A Decatur woman is behind bars after state investigators say she had child sexual abuse material and shared it online. Authorities have identified the suspect as 27-year-old Emily Rae Staub, who faces a single count of sexual exploitation of children. Officials say she was arrested Thursday and booked into the DeKalb County Jail.
GBI: Probe Began After CyberTipline Alert
The Georgia Bureau of Investigation says its Child Exploitation and Computer Crimes Unit opened the case in October 2025 after receiving a CyberTipline report from the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children, with the DeKalb County Police Department assisting in the investigation, according to Georgia Bureau of Investigation. The agency says Staub was taken into custody Thursday and booked into the DeKalb County Jail.
Local Outlets: Few Public Details
Local coverage notes that investigators are keeping most of the case file under wraps for now, according to WSB Radio. The station reported Staub’s name and age and confirmed that she is currently charged with one count, matching what state investigators announced.
What the Charge Means Under Georgia Law
Under Georgia law, “sexual exploitation of children” includes creating, distributing or possessing visual depictions of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct. It is ordinarily a felony that carries a potential sentence of five to 20 years in prison and up to $100,000 in fines, according to O.C.G.A. § 16-12-100. The statute defines “sexually explicit conduct” broadly and allows prosecutors to count separate images or files as separate offenses.
How Cases Like This Usually Start
The GBI says the investigation was triggered by a report to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children’s CyberTipline, the national clearinghouse that funnels tips from tech platforms and the public to law enforcement, according to NCMEC. Internet Crimes Against Children task forces at the state and federal level routinely lean on those referrals to track down people suspected of trading or stockpiling child sexual abuse material.
Next Steps
The GBI has asked anyone with additional information to contact its Child Exploitation and Computer Crimes Unit or submit a tip through the CyberTipline, according to Georgia Bureau of Investigation. The agency’s announcement did not list an initial court date, and officials say more details could be released as investigators and prosecutors move the case forward.
