Rodger Githens, 48, of West Sacramento, was sentenced Friday by U.S. District Judge Jill A. Otake in Fresno federal court to 18 years and six months in prison, for attempted enticement of a minor and receipt and distribution of child sexual abuse material, U.S. Attorney Eric Grant announced.

Githens was found guilty on May 1, 2026, following a bench trial before visiting Judge Otake, an appointee of President Donald Trump.

The now former professor at University of the Pacific was also sentenced to 10 years of supervised release, during which time his access to the internet, computers, and minors will be restricted. Githens is also required to register as a sex offender and pay $75,000 in fines.

At the time of his 2023 arrest, Githens was an associate professor at UOP specializing in human resources development. He also took graduate classes in religious studies at the Chicago Theological Seminary.

Githens Contacted Agent Via Grindr

According to court documents, in March 2023, Githens used  the profile “Tall laid back” to contact a Grindr account controlled by an undercover agent. Githens then encouraged the undercover agent to switch to a Telegram account, which he considered more secure.

Githens said 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. He also talked about coming to Fresno to meet them.

According to the Daily Beast, which cited the criminal complaints at the time, Githens promised to bring the agent posting as the child “her favorite chocolate bar and an Ariel doll,”  referring to the “The Little Mermaid” character.

However, agents with a search warrant seized electronic devices at his residence. On his phone: numerous Telegram chats, including several in which he was exchanging and commenting on videos of the sexual abuse of young children.

The FBI led 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 prosecuted the case.