SACRAMENTO, Calif. — A 26-year-old daycare worker, Gokhan Bagci, has been arrested and charged with multiple counts of child sexual abuse tied to the Mather Childcare Center in Sacramento County, officials said.
The investigation began on July 28, 2025, after a concerned mother alleged her 6-year-old daughter may have been sexually abused while attending the facility located on Graeton Circle. The daycare primarily serves members of the Turkish immigrant community, many of whom have limited English proficiency.
The Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office, in partnership with the California Department of Social Services, immediately launched an investigation. Forensic interviews were conducted in Turkish, and investigators say evidence emerged suggesting the existence of multiple potential victims, both current and former attendees of the daycare.
On August 22, detectives arrested Bagci on four felony counts of PC 288(b)(1) — Lewd and Lascivious Acts with a Child Under 14 by Force or Fear.
Authorities noted Bagci had previously been removed from the United States twice by U.S. Customs and Border Protection — once in November 2023, and again in September 2024. Despite these removals, Bagci had no known prior criminal history, according to the Sheriff’s Office.
Due to his immigration status and risk of flight, a judge approved the request to hold him without bail. He is currently being held at the Sacramento County Main Jail.
The Mather Childcare Center has since been shut down temporarily, with a “Closed for Business” notice posted on August 26 as part of a license suspension order.
Officials urge any parents with concerns or knowledge of possible abuse to come forward, especially within underrepresented or immigrant communities, where such crimes are often underreported.
