MATHER, Calif. —
A daycare worker is accused of sexually abusing a girl at a facility that primarily serves members of the Turkish community, the Sacramento County Sheriff's Office said Thursday.
Investigators said they are concerned there are more victims.
The sheriff's office said Gokhan Bagci, 26, a Turkish national, is being held at the Sacramento County Jail without bail because of both his immigration history and that he was deemed a flight risk.
The sheriff's office said it first became aware of the accusations on July 28 when a mother reported that she believed her 5-year-old daughter may have been sexually abused while at the Mather Childcare Center on 11154 Graeton Circle.
After that report, the sheriff's office said it began investigating in coordination with the California Department of Social Services. While interviewing the child, investigators came to believe that there might have been other sexually abused children, both current and former attendees of the daycare.
"Based on information that the little girl disclosed during her interview, we believe there could be potential other victims," said Sgt. John Sydow, Supervisor of the Sacramento County Sheriff's Office Child Abuse Bureau.
Detectives on Aug. 22 then arrested Bagci, who now faces four counts of lewd and lascivious acts with a child under 14 by force or fear.
The suspect does not speak English, Sydow said, and has not given a statement to investigators despite interviews with a translator. Language barriers have complicated the investigation as the victim and her mother also only speak Turkish.
Following the arrest of Bagci, the California Department of Social Services served a Temporary Suspension Order to the Musa Bagci Family Child Care Home, revoking their license. The license is held by Musa Bagci.
An accusation letter obtained by KCRA 3 states Gokhan Bagci was an employee and resident of the family child care home, and had fingerprint clearance from the Department of Social Services "that was associated with the facility."
The department continues to work in conjunction with local law enforcement, a spokesperson said via email Thursday.
Online records show Musa Bagci applied for a daycare license in July 2023. Documentation states the applicant lived in the home with four minors. In September 2024, the licensee applied for a capacity increase from eight to 14 children. The change requires an assistant to join the licensee, according to the report.
Now the sheriff's office is asking any other sexual abuse survivors or anyone with information related to Bagci to come forward. They are asked to call the child abuse bureau at 916-874-5191 or email [email protected].
The Mather daycare is run primarily by Turkish community members and serves mostly Turkish families with limited English proficiency.
Bagci had been removed from the country by the U.S. Customs and Border Protection in November 2023 and again in September 2024, according to the sheriff's office.
KCRA 3 reached out to Immigration and Customs Enforcement on Thursday, but a spokesperson said they could not share any information about Bagci because he was not in their custody.
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