SECOND DI VI SI ON

M I LLER, P. J.

, HODGES and PI PKI N, 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

Febr uar y 18, 2022



# I n th e Co u r t o f

A p p eals o f

G eo r g ia

A2 1 A1 37 7 . BRYANT v . THE STATE.

P I P K I N , J u d g e.

J am ez An t w an e Bry an t ap p eal s fro m t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s o rd er en t ered o n J an u ary

7

, 2 0 2 1

, den y i n g h i s m o t i o n t o vacat e a v o i d s en t en ce. 1 As m o re fu l l y s et fo rt h b el o w,

we v acat e i n p art an d rem an d fo r res en t en ci n g

.

Th e reco rd sh o w s t h at Bry an t en t ered an Al f o rd 2 p l ea t o t wo co u n t s o f en t i ci n g

a ch i ld fo r i n d ecen t p u rp o ses ; o n Oct o b er 2 5

, 2 0 1 8, t h e t ri al co u rt sen t en ced Bry an t

1 Bry an t ’ s n o t i ce o f ap p eal s t at es th at h i s ap p eal i s fro m t h e “ Ord ers ” o f t h e t ri al

co u rt en t ered o n J an u ar y 7

, 2 0 2 1

, an d t h e reco rd d i s cl os es t h at th e t ri al co u rt al s o

en t ered an o rd er o n t h at d at e d en y i n g Bry an t ’ s m o t io n t o wi t h draw hi s p l ea. H o wev er,

Bry an t d o es n o t en um e r a t e an y erro r as t o t h e d en ial o f t h at m o ti o n

, an d we d o n ot

co n si d er an y co n ten t i o n rel at ed t h eret o

. To t h e ex t en t t h at Bry an t a r g u es t h at h e

s h o u ld b e al l o wed to wi t h d raw h i s pl e a b ecau s e h i s s en t en ce m u st b e v acat ed

, we

ad d res s t h at co n ten t i o n b el ow.

2 No r t h Ca r o l i na v. Al

f o r d , 4 0 0 U. S. 2 5 (9 1 SCt 1 6 0 , 2 7 LE2 d 1 6 2 ) (1 9 7 0).o n each co u nt t o t h irt y y ears

, twen t y t o s erv e in co n f i n e m e n t an d t h e rem ai n d er o n

p ro b at i o n

, t o ru n co n cu rren tl y

. In t h e m o nt hs fo l l owi n g h i s co n v i ct i o n an d

s en t en ci n g

, Bry an t fi l ed m u l t i pl e p ro se m ot i o ns

, i n cl u d i ng m o t i o n s t o wi t h d raw h i s

p l ea, a m o t i o n i n arres t o f ju dg m en t

, m o t i o ns t o v acat e o r m o di fy h i s s en t en ce, an d

m o ti o n s fo r an o u t -o f

- t im e ap p eal

. On Ap ri l 2 6

, 2 01 9

, t he t ri al co u rt en t ered a

co n so l i d at ed o rd er d en y i n g Bry an t ’ s m ot i o ns

, an d Bry an t fi l ed an un t i m el y n o t i ce o f

ap p eal fro m th at o rd er. Th at cas e was d o ck et ed i n t h i s Co u rt as Cas e N o

. A2 0 A0 0 5 2,

an d o n Au g u s t 5

, 2 0 1 9

, we d i s m i s s ed Bry an t ’ s a p peal fo r l ack o f ju ri s d i ct i o n

. See

OCGA § 5 -6 -3 8 (a); Ro wl a n d v. S t a te

, 2 64 Ga. 87 2

, 8 7 2 (1 ) (4 52 SE2 d 75 6 ) (1 9 9 5 )

(“ Th e p ro p er an d t i m el y fi li n g o f a n o t i ce o f ap p eal i s an a b s o l u t e r eq u ir emen t to

co n fer ap p el lat e ju ri s d ict i o n o n t h i s Co u rt .”) (ci t at io n an d p u nct u at i o n o m i t t ed ).

Back i n t h e t ri al co u rt

, Bry an t co nt i n u ed t o fi l e m u l t ip l e pro s e m o t i o n s

,

i n cl u d i n g an o t h er m o t i o n fo r an o u t -o f-t i m e ap p eal

, an d t h e t r i a l c o u rt d en i ed h i s

m o ti o n o n Ju ly 11

, 2 0 1 9

. Bry an t ap p eal ed t o t hi s Co u rt

, an d h is ap p eal was d o ck et ed

i n t hi s Co u rt as Cas e No . A2 0A0 1 4 7 . Ho wev er, b as ed o n p ri n ci p l es o f res ju d i cat a,

we co n cl u d ed Bry an t’ s ap p eal w as b arred b y o u r p rev i o us d i s m i s sal o f h i s ap p eal in

Cas e No . A2 0A0 0 5 2 , an d we o n ce ag ai n d i s m i s s ed h i s ap p eal

.

2Bry an t

, h o wev er, co n t i n u ed t o fi le m o ti o n s i n t h e t ri al co u rt

, an d o n O c t o b er

5

, 2 0 2 0

, al m o s t two y ears aft er h e e n t ered h is Al f o r d p l ea, Bry an t fi l ed a m o t i o n to

v acat e a v o i d s en t en ce an d an o t h er m o t i o n t o wi t h d raw h i s Al f o rd p lea. Th e t ri al co u rt

d en ied h is m o t i o n s, an d Bry an t fi l ed t h i s ap peal

. 3 On ap peal , Bry an t arg u es t h at t h e

t ri al co u rt erred b y d en y in g h i s m o t i o n t o v acat e h i s sen t en ce b ecau s e t h e t ri al co u rt

i m p o s ed an i l l eg al co n d it i o n o f p ro b at i o n ; ad d it i on al l y

, al t h ou g h n o t rai s ed i n t h e

m o ti o n t h at is t h e s u b

ject o f t h i s ap p eal

, Bry an t al s o arg ues t h at t h e req u i rem en t t h at

h e reg is t er as a s ex u al o ffen d er res u l t s i n a s en t en c e t h a t ex ceed s t h e m ax i m u m

punishm en t al l owed fo r t h e co n v i ct ed o ffen s es

. Ad d i t io n al l y

, Bry an t ha s tw ic e m ove d

t o am en d h i s b ri ef o n ap p eal ; i n h i s fi rs t m ot i o n t o am en d

, h i s rai s es a m erg er i s s u e

an d i n h i s s eco nd m o t i on t o am e n d

, h e c o n t en ds th at t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s fai l u re to

co n si d er h is el i g i b i l i ty fo r a s en t en ce b el o w t h e m in i m u m res u l t s i n a vo i d sen t en ce.

As m o re fu ll y s et fo rt h b el o w, we n ow vacat e t he n o -co nt act p ro v is i on o f h is p ro b at ed

s en t en ce b u t fi n d h i s o t h er co n t en t io n s u n av ai l in g

.

1

. W e fi rs t in qu i re i n t o o u r ju ri s d i ct i o n t o co ns i d er t h i s ap p eal

. T he St at e arg u es

t h at we s ho u ld al s o d i s m i s s Bry an t ’ s ap p eal fro m t he J an u ary 7

, 2 0 2 1

, o rd er b ecau s e

3 A s s t at ed in fo o t n o te 1

, Bry an t d o es n o t rai s e an y arg um en t co n cern i n g t h e

d en ial o f h is m o t i o n t o wi t h d raw h i s p l ea i n h i s b ri ef o n ap p eal

.

3Bry an t p re v i o u s l y fi l ed m o t i o n s t o v acat e o r m o d i fy h is s en t en ce an d h i s ap p eal s

fo l l o w i n g t h e d en i al o f h i s p rev i o u s m o t i o ns were d i s m i s s ed . Th e res o l ut i on o f t h i s

i s su e t u rn s o n wh et her Bry an t h as i n fact rai s ed a co l o rab l e cl ai m o f a v o id s en t en ce

t h at was n o t rai s ed i n h i s p ri o r m o t i on s

.

W h en a sen ten ci n g co u rt i m p o s es a s en t en ce o f i m

p ri s o nm en t, i t s j u ri s d i ct i o n

t o lat er m o d i fy o r v acat e t h e s en t en ce i s li m i t ed

. Th e s en t en ci n g co u rt g en eral l y h as

ju ri s d i ct i o n t o m od i fy o r v acat e s u ch a s en t en ce fo r o n l y o n e y ear fo l l o w i n g t h e

i m p o s i t i o n o f t h e s en t en ce. OCGA § 1 7-1 0 -1 (f). See al s o vo n Th o m as v. S t a t e

, 2 9 3

Ga

. 5 6 9, 5 7 1 (2 ) (7 4 8 SE2 d 4 4 6 ) (2 0 1 3). H o wev er, “ a s en ten ci n g co u rt ret ai n s

ju ri s d i ct i o n t o co rrect a v oi d s en t en ce at an y t i m e

. ” (Ci t at i o n an d pu n ct u at i o n

o m it t ed .) Ru t l ed

g e v. St at e

, 3 6 0 Ga. Ap p

. 8 2 4

, 8 3 0 (2 ) (8 6 1 SE2 d 7 9 3) (2 02 1 ). See

al s o vo n Th o m a s

, 2 9 3 Ga. at 5 6 9

, 5 7 2 (2 ); Ro o n ey v. S t a t e

, 2 87 G a

. 1

, 2 (2 ) (6 9 0

SE2 d 8 0 4 ) (2 0 1 0 ). “ A s en t en ce i s v o i d if t h e co u rt i m po s es pu 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.” (Ci t at i o n an d p u n ct u at i o n o m it t ed .) vo n Th o m as

, 2 93 Ga. at 5 7 1 (2 ).

S t a t e v. McCa u l ey

, 3 5 3 Ga. Ap p

. 9 4

, 9 8 n .3 (8 3 4 SE2 d 5 6 7 ) ( 2 0 1 9 ) ; Ha r r i s o n v.

S t a t e

, 2 0 1 Ga. Ap p

. 5 7 7

, 5 8 3 ( 5 ) (4 1 1 SE2 d 7 3 8 ) (1 9 9 1 ) (“ A s en t en ce o r p o rt i o n

t h ereo f t h at is u n au t h o ri zed b y l a w i s a n u l l i t y an d v o i d.”). “ Th i s i s t ru e ev en fo r

d efen d an t s wh o p l ead g u i l t y becau s e a d efen d an t wh o k no wi n g l y en t ers i n t o a p l ea

4ag reem en t d o es n o t wai v e t h e ri g h t t o ch al l en g e an i l l e g a l an d vo i d sen t en ce.”

(Ci t at i o n an d p u nct u at io n o m i tt ed .) Ru t l ed g e

, 3 6 0 Ga. Ap p . at 8 3 0 (2 ).

Th u s

, i n cas es wh ere t he t ri al co urt h as l o st ju ri s d ict i o n t o vacat e o r m o d i fy a

s en t en ce, a d i rect ap peal fro m t h e d en i al o f a m o t i on t o v a cat e a v o i d s en t en ce i s

au t h o ri zed o n ly wh en th e d efen d an t h as rai sed a co l o rab le cl ai m t hat h i s s en t en ce i s

,

i n fact

, v o i d

. Mu n

ye v. S ta t e

, 3 4 2 Ga. Ap p. 6 8 0

, 6 8 5 (1 ) (b ) (8 0 3 SE2 d 7 7 5 ) (2 0 1 7 );

s ee al s o Jo n es v. S t a t e

, 27 8 G a. 66 9

, 6 7 1 (6 04 SE2 d 48 3 ) (2 0 0 4 ) (“ Ru l i n g s o n

p l ead i n g s as s ert in g erro n eo u s p ro ced u re o r u nfai r t reat m en t are no t su b ject t o d i rect

ap p eal b ecau s e t h ey

are n o t ru l i n g s o n wh et h er t h e sen t en ce i s v o id .”). “ Hen ce, i f a

d efen d an t do es n o t rai s e a co l o rab l e v oi d -s en ten ce cl ai m

, h i s a p p e a l i s s u b ject to

d i s m i s s al .”

Mu n ye , 3 4 2 Ga. Ap p . at 6 8 5 (1 ) (b ).

No t wi t h s t an d i n g t h at a vo i d s en ten ce m ay b e ch al l en g ed at an y t i m e an d a

d i rect ap peal fro m

t h e d en i al o f a m o t i o n rai s in g a co l o rab le cl ai m o f v oi d s en t en ce

i s au th o ri zed

, t h es e p ri n ci pl es are “ s u b ject t o t h e eq u al ly w el l es t ab l i s h ed p ri n ci p l es

o f res j u d i cat a an d th e l aw-o f-t h e-cas e ru l e on ce th e i s s u e has b een rai s ed an d ru l ed

u p o n .” (Ci t at i o n an d pu n ct uat i o n o m i t t ed .) Pa ra d is e v. S t at e

, 3 2 1 Ga. Ap p

. 37 1

, 3 7 3

(7 4 0 SE2 d 2 3 8 ) (2 0 1 3 ). See al s o R o s s v. S t at e

, 3 1 0 Ga. Ap p

. 3 2 6

, 3 2 8 ( 7 1 3 SE2 d

4 3 8 ) (2 0 1 1 ) (wh i l e a v o i d s en t en ce i s a n u l l i t y an d m ay b e v acat ed at an y t i m e, i t i s

5s t il l su b

ject t o res ju d i cat a an d l aw-o f-t he-cas e ru l e; d efen d an t i s n o t en t i t l ed to

m u lt i p l e b i t es at t he ap p l e).

Th e St at e as s ert s t h at t hes e p ri n ci p l es ap p l y h ere an d t h a t B r y an t ’ s ap p eal

s h o u ld b e d i s m i s s ed

, arg u in g t h at “ t h i s i s s u e h as al read y h ad i t s d ay i n co u rt

p rev i o u s l y

. ” In s u pp o rt of it s arg u m en t

, t h e St at e po i n t s t o Bry an t ’ s m o t i o n t o m o d i fy

h i s sen t en ce fi l ed o n M a r c h 1

, 2 0 1 9

, an d h is m o t i o n t o v acat e an d set as i d e v o id

co n vi ct i o n an d s en t en ce fi l ed o n M ay 5

, 2 01 9

, as wel l a s t o t h e d i s m i ss al o f h i s

ap p eal s fo l l o wi n g t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s d en i al o f t h o s e m o t i o n s

. Ho w ev er, a rev i ew o f

t h es e m o t i on s , as wel l as o t her m o t i o n s Bry an t fi l ed s eek i n g t o m o d i fy hi s s en t en ce

o r p u rp o rt i n g t o at t ack hi s s en t en ce as v oi d

, sh o w s t hat B r yan t h as n o t prev i o u s l y

rai s ed t h e i s s u e set o ut i n hi s Oct o b er 5

, 2 0 20 v o id s en t en ce ch al l en g e wh i ch i s t h e

s u b ject o f t h is ap p eal

– t hat a co n d i t i on o f h i s p ro b at i on i s i l l eg al an d v o id

– an d t h at

s u ch m o t i o n

, fo r t h e fi rs t t i m e, rai s ed a co l o rab l e cl ai m t h at at l eas t a p ort i o n o f

Bry an t ’ s s en ten ce i s v o i d

. Su mn er v. S t a t e

, 2 8 4 Ga. Ap p

. 3 0 8, 3 1 2 (1 ) (6 4 3 SE2 d 8 3 1 )

(2 0 0 7) ([W ] h ere a co n di t i o n o f p ro b at i on i n a s en t en ce i s u n au t h o ri zed

, t h at p o rt i o n

o f t h e s en t en ce i s v o i d .”) (ci t at i o n an d p u nct u at i o n o m i t t ed ). Ac c o r di n g l y

, t o t h e

e x t e n t t h at Bry an t h as rai s ed a co l o rab l e cl ai m o f a v o i d s en t en ce, h i s ap p eal i s

p ro p erl y b efo re u s as t o t h at i s s u e an d i s n o t s u b ject t o d i s m is s al

.

62

. Tu rn i n g t o th e m eri t s

, we fi rs t co n s id er Bry an t ’ s co nt en t i o n t hat t h e n o

co n tact p ro v i s i o n i m

po s ed as a s p eci al co n d i t i o n o f p r o b a t i o n i s o verl y b ro ad an d

l ack s s p eci fi ci t y

. 4 W e ag ree.

A t ri al co u rt h a s b r o ad d i s cret i o n i n s en t en ci n g t o i m po s e co n di t i o n s

reas o n ab l y rel at ed t o t he n at u re an d ci rcu m s t an ces o f t he o ffen s e an d

reh ab i l i t at i v e g o al s o f p ro bat i o n

. Bu t s u ch co nd i t i o n s m u s t b e s t at ed

wi t h reas o n ab l e s p eci fi ci t y t o affo rd t he p ro bat i o n er n o t i ce o f t h e g ro u p s

an d p l aces h e m

u s t av o i d

. An d t h e c o n d i t i o n s m u s t n o t b e s o b ro ad l y

wo rd ed as t o en co m

p as s g ro u ps an d p l aces no t rat i o n al l y rel at ed t o th e

p u rp o s e o f t h e s en t en ci n g o b ject i v e.

(Ci t at i o n an d p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed .) Gr o ven s t ei n v. S t at e

, 2 8 2 G a. Ap p. 1 0 9

, 1 1 1 (1 )

(6 3 7 SE2 d 8 2 1 ) (2 0 0 6 ).

Th e reco rd s ho ws t h e t ri al c o u r t i m p os ed t h e fo l l o w i n g s p eci al co n d i t i o n o f

p ro b at i o n , wh i ch p ro hi b i t ed Bry an t fro m h av i n g co n t act wi t h m in ors :

Yo u s h al l h av e n o co n t act

, wh et h er d i rect l y i n p ers o n o r i n d i r e c t l y

,

t h ro ug h an y m ean s o f co m m u n i cat i o n, wi t h an y ch i l d u n der t h e ag e o f

ei g h teen (1 8 ), n or wi t h an y p ers on u n ab l e t o g i v e co n s en t b ecau s e o f

m en t al o r em o t i on al l i m i t at io n s

. Nei th er s h al l y ou at t em p t co n t act w i t h

4 Th e n o -co n t act p ro v i s i on i s set o u t i n “ Sex O ffen d ers Sp eci al Co n d i t i o n s o f

Pro b at i o n ” n u m

ber 1

.

7t h e afo rem en t i o n ed ex cep t u n d er ci rcu m s t an ces ap p ro v ed i n ad v an ce

an d i n wri t i n g b y t h e Co u rt

. If y o u h av e i n ci den t al co n tact wi t h ch i ld ren

,

y o u wi l l be ci v il an d co u rt eo u s t o t h e ch i l d an d i m m ed i at el y rem o ve

y o u rs el f fro m t he s it u at i o n

. Yo u wi ll d i s cu s s t h e co n tact at y o u r n ex t

m eet i ng wi t h y o u r Pro b at i o n Offi cer.

Th i s Co u rt has p rev i o u s ly reject ed s i m i l ar s p eci al co n d it i on s o f p ro b at i o n

. As

we ex p l ai n ed i n El l i s v. St a t e , 2 2 1 Ga. Ap p

. 1 0 3

, 1 0 4 (1 ) (4 7 0 SE2 d 4 95 ) (1 9 9 6 ), a

cas e al s o i n v ol v i n g a s ex o ffen s e ag ai n st a ch il d , wh i l e

i t was reas o n ab l e fo r th e t ri al co u rt t o reg ul at e [d efen d an t ’ s] co n tact w i t h

ch i l d ren b y im

p o s in g co nd i t i o n s p ro h i b i t in g h i s as s o ci at i o n wi t h g ro u p s

d eal in g w i t h ch i l d ren an d p ro hi b i ti n g h i s p res en ce at cert ai n l o cat i o n s

wh e r e ch il d ren are p res en t

, . . . s u ch co n d i t i o n s s h o u l d b e s tat ed w i t h

reas o n ab l e sp eci fi ci t y s o t h at [d efen d a n t ] h a s n ot i ce of t h e g ro u p s an d

l o c a t i o n s h e m

u s t av o id an d s o t h at th e co n d i t io n s are n o t s o b ro ad l y

wo rd ed as t o en co m

p as s g ro u p s an d l o ca t i o n s n o t rat i o n al l y rel at ed t o

t h e p u rp o s e o f t h e s en ten ci n g o b ject i v e.

Here, t h e s p eci al co n d i t i o n at i s su e fai l ed t o p ro v i de Bry an t wi t h su ffi ci en t

n o t i ce o f t h e g ro u ps an d p l aces h e was req ui red t o av o i d an d w as s o o v erb ro ad an d

l ack i ng i n s p eci fi ci t y t h at i t “ co u l d b e ap p li ed t o pro h i bi t [Bry an t ] fro m s h o p p i n g at

v i rt u al l y an y s t o re, v is i t in g an y res t au ran t

, or li t eral l y g o i n g to an y o t h er l o cat i o n in

wh i ch [Bry an t ] wo u l d co m e i n t o co n tact wi t h t h e g en eral p u b l i c.” (Ci t at i o n an d

8p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed .) Ch a n ey v

. S t a t e

, 3 5 5 Ga. Ap p

. 7 3 7, 7 4 1 (c) (8 4 5 SE2 d 7 0 4 )

(2 0 2 0). See al s o Ha r r el l v. St a t e

, 2 5 3 Ga. Ap p

. 44 0

, 4 4 1 (1 ) (5 59 SE2 d 15 5 ) (2 0 0 2 )

(Sp eci al co n d i ti o n s o f p ro b at io n w e re v acat ed wh ere th ey d i d n o t p ro v i d e t he req u i red

n o t i ce o f t he g ro u p s an d l o cat i o n s t o av o i d a n d w e r e t o o bro ad l y w ord ed t o b e

rat i o nal l y rel at ed t o t h e p u rp o s e o f t he s en t en ci ng o b ject i v es

. ); El l i s

, 2 2 1 Ga. Ap p

. at

1 0 4 (1 ). F ur

th er, “ t h e tri al co u rt ’ s co n d i t i o n vi o l at es t he p ri n ci p l e t h at co n d i t i o n s m u s t

n o t b e s o b ro ad l y wo rd ed as t o en co m p as s gro u p s an d l o cat io n s n o t rat i o n al l y rel at ed

t o t h e p u rp o s e o f t h e s en t en ci n g o b ject i ve.” (Ci t at i on an d p un ct u at i o n o m i t t ed .)

C h a n ey

, 3 55 Ga. Ap p. at 7 41 (c), q u o t i n g El l i s

, 2 2 1 Ga. Ap p

. at 10 4 (1 ). See a l s o

Gr o ven s t ei n , 2 8 2 Ga. Ap p . at 1 1 1 (1 ). In s u m

, “ i t i s cl ear t hat Geo rg i a l aw d o es n ot

s u p p ort t h e k in d o f un i v ers al s p eci al co nd i t i o n o f p ro b at i o n

, p ro h i b it i n g co n t act wi th

an i n d iv i d u al o r p art i cu lar co ho rt wi t h o u t l i m i t at i o n .” Ch a n ey

, 3 5 5 Ga. Ap p

. at 7 4 2

(c). Acco rd i n g l y , t he n o -co n tact s p eci al co n d it i o n o f Bry an t ’ s p ro b at i on i s v acat ed

,

an d th e cas e i s rem an d ed t o t h e t ri al co u rt fo r res en t en ci n g as t o t he v acat ed

co n di t i o n

.

3

. Bry an t al s o co n t en d s th at s ex o ffen d er reg i s t rat i on fo r l i fe, wh i ch h e wi l l b e

s u b ject ed t o fo l lo wi n g hi s rel eas e fro m p ri so n

, s ee OCGA § 4 2 -1 -1 2

, e x c eed s t h e

m ax i m u m p u ni sh m en t fo r h i s cri m es i n v i o l at i o n of O CGA § 1 7 -1 0- 1 ( a) (1 ).

9Ho wev er, i t has p rev i o u s ly b een reco g n i zed t h at s u ch req u i rem en ts are “ r e g u l at o ry

an d n o t p u n i t i v e i n nat u re[.] ” Ra i n er v. S ta t e o f Ga

. , 2 8 6 Ga. 67 5

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

8 2 7 ) (2 0 1 0 ).Th u s

, Bry an t ’ s co n t en t i o n t h at t he reg i s t rat i o n req u i rem en t i s an i l l eg al

“ p u n i s h m en t” i s u n av ai l i n g s i n ce “ cu rren t l aw d oes n o t d eem reg i s t rat io n as a s ex u al

o ffen d er t o b e p u ni s hm en t .” Ho l l i e v. S t a t e

, 2 87 Ga. 38 9

, 3 9 1 (3 ) ( 6 9 6 SE2 d 6 4 2 )

(2 0 1 0). Acco rd i n gl y , t h i s co nt en t i o n d oes n o t p res en t a v o i d s en t en ce cl ai m

.

4

. Bry an t h as al s o fi l ed an am en d ed b ri ef seek i n g t o rai s e a m erg er cl ai m b as ed

o n t he co n t en t io n t h at h e was i m p ro p erl y s en t en ced fo r th e s am e cri m e – two 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 u rp o s es

. Ho wev er, th e i n di ct m en t n am es a s ep arat e

v i ct i m i n each co u n t an d

, acco rd i n g l y

, t h ere i s n o m erg er. Jo n es v. S t a te

, 2 9 0 Ga. 6 7 0,

6 7 2 (2 ) (7 2 5 SE2 d 2 3 6 ) (2 0 1 2 ) (“ [T] h e m erg er d o ct ri n e d oes n o t ap p l y i f each o f t h e

ch arg ed cri m es was co m

m i t ted ag ai ns t a d i fferen t v i ct i m .”) (ci t at i o n an d pu n ct u at i o n

o m it t ed ). Bry an t ’ s m o ti o n t o am en d h i s b ri ef i s d en i ed

.

5 . Bry an t fi l ed a s ep arat e req u es t t o am en d hi s b ri ef t o rai s e a co n ten t i o n t h at

h i s s en t en ce i s vo i d b ecau s e t h e t r i a l co u rt fai l ed t o co n si d er i m p o si ng s en t en ces

b el o w t h e m an d at o ry m i n i m u m

. Ho wev er, as we h av e p rev io u s ly ex p l ai n ed

, “ [t ] h e

fai l u re t o d ev i at e

– o r co n si d er d ev i at in g

– b el o w a m in i m u m s en t e n c e d o e s n o t

ren d er t h e s en t en ce on e th at t he l aw d o es n o t al l o w, s o l o n g as t h e sen t en ces i m p o s ed

10rem ai n wi t h in t he ran g e of p u n i s h m en t perm i tt ed by l aw.” (Pu n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed .)

Ja cks o n v

. S t a t e

, 3 3 8 Ga. Ap p

. 5 0 9

, 5 1 0 (7 9 0 SE2 d 2 9 5 ) (2 0 1 6 ). Acco rd i n g l y

,

Bry an t ’ s m o t i o n t o am en d h i s b ri ef t o rai s e t h i s cl ai m i s al s o d en i ed

.

6

. L as t l y

, we n o t e t h at Bry an t h as req u es t ed w e v acat e hi s s en t en ce an d rem an d

fo r res en ten ci n g an d t o al lo w h i m t o wi t h d raw h i s p lea. Ho wev er, b ecau s e we h av e

v acat ed o n l y t h e n o

- c o n t a ct sp eci al co n d i t i o n o f Bry an t ’ s p ro b at i o n an d rem an d ed

o n l y fo r res en t e n c i n g as t o t h at p ro v i si o n

, l eav in g t h e rem ai n d er o f h i s s en t en ce

i n t act

, Bry an t h as n o ri g h t t o w i t h d raw h i s p l ea. See Th o mp s o n v. S t at e

, 3 4 8 Ga. Ap p.

8 0 7

, 8 0 8 -8 10 (8 24 SE2 d 6 8 5 ) (2 0 1 9 ); s ee al so Ha l l f or d v. S t a t e

, 2 8 9 Ga. Ap p

. 3 5 0,

3 5 1 -3 5 2 (1 ) (6 5 7 SE2 d 1 0 ) (2 0 0 8 ).

S en t en ce va ca t ed

i n p a r t

, a n d ca s e r ema n d

ed f o r r es en t en ci n g. Mi l l er

, P. J.,

a n d Ho d g es

, J., co n cu r

.

11