A jury convicted Mohammed Leon Bolton of one count of computer pornography and child exploitation “on-line solicitation” OCGA § 16-12-100.2 d 1. Bolton appeals, challenging the sufficiency of the evidence and the effectiveness of trial counsel. Finding that the State proved the offense as charged and that counsel did not render ineffective assistance of counsel, we affirm. The standard of review for sufficiency of the evidence in a criminal case is set out in Jackson v. Virginia , 443 U. S. 307 99 SC 2781, 61 LE2d 560 1979. The relevant question is whether, after viewing the evidence in the light most favorable to the verdict, any rational trier of fact could have found the essential elements of the crime beyond a reasonable doubt. In addition, appellant no longer enjoys a presumption of innocence. An appellate court determines only the legal sufficiency of the evidence adduced below and does not weigh the evidence or assess the credibility of the witnesses. Footnotes omitted. McKenney v. State , 303 Ga. App. 370, 371 1 693 SE2d 541 2010. So viewed, the evidence shows that on October 25, 2005, an “internet-crimes-against-children” officer employed by the Peachtree City Police Department logged into a website denominated as the “Adult Friend Finder,” using the name “Shelby.” On that day, Bolton under the user name “I Mean Business,” began “messaging” Shelby.
Shelby and Bolton communicated further through MSN’s instant messaging program. Thereafter, Bolton messaged Shelby using the user ID “momusic36.” In the messaging which followed, Shelby disclosed that she was only fifteen-years old and sent Bolton a photograph of herself. Bolton questioned Shelby’s age based on her photograph, and after an exchange of messages of a sexual nature, asked if she “wanted to do it today.” Shelby responded that she was unable to sneak away from her aunt, but could meet the next day. Bolton suggested that he could secretly meet Shelby at her house during the night, indicating that “I do it all the time” and “I am really horny, would love to see you tonight. I promise to be safe. I am an expert.” When Shelby resisted the nighttime rendezvous, Bolton responded “U asking me to take a risk that I could be locked up for and u can’t take this risk.” Ultimately, Bolton suggested the Peachtree City Wal-Mart store at 9:00 a.m. and provided Shelby his cell phone number. Shelby stated that she would be waiting in the store’s garden area and described the clothes that she would be wearing. As the exchange of messages ended, Bolton told Shelby that he was nineteen years old and sent her a sexually explicit photograph. Earlier, he had described himself as a forty-year-old African-American man.
