FOURTH D I VI SI ON

DI L LA RD, P. J.

, RI C KM A N, P. J.

, and BROWN, 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.

https ://w w w

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

D E A D LIN E S A R E N O LO N G E R TO LLE D IN T

H I S

C O U R T. A LL FILIN G S M U ST B E S U B M I TTE D WITH IN

TH E TIM E S S E T B Y

O U R C O U R T R U LE S

.

Januar y 11, 2021



# I n th e Co u r t o f

A p p eals o f

G eo r g ia

A2 0 A2 11 1 . STONE v . THE STATE.

B R O W N , J u d g e.

Fo l l owi n g a b en ch t ri al

, Ro n n i e An t wan St o n e was co n vi ct ed o f r ap e,

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

, s t at u t o ry rap e, en t i ci n g a ch i l d fo r i n d ecen t pu rp o s es

,

an d co n t ri b u t i ng t o d el in qu en cy o f a m in o r. 1 He ap p eal s h i s co n vi ct io n s an d t h e

d en ial o f h i s am en d ed m o t i o n fo r n ew t ri al

, co n t en di n g t h a t i ns u ffi ci en t ev i d en ce

s u p p ort s h i s co nv ict i o n s f o r e n t i ci n g a ch i l d fo r i nd ecen t pu rp o s es an d ag g rav at ed

ch i l d m o l es tat io n

. He fu rt her co nt en d s th at t h e t ri a l co u rt fai l ed t o ex erci s e i t s

d i s cret i o n to act as t h e “ t h irt een t h ju ro r” i n ru l i n g up o n h i s am en d ed m o t i o n fo r n ew

1 Th e t ri al co u rt fo u n d St o n e n o t g u il t y o f ag g rav at ed sex u al b at t ery an d a

s eco n d co u n t o f en t i ci n g a ch i l d fo r i n d ecen t p u rp o s es

.t ri al an d t h at h i s co n v ict io n s fo r rap e an d ag g rav at ed ch i l d m o l es t at io n s ho u l d h av e

m erg ed fo r s en t en ci n g p u rp o ses . W e affi rm

. 2

On ap p eal fro m a b en ch t ri al res u l t i n g i n a cri m i n al co nv i ct i o n

, we

v i ew al l ev id en ce i n t h e l i g h t m os t fav o rab l e to t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s

ju d g m en t of co n vi ct i o n, a n d t h e d efen d an t n o l on g er en jo y s th e

p res um p t i o n o f i n n o cen ce. W e d o n o t re-wei g h t es t i m o n y

, d et erm in e

wi t n es s cred i b i l i t y

, o r ad d res s as s ert i o n s of c o n f l i ct in g ev i d en ce; o u r

ro l e i s t o d et erm i n e wh et h er t h e ev i d en ce p res en t ed i s s u ffi ci en t fo r a

rat i o n al t ri er o f fact t o fi n d g u i l t b ey o n d a reas o n ab le d o u b t

.

(Ci t at i o n an d p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed .) Ma ys v. S t a t e

, 3 0 6 Ga. Ap p

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

(2 0 1 0 )

. S o v iewed

, t h e ev i d en ce p res en t ed at St o n e’ s tri al refl ect s t h at St o n e was

d at i n g t h e o l d er s i s t er o f 1 5 -y ear-o l d N. T

., an d h ad co m e t o h er fam i l y ’ s Ch ri s t m as

d i n n er i n 2 0 1 6. On t h e n i g h t o f Decem b e r 2 6

, 2 0 1 6

, St o n e m es s ag ed N. T. o n

Faceb o ok , an d th e two s t ru ck u p a co n v ers at i o n

. At s o m e p oi n t, St o ne cal led N. T.,

an d i t was d eci d ed t h at s h e an d h er co u si n, T. M ., wh o was v is i t i n g fo r t h e h o l i d ay

,

wo u l d g o t o St o n e’ s h o us e. St on e s en t an Ub er t o pi ck u p t h e t wo g i rl s

, wh o t h en

s n u ck o u t o f N. T.’ s h o u s e.

2 W e h a v e ci rcu l at ed th i s d eci s i on am o n g al l n o n d i s q u al i fi ed ju d g es o f t h e

Co u rt to co n s i d er wh et h er t h i s cas e s h o u l d b e p as s ed u p on b y a l l m em b ers o f t h e

Co u rt

. Fewer t h an t h e req u i red n u m ber o f ju dg es

, h o wev er, v o ted i n fav o r o f

co n si d eri n g t h e cas e en b an c.

2At St o n e’ s h o u se, t h ey wat ch ed a m o v ie i n h is r o om

, an d N. T. s m o k ed

m ari ju an a wi t h St on e. T. M

. t h en wi t nes s ed St o n e an d N. T

. h av e s ex b efo re N. T. fel l

as l eep

. 3 Aft er T

. M

. t ri ed w ak i n g N. T., St o n e fo rced T. M

. i n t o an o t h er ro o m wi t h a

b ed

. T. M

. t es t i fi ed t hat St o n e l eft

, an d s h e s at o n t h e b ed

, b u t h e ret urn ed

, l ai d h er

d o wn

, rem ov ed her p an t i es

, an d s p read h er l eg s w h i l e s h e tri ed t o p u s h h i m away

.

W h i l e St o n e rap ed h er, s h e t o l d h i m t o s t o p

, h it h i m

, an d y el l ed fo r h el p

. St o n e t h en

m ad e T. M. sh o w e r

, s h e d res s ed

, an d t h e t wo d ro v e t o th e s to re s o St o n e co u l d g et

m o ney fo r t h e g i rl s ’ ri d e h o m e. W h en th ey ret u rn ed

, N. T. t o l d t h em h er m o m was o n

t h e way

, an d St o n e l eft

.

W h en N. T.’ s m o t h er real i zed t h e n ex t m o rn i n g t h at t he t wo gi r l s we r e n ot

h o m e, s h e cal l ed N. T., wh o was u n s u re wh ere s h e w as

. Ev en t ual l y

, s h e l earn ed t h at

N. T

. w a s a t St o n e’ s ho u s e, an d N. T .’ s si s t er t o o k t h em t o th e l o cat i o n

. N. T.’ s

m o th er cal l ed t h e p o l i ce, wh o arri v ed at St o n e’ s h o u se an d s en t b o th N. T. an d T. M

.

fo r s ex u al as s au lt ex am i n at i o n s.

3 N. T. t es t i fi ed t h at sh e fel l as l eep o n St o n e’ s b ed an d awo k e t h e nex t m o rn i n g

t o h er m o t h er’ s p h o ne cal l s

, an d t h at s h e d i d n o t rem em b er i f sh e h ad s ex wi t h St o ne.

N. T. tes t i fi ed t hat wh en sh e wo k e u p t h e n ex t m o rn i n g

, s h e was weari ng cl o t h i n g t h at

was n o t h er o wn

, i n cl u d i n g m en ’ s b o x ers

, an d t h at h er cl ot h in g w a s o n a ch ai r in

St o n e’ s b ed ro o m

. Sh e al s o t es t i fi ed t hat s h e h a d b e en t o St on e’ s ho u s e o n a p ri o r

o ccas i o n , an d th ey

h ad k i s s ed

.

3Du ri n g N. T.’ s s ex u al as s au l t ex am i nat i on

, s he t ol d t h e n u rs e t h at s h e h ad t ak en

an Ub er s en t b y

St on e t o h i s h o m e wh ere s h e sm o k ed m ari ju an a. Sh e d i d n o t rep o rt

an y sex u al act i v i t y w i t h St o ne an d t o l d t h e n u rs e t h at sh e m ay hav e fal l en as l eep

. Th e

n u rs e fo u n d n o p h y s i cal i n j u ri es

, b u t o bs erv ed red n es s d u ri n g th e v ag i n al ex am

l e a d i n g h e r t o co n cl u de t h at i t h ad s o m e k i n d o f recen t i rri t at i o n

. Th e n urs e t o o k

b u ccal , v ag i n al , an d an al swab s fro m N. T.

Du ri n g T

. M .’ s ex am in at i o n

, s he al s o t o l d t h e n u rs e t h at t h ey h ad t ak en an Ub er

t o St o n e ’s h o u s e w h e re t h ey wen t i n t o h i s bed ro o m

. At so m e p o i n t s h e w as t o ld to

l eav e t h e ro o m

, b ut refu s ed b ecau s e s h e was afrai d of th e d o gs i n t h e h o u s e. Sh e

rem ai n ed i n t h e ro o m

, weari ng h ead p h on es an d p l ay i n g o n a t ab let

, b u t s aw N. T.

en g ag i n g i n s ex u al act i v i t y wi t h St o n e. T

. M

. t o ld th e nu rs e t h at aft er N. T. fel l as l eep

,

St o n e fo rced h er i nt o an o t h er ro o m

, p u s h ed h er o n to a b ed

, p i n n ed h er arm s o v er h er

h ead wi t h o n e h an d wh i l e h e p u l l ed d o wn h er p an t s wi t h th e ot h er h an d

, an d rap ed

h er. W hen T. M

. b eg an v ag in al l y b l eed i n g

, St o n e st o p ped

, b u t t h en rap ed h er a

s eco n d t i m e o n t h e b ed an d i n s ert ed hi s fi n g ers i n t o her v ag i n a. T. M. rep o rt ed t o t h e

n u rs e t h at s h e h ad n o t h ad i n t erco u rs e p ri o r t o th i s an d w as i n p ai n

. Th e n u rs e t es t i fi ed

t h at s he was “ v ery ten d er du ri n g t h e ex t ern al ex am ” an d was in s o m u ch d i s co m fo rt

t h at s h e co u l d no t i n s ert a s pecu l u m t o co m p l et e an i n t ern al ex am o f t h e v ag i n a. Th e

4n u rs e t o o k b u ccal an d v ag i nal s wab s fro m T. M

. A G BI fo ren s ic b i o l og i s t t e s t i fi ed

t h at an ex am i n at i o n o f t h e v ag i n al s wab s fro m b o t h vi ct i m s rev eal ed t he p res en ce o f

a p art ial YSTR DNA h ap lo t y p e co n si s ten t wi th St o n e. 4

St o n e was ch arg ed wi t h rap e (Co u n t 1 ), ag g rav at ed s ex u al b at t ery (Co u n t 2 ),

ag g rav at ed ch il d m o les t at i o n (Co u n t 3 ), an d en t i ci ng a ch i l d fo r i n d ecen t pu rp o s es

(Co un t 4 ) i n co n n ect i o n w i t h T. M

. He was ch arg ed wi th s t at u t o ry rap e (Co u n t 5 ),

en t i ci n g a ch i l d fo r in d ecen t pu rp o s es (Co u n t 6), an d co n t ri b ut i n g t o t h e d el i n q u en cy

o f a m in o r (Co un t 7 ) i n co n n ect i o n wi t h N

. T. Du ri n g th e b en ch t ri al

, St o n e t es t i fi ed

i n h is d efen s e an d ad m i t t ed h av i n g s ex wi t h b o t h N. T

. an d T. M

., b u t cl ai m ed i t was

co n sen s ua l

. H e al so t es t i fi ed t h at h e h ad co n s en s u al s ex wi th N. T. o n t he p rev i ou s

o ccas i o n s h e cam e t o h i s h o u s e.

Th e t ri al co urt fo u n d St o n e g ui l ty o f Co u n t s 1

, 3

, 5, 6

, an d 7

. Th e St at e

co n sen t ed t o t h e t r i al co u rt d ev i at i n g fro m t h e m an dat o ry m i n im um s en t en ce

ap p li cab l e t o Co u n ts 1 an d 3

, s ee OCG A § 1 7 -1 0 -6 .2 (c), an d t h e co u rt s en t en ced

4 Acco rd i ng t o t h e fo ren s i c b i o l o g is t ’ s rep o rt s

, wh i ch w ere ad m i t t ed at t ri al

, t h e

YSTR h ap l o t y

p e reco v ered fro m t h e s wab i s n o t ex p ect ed t o o ccu r m o re freq u en t l y

t h an 1 i n 2 ,0 8 3 m al e in d i v i d u al s i n t h e Afri can -Am eri can p op u l at i on an d 1 i n 2 ,4 8 8

m al e i n d i v i d u al s i n t h e Cau cas i an p o p u l at i o n

.

5St o n e to l i fe wi t h 2 0 y ears i n co n fi n em en t

. St o ne fi l ed a m o t i o n fo r n ew t ri al

, an d t h e

t ri al co u rt d en i ed St o ne’ s m o t i on as am en d ed . Th i s ap p eal fo l l o wed

.

1

. St o n e co n t en d s t h at t h e ev i d en ce was i ns u ffi ci en t to s up p ort h is co n v i ct i on s

fo r ag g rav at ed ch i l d m ol es t at i o n (Co u nt 3) an d en t i ci ng a ch i l d fo r i n d ecen t p u rp o s es

(Co un t 6 ). W e d i s ag ree.

(a) Ag g ra va t ed ch i ld m o les t a t i o n

. Co u n t 3 o f t h e i n d ict m en t al l eg ed t h at St o n e

co m m i t t ed ag g rav at ed ch i l d m o l es t at i o n i n t h at h e “ d i d co m m i t a n i m m o ral an d

i n d ecen t act wi t h [T. M .]

, a ch i l d u n d er t he ag e o f 16 y ears

, wi t h t he in t en t t o aro u s e

an d s at i sfy t h e s ex u al d es i res o f s ai d accu s ed an d s ai d ch i l d by i n s ert i n g h i s fi n g er

an d p en is i n t o s ai d ch il d ’ s v ag i n a, s ai d act cau s i n g i n ju ry t o sai d ch i l d

. . . . ” S t o n e

co n ten d s t h at t h e co n

ju n ct i v e l an g u ag e o f t h e i n d i ct m en t req u i red t h e St at e t o p ro v e

t h at h e i n sert ed b o t h h i s pen i s an d hi s fi n g er in t o T. M .’ s v ag i na, an d n o ev id en ce was

p res en t ed s h o wi n g h e i n sert ed h i s fi n g er. Th i s co n ten t i o n l ack s m eri t

.

W h ere co n

ju n ct iv e p l ead i n g s s et fo rt h m o re t h an o n e act by wh ich

t h e accu s ed co m

m i tt ed t h e cri m e, t h e ev i d en ce is s u ffi ci en t s o lo n g as i t

s h o ws at l eas t o n e o f t h e a c t s al l eg ed

. If a cri m e m ay b e co m m i t t ed i n

m o re t h an o n e way

, i t i s s u ffi ci en t fo r t h e [S] tat e t o s h o w t h at i t w as

co m m i t t ed in an y o ne o f t h e s ep arat e way s l i s t ed i n t he i n di ct m en t

, ev en

i f t h e i n d i ct m en t u s es t h e co n ju n ct i v e rat h er t h an d i s

ju nct i ve fo rm

.

6(Ci t at i o n s an d p un ct u at i on o m i t t ed .) Ri d di ck v. S t a t e

, 3 2 0 Ga. A p p

. 50 0

, 50 1 (1 ) (7 4 0

SE2 d 2 4 4 ) (2 0 13 ). H ere, ev en as s um i n g t h e St at e d i d n o t p res en t ev i d en ce t h at St o n e

i n s ert ed h i s fi n g er i nt o T. M .’ s v ag i n a, ev i den ce th at St on e i n s ert ed h i s p en i s i n t o T.

M .’ s v ag in a was s u ffi ci en t t o s up p o rt t he cri m e as ch arg ed i n t h e i n d ict m en t

. See i d.

at 5 0 1 (1 ) (ev en wi t h o u t ev i d en ce t h a t d e f en d an t p l aced fi n g er in ch i l d ’ s v ag i na,

ev i d en ce t h at d efen d an t to u ch ed t h e ch i l d ’ s v ag i n a w as s u ffi ci en t wh ere i n d i ct m en t

ch arg ed d efen dan t wi t h c h i l d m o l es t at i o n b y “ ‘ t o u ch i n g t h e ch i l d ’ s v ag i n a an d

p l aci ng h i s fi n g er in her v ag i n a’ ”). See a l s o Wi l s o n v. S t a t e

, 2 3 4 G a. Ap p

. 3 7 5 (1 )

(5 0 6 SE2 d 8 8 2 ) (1 9 9 8 ).

(b ) En t i ci n g a ch i l d f

o r i n d ecen t p u r p o ses

. As t o Co u n t 6

, t h e i n d i ct m en t

p ert i nen t l y

al l eg ed t h at St o n e “ d i d

. . . s o l i ci t, en t i ce an d t ak e [N. T.]

, a ch i l d u n d er

s i xt een (1 6 ) y e a r s o f a g e

, t o a p l ace

. . . fo r t h e p u rp o s e o f i n d ecen t act s

. . . .” “ A

p ers o n co m

m i t s th e o ffen se o f en t i ci n g a ch i ld fo r i nd ecen t p u rp o s es wh en h e o r s h e

s o l i ci t s

, en t i ces

, o r t ak es an y ch i l d u nd er t h e ag e of 1 6 y ears t o an y p l ace wh at s o ev er

fo r t h e p u rp o s e o f ch i l d m o l es t at i o n o r i n d ecen t act s.” OCGA § 1 6 -6 -5 (a).

Th e cri m e o f en t i ci n g a c h i l d fo r i nd ecen t pu rp o ses i n v i o l at i o n o f

OCGA § 1 6 -6 -5 req u i res t h e s h o wi n g of a jo i n t o perat io n o f t h e act o f

en t i ci n g a ch il d an d t h e i n t en t i o n t o co m m it act s o f in d e cen cy o r ch i l d

m o l es t at i o n

. Acco rd i ng l y

, n ei t h er t h e act o f en t ici n g a ch i l d wi t h o u t th e

7req u is i t e i n t en t n o r t h e i n t en t t o co m m i t act s of i nd ecen cy o r ch i l d

m o l es t at i o n wi t h o u t t h e req u is i te act wo ul d co n s t i t u t e a cri m e u nd er

OCGA § 1 6 -6 -5

.

(Ci t at i o n an d p u nct u at io n o m i t ted .) Cl a rk v. St a te

, 3 2 3 Ga. Ap p

. 7 0 6

, 7 08 (7 4 7 SE2 d

7 0 5 ) (2 0 1 3 ). St o n e co n t en ds t hat t h e St at e pres en t ed i n s u ffi ci en t ev i d en ce t h at h e h ad

t h e req u i s i t e i nt en t t o co m m i t i n d e c e n t act s at t h e ti m e h e was m es s ag i n g N. T.

Ho wev er, t h e s ub s eq u en t act o f st at u to ry rap e is s uffi ci en t ev i d en ce t h at St o n e

i n t en d ed t o en gag e i n s ex u al act i v i t y w i t h N. T. wh en he t o l d h er t o co m e o v er an d

t h en p ai d fo r an d s en t an Ub er t o N

. T.’s h o u s e t o b r i n g h er t o h i m

. See A l l i s o n v.

S t a t e

, 3 5 6 Ga. Ap p

. 2 5 6, 2 6 3 (2 ) (b ) (8 4 6 SE2 d 2 2 2 ) (2 0 2 0 ) (d efen d an t ’ s s u b s eq u en t

act i on s o f m o l es t i n g v i ct im were s u ffi ci en t t o es t ab l i s h t h at h e act ed wi t h r e q u i si t e

i n t en t at t h e t i m e h e en t i ced v i ct i m i n t o b ed ro o m ); Ga r za v. S t a te

, 3 4 7 Ga. Ap p

. 3 3 5,

3 3 7 (1 ) ( a ) ( 8 1 9 SE2 d 4 9 7 ) (2 01 8 ) (s u b s eq u en t act o f m ol es t at i o n i s ev i d en ce t h at

d efen d an t in t en d ed t o m o l es t t h e v i ct i m wh en h e t o l d h er t o g o to a m o t el wi t h h i m ).

M o reo v e r

, N

. T

. t es t i fi ed t h at o n t h e p rev io u s o ccas i o n s h e w en t t o St o n e’ s h o u s e,

t h ey ki s sed

. St o n e hi m sel f t es t ifi ed t h at t he l as t t i m e N. T. cam e o v er, t h ey h ad s ex

.

W e fi n d

, t h erefo re, t h at t h ere w as s u ffi ci en t ev i d en ce fo r th e ju ry t o fi n d St o n e g ui l t y

o f t h i s ch arg e b ey o nd a reas o n ab l e d o u b t

.

82

. St o n e nex t c o n t en d s t h at t h e t ri al co u rt erred b y fai li n g t o co n si d er h i s

am en d ed m o t i o n fo r n ew t ri al o n t h e “ g en eral g ro u n d s.” Sp eci fi cal l y

, h e co n t en d s t h at

t h e co u rt ’ s o rd er d o es no t refl ect t h at i t ev al u at ed t h e cred i b i l it y o f t h e w it nes s es an d

wei g h ed t h e ev i d en ce i n deci d i n g wh et h er t o ex erci s e i t s d is cret i o n t o g ran t a n ew

t ri al i n i ts ro l e as t h e “ t h i rt een t h ju ro r.” See OCGA § § 5 -5 -2 0 an d 5 -5 -2 1.

Th e o rd er d en y in g St o n e’ s am en d ed m ot i o n fo r n ew t ri al s tat es as fo l l o ws :

Defen d an t ’s M o t i o n fo r New Tri al

, as A m en d ed

, i n t h e ab ov es t y l ed act i o n cam e b efo re t h e [c] o urt fo r h eari n g o n No v em b er 1

, 2 0 1 9

.

Th e Defen d an t rep res en t ed by [co un s el ]

, an d h av i ng wai v ed ev i d en t i ary

h eari n g i n t h i s m at t er, h i s co u n s el s u b m it t ed o n b ri efs

. Th e S t a t e

an n o u n ced t h at i t wo ul d al s o s u b m i t t h e m at t er o n b ri efs

.

Th erefo re, t h e [c] o u rt h av i n g co n s i dered t h e m ot i o n

, as am en d ed

,

t ran s cri p t

, an d al l o t h er m at t ers o f reco rd

, an d h av i n g co n s i d ered th e

ap p l icab l e an d co n t ro l l i n g l aw, i t is h ereb y ORDERED [t ] hat

Defen d an t ’ s M o ti o n fo r New Tri al , as am en d ed

, i s h ereb y DENIED.

W h i l e n o t h i ng i n t h e o rd er refers t o t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s ex erci s e o f i t s d i s cret i on as t h e

t h i rt een t h ju ro r, “ [t ] h i s Co u rt pres u m es

, i n t h e ab sen ce o f affi rm at i v e ev i d en ce t o t h e

co n trary

, t h at t h e t ri al co u rt p ro p erl y ex erci s e d i t s d i s cret i on p u rs uan t t o OCGA § §

5 -5 -2 0 an d 5 -5 -2 1 .” H

ol mes v. S t a t e

, 3 0 6 Ga. 5 2 4, 5 2 8 (2 ) (8 32 SE2 d 3 9 2 ) (2 0 1 9 ).

Th u s, as h ere, “ wh en a t ri al co u rt en t ers an o rd er d en y i n g a m o t i o n fo r n ew t ri al an d,

9wi t h o u t m o re, reci t es t h at th e n ew t ri al i s refu s ed or d en i ed

, t h is w i l l b e t ak en t o m ean

t h at t he ju d ge h as i n t he ex erci s e o f h i s d i s cret i o n ap p ro v ed t h e verd i ct

. ” (Ci tat i o n an d

p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed .) P r i ce v. S t a t e

, 3 0 5 Ga. 6 0 8

, 6 1 3 (3 ) (8 25 SE2 d 1 7 8 ) (2 0 1 9 )

(reject i ng ap pel l an t ’ s cl ai m t hat t ri al co u rt erred b y fai l i n g to co n si d er h i s m o t i o n fo r

n ew tri al o n t h e “ g en eral g ro u nd s ” b ecau s e n ot h in g i n tri al co u rt ’ s o rd er s u m m ari l y

d en y i n g d efen d an t ’ s m o t i o n fo r n ew t ri al s u gg es t ed i t d id n o t p ro perl y ex er c i s e i t s

d i s cret i o n ). Co m

p are H o lmes

, 3 0 6 Ga. at 5 2 7 -5 2 8 (2 ) (wh ere t ri al co urt ’ s o rd er

refl ect ed t h at i t h ad rev i ewed t h e m o t i o n fo r new t ri al o n l y fo r l eg al s u ffi ci en cy o f t h e

ev i d en ce, co u rt fa i l e d t o ex erci s e i t s d i s cret i o n). Acco rd in g l y

, th i s cl ai m i s wi t h o ut

m eri t

.

3

. L as t ly

, St o n e arg u es t h at t h e tri al co u rt s ho u l d h av e m erg ed hi s co n v i ct i on s

fo r rap e (Co u n t 1 ) an d ag g rav at ed ch i l d m o l es t at i o n (Co u n t 3 ). W e co n cl ud e t h at t h e

t ri al co u rt p ro p erl y

d i d n o t m erg e t h es e co u n t s.

Co u nt 1 o f t he i n d i ct m en t ch arg ed St o n e wi t h th e o ffen s e o f rap e b y h av i n g

“ carn a l k n o w l e d g e o f [T. M .]

, a fem al e, fo rci bl y an d ag ai n st h er wi l l

. . . .” Co u n t 3

o f t h e i n d i ct m en t ch arg ed St o n e wi t h co m m i t t i n g ag g rav at ed ch il d m o l es t at i o n i n t h at

h e “ d i d co m

m i t an i m m o ral an d i n d ecen t act wi t h [T. M .]

, a ch i l d u n d er t h e ag e o f 1 6

y ears

, w i th t h e i nt en t t o aro u s e an d s at i s fy t h e s ex u al d es i res of s ai d accu sed an d s ai d

10ch i l d by i n s ert i n g hi s fi n g er an d p en i s i n t o sai d ch i l d ’ s v ag i n a, s ai d act cau s i n g i n ju ry

t o s ai d ch i ld . . . .”

Pu rs uan t t o OCGA § 1 6 -1 -7 (a),

[w] h en t h e s am e co n d u ct o f an accu s ed m ay es t ab l i s h t h e c o m m i s s i o n

o f m o re t h an o ne cri m e, t h e accu s ed m ay b e p ro s ecu t ed fo r each cri m e.

He m ay n ot , h o wev er, b e co n v i ct ed o f m ore t han o n e cri m e if: (1 ) On e

cri m e i s i n cl u d ed i n th e o t h er; o r (2 ) Th e cri m es d i ffer o n l y i n t h at o ne

i s d efi ned t o p ro h i b i t a d es i g n at ed k i n d o f co n d uct g en eral l y a n d t h e

o t h er t o p ro h ib i t a s p eci fi c i ns t an ce o f s u ch co n du ct

.

A cri m e is in cl u ded i n t h e o t h er, u n d er OCGA § 1 6 -1 -6 (1 ), wh ere “ [i ] t i s es t ab l i s h ed

b y p ro o f o f th e s am e o r l es s t h an al l t h e fact s o r a l es s cu l p ab le m en t al s t at e t h an i s

req u i red t o es tab l i s h t h e co m m i s s i o n o f t h e c r i m e ch arg ed .” OCGA § 1 6 -1 -6 (1 ). 5

W h en m ak in g th i s d et e r m i n a t i o n

, we ap p l y t h e “ req ui red ev i den ce” t es t ad o p t ed in

D r i n k a rd v. W a l ker

, 2 81 Ga. 2 1 1 (6 3 6 SE2 d 53 0 ) (2 0 0 6 ): “ W h ere th e s am e act o r

t ran s act io n co ns t i t u t es a v i ol at i o n of t wo d is ti n ct s t at u to r y p r o v i si o n s, t h e req u i red

ev i d en ce t es t co ns i ders wh et h er each p ro v i s i o n req u ires p r o o f o f a fact wh i ch t h e

5 A c r i m e i s a l s o i n cl u ded i n t h e o t h er wh ere “ [i ] t d i ffers fro m t he cri m e

ch arg ed o n l y i n t h e r e s p e c t t h at a l es s s eri o u s i n j u ry o r ri s k o f i n

ju ry t o th e s am e

p ers o n

, p ro p ert y

, o r p u bl i c i nt eres t o r a l es s er ki n d o f cu l p ab i l i t y s u ffi ces t o es t ab l i s h

i t s co m m i s si o n .” OCGA § 1 6 -1 -6 (2 ).

11o t h er d oes n o t

. I f s o

, t h en t h ere are t wo o ffen ses

, an d n ei t h er i s ‘ i n cl u ded i n ’ t h e

o t h er.” (Ci t at i o n an d p u nct u at io n o m i t t ed .) Ga s t o n v. S t a te

, 3 1 7 G a. Ap p. 6 4 5

, 6 5 0

(3 ) (7 31 SE2 d 7 9) (2 01 2 ).

In ap p l y i n g t h e req u i red ev i d en ce t es t[,] t h e i m p o rt an t q u es ti o n i s n o t th e

n u m b er o f act s i n v ol v ed

, or wh et h er t h e cri m es h av e o v erl ap p i n g

el em en t s

, b u t wh et h er, l o o k i n g at t he ev i d en ce req u i r ed t o p ro v e each

cri m e, o n e o f th e cri m e s w a s e s t ab l i s h ed b y p ro o f o f t h e s am e o r l es s

t h an al l t h e fact s req u i red t o es t ab l i s h t h e co m m i s s io n o f t h e o t h er cri m e

ch arg ed

.

(Ci t at i o n an d p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed .) Met ca l f v. S t a t e

, 3 4 9 Ga. Ap p

. 4 0 8

, 4 1 9 (2 ) (d )

(8 2 5 SE2 d 9 0 9 ) (2 0 1 9 ).

Tu rn i n g t o th e o ffen s es at h an d

, “ [a] p ers o n co m m i t s t h e o ffen s e o f rap e wh en

h e h as carn al k n o w l ed g e o f

. . . [a] fem al e fo rci b ly an d ag ai n s t h er wi l l

. ” O C G A §

1 6

- 6

- 1 (a) (1 ). Carn al k n o wl ed g e i s d efi ned as “ an y p en et rat i o n o f t h e fem al e s e x

o rg an by t h e m al e s ex o rg an .” OCGA § 1 6-6 -1 (a). “ A pers o n co m m i t s t h e o ffen s e o f

ag g rav at ed ch i l d m o l es t at i o n wh en su ch p ers o n co m m i t s an o ffen s e o f c h i ld

m o les t a t i o n w h i ch act p h y s i cal l y i nju res t h e ch i l d o r in v o l v es an act o f s o d o m y .”

OCGA § 1 6 -6 -4 (c). Ch i l d m ol es t at i o n i s d efi n ed

, i n rel ev an t p art , as “ an y i m m o ral

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

12wi t h th e i n t en t t o aro u s e or s at i s fy t h e s ex u al d es i res o f ei t h er t h e ch i l d o r t h e p ers o n.”

O C G A § 1 6 -6 -4 (a) (1 ). It fo l l o ws t h at t h e offen s e o f ag g rav at ed ch i ld m o l es t at i o n

req u i red p ro o f o f fact s t h at t h e o ffen s e of rap e d i d n o t: ph y si cal i nju ry to t h e v i ct i m 6

an d t h at th e v i ct i m was un d er th e ag e o f 1 6

. An d

, t h e o ffen s e o f rap e req u i red p ro o f

o f a fact th at t h e o ffen s e o f ag g rav at ed ch i l d m ol es t at i on d i d n o t: lack o f co n s en t

. Cf.

Ti n s o n v. S t a t e

, 3 37 Ga. Ap p

. 8 3

, 8 6 (2 ) (7 8 5 SE2 d 9 14 ) ( 2 0 1 6) (rap e an d i n ces t

co n vi ct i o n s pred i cat ed o n s am e act o f p en et rat i o n d i d n o t m erg e b ecau s e St at e m u s t

p r o v e l a ck o f co n s en t t o es t ab l i s h cri m e o f rap e an d m u s t p ro v e t hat v ict i m was o f

cert ai n rel at i o n t o d efen d an t t o es t ab l i s h cri m e o f i n ces t ). 7

Th e cas e rel i ed u p o n b y St o n e, La y v. S t a t e

, 26 4 Ga. Ap p

. 4 83 (5 9 1 SE2 d 4 2 7 )

(2 0 0 3), was deci d ed pri o r t o t h e Su p rem e Co u rt ’ s ad o p t io n o f t he req u i red ev i d en ce

t es t i n D r i n ka r d

. In La

y

, a p an el o f t h i s Co urt h el d t h at a rap e co n v ict i on m erg ed wi th

an ag g rav at ed ch i l d m o les t at i o n co n v i ct i o n becau s e t h ey were b as ed on o n e act o f

s ex u al i n t erco u rs e an d t h e ph y s i cal i n ju ri es req u i red t o s u p p o rt t h e ag g rav at ed ch i ld

m o les t at i o n co n v i ct i o n o ccu rred d u ri n g t h e rap e. Id

. at 4 8 4 (2 ). To t h e ex t en t t h at t h e

6 Th ere i s n o al l eg at i o n o f s o d o m y i n t h is cas e.

7 N o r d o th es e co u n t s m erg e u n der th e o t h er st at ut o ry p ro v i s i o n s reg ard i n g

m erg er. See Met ca l

f , 3 4 9 Ga. Ap p . at 4 1 4 -4 2 4 (2 ) (e), (g ).

13h o l d i n g i n La y d i v erg es fro m D r i n ka r d an d ap p l i cat i o n o f t h e req u i red ev id en ce t es t

,

i t w as i m p l i ed ly o v erru l ed b y t h e Su p rem e Co u rt ’ s d eci s i on i n Dr i n ka r d . Ho wev er,

we t ak e t h i s o p p ort un i t y to o v erru l e Ba r b er v. St a te

, 2 8 3 G a. A pp

. 1 29

, 1 3 0, n .2 (6 4 0

SE2 d 6 9 6 ) (2 0 0 6 ) (i n rel i an ce o n La y

, h o l d i n g t h at co n v i ct i o ns fo r ag g rav at ed ch i ld

m o les t at i o n m erg e wi t h co n v i ct i o n s fo r rap e becau s e al l ari s i n g fro m a s i n g l e i n ci d en t

o f s ex ual i n terco u rs e), d eci d ed t wo m on t h s aft er Dr in ka r d

, becau s e i t ap p l i ed t h e

wro ng s t an d ard fo r m erg er.

Ju d g men t a f f i r m ed . Di l l ar d

, P. J., a n d

Ri ckma n , P. J., co n cu r

.

14