A convicted sex offender from Sound Beach used MySpace to locate and sexually abuse young boys, Suffolk police said Friday.

Joseph Burkett, 41, was arrested Thursday and charged Friday with two counts of use of a child in a sexual performance, one count of third-degree criminal sex act and one count of second-degree sexual abuse. Bail was set at $500,000 cash.

Burkett is accused of sexually abusing at least five boys. Police said he conversed with them via e-mail and, with at least one victim, on the popular social Web site MySpace. The alleged victims range from 12 to 14 years old.

Police said an anonymous tip sparked an investigation by the Computer Crimes Unit and the 7th Precinct. A search warrant was issued to seize Burkett's digital camera and computer, which allegedly contained images of the illegal sex acts.

Burkett was convicted of sexually abusing a 5-year-old boy in Suffolk County about 20 years ago, police said. However, he was not required to register as a sex offender because his crime preceded Megan's Law.