Ex-Cartersville resident, social media influencer sentenced for child porn

Social media influencer pleads guilty to child porn charges

Joshua David Stapleton, 39, received a 20-year sentence, with 5 years to be served in custody and the remaining 15 on probation, according to documents dated June 24 filed by Bartow County Superior Court. The sentencing comes more than four years after authorities launched an investigation based on a tip submitted through the Internet Crimes Against Children program.

BARTOW COUNTY, Ga. - A former Cartersville resident with a sizable social media following has been sentenced in Bartow County to serve 5 years in prison after pleading guilty to 20 counts of sexual exploitation of children.

What we know:

Joshua David Stapleton, 39, received a 20-year sentence, with 5 years to be served in custody and the remaining 15 on probation, according to documents dated June 24 filed by Bartow County Superior Court. The sentencing comes more than four years after authorities launched an investigation based on a tip submitted through the Internet Crimes Against Children program.

Stapleton will also have to follow multiple "sex offender" conditions upon his release. 

Joshua David Stapleton. Courtesy of Bartow County Sheriff's Office

The backstory:

The Cartersville Police Department’s Criminal Investigations Division led the case, working in partnership with the Georgia Bureau of Investigation and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. Investigators determined that between 2018 and 2020, Stapleton downloaded numerous images of prepubescent children in sexually abusive situations.

ORIGINAL STORY: Cartersville man charged with possessing child pornography

Stapleton, who is listed as the owner of the Josh Stapleton State Farm Agency in Cartersville on LinkedIn, was initially charged with 15 counts of possession of child pornography and later indicted on 40 counts of sexual exploitation of children. As part of a non-negotiated plea agreement, he pleaded guilty to 20 counts, and the remaining 20 were dropped.

Stapleton and his wife are known online as the "Gulf Coast Stapletons," with more than 81,000 followers and over a million likes on TikTok and Instagram. Their content typically features workout routines, boating excursions, restaurant outings, and ski trips. Social media profiles associated with the couple list their residence as Perdido Key, Florida. 

What they're saying:

Once news of Stapleton’s sentencing broke, social media users quickly began sharing posts and reactions, with many discussing the details of the case and its outcome.

Bryan Canty lived across the street from Stapleton in Cartersville.

"Just a mild-mannered guy, nothing that would even give you the slightest inclination that there was some type of criminal activity going on," Canty said.

Canty remembers the night in 2020 when Cartersville Police, the GBI and Homeland Security rolled up to Stapleton's home.

"It was Homeland Security. And I was just like, wow, what in the world is going on?  l learned about the Child Exploitation charges later and that just threw me for a loop. I had absolutely no idea," said Canty.

Stapleton's wife, Brittani Morris Stapleton, is also speaking out and correcting some of the "misinformation" that has spread online about her husband. Brittani and Joshua were married in 2023. 

"Josh was absolutely upfront with me about everything in the charges, there were no secrets," said Brittani.

She took offense with those who said the videos of their lives they posted weren't real.

"People keep saying we were living fake lives. There's nothing fake about it. It was our lives, We are still happy. He and I have no issues," said Brittani. 

Bartow County authorities have not released additional information about the plea proceedings. Stapleton is currently being held in the Bartow County Sheriff's Office Jail.