A defence lawyer in Memphis is urging prosecutors to drop charges against a mother accused of allowing her five-year-old daughter to perform intimate waxing services on nude adult clients, arguing that "questionable parenting" does not constitute a criminal offence.
The Allegations and Social Media Post
The case against aesthetician Jasmine Moss began after a social media post surfaced in 2024. The post, which prompted a joint investigation by Memphis Police and the Department of Children's Services (DCS), allegedly showed Moss's young daughter waxing a naked woman.
According to reports from Action 5 News, Moss herself boasted about the incident online. She claimed her daughter had assisted in waxing 24 clients in a single day, earning a total of $744. Moss stated she intended to put the money towards her child's future dreams.
Legal Defence and Licensing Complications
Moss was subsequently charged with child neglect and child abuse based on court documents obtained by WREG. However, her attorney, Blake Ballin, is mounting a robust defence. He contends the situation, while involving poor judgement, does not meet the threshold for a crime.
"Certainly some questionable parenting… but does that amount to a crime?" Ballin stated to WREG. "Our position is that it does not." He highlighted that a DCS investigation concluded with the child remaining in Moss's custody.
The case is further complicated by strict state licensing laws. Tennessee requires aestheticians to be at least 16 years old and complete 750 hours of certified training, followed by written and practical exams. Licences must be renewed biennially. Moss operated her business, Jazzy Body LLC, from her Westwood home, and Ballin confirmed there are ongoing "licensing issues" with the state cosmetology board.
Court Proceedings and Prosecutor's Decision
Ballin expressed hope that the prosecutor will recognise his client has remedied her mistake and that criminal proceedings are unnecessary. Jasmine Moss is next scheduled to appear in court on July 16.
"It’s an unusual case," Ballin admitted, acknowledging the intertwining of child welfare concerns and professional licensing violations. The legal team has requested more time to investigate the full scope of the licensing complications tied to the cosmetology board.
The outcome now rests on whether the judicial system agrees that the alleged actions, deemed by the defence as misguided parenting, are severe enough to warrant a criminal conviction.
