A sex offender living in Bangor has been arrested and charged after allegedly watching children in the village park.

Gerald W. Pischke, 58, was charged in La Crosse County Circuit Court on July 27 with one count of disorderly conduct.

The charge stems from an incident that occurred on July 21 when Pischke — who was convicted of first-degree sexual assault of a child nine years ago — was allegedly loitering in Bangor Park after noon and watching children.

According to police reports, witnesses stated they were at the park for a family reunion when they noticed a man acting suspiciously. The man, later identified as Pischke, was reportedly seen watching children play in the park. One complainant described Pischke as “acting weird” while he walked around the park and nearby creek — at one point leaving to sit in his car and then returning.

Witnesses took the license plate number of vehicle when it left, and police made contact with Pischke three days later. According to the report, Pischke stated he had not been at the park on July 21 but was at a bar in Mindoro during the time in question, although he could not remember the bar’s name.

Police investigation revealed Pischke was a felony sex offender when he was convicted of sexually assaulting a 5-year-old girl in front of her 7-year-old brother in 1985. He was released from Dodge Correctional Institution in 1991.

Pischke also reportedly had committed three other sex offenses involving young children while he was enlisted in the Navy. He reportedly spent two years in military prison after being convicted at a court martial.

Bangor Police Chief Scott Alo said Pischke said he had been living in the village for seven months, but the department was unaware he was a sex offender; Pischke is not listed on Wisconsin’s Sex Offender Registry.

According to the Wisconsin Department of Corrections, those who have been convicted of registerable offenses on or after Dec. 25, 1993, must register. Pischke’s first-degree sexual assault conviction came in 1988.

District Attorney Tim Gruenke said Pischke was charged with disorderly conduct because it was the only applicable charge regarding the circumstances.

“He didn’t approach any children ... but he disturbed the children and the parents,” Gruenke said.

If convicted, Pischke faces up to a maximum sentence of a $1,000 fine and 90 days in jail. Gruenke said a conviction of the charge would not require Pischke to be placed on the Wisconsin’s Sex Offender Registry.