2 men arrested on suspicion of sexually abusing children
Both men being held in jail without bail
OROVILLE » The Butte County Sheriff’s Office announced the arrest of two Oroville men on suspicion of sexual abusing children under the age of 10.
Sheriff’s Office detectives said they received information earlier in July that Joshua Chadwick, 39, had been “possibly acting inappropriately” toward several children, according to a BCSO press release.
Chadwick is on federal probation and is required to register as a sex offender under the Sex Offender Registration Act, detectives determined.
After gathering this information, BCSO detectives
and probation officers searched Chadwick’s Oroville residence Wednesday and found an electronic device containing images depicting child pornography. Chadwick was arrested during the search.
Detectives also determined Chadwick had recent contact with three children all under the age of 10, and said they located evidence that indicated Chadwick had been sexually abusing the children for “an extended period of time.”
Chadwick was arrested on suspicion of lewd and lascivious acts with children (eight counts), and for violating the terms and conditions of his federal probation. Due to his probation violation, a federal judge determined Chadwick is not eligible for bail until further court proceedings take place.
Evidence also identified David Acuff, 38, a claimed associate of Chadwick, sexually abusing the three children, detectives said.
The Oroville Police Department had an open investigation on Acuff in regards to sexual abuse allegations involving the three children. After contact with the Sheriff’s Office, the department subsequently authored a search warrant for Acuff’s residence, located on Greenville Street in Oroville.
BCSO and Oroville police detectives served the search warrant Wednesday and said they located additional evidence at Acuff’s residence pertaining to the investigation. Acuff was not home at the time of the search, but detectives issued an arrest warrant and placed him under arrest Thursday.
Acuff was arrested on suspicion of 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. A Butte County Superior Court judge determined Acuff is not eligible for bail until further court proceedings take place.
Chadwick and Acuff are scheduled to be arraigned at the Butte County Superior Court on Monday, July 13.