BELLINGHAM, Wash. – A repeat sex offender is back in custody after witnesses claim he sexually assaulted a child in public in Bellingham.

Court documents state that a witness initially noticed the suspect secretly taking inappropriate photos of his girlfriend at a store last Thursday, April 20th.

The witness confronted the suspect, 43-year-old Gaspar Ortiz-Ortiz, about the photos he took.

Ortiz-Ortiz walked off and forcefully grabbed a child in a sexually aggressive manner.

He then allegedly attempted to touch another child but was blocked by bystanders from doing so.

Ortiz-Ortiz is a Level 3 sex offender and has prior voyeurism convictions.

He remains at the Whatcom County Jail on $200,000 bail.