An arraignment was held in Cumberland County Criminal Court this morning for a man charged with child sex crimes.

The indictment against 35-year-old Joshua Alan Whalen states he is charged with 13 counts of statutory rape by an authority figure, four counts of sexual battery by an authority figure, and single counts of attempted statutory rape by an authority figure and tattooing of a minor.

The victim is the same in all of the charges.

The four counts of sexual battery by an authority figure reportedly took place between February and May 2023. It states Whalen used his position of trust to accomplish sexual penetration of the minor.

In court today, the judge set the next court date for May 17, 2024.

Tennessee law defines sexual battery by an authority figure as the defendant was at the time of the offense in a position of trust, or had supervisory or disciplinary power over the victim by virtue of the defendant’s legal, professional, or occupational status and used the position of trust or power to accomplish the sexual contact; or the defendant had, at the time of the offense, parental or custodial authority over the victim and used the authority to accomplish the sexual contact.

An arraignment is a first appearance in criminal court by a defendant who enters a plea and is either assigned an attorney or informs the judge of the intention to hire an attorney. The judge then sets a return court date.