HIGHTSTOWN - A 25-year-old man with a history of sexual offenses was found masturbating in a public library in Hightstown two months ago, according to the Mercer County Prosecutor's Office.

(File photo)

Mitchell Richtman's bail was reduced from $100,000 to $50,000 Thursday during a hearing in Superior Court in Trenton.

The incident occurred in November.

Two 12-year-old girls were in the Hightstown branch of the Mercer County Library in late November when they looked over and saw Richtman masturbating, prosecutors said.

He was not looking at the girls and prosecutors didn't know if he had access to a computer or pornography while in the library.

The girls told a librarian about the incident and a complaint was filed with police in mid-January, prosecutors said.

Richtman who is listed on the New Jersey Sex Offender Registry as living in East Windsor, has been convicted for similar offenses in the past.

According to the registry he has a prior conviction in 2005 of endangering the welfare of a child. Prosecutors said Thursday that he also has a prior sex offense conviction from 2011.

Anna Merriman may be reached at amerriman@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @anna_merriman Find The Times of Trenton on Facebook.