Nevada County Sheriff’s Office Detectives Target Child Predators

Nevada City, CA – 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.

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 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.