THI RD DI VI SI ON

BA RNES, P. J.

, BOGGS 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 ls .us /r ule s /

Febr uar y 25, 2015



# I n th e Co u r t o f

A p p eals o f

G eo r g ia

A1 4 A1 86 5 . HILL v

. THE STATE.

B A R N E S , Pres i d i n g J ud g e.

A j ur y c on v i ct ed Qu en ti n M arcel l i us H i ll o f s t at u t o ry rap e an d ag g rav ate d c hild

m o les t at i o n

. Hi l l fi l ed a m o ti o n fo r a new t ri al

, w h i ch t h e tri al co u rt d en i ed

. On

ap p eal

, Hi l l ch al l en g es t h e s u ffi ci en cy o f t h e ev i d en ce. He fu rt h er co n t en ds t h at i t was

p l ai n erro r fo r th e t ri al co u rt to ch arg e t h e ju ry t h at t h e p ri o r co n si s ten t s t at em en t s o f

t h e v ict i m m ay co n s t i t u t e s u ffi ci en t co rro b o rat i o n i n a s t at u t o ry rap e cas e, an d t h at h i s

t ri al co u n s el was i neffect i v e fo r fai l i n g to o bject t o t h e ch arg e. Fo r t h e r e a s o n s

d i s cu s s ed b el o w, we affi rm

.

Th e ev id en ce, co n s tru ed i n fav o r o f t h e ju ry ’ s v erd i ct

, s h o wed t h at o n J u n e 2 8,

2 0 1 1

, th e 1 3 -y ear-o l d v i ct i m was s i t t i n g al o n e in h er m ot h er’ s car i n a g ro cery s t o re

p ark i n g l o t

. H i ll

, wh o was 2 1 y ears o ld

, p ark ed hi s car n ex t t o t he m o t her’ s car wh ere

t h e v i ct im was s i t ti n g an d wen t i n s i d e th e s t o re. A ft er l eav i n g t he s t o re, Hi l l s aw t h att h e vi ct i m was st i l l i n t h e car an d s i g n al ed fo r h er t o ro ll d o wn her w i n d o w. Th e

v i ct i m co m

p l ied

, an d Hi l l as k ed t h e v i ct i m h er ag e. T he v i ct i m t ol d Hi l l t h at s h e was

1 3 y ears o l d

. W h en Hi l l s ai d th at h e d i d n o t b el i ev e h er, t h e v i ct i m rep eat ed h er ag e,

an d Hi l l res p on d ed

, “ [Y] o u ’ re y o u n g , b u t I s t i ll t h i n k y o u ’ re cu te an d I wan t t o t al k

t o y o u .” Hi l l an d t h e v ict i m t h en ex ch an g ed cel l p h o n e nu m b ers

, an d t h e v i ct i m

p ro g ram m ed Hi l l ’ s n am e an d p h o n e n u m b er i n t o h er cel l p h o n e.

Hi l l cal l ed an d t ex t ed t h e v i ct i m l at er t h at s am e d ay

, an d t h ey co n ti n u ed t o t al k

o n t h e p h o n e an d tex t on e an o t h er o v er t h e n ex t few m o n t hs

. Th e t ex t m es s ag es

q u i ck l y b ecam e sex ual i n nat u re. Ul ti m at el y

, Hi l l beg an co m i n g o v er to t he v i ct i m ’ s

h o u s e i n t h e m o rn i n g aft er h er p aren t s h ad l eft fo r wo rk b u t befo re th e v i ct i m l eft fo r

s ch o ol

. In earl y Sep t em

b er 2 01 1

, Hi l l cam e o v er t o t h e v i ct i m ’ s h o u s e b efo re s ch o ol

an d p erfo rm ed o ral s ex o n h er. Lat er t h at m o n t h, Hi l l ret u rn ed t o t h e v i ct im ’ s h o u s e

b efo re sch o o l

, p erfo rm ed o ral s ex o n h er, an d had s ex ual i n terco u rs e wi t h h er. Hi l l

an d t he v ict i m co n t i n u ed t o t ex t b ack an d fo rt h wi t h o n e an ot h er b efo re an d aft er t h ei r

s ex u al en co u n t ers

.

By t h e en d o f Sep t em

b e r

, t h e v i ct i m ’ s fat h er h ad b eco m e co n cern ed t h at h i s

d au gh t er m i g h t b e i n vo l v ed i n an i n ap pro p ri at e rel at i o n s hi p an d t o o k away h er cel l

p h o n e. H e w en t t h ro u g h th e t ex t m es s ag es an d fo un d s ev eral fro m Hi l l

, in cl u d i n g t h e

2m es s ag es t h at were s ex ual i n n at u re. He al s o fo u n d a p i ct u re o f Hi l l o n t he v i ct i m ’ s

p h o n e an d real i zed t h at h e was “ g ro wn .” Hi l l co nt i n u ed at t em p t i n g t o cal l an d t ex t t h e

v i ct i m o n t h e week en d t h at h er fat h er h ad t ak en away h er p ho n e.

Th e v i ct i m ’ s fat h er cam e t o t h e c o n cl u s io n th at Hi l l was co m i n g o v er t o t h e

fam i l y ’ s h o u s e aft er h e an d h i s wi fe were l eav i n g fo r w o r k i n t h e m orn i n g s

. He

d eci d ed t o s t ay h o m e fro m wo rk t h at M on d ay an d s ee i f Hi l l cam e o v e r t o v i s i t t h e

v i ct i m

, b u t h e d i d n o t t el l t h e v i ct i m ab o u t hi s p l an

. As t he fat h er wat ch ed fro m a

wi n do w t h at m o rn i n g

, h e s aw Hi l l

, w h o m he reco g n i z e d f r o m t h e p h o t o i n t h e

v i ct i m ’ s ph o n e, d ri v e u p to t h e h o u s e

. Th e fat h er cal l ed 9 11 an d t h en wen t o u t s i d e

an d co n fro n t ed Hi l l

. H i l l s ai d t h at h e was t h ere t o b uy m ari ju an a an d d en i ed t h at h e

h ad co m e t o s ee t h e v i ct i m

.

W h en p o l i ce o ffi cers arri v e d a t t h e h o us e, t h e fat h er s p o k e wi t h th em an d

s h o wed t h em t h e t ex t m es s ag es o n t h e v i c t i m ’ s cel l ph o ne. Th e o ffi cers al so s p o k e

wi t h th e v ict i m

, an d s he t o l d t h em ab o u t her t w o s ex u al en co un t ers wi t h Hi l l in

Sep tem b er 2 0 1 1. Hi l l i n i t ial l y t o l d t he o ffi cers t h at h e was o nl y t h ere t o b uy

m ari ju an a, b u t t h ey arres t ed h im b as ed o n wh at t h e v i ct im an d h er fat h er h ad t o ld

t h em an d b a s ed o n t h e t ex t m es s ag es

. W hi l e Hi l l was b ei n g arres t ed

, t h e v ict i m fo r

t h e fi rs t t i m e t o l d her fat h er ab o u t h er t wo s ex u al en co u n t ers wi t h H i l l. Su b s eq u en t l y

,

3aft er Hi l l was ad v i s ed o f h i s ri g h t s u nd er Mi r a n d a v. Ar i z o n a

, 3 8 4 U. S. 4 3 6 (8 6 SCt

1 6 0 2

, 1 6 LE2 d 6 9 4 ) (1 9 6 6 ) an d ag reed t o s p eak wi th t h e offi cers

, h e co n fes s ed to

h av in g o ral s ex an d i n terco u rs e wi t h t h e v i ct i m

.

Bas ed o n t h e al l eg at i o n t h at h e h ad s ex u al i n t erco u rs e wi t h t h e v i ct i m

, Hi l l was

i n d i ct ed fo r st at u t o ry rap e, an d b as ed o n t h e al l eg at i o n t h at h e h ad p erfo rm ed o ral s ex

o n h er, Hi l l was i n d i ct ed fo r ag g rav at ed ch i ld m ol es t at i o n. A t t h e ju ry t ri al

, t h e v i ct i m

t es t i fi ed to t he ev en t s as s et ou t ab o v e. Her fat h er t es t i fi ed ab o u t h i s co n fro n t at i o n

wi t h Hi l l an d ab o u t wh at t h e v i ct im t ol d h i m h ad occu rred

, an d t h e r e s p o n d i n g

o f f i c e r s t e s t i fi ed ab o u t th e s t at em en t s m ad e t o t h em b y Hi l l an d th e v i ct i m

.

Ad d i t i o n al l y

, t he St at e i n t ro d uced i n t o ev i d en ce 7 4 pag es o f t ex t m es sag es b et ween

Hi l l an d t h e v i ct i m s p an ni n g fro m wh en t h ey fi rs t m et i n J u n e 2 0 1 1 u n t i l t h ei r

rel at i o n s h i p en d ed i n l at e Sep t em b er 2 0 11

.

Hi l l t o o k t h e s t an d i n hi s o wn d efen s e. He t es t i fi ed t h at t h e v i ct i m to l d h i m t h at

s h e was 1 7 y ears ol d an d h ad b een s it t i n g in t h e d ri v er’ s s eat o f th e car wh en h e fi rs t

m et h er i n t h e g ro c e r y s t o re park i n g l o t

. Hi l l ad m it t ed t o rep eat ed ly cal l i n g an d

t ex t i n g t h e v i ct i m o n h er p h o ne an d th at he had l i ed ab o u t g o i ng o v er t o t he v i ct i m ’ s

h o u s e t o b uy

m ari ju an a, b u t h e cl ai m ed t h at h e an d th e v i ct i m n ev er h ad an y s ex u al

en co un t ers an d t h at h e n ev er m ad e an y i n cri m i n at i n g s t at em en ts t o t h e p ol i ce.

4Aft er h eari n g t h e co n fl i ct i n g t es t i m on y

, t h e ju ry fo u n d Hi l l g ui l t y o f t h e

ch arg ed o ffen s es

. Fo l l o w i n g a h eari n g

, t h e t ri al co u rt den i ed Hi l l ’ s m o t io n fo r a n ew

t ri al , an d t h i s ap peal fo l lo wed

.

1

. Hi l l ch al l en ges t h e s u ffi ci en cy o f t h e ev id en ce t o s up p o rt h i s co n vi ct i o n s o f

s t at u to ry rap e an d ag g rav at ed ch i l d m o l es t at i o n

. A c c o r d i n g t o Hi ll

, h i s co n v i ct i on s

s h o u ld b e rev ers ed b ecau s e t here was i n su ffi ci en t co rro b o r a t i o n of t h e v i ct i m ’ s

t es t i m o ny t o s up po rt h is st at ut o ry rap e co n v i ct i o n, an d becau s e t h ere was n o p h y s i cal

ev i d en ce t o s u p po rt ei t h er co n v i ct i o n . W e are u n p ers uad ed

.

On ap p eal fro m a cri m i n al co n v i ct i o n

, we v i ew t h e ev i d en ce i n th e

l i gh t m o s t fav o rab l e t o t h e v erd i ct

, an d [Hi l l ] n o l o n ger en jo y s t h e

p res um p t i o n o f i n n o cen ce. W e n ei t h er wei g h t h e ev i d en ce n o r as s es s th e

cred ib i l i t y o f w i t n e s s es

, bu t m erel y as cert ai n t hat t h e ev id en ce i s

s u ffi ci en t t o p ro ve each el em en t o f t h e cri m e b ey o n d a reas o n ab l e do u bt

.

M o reo v er, co n fl i ct s i n t h e t es t i m o n y of t h e w i t nes s es are a m at t er o f

cred ib i l i t y fo r t h e ju ry t o res o l v e. As l on g as t here i s s o m e c o m p et en t

ev i d en ce, ev en t h o u g h co n t rad i ct ed

, t o s up p o rt each fact n eces s ary t o

m ak e o ut t h e s t at e’ s cas e, t h e ju ry ’ s v erd ict wi l l b e u ph el d

.

(Ci t at i o n o m i t t ed .) R o l l i n s v. S t a t e , 3 1 8 Ga. Ap p . 3 1 1 (7 3 3 SE2 d 8 4 1 ) (2 0 12 ).

(a) S t a t u t o r

y Ra pe. “ A p ers o n co m

m i t s t h e o ffen se o f s tat u t o ry rap e wh en h e

o r s h e en g ag es i n s ex u al in terco u rs e w i t h an y pers o n u n d er t he ag e o f 16 y ears an d

5n o t h i s o r h er s p o u s e, p ro v i d ed t h at n o co nv i ct i o n s h al l b e h ad fo r t h i s o ffen s e o n t h e

u n s u pp o rt ed t es t i m o ny

o f t h e v i ct i m .” OCGA § 1 6-6 -3 (a).

Th e q u an t u m o f co rro b o rat i o n n eed ed i n a st at ut o ry rap e cas e i s n o t t hat

wh i ch i s i n i t sel f su ffi ci en t t o co n v ict t h e accu s ed

, bu t o n l y t hat am o u n t

o f i n d ep en d en t ev i d en ce wh i ch t en d s t o p ro v e t h at t h e i n ci d en t occu rred

as al l eg ed

. Sl i g h t ci rcu m s t a n ces m ay b e s uffi ci en t co rro b o rat i o n, an d

u l t i m at el y

t h e q u es t i o n o f co rro b orat i on i s o n e fo r t h e ju ry

.

(Ci t at i o n an d em

p has i s o m i t t e d

. ) A g a n v. S ta t e

, 3 1 9 Ga. Ap p

. 5 6 0

, 5 6 1 -5 6 2 (7 3 7

SE2 d 34 7 ) (2 0 1 3 ). Ph y s i cal fi n d i n g s co rro b o rat i n g t h e v i ct i m ’ s t es t i m o ny are n ot

n eces s ary t o su s t ai n a co n v ict i o n o f s t at u t o ry rap e. See Da vi s v. S t a t e

, 2 2 1 Ga. Ap p.

1 3 1 , 1 3 2 (2 ) (4 7 0 SE2 d 5 20 ) (1 9 9 6 ).

Ap p ly i n g t h es e p ri n ci p l es

, we co ncl u d e t h at t h ere was s u ffi ci en t co rro b o rat i o n

t o s u p p o rt Hi l l ’ s s t at ut o ry rap e co n v i ct i o n

. Sp eci fi cal l y

, t h e v ict i m ’ s t es t i m o n y t h at

Hi l l p erfo rm ed o ral s ex on h er wh en s h e was 13 y ears o ld

, co rro b o rat ed by h er p ri o r

co n si s t en t s tat em en t s t o h e r f a t h e r an d t o t h e res p o n d i n g o ffi cers an d b y Hi l l ’ s

co n fes s i o n t o t h e offi cers

, was s u ffi ci en t t o s u p p ort Hi ll ’s c o n v i ct i o n bey o n d a

reas on ab l e d o u bt

. See Ba n ks t o n v. S t at e

, 2 4 9 Ga. Ap p

. 1 1 8 (5 4 8 SE2 d 2 5 ) (2 0 0 1 )

(v i ct im ’ s t es t i m o n y co rro b o rat ed b y d efen d an t ’ s co nfes s i o n to po l i ce); Lo n g v. S t a t e

,

61 8 9 Ga. A p p

. 1 3 1

, 1 3 2 (1 ) (3 7 5 SE2 d 2 7 4 ) (1 9 8 8 ) (v i ct i m ’ s t es t i m o ny co rro b o rat ed

b y v i ct i m ’ s p ri o r co n s i s t en t s t at em en t s t o p aren t an d s o ci al wo rk er).

Al t h ou g h Hi l l t es t i fi ed t h at t h e v i ct im t o l d h i m s h e was 1 7 years o l d,

“ [k ] n owl ed g e of th e ag e o f t h e v i ct i m i s n o t an el em en t o f t h e o ffen se o f st at u t o ry

rap e, an d reas o n ab l e b el i ef t h at t h e v i ct i m i s o f t h e ag e o f co n s en t is n ot a d efen s e to

s t at u to ry rap e.” Nea l v. S t at e

, 2 6 4 Ga. Ap p. 3 1 1, 3 1 4 (5 ) (5 9 0 SE2 d 1 6 8 ) (2 00 3 ). An d,

i n an y ev en t

, t h e ju ry was en t i t l ed t o fi n d t h at Hi l l ’ s t es t i m o ny t h at h e w as m i s t ak en

ab o ut t h e ag e o f t h e v i c t i m was n o t cred i b l e. See R o l l i ns

, 3 1 8 Ga. Ap p

. at 3 1 1

(wi t nes s cred i b il i ty

i s fo r t he ju ry

t o res o l v e).

(b ) Ag gr a va t ed Ch i l d Mo l es t a t i o n

. A p ers on co m m its the o f

f e nse o f ag g rav at ed

ch i l d m o l es t at i o n wh en he or s he p erfo rm s “ an y i m m o ral o r in d ecen t act ” i nv o l v i n g

s o d o m y t o o r wi t h “ an y ch i l d un d er t h e ag e o f 1 6 y ears wi t h t h e i n t e n t to aro u s e o r

s at i s fy t he s ex u al d es i res o f ei t h er t h e ch i ld o r t he p ers o n .” O CGA § 1 6 -6 -4 (a), (c).

Th e v i ct i m ’ s t es t i m o ny t h at s h e h ad o ral s ex wi t h Hi l l wh en sh e was 1 3 y e a rs o l d,

s t an d i n g a l o n e

, was s uffi ci en t t o s u p po rt H i l l’ s co nv i ct io n fo r ag g rav at ed ch i ld

m o les t at i o n b ey o n d a reas o n ab l e d o u b t

. See Fi ek v. S t a t e

, 2 6 6 Ga. A p p

. 5 23

, 5 2 7 (4 )

(5 9 7 SE2 d 5 8 5 ) (2 0 0 4 ). Ph y s i cal ev i d en ce of th e m o les t at i o n was n o t req u i red . See

Hu t ch i ns o n v. S t a te , 2 8 7 Ga. Ap p . 4 1 5, 4 1 7 (6 5 1 SE2 d 5 23 ) (2 0 0 7 ).

72

. Aft er t h e cl o s e o f ev i d en ce, t h e t ri al co u rt ch arg ed t he ju ry t h at a co n v i ct i o n

fo r s t at u t ory rap e can n ot b e b as ed o n t h e u n co rro b o rat ed t es t i m o n y o f t h e v i ct i m

. Th e

t ri al co u rt wen t o n t o ch arg e t h at “ [a] v ict i m ’ s p ri o r co ns i s ten t s t at em en t

, as reco u n t ed

b y t h ird p art i es t o wh o m s uch s tat em en t s were m a d e, m ay co n s t i t u t e su ffi ci en t

ev i d en ce o f co rro b o rat io n i n a s t at u t o ry rap e cas e. W h et her o r n o t su ch i s t he cas e i s

a m at ter fo r y o u

, t h e j u ry

. ” Hi l l d i d n o t o b ject at tri al

, b u t h e co nt en d s t h at t h e t ri al

co u rt co m

m i t t ed p l ai n erro r i n i t s ch arg e t o t h e ju ry o n t h e u s e o f a v i c t i m ’ s p ri o r

co n si s t en t s t at em en t s as co rro b o rat i n g ev id en ce i n s tat u t o ry rap e cas es

. W e are

u n p ers u ad ed

.

Ev en wh en a d efen d an t fai l s t o o b ject t o a j u ry

ch arg e at t ri al

, we wi l l rev i ew

t h e ch arg e fo r p l ai n erro r. See OCGA § 1 7 -8 -5 8 (b ); Bo o ke r v

. S t a t e

, 3 2 2 Ga. Ap p.

2 5 7 , 2 6 0 (2 ) (7 4 4 SE2 d 4 29 ) (2 0 1 3 ). Bu t o u r rev i ew i n t h i s res p ect i s l i m i t ed :

Rev ers al b as ed o n p l ai n erro r i s au t h ori zed [o n l y ] i f t h e i n s t ru ct i o n w as

e rro neo u s

, t h e erro r was o b v i o u s

, t h e i n s tru ct i on l i kel y affect e d t h e

o u t co m e of t he p ro ceed i n g s

, an d t h e erro r seri o us l y affect s t h e fai rn es s

,

i n t eg ri ty o r p u b li c rep u t at i o n o f ju d i ci al p ro ceed i n g s

. Sat i s fy i n g al l fo u r

p ro n g s o f t h i s s t an d ard i s d i ffi cu l t , as i t s h o u l d b e.

8(Ci t at i o n an d p u n ct u at i o n o m i tt ed .) Bo o ker

, 32 2 Ga. Ap p

. at 2 60 (2 ). Se e Wh i t e v.

S t a t e

, 2 9 1 Ga. 7

, 8 (2 ) (7 2 7 SE2 d 1 0 9 ) (2 0 1 2 ); S ta t e v. Kel l y

, 2 9 0 G a. 2 9, 3 3 (2 ) (a)

(7 1 8 SE2 d 2 3 2 ) (2 0 1 1 ).

Hi l l can n o t s ho w p l ai n erro r b ecau s e t h e ju ry ch arg e at i s s u e was n o t erro n eo u s

.

W e h av e rep eat ed l y h e l d

, as t h e tri al co u rt in st ru ct ed

, t h at “ a ch i l d-v i ct i m ’ s p ri o r

co n si s t en t s t at em en t s

, as reco u n t ed b y th i rd p art i es t o wh o m s u c h s t at em en t s were

m ad e, can co ns t it ut e s uffi ci en t s u b s t an t i v e ev i d en ce of co rro b o r a t i o n i n a st at u t o ry

rap e cas e.” (Ci tat i o n an d p u nct u at i o n o m i t t ed

. ) B r own v. S t a t e

, 3 1 8 G a. Ap p

. 3 3 4

, 3 3 6

(1 ) (7 3 3 SE2 d 8 6 3 ) (2 0 1 2 ). See Lee v. S t a t e

, 2 3 2 Ga. Ap p

. 3 0 0

, 3 0 2 (2 ) (5 0 1 SE2 d

8 4 4 ) (1 9 9 8 ); Lo ng

, 1 89 Ga. Ap p

. at 1 32 (1 ). In d eed

, we ap p ro v ed of a s i m i l ar ch arg e

g i v en b y a t ri al co u rt i n a p rev io u s cas e. See O g l es v. S t a t e

, 2 1 8 Ga. Ap p. 9 2

, 9 3 (1 )

(c) (4 6 0 SE2 d 8 6 6 ) (1 9 95 ) (co m p ari ng “ in ap t ” ju ry ch arg e req u es ted b y t h e d efen d an t

t o t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s p ro p e r ch arg e t h at “ [a] v i ct i m ’ s p ri o r co n s i st en t s t at em en t s as

reco u n ted b y t h ird p ers o n s m ay b e s u ffi ci en t ev i d en ce o f co rro b o r at i o n ”).

Acco rd in g ly

, co n trary t o Hi l l ’ s as s ert i o n

, t here was n o p l ai n erro r i n t h e g i v i n g o f t h e

ch arg e.

3

. I n a r el at ed en u m erat i on o f erro r, Hi ll co nt en d s t h at h is t ri al co u ns el

ren d ered i n effect i v e as s i s t an ce b y fai l i n g t o o b j ect t o t h e ju ry ch arg e o n t h e u s e o f a

9v i ct i m ’ s pri o r co n s i s t en t s tat em en t s as co rro b o rat i n g ev i d en ce i n s t at u t o ry rap e cas es

.

Bu t

, fo r t h e reas o ns d i s cu s s ed su p ra i n D i v i s i o n 2

, s u ch an o b ject i on wo u l d n o t h av e

b e e n s u s t ai n ed b y t h e t ri al co u rt b ecau s e th e j u ry ch arg e was an accu rat e s t at em en t

o f t h e l aw. Becau s e t h e “ [f] ai l u re t o m ak e a m eri tl es s o b ject i o n can n o t b e ev i d en ce

o f i n effect i v e as s i s tan ce,” Hi l l can no t su cceed on hi s in effect i v e as si s t an ce cl ai m

.

(Pu n ct u at i on an d fo o t n ot e o m i t t ed .) E l ey v. S t a te

, 2 6 6 Ga. Ap p. 4 5

, 4 8 (2 ) (5 9 6 SE2 d

6 6 0 ) (2 0 0 4 ).

Ju d g men t a f f i r m ed . Bo g

g s a n d Br a n ch , JJ., co n cu r

.

10