July 21, 2020
BCSO COVID-19 Update
Oroville, CA- Within the past two weeks there has been a rapid increase in the number of lab confirmed COVID-19 cases within the Butte County Jail. This increase coincides with an increase in the number of confirmed cases throughout Butte County and in many parts of California. The Butte County Sheriff’s Office (BCSO) is working cooperatively with the Butte County Public Health Department and Wellpath, the jail’s medical services provider, to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 within the jail and provide appropriate care for those inmates currently infected with the illness.
To date approximately 500 COVID-19 tests have been administered to both inmates and staff members. None of the BCSO staff members tested to date were positive for COVID-19. Currently, among the inmate population, there are 71 lab confirmed COVID-19 cases within the jail. An additional 18 tests are pending lab results.
The overwhelming majority of cases involve asymptomatic individuals or individuals with mild symptoms. One individual was admitted to an area hospital for observation over the weekend. That individual is in stable condition and is likely to be returned to the jail in the coming days. (When there is a need for an enhanced level of care, inmates are transported to local hospitals, but kept under observation by jail staff.) The jail’s medical staff is currently able to provide the necessary medical care within the facility for the rest of the inmates who tested positive. Inmates with confirmed cases of COVID-19 are being isolated from the remainder of the population. There is currently sufficient capacity within the jail to accommodate these individuals. Inmates who have tested positive are isolated for ten to fourteen days, in accordance with best practices as defined by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Butte County Public Health Department and Wellpath.
The jail staff closely monitors the jail’s population on a daily basis and utilizes statutory and court ordered authority to maintain sufficient capacity within the jail to manage this regularly changing situation. Inmate, staff and public safety interests are continually being balanced during this process. As a general rule, inmates with confirmed cases of COVID-19, who have not yet recovered, will not be released unless it is required by law or is medically necessary. In those cases, the jail will coordinate the release with Public Health to ensure proper post-incarceration housing, monitoring and care.
The jail continues to utilize previously adopted screening and detection protocols in an effort to mitigate the spread.
Those protocols include:
• Screening of all intakes for symptomatic individuals;
• Weekly temperature and symptom checks of all inmates;
• Use of Personal Protective Equipment, i.e. masks and gloves, by inmates and staff;
• Increased access to hand sanitizer and cleaning supplies for inmates and staff;
• Aggressive testing and monitoring in cooperation with the Butte County Public Health Department to detect asymptomatic individuals.
In addition to the protocols noted above, the jail has suspended public visiting and is actively working with the Butte County Superior Court, the Butte County Public Defenders and the Butte County District Attorney’s Office to limit in-person court appearances for inmates during the next 14 days.
Finally, the Sheriff’s Office website has a recently added a COVID-19 information page, which will be updated Monday-Friday. The page contains information about the status of COVID-19 in the jail and can be accessed through this link: https://www.buttecounty.net/sheriffcoroner/Covid-19
COVID-19 is a serious health issue in our community. The Sheriff’s Office continues to encourage everyone to do what they can to redu

July 14, 2020
JULY 14, 2020 UPDATE
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.
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July 10, 2020
TWO OROVILLE RESIDENTS ARRESTED FOR ONGOING SEXUAL ABUSE OF CHILDREN DURING JOINT INVESTIGATION
Oroville, CA – 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.

July 10, 2020
TWO OROVILLE RESIDENTS ARRESTED FOR ONGOING SEXUAL ABUSE OF CHILDREN DURING JOINT INVESTIGATION
Oroville, CA – 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.
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.
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July 07, 2020
Butte County Sheriff’s Office Announces Arrest of Marysville Resident for Human Sex Trafficking of a Minor Victim
Today the Butte County Sheriff’s Office (BCSO) announced the arrest of Zydia Saunders of Marysville, 25 for human sex trafficking of a minor victim. On June 16, Butte County Sheriff’s Office deputies were contacted by a victim who reported his firearm had been stolen. Deputies determined the victim’s firearm was stolen by a female working as a prostitute, who was later identified as Zydia Saunders.
On July 01, a BCSO detective acting in an undercover capacity began communicating via telephone with Saunders. Saunders told the undercover detective she was willing to have sex for $230. Saunders then asked the undercover detective if he/she wanted “two girls” for $500. The undercover detective agreed and made arrangements to meet Saunders at a local motel on July 02.
On July 02, Saunders contacted the undercover detective via telephone and stated she and another female were walking through the motel parking lot. Undercover detectives contacted Saunders and a minor victim. Saunders was placed under arrest and the minor victim was transported to the Butte County Sheriff’s Office so she could receive services from Butte County Children Services.
During an interview Saunders admitted she brought the minor victim to the motel so the minor victim could perform sexual acts for money. Saunders also admitted she brought the minor victim to at least three other prostitution meetings where Saunders and the minor victim performed sexual acts on adult men in exchange for money.
Saunders was arrested for four felony counts of pimping a minor victim, one felony count of human trafficking a minor victim, and one felony count of child endangerment. Saunders’ bail was set at $300,000. This investigation is ongoing. The Sheriff’s Office is asking anyone with additional information to contact Detective Mary Barker at 530-538-7671.
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June 30, 2020
Butte County Sheriff’s Office Announces Arrest of Oroville Resident for Sexual Abuse of a Child
Today the Butte County Sheriff’s Office (BCSO) announced the arrest of John Zulkoski of Oroville, 31 for sexual abuse of a child. On June 22, Butte County Sheriff’s Office deputies were contacted by a parent who reported Zulkoski had sexually abused a minor victim. Deputies responded to a residence in Oroville and contacted two minor victims and their parent. Both minor victims were under the age of 10. The parent of the minor victims explained Zulkoski was a family friend who the parent had allowed to stay at her residence.
On the evening of June 22, one of the minor victims disclosed he/she had been sexually abused by Zulkoski. The parent confronted Zulkoski and contacted the Sheriff’s Office. After being confronted about the sexual abuse, Zulkoski fled from the residence on foot prior to the Sheriff’s Office arriving at the residence.
Detectives transported the minor victim to a Sacramento area hospital for medical treatment. Detectives conducted follow-up and located additional evidence related to the sexual abuse. On June 26, detectives interviewed Zulkoski. During the interview Zulkoski admitted to sexually abusing one of the minor victims.
Detectives placed Zulkoski under arrest for oral copulation or sexual penetration with a child 10-years-old or younger, oral copulation on a person under 14, and committing a lewd act upon a child. Zulkoski’s bail was set at $1,200,000. This investigation is ongoing. The Sheriff’s Office is asking anyone with additional information to contact Detective Mary Barker at 530-538-7671.
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