In late August, Gokan Baggisi, a 26-year-old from Turkey, was arrested by the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office. He is accused of sexually abusing children at a nursery in California.
Prior to this incident, Baggisi had been removed from the U.S. twice—first in November 2023 and then again in September 2024—by Customs and Border Protection, as stated by the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office.
He was employed at the Mather Childcare Center, which primarily catered to the Turkish immigrant community, a group noted for having many members, including employees, who possess limited English skills.
Following a report from a mother suspecting her 6-year-old daughter had been abused while attending daycare, the Sheriff’s Child Abuse Department, in conjunction with the California Department of Human Services, began an investigation.
Forensic interviews were conducted in Turkish with children who had attended the daycare, which indicated that other current and former attendees might also be victims.
Baggisi faces charges concerning the sexual abuse of minors, with the specifics detailing multiple counts involving children under the age of 14.
The California Department of Social Services communicated with parents, noting the decision to close the nursery due to immediate risks posed to children.
Interestingly, Baggisi was an employee who had passed fingerprint clearances from the Department of Human Services, although it’s unclear how he received this clearance, with the Department of Social Welfare yet to respond to inquiries.
The statement emphasized that child sexual abuse is often underreported, particularly within immigrant communities, where cases are less likely to escalate. The Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office is encouraging anyone with further information to come forward, as there’s a belief that more victims may exist.
