FI RST DI VI SI ON DOYLE, C. J.

, A NDREWS, P. J.

, and RA Y, J.

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

October 14, 2016



# I n th e Co u r t o f

A p p eals o f

G eo r g ia

A1 6 A1 26 9 . COLLINS v . THE STATE.

A N D R E W S , Pres i d in g J u d g e.

M o re t h an 1 7 y ears aft er co m p l et i n g a s e n t en ce o f p ro b at i o n u n d er t h e Fi rs t

Offen d er Act

, 1 Ti m o t h y Cu r t i s Co l l i ns fi l ed a “ Mo ti o n fo r Di s ch arg e an d

Ex o nerat i o n ” ch a l l e n g i ng a 1 9 9 8 o rd er o f th e Su p eri or Co u rt o f Cl ay to n Co u n t y

wh i c h f o u n d th at Co l l i n s ’ p erfo rm an ce o f h i s s en t en ce of p ro b at i o n was

“ u n s at i sfact o ry .” Th e t ri al co u rt d en i ed Co l l i ns ’ m o t i o n , an d h e ap p eal s

. Becau s e we

co n st ru e Co l l i n s ’ m o t i o n as on e t o co rrect a v o id s e n t e n c e, an d b ecau s e we fu rt h er

co n cl u d e t h at t he t ri al co urt ’ s 1 9 9 8 sen t en ci n g o rd er was v o i d

, we rev ers e an d rem an d

t h i s cas e fo r en t ry o f an ord er o f ex o n erat i o n an d d i sch arg e co ns i s t en t wi t h t h e Fi rs t

Offen d er Act

.

1 OCGA § 4 2 -8 -6 0 et

s eq . (2 0 1 6 ).On Feb ru ary 7

, 1 9 9 5

, Co l l i n s en t ered a n eg o t i at ed p lea o f g ui l t y t o o n e co u nt

o f t h eft b y t ak i n g an d o n e co u n t o f t h eft b y recei vi n g s t o len p ro pert y

. 2 Th e Su p eri o r

Co u rt o f Cl ay to n Co u n t y s en t en ced Co l li n s t o t hree y ears t o b e serv ed o n p ro b at i o n

u n d er t he p ro vi s i on s o f t h e Fi rs t Offen d er Act

. 3 On Fri d ay , Fe b r u a r y 6

, 1 9 9 8

, a

Cl ay t o n Co u nt y p ro b at i o n o ffi cer co m p let ed a “ Pet it i on Seek in g Ad ju di cat i o n o f

Un s at i s fact o ry Perfo rm an ce U n d er Fi rs t O f f e n de r S e n t e nc e

. ” T he pe tition a ll eg ed t h at

Co l li n s fai l ed to f

u l fi l l th e req u i rem en t s o f fi rs t -o ffen der p ro b at i on i n v i ew o f Co l l i n s ’

t h ree t raffi c v i o lat i o n s co m m it t ed d u ri n g t h e t erm of p ro b at io n

. Th e p et i t i o n d i d n ot

s eek an ad ju d i cat i o n o f g u i l t o r rev o cat i on o f Co l l i n s’ p ro b at i o n. See OCGA § 4 2 -8

-

3 8 (1 9 9 8 ) (rev o cat i o n o f p ro b at i o n); OCGA § 4 2 -8 -6 0 (b ) (1 9 9 8 ). Of n ot e, t h e reco rd

d o es n ot co n t ai n an y ev i den ce t h at t h e p et i ti o n was fi l ed wi t h t h e cl erk of co u rt o r t h e

t ri al ju d g e o r t h at t h e p et i t i o n was s erv ed u p o n Co l l in s o r h i s co u ns el

. 4 On M o n d ay ,

2 A t h i rd co u n t

, fl eei n g an d at t em p t i n g t o el u d e a p o l i ce o ffi cer, w as res o l v ed

b y an o rd er o f n o ll e p ro s eq u i.

3 Ap p ro xi m at e l y t h ree m o n t h s aft er s en t en ci n g , t h e St at e fi l ed a m o t i o n to

rev o k e Co l l i n s ’ p ro b at i o n

. Fo l l o wi n g a h eari n g , t h e t ri al co urt d et erm i n ed t h at “ t h e

t erm s o f p ro b at i o n h ad n o t b een v i ol at ed ” an d d en i ed t h e St at e’ s m o t io n

.

4 See OCGA § 1 7 -1 -1 (a) (s erv i ce o f p l ead i n g s u p o n each p art y ); (b ) (m an n er

o f s erv i ce o f p l ead i n g s ); (c) (fi l i n g o f p l ead in g s w i t h co u rt “ ei t h er b efo re s erv i ce o r i m m ed i at el y t h ereaft er”); (d ) (fi l i n g o f pl ead i n g s acco m pl i s h ed b y fi l i n g wi t h t h e cl erk o f co u rt “ u n l es s t he ju d g e p erm i t s t h e p ap ers t o b e fi l ed wi t h h i m , i n wh i ch

2Feb ru ary 9

, 1 9 9 8

, t h e t ri al co u rt ex ecu t ed an o rd er g r a n t i n g t h e St at e’ s p et i t i o n,

co n cl u d in g t h at Co l l i n s ’ p erfo rm an ce “ u n d er th e Fi rs t Offen d er s en t en ce is fo u n d to

b e u n sat i s fact o ry .” As a res u lt

, t h e t ri al co u rt fo u n d th at Co l l i n s “ i s n o t en t i t l ed to

d i s c h a r g e an d ex o n erat i on as p ro v i d ed in Sec. 4 2 -8 -6 2

. . . . ” Th ere i s n o i n d i ca t i o n

i n t h e reco rd t h at t h e t ri al co u rt co n d u ct ed a heari ng o n t h e St at e’ s p et i t i o n

. Th e t ri al

co u rt fi l ed i t s o rd er o n Feb ru ary 1 1 , 1 9 9 8

.

So m e 1 7 y ears l at er, o n Oct o b er 5

, 2 0 1 5

, Co l l i n s fi l ed a “ M ot i o n fo r Di s ch arg e

an d Ex o n erat i on ” i n wh i ch h e as k e d t he t ri al co u rt fo r an o rd er “ fo rm al i zi n g

[Co ll i n s ’ ] ex o n erat io n ” u n d er t h e Fi rs t Offen d er Act

. Th e t ri al co u rt co n cl ud ed t h at

Co l li n s fai led t o sh o w “ an y ab u se o f d i s cret i o n i n t h e Co u rt ’ s 1 99 8 d et erm i n at i o n t h at

[Co ll i n s ] was n o t en t i t led t o rel i ef u n d er t h e Fi rs t Offe n d er Act ” an d den i ed h i s

m o ti o n

. Co l l i n s ’ ap p eal fo l l o wed

.

1

. W e are ob l i g at ed to q u es t i o n o u r ju ri s d ict i o n “ i n an y cas e i n wh i ch t h ere m ay

b e a do u b t ab o u t t h e ex i s t en ce o f s u ch ju ri s d i ct io n .” S a n d er s v. S t a t e , 28 0 Ga. 7 8 0,

7 8 2 (1 ) (6 3 1 SE2 d 3 4 4 ) (2 0 0 6 ). Here, Co l l i n s fi l ed a m ot i o n i n 2 0 1 5 t o ch al l en g e a

1 9 9 8 o rd er d en y i n g h i m ex o n erat io n an d d is ch arg e u n der t h e Fi rs t Offen d er Act

.

ev en t h e s h al l n o t e t h ereo n t h e fi l i n g d at e an d t r a n s m it t hem t o t h e offi ce o f t h e cl erk ”); (e) (p ro o f o f s erv i ce) (1 9 9 8 ).

3Co l li n s co u l d h av e so u g h t an ap p eal fro m t hat o rd er a s l a t e as March 1 3

, 1 9 9 8

, b ut

n o ap peal was fi l ed 5 an d h i s o p p o rt u n i t y t o ap p eal t hat o rd er ex p i red lo n g ag o

. 6 See

OCGA § 5 -6 -3 8 (a). A cco rd i n g l y , u n l es s Co l li n s ’ m ot i on i s o f a k i n d wh ich m ay b e

b ro u gh t at an y t i m e, an d Co l l i n s i nv o k ed t h e co rrect p r o c e d u re t o ap p eal t h e o rd er

d en y i n g h i s m o t i o n , we l ack ju ri s d i ct i o n an d Co ll i ns ’ ap p eal m u s t b e d i s m i s s ed

.

Co l l in s p oi n t s t o n o l aw wh i ch au t h o ri zes t h e sp eci fi c m o t i o n h e fi l ed

. 7 See,

e.g ., S t a t e v. Gr een , 3 0 8 Ga. A p p

. 3 3

, 3 4 (1 ) (7 0 6 SE2 d 7 2 0 ) (2 0 1 1 ) (“ [A] m o t i o n to

5 See OCGA § 4 2-8 -6 4 (1 9 98 ). W e need n o t d eci d e h ere wh et h er Co l l i n s

s h o u ld h av e p u rs ued a d irect o r d i s cret i o n ary ap p eal i nas m u ch as n o effo rt t o ap p eal

was m ad e. See OCGA § § 5 -6 -3 4 (a), 5 -6 -3 5 (a). Co m p are OCGA § 4 2 -8 -6 4 ; Mo b l ey

v. S ta t e , 1 9 2 Ga. A p p. 71 9 (3 8 6 SE2 d 3 8 4 ) (1 9 8 9 ) (ap p eal fro m an o r d e r o f

ad ju d i cat i o n of g u i l t an d rev o cat i o n o f s en t en ce is s u ed pu rs u an t t o Fi rs t Offen d er Act

i s b y d i scret i o nary ap p eal ).

6 Th ere i s n o al l eg at i o n i n t h e reco rd t hat Co l l in s d i d n o t recei v e no t i ce o f t h e

o rd er, w h i ch o t h erwi s e m i g h t h av e t ri g g ered t h e av ai l ab le o u t -o f-t i m e ap p eal

p ro ced ure. See, e.g

., Po r t er v. S t a te , 2 7 1 Ga. 4 9 8 , 4 9 9 -5 0 0 (5 2 1 SE2 d 5 66 ) (1 9 9 9 );

W h i tf i el d v. S t a t e , 3 1 3 Ga. Ap p. 2 9 7 , 2 9 9 (1 ) (7 2 1 SE2 d 2 1 1) (2 01 1 ).

7 Un l i ke a pet i t i o n t o rem o v e a l i s t i n g o n t h e sex u al o ffen der reg i s t ry , t h ere i s

n o s i m i lar s t at u t o ry p ro ced u re u n d er t h e Fi rs t Offen d er Act t o ad dres s t h e t ri al co urt ’ s ju d g m en t i n t h i s cas e. Co m p are OCGA § 4 2 -1 -1 9

. Fu rt h erm o re, w e no t e t hat recen t

rev i s io n s t o th e Act b y t h e 20 1 6 Gen eral As s em b l y , effect i v e J u l y 1

, 2 0 16

, p ro v i d e f o r: (1 ) fi l in g a p et i t i o n i n t h e s en t en ci n g co u rt t o s eal cert ai n reco rd s f o l l o w i n g

ex o nerat i o n an d d is ch arg e (s ee OCGA § 42 -8 -6 2 .1 (c) (2 0 1 6)); an d (2 ) fi l i n g a

p et i t i o n fo r ex o n erat io n an d d i s ch arg e i n t h e co u n t y o f co n v i ct i o n fo r d efen d an t s wh o

o ri g i nal ly q u al i fi ed fo r fi rs t o ffen d er t reat m en t b u t were n o t i n fo rm ed o f t h ei r el i g i b i l i t y . See OCGA § 4 2 -8 -6 6 (2 0 1 6 ). Nei t h er s i t u at i o n i s p res en t i n t h is cas e.

4v acat e a ju d gm en t o f co n v i ct i o n i s n o t an es t ab l i s hed p ro ced u re fo r ch al l en g i n g t h e

v al i d i t y o f a ju d g m en t i n a cri m i n al cas e.”). See al s o H ar p er v. S ta t e , 2 8 6 Ga. 2 1 6,

2 1 7 (1 ) (6 8 6 SE2 d 7 8 6) (2 00 9). He d o es n o t ch al l en g e t he t ri al co u rt ’ s ju d g m en t o f

co n vi ct i o n , b u t es s en t i al l y as ks t h e tri al co u rt t o rem o ve a s en t en ci ng p ro v i s i o n (i

. e.,

t h e p ro h i b i t i o n ag ai n s t ex o nerat i o n an d d i s ch arg e) w h i ch i s n o t au t h o r i z e d u n d er

Geo rg i a l aw. 8 See S

p ar g o v. S t at e , 3 32 Ga. Ap p

. 4 10

, n

. 1 (7 7 3 SE2 d 3 5 ) (2 0 1 5 ) (“ [a]

cl ai m ch al l en g in g a co nv i ct i o n an d a cl ai m ch al l en g i n g t h e res u l t i n g s en t en ce as v o id

are n o t t h e s am e”). As a res u l t

, Co l l i n s ’ m o t i o n m o s t cl o s el y res em b l es a m o t i o n to

co rrect a v o i d sen t en ce. See D a vi s v. S t a te

, 3 3 0 G a. Ap p. 7 1 1

, 7 12 (7 6 9 SE2 d 1 3 3 )

(2 0 1 5) (“ th ere i s n o m ag i c i n m ere no m en cl at u re, an d pl ead i n g s are co ns t ru ed t o s erv e

t h e b es t i n teres t s o f t h e p l ead er, an d are ju dg ed b y fu nct i o n rat h er t h an n am e.”).

A m ot i o n t o co rrect a v o id s en t en ce m ay b e fi l ed at an y ti m e. See OCGA § 1 7

-

9 -4 ; R o o n ey v. S ta t e , 2 8 7 Ga. 1

, 2 (2 ) (6 9 0 SE2 d 8 0 4 ) (2 0 1 0 ); Sp a r g o , 3 3 2 Ga. Ap p.

at 4 1 0

. “ [T] h e o n l y g ro u n d fo r au t h o ri zi n g a tri al co u rt t o co rrect a s e n t e n c e at an y

8 As a res u l t

, i rres pect i v e o f t h e t i m el i n es s o f h i s m o t i o n , Co l li n s ’ m o t i o n

can n ot b e ch aract eri zed as a p et i t i o n fo r h ab eas co rp u s , a m o t io n t o wi t h d raw a g ui l t y

p l ea, o r a m ot io n i n arres t o f ju d g m en t

, each of wh i ch ch al len g es t h e un d erl y i n g ju d g m en t o f co n v i ct i on rat h er t h an t he s en t en ce. See al so Ha r p er , 2 8 6 G a. at 2 1 7 (1 ).

No r do es t h e m o t i o n q u al i fy as an ex t rao rd i n ary m o t io n fo r n e w t ri al i n v i ew o f

Co l li n s ’ g u i l t y p l ea. See OCGA § 5 -5 -4 1 ; S p a r g o v. S t at e , 3 3 2 Ga. A p p

. 4 1 0

, n

. 1 (7 7 3 SE2 d 3 5 ) (2 0 1 5 ).

5t i m e i s t hat t he sen t en ce i s v o i d. A s en t en ce i s v o i d if t h e co u rt im po s es p u n i s h m en t

t h at t h e l aw d o es n o t al l o w.” S p a r g o , 3 3 2 Ga. Ap p

. at 4 1 1

. “ W h en t h e s en t en ce

i m p o s ed fal l s wi th i n t h e s t at u t o ry ran g e o f pu n i s h m en t

, [h o wev er,] th e s en t en ce i s n ot

v o i d [.] ” Id

.

Un d er t h e Fi rs t Offen d er Act

, a p ers o n i s ei t her ex o n erat ed o f g ui l t an d s t an d s

d i s ch arg ed as a m at t er o f l aw u p o n co m p l et io n o f t h e t erm o f p ro b at i o n (OCGA § 4 2

-

8 -6 0 (e) (2 0 1 6 )) o r ad

ju d i cat ed g u i l t y i n a p et it i o n fi l ed p ri o r to t h e ex pi rat i o n o f t h e

s en t en ce ( OCGA § 4 2 -8 -6 0 (d ) (2 0 1 6 )); t h e s t at u t e d o es no t p ro v i d e fo r an y o t h er

al t ern at i v e. 9 St at ed d i fferen t l y ,

A fi rs t o ffen der’ s g ui l t y p l ea do es no t co n st i tu t e a ‘ co n v i ct i o n ’ as t hat

t erm i s d efi n ed i n t h e Cri m i n al Co d e o f Geo rg i a. Rat her, u nd er t h e fi rs t

o ffen d er st at ut e, u n t i l an ad ju d i cat i o n o f gu i l t i s e n tered

, t h ere i s n o

co n v i ct i o n. Th e cas e h as , i n effect

, b een s u s pen d ed d uri n g t h e p eri o d o f

9 Al t h o u g h t h e 2 0 1 6 Gen eral As sem b l y p as s ed s u b s t an t ial rev i s i on s t o t h e Fi rs t
Offen d er Act wh i ch t o o k effect J u l y 1

, 2 0 1 6

, an d wh i ch we ap p l y h ere, t h e Gen eral

As s em b l y d i d n o t al t er t he t w o o p t i o n s lo n g av ai l ab l e u n d er t h e Act
- ad ju d i cat i o n o f

g u i l t o r d i s ch arg e. See OCGA § 4 2 -8 -6 0 (b ) (1 9 9 8), (2 0 1 5 ) (ad ju d i cat i o n o f g u i l t );

OCGA § 4 2 -8 -6 2 (a) (1 9 9 8 ), (2 0 1 5 ) (d i s ch arg e). See al so Hi l l v. W i l li s , 22 4 Ga. 2 6 3,

2 6 5 (1 6 1 SE2 d 2 8 1 ) (1 9 6 8 ) (“ a rev i ewi n g co u rt s h o ul d ap p l y th e l aw as i t ex i s t s at t h e

t i m e o f it s ju dg m en t rat her t h an t h e l aw p rev ai li n g at t he ren d i t i on o f t he ju d g m en t

u n d er rev i ew”); Ha mmo n d v. S t a t e , 3 3 4 G a

. Ap p

. 78 1

, 7 8 4

, n

. 1 2 (7 8 0 SE2 d 4 4 0 ) (2 0 1 5) (s am e).

6p ro b at io n un t i l ev en t u al l y t h e pro b a t i o n i s ei t h er rev o ked o r i t i s

d i s ch arg ed ; u n les s i t

i s r evo ked

, t h er e i s n o co n vi ct i o n

.

(Em p h as i s s up pl i ed ; fo o t n o t es an d p u nct u at i o n om i t t ed .) Co o k v. S t a t e , — G a. Ap p.

— , N o

. A 1 6 A1 1 0 5

, 2 0 1 6 Ga. Ap p

. LEXIS 4 77

, * 1 6 (4 ) (Au g. 8, 20 1 6 ), ci ti n g Da vi s

v. S t a t e , 2 7 3 Ga. 1 4

, 1 5 (5 3 7 SE2 d 6 6 3 ) (2 0 0 0). A p u n i sh m en t wh i ch d ev i at es fro m

t h es e l im i t ed o p t i o n s i s n o t av ai l ab l e an d , t h erefo re, i t i s v o i d . See S pa r go , 3 3 2 Ga.

Ap p

. a t 4 1 1

. In t h i s cas e, Co l l i n s ’ m ot i o n at t ack ed a s en t en ce im p o s ed b y t h e t ri al

co u rt t hat was n o t p erm i t t ed

. See S h ah eed v. S t a te

, 2 7 4 Ga. 71 6

, 71 7 (5 5 9 SE2 d 4 6 6 )

(2 0 0 2) (“ W h en t h e t ri al co u rt am en d ed [Co ll in s ’ ] s en t en ce t o el im in at e fi rs t o ffen d er

s t at u s, i t effect i v el y i m

p o s ed an en h an ced sen t en ce.

. . .”). As a res u l t, we co n s t ru e

C o l l i n s’ m o t i o n as a m o t io n to co rrect a v o i d s en ten ce. See Da vi s , 33 0 G a

. A p p

. a t

7 1 2

. O rd ers on m o ti o n s to co r r ect a v o i d s en t en ce m ay b e ap p eal ed d irect l y , an d

Co l li n s t i m el y fi led a no t i ce o f ap p eal fro m t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s o rd er d en y i n g h i s “ M o t i o n

fo r Di s ch arg e an d Ex on erat i o n .” See W i l l i a m s v

. S t a te

, 2 7 1 Ga. 6 8 6, 68 9 (1 ) (5 2 3

SE2 d 8 5 7) (1 9 9 9 ) (“ t h e d en i al o f a p et i t i o n t o co rrect a s en ten ce o n t h e g ro u n d t h at

7t h e o ri g i nal s en t en ce was v oi d i s ap p eal ab l e as a m at t er o f ri g h t ”). Acco rd in g l y , we

h av e ju ri sd i ct i o n

. 1 0

2

. In v i ew of o u r an al y s i s i n Di v i s i o n 1

, s u pra, t h e S t a t e ’s m o t i o n t o d i s m i ss

Co l li n s ’ ap peal i s d en i ed

. 1 1 See W i l li a ms , 2 71 Ga. at 6 8 9 (1 ). Co m p are OCGA § 4 2 -8

-

6 4 ; Ha wki n s v. S t a te

, 3 3 0 Ga. Ap p

. 54 7 (7 6 8 SE2 d 52 3 ) (2 0 1 5 ) (ap p eal fro m o rd er

d en y i n g p et i t i o n t o rem o v e l is t i n g fro m s ex u al o ffen d er reg i s t ry i s b y d i s cret i o n ary

ap p eal ); Mo b l ey , 19 2 Ga. Ap p. at 7 1 9 (ap p eal fro m an o rd er o f ad ju d i cat io n o f g u i l t

an d rev o cat i o n o f s en t en ce is s u ed p u rs u an t to Fi rs t Offen d er Act is b y d i s cret i o n ary

ap p eal ).

1 0 Th i s cas e i s d i s s i m i l ar t o Ja yko v. S ta t e , 3 3 5 Ga. Ap p. 6 8 4, 6 8 6 (7 8 2 SE2 d

7 8 8 ) (2 0 1 6 ), b ecau s e, rat h er t h an ch al l en g e “ a s en t en ce co n d it i on t o wh ich [h e] i s n o l o n g er s ub

ject [,] ” Co l l i n s ch al len g es a co n di ti o n t o wh i ch h e i s , b u t sh o u l d n o t be,

s u b ject (i .e., th e s t i g m a o f a co n v i ct i o n ). See S t a t e v. M i l l s , 2 6 8 Ga. 8 7 3

, 8 7 5 (4 9 5

SE2 d 1 ) (1 9 9 8 ).

1 1 T h e St at e’ s arg u m en t t h at Co l l i n s ’ m o ti o n i s su b ject to di s cret i on ary ap p eal

p ro ced ures b ecau se i t ad d res s es p ro b at i o n revoc a tion i s m i s p l aced

. See Jo nes v. S t a t e , 3 2 2 Ga. A p p

. 2 6 9 (7 4 5 SE2 d 1 ) (2 0 1 3 ); Za mo r a v

. S t a t e , 2 2 6 Ga. Ap p

. 1 0 5 (4 8 5

SE2 d 2 1 4) (1 9 9 7). Fi rs t, t h e St at e’ s 1 99 8 pet i t i o n d i d n o t s eek

, an d th e t ri al co u rt d id

n o t i m p o s e, a rev o cat i on o f Co l l i n s ’ p ro b at i o n. Seco n d

, at t h e t i m e t h e St at e’ s 1 9 9 8

p et i t i o n was fi l ed

, Co l l i ns ’ s en t en ce h ad ex p i red ; as a res ul t

, t h ere was n o p ro b at i o n

t o rev o k e. Co m

p are Jo n es , 32 2 Ga. Ap p

. at 2 6 9 (“ Befo re th e e x p irat i o n o f t h e

p ro b at i o n ary p eri o d, th e s tat e fi l ed a p et i t i o n fo r ad ju d i cat i on o f gu i l t an d i m p o s i t i o n

o f s en t en ce. . . .”).

83

. Pri o r t o t h e ex p i rat i o n o f Co l l i n s ’ s en t en ce, th e St at e co m p l et ed

, b u t t h e

reco rd co n t ai n s n o i n d i cat i o n t h at i t fi l ed

, a p e t i t i o n “ s eek i n g ad ju d i cat i o n o f

u n s at i s fact o ry p erfo rm an ce.” Beari n g i n m i n d t h e t wo o p t i on s av ai l ab l e un d er t h e

Fi rs t Offen d er Act

, t h ere are t wo p ri m ary d efi ci en ci es w i t h t h e St at e’ s p et i t io n

. Fi rs t

,

t o t h e ex ten t t h e p et i ti o n s o ug h t an ad j u d icat i o n o f g u il t

, i t was u nt i m el y

. See OCGA

§ 4 2-8 -3 8 (a) (1 9 98 ); S t at e v. Mi l l s , 2 6 8 G a. 8 7 3

, 8 7 4 (4 9 5 SE2 d 1 ) (1 9 98 ) (fai l u re

o f St at e to fi l e a pet i t i o n to rev o k e d efen d an t ’ s p ro b at i on d uri n g t h e t erm of p ro b at i o n

p recl u d ed St at e’ s arg u m en t t h at d efen d an t fai l ed to fu l fi l l t h e t erm s o f h i s pro b at i o n ).

Co m p are Jo n es , 3 2 2 Ga. Ap p

. 2 6 9 ; S t a te v. Bo yd

, 1 8 9 Ga. A p p

. 6 1 7

, 6 17 -6 1 8

, 6 1 9

(3 7 7 SE2 d 1 1) (1 9 8 8 ) (St at e fi l ed p et i t i on fo r ad ju d i cat i o n of g ui l t p ri o r t o ex p i rat i o n

o f s en t en ce; “ W e d o no t reach th e i s s u e o f wh et h er a d i fferen t res u l t wo ul d o b t ai n i f

t h e s tat e h ad fai led t o fi l e i ts ‘ Pet i t i o n fo r Ad ju d i cat i o n o f Gu i l t a n d Im p o s i t i o n o f

Sen ten ce’ pri o r t o t h e ex p i rat i o n o f t h e p eri o d o f fi r s t o ffen d er p ro b at i o n

. . . .”).

Seco n d

, an d o f part i cu l ar rel ev an ce, Geo rg i a l aw d o es n o t reco g n ize t h e t ri al co urt ’ s

s en t en ce d en y in g Co l l i ns d is ch arg e an d ex o n erat i o n as s ou g ht b y t h e S t a t e. See

Di v is i o n 1 , s u pra; S

h a heed , 2 7 4 Ga. at 7 1 7 ; Da vi s , 2 7 3 Ga. at 1 5 (“ [u ] n d er t h e fi rs t

o ffen d er s t at u t e, u n t il an ad ju d i cat i o n o f g u i lt is en t ered

, t h ere i s no co nv i c t i o n

. ”);

Mi l l s , 2 6 8 Ga. at 8 7 5 (“ No t hi ng i n [ t h e A c t ] ex pres s l y p ro v i d es t h at a ‘ d i s ch arg e’

9fro m fi rs t-o ffen der pro bat i o n i s n o t

. . . au t o m at ic, b ut m us t b e fo rm al i zed t o b eco m e

effect i v e.”). T h u s, “ i f a fi rs t -o ffe n d e r p r o b at io n er i s no t ‘ d i s ch arg ed ’ p u rs u an t to

OCGA § 4 2 -8 -6 2

, i t i s on l y b ecau s e h e d i d n o t s u cces s fu l l y co m p l et e hi s t erm o f

p ro b at i o n .” Mi ll

s , 2 6 8 Ga. at 8 7 5

. “ Su cces s fu l co m p let i o n ” o f t h e t erm o f p ro b at i o n

i s m eas u red b y wh et h er t h e St at e t i m el y fi l ed a p et i t i o n fo r rev o cat i o n. See OCGA §

4 2 -8 -6 0 (e), (g ) (2 0 1 6 ); Mi l l s , 2 6 8 Ga. at 8 7 5

. In t h i s cas e, i t d i d n o t . Th erefo re, we

co n cl u d e t h at t h e t ri al co urt ’ s s en t en ce d en y i ng Co l l i n s ex o n erat i o n an d d i s ch arg e i s

v o i d as a m at t er of l aw. As a res u l t

, t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s o rd er d en y i ng Co l li n s ’ m o t i o n i s

rev ers ed an d t h i s cas e i s rem an ded fo r en t ry o f an ord er o f ex o n erat i o n an d d i s ch arg e

co n si s t en t wi t h t h e Fi rs t Offen d er Act

. 1 2 See OCGA § 4 2 -8 -6 0 (e), (g ), (h ) (2 0 1 6 ).

Ju d g men t r ever sed a n d ca s e r ema nd

ed . Do yl e, C. J., a n d

Ra y, J. co n cu r

.

1 2 W e em p h as i ze t h at

, g en eral l y , s u ch an o rd er i s n o t req u i red

. See OCGA § 4 2

- 8 -6 0 (e), (g ) (2 0 1 6 ); Mi l ls

, 2 6 8 Ga. at 8 7 5 (“ No t h i n g i n [t h e Act ] ex p res s l y p ro v i d es

t h at a ‘ d i s ch arg e’ fro m

fi rs t -o ffen d er p ro b at io n i s n ot . . . au t o m at i c”).

10