OROVILLE, CA (MPG) – In July of 2020, Butte County Sheriff’s Office (BCSO) detectives received information Joshua Chadwick of Oroville, 39, was possibly acting inappropriately around several children. BCSO detectives conducted an investigation and determined Chadwick is on federal probation and is required to register as a sex offender pursuant to the Sex Offender Registration Act. On July 08, BCSO detectives and federal probation officers conducted a search of Chadwick’s residence in Oroville pursuant to the terms and conditions of his federal probation. During the search detectives located an electronic device containing multiple images of child pornography. Detectives placed Chadwick under arrest.

During the investigation detectives determined Chadwick had recent contact with three children, who were all under the age of 10. Detectives located evidence Chadwick had been sexually abusing the children over an extended period of time. Detectives also located evidence an associate of Chadwick’s, who was identified as David Acuff of Oroville, 38, was also sexually abusing the aforementioned three children.

Detectives contacted the Oroville Police Department (OPD) and determined OPD detectives had an open investigation regarding allegations Acuff had sexually abused the three children. Based on additional information obtained on July 08, OPD detectives authored a search warrant for Acuff’s residence, which is located on Greenville Street, Oroville.

On the evening of July 08, BCSO and OPD detectives as well as members of the OPD Problem Oriented Policing (POP) Team served the search warrant at Acuff’s residence. During the service of the search warrant detectives located additional evidence. Acuff was not home at the time of the search warrant. Detectives immediately authored a warrant for Acuff’s arrest. On July 09, Acuff was located and placed under arrest. Based on the additional evidence located, detectives determined Acuff had been sexually abusing the children over an extended period of time.

Chadwick was placed under arrest for eight felony counts of lewd and lascivious acts with children, and for violating the terms and conditions of his federal probation. After reviewing the facts surrounding the federal probation violation, a federal judge determined Chadwick was not eligible for bail until future court proceedings take place. Acuff was placed under arrest for two felony counts of oral copulation or sexual penetration of a child, one felony count of possession of a firearm by a prohibited person, and one felony count of possession of ammunition by a prohibited person. After reviewing an arrest warrant for Acuff, a Butte County Superior Court Judge determined Acuff was not eligible for bail until future court proceedings take place. Chadwick and Acuff are scheduled to be arraigned at the Butte County Superior Court on Monday, July 13, at 3 PM.

UPDATE – July 14, 2020

During the investigation, detectives identified the three juvenile victims’ mother as Summer Carver of Oroville, 33. Detectives located evidence showing Carver was present on multiple occasions when Acuff molested the victims. Detectives also located evidence Carver was present on one occasion when Chadwick molested one of the victims. Detectives determined Carver had a total of five children. Based on the aforementioned information, all five children were detained by Butte County Children’s Services Division.

On the afternoon of July 13, detectives placed Carver under arrest and booked her at the Butte County Jail. Carver was arrested for three felony counts of making a child available for the purpose of allowing lewd and lascivious acts to be committed on the child, three felony counts of child endangerment, one felony count of lewd and lascivious acts with a child, and two felony counts of continuous sexual abuse of a child. Carver’s bail was set at $825,000. Carver is scheduled to be arraigned at the Butte County Superior Court on Wednesday, July 15, at 3 pm.

The Sheriff’s Office is asking anyone with additional information regarding Chadwick to contact Detective Mary Barker at 530-538-7671. The Oroville Police Department is asking anyone with additional information about Acuff to contact Oroville Police Detective Jess Darnell.