Federal immigration authorities have asked that a former Mather daycare worker accused of sexually assaulting a child remain in custody, adding an immigration twist to an already disturbing criminal case. The request surfaced as local detectives and state licensing officials continue to pursue criminal charges and a state review of the family child care home. Prosecutors and investigators say the case dates back to last summer, when a parent first raised concerns about a young child who attended the Mather facility.
ICE Files Detainer Request
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement has filed a detainer request asking that the man stay in local custody while federal immigration officials decide whether to take him into their own custody. The Department of Homeland Security detailed the allegations, saying the suspect, identified as Gokhan Bagci, "lured the girl into a closet pretending to play hide-and-seek, where he sexually assaulted her," and that "he then allegedly brought the girl into a bathroom and raped her that same day," as reported by KCRA.
Arrest, Charges And Prior Removals
Bagci was arrested on Aug. 22, 2025, and charged with four felony counts of lewd and lascivious acts with a child under 14 by force or fear. According to investigators, the probe began after a mother reported concerns in late July 2025 involving a child who attended the Mather Childcare Center at 11154 Graeton Circle. Authorities say Bagci was twice removed from the United States by federal agents, first in November 2023 and again in September 2024, and that a judge deemed him a flight risk, according to The Sacramento Bee.
State Licensing Found Abuse
A complaint investigation report by the California Department of Social Services' Community Care Licensing Division found the allegation substantiated and issued a Type A Title 22 deficiency. The report also notes a Temporary Suspension Order and states the licensee is ceasing operations at the family child care home. Regulators said those steps were necessary after investigators concluded a child was abused while in care, as detailed by the California Department of Social Services.
Detainer's Legal Effect
An ICE detainer is a federal request that local authorities hold someone for a short period so immigration agents can take custody. It is not a court order, and whether a jail chooses to comply is voluntary, as outlined by the American Immigration Council. Jail records reviewed by KCRA show Bagci's next court appearance is scheduled for 8:30 a.m. on July 31, 2026, which means the criminal case will continue through Sacramento Superior Court even as the immigration request moves forward.
Investigators Urge Community To Come Forward
Sheriff's detectives and state licensing investigators say they are working with translators and Turkish-language interviews to reach families in the community, and they are urging anyone with information to contact the Sacramento County Sheriff's Child Abuse Bureau at 916-874-5191 or [email protected]. Detectives say they believe there may be additional victims connected to the daycare and are asking anyone with footage, tips or concerns to come forward, as reported by The Sacramento Bee.
