FARMINGTON – A man who was convicted of raping his ex-wife in 1999 was arrested Friday in his new hometown of Farmington for failing to register as a sexual predator.

Michael Chapman, 37, formerly of Wilton, was convicted of gross sexual assault in 1999 and served three years in the Maine State Prison. He must register as a sexual predator within 10 days of moving to a new town and every 90 days with the state.

In August, Chapman moved to Farmington but has failed to register. When Farmington police Lt. Jack Peck heard and confirmed that Chapman was in town Friday morning, he arrested him.

Chapman told Peck, who is conducting the investigation along with Franklin County Sheriff’s Department special investigator David St. Laurent, he was unaware he had to register, Peck said.

In the follow-up investigation, Peck also learned that Chapman had not registered with the state since last February.

Chapman was charged with a misdemeanor count of failing to register and booked at the Franklin County Detention Center. Because he was on probation when arrested, he will remain in jail on a probation hold without bail until his probation hearing, which is not yet scheduled.

If convicted on Friday’s charge, Chapman faces up to one year in prison.

sdepoy@sunjournal.com