A Georgia mayor and his wife have been arrested by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation on felony charges.
The GBI said Sunday that assistance was requested on Saturday, May 31, 2025 by the Decatur County Sheriff’s Office to investigate allegations that Joseph Kelly had sexual contact with multiple minors.
Both Joseph and Natalie Kelly were arrested later that same day by GBI agents and Decatur County Sheriff’s Office investigators.
Joseph Kelly, 38, of Climax, GA, was arrested and charged with two counts of child molestation. His wife, Natalie Kelly, 44, also of Climax, was arrested and charged with two counts of cruelty to children in the second degree.
They were booked into the Decatur County Jail. The GBI investigation is active & ongoing. Once complete, it will be given to the South Georgia Judicial Circuit District Attorney’s Office for prosecution.
Joseph Kelly serves as the mayor of Climax and is employed by the Decatur County School District. At this time, there is no indication that the alleged acts are related to his employment.
The City of Climax is located in Decatur County with a population of approximately 270. The town is 512 acres in size. According to OpenGeorgia, Kelly works in the gifted program at the High School.
