State of Tennessee v. Joseph Davis

The Defendant, Joseph Davis, was convicted by a Shelby County Criminal Court jury of rape of a child, a Class A felony; two counts of aggravated sexual battery, a Class B felony; two counts of especially aggravated sexual exploitation of a minor, a Class B felony; and criminal attempt to commit aggravated sexual battery, a Class C felony, and received an effective sentence of forty-nine years. See T.C.A. §§ 39-13-522(2018) (subsequently amended) (rape of a child), 39-13-504 (2018) (subsequently amended) (aggravated sexual battery), 39-17-1005 (2025) (especially aggravated sexual exploitation of a minor), 39-12-101(a)(3) (2025) (criminal attempt).On appeal, the Defendant contends that the evidence is insufficient to support his convictions. Because we agree that the evidence is insufficient to support the especially aggravated sexual exploitation of a minor convictions in Counts 3 and 5, we vacate those convictions and judgments and remand the case. We affirm the Defendant’s remaining convictions.