Richard Davis – white, age 32

(Note: Davis was the second person to be sentenced to death in the country for a sexual offense that did not involve a murder in the post-Furman era. The first such person, Kennedy, had a case in the United States Supreme Court arguing the unconstitutionality of a death sentence for a sexual offense at the time Davis’s sentence was imposed. The Supreme Court ruled in favor of Kennedy in early 2008, which meant that Davis’s sentence had to be vacated, as well.)
Sentenced to death in Caddo Parish, Louisiana
By: A jury.
Date of crime: October 2004 to January 2005
Prosecution’s case/defense response: Davis used an 8-year-old girl as a sex toy for himself and his girlfriend from October 2004 to January 2005. The girl eventually told her parents, who contacted the authorities. The defense contended Davis should be spared because he had mental problems.
Prosecutor(s): Lea Hall, Brady O’Callaghan
Defense lawyer(s): Kurt Goines
Sources: AP Alert-LA 11/21/07, 11:16:41; AP Alert-LA 12/11/07, 11:28:48; AP Alert-LA 12/13/07-OH, 11:23:51.