A man who appeared to be living the good life was sentenced on sexual exploitation of children charges in Bartow County. Thirty-nine-year-old Joshua David Stapleton pleaded guilty to twenty counts of sexual exploitation of children. He received a 20-year sentence with 5 years to serve incarcerated and the remainder on probation.
The Cartersville Police Department’s Criminal Investigations Division, along with the Georgia Bureau of Investigation and the Department of Homeland Security, initiated an investigation in April 2020 following an online tip through the Internet Crimes Against Children.
According to the warrants, between 2018 and 2020, Stapleton downloaded images of prepubescent children in sexual and abusive circumstances. He was initially charged with 15 counts of possession of child pornography. He was indicted on 40 counts of sexual exploitation of children.
The non-negotiated plea resulted in Stapleton pleading guilty to 20 charges; 20 counts were dropped.Stapleton and his wife are known as the Gulf Coast Stapletons on TikTok and Instagram. The site lists Perdido Key, Florida, as the couple’s home. They have 81,000 followers and over a million likes. The couple posts videos of themselves working out, travelling on boats, eating out, and skiing.
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According to a press release from the Cartersville Police Department, 34-year-old Joshua David Stapleton of Cartersville, Georgia was taken into custody on Thursday evening for 15 counts of Possession of Child Pornography.
Cartersville Police Departments’ Criminal Investigations Division, along with The Georgia Bureau of Investigations and The Department of Homeland Security initiated the investigation after an online tip through ICAC (Internet Crimes Against Children) was received.
Charges are still pending while the investigation continues.
Further information will be released as it is developed.
WBHF contributed to this story.
