Child Predators Arrested After Nevada County Crime Sweep
On January 16, 2025, the Nevada County Sheriff’s Office (NCSO) recently released a list of child predators that it had arrested thanks to the work of its detectives who had conducted a “large-scale crime sweep” over the holiday season. NCSO partnered with the Sacramento Valley Hi-Tech Crimes Task Force, which supplied computer forensic analysis; the Placer County Sheriff’s Office (PCSO), which assisted with a partnership arrest in Placer County; and the Nevada County District Attorney’s Office.
The following individuals were arrested:
Matthew Augustine of Penn Valley
On November 25, 2024, Matthew “Auggie” Christian Augustine (age 50) was reported to the authorities for a sexual offense that occurred on November 23 involving a female child under 10 years old that may have been recorded. An NCSO deputy served a search warrant for Augustine’s phone and electronic devices at Augustine’s residence in Penn Valley on November 26, 2024 with NCSCO Major Crimes Unit detectives and found that Augustine was in possession of multiple forms of child sexual abuse material.
Augustine was arrested and booked into Wayne Brown Correctional Facility on November 27 in the early morning for possession of child pornography, using a minor for obscene matter, covert videotaping, and annoying or molesting a child.
“Since his arrest, NCSO detectives originally sought and received a bail enhancement of $300,000 to $500,000 per alleged offense and have been working closely with investigators of the Nevada County District Attorney’s Office to process evidence,” said the NCSO.
On December 4, detectives added the charge of lewd and lascivious acts with a child under 14 by force/fear/duress. By mid-December, 15 more charges were added, including five counts of lewd and lascivious acts with a child under 14, ten additional counts of using a minor for obscene matter, and for possession of more than 600 child sexual abuse materials. NSCO said in its January 16, 2025 media release that it and the District Attorney’s Office were still investigating and there were potentially more charges to be added to the list.
“He remains incarcerated at Wayne Brown Correctional Facility with no bail,” the NCSO posted on January 16.
The NCSO believes that “evidence obtained thus far indicates the likelihood of more child victims. Those who suspect their child may have been a victim or involved inappropriately with Augustine are urged to call NCSO’s Major Crimes Unit at (530) 265-1471.”
Robert Ellsworth of Roseville
Robert Nathan Ellsworth (age 50) was caught by the authorities as he attempted to meet a minor in Auburn, California.
On January 16, NCSO wrote, “Through an undercover operation initiated by NCSO detectives and Sacramento Valley High-Tech that grew into a multi-agency operation with PCSO, Ellsworth was intercepted by detectives of NCSO and PCSO in Auburn, Calif. on Dec. 9, 2024, when he attempted to meet a minor for sex.”
Ellsworth was arrested for three counts of lewd and lascivious acts with a child under 14, for arranging to meet with a minor, and for going to the arranged meeting. He was booked into Placer County Jail.
Matthew Rodriguez-Revis of Grass Valley
On November 14, NCSO detectives received a tip called an “internet crimes against children” tip. Detectives investigated and identified Matthew Michael Rodriguez-Revis (age 20) of Grass Valley, who was arrested on Dec. 17 for possession of child pornography with a prior and for failure to report an address change as a registered sex offender. He was booked into Wayne Brown Correctional Facility.
Rodriguez-Revis was arrested previously in 2022. The Placer County Sheriff’s Office wrote in a media release, “On August 29th, Placer County Sheriff’s deputies arrested 18-year-old Matthew Rodriguez-Reavis of Grass Valley, after investigating multiple reports of women being groped by an unknown male. The incidents began on August 27th when Rodriguez-Reavis inappropriately grabbed one female minor and two adult women. On August 29th, Rodriguez-Reavis groped an adult woman and ran away. Deputies responded and located his vehicle. Rodriguez-Reavis was subsequently detained and arrested for sexual battery and annoying/molesting a minor.”
Joshua Kelly of Smartsville
Joshua Christopher Kelly (age 50) of Smartsville was arrested for having failed to comply with sex offender registration requirements, including failure to update his annual registration and failure to register as a sex offender with a prior.
NSCO reported on January 16, “On Jan. 3, 2025, NCSO patrol deputies tracked down Kelly at a business in Grass Valley for being out of compliance with his 290-registration” (sex offender registration).
“Based on his known criminal history, deputies sought and received a bail enhancement, which raised the bail from $10,000 to $100,000. Kelly was booked into Wayne Brown Correctional Facility.”
Joshua Sutton of Nevada City
On Jan. 11, 2025, NCSO patrol deputies found Joshua Aaron Sutton (age 36) in Nevada City. Sutton was arrested for failure to update his annual 290-registration, also including failure to register as a sex offender with a prior. Sutton was booked into Wayne Brown Correctional Facility.
More to come
In mid-January, NCSO shared that its sex crime operations remain active with several open investigations.