FI FTH DI VI SI ON

M CFA DDEN, P. J.

, GOBEI L and PI NSON, 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.

https ://w w w

. ga a ppe a ls .us /r ule s

A pr i l 22, 2022



# I n th e Co u r t o f

A p p eals o f

G eo r g ia

A2 2 A0 00 8 . BOW MAN v . THE STATE.

P E R C U R I A M

.

Fo l l owi n g a ju ry t ri al

, Ed u ard o Bo wm an was co n v i ct ed in Gl y n n Co u n t y

Su p eri o r Co u rt o f fam i l y v i o l en ce ag g rav at ed b at t ery

, t wo co un t s o f fam il y v i o l en ce

ag g rav at ed as s au l t, an d fal s e i m p ri s o n m en t

. 1 Bo w m an ap p eal s fo l l o wi ng t h e d en i al

1 Co u n t 1 of t h e in d i ct m en t ch arg ed Bo wm an wi t h fam i l y v i ol en ce ag g rav at ed

b at t ery

, al l eg i n g t h at h e fract u red R. D.’ s jaw. Co u n t 2 ch arg ed Bo wm an wi t h fam i l y

v i o l en ce ag g rav at ed as s au l t

, al l eg i n g t h at h e s t ru ck R. D

. i n t h e face an d b o d y

. Co u nt

3 ch arg ed Bo wm an w i t h fam i l y v i o l en ce ag g rav at ed a ssa u lt, a lle ging t hat h e s t ran g l ed

R. D. Co u n t 4 ch arg ed Bo wm an wi t h k i d n ap i n g

, al l eg i n g t h at h e “ fo rced [R. D.] i n to

a v eh i c l e an d t ran s p o rt ed [h er] fro m o n e res id en ce to an o t h er.” Co u n t 5 ch arg ed

Bo wm an wi t h fal s e i m

p ri s o n m en t

, al l eg i n g t h at he u n l awfu l l y co n fi n ed R. D. at t h e

res i den ce o f R. D. an d Bo wm an

. Th e j u ry acq u i t t ed Bo wm an o f t h e k id n ap in g ch arg e i n Co u nt 4, b u t fo u n d h i m

g u i l t y o f al l ot h er co u n t s. At t h e s en t en ci ng h eari n g

, t h e t ri al co u rt s t at ed t h at i t was

m erg i n g Co u n t 2 wi t h Co u n t 1

. Ho wev er, Bo wm an ’ s w ri t t en s en ten ce i n d i cat es t h at

h e was s en t en ced o n b o t h o f th es e co u n t s

, an d “ th e wri t t en s en ten ce co n t ro l s o v er t h e

t ri al co u rt ’ s o ral p ro n o un cem en t s reg ard i ng s en t en ci n g.” See Th el u s ma v. S ta t e

, 3 5 6o f h i s m o t i o n fo r n ew t ri al

, cl ai m i n g t h at (1 ) t he t ri al co u rt erred i n d en y i n g h i s

m o ti o n fo r cert i fi cat i o n o f m at eri al i t y o f an o u t -o f-s t at e wi t n es s, a n d ( 2 ) h i s

co n vi ct i o n fo r fal s e i m

p ri s o n m en t s h o u ld b e v acat ed b ecau s e t h e St at e fai l ed t o p ro v e

v en ue was p ro per as t o t h at o ffen s e. W e affi rm

.

Vi ewed i n t h e l ig ht m os t fav o rab le t o t h e v erd i ct

, 2 t he ev id en ce at t ri al s h o ws

t h at Bo w m an fo rm erl y d at ed an d l iv ed w i t h R. D. i n Gl y n n Co u n t y

. Th e rel at i o n s h ip

b et ween Bo wm an an d R. D

. was t u m u l t u o u s an d o ccas i on al l y v i o l en t

. As t o t h e

i n ci d en t at i s su e in t h i s cas e, o n e n i g h t Bo wm an an d R. D

. at t en d ed a p art y at t h e

res i den ce o f t hei r fri en d Kry s t al Ch ro m a, as t o wh o m Bo wm a n w o u l d s eek a

cert ifi cat e o f m at eri al i t y . W h en Bo wm an an d R. D. g o t i nt o an arg u m en t o u t s i d e o f

Ch ro m a’ s res i d en ce, Bo wm an p u n ch ed R. D. i n t h e face. Bo wm an t h en d rag g ed R.

D. t o h i s car an d d ro v e b ack t o t h e co u p le’ s res i d en ce. Bo w m an s t ru ck R. D. en ro u t e

Ga. A p p

. 4 9 5

, 50 0 (2 ) (8 4 7 SE2 d 8 52 ) (2 0 2 0 ). Th e t ri al co u rt m ay wi s h t o reex am i n e

t h i s i s s u e i n ord er t o co n fo rm t h e wri t t en s en t en ce to t h e sen t en ce p ro n o u n ced o ral l y

. See Ba rb er v. S t a t e

, 3 5 0 Ga. Ap p

. 30 9

, 3 1 6 (4 ) (8 27 SE2 d 73 3 ) (2 0 19 ) (“ [A] s u p eri o r

co u rt i n t he ex erci s e o f i t s i n h eren t p o wer t o co rrect i t s reco rd s t o refl ect t h e t ru t h m ay

co rrect a wri t t en s en t en ce w h ich d o es n o t co n fo rm t o t h e s en t en ce p ro no u n ced o ral l y

,

an d s uch act i o n d o es n o t co ns t i t u t e a m o d i fi cat i on o f t h e s en t en ce.”) (p u n ct u at i o n

o m it t ed ).

2 See Jo h ns o n v. S t a t e , 3 4 0 Ga. Ap p . 4 2 9 , 4 3 0 (7 9 7 SE2 d 6 6 6 ) (2 0 1 7 ).

2t o t h e res i d en ce, an d u p o n arri v al h e l o ck ed t h e d oo rs an d v i ci o us l y b e a t an d

s t ran gl ed h er, cau s i n g s ev ere i n ju ri es , i n cl u d i n g a b ro k en jaw.

R. D. an d Bo w m an b o t h t es t i fi ed at tri al

. R. D. t es t i fi ed t hat s h e d i d n ot

p ro v ok e t h e at t ack an d t hat Bo wm an h el d h er ag ai n s t her wi l l t h ro u g h o ut t h e at t ack

,

wh i le Bo wm an t es t i fi ed t hat R. D. w a s w i t h h i m wi l l i n g l y an d t hat h e o n l y h i t h er

o n ce aft er s h e at t ack ed h i m i n t h e car.

1

. Ch ro m a ap p aren t ly m o v ed t o Pen n sy l v an i a aft er t h e i n ci d e n t i n v o l v i n g

Bo wm an an d R. D. at her res i d en ce. On Feb ru ary 5 , 2 0 1 6

—

t h ree d ay s b efo re ju ry

s el ect i o n was s ch ed ul ed t o o c c u r

— Bo wm an fi l ed a m o ti o n fo r cert i fi cat i o n o f

m at eri al i t y o f o u t -o f-s t at e wi t n es s

, req u es ti n g t h at t h e tri al co u rt cert i fy t o t h e p ro p er

Pen ns y lv an i a co u rt t h at Ch ro m a was a m at eri al wi tn es s i n h i s cas e. 3 Bo wm an as s ert ed

t h at Ch ro m a was a m at eri al wi t n es s b ecau s e sh e was pres en t o u t s i d e o f h er res i d en ce

w h e n h e al l eg ed l y s t ru ck R. D. an d d rag g ed h er t o h i s car, an d i t w as ex p ect ed t h at

Ch ro m a wo u ld t es t i fy th at h e d i d n o t s tri k e R. D. an d t h at s h e l eft wi th h im wi l l i n g l y

.

3 Bo w m an al so fi l ed a m o t i o n fo r co n ti n u an ce t o o b t ai n t he p res en ce o f Ch ro m a

as a wi t n es s , wh i ch t h e t ri al co u rt d en ied

.

3In s u p p o rt o f t h e m o t io n

, Bo wm an s u b m i t t ed n ot es fro m Nat han i el H i ck s

, J r.,

an i n t ern wi t h t h e Pu b l i c Defen d er’ s o ffi ce, reg ard i n g a t el ep h o ne co n v ers at i o n wi th

Ch ro m a. Hi ck s s t at ed t h e fo l l o wi n g i n t h e n ot es :

On Feb ru ary 4

, 2 0 1 6

. . . I

. . . s at i n t h e o ffi ce wi t h Ro b ert Arri n g t o n [ 4 ]

an d w i t n es s e[d ] a co n vers at i o n wi th Kry s t al Ch ro m a i n r e f eren ce t o a

cas e i nv ol v i n g E d u ard o Bo w m an

. M s. Ch ro m a s t at es t h at s he was at a

g et t o get h er wi t h [R. D.] an d M r. Bo wm an

. Sh e s t at es t h at [R. D.] was

t ry i n g t o “ feel u p” h er (M s

. Ch ro m a’ s ) b o y fri en d

. M r. Bo wm an t ri ed t o

l eav e [R. D.]

, h owev er s h e w o u l d no t s t a y w i t h M s

. Ch ro m a. L at er

M r. Bo wm an ret u rn ed f o r s o m e ci g aret t es th at [R. D.] l eft at

M s

. Ch ro m a’ s h o u s e. M s

. Ch ro m a s t at es t h at [R. D.] g o t i n t o t h e car

[wi t h ] M r. Bo wm an w i l li n g l y

. Sh e st at es t h at M r. Bo wm an ad m i tt ed t o

h av i ng an al tercat i o n [wi t h R. D.] b efo re h e ret u rn ed t o Ms

. Ch ro m a’ s

h o u s e.

Th e t ri al co u rt d en i ed t h e m o t i o n

, co n cl ud i ng t h at Bo wm an had n o t m et h is b u rd en

o f dem on s trat i n g th at Ch ro m a was a m at eri al w i t nes s

. Th e co u rt ex p l ai n ed t h at wh i l e

i t was no t p ro h ib i t ed fro m co ns i d eri ng h ears ay ev i d en ce i n ru l i n g o n t h e m o t i o n

, t h e

o n ly ev i d en ce Bo wm an p res en t ed

— t he n o t es fro m Hi ck s

— was h ears a y a n d n o t

t es t i m o ny s u b

ject t o cro s s -ex am i n at i o n

. Th e co u rt al s o n ot ed t h at Bo wm an ’ s m o t i o n

4 Arri ng t o n was p rev i o u sl y Bo w m an ’ s l ead t ri al co u n s el

.

4was fi l ed ju st t h ree day s b efo re ju ry s el ect i o n wa s s e t t o o ccu r, an d t h at t h e

i n fo rm at i o n reg ard i n g Ch ro m a was co n t ai n ed i n t h e o ri g i n al p o l i ce rep o rt

.

Bo wm an no w ch al l en g es t h e d en i al o f h i s m ot i o n, arg u i n g t h at Ch ro m a was a

m at eri al wi t n es s b ecau s e s h e o b s erv ed t h e al l eg ed at t ack ou t s id e of h er res i d en ce an d

was p rep ared t o t es ti fy

t hat Bo wm an n ei t h er at t ack ed R. D. n o r ab d u ct ed h er t o t h e

co u pl e’ s res i d en ce.

“ Becau s e pro cess i ssue d by G e or g ia c our ts doe s not ha ve ex trat erri t o ri al p o wer,

Geo rg i a, l i k e th e 4 9 o t h er s t at es

, en act ed t h e U n i fo rm Act t o Secu re th e At t en d an ce

o f W i t n es s es fro m W i t h o u t th e St at e (t h e “ U n i fo rm A ct ”), OCGA § 2 4 -1 3 -9 0 et s eq .”

See Y ou n g v. S t a t e

, 3 2 4 Ga. Ap p

. 1 2 7

, 1 28 (1 ) (7 49 SE2 d 4 2 3 ) (2 0 13 ) (p u n ct u at i o n

o m it t ed ). Th e Un i fo rm A ct p ro v i d e s t h e s t at u t o ry m ean s t o co m p el an o u t -o f-s t at e

wi t n es s t o t es t i fy

at cri m i n al p ro ceed in g s i n Geo rg i a. See OCGA § 2 4-1 3 -9 4 (a).

Un d er t h e Un i fo rm Act

, a p art y d es i ri n g t o s ecu re t he at t en d an ce of an o u t -o fs t at e wi t n es s i n a p ro s ecu t i o n o r g ran d j u ry i n v es t i g at i o n pen d i ng i n a G eo rg i a co u rt

m ay req u es t th at t h e co u rt is s u e a cert i fi cat e o f m at eri al i t y reg ard i n g t h at w it nes s

. See

OCGA § 2 4 -1 3 -9 4 (a). 5 Th e Geo rg i a co u rt pres en t ed wi t h su ch a req ues t i s ch arg ed

5 OCGA § 2 4 -1 3-9 4 (a) p ro v i d es i n fu l l :

If a p ers o n in an y s t at e wh i ch b y i t s l aws h as m ad e p ro v i s i o n fo r

5wi t h d eci d i n g wh et h er t he s o u g h t-aft er wi t n es s i s a “ m at eri al wi t n es s .” See Y o u n g

,

3 2 4 Ga. Ap p

. at 1 2 9 (1 ); OCGA § 24 -1 3 -9 4 (a). Th e Su p rem e Co u rt o f Geo rg i a h as

d efi n ed “ m at eri al w i tn es s ” as “ a wi tn es s wh o can t es t i fy ab o u t m at t ers hav i n g s o m e

l o g i cal co n n ect i o n wi t h t h e co n s eq u en t ial fact s

, [es p eci al l y ] i f few o t h ers

, i f a n y

,

k n o w ab o u t t h es e m at t ers .” Da ven p o r t v. S t a te

, 2 8 9 Ga. 3 9 9

, 4 0 4 (7 1 1 SE2 d 6 9 9 )

(2 0 1 1). An y cert i fi cat e i s s u ed b y t h e Geo rg ia co u rt i s p res en t ed t o a ju d g e o f a co u rt

o f reco rd i n t h e o u t-o f-s t at e co u n t y i n w h i ch t h e wi t n es s i s fo u n d

, an d t h at co u rt s h al l

i s su e a s u m

m o ns d irect i ng t h e wi t n es s t o a t t e n d a n d t es t i fy i n t h e Geo rg i a cri m i n al

p ro ceed in g i f it d et erm in es t h a t t h e wi t n es s i s m at eri al an d n eces s ary t o t h e

p ro ceed in g

, t h at co m

p el l i ng t h e wi t n es s t o at t en d t h e p ro c eed i n g an d t es t i fy wo u ld

co m m an d i n g p ers o ns wi t h i n it s b o rd ers t o at t en d an d tes t ify i n cri m i nal

p ro s ecu t i on s o r gran d ju ry i n v es ti g at i on s co m m en ced o r ab o u t t o

co m m en ce in t h i s s t at e i s a m at eri al wi tn es s i n a p ro s ecu t i o n pen d i n g i n

a co urt o f reco rd i n t hi s s t at e o r i n a g ran d ju ry i n v es t i g at i o n wh i ch h as

co m m en ced o r is ab o u t to co m m en ce a ju d g e o f s u ch co u rt m ay i s s u e a

cert i fi cat e u n d er t h e s eal o f th e co u rt s t at i n g t h es e fact s an d s p eci fy i n g

t h e n u m b er o f d ay s th e wi t n es s wi l l b e req u i red

. Th i s cert i f i cat e m ay

i n cl u d e a reco m

m en dat i o n t h at t h e wi tn es s b e t ak en i n t o i m m ed i at e

cu s t od y an d d el i v ered t o an o ffi cer o f t h i s s t at e t o as s u re at t en d an ce i n

t h i s s t at e. Th i s cert i fi cat e s h al l b e p res en t ed t o a ju dg e o f a co u rt o f

reco rd i n t h e co un t y

i n wh i ch t h e wi t nes s i s fo u nd

.

6n o t cau s e an u nd u e h ard s hi p t o t h e wi t n es s

, an d th at Ge o r g i a wi l l g i v e t he wi t n es s

p ro t ect i o n fro m arres t an d th e s erv i c e o f ci v i l o r cri m i n al p ro ces s

. See i d

. at 4 0 1;

OCGA § 2 4 -1 3 -9 2 (b ).

In co ns id eri n g a m o t i o n fo r cert i f i c a t io n o f m at eri al i t y o f an o u t -o f-s t at e

wi t n es s

, a t ri al co u rt i s n ot p ro hi b i t ed fro m co n s id eri n g h ears ay ev i d en ce, b u t s h o u ld

g i v e h ears ay ev i d en ce “ s u ch wei g h t as t h e co u rt ’ s ju d g m en t an d ex peri en ce co u n s el .”

Pa r ker v. S t a t e

, 29 6 Ga. 5 8 6

, 5 9 6 (4 ) (7 69 SE2 d 3 2 9 ) (2 0 1 5 ) (p u n ct uat i on o m i t t ed ).

“ [T] h e t ri al co u rt ret ai n s t h e p rero g at i v e as t h e fact -fi n d er t o d et erm i n e th e wei g h t an d

cred i b i l i t y o f t h e ev i d en ce su b m i t t ed

, an d i n m ak i ng th i s d et erm i n at i o n

, t h e co u rt m ay

co n si d er t h e fact t h at ev i d en ce was pres en t ed i n t he fo rm o f h ears ay rat h er t h an

t es t i m o n y s u b

ject t o cro s s -ex am i n at i o n or ev i d en ce b eari n g o t h er i n di cat i o n s o f

t ru s t wo rt h in es s .” Id

. at 5 9 7 (4 ) ; s e e a l s o Y o u n g

, 3 2 4 G a. Ap p

. at 1 32 (3 ) (a p art y

req u es t i ng a cert i fi cat e of m at eri al i t y o f an o u t -o f-s t at e wi t n es s m u s t p res en t

“ ev i d en ce o f fact s t o s ho w t h at t h e p ro p o s ed wi t n es s i s m at eri al ,” an d m ay n o t rel y

o n th e s t at em en t s o f co u ns el al o n e). Th i s Co u rt rev i ews a t ri al co u rt ’ s ru l in g o n s u ch

a m o ti o n fo r ab u s e o f d i s cret i o n

. See Y o u n g

, 3 24 Ga. Ap p

. at 1 30 (1 ); Sp a n n v. S t a t e

,

3 1 8 Ga. Ap p . 7 4 0 , 7 4 2 (1 ) (7 36 SE2 d 7 4 9 ) (2 0 1 2).

7Bo wm an has n ot s h own th at t h e t ri al co u rt ab u sed i t s d i s cret i on i n d en y i n g h i s

m o ti o n h ere. T h e o n l y ev i d en ce Bo wm an s u b m i t t ed i n s u p p ort o f h i s m o t i o n

co n si s t ed o f t h e n ot es fro m Hi c k s

, wh i ch s i m p ly s u m m ari zed t h e co n t en t s o f a

co n vers at i on b et ween Ch ro m a an d Bo wm an ’ s fo rm er co u ns el

, an d t h e co u rt was

p erm i t t ed t o as s ig n l i tt l e o r n o wei g h t t o t h is h ears ay ev i d en ce. See Pa r ker

, 2 9 6 Ga.

at 5 9 6 -5 9 7 (4 ). In ad d it i o n

, t h e p o l i ce rep o rt ap p aren t l y i n d i cat ed t h at Ch r o m a w as

i n s i d e o f h er res i d e n c e w h en Bo wm an at tack ed R. D. o u t s id e, an d R. D.’ s t ri al

t es t i m o ny co n fi rm ed t h i s fact

. Th e co u rt was al so p erm i t t ed t o co n s i d er t h e fact t h at

,

wh i le t he i n fo rm at i o n reg ard i n g Ch ro m a was co n t ai n ed i n t h e p o li ce rep o rt an d

t h erefo re k n o wn t o B o w m a n

, Bo wm an fi l ed h i s m o t i o n ju st t h ree d ay s befo re ju ry

s el ect i o n was s et to o ccu r. Acco rd in g l y , t h ere was n o erro r.

2

. B ow m a n a r gues t h at hi s co n v i ct io n fo r fal s e i m p ri s o n m en t sh o u l d b e v acat ed

b ecau s e t h e St at e fai led t o es t ab l i s h t h at v en u e fo r t h is o ffen se was p ro p er i n Gl y n n

Co u n t y

. Sp eci fi cal l y

, h e as s ert s t h at t h e St at e f a i l e d t o es t ab l i s h th at t h e act s h e

al l eg ed l y co m

m i t ted o ut s i de o f Ch ro m a’ s res i d en ce

— s tri k i n g R. D. an d fo rci n g h er

i n t o h i s car i n ord er t o d ri v e h er b ack t o t h e co u pl e’ s res i d en ce — o ccu rred i n Gl y n n

Co u n t y

.

8[V] en u e i s a ju ri s d i ct i o n al fact t h e St at e m u s t p ro v e b ey on d a reas o n ab l e

d o u b t i n ev ery cri m in al cas e. Th e St at e m ay m eet i t s b u rd en at t ri al

u s i n g ei t h er d i rect o r ci rcu m st an t i al ev i den ce, an d th e d et erm i n at i o n o f

wh et h er ven u e h as b een es t ab l i s h ed i s a n i s s u e s o u n d l y wi t h i n th e

p ro v i n ce o f t h e ju ry

. O n ap p eal

, [we] r e v i e w a ch al l en g e t o th e

s u ffi ci en cy o f th e v en u e ev i d en ce ju s t l i k e we rev i ew a ch al l en ge to th e

ev i d en ce o f g u i l t : we vi ew t h e ev i d e n c e of v en u e i n a l i g h t m o s t

fav o rab le t o s u p p o rt t h e v erd i ct an d det erm i n e wh et h er t h e ev i d en ce w as

s u ffi ci en t t o perm it a rat i o n al t ri er of fact to f i n d b e yo n d a reas o n ab l e

d o u b t t h at t h e cri m e w as co m m it t ed i n t h e co u n t y

wh ere t h e d efen d an t

was i n di ct ed

.

W o r t h en v. S t a t e

, 3 0 4 Ga. 8 62

, 8 6 5 (3 ) (a) (8 2 3 SE2 d 2 9 1 ) (2 0 1 9 ) (ci t at i o n s an d

p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed ); s ee al s o Oa tes v. S t a t e

, 3 5 5 Ga. Ap p

. 3 0 1

, 3 04 (2 ) (8 4 4 SE2 d

2 3 9 ) (2 0 2 0 ).

In t h i s cas e, Bo w m an ’ s arg u m en t fai l s b ecau se t h e ch arg e o f fal s e

i m p r i s o n m e n t was bas ed u p o n h i s act i o n s at t h e co u p l e’ s res i d en ce, no t h i s act i on s

at Ch ro m a’ s res i d en ce. 6 As Bo wm an ap p ears t o co n ced e o n ap p eal

, th e ev i d en ce at

t ri al was s u ffi ci en t to p erm i t th e j u ry t o fi n d b ey on d a rea s o n a b l e d o u bt t h at t h e

6 Bo w m an ’ s act i o n s at Ch ro m a’ s res i d en ce fo rm ed t he b as i s o f t h e ch arg e o f

ki d n a p p i ng , an d h e was acq u i t t ed o f t h i s o ffen s e.

9co u pl e’ s res i den ce w as i n Gl y n n C o u n t y an d t h at t h e fal s e i m p ri s on m en t occu rred

t h ere, s at i s fy i n g t h e v en u e req u i rem en t

.

Fo r t h e fo reg o i n g reas o n s , we affi rm

.

Ju d g men t a f f i r m ed . Di vi s i o n Per

Cu r i a m. Al l

Ju d g es co n cu r

.

10