Influencer Sentenced to Five Years for Child Exploitation Crimes
A social media personality who attracted a following by showcasing his idyllic Gulf Coast life with his spouse has been sentenced to five years in prison for child pornography offenses.
Joshua David Stapleton, a 39-year-old from Georgia, received a 20-year sentence, which includes five years in jail and an additional 15 years of probation after admitting guilt to 20 charges of child sexual exploitation, as outlined in court documents.
Together with his wife, he operates the “Gulf Coast Stapletons” social media profile, amassing over 86,000 followers and achieving more than a million likes across TikTok and Instagram.
Authorities uncovered that from 2018 to 2020, Stapleton downloaded explicit images depicting prepubescent children in abusive contexts.
Initially, he faced 15 counts of possessing child pornography but later was indicted on 40 charges of sexual exploitation.
He entered a plea agreement in which he pleaded guilty to 20 counts without the possibility of negotiation.
The “Gulf Coast Stapletons” account primarily features the couple’s fitness routines, culinary experiences, and travel adventures.
As recently as last week, they shared several videos from their visit to Orange Beach, Alabama.
Brittani Morris Stapleton, Stapleton’s wife, has been actively addressing what she terms “misinformation” circulating online about her husband following the emergence of his case.
They married in 2023 after he was already facing charges.
“Josh was completely honest with me regarding the allegations; there were no hidden truths,” she stated in a recent TikTok video.
She also refuted claims that their social media presence depicted a fabricated lifestyle.
“There’s nothing untrue about it. This is our life, and we are still happy; we have no issues,” Brittani posted.
Currently, Stapleton is held at the Bartow County Sheriff’s Office Jail.
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