DURHAM – Nearly 250 residents jammed the elementary school gym Thursday night to express their fears and concerns about convicted rapist Ronald J. Leno.

Several complained that they live very close to Leno’s home on Meadow Road but were never notified of his presence. They were told Androscoggin County officials knew nothing about him until Brunswick police apprehended him in connection with a stalking incident.

One woman declared she wouldn’t hesitate to use a gun to protect herself if he came onto her property.

County Detective Bill Gagne reviewed department policies on sexual offenders and a new law for sexual offender registration that goes into effect July 29. If the law had been in effect when Leno came to Durham, he would have been required to register, Gagne said.

Probation and parole officer Mike Simoneau described Leno as a “serial rapist” for which there is “no known treatment.”

Officials declined to answer some questions because of Leno’s upcoming court appearance.

Gagne acknowledged that Leno had inquired about registering with police as an offender when he came to Durham last September, but through some sort of “misunderstanding” of the law he was told that he didn’t have to.

A man who identified himself only as “David from central Massachusetts” told how Leno, 56, befriended his 17-year-old daughter by coming into a bakery where she worked and leaving her tips. Leno ended up doing the “most despicable” things to her, he said.

“I’d be in jail today if I followed my heart,” he said, but instead he has devoted a great deal of his life to following Leno’s steps and warning others.

He advised people not to take matters into their own hands. “Don’t risk losing your lifestyle and property,” he said, telling people to leave matters to police.

A woman who said she lived in nearby Lisbon asked how she could prevent Leno from coming to a restaurant where her two daughters work, and wondered if his picture could be posted and an order obtained to prevent him from coming to the business.

She was advised to speak with the restaurant’s owner, and Androscoggin County Chief Deputy Guy Desjardins said if it were his business he would listen.

After hearing an outline of Leno’s past history of rapes from Hawaii to Massachusetts, more than three dozen people, including some children, expressed their frustrations that Leno had managed to live unnoticed by the law in their communities.

Gagne advised people to lock their doors and cars, saying it was “scary” because there may be others “we don’t know about yet.”

Some residents complained of a lack of patrols and lengthy response times when calling the Sheriff’s Department or state police. The town does not have a police department.

Gagne said he has devoted all of his time to this case for the last two weeks and has taken countless calls from residents, and urged residents to call whenever they wish.

People were told to be observant, and to call 911 whenever they see someone or something that seems suspicious.

Several residents expressed an interest in forming a neighborhood crime watch program.

Leno remained in the Androscoggin County Jail on Thursday night on a charge of aggravated assault against a Durham man. He is accused of clubbing Paul Pugliese on Saturday night after Pugliese went to his house to warn him to stay away from his wife. Pugliese said Leno approached his wife as she worked in her garden Saturday afternoon.

Leno’s criminal history includes three rape-related convictions in 1978 and 1980 in Massachusetts and Hawaii, and convictions for theft, assault and drunken driving, plus parole violations. The decorated Vietnam veteran has lived in Maine for more than two years, according to his lawyer.

He is being held on $20,000 cash bail, or $50,000 property. A probable cause hearing is set for July 20.