Matthew Christian Augustine, a 50-year-old Penn Valley resident, is currently incarcerated at the Wayne Brown Correctional Facility after a serious investigation sparked by allegations of sexual offenses involving a minor. According to the Nevada County Sheriff's Office on their facebook page, the ordeal began on last Monday when they were alerted to an incident that may have been recorded, dating back to November 23 and involving a girl under 10 years old.

The serious nature of the allegations led to a search warrant being obtained for Augustine's phone and other electronic devices. The search was carried out at his home by deputies and detectives from the Major Crimes Unit last Tuesday. Augustine was arrested early the next morning after they found multiple child sexual abuse materials on his devices. He was charged with possession of child pornography, using a minor for obscene acts, and covert videotaping. After these findings, Augustine's bail was raised from $300,000 to $500,000 for each offense. The district attorney's office and sheriff's investigators worked together to review the evidence. On Wednesday, detectives added another charge for alleged lewd acts with a child under 14 by force or fear, making Augustine's legal situation worse, as reported by the Nevada County Sheriff's Office.

The sheriff's office has stated that their investigation is ongoing, and current evidence suggests there may be additional victims who have not yet been identified. They are encouraging anyone who suspects their child may have had improper contact with Augustine to contact the Major Crimes Unit. Augustine is scheduled to appear in court on Thursday, where the charges and details of the case will be examined, as stated by the Nevada County Sheriff's Office.