AUBURN – Police nabbed a Massachusetts man they suspect of having sex with a 13-year-old Maine girl, after luring her into meeting him via an online chat room.

At about 6 p.m. Saturday, Detective Anthony Harrington arrested Matthew Gulino, 23, of Byfield, Mass., on one count of gross sexual assault and one count of solicitation of a child by computer to commit a prohibited act.

“Yes, this is every mother’s nightmare,” said Lt. Jason Moen, reminding parents to be vigilant about their children’s computer use.

According to investigators, Gulino posed as a 19-year-old man in an AOL chat room where he began corresponding with the victim, who claimed she was 16 years old. Less than 24 hours after meeting online, Gulino drove to Maine and met the victim, where sexual activity occurred.

The victim’s mother contacted police, providing them with a description of the car her daughter rode in. The girl got out of the vehicle in Lewiston.

That description led to the Auburn and Maine State Police stopping Gulino – who was returning to Massachusetts – on the Maine Turnpike, just south of Auburn. Gulino came back to the police station for questioning and was subsequently arrested.

He was being held at the Androscoggin County Jail on $15,000 cash bail Saturday night. Gulino is scheduled to make his initial appearance in court on Monday if bail is not posted.

– Carol Coultas

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