A choir teacher in Wisconsin was arrested after he was allegedly involved in multiple child sex crimes.
The La Crosse County Sheriff’s Office, Village of Bangor Police Department and Bangor School District issued a joint statement announcing that Paul Sadergaski had been arrested following an investigation. He previously worked at Bangor Middle School and Bangor High School as a choir teacher.
Authorities launched an investigation into Sadergaski after they learned of allegations that he was involved in inappropriate communications with a student.
Throughout the investigation, law enforcement found content that was unrelated to Sadergaski’s position in the district or the criminal case they were investigating.
Sadergaski was ultimately charged with grooming of a child for sexual activity and possession of child pornography.
The statement added that Sadergaski is currently on administrative leave from the district pending the investigation.
“Because this is a personnel matter, we cannot share further details but will provide more information when it becomes available,” the statement added of his current employment status.
The district said in the joint statement that they have developed a short-term substitute teaching plan to make sure the choir program is covered in Sadergaski’s absence.
“The safety and well-being of our students is our number one priority. We always encourage students to speak up and share any safety concerns with a trusted adult, school administrator, or law enforcement if interactions don’t feel appropriate,” the school said. “It takes courage to speak up and do what is right. For this reason, we want to stress that the privacy of our students is and will remain paramount in this situation and all communications regarding it. Please consider that before asking questions or making speculations.”
The school district went on to say that they “appreciate the cooperation among our district, law enforcement, students, families and community members throughout this process.”
On Thursday, September 17, Sadergaski appeared before a La Crosse County judge, where a $10,000 cash bond was set.
Court records show that he was released from custody ahead of his next court appearance, but has been prohibited from entering Bangor school grounds or having contact with anyone under the age of 18, aside from his own child, according to reports.
It is not currently clear if Sadergaski has entered a plea or retained legal counsel following his arrest.
The Village of Bangor Police Department did not immediately respond to Us’ requests for comment regarding updates in the case, while the La Crosse County Sheriff’s Office said they could not comment amid the ongoing investigation.
Parents, teachers, and guardians interested in learning more about protecting children from exploitation can find useful tools and information at Know2Protect.
