A convicted sex offender has been accused of groping a girl at a Boulder recreation center last week.

Brandt Owen Deboard, 41, was arrested on suspicion of sexual assault on a child under the age of 15 and third-degree assault.

He was also arrested on an outstanding warrant for failing to register as a sex offender and failing to appear on an obstruction of a peace officer case.

According to an arrest affidavit, police were called to the North Boulder Rec Center, 3170 Broadway, on Jan. 3 after parents said a man groped their 7-year-old daughter.

The girl’s mom said they were in a hot tub at the recreation center when Deboard also got in. The girl was reportedly playing with a fish toy, and witnesses said Deboard moved the toy away from her and then groped her when she tried to swim to it.

The girl told police Deboard pinched her twice on her rear hard enough to cause her pain, according to the affidavit.

Deboard was stopped by officers trying to leave the recreation center after witnesses identified him as the suspect. Deboard told police he was a sovereign citizen, and asked officers about their citizenship before denying having touched the girl.

According to court records, Deboard pleaded guilty in Boulder County to attempted sexual assault on a child in 2010, for which he was sentenced to three years in prison and must register as a sex offender.

Court records also show past arrests this year for failing to register as a sex offender and failure to verify address.

Deboard is currently being held at the Boulder County Jail on a $50,000 bond in the sex assault case, and is set for a formal filing of charges on Wednesday.