Nevada County Sheriff’s Office Detectives Target Child Predators

NEVADA CITY – Throughout the holiday season, detectives of the Nevada County Sheriff’s Office (NCSO) have been working behind the scenes to target suspected child predators in a large-scale sex crime sweep. Partners have included the Sacramento Valley Hi-Tech Crimes Task Force, an agency instrumental in providing investigative support and computer forensic analysis, as well as the Placer County Sheriff's Office (PCSO) for one investigation that led to a partnership arrest in their county, and the Nevada County District Attorney's Office.

Thus far, the following five individuals have been arrested for varying offenses:

Matthew “Auggie” Christian Augustine, 50, of Penn Valley: After receiving a report of an alleged sexual offense on Nov. 25, 2024, deputies and detectives of NCSO began investigating Augustine, who was ultimately arrested on Nov. 27 for possession of child pornography - 311.11(A) PC; using a minor for obscene matter - 311.4(C) PC; covert videotaping - 647(J)(3)(A) PC; and annoying or molesting a child - 647.6(A(1) PC. Since that time, the investigation has been ongoing. On Dec. 4, detectives added a new arrest charge of lewd and lascivious acts with a child under 14 by force/fear/duress - 288(b)(1) PC. By mid-December, 15 additional charges had been added, including five counts of lewd and lascivious acts with a child under 14 - 288(A) PC; 10 additional counts of using a minor for obscene matter - 311.4(C) PC; and for possession of over 600 child sexual abuse materials - 311.11(C)(1). The investigation into Augustine remains active in partnership with the Nevada County District Attorney's Office with additional possible charges to follow. He remains incarcerated at Wayne Brown Correctional Facility with no bail.

Robert Nathan Ellsworth, 50, of Roseville: 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. He was ultimately arrested for three counts of lewd and lascivious acts with a child under 14 - 288(A) PC; for arranging to meet with a minor - 288.4(A)(1) PC; and for going to the arranged meeting - 288.4(B) PC. He was booked into Placer County Jail.

Matthew Michael Rodriguez-Revis, 20, of Grass Valley: NCSO detectives received an internet crimes against children’s tip on Nov. 14, 2024. Through the course of the investigation, detectives identified the subject of the tip as Rodriguez-Revis, who was ultimately arrested on Dec. 17 for possession of child pornography with a prior - 311.11(B) PC and for failure to report an address change as a registered sex offender - 290.013(A) PC. He was booked into Wayne Brown Correctional Facility.

Joshua Christopher Kelly, 50, of Smartsville: 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. He was arrested for failure to update his annual registration - 290.012(A) PC and for failure to register as a sex offender with a prior - 290(B) PC. 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 Aaron Sutton, 36, of Nevada City: On Jan. 11, 2025, NCSO patrol deputies tracked down Sutton at a private residence in Nevada City for being out of compliance with his 290-registration. He was arrested for failure to update his annual registration - 290.012(A) PC and for failure to register as a sex offender with a prior - 290(B) PC. Sutton was booked into Wayne Brown Correctional Facility.

NCSO’s sex crime operations remain active with several open investigations.