SECOND DI VI SI ON

A NDREWS, P. J.

, M I LLER and BRA NCH, JJ.

N O T IC E : M otions for r e c ons i de r a tion m us t be

ph y sic a l ly r e ce iv ed i n our c le r k ’s offic e w ithin te n

da y s of the da te of de c is ion to be de e m ed tim e ly file d.

http://w w w .ga a ppe a l s .us /r ule s

Nov em ber 20, 2015



# I n th e Co u r t o f

A p p eals o f

G eo r g ia

A1 5 A1 19 2 . DORITY v . THE STATE.

B R A N C H , J u d g e.

Dem ark i u s Do ri t y ap p eal s h i s co n v i ct i o n an d s en t en ce o n co un t s of ag g rav at ed

s o d o m y

, ag g rav at ed ch i l d m o l es t at i o n

, an d ch i l d m o l es t at i o n an d on t h ree co u n t s o f

en t i ci n g a ch i l d fo r i n d ecen t p urp o s es i n a cas e i n v o l v i n g t wo v i ct i m s

. D o ri t y was

s en t en ced t o 4 5 y ears wi t h 3 5 t o s erv e. On ap p e a l

, h e co nt en d s t h e t ri al co u rt erred

b y ad m i t t i n g cert ai n ev i d en ce o v er o b ject i o n ; h e al s o co n t en d s h i s tri al co un s el was

i n effect i v e fo r s ev eral reas o n s

, i n cl u d i n g hi s fai l u re to ob t ai n an d rev i ew t h e v i ct i m s ’

DFCS an d ju v en i l e co u rt reco rd s

, t h erap y reco r d s

, s ch o ol reco rd s

, an d p ed i at ri c

reco rd s an d h i s fai l ure t o seek fu n d s t o o b t ai n ex p ert w it nes s es

. Fi n al l y

, Do ri t y h as

m o ved t o rem an d t he cas e an d o rd er t h e t ri al co u rt t o r e v i e w t h o se reco rd s an d fo rfu n d s t o o b t a i n a n e x p ert t o rev i ew t h em

. Fo r t h e reas o n s t h at fo ll o w, we affi rm

Do ri t y ’ s co n v i ct io n an d d en y t he m o t io n t o rem an d

.

W h en t h e ap p el lat e co u rt s rev i ew t h e s u ffi ci en cy o f t he ev id en ce, t h ey d o n ot

“ re-wei g h t h e ev i den ce” o r res o l v e co n fl i ct s i n t he t es t i m o n y ; i n s tead t h ey d efer “ to

t h e ju ry ’ s as s es s m en t o f t h e wei g h t an d cred i b i l i t y o f th e ev id en ce.” G r ees o n v. S t a t e

,

2 8 7 Ga. 7 6 4

, 7 6 5 (7 0 0 SE2 d 3 4 4 ) (2 0 1 0) (ci t at i o n s om i t t ed ). See al s o Gl a z e v. S t a t e

,

3 1 7 Ga. Ap p

. 6 7 9

, 6 8 0 -6 8 1 (1 ) (7 3 2 SE2 d 7 7 1 ) (2 0 1 2 ) (fo o t n o t e o m it t ed ). Ap p el l at e

co u rt s d et erm in e wh et h er “ aft er v i ewi n g t h e ev id en ce i n t h e l i g h t m o s t fav o rab l e to

t h e p ro s ecu t io n

, an y rat i o n al t ri er o f fact co u l d hav e fo u n d t h e es s en t i al el em en t s o f

t h e cri m e b ey o n d a reas o n ab l e d o ub t .” Ja cks o n v. Vi r g i n i a

, 4 4 3 U. S. 3 0 7 , 3 1 9 (III)

(B) (9 9 SCt 2 7 8 1, 6 1 LE2 d 5 60 ) (1 9 7 9 ) (ci t at i o ns o m i t t ed ).

As fo r t h e fi rs t v i ct i m

, th e ev i d en ce p res en t ed at t ri al sh o w ed t h at wh en Do ri t y

was m arri ed t o Erl an d e (a/ k / a Mi n n ie) Do ri t y

, wh o h ad t w o dau g h t ers fro m a p ri o r

rel at i o n s h i p , Do ri t y ap p ro ach ed M . D. — Erl an d e’ s t h en n i n e-y ear-o l d d au g h t er —

as s h e was dry in g her hai r aft er t ak i n g a s h o wer; he p u t a t o wel ov er h er face, l ed h er

t o a b ed ro o m

, an d h ad an al i n t erco u rs e wi t h h er wh en n o o n e el se w as at h o m e. 1 Th e

1 At t h e t i m e, M. D. li v ed i n Do ri t y ’ s h o m e wi t h h er m o t h er, h er s i st er T., an d

h er s t ep s i s t er K. D.

2ch i l d t es t i fi ed th at Do ri t y p erfo rm ed t h i s act wi th h er o n m u l t i p l e o ccas i o n s in

d i f f e r e n t ro o m s ; s h e g av e a d et ai l ed d es cri p t i o n o f t h es e as s au l ts

, i n cl u d i n g t h a t

Do ri t y wo u l d m ak e her t ak e o ff h er cl o t h es b efo re t he i n ci d en t s ; an d s h e t es t i fi ed t h at

h i s act i o n s h u rt h er an d m ad e h er feel b ad em o t i o nal l y

. Sh e ad ded t h at Do ri t y wo u ld

s o m et i m es u s e a l ot i o n t hat had a n am e b eg i n n in g wi t h an “ A” as a l u b ri can t ; t h at h e

s o m et i m es p u t h i s g reen an d bl u e b at h ro be o v er h er h ead in s t ead o f a t o wel ; an d t h at

h e wo u ld was h h er aft erward s wi t h wi p es

. Sh e al s o g av e tes t i m on y to t h e effect t h at

h e fo rced h er t o g i ve h im o ral s ex o n at l e a s t o n e o c c a si o n

. On cro s s ex am i n at io n

, 2

Do ri t y ’ s p u b l i c d efen d er es tab l i s h ed t h at M

. D. fi rs t m ad e an ou t cry as sh e was ab o ut

t o g et a s p an k i n g an d t hat s h e d i d no t t el l an y o n e o t h er t h an h er m o t h er an d

g ran d m o t h er ab o u t t h e al leg ed ab u s e d u ri ng t he fo l l owi n g t en d ay s wh i l e s h e was in

Fl o ri da wi t h h er m o t h er an d s i s t er.

Erl an d e t es t i fi ed t h at o n o r ab o u t Sep t em b er 1 9, 2 0 1 1, as s h e was ab o u t t o g i v e

a s p an k i n g t o M

. D

. fo r ri d in g t h e b u s t o a n ei g h b o r’ s h o u s e wi t h o u t perm is s i o n an d

as Do ri ty u rg ed Erl an d e no t t o s p an k t h e ch i l d

, M

. D. s t art ed to t ry t o t el l h er m o t h er

ab o ut Do ri t y ’ s act i o n s

. Erl an d e t es t i fi ed t h at t h e ch i l d was n o t cl ear an d s h e t h erefo re

2 Becau s e Do ri t y has s ev eral cl ai m s of i n effect i v e as s i s t a n c e o f co un s el

, we

h av e i ncl u d ed t h e h ig h l i g h t s o f t ri al c ou n s el ’ s cro s s ex am i n at i o n of t h e St at e’ s

wi t n es s es

.

3p ro ceed ed wi t h th e sp an k i n g

, aft er wh i ch t h e ch i l d m ad e cl ear t h at Do r i t y h a d

t o u ch ed h er i n a b ad way

. Erl an d e t oo k M

. D

. an d her s is t e r f o r a r i d e i n a car an d

p ark ed ; Erl an d e t es ti fi ed t h at at t h at p o i nt

, t h e ch i l d rep o rt ed t h at o n m o re t h an o n e

o ccas i o n o v er th e p rev i o u s t wo week s D o ri t y h ad p u t a t o wel o v er h er h ead

, l ed h er

t o h er s t ep s i s t er’s r o o m

, a n d p u t so m et h in g i n h er b u t t t h at fel t li k e i t was i n h er

s t om ach

, t h at h u rt

, an d t h at m ad e h er cry

. Erl an d e d ro v e h o m e, h a d th e g i rl s p ack

s o m e b el on g i n g s

, an d dro v e th em al l t o m eet wi t h J o y ce D r ay t o n

, Do ri t y ’ s m o t h er,

wi t h wh o m Erl an d e was fri en d s ; M

. D. t o l d Dray to n t h a t D o ri t y wo u l d p u t a t o wel

o v er h er h ead an d g i v e her a “ ch eck u p” o n t h e b ed

. Erl an d e an d h er t w o dau g h t ers

s t ay ed at a h o t el t h at n i g h t

. Erl an d e t es t ifi ed t h at s he h ad p l an n ed t o fl y t o h e r b es t

fri en d ’s w ed d i n g i n Fl o ri d a t he n ex t d ay wi th o u t h er d au g h t ers

, b ut i n st ead s h e

s k i p p ed t h e fl i g h t an d d ro v e t o Fl o ri d a wi t h her d au g h ters an d at t en d ed t h e w ed d i n g.

As s he was ret u rn in g fro m Fl o ri d a 1 0 d ay s lat er, Erl an de sen t a t ex t m es s ag e t o Do ri t y

t h at s tat ed “ I am rel ocat in g o u t o f s t at e an d I wi s h y o u th e b es t

. W i s h i t en d ed i n o t h er

way s an d wh en y o u req u es t ed th e d i vo rce, we s ho u l d h av e s i g n ed i t

. To o l at e n o w.”

W h en s h e an d t h e g i rl s g o t b ack fro m Fl o ri d a, Erl an de t o o k t he g i rl s t o a h o t el , an d

t h e nex t m o rn in g Erl an de wen t t o wo rk an d t h e g i rl s wen t to s ch o o l

. T h a t d ay

,

4Sep tem

b er 2 9

, 2 0 1 1

, Erl an d e l eft wo rk earl y t o i n t ercep t t h e g i rl s co m i n g h o m e fro m

s ch o ol , t o o k t h em

t o t h e m o t el , an d l at er cal l ed t h e p o l ice.

Tri al co u n s el cro s s -ex am i n ed Erl an d e p ri m ari l y o n th e fact t h at t h ere were

s o m e d i s crep an ci es in t h e ev id en ce reg ard i n g i n wh ich ro o m t h e ch i l d s ai d t h e

i n ci d en t s o ccu rred ; t h e fact th at M

. D.’ s s i s t er T

. D. h ad o n ce s en t p ict u res o f h ers el f

t o a 1 7 -y ear-o l d m al e an d t h at sh e was v i ewi ng p o rn o g rap hy o n a co m pu t er; t h e fact

t h at Erl an d e d id n o t cal l t h e p o l i ce fo r 1 0 d ay s aft er

t h e ch i l d ’ s i n i t i al ou t cry an d wen t t o Fl o ri d a d u ri ng t h at t i m e; an d o n t h e fact t h at s h e

s en t t h e g i rl s t o s ch o o l aft er ret u rn i n g fro m Fl o ri d a b efo re cal l in g t h e p ol i ce.

Aft er Erl an d e m ad e a rep o rt , Det ect i v e Ch ri s to p h er Bert era m et wi t h h er an d

t h en co nt act ed a ch i l dren ’ s h o s p i t al t o s et u p a fo ren s i c i n t erv i e w fo r M

. D., wh i ch

o ccu rred o n Oct o b er 7, 2 0 1 1. Bert era o b s erv ed t h at i n t erv i ew o n cl o s ed ci rcu i t

t el ev is i o n

. A red act ed fo rm o f th at i n t erv i ew was au t h en t i cat ed b y Bert era, ad m i t t ed

i n t o ev i d en ce, an d p l ay ed f o r t h e ju ry

, b u t t h e in t erv i ewer di d n ot t es t i fy

. In t h e

i n t erv i ew, t h e ch i l d g av e v ery s i m i lar t es t i m on y ab o u t Do ri ty ’ s act i o n s as s h e d i d at

t ri al

, i ncl ud i ng s i g n i fi can t d et ai l ab o ut ex act l y wh at h ap p en ed

. Th e v i d eo refl ect s t h at

t h e i n t erv i ewer as k ed o p en -en d ed an d n o n -l ead i ng q u es t i o n s t h ro u g h o u t.

5Bert era t h en i nt erv iewed Do ri t y an d l at er s earch ed h i s h o u s e p u r s u an t t o a

warran t

. A red act ed v i deo reco rd i ng o f t h e Do ri t y i n terv i ew was p l ay ed fo r t h e ju ry

.

Th e d et ect i v e al s o tes t ifi ed t h at h e t ri ed t o s et u p an ad d i t i o n al m eet i n g wi t h Do ri t y

b u t t h at Do ri t y can cel l ed

, s ay i n g t h at hi s wi fe h ad b e e n i n a b ad acci d en t an d was

b ei n g ru s h ed t o th e h o s p i t al

. At a s u bs eq u en t m eet i n g wi t h Do ri t y

, an d aft er read i n g

Do ri t y h i s Mi r a n d

a ri gh t s

, t h e d et ect i v e co n fro n ted Do ri t y ab ou t hi s ex cu s e fo r

can cel l i ng t h e s eco n d m eet i n g an d accu s ed h i m o f ly i n g

. Do ri t y res p o n ded t h at h i s

wi fe h ad ch o s en no t t o g o th e h o s p i t al an d th at

, i n st ead

, h e had t o h an d l e s o m e rel at ed

i n s u ran ce m at t ers

.

W h en o f f i cers s earch ed Do ri t y ’ s h o m e t h ey reco vered a bo t t l e of al m o n d o i l

fro m a k i t ch en t ab l e, a co n t ai n er o f Vas el i n e co co a b u t t er l ot i o n, an d a b l u e an d g reen

s t ri p ed b at h ro be fro m t h e m as t er b e d ro o m ; t h e o ffi cers al s o t o o k a p h o to g rap h o f a

b o x o f b ab y wi pes

. Do ri t y was arres t ed an d p l aced i n jai l o n No vem b er 18

, 2 0 1 1.

Tri al co u n s el cro s s -ex am i n ed Bert era a b o u t h o w Bert era d id n o t ru n an y fo ren s i c

t es t i n g o n Do ri t y ’ s cel l ph o n e; h o w h e d i d n o t t ak e f i n g e r p r i n t s fro m t h e b o t t l e o f

al m o n d oi l ; ho w Erl an d e an d M

. D. were i n Fl o ri d a fo r t en d ay s b et ween t h e o u t cry

an d cal l i n g t he p o l i c e ; h o w t h ere was ev i d en ce t h at M

. D.’ s s i s t er h ad b een t ex t i n g

an o l der b o y an d lo ok i n g at p o rn o g rap h y ; h o w t h ere was an erro r i n Bert era’ s rep o rt

6reg ard i n g t h e ro o m i n wh i ch t h e i n ci d en t s o ccu rred ; h o w D o ri ty was un d er n o l eg al

o b l i g at i o n t o ap p ear at t h e s eco n d s ch ed u l ed m eet i n g wi t h Bert era; an d h o w Do ri t y

co o perat ed wi t h t h e i n v es t i gat i o n

.

K e l l e y Gas k in

, a p ed i at ri c n u rs e p ract i t i o n er wi t h s i g n i fi can t ex p eri en ce i n

e v a l u a t i ng an d t reat i n g ch i l d ren s u s p ect ed o f bei n g v i ct i m s o f s ex ual an d p h y s i cal

ab u se, was q u al i fi ed at t ri al as an ex p ert i n ch i l d s ex u al ab us e. Sh e t es t ifi ed t h at o n

Oct o b er 7

, 2 0 1 1

, aft er M. D.’ s fo ren s i c in t erv iew, s h e g av e M

. D. a m ed i cal ex am in

co n nect io n wi th t h e a l l e g a t i o n s ag ai n s t Do ri t y

. Gas k i n rep o rt ed th at t h e ch i ld

co m p l ai n ed o f p ai n an d bl eed i ng fo l l owi n g b o wel m o vem en t s

, b u t t h e p h y s i cal ex am

d i d no t s h o w an y i nju ri es rel at ed t o t h e al l eg at i o n s ag ai n s t Do r i t y; Gas k in n o t ed

,

h o wev er, t h at m o st s u ch i n ju ri es wo u l d h eal wi t h i n 72 ho u r s

. Tri al co u n s el cro s s

ex am i n ed Gas k i n o n h o w a p ers o n wh o h ad n o t s u ffered t h e al l eg ed cri m es wo u ld

al s o p res en t wi t h a n o rm al ex am

.

Th e s eco n d v i ct i m

, C. S., i s t h e ch i l d o f Ch ad Sp ri g g s an d Lo r i a R o g e rs

.

Sp ri g g s was m arri ed t o T res s a Sp ri g g s

, an d

, at t h e t i m e o f t h e al l eg at i o ns d es cri b ed

b el o w, t h e Sp ri g g s an d Ro g ers fam i l i es were i n a cu s t o d y d is p u t e reg ard i n g C. S. t h at

co n cern ed wh et her Ro gers co u l d p ro p erl y care fo r t h e ch i l d g i v en h er jo b as a t ru ck

7d ri v er. Ro g ers

, wh o p rev io u s l y h ad b een i n a rel at i o n s h i p w i t h Do ri t y

, h ad a ch i ld

wi t h Do ri t y

n am ed S. D. Th u s , C. S. an d S. D. were h al f s i s t ers

.

C. S., ag e s i x at t h e t i m e o f t h e i nci d en ts , t es t i fi ed t h at s h e an d h er h al f-s i s t er

S. D. freq u en t l y wen t t o D o r i t y’ s h o u se 3 t o p l ay

. C. S. t es t i fi ed t h at on o ccas i o n,

Do ri t y s h o wed p o rn o g r a p h i c m o v i es i n h i s b ed ro o m w i t h t h e ch i l d in t h e bed wi th

h i m an d t h at

, d u ri n g t h e m o vi e, Do ri t y to u ch ed h er p ri v at es u nd er h er u n d erwear wi th

h i s h an d an d i t m ad e h er “ feel l i k e h el l .” At t i m es

, Do ri ty wo u l d al so jo i n t h e ch i ld

i n t h e s h o wer an d b at h e h er, i n cl u d i n g h er pri v at es

. T ri al co u n s el cro s s ex am i n ed C.

S

. o n wh et h er an y o n e el s e ev er g av e h er a b at h at Do ri t y ’ s h ou s e an d o n h o w C

. S

.

d i d n o t l i k e l i v i n g wi t h h er m o t h er, i .e., Ro g ers

.

Tres s a Sp ri g g s t es t i fi ed t h at o n Sep t em b er 2 3

, 2 0 12

, C. S. m ad e an o u t cry to

h er; Do r i t y h a d b een i n jai l fo r o v er 1 0 m o n t hs at th i s t i m e b as ed on t h e ch arg es

rel at ed to M

. D. In th is o u t cry

, C. S. t o l d her st ep m o t h er t h at h er h al f-s i st er S. D. h ad

b een “ m es s i n g wi th h er an d t o u ch i n g h er” an d t h at Do ri t y h ad t o u ch ed h er as wel l ;

t h at Do ri t y s ho wed h er p o rn o g rap h y an d t o ld h er t hat

, l i k e t h e g i rl s in t h e v i d eo

, s h e

s h o u ld l ik e i t t o o ; an d t h at wh en as k ed w h ere s h e h ad been t o u ch ed

, C. S. p o i n t ed to

h e r p r i v at es

. On cro s s ex am i n at i o n

, Tres s a ad m i t ted t h at C. S. h ad al s o accu s ed a

3 Th i s was ap p aren t l y

t h e s am e h o u se wh ere M . D. l i ved

.

8d i fferen t m a n

, “ Un cl e D,” of s ho wi n g h er m ov i es an d t o u ch i ng h er at s o m e t i m e in

t h e p as t an d t h at s h e h ad n ev er recan t ed th o s e al l eg at i o n s. O n red i rect

, Tres sa t es t i fi ed

f o r t h e St at e t h at s h e n ev er co ach ed C. S. o n wh at t o s ay

. T ri al co u n s el d i d n o t

d i rect l y reb u t t h i s t es t i m o n y ab o u t co ach in g C. S., b u t h e rai s ed an i m p l i cat i o n t h at

s h e h ad b y g et t i ng Tres s a t o ad m i t t h at Ro g ers an d t h e Sp ri g gs fam i l y were i n v o l v ed

a cu s t o d y d i s p u t e o v er C. S.

Ch ad Sp ri g g s t es ti fi ed t h at o n s ev eral o ccas i o n s in l at e 2 0 10 an d 2 0 1 1

, h e

n o t i ced t h at C. S. was t ro u b led ab o ut s o m et h i ng an d wo u l d cry an d s ay t h at s o m eo n e

h ad t o u ch ed h er bu t l i t t l e el s e. Aft er th e ch il d ’ s s t at em en t t o h i s wi fe, Sp r i gg s

co n tact ed DFCS, b u t DFCS to ok n o act i o n

. On cro ss ex am i n at i o n, Sp ri g g s ad m i t t ed

t h at h e an d Ro g ers were i n a cu s t o d y d i s p u te ab o u t C. S. at t h e t i m e o f t h e o u t cry ; t h at

C. S

. w o u l d s o m et i m es m ak e s i m i l ar al l eg at i o n s th en b ack o ff an d s ay t h at t h e

i n ci d en t d i d n o t h ap p en ; an d t h at C. S. had m ad e u n recan t ed al l eg at i o ns t h at Un cl e

D. h ad t o u ch ed h er i m

pro perl y

.

On Decem

b er 4

, 2 01 2, m o re t h an t w o m o n t h s aft e r C

. S

. m a d e t h e o u t cry to

Tres s a, Ch ad Sp ri g g s to o k C. S. t o t h e Do ug l as Co u nt y Sh eri ff’ s Offi ce. Th e ch i ld

t h en rep o rt ed es s en t i al l y t h e s am e i n ci d en t s d es cri b ed ab o v e d u ri n g a f o r e n s i c

i n t erv i ew b y In v es t i g at o r Ci n d y W es t ; a red act ed p o rt i o n o f t he v id eo o f t h e in t erv i ew

9was p l ay ed fo r t h e j u ry

. W es t t e s t i f ied ab o u t t h e p ro p er t ech n i q u es o f fo ren s i c

i n t erv i ewi n g o f a ch i l d v i ct i m

. Tri al co u n s el cro s s-ex am in ed W es t an d es t ab l i s h ed

t h at W es t d i d n o t i n t erv iew M

. D.

, S. D., o r Tres s a Sp ri g g s ; t hat C. S. rep o rt ed t h at

s h e had n ev er s een Do ri ty n ak ed ; t h at C. S. was rep o rt i n g a b o u t in ci d en t s t h at h ad

o ccu rred o v er a y ear b efo re h er o u t cry wh en s he was o n ly s i x y ears o l d ; an d t h at t h e

ch i l d ’ s m o t h er an d fat her were i n a cu s t o dy d i s p u t e at t he t im e o f t h e o u t cry

.

T h e St at e al s o p res en t ed t h e t es t i m o n y o f L

. D., w h o t h e d efen dan t ad o p t e d

wh en h e m arri ed L. D.’ s m ot her wh en L. D. was a y o u ng g i rl , t o t es t i fy reg ard i n g a

s i m i l ar t ran s act i o n

. L. D., ag e 2 8 at t h e t i m e o f t ri al

, t es t i f i e d t h at o n t wo o r t h ree

o ccas i o n s wh en s h e was ab o u t 1 0 y ears o l d

, Do ri ty wo u l d cal l h er i nt o th e b at h ro o m

,

h av e her t ak e o ff h er cl o t h es

, an d c h e c k h er p ri v at e area t o see i f s h e h ad cl ean ed

h ers el f co rrect ly

. He w o ul d m ak e h er s i t on t he co u n t er faci ng t h e m irro r an d u s e h er

h a n d s t o s h ow hi m in s id e h er v ag i n a. On t h e l as t o ccas i on

, h e as k ed i f s h e fel t

u n co m fo rt ab l e an d wh et h er s h e “ fel t l i k e h e wo u l d m o les t ” her; L. D. res p o n d ed

,

“ y es ,” an d D o ri t y d i d n ot rep eat t h e b eh av i o r t h ereaft er. Tri al co u n s el cro s s -ex am i n ed

L. D. o n h o w s h e h ad a go o d rel at i o n s h i p wi t h h er fat h er o t h erwi s e; o n ho w Do ri t y

n ev er t ou ch ed h er i m

p ro p erl y ; an d o n h ow s he n ev er saw h i m i m p ro p erl y t o u ch an y

o t h er ch i l d ren an d h o w n o o t h er ch i l d ev er s ai d h e h ad d o ne s o

.

10W i t h reg ard t o M. D., Do ri t y was i n d i ct ed o n co u n t s o f ag g rav at ed s o d o m y an d

ag g rav at ed ch i l d m o l es t at i o n an d o n t wo co u n t s o f en t i ci n g a ch i l d f o r i n d e c en t

p u rp os es

. W i t h reg ard t o C

. S

. , h e w as i n d i ct ed o n co u n t s o f ch i l d m o l es t at i o n an d

en t i ci n g a ch i l d fo r i n decen t p u rp o s es

. Fo l l o wi ng a t r i a l b y ju ry in J u n e 2 0 1 3

, in

wh i ch Do ri t y d id n o t tes ti fy an d p res en t ed no wi t n es s es o r o t h er ev i d en ce, Do ri t y was

co n vi ct ed o n al l co u n t s

.

Po s t Tri a l Mo ti o ns

Do ri t y fi l ed a m o t i o n fo r n ew tri al

, an d u p on o b t ai n i n g ap p el lat e co u n s el

, fi l ed

am en d ed m o t i o ns fo r n ew t ri al

, s o u gh t a co n t i n u an ce of t h e h eari n g o n t h e m o t i o n fo r

n ew t ri al

, an d fi l ed m o t i o n s req u es t i n g th at t h e co u rt i s s ue a s ub p o en a o r co u rt o rd er

d i rect i n g t h e p ro du ct i o n o f t h e v i ct i m s ’ DFCS an d ju v en il e c o u r t reco rd s

, t h erap y

reco rd s

, s ch o o l reco rd s

, an d p ed i at ri c reco rd s fo r an i n cam era rev i ew b y th e co u rt

.

Do ri t y s o u g h t a co u rt o rd er bas ed o n t h e b el i ef th at if h e were t o s erv e s u bp o en as fo r

t h e reco rd s h i m s el f, t h e reco rd h o l ders w ou l d fi l e m o t i o n s t o q u as h

, t h us u l t i m at el y

n eces s i t at i n g a co u rt o rd er. Do ri t y s o u g h t t h e reco rd s i n co n n ect i o n wi t h h i s as s ert i o n

t h at t ri al co u ns el “ was i n effect i v e fo r n o t req ues t i n g reco rd acces s fo r t h e two al l eg ed

v i ct i m s t o p ro m o t e d efen s e cas e t h eo ri es an d ch al l en ge wi t n es s cred ib i l i t y .” Do ri t y

s t at ed t h at h e s o u g h t th e reco rd s fo r t h e p u rp o s e o f “ su b st an t i v e u s e b y co u n s el an d

11d efen s e ex p ert s

, an d fo r p urp os es o f i m p each i n g t h e al l eg ed v i ct i m s ’ cred i b i l i t y ” s o

t h a t h e co u l d p ro v e t h e p reju d i ce p ro n g o f h i s cl ai m s o f i neffect i v e as s i s t an ce o f

co u ns el

. D o ri t y al s o m o ved fo r co u n ty fu n d s t o ret ai n an ex p ert m ed i cal p ract i t i o n er

an d an ex p ert ch i ld p sy ch o lo g i s t t o rev iew an y reco rd s o f th e v i ct im s t h at h e m i g ht

o b t ai n v i a co u rt ord er an d t o g i v e t es t i m o ny at t h e h eari n g on t h e m o ti o n fo r new t ri al

.

Th e co u rt h el d two h eari n g s reg ard i n g Do ri t y ’ s di s co very m ot i on s d u ri n g

wh i ch t ri al co u n s el t es t i fi ed ab o u t h i s d eci s i o n s no t t o s eek d i s co v ery o f t h e reco rd s

at i s s u e an d n o t t o s eek fu n d s fo r ex p ert wi t n es ses

. At t h e cl o s e o f th e s eco n d h eari n g,

Do ri t y ’ s ap p el l at e co un s el arg u ed t o t h e co u rt

,

[T] h ere’ s no q u es t i on t h at wh en we’ re t ry i n g t o g et t h es e reco rd s

, i t i s

s p ecu l at i v e t o a cert ai n ex t en t

. I d o n ’ t k n ow wh at i s g o i n g t o b e i n t hes e

reco rd s

, b u t t h e l aw i s cry s t al cl ear u nd e r OCGA § 4 9 -5 -4 1

, [t h at ] th e

Co u rt w i l l per f

o r m an i n cam era in s p ect io n u p on req u es t fo r an i s s ue

t h at m ay . . . b e d et erm i n at i v e o f t he i ss u e b efo re t h e Co u rt

.

Lat er, h av i n g no d eci s i o n fro m t h e co u rt o n th e d i sco v ery m o t io n s o r on a p en d i n g

m o ti o n fo r a co n t i n u an ce, Do ri ty ’ s ap p el l at e co u n s el s erv ed s u b p o en as o n t h e t arg et s

o f h i s d i s co v ery req u es t s an d d em an d ed t h at t h e reco rd s b e p ro du ced an d t h e rel ev an t

wi t n es s es ap p ear at t h e u p co m i n g h eari n g o n t h e m o t i on fo r n ew t ri al

. M ean wh i l e, o n

J u n e 1 2 an d 1 3

, 2 0 1 4, t he co u rt d en i ed Do ri t y ’ s m o t io n s fo r t h e co u rt t o i s su e p o s t

12t ri al s u b p o en as an d fo r p o s t -v erd i ct ex p ert wi t n es s f u n d s

. A t t h e beg i n n i n g o f t h e

h eari n g o n t h e m o t i o n f

o r n ew t ri al

, t h e co urt refu sed to al l o w Do ri t y t o u s e o r fi l e

d o cu m en t s t h at h ad b een p ro d u ced i n res p o n s e to Do ri t y ’ s o w n s u b p o en as o n t h e

g ro u nd t h at t h e co u rt h ad al read y ru l ed o n Do ri ty ’ s d is co v ery m o t i o ns

.

Hea ri ng o n the Mo ti o n fo r New Tri a l

Th e co u rt t h en h el d a t wo -d ay h eari n g on th e m o t io n fo r n ew t r i al

. At t h e

h eari n g o n t h e m o t i o n f o r n e w t ri al

, Do ri ty p res en t ed t h e ad d i t i o n al ev i d en ce

d es cri b ed b el o w, i n cl ud i n g t h ree wi t n es s es

, ev i d en ce reg ard i n g a reco rd i n g of C. S.’ s

i n i t i al o u t cry , a fo ren s i c rep o rt reg ard i n g C. S., an d o t h er ev i d en ce.

Lo ri a Ro g ers

, C. S.’ s m o t h er, t es ti fi ed t h at s h e h ad a co n vers at i o n wi t h C. S.

i n wh i c h t h e ch i l d d en i ed t h at Do ri t y to u ch ed h er b u t s ai d h e was “ ab o u t t o ” o r

“ al m o s t d i d

, ” a n d t h at “ Teres a” (ap p aren t l y m ean i n g Tres s a Sp ri gg s ) t o l d h er t h at

o t h er g i rl s h ad b een t o u ch ed

, wh i ch co nv ers at i o n Ro g ers au d i o t ap ed ; th at Tres s a

h at ed Ro g ers an d h ad a m o t i v e t o ob t ai n cu s t o d y o f C. S.; t h at t h e ch i ld l o v ed Do ri t y

an d cal l ed h i m “ Dad ”; t h at t he DFCS in v es ti g at i o n s t ri g g er e d b y t h e Sp ri g g s es

y i el d ed n o res u l t s ; t h at C. S. en jo y ed Do r i t y’s co m

p an y an d n ev er cl ai m ed Do ri t y

t o u ch ed h er p ri o r t o t h e t i m e t h at Ro g ers l o st cu s t o d y t o th e Sp ri g g ses ; an d t h at t h e

ch i l d h ad n o t s een Do ri t y fo r al m o s t t w o y ears b efo re t h e o u t cry

.

13J o y ce Dray t o n tes ti fi ed t h at wh en Erl an d e b ro u gh t M

. D. t o h er h o m e fol l o wi n g

t h e ch i l d’ s i n i t i al o u t cry

, E rl an d e s eem ed m ore co n cern ed wi t h h er t ri p t o Fl o ri d a t h an

t h e ch i l d ’ s al l eg at i o n s an d t h at wh en t h e ch i l d s p o k e t o Dray t o n

, s h e w o u l d n o t l o o k

Dray t o n i n t h e ey e. Bu t sh e al s o t es t i fi ed t h at t he ch i l d t o l d h er t h at Do ri t y h ad

t o u ch ed h er i nap p ro p ri at el y an d t h at h e h ad had s ex wi t h h er. Dray to n t o ld Erl an d e

t o d o wh at was ri g h t fo r t h e ch i l d an d t o t ak e h er t o t h e d o ct o r t o h av e her ex am i n ed

.

L. D., wh o w as p res en t at Do ri t y ’ s fi rs t ap p earan ce heari n g o n No v em b er 2 1,

2 0 1 1

, tes t i fi ed t hat E rl an d e Do ri t y t o l d t h e m ag i st rat e at t h at h eari n g t h at M

. D. h ad

m ad e u p t h e al l eg at i o ns becau s e s h e wan t ed t o g o o n t h e t ri p t o Fl o ri d a wi t h h er

m o th er an d t h at t h e al l eg at i o n s were n o t t ru e. A n ews p ap er art i cl e fro m t h e fo l l o wi n g

d ay ap p ears t o co rro bo rat e t h at re t r a c t i o n

. Bu t n ei t h er L. D. n o r an y o th er wi t n es s

t es t i fi ed at t ri al t o t h i s recan t at i o n b y E rl an d e. L. D. t es t i fi ed t hat t ri al co un s el n ev er

q u es ti o n ed h er p ri o r t o th e t ri al ab o u t h er kn o wl ed g e o f t h e cas e; t h ey ex ch an g ed o n l y

p l eas an t ri es

.

Al t h ou g h at t ri al

, t he Sp ri g g ses t es ti fi ed ab o ut h o w C

. S

. m ad e an o u t cry to

t h em an d m en t i o n ed th at t h ey reco rd ed th e ou t cry

, t h e reco rd i n g was n ot i n t ro d u ced

i n t o ev i d en ce. Tri al co u ns el tes t i fi ed at t h e h eari n g o n t h e m o t i o n fo r new t ri al t h at

h e recei v ed th e au d i o fro m t h e St at e o n t h e F r i d a y b efo re t h e M o n d ay t ri al

, t h at h e

14rev i ewed i t

, an d t h at he d eci d ed t o t ry t o k eep i t o u t o f t h e ev id en ce b ecau s e, al t h o u g h

s o m e p o rt i o n s o f t h e au d i o m ig h t h av e b een h el pfu l to h i s cas e, o veral l th e au d i o was

v ery p reju d i ci al t o t h e d efen s e. At t ri al

, tri al co u ns el o b ject ed o n t he g ro un d s o f t h e

l at e p ro d u ct i o n an d t h e p reju di ci al effect an d s t at ed t h at h e h ad n ’ t h ad en ou g h t i m e

t o rev i ew i t ; t h e au d i o was n o t ad m i t t ed b u t t he Sp ri g g s es were al lo wed to t es t i fy

ab o ut t h e ch i ld ’ s ou t cry

. Tri al co u n s el t es t i fi ed t h at t h e au d io al so rev eal ed t h at t h e

Sp ri g g s d i d m o s t o f t h e t al k i n g

, t h at t h e Sp ri g g s ’ qu e s t i o n i ng o f C. S. was v ery

s u g g es t i v e an d l ead i n g

, an d t hat Tres s a, n o t C. S., fi rs t m en t i o n ed t h e p os s i bi l i t y t h at

Do ri t y h ad t o u ch ed C. S.

In J an u ary 2 0 1 3

, J u l i e C. M ed l i n

, a l i cen sed p s y ch ol o g i s t

, ev al u at ed C. S. an d

p rep ared a rep ort en t i t l ed Fo ren s i c Sex u al T rau m a Ev al u at i o n (t h e “ M ed l i n Rep o rt ”)

at t h e req u es t o f Ch ad Sp ri g g s’ s at t o rn ey

. So m e t i m e b efo re t ri al

, an u n k n own p ers o n

l eft a co p y of t h e rep o rt i n tri al co u n s el ’ s o ffi ce. Tri al co u ns el

, h owev er, was n o t s u re

h e was s u pp os ed t o h av e t h e rep o rt ; h e t ho u g h t t h at i t m i g h t b e p ro t ect ed by a

p ri v i leg e, an d h e d i d no t p res en t a c o p y t o t h e St at e or rev eal t hat h e h ad i t

. He

t es t i fi ed at t h e h eari n g o n t h e m o t i o n fo r new t ri al t hat h e d i d u s e i n fo rm a t i o n h e

l earn ed fro m read i n g t h e rep o rt t o as k s ev eral cro s s ex am i n at i on q u es t i o n s o f v ari ou s

wi t n es s es

. Tri al co u n sel ad m i t t ed t h at h e co u l d h av e rai s ed wi t h t h e co u rt wh et h er t h e

15rep o rt was p ri v il eg ed bu t t h at h e “ d i d n ’ t w an t t o h av e t o

, q u i t e f r a n k l y, g et i n t o al l

t h at .”

Fi n al l y , Do ri t y p res en ted o t h er t es t im on y ab o ut o t h er as pect s of t h e t ri al t h at

wi l l b e d i s cu s s ed b el ow. Fo ll owi n g t h e heari ng o n t h e m o ti on fo r n ew t ri al

, t h e co u rt

d en ied t h e m o ti o n i n a d et ai l ed o rd er, an d Do ri t y fi led t h e p res en t ap p eal

.

1

. Do ri t y d o es n o t ch al l en g e t h e s u ffi ci en cy o f t he ev i d e n c e

. Bu t t h e St at e

p res en t ed ev id en ce t h at Do ri ty m o l es t ed t h ree y o u ng g i rl s

, t h e two vi ct im s an d L. D.,

each o f wh o m

was at t h e t i m e o f t h e i nci d en t s th e y ou n g d au g h t er o f a wo m an wi th

wh o m D o ri t y

was o r h ad b een i n v o l v ed i n a ro m an ti c rel at i o n s h i p . An d t h e v i ct i m s

t h em s el v es t es t i fi ed t o t h e p art i cu l ars o f each o f t h e rel e v a n t c r i m es

. Ou r rev i ew

s h o w s t h at wi t h reg ard t o M

. D., t h e ev i d en ce was s u ffi ci en t t o s u p p o rt t h e

co n vi ct i o n s o f ag g rav at ed s o d o m y

, ag g rav at ed ch i l d m o l es tat i o n

, an d en t i ci n g a ch i ld

fo r i n d ecen t p u rp o s es

. W i t h reg ard to C. S., t h e ev i d en ce was su ffi ci en t t o s up p o rt t h e

co n vi ct i o n s o f ch i l d m o l es t at i o n an d en t i ci ng a ch i l d fo r i n d ecen t p u rp os es

.

2

. Do ri t y co n t en d s th e t ri al co u rt erred b y ad m i tt i ng an un red act ed p o rt i o n o f

Bert erra ’s i n terro g at i o n i n t erv iew o f Do ri ty ov er t ri al co u n s el ’ s ob ject i o n

. Bert era

arres t ed an d i n t erv i ewed Do ri ty

, an d t h e i n terv i ew was pl ay ed to t h e ju ry d uri n g t h e

t ri al

. Tri al co u n s el ob

ject ed t o cert ai n p ort i on s o f t h e i n t erv i ew b ei ng p l ay ed fo r t h e

16ju ry o n t h e g ro u nd s t h at Bert era co m m en t ed o n t h e cred i bi l i t y o f t he v i ct i m

, g av e h i s

o p i n i o n t h at M

. D. h ad n o t b een co ach ed

, m ad e co m m en ts t h at i n v ad ed t he p ro v i nce

o f t h e ju ry

, an d g av e h i s o p in i o n t h at s o m et h i n g d efi n i tel y h ap p en ed t o t h e ch i l d

. Tri al

co u ns el ad ded t h at Bert era was n o t an ex p ert wi t n es s y et d u ri n g t h e i n t erro g at i o n h e

p ro fes s ed h i s ex p eri en ce an d s t at u s as a p o l i ce o ffi cer. Fi nal l y

, t ri al c o u n s e l c i t ed

OCGA § 2 4 -6 -6 2 0 i n s u p p o rt o f h i s arg u m en t an d arg u ed t h at t he j u ry w o u l d b e

o v erl y i n fl u en ced b y Bert era’ s co m m en t s. Th e t ri al co u rt d en ied t h e ob ject i o n o n t h e

g ro u nd t h at u n d er OCGA § 2 4 -7 -7 0 4

, “ t es t i m o n y i n t h e f o rm o f an o pi n i o n o r

i n feren ce o t h erwi s e ad m i s s i b l e s h al l n o t b e o b j ect i o n ab l e b ecau se i t em b races an

u l t i m at e i s s u e t o be d eci d ed b y t h e t ri er of fact ” an d o n t h e g ro u n d t h at th e d et ect i v e

was s i m p l y co n fro n t i n g Do ri ty ab o u t t h e al l eg at i on s ag ai n s t h i m

. Th e co u rt al l o wed

t h e rel ev an t p o rt i o n s o f t h e in t erv i ew t o b e p l ay ed wi th ou t red act i ng Bert era’ s

co m m en t s t o wh i ch t he d efen s e o b ject ed

.

Sp eci fi cal l y

, t ri al co u n s el o b ject ed to t h e fo ll o wi n g p o rt i o n s o f t h e i n t erv i ew,

d u ri n g wh i ch Bert era q u es t i o n ed an d co nfro n t ed D o ri t y ab o u t t h e al l eg at i o n s b y M

.

D.:

Th e d es cri p t i o n t h at s h e w as g i v i n g was n ot of s o m eb od y t h at h ad b een

co ach ed

, i t was th at o f s om eb o d y t h at h ad ex p eri en ced it

. O k ay ? So m e

17o f t h e t h i n g s t h at s h e tal k ed ab o ut y o u can tel l weren ’ t co ach ed

, weren ’ t

t o l d t o h er, b ecau s e s h e u s ed wo rd s i n a c h i l d ’s v e r s i o n o f h o w t o

d es cri b e t hi n g s

. Fo r ex am p l e, i n h er d es cri p t i o n of wh en s om et h i n g w as

b ei n g i n s ert ed i n t o h er.

. . s h e d es cri bed as

. . . “ i t fel t l i k e a b al l .” Th at ’ s

h er i m ag i n at io n p ro ces s i n g wh at s he’ s feel in g

, n o t b ei n g ab le t o s ee i t

.

So m et h in g ’ s h ap p en ed t o t h i s l i t t l e g i rl

. An d s o g et t i n g d o w n t o t h e tru t h

i s pro t ect i n g t h at g i rl

. I ’m g o i n g t o t el l y o u

, i f s h e d oes n ’ t h av e s o m e

cl o s ure s he’ s g o i ng t o h av e t o d eal wi t h t h i s t h e res t o f h er l ife.

Aft er t h es e w o r d s

, Bert era an n o u n ced t h at h e was go i n g t o l eav e t h e ro o m

. Do ri t y

t h en s t at ed t hat h e was b ei n g t o t al l y h o n es t an d d en i ed t h at h e had do n e an y t h i n g to

M

. D. Bert era t h en l eft t h e ro o m

. Aft er m o re t han 1 5 m i n u t es

, Bert era ret u rn ed fo r

fu rt her q u es ti o ni n g , an d m ad e t h e fo l lo wi n g co m m en t s

.

W i t h o u t a d o u b t so m et h i n g h a p p en ed t o t h i s l i t t l e g i rl

. W as s he

m o l es t ed ? W i t h o u t a d ou b t in m y m i n d sh e e x p e r i en ced wh at sh e w as

t al k i n g ab o ut

. In m

y ex p eri en ce an d m

y t rai n i n g an d t h at o f t h e fo ren s i c

ex am i n er, an d s h e h as d o n e h u n d red s an d t h o u s an ds o f t h es e in t erv i ews

.

Sh e was co n cern ed wi t h t h e d et ai ls

. Yo u can co ach a ch i l d b u t y o u can ’ t

co ach a ch i l d i n t erm s o f 9 -y ear-o l d ’ s t al k ; y o u k n ow wh at I’ m s ay i n g

,

s o m et h i ng h ap p en ed t o th i s g i rl

.

Do ri t y rep l i ed t h at h e was wi ll i n g t o b el i ev e th at s o m e t h i n g h ad h ap p en ed t o h i s

ch i l d

.

18“ [A] s w o rn w i tn es s

, g en eral l y s p eak i n g

, s ho u l d no t b e p erm i tt ed to op i n e fro m

t h e s t an d ab o u t w h et h er an o th er wi tn es s i s t ru t h fu l

. ” R o b er t s v. S ta t e

, 3 1 3 Ga. Ap p.

8 4 9

, 8 5 0 -8 51 (2 ) (7 2 3 SE2 d 73 ) (2 0 1 2 ) (ci t at io n s o m i t ted ); s ee al s o OCGA § 2 4 -6

-

6 2 0 (“ T h e cred i b i l i ty o f a wi tn es s s h al l b e a m at t er to b e d et erm i n ed b y t h e t ri er o f

fact [.] ”). Th i s ru le, h o wev er, i s in ap pl i cab l e h ere b ecau s e “ [c] o m m en ts m ad e [d u ri n g

a l aw en fo rcem en t i n t erro gat i o n ] an d d es i g n ed t o el ici t a res p o n s e fro m a s us p ect d o

n o t am o un t t o op i n i o n t es t i m o n y

, ev en wh en a reco rd i n g o f t h e co m m en t s i s ad m i t t ed

at t ri al .” R o b er t

s

, 3 1 3 Ga. Ap p

. at 8 5 1 (2 ) ( c i t a t i o ns om i t ted ). “ [L] aw en fo rcem en t

i n t erro g at i o n s are, b y t h ei r v ery n at u re, at t em p t s t o d et erm i n e t h e u l t i m at e i s s u e an d

t h e cred i b i l i t y o f wi t n es s es .” Co l l u m v. S ta t e , 2 8 1 Ga. 7 1 9 , 7 2 3 (3 ) (6 42 SE2 d 6 4 0 )

(2 0 0 7). Bu t , “ [l ] i k e an y o t h er ev i d en ce, tes t i m o n y refl ect i n g co m

m en t s m ad e b y an

o ffi cer i n t he co u rs e o f an i n terv i ew o u g h t n o t b e ad m i t t ed i f t h e p ro b at i v e v al u e o f

t h e t es t i m o n y i s su b s t an t i al l y o u t wei g hed b y i t s t en d en cy t o u n d u l y aro u s e em o t i on s

o f p reju d i ce, h o st i l it y

, o r sy m p at h y .” Bu t ler v. S t a t e

, 2 9 2 G a. 4 0 0

, 4 0 6 ( 3 ) ( a ) (7 3 8

SE2 d 7 4 ) (2 0 1 3 ) (ci t at i on an d fo o t n o t e om i t t ed ); see al s o Ro b er t s

, 31 3 Ga. Ap p

. at

8 5 1 (2 ); OCGA § 24 -4 -4 0 3 (“ Rel ev an t ev i den ce m ay b e ex cl ud ed i f it s pro b at i v e

v al u e i s s u b s t an t i a l l y o u t w e i g h ed b y t h e d an g er o f un fai r p reju d i ce

. . . . ”). “ Th e

s t an d ard of rev i ew o f t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s ru l i n g o n a ch al l en g e t o ev i d en ce o n t h e g ro u n d

19t h at i t s p ro b at i v e v al u e i s o ut wei g h ed b y i t s t en d en cy t o u n d u ly p reju d i ce t h e ju ry i s

a n ab u s e o f di s cret i o n s t an dard .” Ho l la n d v. S t a t e

, 2 2 1 Ga. Ap p

. 8 21

, 82 5 (3 ) (4 7 2

SE 2 d 7 1 1 ) ( 1 9 9 6 ) (ci t at i on o m i t t ed ). As ex p lai n ed b el o w, we fi n d n o b reach o f

d i s cret i o n

.

As fo r t he fi rs t p arag rap h q u o t ed ab o v e, p ret erm i t ti n g wh et h er t h e co m m en t s

h ad an y p ro b at i v e v al ue, we fi n d t h at t h ey h ad li t t l e i f an y p reju d i ci al effect

. Fi rs t

, t h e

co m m en t s are n o t a d irect co m m en t o n t he ch i l d ’ s cred i b i l i t y ; t hey o n l y g o t o wh et h er

t h e ch i l d ’ s s t at em en t s rev eal ed ev i d en ce o f co ach i n g

. A n d “ th i s Co u rt h as rep eat ed l y

h el d th at a wi t n es s do es n o t im p ro p erl y b o l s t er a v ict i m ’ s cred i b i l i t y b y t es t i fy i n g t h at

t h e wi t n es s s aw n o ev i d en ce o f co ach i n g.” Co n l ey v. S t a t e

, 3 2 9 Ga. Ap p

. 9 6, 1 0 2 (a)

(7 6 3 SE2 d 8 8 1 ) (2 0 1 4 ), ci t i n g McCo wa n v. St a t e

, 3 0 2 Ga. Ap p. 5 5 5

, 5 57 (1 ) (6 9 1

SE2 d 3 6 0 ) (2 0 1 0 ) (v ict i m ’ s m o t h er’ s an d n u rs e’ s s t at em en t s th at th e v i ct i m ’ s

res p o n s es d i d n o t ap p ear reh ears ed d i d n ot b o l s t er t h e v i ct i m ’ s cred i bi l i t y ). Th u s t h e

co m m en t s di d no t i m

p erm i s s i bl y b o l s t er t h e v i ct im ’ s te stim o ny o r i nv ad e t h e p ro v i nce

o f t h e ju ry

. A n t h o n

y v. S t a t e

, 2 8 2 Ga. Ap p

. 45 7

, 4 5 9 (2 ) (6 3 8 SE 2 d 8 7 7 ) ( 2 0 0 6 )

(o ffi cer’ s t es t i m on y t hat v i ct i m ex hi b i t ed n o s i gn s o f d ecep ti on d u ri ng i n t erv i ew d id

n o t co n s t i t u t e bo l s t eri n g ); S t il l wel l v. S ta t e

, 2 9 4 Ga. Ap p

. 80 5

, 8 0 6 -8 0 7 (2 ) (a) (6 7 0

SE2 d 4 5 2) (2 0 0 8) (l awy er’ s s t at em en t t h at h e d id n ot s ee an y ev i d en ce t hat ch i l d h ad

20b een co ach e d d i d n o t i m perm i s s i b l y ad d res s t h e u l t im at e i s s u e b efo re t h e ju ry o r

b o l s t er th e ch i l d’ s cred i b i l it y ). Furt h er, t h e St at e p res en t ed o t h er ev i d en ce fro m wh i ch

t h e ju ry co u ld as s es s M

. D .’ s cred i b il i ty

, i ncl u d in g t he co n s i s t en cy o f h er t ri al

t es t i m o ny

, h er fo ren si c i n terv i ew, an d t h e t es t i m o n y o f t h e ou t cry wi t n es s es

, as wel l

as Do ri ty ’ s react io n s d uri ng h i s i n t erro g at i o n an d i t em s fo u n d i n Do ri t y ’ s h o u s e t h at

t h e ch i l d m en t io n ed in h er t es t im o n y

. Acco rd i n g l y

, we co ncl u d e th at Do ri t y h as n ot

s h o wn t h at t h e p ro b at i v e v al u e o f t h e fi rs t p arag rap h o f t h e o ffi cer’ s co m m en t s i s

s u b s t an t i al l y o u twei g h ed b y th e d an g er o f u n f a i r p reju d i ce, an d

, t h erefo re, t h e t ri al

co u rt d i d n o t b reach i t s d i s cret i o n b y d en y i n g Do ri t y ’ s req u es t t o red act t h o s e

co m m en t s

.

To t h e ex t en t Bert era co m m en t ed o n co ach in g i n t h e s eco n d p arag rap h q u o t ed

ab o ve, t h e s am e an al y s i s ju s t g i ven ap p l i es

. In t h e rem ai n d er o f t h e s eco nd p arag rap h,

Bert era s tat ed t h at b as ed o n h i s ex peri en ce as an o ffi cer an d rel y i n g o n ex p ert i s e o f

t h e fo ren s i c ex am in er as w e l l, s o m et h i n g d efi n i t el y h ap p en ed t o M

. D. Bu t t h i s

co m m en t h ad s o m e p ro b at i v e v al u e g i ven t h at it was fo l l owed b y D o ri ty s t at i n g t h at

h e w as wi l li n g t o b el iev e t h at s o m et h i n g h ap p en ed t o M

. D. See, e.g

., Ro ber t s

, 3 1 3

Ga. Ap p

. at 8 5 1 -8 5 2 (2 ) (i n t erro g at i o n co m m en t s h ad p ro bat i ve val u e w h e r e t h ey

were p art o f a co n fro n t at i o n al t ech n i q u e t h at y i el d ed an ad m i s s io n fro m t h e

21d efen d an t ); Bu t l er

, 2 9 2 Ga. at 40 6 (3 ) (a) (ch al l en g ed i n t erro g at i o n s t at em en t s were

fo l l o w ed s h o rt l y

b y d efen d an t ’ s ad m i ss i on t h at h e h i t t h e v i ct i m ). Th e co m m en t s at

i s s u e h e re m ay h av e h ad s o m e p reju d i ci al effect g i v en t h at t h ere was n o p h y s i c a l

ev i d en ce o f t he cri m e. Bu t a reas o n ab l e j u ro r wo u l d un d ers tan d t hat t h e o n l y reas o n

an o ffi cer was i n t erro g at i ng t h e s u s p ect was t h at t h e o ffi cer b el i ev ed t h e acco u n t o f

t h e v i ct i m an d th o u g h t th e d efen d an t was a s us p ect

. Ro b er ts

, 3 13 Ga. Ap p

. at 8 5 1 (2 ).

Gi v en th es e fact o rs an d t he t o t al i t y o f t h e St at e’ s ev i d en ce, w e c a n n o t s ay t h at t h e

t ri al co u r t a b u s ed i t s d is cret i on b y d et erm in in g t h at t h e pro b at i v e v al u e o f t h e

q u es ti o n i n g ex ceed ed an y p o s s i b l e preju d i ci al effect

. Id .; Du b o s e v

. S t a t e

, 2 9 4 Ga.

5 7 9

, 5 8 7-5 8 8 (6 ) (b ) (7 5 5 SE2 d 1 7 4 ) (2 0 1 4 ) (i n t e r r o g at io n q u es t i o n s p ro d u ced

p ro b at i v e i n fo rm at i o n r e g ard i n g ch an ges i n d efen d an t ’ s s to ry

, an d, u n d er t h e

ci rcu m s t a n c e s

, an y reas o nab l e ju ro r wo u l d h av e ex p ect ed t h at i n t erro g at o r d i d n ot

b el i ev e d efen d an t ’ s fi rs t s t o ry ); Bu t ler

, 2 9 2 G a. at 4 0 6

- 4 0 7 (3 ) (a) (p ro b at i v e v al u e

o f i n t e r r og at i o n co m

m en t s wh i ch l ed to defen d an t ch an g i n g h i s s to ry ex ceed ed

p o s s i b l e preju d i ci al effect ); co m p a r e Axel b u rg v. S t a t e

, 2 9 4 G a. Ap p. 6 1 2

, 6 1 8 (2 )

(6 6 9 SE2 d 4 3 9 ) (2 0 08 ) (wh ere “ o ffi cer ex p res s ed a p ro fes s ed ly ex p ert o p i n i on o n t h e

d efen d an t ’ s s l eep wal k i n g defen s e an d g en eral cred i bi l i t y i n a cas e in w h i c h t h e

s l eep wal k i ng i s s u e p l ay ed a cen t ral r o l e [

, t ] h e o ffi cer’ s s tat em en t s i m p erm i s s i b l y

22b o l s t ered o t h er t es t i m on y o n t h i s i s s u e, wh i ch was t h e s u b ject o f s i g n ifi can t d i s p u t e

b et ween t h e p art i es ’ ex p ert wi tn es ses at t ri al ”).

3

. Do ri t y co n t en d s t h e t ri al c o u r t erred b y al l o w i n g t h e s im i l ar t ran s act i o n

i n v o l v i n g L

. D

. 4 He cl ai m s t he St at e fai l ed t o es t ab l i s h t h at D o ri ty ’ s act i vi t i es wi th

L. D. co n s t i tu ted ch i l d m ol es t at i o n

, as t h e tri al co u rt h el d

. W e ag ree w i th t h e t ri al

co u rt

.

“ W e rev i ew a t ri al co urt ’ s ev i d e n t i ary ru l i ng s u nd er an ab u s e o f d i s cret i o n

s t an d ard o f rev i ew. Ho wev er, we accep t a t ri al co u rt ’ s fact ual fi nd i n g s u n l es s t h ey are

cl earl y er r o n e o u s

. ” McCo y v. St a t e

, 3 3 2 Ga. A p p

. 6 2 6

, 62 8 (7 7 4 SE2 d 1 7 9 ) (2 0 1 5 )

(ci t at i o n s o m i t t ed ).

OCGA § 2 4 -4 -4 1 3 (a) p ro v i d es :

In a cri m i n al p ro ceed i n g i n wh i ch t h e accu s ed i s accu sed o f an offen s e

o f s ex ual as sau lt

, e v i d e n ce o f t h e accu sed ’ s co m m is s i o n o f an o t h er

o ffen s e o f s ex u al as s au l t s h al l b e ad m i s s i b l e an d m ay b e co n s i d ered fo r

i t s b eari ng o n an y

m at t er t o wh i ch i t i s rel ev an t.

4 Do ri t y co u ch es t hi s a r g u m en t b ot h as an erro r o f t h e t ri al co urt an d as

i n effect i v e as s i s tan ce o f co u n s el o n t h e g ro u nd th at t ri al c o u n s el fai led t o p ro p erl y

o b ject t o t h e ev i d en ce o f t he si m i l ar t ran s act i o n

. Ou r rev i ew sh o w s t hat t ri al co u n s el

d i d o b ject

, an d th erefo re w e rev i ew t h i s en um erat i o n on l y fo r erro r b y t he tri al co u rt

i n ad m i t t in g t h e ev id en ce.

23An d OCGA § 2 4 -4 -4 1 4 (a) p ro v i d es :

In a cri m i n al p ro ceed i n g i n wh i ch t h e accu s ed i s accu sed o f an offen s e

o f ch i ld m o les tat i o n

, ev id en ce o f t h e accu s ed ’ s co m m i s s i o n o f an o t h er

o ffen s e o f ch il d m o les tat i o n s h al l b e ad m i s si bl e an d m ay be co n s id ered

fo r i t s b eari n g o n an y

m at t er t o wh i ch i t i s rel ev an t

.

“ Th e ch i l d m o l es t at i o n s t at ut e [OCGA § 1 6 -6 -4 (a) 5 ]

. . . r eq u i res o n l y t h at t h e

d efen d an t h av e act ed wi th t h e in t en t t o aro u s e h i s s ex ual d es i res

. [An d t ] h e q u es t i o n

o f i n te n t i s p e cu l iarl y a q u es t io n o f fact fo r d et erm i n at i o n b y t h e ju ry [.] ” Br o wn v.

S t a t e

, 3 2 4 Ga. Ap p

. 7 1 8

, 7 2 0 -7 2 1 (1 ) (7 5 1 SE2 d 5 1 7) (2 0 13 ) (ci t at i o n s an d

p u n ct u at i o n om i tt ed ). A ju ry co u l d d et erm i n e t h at Do ri ty t o o k t h e act i o n s wi t h reg ard

t o L. D. wi t h t h e i n t en t t o aro u s e h is s ex u al d es i res

, es p eci al l y gi v en t h at Do ri t y as k ed

L. D. i f sh e fel t li k e h e wo u ld m o l es t h er. See, e.g

., Ca ven der v. S ta t e

, 3 2 9 Ga. Ap p.

8 4 5

, 8 4 9 (3 ) (b ) (7 6 6 SE2 d 1 9 6 ) ( 2 0 1 4 ) (ev i d en ce t h at d efen d an t l i ft ed v i ct i m ’ s

b ed co v ers to s t are at h er b u tt o ck s wh i l e s h e was s leep i n g was s u ffi ci en t t o s u p p o rt a

co n vi ct i o n o f ch il d m o l es t at i o n ).

5 OCG A § 1 6-6 -4 (a) p ro v i d es t h at “ [a] p ers on co m m i t s t h e o ffen s e o f ch i ld

m o les t at i o n wh en s u ch p ers o n : (1 ) Do es an y im m oral o r i n d e c e n t act t o o r i n t h e

p res en ce o f o r wi th an y ch i ld u n d er t h e ag e o f 1 6 y ears w i t h th e in t e n t t o a r o u s e o r

s at i s fy t h e s ex u al d es i res of ei t h er t h e ch i l d o r t h e p ers on .”

24Do ri t y al s o co nt en d s t h e i n ci d en t i n v ol v i n g L. D. was n o t a d m i s s i b l e u n d er

OCGA § 2 4 -4 -4 0 4 (b ). 6 Bu t OCGA § 2 4

- 4

- 4 1 4 ( a) i s th e m o re sp eci fi c s t at u t e

r e g a rd in g ad m is s i o n o f p ri o r act s o f ch i l d m o l es t at i o n an d i s t herefo re co n t ro l l i n g

o v er OCGA § 2 4 -4 -4 0 4 (b ). See Vi n es v. St a te

, 2 6 9 G a. 4 3 8

, 4 4 0 (4 9 9 SE2 d 6 3 0 )

(1 9 9 8) (“ Fo r p u rp o s es o f s t at u to ry i n t erp ret at i o n, a s p eci fi c s tat u t e wi l l p rev ai l o v er

a g en eral s t at u t e, ab sen t an y i n d i cat i o n o f a co n t rary l e g i s l a t i v e in t en t .”) (ci t at i o n

o m it t ed ); s ee al s o U

n i t ed St a t es v. Br i mm

, 6 0 8 F. Ap p x

. 7 9 5

, 7 9 8 (I) (B) (1 1 t h Ci r.

2 0 1 5 ) (“ [FRCP] Ru l es 4 1 3 an d 4 1 4 p erm i t th e i n t ro du c t i o n o f pro p en s i t y ev i d en ce

an d t hu s co n t ai n ex cep t i o n s t o Ru l e 4 0 4 (b )’ s g en eral b an o n p ro p en s it y ev i d en ce in

“ s ex u al as s au l t ” an d “ ch i l d m o l es t at io n ” cas es .”) (ci t at i o n s o m i t t ed ).

4

. Do ri t y cl ai m s t h at h i s t ri al co un s el w as i n effect i v e i n ni n e way s

. Un d er

S t r i c k l a n d v. W

a s h i n g t o n

, 4 66 U. S. 6 68

, 68 7 (III) (1 04 SC 2 0 52

, 8 0 LE2 d 6 7 4 )

( 1 9 8 4 )

, t h e ap p el lan t “ m us t p ro v e b ot h th at h i s t ri al co u n s el ’ s perfo rm an ce was

6 OCGA § 2 4 -4 -4 0 4 (b ) p ro v i d es as fo l l o ws :

Ev i d en ce o f ot h er cri m es

, wro n g s, o r act s s h al l n o t b e ad m is s i b l e t o

p ro v e t h e ch aract er o f a p ers o n i n o rd er t o s h o w act i o n in co n fo rm i t y

t h erewi th

. It m ay

, h o wev er, b e ad m i s s ib l e fo r o t h er p urp o s es

, i n cl ud i n g

,

but n o t l i m i ted t o, p ro o f o f m o ti v e, o p p ort u n i t y

, i n t en t

, p rep arat i o n

, p l a n,

k n o wl ed g e, i d en t i t y , o r ab s en ce o f m i st ak e o r acci den t

.

25d e f

i c i e n t an d th at t h ere i s a reas o n ab l e pro b ab i l i t y t h at t h e t ri al res u l t wo u l d h a v e

b een d i fferen t i f n o t fo r t h e d efi ci en t p erfo rm an ce. [Ci t.] ” W h i t e v. St a t e

, 2 8 3 Ga. 5 6 6,

5 6 9 (4 ) (6 6 2 SE2 d 1 3 1 ) (2 0 0 8 )

. “ I f an ap p el l an t fai l s t o m eet h i s o r h er b u rd en o f

p ro v in g ei t h er p ro n g o f t h e S t r i ckl a n d t es t

, t h e rev i ewi ng co u rt d oes no t h av e to

ex am i n e t h e o t h er p ro n g

. ” Rect o r v. S t a t e

, 2 8 5 Ga. 7 1 4

, 71 6

, 7 1 7 (6 ) (6 8 1 SE2 d 1 5 7 )

(2 0 0 9) (ci t at i o n s om i t t ed ). O n cl ai m s o f i neffect i v e as s is t an ce o f co u ns el

, G e o r g i a

ap p el l at e co u rt s wi l l u p h o l d a t ri al co u rt ’ s fi n di n g s o f fact u n l es s t h ey are cl earl y

erro neo u s b u t rev i ew l eg al co n cl u s io n s d e n o v o

. H u n t e r v. S t a te

, 2 8 1 G a. 5 2 6

, 5 2 8

(2 ) (a) (6 4 0 SE2 d 2 71 ) (2 0 0 7 ); Ch er ry v. S t a te

, 28 3 Ga. Ap p

. 7 0 0 (1 ) (6 42 SE2 d 3 6 9 )

(2 0 0 7).

I n rev i ewi n g a cl ai m o f i n effect i v e as s i s t an ce o f co u n s el

, we rem em b er t h at

“ [t ] h ere i s a s t ro ng p res u m pt i o n t h at co u n s el ’ s co n d u ct fal l s wi t h i n t h e ran g e o f s o u n d

t ri al st rat eg y an d reas o n ab l e p ro fes s i o nal ju d g m en t .” Newki r k v. S t a t e

, 2 9 0 Ga. 5 8 1,

5 8 2 (2 ) (7 2 2 SE2 d 7 60 ) (2 0 1 2 ) (ci t at io n o m i t t ed ).

[A] n d t h e d efen d an t b ears t h e b u rd en o f o verco m i n g t hi s p res um p t i o n

.

To carry t h at b urd en

, t h e d efen d an t m u st s h o w t h at n o reas o n ab le l awy er

wo u ld h av e d o n e wh at h i s l awy er d i d

, o r wo u l d hav e fai led t o d o wh at

h i s l awy er di d n o t

, o r pu t an o t her way

, t h at h i s l a w ye r m a d e erro rs s o

s eri o u s t h at h e was n o t f u n c t i o ni ng as t h e co u n s el g u aran t eed th e

d efen d an t b y

t he Si x t h Am en d m en t

.

26S t a t e v. W

o r s l ey

, 2 9 3 Ga. 31 5

, 3 2 3 -3 2 4 (3 ) (7 45 SE2 d 6 1 7 ) (2 0 1 3 ) (ci t at i o n s an d

p u n ct u at i o n o m i t ted ). Fu rt h er, as t h e t ri al co u rt no t ed du ri n g t h e heari n g o n

i n effect i v en es s i n t hi s cas e, “ h i n d s i g ht h as n o p l ace i n an as s es s m en t o f t h e

p erfo rm an ce of t ri al co u nse l, a nd a la w y er s eco n d-g u es s i n g h i s o wn p erfo rm an ce wi th

t h e b en efi t o f hi nd s ig h t h as n o s i gn i fi can ce fo r an i n effect iv e as si st a n c e o f co u n s el

cl ai m .” S h a w v. St a t e

, 2 9 2 Ga. 8 7 1

, 8 7 6 (3 ) (a), n

. 9 (7 42 SE2 d 70 7 ) (2 0 1 3 ) (ci t at i o n

o m it t ed ).

Fo r b ack g ro u n d

, we n o t e t h at t ri al co u n sel t es t i fi ed t h at h i s tri al s t rat eg y wi th

reg ard t o M

. D. w as t o as s ert t h at Erl an de an d Do ri t y were ho s t il e t o each o t h er, t h at

Erl an d e h ad m ad e u p t h e al l eg at i o n s

, an d t h at M

. D. had b een co ach ed d u ri n g t h e t en

d ay t ri p t o Fl o ri d a o n wh at t o s ay t o t he p o l i ce. Hi s s t rat eg y wi th reg ard t o C. S. was

t o as sert th at t h e C. S. al l eg at io n s were a p l o y b y t h e Sp ri g g ses t o g ai n ad v an t ag e in

a cu s t o d y d i s p u t e wi t h Ro g ers

.

(a) Do ri t y fi rs t co n t en d s t h at t ri al co u n sel fai l ed t o p ro p erl y o bject w h e n

D e t ect i v e Bert era co m

m en t ed o n D o ri t y m i s s in g a m eet i n g wi t h Bert era d u ri n g t h e

i n v es t i g at i o n

, th ereb y v i o l at i ng t h e “ b ri g h t -l i n e ru l e in Geo rg i a t h at t h e St at e m ay n ot

co m m en t o n e i t h e r a d efen dan t ’ s s i l en ce p ri o r t o arres t o r fai l u re t o co m e fo rward

27v o l u n t ari l y .” S a n d er s v. S ta te

, 2 9 0 Ga. 6 3 7

, 6 4 0 -6 4 1 ( 4 ) (7 2 3 SE2 d 43 6 ) (2 0 1 2 )

(ci t at i o n s o m i t t ed ).

Th e ev i d en ce s h o w e d t h at Do ri t y v ol u n t ari l y m et wi t h Bert era a fi rs t t i m e,

wai v ed hi s Mi r a n d

a ri g h t s, was i n t erv i ewed an d was as k ed t o m eet ag ai n ; a s eco n d

m eet i n g was s ch ed u l ed

. Bert era t es t i fi ed t h at Do ri t y l at er can cel l ed t h e s eco n d

m eet i n g

, s ay i n g t h at h i s wi fe h ad b een in a b ad acci d en t an d was b ei n g ru s h ed t o t h e

h o s p it al . Bert era t es t ifi ed t h at h e l earn ed fro m an o t h er s o u rce t hat Do ri ty was l y i n g

ab o ut h is reas o n fo r can cel l i n g an d t h at wh en t h e s eco n d m eet i n g ev en t u al ly occu rred

an d aft er reread i n g Do ri t y h is Mi r an d a ri g h t s

, h e co n fro nt ed Do ri t y ab o u t l y i n g ab o ut

h i s ex cu se fo r can cel l i n g t h e s eco n d m eet i ng

. Tri al co un s el o bject ed to t h i s t es t i m o ny

o n t h e g ro u n d o f h ears ay an d t h at t h e q u es t i o n s cal l ed fo r s p e c u l a t i o n

. Do ri t y

co n ten d s t hat co un s el w a s in effect i v e fo r no t o b ject i n g o n t h e g ro u n d t h at t h e

t es t i m o ny in fri n ged o n Do ri t y ’ s ri g h t t o rem ai n s i len t an d ag ai n st sel f-i n cri m i n at i o n.

See W al l a ce v. S t a t e

, 2 7 2 Ga. 50 1

, 5 0 3 (2 ) (5 3 0 SE2 d 7 2 1) (2 0 0 0 ) (fai l u re t o o b ject

at t ri al t o t es t i m o n y o n t h e g ro u n d t h at i t i m p ro p erl y refl ect ed o n t h e d efen d an t ’ s ri g ht

t o rem ai n s il en t

, wai v ed t h at i s s u e o n ap p eal ). T ri al co u n s el o ffered n o t act i cal reas o n

fo r fai l i n g t o o bject o n t h es e g ro u n d s

.

28W e fi nd no in effect i ve as s i s t an ce b ecau se t h e p ro p o s ed o b je c t i o n wo u l d n ot

h av e b een m eri t o ri o u s

. See Y o u n g v. S ta t e

, 3 28 Ga. Ap p

. 8 5 7

, 8 5 9 (1 ) (7 6 3 SE2 d 1 3 7 )

(2 0 1 4) (“ Fai l ure t o m ak e a m eri t l es s o r fu ti l e ob ject i o n or m o t i o n can n o t b e ev i d en ce

o f i n effect i v e as si s t an ce.”) (ci t at i o n o m i t t ed ). Do ri t y d i d n o t fai l t o co m e fo rward o r

as s ert h i s ri g h t to rem ai n s i len t ; rat h er, he m ad e arran g em en t s t o c o m e f o rward

,

can cel l ed t he arran g em en t s

, ev en t u al l y cam e fo rward

, an d t h en wa i v ed h is ri g h t to

rem ai n s i l en t an d sp o ke t o Bert era. Th us

, u l t i m at el y

, Do ri t y d i d n o t ex erci s e h i s ri g ht

t o rem ai n s i l en t , h e ch os e t o t al k t o t h e p ol i ce, an d no d efi ci en cy o n t he p art o f t ri al

co u ns el h as b een s h o wn

. See Sh a b ur o v v. S t a t e

, 3 2 4 Ga. A pp

. 7 43

, 7 4 7 (1 ) (7 5 1 SE2 d

5 4 0 ) (2 0 1 3 ); Fl emi n g v. S t a t e

, 3 2 4 Ga. Ap p

. 4 8 1

, 4 8 7 (3 ) (a) (7 4 9 SE2 d 5 4 ) (2 0 1 3 ).

(b ) Do ri t y co n ten d s t h at t ri al co u n s el fai l ed t o red act a 3 0 -s eco n d po rt i o n o f M

.

D.’ s fo ren s i c i nt erv i ew an d t h at a s a co ns eq u en ce, t he ju ry heard M

. D. s t at e t h at

Do ri t y h ad m ol es t ed hi s y o u ng er d au g h t er A. D. Do ri t y po i n t s t o t h e s eg m en t ru n n i n g

fro m 1 : 21 : 20 t o 1 : 2 1 :5 0 o n t h e i n t erv i ew; t h e reco rd refl ect s t h at t h i s t i m e p eri o d was

n o t red act ed

. Bu t a

pp el l a te co u n s el ad m i tt ed at th e m ot i o n fo r n ew t ri al h eari n g t h at

t h e cl i p d i d n o t co n t ai n a d i r e c t a l l eg at i o n t h at D o ri ty h ad m ol es t ed t h i s ch i l d

. An d

o u r o w n rev i ew o f t h e reco rd i ng s h o ws t hat t h e ch i l d b eg i n s b y s ay i n g t h at n o t h i n g

h ap pen ed t o A. D., an d t h e rem ai n i n g s eco n d s o f t h e cl ip are s o d i ffi cu l t t o u nd ers t an d

29t h at t h e l i k el i ho o d o f a d ifferen t t ri al o u t co m e w o u ld h av e res ul t ed i f th e i n fo rm at i o n

h ad b een red act ed i s n o t s u b st an t i al

. Hi ll v. S t a t e

, 2 91 Ga

. 1 6 0

, 1 6 4 (4 ) (7 2 8 SE2 d

2 2 5 ) ( 2 0 1 2) (“ T h e li k el i h o o d o f a d i fferen t res ul t m u s t b e s u b s t an t ial

, n o t ju s t

co n cei v ab l e.”) (ci t at i o n o m i tt ed .) Acco rd i n gl y

, we fi n d n o i n effect iv e as s i st an ce o f

co u ns el o n t h i s p o i n t

.

(c) Do ri t y co n t en ds t ri al co u n sel was i n effect i v e b ecau s e h e fai led to req u es t

a h eari n g t o d et erm i n e wh et h er t h e ci rcu m st an ces s u rro u n d i n g C

. S.’ s an d M

. D.’ s

o u t cry s tat em en t s t o E rl an d e D o ri t y an d t o t h e Sp ri g gs es

, res p ect iv el y

, h ad su ffi ci en t

i n d i ci a o f rel i ab il i t y t o b e ad m i t t ed i n t o ev i d en ce as h ears ay b y t h o s e wi t n es s es

. See

G r e g g v. S ta te

, 2 0 1 Ga. Ap p

. 2 3 8 (3 ) (4 1 1 SE2 d 6 5 ) (1 9 9 1 ). At t h e heari ng o n t h e

m o ti o n fo r n ew t ri al

, t ri al co u ns el t es t i fi ed t h at h e di d n o t req u e s t su ch a h eari n g

b ecau s e he t h o u gh t a ch i l d ’ s h ears ay s tat em en t s were au t o m at i cal l y ad m i s s i b l e i f t h e

ch i l d ren tes t ifi ed

. In t h e ru l in g o n t h e m o t i o n fo r n ew tri al

, t h e t ri al co u rt fo u n d t h at

a h eari n g was n o t n eces s ary an d t h at t h e ev i d en ce ag ai n s t Do ri t y was “ ex t rem el y

s t ro n g ,” t h at b o t h v i ct i m s w ere “ v ery cred i b le,” an d t h at “ t h e o th er ev i d en ce o f o t h er

s t at em en t s t h e ch i l d ren m ad e was rel i ab l e.”

Un d er th e l aw i n effect at t h e t i m e o f tri al

, s t at em en t s b y ch i ld ren u n d er ag e 1 4

d es cri b i ng an y act o f s ex u al c o n t a c t o n o r wi t h th e ch i l d w ere ad m i s s i b l e b y t h e

30t es t i m o ny o f t h e p ers o n t o w ho m m ad e i f th e ch i l d wa s av ai l ab l e t o t es ti fy a n d t h e

co u rt fo u n d t h at su ffi ci en t i n d i ci a o f rel i ab i l i t y were p res en t

. See fo rm er O CGA § 2 4

-

8 -8 2 0. 7 Th u s

, t ri al co un s el erred b y co n cl u d i n g t h at t h e av ai l ab i l i t y o f t h e ch i l d ren to

t es t i fy at t ri al was t h e o n l y r e l e v an t fact o r n eces s ary at t h e t i m e t o al l o w t h e ch i ld

h ears ay ev id en ce. N e v ert hel es s

, a h eari n g t o d et erm i n e t h e i n d i ci a of rel i ab i l i t y o f

s u ch st at em en t s w as n o t a s t ri ct co n d i t i o n p reced en t t o t h e ad m is s i b i l i t y o f t h e

s t at em en t s

. Gr eg

g

, 2 0 1 Ga. Ap p

. at 2 3 9 (3 ) (a); Reyn o l d s v. S t a t e

, 2 57 Ga. 7 2 5

, 7 2 6

(2 ) (3 63 SE2 d 2 4 9) (1 9 8 8 ). “ [T] h i s s t at u to ry req ui rem en t i s m et if aft er b o th p art i es

h av e res t ed

, t h e reco rd co n t ai n s ev i d en ce w h i ch w o u ld su p po rt

. . . a fi n d i n g [o f

i n d i ci a o f rel i ab i l i t y ]

. ” Gr eg g

, 2 0 1 Ga. A p p

. at 2 3 9 (3 ) (a). “ [A] s l on g as su ffi ci en t

7 Fro m J an

. 1 , 2 0 1 3 t o J ul y

1 , 2 0 1 3, OCGA § 2 4-8 -8 2 0 p ro vi ded as fo l l o ws :

A s t at em en t m ad e b y a ch i l d u n d er t he ag e of 1 4 y ears d es cri b in g an y act

o f s ex u al co n t act o r ph y s i cal ab u se p erfo rm ed w i th o r o n t h e ch i l d b y

an o t her sh al l b e ad m i s s ib l e i n ev i d en ce b y t he t es t i m on y o f t h e p ers o n

t o wh o m m ad e i f t h e ch i ld i s av ai l ab le to t es ti fy i n t h e p ro ceed i n g s an d

t h e co u rt fi n d s t h at t h e ci rcu m s t an ces o f t h e s t at em en t p ro v i d e su ffi ci en t

i n d i ci a o f rel iab i l i t y

.

See 2 0 1 1 Ga. L a w s

, p. 9 9

, Act 5 2

, § 2 (effect i v e J an u ary 1

, 2 0 1 3 ); 2 0 1 3 Ga. Laws

, Act 8 4 § 1 3 (effect i v e J ul y 1

, 20 1 3 ). Fo r tri al s o ccu rri ng aft er Ju l y 1

, 20 1 3

, a s h o wi n g

o f i n di ci a o f rel i ab i li t y is n o l o n g e r a r e q u irem en t fo r al l owi n g ch il d h ears ay

ev i d en ce. See OCGA § 2 4 -8 -8 2 0 (al s o ch an g i n g ag e t o 1 6 ).

31ev i d en ce o f i n d i ci a o f rel i ab i l i t y ap p ears i n t h e reco rd ei th er b efo re or aft er t h e

i n t ro du ct i o n o f t h e ch i l d ’ s o u t -o f-co u rt st at em en t s, t h e fai r t r ia l r ight s o f t h e d efen d an t

a r e a d e q u at el y pro tect ed

. ” Id

. at 2 4 0 (a). Ev en s o

, “ i t m ay b e ad vi s ab le i n s o m e

s i tu at i o n s t o h o l d s u ch a h eari n g o u t s i d e th e p res en ce o f t he ju ry ,” Reyn ol ds

, 2 5 7 Ga.

at 72 6 (2 ), an d t h i s Co u rt h as hel d th at u n d er cert ai n ci rcu m s t an ces

, a p ret ri al h eari n g

o u t s i d e t he p res en ce o f th e ju ry can b e neces s ary t o p rev en t h arm t o t he d efen d an t

fro m t h e ad m i s s i o n o f u n rel i ab le ch i l d h ears ay s t at em en t s

. Fer r er i v. S t at e

, 2 6 7 Ga.

Ap p

. 8 1 1, 8 1 4-8 15 (6 0 0 SE2 d 7 9 3 ) (2 0 0 4 ); s ee al s o Ro b er s o n v. S t a te

, 2 41 Ga. Ap p.

2 2 6 , 2 2 7 (1 ) (5 2 6 SE2 d 4 28 ) (1 9 9 9 ) (“ Cas es deci d ed b y t h e ap p el l at e co u rt s o f t h i s

s t at e m ak e cl ear, h o wev er, t h at w h en ev i d en t i ary ru l es co n fl i ct wi t h t h e p ro v i s i o n s o f

t h e c h i l d h ears ay s t at u t e, a s ep arat e h eari n g m ay be n eces s ary t o av o i d t h e

p res en t at i o n o f i n ad m i ss i b l e m at t er t o t h e ju ry .”). Bu t s ee W h or t o n v. St a t e

, 3 2 1 Ga.

Ap p

. 3 3 5, 3 4 0 (7 4 1 SE2 d 6 5 3 ) (2 0 1 3 ) (“ t o th e ex t en t t h at o ur d eci s i o n i n Fer r er i can

p o s s i b l y b e read as r eq u i r i n g a p re-t ri al Gr eg g h eari n g in “ s o m e s i t u at io n s ,” t h at cas e

i s o f n o p reced en t i al u t i l i ty fo r s u ch a p ro p o s i t i o n ”) (fo o t n o t e o m i t t ed ). 8

8 I t m u s t b e no t ed th at W

h o r t o n d i d n o t o v erru l e t h e o p i n i o n i n Fer rer i

. S e e

W a r e Co u n t y. v. Med l o ck

, 1 9 2 Ga. Ap p. 5 4 2 , 5 43 (3 8 5 SE2 d 4 2 9 ) (1 9 8 9 ) (m ajo ri t y

o f wh ol e co u rt req u i red t o o verru l e p ri o r p reced en t o f t h i s Co u rt ).

32On ap peal

, D o ri t y arg u es t h at t h e ev i d en ce fai l ed t o s h o w i n d i ci a o f rel i ab i l i t y

b e c a u s e t h e au d i o reco rd i n g m ad e b y t h e Sp ri g g s es o f C. S.’ s i n i t i al o u t cry

, wh i c h

t ri al co u n s el recei v ed on th e ev e o f t ri al an d s u cces sfu l l y kep t ou t o f t h e ev i d en ce,

s h o ws t h at t h e o ut cry was u n rel i ab l e b ecau s e o f t h e way th e Sp ri gg s es q u es t i o n ed t h e

ch i l d

. He al s o arg u es t h at t h e M ed l i n rep o rt s h o w s t h a t C

. S

. m ad e accu s at i on s

i n v o l v i n g o t h er p eo pl e, recan t ed s o m e o f t h o s e accu s at i o n s

, an d m ad e co n t rad i ct o ry

accu s at i on s an d t h at t h e rep o rt rai s ed s u s p i ci o n s ab o u t Tres s a Sp ri g g s ’ s cred i b i l i t y

.

He f u rt h er arg u es th at t he ou t cry s tat em en t b y M

. D. t o Erl an d e rai s ed rel i ab i l i t y

co n cern s, s u ch as t h at t h e o u t cry cam e b efo re a s p an k i n g

, t en d ay s el ap s ed b et ween

t h e o u t cry an d t he rep o rt t o p o l i ce t h ereb y al l o wi n g Erl an d e t o co ach t h e ch i l d

, t h e

m o th er ret ract ed t h e ch i l d ’ s o u t cry at t h e fi rs t ap p earan ce h eari n g (ab o u t wh i ch t ri al

co u ns el h ad no k n o wl ed g e at t h e t i m e o f t ri al ), an d co nt rad i ct i o n s ex i s ted reg ard i n g

t h e d et ai l s o f t h e as sau lt s g i v en b y t h e ch i l d

.

Al t h ou g h i t m ay h av e b een preferab l e t o hav e h ad a h eari ng o n t h e v i c t i m s ’

s t at em en t s ’ i n d i ci a o f rel i ab i l i t y o u t s i d e o f t h e p r e s e n c e o f t h e ju ry g iv en t h at t ri al

co u ns el d i d n o t wan t t o ad m it t h e Sp ri g g s -C. S. ou t cry au d i o an d t h e M ed l i n rep o rt

i n t o ev i d en ce, w e fi n d n o p o s s i bl e h arm

. Th e t ri al co u rt was ab l e t o rev i ew b o t h i t em s

at o r b efo re t h e h eari n g o n t h e m o t i o n fo r n ew t ri al (Do ri t y su b m it t ed t h em as a p art

33o f t h e p o s t -t ri al p ro ceed in g s ), an d t he t ri al co u rt ul t i m at el y fo un d t h e v i ct i m s ’

s t at em en t s t o b e rel i ab l e. Th u s

, b ecau s e “ t h e t ri al co u rt u l t i m at el y fo u n d t h e

s t at em en t s rel i ab l e [b as ed o n al l t h e ev i d en ce] an d ad m i tt ed t h em an d o b v i o u s l y

wo u l d h av e d o ne t h e s am e fo ll o wi n g a s ep arat e h eari ng ,” we fi n d n o erro r. Reyn o ld s

,

2 5 7 Ga. at 72 6 (2 ). Acco rd in gl y

, we fi nd n o in effect i v e as s i s tan ce o f co u n s el o n t h i s

p o i n t

.

(d ) Do ri t y co n t en ds th at t ri al co u ns el was i n effect i v e b ecau s e he fai l ed t o cal l

t h ree wi t n es s es in Do ri t y ’ s d efen s e: C. S.’ s m o t h er, Lo ri a Ro g ers ; Do ri t y ’ s m o t h er,

J o y ce Dray t on ; an d t he ap p el l an t ’ s ad o p ted d au g h t er, L. D. “ A d eci s i o n as to wh i ch

d efen s e wi t n es s es t o cal l i s a m at t er o f co u n s el ’ s t ri al s t rat eg y an d t act i cs an d wi l l n ot

s u p p ort a cl ai m o f i neffect i v e as s i s t an ce of co u n s el u nl es s i t i s so u n reas on ab l e t h at

n o co m p et en t at t o rn ey wo u l d h av e m ad e t he d eci si o n u nd er t he ci r c u m s t a n ces .”

S h o ckl ey v. S t a t e

, 29 7 Ga. 6 6 1

, 66 6 (3 ) (7 77 SE2 d 2 4 5 ) (2 0 1 5 ) (ci t at i o n o m i t t ed ). Th e

t ri al co u rt fo u n d t hat t he o ffered tes t i m o n y was n ot “ p art i cu l arl y h e l p fu l t o t h e

d efen d an t .”

(i ) Tri al co un s el t es t ifi ed t h at h i s s t r a t e g y w i t h reg ard t o v i ct i m C. S. was to

s h o w th at C. S.’ s al l eg at io ns w ere t h e res ul t o f a cu s t od y d i s pu t e b et ween Ro g ers an d

t h e Sp ri g g s es

. Yet wh en as k e d i f h e i n t erv iewed Ro g ers p ri o r t o t ri al

, he t wi ce

34t es t i fi ed

, “ I d o n ’ t b el i ev e I d id ,” al t h o ug h he al s o t es t i fi ed

, “ Th ere’ s a p o ss i b i l i t y I

d i d

, b u t I can ’ t rem em

b er off t h e t o p o f m

y h ead

. ” He al s o t es t i fi ed t h at h e h ad n o

t act ical reas o n fo r n o t cal l i n g h er as a wi t n es s

. As s um i n g f o r t h e m o m en t t h at t ri al

co u ns el fai l ed to i n terv i ew Ro g ers

, we co n cl ud e t h at n o reas o nab l e d efen s e at t o rn ey

wo u l d h av e fai l ed t o i n t erv i ew, o r at l eas t at tem p t t o i n terv i ew, t he m o t h er o f t h e

v i ct i m , wi t h wh o m

t h e ch i l d l i ved d u ri n g t h e t i m e t h e i n ci d en t s al l eg ed l y o ccu rred

,

t o s ee w h at s h e k n e w ab o ut h er d au g h t er’ s al l eg at i o n s ag ai n s t D o ri ty

. Had t ri al

co u ns el d o n e s o

, h e wo ul d h av e g ai n ed v al u ab l e tes t im on y t o t h e effect t h at t h e ch i ld

n ev er m ad e an o u tcry t o h er m o t h er at t h e t i m e o f t h e al leg ed ev en t s ; t h at s h e l o v ed

Do ri t y

, was co m fo rt ab l e aro u nd h i m

, an d cal l ed h i m “ Dad ”; t hat Tres s a Sp ri g g s h at ed

Ro g ers an d was m o ti v at ed t o g ai n C. S. i n t h e cu s t o d y d i s pu t e; t h at C. S. h ad n o t s een

Do ri t y fo r m o re t h an a y ear b efo re t h e o u t cry ; an d t h at

, m o n t h s a ft er t he o u t cry to

Tres s a Sp ri g g s , C. S. d en ied b ei n g i m pro p erl y t o u ch ed b y

Do ri t y

.

N e v e r t h el es s

, h ad t ri al co u n s el i n terv i ewed Ro g ers he al s o wo u l d h a v e

d i s co v ered t hat C. S. to l d Ro g ers t h at Do ri ty m ay h av e t ak en l i tt l e gi rl s i n t o hi s ro o m

o n e at a t i m e, s p eci fi cal l y

, t h at wh en Do ri t y “ al m o s t ” t o u ch ed h er, “ we were s t an d i n g

i n a l i n e an d h e h ad u s al l l i n ed u p

, an d I was at t he b ack o f t h e l i n e an d it w as g et t i n g

l at e an d we h ad t o g o t o bed

. . . an d h e ju st to l d u s al l t o g o t o b ed .” Tri al co un s el al s o

35wo u l d h av e l earn ed t h at Ro g ers ad m i t t ed t h at Do ri t y was al way s v ery co n cern ed wi th

h i s c h i l d ren ’ s cl ean l i n es s an d o n ce cl ean ed an o t h er y o u n g g irl ’ s an u s wi t h a Q-t i p

aft er s h e u s ed t h e b at hro om

, an d t h at Ro g ers h ers el f h ad cred i b i l i ty i s s u es i n t h at s h e

s p o k e t o C. S. ab o u t wi sh i ng Do ri ty was back in h er l i f e t o p ro v e s o m et h i n g t o t h e

co u rt s

, in t h at s h e h ad lo s t cu s t o d y of C. S. d u e t o h er o w n b eh av i o r, an d in t h at s h e

d i d n o t t el l a n

yo n e

, i n c l u d i n g Do ri t y wh o s e t ri al was p en d i n g

, aft er p u rp o rt ed l y

h eari n g C. S. s ay t h at Do ri t y n ev er t o u ch ed h er. “ A reas on ab le l awy er m ig h t

. . . h av e

b een reas o n ab l y co ncern ed ab ou t h arm fu l cro s s-ex am in a t i o n .” W o r s ley

, 2 9 3 Ga. at

3 2 7 (4 ). T h u s

, wh en co n s i d eri ng t hi s al l eg at io n o f i n effect i v e as s i s t a n c e a l o n e, we

can n ot co n cl u de t hat t h e t ri al res u l t wo u ld h av e b een d ifferen t i f n ot fo r t he d efi ci en t

p erfo rm an ce.

(i i) Dor ity c onte nds that t ri al co u n s el s h o u ld h av e cal l ed Do ri t y ’ s m o th er, J o y ce

Dray t o n , t o t es t i fy

t h at M

. D. h ad n ev er b efo re rep o rt ed an y i n ap p ro p ri at e t o u ch i n g

b y Do ri ty p ri o r t o th e o u t cry ; th at t h e ch i l d ap p e a r e d t o r e fer t o o n l y o n e i n ci d en t

d u ri n g h e r o u t cry t o Dray t o n ; t h at M

. D. had d ub i o u s cred i b i li t y an d l o ok ed d o wn

wh i le s p eak i n g t o D ray t o n ; t h at Erl an d e ap p eared t o b e m o re co n cern ed ab o u t h er tri p

t o Fl o ri da t h an M

. D .; an d t hat D ray t o n t o l d Erl an d e th at s h e s h o u l d t ak e th e ch i l d to

t h e d o ct o r an d h av e h er ex a m i n e d b u t t hat Erl an d e wen t to Fl o ri d a an y way

. Tri al

36co u ns el t es t i fi ed at t h e h eari n g t h at h e ch o se n o t to cal l Dray t o n b ecau s e h e s p o k e to

h er an d h e d i d n o t wan t an o t h er o ut cry w i t nes s o n t h e s t an d t o b u t t res s t h e ch i l d ’ s

s t ory

. Su ch a deci s i o n i s s t rat eg i c, an d t h erefo re we fi n d n o e rro r. See P h i l l i p s v.

S t a t e

, 2 77 G a. 1 6 1

, 1 6 3-1 6 4 (b ) (5 87 SE2 d 4 5 ) (2 0 0 3 ) (“ In fo rm ed s t rat eg i c d eci s i on s

d o n o t co n s t i t u t e i n effect i v e l eg al as s i s t an ce.”) (ci t at io n o m i tt ed ).

(i ii ) Befo re t ri al

, t ri al co un s el s p o k e to L

. D., t h e s i m i l ar t ran s act i on wi t n es s ;

t ri al co u n s el rem em

b ers t h at L. D. was s u p p ort i ve o f Do ri t y b u t t h at sh e di d n o t real l y

wa n t t o b e i nv o l v ed i n t he t ri al

. Du ri n g t h at co nv ers at i o n

, L

. D. nev er t o l d t ri al

co u ns el ab ou t Erl an d e’ s ret ract i o n o f M

. D.’ s cl ai m s ag ai ns t D o ri t y

, wh i ch occu rred

at Do ri t y ’ s fi rs t ap pearan ce h eari n g

, 9 an d w h i ch L. D. ap p aren tl y wi t n es s ed

, an d

t h erefo re h e d i d n o t cro s s ex a m i n e E r l an d e o n t hi s p oi nt

. If h e h ad k n own o f t h e

ret ract i o n

, t ri al co u ns el co u l d hav e cro s s ex am i n ed Erl an d e a b o u t i t

. T ri al co u n s el

t es t i fi ed

, “ [T] ru s t m e, I co u l d h av e u s ed t h at

. ” Al t h o u g h th e t ri al co u rt fo u n d t h i s

ev i d en ce o f n o s eri o u s co n s eq u en ce, a ret ract i o n by M. D.’ s m o t h er, t h e fi rs t wi t n es s

t o h er o u t cry , wo u l d h av e b een a v al u ab le p i ece o f ev i d en ce fo r t h e d efen se.

9 Al t h o u g h t ri al co u ns el t es t i fi ed t h at s o m eo n e fro m th e pu b l i c defen d er’ s

o ffi ce no rm al l y wo u l d h av e b een at t h e fi rs t ap pearan ce h eari n g an d wo u l d hav e t ak en

n o t es

, Do ri t y h as no t es t ab l i s hed t h at an y s u ch p ers on was p res en t o r t h at t h e p u b l i c

d efen d er’ s o ffi ce was n eg li g en t i n n o t co nv ey i n g an y i nfo rm at i o n t o t ri al co u n s el

.

37Nev ert h el es s

, t ri al co u n s e l c a n n o t be fau l t ed fo r n o t i n t erv iewi n g L. D.

s u ffi ci en t l y t o u n co v er t hi s un co m m o n p i ece o f k n o wl ed ge fro m t h is h o s t i l e an d

ret i cen t w i t n es s

. L. D

. was cal led to t ri al t o t es t i fy ab o u t ev en t s i n v ol v i n g h er t h at

o ccu rred ap pro x i m at el y 1 8 y ears p r i o r t o t ri al

. Tri al co u n s el cro s s -ex am i n ed h er

reg ard i n g lo g i cal l y rel at ed t o p i cs

, s u ch as wh et h er her fat h er ev er t o u ch ed h er an d

wh et h er t h ey g o t al o ng in t h e en s u i n g y ears

. W h et h er t h is wi t n es s at t en ded an earl y

h eari n g i n Do ri t y ’ s cri m i n al p ro s ecu t i o n reg ard i n g a d i fferen t v i ct i m i s n o t d i rect l y

rel at ed to wh y t h e St at e cal l ed L. D. t o t es t i fy

. Th us

, tri al co u n s el had l i t t l e reas o n to

s u s p ect t h at L

. D. wo u l d h av e s u ch k n o wl ed g e an d t h erefo re li t t l e reas on t o p u rs u e

s u c h a l i n e o f q u es t i o n i n g

. In s u m

, reco g n i zi n g t h at co u n sel s h o u l d b e “ s t ro n g l y

p res u m ed t o h av e ren d ered ad eq u at e as s i s t an ce an d m ad e al l s i g n i fi can t d eci s i o n s in

t h e ex erci s e o f reas on ab l e p ro fes s i on al ju d g m en t ,” S t r i ckl a n d , 4 6 6 U. S. at 6 9 0 , we

can n ot co n cl u d e t h at Do r i t y h as ov erco m e t h e pres u m p t io n th at t ri al co u n s el

s u ffi ci en t l y

i n t erv i ewed L. D. p ri o r t o t ri al

.

(e) Do ri t y co nt en d s t ri al co u n s el fai l ed t o ex p l o i t t h e M ed l i n Rep o rt an d t h e C.

S./ Sp ri g g s o u t cry au d i o as m ean s fo r at t ack i n g t h e cred i bi l i t y o f C. S. an d t h e Sp ri g g s

.

“ Th e m an n er i n wh i ch an at to rn ey at t ack s th e cred i bi l it y of a wi t n es s fal l s wi t h i n t h e

am bi t o f t ri al t act i cs

. [An d t ] h e sco p e o f cro s s -ex am i n at io n i s g ro u n d ed i n t ri al t act i cs

38a n d s t rat eg y

, an d wi ll rarel y co n s t i t u t e in effect i ve as s i s t an ce o f co u n s el .” S mi t h v

.

S t a t e

, 3 04 Ga. Ap p

. 8 46

, 8 4 8 (6 9 8 SE 2 d 3 5 5 ) (2 01 0 ) (ci t at i o n s an d pu n ct u at i o n

o m it t ed ).

(i ) Tri al co u ns el t es t i fi ed t h at h e d i d n o t at tem pt t o in t ro d u ce t h e M ed l in

R e p o r t

, wh i ch h e h ad fo r o ne o r t w o m on t h s pri o r t o t ri al

, becau s e he was n o t s u re

wh et h er he s h ou l d h a v e t h e rep o rt i n th e fi rs t p l ace b ecau s e t h e rep o rt m i g h t b e

p ro t ect ed b y a p r i v i l eg e. Bu t tri al co u n s el al so t es t i fi ed t h at h e u s ed s o m e o f t h e

i n fo rm at i o n i n th e M ed l i n rep o rt t o s u cces s fu l l y cro s s -ex am i n e Ch ad Sp ri g g s

,

i n cl u d i n g t o g et an ad m i s si o n th at C. S. h ad accu sed an o t h er p ers o n o f t ou ch i n g h er

an d h ad n o t recan t ed

. A cco r d i n g t o t ri al co u n s el

, “ T h ey an s wered t h e q u es t i o n t h e

way I wan t ed t h em t o an s wer.” In i t s o rd er d en y i n g Do ri t y ’ s m o ti o n fo r n ew t ri al

, t h e

t ri al co u rt fo u n d t h at t h e M ed l in Rep o rt was co n s i s t en t wi t h C. S.’ s t ri al t es t i m o n y ;

t h at C. S. rep o rt ed t h at D o ri t y h ad t o u ch ed h er fo u r t i m es ; t h at C. S. rep o rt ed t h at

Do ri t y h ad t o u ch ed ot h er g i rl s; t h at t he i n terv iew an d d i ag n o s t i c t es t s sh o w ed t h at C.

S. had fl as h b ack s o f t h e ab u s e, w as s cared o f m en

, was afrai d t hat so m eo n e w o u l d k i l l

h er, an d d i d n o t t ru s t p e o p l e b e cau s e t h ey m i g h t wan t s ex ; an d t h at C. S. was

e x p eri en ci n g em o t io nal an d b eh av io ral d i ffi cu l t ies an d sex u al i zed beh av i o r s t h a t

l i kel y st em m ed fro m

t h e rep o rt ed h i s t o ry o f n eg lect an d ab us e. Aft er rev i ewi n g t h e

39rep o rt

, th e co u rt u n d ers t o o d wh y t ri al co u n s el “ h ad res erv at io n s ” ab o u t u s i n g i t at

t ri al

. W e ag ree an d fi n d no p o s si b l e h arm ev en i f t ri al co u n s el erred by as s u m i n g t h at

h e was n o t au t h o ri zed to u s e th e rep ort . See Su l l iva n v. Kemp , 2 9 3 Ga. 7 7 0, 7 7 4 (2 )

(7 4 9 SE2 d 7 2 1 ) (2 0 1 3) (wh ere d efen s e co u n s el ’ s ch o i ce “ was b as ed u p o n h i s l ack o f

u n ders t an d i n g o f o r fam i li ari t y wi t h t he rel ev an t law” i t i s n o t st rat eg i c an d can

co n st i t u t e d efi ci en t p erfo rm an ce) (ci t at io n s o m it t ed ).

(i i) Tri al co u n s el t es t i fi ed t h at o n t h e Fri d ay b efo re tri al

, t h e St at e g av e h i m an

a u di o reco rd in g o f C. S.’ s in i t i al o ut cry t o Tres s a Sp ri g g s

, i n wh i ch

, t ri al co u ns el

ad m i t t ed

, Tres sa u s ed su g g es t i ve q u es t io n in g t ech ni q u es t hat m i g h t h av e i n fl u en ced

t h e ch i l d ’ s rep o rt

. Th u s

, th e au d i o g av e t ri al co u n s el an op p ort u n it y t o fu rt her h i s t ri al

s t rat eg y o f s h owi n g t h at th e C. S. a l l eg at i o ns were a pl o y b y t h e Sp ri g g s es t o g ai n

cu s t o d y o f C

. S. Tri al co u n s el t es t i fi ed

, h o wev er, t hat h e l i s t en ed t o t h e reco rd i n g

s ev eral t i m es an d co n cl u d ed t h at al t h o u g h s o m e el em en t s m i gh t hav e b een hel p fu l to

Do ri t y ’ s cas e (e.g

., p o i n t i n g o u t th e s u g g es t iv en es s of t h e q u es t i o ns a n d h o w t h e

Sp ri g g s es co u l d b e accu s ed o f co ach i ng t he ch i l d ), t h e au di o was p reju d i ci al b ecau s e

i t rev eal ed t h at t h e ch i l d was em o t i o n al an d cry i n g wh en an s w eri n g qu es t i o n s ab o ut

t h e al l eg ed i n ci d en t s

. T ri al co un s el co ncl u d ed

, “ s t rat eg i cal l y, I d o n ’ t wan t t h at gi rl

c r yi n g

. . . o n t h e s t an d” es p eci al l y t h ro u gh t h e tes t im on y o f t h e l as t wi t n e s s o f t h e

40St at e’ s cas e. Becau s e we can n o t co n cl u d e t h at no r e a s o n ab le co u n sel wo u l d h av e

m ad e t h e s am e ch oi ce, we fi n d n o i n effect i v e as s i st an ce o n t h is p o i n t

.

(f) Do ri t y co n ten d s t ri al co u n s el fai l ed t o ex p l o i t Erl an d e ’s c o m m en t s fro m

Do ri t y ’ s fi rs t ap pearan ce h eari ng an d o th er co n t rad i ct i o ns i n th e ev i d en ce as m ean s

fo r at t ack i n g t h e cred i b i l i ty o f M

. D

. an d Erl an de D o ri ty

. As s h o wn ab o v e, we ag ree

t h at Do ri t y sh ou l d h av e i n t erv i ewed L

. D., wh i ch m ay h av e rev eal ed Erl an d e’ s

ret ract i o n i n o p en co u rt

, an d t h at n o reas o n ab le at t orn ey w o u l d o m i t u si n g t h at

i n fo rm at i o n t o at t ack t h e cl ai m s ag ai n s t Do ri t y

.

As fo r o t h er co n t rad i ct io n s i n t h e ev i d en ce n o t al read y ad d res s ed i n o t h er

d i v i s i on s i n t h i s o pi n i o n

, Do ri t y p o i n t s t o th e fact t hat s o m e ev i d en ce n o t ad m i t t ed at

t ri al wo u l d h av e s h o wn t hat M. D. g av e v ary i n g acco u n t s to d i fferen t p eo p le o f wh i ch

ro o m t he ab u s e o ccu rred i n, h o w l o n g t he ab u s e h ad o ccu rred

, an d wh at p o si t i o n s h e

was i n d u ri n g t h e ab u s e. Bu t t ri al co u n s el t es t i fi ed t h at h e d i d n o t wan t t o “ b eat u p ”

o n t h e ch i l d t o o m

u c h i n t h e wi t n es s st an d an d th at h e was t ry i n g t o m i n i m i ze

t es t i m o ny ab o u t s ex u al act i v i t y as m u ch as p o s s i b l e. Tri al co u ns el d i d cro s s ex am i n e

M

. D. on h er o u t cry t o h er m ot her wh en s h e was ab o u t t o b e s pan k ed an d h er fai l u re

t o t el l an y o n e ab o u t t h e al l eg ed ab u s e wh i l e s h e was i n Fl o ri da fo r ten d ay s wi t h h er

m o th er an d s i s ter. Al t h o u g h t ri al co u n s el co ul d

, p erh ap s

, h av e d o n e m o re, we

41co n cl u d e t hat wi t h reg ard to t h e al l eg ed fai lu re t o at t ack ot h er i nco n s i s t en ci es i n t h e

t es t i m o ny

, Do ri ty h as fai l ed t o o v erco m e t h e s t ro ng p res u m p t i o n th at co u n sel ’ s

co n du ct fal l s wi th i n t h e b ro ad ran g e o f reas o n ab l e p ro fes s i o n al co n d uct

.

(g ) Do ri t y co nt en d s t he t ri al co u rt erred by g i v i n g an o v erl y bro ad ju ry ch arg e

o n Co u n t 5 ; D o ri t y al so ap p aren t l y as s ert s t h at t ri al co u n sel w as i n effect i v e by fai l i n g

t o o b ject t o t h e tri al co u rt ’ s ch arg e o n C o u n t 5 as g i v en

. In t h at co u n t

, Do ri t y was

ch arg ed wi t h ch i l d m o les tat i o n fo r p l aci n g h i s han d o n C. S.’ s g e n i t al area, b u t t h e

co u rt ch a r g e d t h e j ury wi t h t he st at ut o ry d efi n it i on o f ch i l d m ol es t at i on

, wh i ch

p ro v id es t h at a p ers o n co m m i t s t h e o ffen s e b y

d o i n g “ an y

i m m o ral o r i nd ecen t act ”

t o o r i n t h e p res en ce o f t h e ch i l d wi t h a s ex u al i n t en t

. OCGA § 1 6 -6 -4 (a) (1 ). Th u s

,

Do ri t y arg u es

, t h e ju ry co u ld h av e co n v i ct ed h im of m o l es t i n g C. S. fo r o t h er

b eh av i o r rep o rt ed at t ri al

, i n cl u d i n g t h a t Do ri t y sh o wed p o rn o g rap h i c m o v i es t o C.

S., was hed h er an d o t hers

, an d t o u ch ed th e ch il d i n o t her way s

. Tri al co u n s el t es t i fi ed

t h at o b ject in g t o t h e ju ry ch arg e d i d n ’ t “ en t er h i s m in d .” Th e t ri al co u rt h el d t h at t h e

ju ry ch arg e d i d n o t i m

p ro p erl y ex p an d t h e i nd i ct m en t.

Becau s e t ri al co u n s el d i d n o t o b ject

, we rev i ew t he t ri al co urt ’ s d eci s i o n t o g i v e

t h e i n s t ru ct i o n fo r p l ai n erro r. See OCGA § 1 7 -8 -5 8 (b ) (p ro v i d i n g t h at t h e fai l u re to

o b ject reg ard i n g a ju ry i n s t ru ct i o n at t ri al precl u d es ap p el l at e rev i ew u n l es s “ t h e ju ry

42ch arg e co n s t it u t es p l ai n erro r wh i ch affect s s u b s t an t ial ri g h t s o f t h e p art ies ” (ci t at i o n

o m it t ed )); Th o ma s v. S ta t e

,

_ _ Ga.

_ _ ( 2 ) (Cas e No

. S1 5 A0 7 9 6

, d eci d ed Oct

. 5,

2 0 1 5 ). Pl ai n erro r req u i res a s h o wi n g t h at “ t h e i ns t ru ct i o n was erro n eo u s, t h e erro r

was o b v i o u s

, t h e i n s t ru ct i o n l i k el y affect ed th e o u tco m e of t h e p ro ceed i n g s

, an d t h e

erro r s eri o u sl y affect ed t h e fai r n es s

, i n t eg ri t y o r p ub l i c rep u t at i o n o f ju d i ci al

p ro ceed in g s .” La ke v. S t a t e

, 2 9 3 Ga. 5 6

, 5 9 (5 ) (7 4 3 SE2 d 41 4 ) (2 01 3 ) (ci t at i o n s an d

p u n ct u at i o n o m i t ted .). W e fi n d n o pl ai n erro r becau s e t h e t ri al co u rt read t h e

i n d i ct m en t t o t h e ju ry an d ch arg ed t h e ju ry t h at th e St at e m u s t “ p ro v e ev ery m at eri al

al l eg at i o n i n t h e i n d i ct m en t ,” t hat t h e i n di ct m en t “ s t at es t h e ex act o ffen s e,” an d t h at

t h e ju ry w a s t o “ read [t h e i n di ct m en t ] carefu l l y .” S ch n ei d er v. S t a te

, 3 1 2 Ga. Ap p.

5 0 4

, 5 07 -5 0 8 (2 ) (7 18 SE2 d 8 3 3 ) (2 0 1 1 ) (rev ers al n o t m an dat ed wh ere “ ch arg e as a

wh o l e l im i t s t h e ju ry ’ s co n s i d erat i o n t o t he sp eci fi c m an n er o f co m m i t t i n g th e cri m e

al l eg ed i n t h e i n d i ct m en t.”) (ci t at i o n o m i t t ed ). Th ere b ei n g n o p l ai n erro r i n t h e

co m p l et e ch arg e as g iv en b y th e co u rt

, D o ri t y can s h o w n o i n effect i ve as s i s t an ce o f

co u ns el fo r fai l u re t o ob

ject to t h e ch arg e as g i ve n

. S e e T h o m a s

,

_ _ Ga. at

_

_ (5 );

Hu g h l ey v. S t a t e , 3 3 0 Ga. Ap p

. 7 8 6 , 7 9 4 (4 ) (c) (7 69 SE2 d 5 3 7) (2 01 5 ).

(h ) Do ri t y co n t en ds t ri al co u n s el w as i neffect i v e fo r fai l in g t o req u es t fu n d i n g

fo r an ex p ert to res p o n d t o t he St at e ’s e x p e r t m ed ical t es t i m o n y

, t o cri t i ci ze t h e

43St at e’ s fo ren s i c i n t erv i ew ev i d en ce, an d t o at t ack t h e cred i b i l it y o f t h e v i ct im ’ s o u t cry

ev i d en ce.

Th e St at e cal l ed a h os p i t al n u rs e pract i t i o n er t o ex p l ai n t h at al t h o u g h M

. D.’ s

m ed i cal ex am was no rm al

, an y p h y s i cal i nju ry res u l t i n g fro m t h e al l eg ed ab u s e co u ld

h av e h eal ed befo re t h e ch i l d was s een b y a d oct o r. At a h eari n g o n th e m o t i o n fo r n ew

t ri al

, t ri al co u n s el t es t ifi ed t h at h e d id n o t co n si d er g et t i n g an ex p ert t o reb u t t h at

t es t i m o ny b ecau s e, g i v en t h at th e St at e’ s m ed i cal wi t n es s t es t i fi ed t hat t h e ch i l d h ad

n o i n d i c a t i o n o f an i n

ju ry

, o n cro s s ex am i n at i o n h e co u l d s h o w, an d d i d s h o w, t h at

t h e nu rs e’s t e s t i m o n y w as co n s i s t en t wi t h h is cl ien t ’ s i n n ocen ce. Tri al co u n s el

t es t i fi ed

, “ [T] h at was a fact t o ou r ad v an t a g e a n d I was h ap p y wi t h t h at .” Th u s

, t h e

d eci s i o n was s t rat eg i c an d can n o t b e seen as i n effect i ve as s i s tan ce o f co u n s el

.

Co m p are Ot t ley v. S t a t e

, 3 2 5 Ga. Ap p

. 1 5

, 1 9-2 0 (2 ) (7 5 2 SE2 d 9 2 ) (2 0 1 3 ) (i n a cas e

w h e r e t h e St at e’ s ex p ert g av e s t ro n g ev id en ce t o s up p o rt th e St at e’ s al leg at i o n s o f

s ex u al ab u s e o f ch i l d

, t ri al co un s el ’ s p erfo rm an ce was d efi ci en t w h ere, b as ed i n p art

o n a m i s u nd ers tan d i n g o f t h e l aw, h e fai l ed t o i n v es t i gat e t h e St at e’ s ex p e r t ’s

cred en t i al s

, t o i n terv i ew St at e’ s ex p ert s pri o r t o t ri al

, t o res earch t h e rel ev an t m ed i cal

i s su es

, t o cro s s e x a m i n e a n d refu t e t h e St at e’ s ex p ert s

, an d to co n su l t o r cal l an y

44m ed i cal ex p ert t o s u p p o rt t h e d efen s e t h eo ry t hat t h e ch i l d fab ri cat ed t h e s t o ry an d t h e

al l eg at i o n s co u l d n o t h av e h ap p en ed ).

Th e St at e i n t ro d u ced fo ren s i c i nt erv i ews o f t h e ch i l d v i ct i m s : an in t erv i ew o f

M

. D

. m a d e at Ch i l d ren ’ s Heal t h care o f At l an t a; an d an i n t erv i ew o f C. S. b y

D e t e ct i v e W es t

. W i t h reg ard t o t h e M

. D. i n t erv i ew, t ri al co u n s el t ho u g h t t h at t h e

i n t er v i e w t e c h n i q ues were no t s u g g es t i v e. H e t es ti fi ed t h at “ Sco t t i s h Ri t e as k s

. . .

o p en -en ded q u es t i o n s .” In hi s o p in i on

, h e d id no t feel i t was ap p ro p ri at e t o g et an

ex p ert o n t h e m at t er. Th u s

, t h e d eci s i on was s t rat eg i c. W it h reg ard to C. S., t ri al

co u ns el d i d n o t b el i ev e t h at t h e W es t i n t erv i ew cam e o ff as s u g ges t i v e. He t es t i fi ed

t h at h e cro ss -ex am i n ed W es t o n t h e i s s u es h e s aw an d d i d n o t feel l i ke h e n eed ed an

ex p ert t o as s i s t h i m

. Ag ai n

, t ri al co u n s el ’ s deci s i o n was s t rat eg i c, an d we t h erefo re

fi nd n o d efi ci en t p erfo rm an ce. See, e.g

., Kei t h v. S t a te

, 2 7 9 G a. A p p

. 8 1 9

, 8 2 5 (6 ) (a)

(6 3 2 SE2 d 6 6 9 ) (2 0 0 6) (wh ere t ri al co u n s el rev i ewed v i ct im ’ s v id eo s t at em en t

, “ d id

n o t b el i ev e t hat [v i ct i m ] h ad b een co ach ed by th e i n t erv i ewer an d th erefo re d i d n ot

t h i n k it was n eces sary t o h i re an ex p ert t o rev i ew t h e v id eo t ap e[,]

. . . [h is ] d eci s i on s

were al l s t rat eg i c”); Ga wl a k v. S t a t e , 3 1 0 Ga. Ap p

. 7 5 7

, 7 5 9 -7 6 0 (2 ) (a) (7 1 4 SE2 d

3 5 4 ) (2 0 1 1 ) (wh ere t ri al at t orn ey ch o s e t o cro s s ex am i n e vi ct i m ’ s in t erv i ewer ab o ut

45i n t erv i ewi n g t ech n i q u es an d d i d s o

, th ere was n o i n effect i v e as s is t an ce of co un s el fo r

fai l i n g t o cal l an ex pert t o at t ack t h e i n terv i ewi n g t ech n iq u es ).

Do ri t y al s o arg u es t h at t ri al co u n s el s h ou l d h av e s o u g ht an ex p ert t o co m m en t

o n fact o rs t h at m ay

h av e affect ed t h e cred ib i l i t y o f t h e t wo v i ct i m s’ i n i t i al o u t cri es

,

s u ch as t he d el ay i n rep o rt i n g each i n ci d en t t o t h e au t ho ri t i es

, wh et h er t he ch i l d h ad

co n tact wi t h o t h e r i n d i v id u al s i n t h e i n t eri m

, Erl an d e’ s ret ract i o n o f M

. D.’ s

as s ert i o n s

, an d v a r i o u s co n trad i ct i o n s i n t h e ev i d en ce reg ard i n g th e ch i l d ren ’ s

as s ert i o n s

. Tri al co u ns el d i d n o t t h i n k t h at h e n eed ed an ex p ert t o ex p l ai n th e i m p act

o f t h e del ay b et w een an o u t cry a n d a rep o rt t o p o li ce. Co m p are D a r s t v. S t a t e

, 3 2 3

Ga. Ap p

. 6 1 4

, 6 2 3 (2 ) ( i i ) ( 7 4 6 SE2 d 8 65 ) (2 0 1 3 ) (t ri al co u n s el had no t m ad e a

co n sci o u s s t rat eg ic d eci si o n a b o u t wh et h er t o u se an ex p ert reg ard i n g b eh av i o ral

p at t ern s of sex u al l y ab us ed ch i l d ren ) (p h y s i cal p reced en t o nl y ). An d

, g en eral l y

,

ex p ert o p i n i o n t es t i m o n y t h at d i rect l y ad dres s es t h e cred i b i l i t y o f th e v i ct i m i s

fo rb i dd en

. Od

o m v. S ta t e

, 24 3 Ga. Ap p. 22 7

, 2 2 8 (1 ) (5 3 1 SE2 d 2 0 7 ) (2 0 0 0 ); s ee al s o

OCGA § 2 4 -6 -6 2 0 (“ Th e cred i b i l i t y o f a wi t n es s s h al l b e a m at t er t o b e d et erm i n ed

b y t h e t ri er o f fact ”); Ha n dl ey v. S t a t e

, 2 89 Ga. 7 8 6

, 7 8 6 (1 ) (7 1 6 SE2 d 1 7 6 ) (2 0 1 1 )

(“ t h e cred i b i li t y o f ey ewi t n es s t es t i m o n y i s wi th i n th e ex cl u s i v e p ro v i n ce o f t he ju ry ”)

(ci t at i o n s o m i t t ed ). W e co n cl u d e t h at Do ri t y h as fai l ed t o o v erco m e t h e s t ro n g

46p res u m

p t i o n t h at co un s el ’ s co n d u ct fal l s w i t hi n t h e b ro ad ran g e o f rea s o n ab l e

p ro fes s i on al co n d u ct

.

(i ) Fi n al l y

, Do ri t y co n t en d s tri al co u n s el was d efi ci en t i n t h at h e fai l ed t o s eek

t h e v i ct i m s ’ DFCS an d j u v en i l e co u rt reco rd s

, t herap y r e c o r d s

, s ch o ol reco rd s

, an d

p ed iat ri c reco rd s d u ri n g h i s i nv es t i g at i o n o f t h e cas e.

At t h e h eari n g o n Do ri ty ’ s req u es t t h at t h e t ri al co u rt o rd er t h e p ro d u ct i o n o f

t h e ab o ve d es cri b ed d o cu m en t s fo r an i n cam era rev i ew, t ri al co u n sel t es t i fi ed ab o ut

h i s d eci s i o n reg ard in g w h et h er t o s eek t h e vi ct im s ’ s reco rd s i n h i s defen s e o f Do ri t y

.

Al m o s t u n i fo rm l y wi t h reg ard t o b o t h v i ct i m s an d each cat eg ory o f d o cu m en t s

, t ri al

c o un s el t es t i fi ed th at he n ev er h ad an y in d i cat i o n t h at an y s uch d o cu m en t s w o u l d

h av e as s i s t ed h i m i n d efen d i n g Do ri t y

, an d t h at h e t h o u g ht h is res o urces were b et t er

s p en t fo cu s i n g o n o t her m at t ers

, s u c h a s t h at t h e St at e i ni t i al l y i nt en d ed t o p res en t

fo u r si m i l ar t ran sact i o n wi tn es s es ; He al so t es t i fi ed t hat h e k n ew t he v i ct i m s h ad o n l y

en t ered th erap y aft er t h ei r o u t cri es ; t h at h e recei v ed s o m e DFCS reco rd s an d wo u ld

h av e t o “ g u es s ” t ha t ad d i t i o n al DFCS reco rd s co u l d h av e b een ben efi ci al ; an d t h at

ev en t h ou g h M

. D. as s ert e d t h a t t h e i n ci d en t s st art ed t hree y ears earl ier, h e d i d n ot

s eek m ed i cal reco rd s fo r t h e s am e reas o n h e di d n o t s eek a m ed i cal ex pert : t h e St at e’ s

ev i d en ce was co ns i s t en t wi th in n o cen ce an d th erefo re wo rk ed t o Do ri t y ’ s ad v an t ag e.

47In i t s o rd er d en y i n g t h e m o t i o n fo r p o s t -t ri al su b po en as

, t h e t ri al co u rt h el d t h at

Do ri t y ’ s ap p el l at e co un s el p res en t ed no fact u al s u p p ort f or a “ fi s h i n g ex p ed i t i o n ” i n to

t h es e reco rd s

. T h e t ri al co u rt n o t ed t h at Da r s t

, 3 2 3 Ga. Ap p

. 6 1 4

, u p on wh i ch Do ri t y

rel i ed reg ard in g t h e req ues t fo r s u b p o en as

, was p h y s i cal prece d e n t o n l y an d was

b as ed o n d i s si m il ar fact s

. An d t h e tri al co u rt co n cl u ded th at Do ri t y h ad n o t s h o wn a

p ri m a faci e n eed fo r t h e d o cu m en t s as req u i red b y cas e l aw t o o v erco m e ap p l i cab l e

p ri v i leg es

. Th us

, t h e co u rt co n cl u d ed th at tri al co u n s el h ad n o t b e e n i n effect i v e in

fai l i n g t o s eek t h e d o cu m en t s l i s t ed ab o v e. On ap p eal

, Do ri t y arg u es t h at as p ect s o f

t h e ev i d en ce, i ncl u d i ng t h e d el ay ed o u t cri es

, th e m o t i v es o f t h e p aren tal fi g u res

, t h e

d el ay ed rep o rt i n g t o au t ho ri t i es , an d t h e i n co ns i s ten ci es i n t h e v i ct i m s ’ s t o ri es , cas t

d o u b t o n t h e rel i ab i li t y o f t h e v i ct i m s ’ o u t cri es an d t es t i m o n y an d s h o ul d h av e

p ro m p t ed t ri al co un s el t o s eek t h e r e c o rd s

. He co n t i n u es t h at

, as t h e s ou g h t -aft er

r e c o r d s co u l d s hed fu rt h er l i g h t o n t he v i ct i m s ’ rel i ab i l i t y

, t h ey are “ p ot en t i al l y

ex cu lp at o ry ,”

Rem em b eri n g t h at t h ere i s a s t ro n g p res um p ti o n t h a t co u ns el ’ s co nd u ct fal l s

wi t h i n t h e ran g e o f s o u n d t ri al s t rat eg y an d reas o n ab le pro fes s i o nal ju dg m en t an d t h at

t h e ap p el l an t b ears t h e b u rd en o f ov erco m in g t hi s p res u m p t i on b y sh o w i n g t h a t n o

reas on ab l e l awy er wo u l d h av e m ad e t he sam e d eci s i o n

, Newki rk

, 29 0 Ga. at 5 8 2 (2 ),

48we co ncl u d e t h at Do ri t y h as n o t o v erco m e t h i s p res u m p t i o n

. Here, tri al co u n s el

o ffered a reas o n fo r h is d eci s i on n o t t o s eek ad di t i o n al reco rd s

. Tri al co u n s el i n Da r s t

o ffered n o s t rat eg ic reas on fo r fai l i n g t o s eek s im i l ar reco rd s p ri o r t o t ri al

. D a r s t

, 3 2 3

Ga. Ap p

. at 6 19 -6 2 0 (2 ) (i ) (t ri al co u n s el d eci d ed “ h e wo ul d ju s t ‘ l et i t g o ’ an d t ry to

u s e t h e ab s en ce of t he reco rd s t o Dars t’ s ad v an tag e at t ri al ”). M o reo v er, Da r s t i s

p h y s i cal p reced en t o n l y

, an d i t i s b as ed o n m o re g en eral cas e law ab o ut t ri al co u n sel ’ s

fai l u re t o i n v es t i g at e a cas e b as ed o n i n at t en t i ven es s an d t o fu rt h er in v es ti g at e wh ere

t h ere was ev i d en ce t h at wo u ld h av e cau s ed a reas o n ab l y co m p et en t co u ns el t o t ak e

ad d it i o n al s t ep s , Id . at 6 2 1 (2 ) (i ), n ei t h er o f wh i ch i s t h e cas e here. Th e s i m p l e fact

t h at ad d i t i o n al d o cu m en t s m i g h t h av e b een h el p fu l i s n o t en o ug h

. Cf. S i ms v. S t a t e

,

2 5 1 G a. 87 7

, 8 8 0 (4 ) (c) (3 1 1 S E 2 d 1 6 1 ) (1 9 8 4 ) (“ It i s n o t en o u gh t o as s ert t h at

ex p ert an al y s i s m i g h t p ro d uce ev i d en ce h el p fu l t o th e d efen s e, i.e., t o em b ark o n a

“ fi s h i n g ex p ed i t i o n .”).

W h en co n si d eri n g t h e p reju d i ce p ro n g fo r m u l t ip l e cl ai m s o f i n e ffect i v e

as s i s tan ce o f co u n s el

, we lo o k to wh et her “ t h e cu m u l at i v e effect o f co u ns el ’ s al l eg ed

erro rs ,” l ead s t o “ a reas o n ab le p ro b ab i li t y t h at t h e o u t co m e o f th e t ri al wo u l d h av e

b een d i fferen t .” Sch o

f i el d v. Ho l

s ey

, 2 8 1 G a. 8 0 9, 8 1 2 (II), n. 1 (6 4 2 SE2 d 56 ) (2 0 0 7 ).

Here, we h av e co n cl u d ed th at t ri al co un s el was defi ci en t i n o n l y o n e m an n er— fai l i n g

49t o in t erv i ew an d cal l L o ri a Ro g ers

— b u t t h at D o ri ty has n ot s h o wn t h e h arm p ro n g o f

t h e S tr i ckl a n d an al y s i s w i t h reg ard t o Ro g er s ’s t es ti m o n y

. Acco rd i n g l y

, Do ri t y ’ s

cl ai m s o f i n effect i v e as s i s t an ce fai l

. A s s t at ed b y t h e Su p r e m e C o u r t i n S t r i ckl a n d

,

“ Th e b en ch m ark fo r ju d g i n g an y cl ai m of in effect i ven es s m u s t b e wh et h er co u n sel ’ s

co n du ct s o u n d erm in ed t h e p ro p er fu n ct i o ni n g o f t h e ad v ers ari al p ro ces s t h at t h e t ri al

can n ot b e rel i ed o n as h av in g p ro d u ced a ju s t res u l t.” St r i ckl a n d

, 4 6 6 U.S. 6 6 8 at 6 8 6

(II). Fo r al l of t h e ab o v e reas o n s

, we co n cl u d e t h at D o ri ty ha s n o t s h o wn t h at t ri al

co u ns el fai l ed acco rd i ng t o t h i s b en ch m ark

.

5

. Fi n al l y

, Do ri t y h as m o v ed t h i s Co u rt t o rem an d t h e cas e an d o rd er t h e t ri al

co u rt to o b t ai n t h e v i ct im s ’ DFCS an d ju v en i l e co u rt reco rd s

, t h erap y reco rd s

, s ch o ol

reco rd s

, an d p ed i at ri c reco rd s s o t h at ap pel l at e co u ns el c a n at tem pt t o d et erm i n e

wh et h er Do ri t y was h arm ed b y t ri al co u n s el ’ s fai l u re t o s eek t h es e s am e reco rd s ; h e

arg u es t h at t he t ri al co u rt w as req u i red t o h av e an in cam era i n s p ect i o n of t h e reco rd s

.

Ap p el l at e co u ns el ad m i t s t h at h e d o es n o t k n o w wh at t h e s o ug h t aft er d o cu m en t s

wo u l d s h o w. He al s o co n t en d s t h e t ri al co u rt erred b y d en y i n g h i s req ues t fo r fu nd s

t o h ire an ex p ert t o rev i ew t h e d o cu m en t s t o as s es s t h ei r i m p o rt an ce. Becau se, as we

h av e al read y fo un d

, t ri al co u n s el was n o t d efi ci en t i n n o t s eek i n g t he ab o v e-l i s t ed

d o cu m en t s

, w e n eed n o t ad d res s an y p o t en t i al as s o ci at ed h arm

. W e co n cl u d e t h at t h e

50t ri al co u rt d i d n o t err b y d en y i n g Do ri t y ’ s req u es t t o o bt ai n t h es e d o cu m en t s fo r t h e

p u rp os e o f h is ap p eal o r t o o bt ai n fu n d s t o h i re an ex p ert

, an d we th erefo re d en y t h e

m o ti o n t o rem an d

.

Ju d g men t a f f i r m ed . An d

r ews , P. J., a n d

Mi l l er

, J., co n cu r

.

51