Fort Collins – A former daycare worker has been sentenced to at least 30 years in prison after pleading guilty to inappropriately touching young children while videotaping and taking still photographs.
Jan Rogers, 29, had pleaded guilty to one count each of sexual assault on a child by a person in a position of trust and sexual exploitation of a child.
Larimer County District Judge Dave Williams handed down the sentence Monday, calling Rogers’ actions “absolutely abhorrent and repellent.” Under Colorado law, the judge sets only the minimum sentence for the sexual assault charge. A parole board will determine when Rogers is released after the minimum is served.
Rogers spoke for nearly 30 minutes during his sentencing hearing and apologized for his actions. “I’d personally rather die than do this or put someone through this again,” he said.
He said he had been trying to impress men he had met on the Internet who enjoyed child pornography. He said one of the men had become like an older brother to him.
Prosecutor Mitch Murray said Rogers had accepted responsibility only when confronted with a case he could not deny.
Rogers dropped his head and closed his eyes as Murray showed video clips and photographs Rogers had taken of the children.
In one video, a little girl looks directly at the camera and asks, “What is that under the towel on the tub, Jan? “Is that a camera?”
