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ATTLEBORO - A high-level sex offender accused of raping a 6-year-old boy at a New Bedford library had been released from prison over the objection of prosecutors for sexually assaulting a 7-year-old boy at a South Attleboro foster home in 2000.

Corey Saunders, 26, a Level 3 sex offender, was released from prison in December 2006 despite the efforts of prosecutors at the time to keep him behind bars as a sexually dangerous person, officials say.

Saunders, who was arrested this week and has a history of having been sexually abused, himself, is in jail without bail pending a dangerousness hearing Feb. 7 in New Bedford District Court.

Saunders, who is originally from New Bedford, sexually assaulted the South Attleboro boy over a period of about seven hours after he was placed in the foster home on an emergency basis by the state Department of Social Services.

Saunders, who was 17 at the time, assaulted the victim on a couch before the boy's mother interrupted the assault, police said. Saunders was convicted in 2001 of attempted rape and indecent assault and battery on a child under 14. He was sentenced to four years in prison and was placed on probation for 12 years.

Former Bristol County District Attorney Paul Walsh Jr.'s office petitioned to keep Saunders behind bars, but Superior Court Judge Richard Moses rejected the petition, authorities said.

Three experts, two court-ordered and one hired by the prosecution, testified Saunders was dangerous. But an expert hired by the defense recommended he be released, officials said.

Now Saunders is accused of sexually assaulting a 6-year-old boy in a second-floor reading room of the Pleasant School library in New Bedford while his mother was using a nearby computer, New Bedford police said.

Saunders allegedly lured the boy to a secluded corner. The boy's mother did not know her son was being assaulted, police said.

A librarian who became suspicious alerted the boy's mother and they called police when they learned what took place. Police found Saunders outside of a local homeless shelter a short time later.

Police have surveillance video taken from inside the library, New Bedford police Lt. Jeffrey Silva said.

"It is a tragedy that this took place. This incident dramatizes exactly why we have a Sexually Dangerous Persons protocol," Bristol County District Attorney Sam Sutter said today in a statement.

"I cannot, however, comment on what the superior court judge did because I was not involved in that case, nor was my administration in any way," Sutter said. "It would be inappropriate for me to comment."

Saunders is now charged with rape of a child by force, indecent assault, battery on a child under 14 and enticing a child. Saunders had apparently been living in the Boston area before returning to New Bedford, where police said he had been living in area shelters. He had registered with police as Level 3 sex offender as required by law.

A Level 3 sex offender is considered by the state to be the most likely to commit sex crimes again.

Sutter's office is seeking a dangerousness hearing because of the seriousness of the charges and the defendant's prior criminal record.

"Given the defendant's record of being a convicted sexual predator and the horrendous allegations in this case, our office feels strongly a dangerousness hearing is warranted," Gregg Miliote, a spokesman for the district attorney's office, said today.

If a judge rules that Saunders is a danger, he will be held in jail for up to 90 days without bail while the prosecution prepares for trial.

Miliote said the prosecution will quickly prepare for the case to provide "justice for the victim's family and the community."