the home of a convicted child molester on probation.

“I trusted these people to watch over my children and they betrayed my trust. I’m glad justice is being served. My son does not deserve this,“ Theresa Maks said.

The Massachusetts Department of Children, Youth and Families declined to comment because of the ongoing investigation.

James Ramaglia served four-and-a-half years in prison for molesting his other two kids.