Mayor, math teacher accused of sex acts with ‘multiple minors,’ Georgia cops say
The mayor of a south Georgia city is accused of having inappropriate contact with minors, state investigators said.
Joseph Kelly, 38, of Climax was arrested and charged with two counts of child molestation, according to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation. His wife, Natalie Kelly, 44, is accused of second-degree child cruelty.
The couple was arrested May 31 and taken to the Decatur County Jail, where they remained as of June 2, online records show.
The GBI said it was asked to investigate allegations that Joseph Kelly, acting mayor of Climax, had “sexual contact with multiple minors,” per a June 1 news release.
Authorities did not say when or where the alleged molestation occurred.
In addition to serving as mayor, Joseph Kelly was employed as a teacher with Decatur County Schools, investigators said.
According to the district’s website, he taught advanced placement calculus, pre-calculus and algebra at Bainbridge High School in Bainbridge. It’s not clear if he’s still employed with the district.
“At this time, we cannot comment on any ongoing investigation associated with DCS personnel,” a district spokesperson told McClatchy News in an email. “As a school system, we will take appropriate and immediate action in response to the investigation.”
The GBI didn’t provide additional details but said there‘s “no indication” the allegations against Joseph Kelly are related to his work.
Climax is about a 30-mile drive northwest from Tallahassee, Florida.
This story was originally published June 2, 2025 at 2:10 PM with the headline "Mayor, math teacher accused of sex acts with ‘multiple minors,’ Georgia cops say."