DOVER, N.H. – Authorities were searching Maine and New Hampshire for a 57-year-old man they say faces numerous rape charges and is a danger to the public.

Bruce Tuttle of Farmingdale, Maine, and formerly of Rochester is wanted on 19 charges of aggravated felonious sexual assault involving at least two young New Hampshire girls. He also has a Bow post office box.

Officials say Tuttle repeatedly assaulted the girls between 1997 and 2002 in Rochester and Strafford.

The search for Tuttle began after he failed to appear for his March 21 arraignment at Strafford County Superior Court. His wife reported him missing Friday.

“He vanished without taking any forms of ID, credit cards, money, house or car keys, or even his car,” Janet Eldridge, a dispatch supervisor for the Strafford County Sheriff’s Department, said Monday.

The Strafford County Attorney’s Office was heading the investigation, which includes federal agencies and state and local authorities in Maine and New Hampshire.

“He is a danger as far as we’re concerned, because he’s wanted on those 19 counts,” said Tom Hart, an investigator with the Strafford County Attorney’s Office said. He urged anyone with information to call the police.

Tuttle is described as 6 feet tall, 192 pounds, with brown hair and brown eyes.