Commonwealth v. Smith

PRESENT: Goodwyn, C.J., Kelsey, McCullough, Chafin, Russell, and Mann, JJ., and Mims, S.J. COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA OPINION BY v. Record No. 220382 JUSTICE STEPHEN R. McCULLOUGH February 29, 2024 JOSEPH EUGENE SMITH FROM THE COURT OF APPEALS OF VIRGINIA This appeal presents several issues in connection with Joseph Eugene Smith’s convictions for statutory rape and object sexual penetration of a child under the age of thirteen: (1) whether the circuit court abused its discretion in declining to provide funds to retain several experts who would assist Smith in challenging his confession, (2)…