Former University Professor Convicted for Child Sexual Exploitation Offenses

FRESNO, Calif. - Following a bench trial before visiting U.S. District Judge Jill A. Otake, Rodger Githens, 48, of West Sacramento, was found guilty of attempted enticement of a minor and receipt and distribution of child sexual abuse material, U.S. Attorney Eric Grant announced.

"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."

According to court documents, Githens had been employed as a professor at a local university and had worked as a consultant for other colleges and universities. In March 2023, Githens, using the profile "Tall laid back," initiated contact with a Grindr account controlled by an undercover agent. Githens quickly encouraged the undercover agent to establish a Telegram account, which he considered more secure. Githens told the agent he had taboo thoughts every day and was into "babies." Githens stated that he "would love to have a dad or uncle invite me" and then described in graphic detail what he would like to do with the undercover agent and the agent's fictional 7-year-old niece. Several times Githens discussed traveling to Fresno to meet the agent and the fictional niece, but on April 19, 2023, law enforcement served a search warrant at Githens's residence and seized multiple electronic devices. Agents discovered numerous Telegram chats on Githens's phone including several in which he was exchanging and commenting on videos of young children being raped.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation conducted the investigation with assistance from the West Sacramento Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney David Gappa and McKenzie Hightower of the Department of Justice Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section are prosecuting the case.

Githens is scheduled to be sentenced on July 20, 2026, by Judge Otake. Githens faces prison terms of between five and 20 years for the child sexual abuse material charge and from 10 years to life for the attempted enticement charge. He also faces potential fines of $250,000 for each charge, and a lifetime term of supervised release. The actual sentence, however, will be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute those who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc. Click on the "resources" tab for information about internet-safety education.