Who Is Paul Sadergaski? Bangor Choir Teacher Arrest

Paul N. Sadergaski is a 28-year-old Wisconsin music teacher who was arrested in September 2026 after authorities investigated allegations that he engaged in inappropriate communications with a student.

Sadergaski, who teaches vocal music at Bangor Middle School and Bangor High School, has been charged with grooming a child for sexual activity and possession of child pornography. Law enforcement and the Bangor School District have said the pornography allegation arose from material investigators discovered while examining the separate student-communication case.

Sadergaski has been placed on administrative leave from the Bangor School District. He has not been convicted of either charge.

What Is Paul Sadergaski Accused Of?

The investigation began with allegations that Sadergaski engaged in inappropriate communications with a Bangor student. The La Crosse County Sheriff’s Office, Village of Bangor Police Department and Bangor School District said the investigation led authorities to charge him under Wisconsin Statute 948.072, grooming of a child for sexual activity. [WEAU] [WXOW]

Authorities have not publicly released the student’s identity or detailed the contents of the alleged communications. The school district has specifically asked the public to protect the privacy of students involved and avoid speculation. [WEAU]

Sadergaski Was Also Charged With Possession Of Child Pornography

During the investigation into the student-communication allegations, law enforcement said investigators discovered separate material that resulted in a possession of child pornography charge under Wisconsin Statute 948.12. [WEAU]

The joint statement from police and the school district emphasized that the pornography-related material was unrelated to Sadergaski’s employment with the district and unrelated to the student whose communications triggered the original investigation. [WIZM]

The Two Allegations Are Separate

Authorities have made an important distinction between the two parts of the case. The grooming allegation concerns Sadergaski’s alleged communications with a student, while the child pornography allegation concerns different material investigators say they found during the investigation. [WEAU]

Public reporting has not established that the student involved in the grooming allegation appears in any of the material connected to the pornography charge.

When Was Paul Sadergaski Arrested?

Sadergaski was arrested on September 16, 2026. La Crosse County jail records list Paul N. Sadergaski, age 28, of Bangor, as having been booked that day. [La Crosse County Jail]

WIZM reported that Sadergaski turned himself in to authorities earlier that week. [WIZM]

Paul Sadergaski Appeared In Court On September 17

Sadergaski made his first reported court appearance on September 17 before La Crosse County Judge Mark Huesmann. The judge imposed a $10,000 cash bond. [WIZM]

County records indicated that Sadergaski subsequently posted bond and was released from jail. [WIZM]

The Judge Ordered Sadergaski To Stay Away From Bangor Schools

Judge Huesmann ordered Sadergaski to have no contact with Bangor schools or school events while the criminal case proceeds. [WIZM]

The court also ordered him not to have contact with anyone under the age of 18 except his own child. [WIZM]

Charges Were Filed Against Sadergaski

Local reporting on September 18 said prosecutors were filing the criminal charges against Sadergaski. He is accused of grooming a child for sexual activity and possession of child pornography. [715 Newsroom] [WXOW]

The filing of charges means prosecutors are formally alleging criminal conduct. It does not mean Sadergaski has been found guilty.

What Does Wisconsin’s Grooming Law Prohibit?

Wisconsin created a specific crime of grooming a child for sexual activity in 2026. The statute prohibits a course of conduct, pattern of behavior or series of acts intended to condition, seduce, solicit, lure or entice a child for sexual contact, sexual intercourse or the creation or possession of sexually explicit depictions of the child. [Wisconsin Statute 948.072]

The law specifically identifies sexual conversations, electronic communications, inappropriate physical contact, gifts or favors intended to lower a child’s inhibitions, efforts to isolate a child and communications through computers, social media or other electronic services as examples of conduct that may be considered when determining whether grooming occurred. [Wisconsin Statute 948.072]

Teachers Can Face An Enhanced Grooming Penalty

Wisconsin’s grooming statute provides a higher felony classification when the accused person occupies a position of trust or authority over the child. The law defines that relationship as one in which a person has regular and direct contact with a child and power or control over matters including the child’s education or welfare. [Wisconsin Statute 948.072]

A basic grooming violation is a Class G felony, while a violation by someone in a position of trust or authority can be classified as a Class F felony. Wisconsin legal guidance for school districts specifically notes that school employees may fall within that enhanced provision. [Von Briesen & Roper]

What Is The Maximum Penalty For A Class F Felony?

A Class F felony in Wisconsin can carry up to 12 years and six months of imprisonment, a fine of up to $25,000 or both. [Wisconsin Felony Law]

The exact classification and potential sentence applicable to Sadergaski would depend on the charging documents, facts proven in court and any applicable sentencing provisions.

What Does Wisconsin’s Child Pornography Law Prohibit?

Wisconsin Statute 948.12 prohibits knowingly possessing or accessing with the intent to view a recording or image depicting a child engaged in sexually explicit conduct when the person knows or reasonably should know that the person depicted is younger than 18. [Wisconsin Statute 948.12]

For an adult defendant, a violation is classified as a Class D felony. [Wisconsin Statute 948.12]

Child Pornography Possession Is A Class D Felony In Wisconsin

A Class D felony carries a maximum possible sentence of 25 years in prison and a fine of up to $100,000. [Wisconsin Statute 939.50]

Wisconsin law also generally requires a minimum three-year term of initial confinement following an adult conviction for possession of child pornography, subject to narrow statutory exceptions. [Wisconsin Statute 939.617]

Those figures describe the statutory framework rather than a prediction of Sadergaski’s eventual sentence.

Wisconsin Can Treat Separate Images As Separate Offenses

Wisconsin courts have held that individual child pornography images may be prosecuted as separate offenses in appropriate cases. [Wisconsin Statute 948.12]

Authorities have not publicly disclosed how many images or recordings are allegedly involved in Sadergaski’s case, so it would be premature to calculate his possible total sentencing exposure based on multiple counts.

Bangor School District Placed Sadergaski On Administrative Leave

The Bangor School District placed Sadergaski on administrative leave before the beginning of the 2026-27 school year. [WIZM]

The district said it could not provide additional information because the matter involves personnel issues but confirmed that it was cooperating with the La Crosse County Sheriff’s Office and Bangor police. [WEAU]

The District Created A Substitute Plan For Choir Students

Bangor officials said the district developed a short-term substitute teaching plan so choir classes could continue while Sadergaski remained away from the school. [WEAU]

The district said student safety and privacy were its primary concerns and encouraged students to tell a trusted adult, administrator or law-enforcement officer if an interaction with an adult feels inappropriate. [WEAU]

Who Is Paul Sadergaski?

Bangor School District records identify Sadergaski as the vocal music teacher for the district’s middle and high schools. [Bangor School District]

District records show that he previously taught elementary music before transferring to the middle and high school vocal-music position effective January 20, 2025. [Bangor School District]

Sadergaski Previously Taught Elementary Music

The district announced in early 2025 that Sadergaski would move from the elementary school to the middle and high school vocal-music position after the departure of the previous vocal music teacher. [Bangor School District]

The school board formally approved the transfer effective January 20, 2025. [Bangor School Board Records]

Sadergaski Was A College Swimmer At Wisconsin-Green Bay

Before becoming a teacher, Sadergaski attended the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay and competed on its swimming and diving team. University athletics records identify him as a freestyle and butterfly swimmer from Faribault, Minnesota. [UW-Green Bay Athletics]

He competed for Green Bay during the 2017-18 and 2018-19 seasons. [UW-Green Bay Athletics]

Sadergaski Had A Background In Music Before Becoming A Teacher

UW-Green Bay’s recruiting announcement described Sadergaski as a National Choir participant and National Honor Society member while he was a high school student in Minnesota. [UW-Green Bay Athletics]

His later employment in Bangor placed him directly in charge of school vocal-music instruction.

Has Paul Sadergaski Been Convicted?

No. Sadergaski has been arrested and charged, but no conviction has been reported. The grooming and child pornography allegations remain accusations that prosecutors must prove in court.