August 7, 2020
BUTTE COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE INVESTIGATING BERRY CREEK HOMICIDE
Berry Creek, CA – On August 6, 2020, at 2:01 p.m., the Butte County Sheriff’s Office (BCSO) received a 911 call from an individual who reported a dispute on Spence Way, Berry Creek. During the 911 call the individual reported a male, later identified as Scott Halliburton of Berry Creek, 40, had been shot. Deputies and detectives arrived and located Halliburton near the driveway of a residence. Deputies immediately began applying first aid to Halliburton. Deputies eventually determined Halliburton was deceased.
While deputies were providing first aid to Halliburton, deputies and detectives began interviewing witnesses. Witnesses identified the individual who shot Halliburton as Matthew Pia of Berry Creek, 51. One witness told detectives Pia returned to his neighboring property on Spence Way after the shooting and committed suicide. Deputies and detectives immediately responded to the property to check on Pia. Deputies and detectives located Pia on the property. Deputies and detectives determined Pia was deceased as a result of a gunshot wound.
Detectives obtained a search warrant for Halliburton and Pia’s properties, which are both located on Spence Way. After obtaining the search warrant, detectives from the Felony Investigations Unit, the Butte Interagency Narcotics Task Force, the Butte County Sheriff’s Office Special Enforcement Unit, Designated Area Deputies, and the California Department of Justice processed the crime scenes and searched the properties. During the search numerous evidence items were located to include video surveillance, large quantities of marijuana, firearms, and a butane honey oil manufacturing lab.
Based on video surveillance and witness statements, detectives determined Halliburton and Pia were involved in a dispute over a property line. The dispute escalated and Halliburton and Pia both shot at each other. Halliburton died as a result of a gunshot wound sustained during the shooting. Pia returned to his property, where he died as the result of a gunshot wound. This investigation is ongoing. Detectives are in the process of interviewing witnesses and reviewing surveillance. The Sheriff’s Office is asking anyone with additional information to contact Detectives Tristan Harper or Vaj Thao at 530-538-7671.
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August 6, 2020
BAY AREA RESIDENTS ARRESTED FOR BANGOR POST OFFICE BURGLARY
Bangor, CA – On June 12, 2020, Butte County Sheriff’s Office (BCSO) deputies responded to a burglary at the Bangor Post Office. Deputies and detectives conducted an investigation and located video surveillance of the individuals who committed the burglary. Deputies and detectives also located additional physical evidence.
Detectives reviewed the video surveillance and physical evidence and identified the two individuals responsible for the burglary as Mayra Jimenez of Tracy, 25, and Jonathan Dew of Vacaville, 26. During the investigation detectives determined Jimenez and Dew drove to the Hard Rock Casino located in Wheatland after the burglary. Detectives worked with the Yuba County Sheriff’s Office and obtained additional video surveillance and physical evidence related to the burglary.
In June of 2020, detectives obtained arrest warrants for Jimenez and Dew for one felony count of burglary. On August 4, officers from the Sacramento Police Department contacted and placed Jimenez and Dew under arrest. Jimenez and Dew were both booked into the Sacramento County Jail. Dew later posted bail. Jimenez was later transferred to the Butte County Jail. After arriving at the Butte County Jail, Jimenez posted bail.
Jimenez is scheduled to be arraigned at the Butte County Superior Court on October 23, at 8:30 AM. Dew is scheduled to be arraigned at the Butte County Superior Court on September 11, at 8:30 AM. The Sheriff’s Office is asking anyone with additional information about Jimenez or Dew to contact Detective Zach Price at 530-538-7671.
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August 6, 2020
BUTTE COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE EXHUMES BODY AND IDENTIFIES 1969 MISSING PERSON
In November of 2019, a citizen began communicating with the Butte County Sheriff’s Office (BCSO) regarding a 1969 missing person case. The citizen had received information from the Doe Network about the missing person case. The Doe Network is a 100% volunteer organization devoted to assisting investigating agencies in bringing closure to national and international cold cases concerning Missing & Unidentified Persons. Detectives researched the 1969 case and determined an unidentified male died in Butte County in 1969 as the result of an accident involving a train. Detectives were not able to identify the male in 1969.

Detectives conducted research and determined there was a high probability the male was Marvin Price McMullen, of Florida. Mr. McMullen was born in 1931 and was believed to have been traveling in California in 1969. Detectives began communicating with Mr. McMullen’s family and ultimately obtained DNA samples from a relative of Mr. McMullen.

On April 22, 2020, BCSO received a permit from Butte County Public Health to exhume the body of the unidentified male. On Saturday, May 2, 2020, BCSO detectives, Chico State Forensic Anthropology Professors and Butte County Public Works personnel exhumed the body. The body was transported to a local funeral home where DNA samples were collected for testing and comparison, in an attempt to confirm the identity of the male.

BCSO transported DNA from Mr. McMullen’s family members and DNA from the unidentified male to the California Department of Justice DNA lab in Richmond for processing. In July of 2020, BCSO obtained the results of the DOJ DNA analysis. Based on the DOJ DNA analysis, BCSO positively identified the male as Marvin Price McMullen. Mr. McMullen’s remains have been released to his family. The Butte County Public Guardian’s Office assisted Mr. McMullen’s family members with burial expenses.
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July 28, 2020
Chico Residential Burglary Arrest
Chico, CA- On Monday, July 27, 2020, at approximately 7:35 a.m., the Butte County Sheriff’s Office (BCSO) received a report of a residential burglary in progress off of El Monte Avenue in Chico.
The reporting party told a BCSO dispatcher they were watching the suspect remotely, via surveillance cameras and an app on their cell phone. The reporting party provided a description of the suspect to responding deputies. Deputies arrived in the area, but they were unable to locate the suspect at that time. Deputies canvassed the neighborhood and spoke to all of the surrounding neighbors.
At approximately 9:00 a.m., neighbors called the Sheriff’s Office to report seeing the suspect in the same area. While conducting follow-up with the victim’s neighbors, deputies spotted an individual matching the suspect’s description. Deputies contacted the individual and identified him as Andrew William Ryan Roy, age 18 of Sacramento. After further investigation, deputies located all of the stolen property at a nearby location.
Roy was arrested and transported to the Butte County Jail, where he was booked for residential burglary/459 PC, and possession of stolen property valued over $950/496 (a) PC. Roy’s bail was set at $65,000.
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July 27, 2020
PALERMO RESIDENT ARRESTED FOR ONGOING SEXUAL ABUSE OF CHILDREN, POSSESSION OF ASSAULT WEAPONS, AND POSSESSION OF A METHAMPHETAMINE LAB
Palermo, CA – On July 23, 2020, Butte County Sheriff’s Office (BCSO) detectives received information Jason Ashby of Palermo, 38, had molested a 13-year-old victim. BCSO detectives conducted an investigation and located evidence showing Ashby molested the 13-year-old victim. On July 23, detectives obtained an arrest warrant for Ashby for three felony counts of lewd and lascivious acts with a child under 14-years-old. Detectives also obtained a search warrant for Ashby’s residence, which is located in the 7600 block of Occidental Avenue, Palermo.
On the evening of July 23, BCSO detectives and Butte Interagency Narcotics Task Force (BINTF) detectives served the search warrant at Ashby’s residence. During the service of the search warrant Ashby was contacted and placed under arrest. Detectives located numerous evidence items at Ashby’s residence to include a clandestine methamphetamine laboratory, numerous firearms, three assault weapons, and two short barreled shotguns. Photographs of the methamphetamine laboratory and firearms are attached to this press release.
On the evening of July 23, detectives located multiple witnesses who previously witnessed Ashby engage in inappropriate behavior with minors. Detectives also located an additional victim who had been sexually abused by Ashby over a five year period when the victim was a minor.
On the evening of July 23, detectives booked Ashby at the Butte County Jail. Ashby was booked for three felony counts of lewd and lascivious acts with a child under 14-years-old, one felony count of forcible rape, three felony counts of oral copulation with a child under the age of 14, one felony count of continuous sexual abuse of a child, two felony counts of possession of a short-barreled shotgun, three felony counts of possession of an assault weapon, one felony count of manufacturing a controlled substance, and one felony count of child endangerment. Ashby’s bail was set at $1,100,000. Ashby is scheduled to be arraigned at the Butte County Superior Court on Monday, July 27, at 3 PM. The Sheriff’s Office is asking anyone with additional information about Ashby to contact Detective Jason Miller at 530-538-7671.
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