Two Men Arrested in Undercover Chat Operation: Suspected of Trying to Have Sex with a 10-Year-Old Child
Image: File photos of Gipson and Lorenz | Courtesy of SCSO
SACRAMENTO COUNTY, CA — “In July, the Sacramento Sheriff’s Office Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) unit assisted with a multi-agency undercover chat operation in Yuba County. During the operation, a Sacramento Sheriff’s Office ICAC detective covertly communicated with 58-year-old Kevin Gipson. Gipson expressed interest in a meeting to engage in sexual acts with a 10-year-old child who was being trafficked for sex. Gipson purchased sex toys and told the undercover officer he intended to use the items during the abuse of the child. Gipson told the undercover officer that he had previously engaged in sexual acts with a 9-year-old female child and an 11-year-old male child and had been convicted, served only three years in state prison, and indicated he was recently no longer required to register as a sex offender.
Gipson then introduced the undercover officer to his friend, 81-year-old Kenneth Lorenz. Lorenz told the undercover officer he wanted to orally copulate the 10-year-old child. Gipson told the undercover officer that he and Lorenz had previously met to engage in sex acts with each other while viewing child sexual abuse material (CSAM, also referred to as child pornography). Gipson told the undercover officer that he and Lorenz were both sexually interested in children and had previously discussed finding a child to sexually abuse.
The undercover officer arranged a meeting with Gipson and Lorenz so that they could engage in various sexual acts with the child. On the day of the meeting, Gipson met with the undercover Detective where he was immediately taken into custody by the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office Special Enforcement Detail (SWAT). ICAC then executed a search warrant at the residence of Lorenz, where the sex toys and bondage kit were discovered. Detectives also discovered flash memory drives and a laptop computer containing over 1,000 files of CSAM. Lorenz admitted ownership of the CSAM files and also admitted that he had previously engaged in sexual contact with multiple children and had never been caught.
Both Gipson and Lorenz were previously convicted of sex offenses, which required them to register as sex offenders for the rest of their lives. However, beginning in 2021, California adopted a three-tier sex offender registration system that differentiated offenders based on the severity of their crimes and began to allow non-lifetime registrations.
Lorenz had previous convictions in 1966 of PC 314.1 (indecent exposure), in 1984 for PC 243.4 (sexual battery), and again in 1997 for PC 314.1. Those offenses now only require a 10-year sex offender registration, and Lorenz, who was previously required to register as a sex offender, was no longer required to remain as a PC 290 sex registrant.
Gipson had previously been convicted in 1991 of two felony counts of PC 288(a) (lewd/lascivious acts with a child under 14). Even that offense now no longer requires a lifetime sex offender registration – meaning a person who has sex with a child under 14 years of age may no longer be required to register as a lifetime sex offender. Gipson successfully petitioned the court for relief from his lifetime sex offender registration, which was granted in September of 2023.
On October 3, 2024, a Federal Grand Jury returned indictments against both Gipson and Lorenz. Gipson is charged with attempted coercion and enticement of a minor to engage in sexual activity, which is a violation of Section 2422(b) of Title 18 of the United States Code. Lorenz is charged with possession of child sexual abuse material, which is a violation of Section 2252(a)(4)(B) of Title 18 of the United States Code.
Gipson and Lorenz are in custody at the Sacramento County Main Jail, where they remain ineligible for bail. While details of this incident are horrific enough, the content in the chats with Detectives was even more vile. Detectives are concerned there may be additional unreported victims and are asking that any community members with children who may have interacted with these individuals to contact the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office by calling 916-874-5115 or contact the Sacramento Valley Crime Stoppers at (916) 443-HELP (4357), 1-800-AA-CRIME, or **TIPS. Use the “P3 TIPS” app or online at www.sacvalleycrimestoppers.”
