FRESNO, California — Rodger Githens, a 48-year-old from West Sacramento, was found guilty of attempted enticement of a minor and receipt and distribution of child sexual abuse material, according to U.S. Attorney Eric Grant.
“This verdict stems from overwhelming evidence of a sickening attempt by a privileged defendant to sexually abuse a 7-year-old child,” said U.S. Attorney Grant. “Protecting children from sexual exploitation is one of my highest priorities, and my office will continue to pursue these cases with the urgency and care they demand.”
Court documents reveal that Githens, who was employed as a professor at a local university and worked as a consultant for other colleges, initiated contact in March 2023 with an undercover agent on Grindr using the profile “Tall laid back.” He encouraged the agent to move to Telegram for more secure communication, where he expressed having taboo thoughts daily and an interest in “babies.” Githens described in graphic detail his intentions with the agent and a fictional 7-year-old niece. He discussed traveling to Fresno to meet them, but law enforcement intervened on April 19, 2023, serving a search warrant at his residence and seizing multiple electronic devices. Agents found numerous Telegram chats on his phone, including exchanges of videos depicting young children being raped…