SECOND DI VI SI ON

BA RNES, P. J.

, BOGGS and RI CKM A 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.

http://w w w .ga a ppe a l s .us /r ule s

June 29, 2016



# I n th e Co u r t o f

A p p eals o f

G eo r g ia

A1 6 A0 47 3 . GRAHAM v . THE STATE.

B O G G S , J u d g e.

A ju ry fo u n d J o e Al an Grah am gu i l ty of t h eft b y tak i n g

. Fo l l o w i n g t h e d en i al

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

, Grah am ap p eal s

, ch al l en g in g t h e s uffi ci en cy o f

t h e ev i den ce, t h e ad m i s s i on of s i m i l ar act s

, an d as s er t in g t h at h i s tri al co u n s el was

i n effect i v e. W e d i s cern n o erro r an d affi rm

.

1

. Grah am fi rs t ch al len g es t h e s u ffi ci en cy o f th e ev i d en ce. W hen we rev i ew t h e

s u ffi ci en cy

o f t h e ev i d en ce,

t h e rel ev an t q u es t i o n i s w h et h er, aft er v i ewi n g th e ev i d en ce i n th e l i g h t

m o s t fav o rab l e t o t h e pro s ecu ti o n

, a n y rat i on al t ri er o f fact co u l d h av e

fo u n d t h e es s en ti al el em en t s of t h e cri m e bey o n d a reas o n a b l e do u bt

.

Th i s fam i li ar s t an d ard g i v es fu l l p l ay to t he res p o n si b i l i t y of th e t ri er o f

fact fai rl y t o res o lv e c o n f l i c t s i n t h e t es t i m o n y

, t o wei g h t h e ev id en ce,

an d t o d raw re as o nab l e i n feren ces fro m b as ic fact s t o u l t i m at e fact s

.On ce a d efen d an t h as b een fo u n d gu i l t y of t h e cri m e ch a r g e d

, th e

fact fi n d er’ s ro l e as wei g her of t h e ev i d en ce i s p res erv ed t h ro u gh a l eg al

co n cl u s i o n t hat u po n ju d i ci al rev i ew al l o f t h e evi den ce i s t o be

co n s i d ered i n t h e l i g h t m o s t fav o rab l e t o t h e p ro s ecu t i o n.

(Ci t at i o n s a n d fo o t n o t e om i t t ed ; em p h as is i n o ri g i n al

. ) Ja cks o n v. Vi rg i n i a

, 4 4 3 U.

S. 3 07 , 3 1 9 (III) (B) (9 9 SCt 2 7 8 1 , 6 1 LE2 d 5 60 ) (1 9 7 9).

So v i ewe d

, t h e e v i d en ce s h o wed t h at t h e v ict i m s earch ed Crai g s l i s t t o fi n d a

cab i n et m ak er t o rep l ace h er k i t ch en cab i net s

. Sh e s aw Grah am ’ s ad v ert i s em en t as a

“ s em i -ret i red cab i n et m ak er” an d m ad e co n tact w i t h h i m

. Grah am p res en t ed t h e

v i ct i m wi t h s o m e cab i n et s am p l es

, an d th e v i ct im co n t act ed t h e referen ces p ro v i d ed

b y Grah am an d al s o v eri fi ed t h e l u m b er co m p an y G rah am u s ed t o b u il d cab i net s

. Th e

v i ct i m was “ st i ll u nco m fo rt ab l e” ab o u t “ p ro ceed [i n g ] fo rward ” an d req u es t ed t o v i s i t

Grah am ’ s wo rk s h o p

. Th e v i ct im an d h er fri en d v i si t ed t h e wo rk s h o p an d Grah am

s h o wed t h em

“ wo rk i n p ro g res s fo r h i s o t h er cl i en t s .”

Grah am an d t h e v ict i m ag reed t o a p ay m en t o f t h ree i n s t al l m e n t s fo r t h e

cab i n et s : “ Th e fi rs t i ns t al l m en t fo r d o wn p ay m e n t [Grah am ] s ai d t o o b t ai n t h e

m at eri al . Th e s eco n d i n s t al l was fo r wh en h e’ s fi ni s h ed t h e b o x

, t h e bo x es

. An d t h e

t h i rd an d fi n a l i n s t a l l m en t at i n s t al l at i o n .” Th e co n t ract

, s i g n ed b y t h e part i es o n

Sep tem b er 2 9

, 2 01 1

, li s ted a t o t al p ri ce o f $ 7,0 00

, an d a d el i v ery d at e wi t h i n “ 4 t o 5

2week s .” T h e ag reem en t p ro v id ed t h at Grah am wo ul d b u i l d 3 6 -i nch l ower c a b i n e t s

an d 3 2-i n ch u p p er cab in et s

. Th e v i ct i m g av e Grah am a $ 2 ,8 0 0 d o wn p ay m en t fo r t h e

cab i n et s

, Grah am cam e t o h er ho m e t o m eas u re, an d t h ey ag reed th at Grah am wo u ld

b u i l d 3 2 -i n ch cab i n et s

.

On Oct o ber 1 4

, Grah am s en t t h e v i ct i m d raft d rawi n g s o f t h e cab i net s b y em ai l

.

Aft er s o m e “ back an d fo rt h b ecau s e [s h e] had qu es t io n s ab ou t s o m e o f t h e l ay o u t ,”

Grah am as k ed t h e v i ct i m t o co nfi rm m eas urem en t s

, b u t t h e v i ct im t ol d h i m t o “ co m e

b ack an d red o t h e m eas urem en t h i m s el f.” Grah am em ai l ed t h e v i ct i m p i ct u res o f “ t h e

b o x es ” as p ro o f of hi m h av in g co m p l et ed t h em an d as k ed fo r th e s eco n d i n s t al l m en t

p ay m en t

. Grah am t o l d her t here was a 6 -i n ch “ di s crep an cy bet ween wh at h e h ad

wri t ten on t h e co nt ract v ers u s m y fu l l l en g th o f t h e cab i n e t ,” an d t h at h e n eed ed

ad d it i o n a l m at eri al s. He an d t h e v i ct i m “ wen t b ack an d fo rt h ,” b u t sh e u l t i m at el y

ag reed t o p ay h im an ad d i t i o n al $ 3 5 0 at i n st al l at io n b ecau s e s h e fel t p art l y

res p o n s i b l e fo r t h e d i screp an cy i n t h e m eas u rem en t s

. On No v em ber 1

, th e vi ct i m p ai d

Grah am t h e s eco n d $ 2

, 8 0 0 i n s t al l m en t

.

On No v em

b er 1 0

, Grah am cal l ed t h e v i ct i m an d t o l d her t h at h e “ t al k ed t o t h e

m an u fact u rer an d t hey ’ re wi l l i n g t o d i s co u n t t h e d o ors t o m e an d I can g i ve i t t o y o u

fo r $1 5 0

. Bu t I wi l l need t o gi v e t h e m a d e p o s i t t o day s o y o u n eed t o s en d m e t h e

3m o ney

. . . . h e t o l d m e t h at i f I wi re i t t o h i m

, I can g o t o M o n ey Gra[ ] m W al -M art

an d wi re i t t o h i m

. ” Th e v i ct i m s en t Grah am

t h e m o n ey

req u es ted

.

Grah am an d t h e v i ct i m ex ch an ged sev eral em ai l s an d p h o n e cal l s co n cern i n g

t h e cab i net s

. Aft er No v em b er 11

, h o wev er, “ h e s t o p ped res p o n di n g ” an d t h e v i ct i m

d i d n o t r e c e i v e an y co m m u n icat i o n fro m Grah am u n t i l No v em b er 23

, wh en s h e

recei v ed a han d wri t t en l et t er fro m Grah am i n fo rm i n g h er t h at h e wo u l d b e u n ab l e to

wo rk o n t h e cab i n et s u n t i l J an u ary

. Bu t i n D ecem b er, Grah am in fo rm ed t h e v i ct i m

t h at h e w as “ n o w av ai l ab l e to res u m e [h er] j o b

, ” b u t need ed m o re m o n ey b ecau s e t h e

p ri ce o f m at eri al s h ad i n creas ed i n t h e i n t eri m

. Th e v i ct i m refu sed t o p ay Grah am an y

ad d it i o n al m on ey t o b u i l d th e cab i n et s an d h e ag ai n s t o p p ed co m m u n icat i n g

. On

J an u ary 1 2

, 2 0 12

, Grah am em ai l ed t h e vi ct i m a “ p ro p os al to fi n i sh [h er] k i t ch en .” He

was “ p ro p o s i n g to d ed u ct h is ex p en s es fo r t h e ex tra wo rk t hat h e’ s d o n e an d l eav e m e

a b al an ce o f $ 1 ,4 2 0 wh i ch I can feel free t o ap p l y t o ward s an o t h er k i t ch en .” Th e

v i ct i m an d Grah am ex ch an g ed s ev eral e m a i l s a b o u t h o w h e arri v ed at t h i s am o u n t

,

an d t h ey s ch ed u l ed a m eet i ng t o d i s cu s s t h e m at t er fu rt h er, b u t Grah am can cel l ed

.

On Feb ru a r y 2 2

, G rah am em ai l ed t he v i ct im t h at h e wo u l d co m p l et e t h e

cab i n et s “ as s o o n as p o s s i b l e wh en h e’ s feel i ng b et t er.” Th e t wo s ch ed u l ed an o t h er

m eet i n g fo r Feb ru ary 2 6, b u t Grah am can cel l ed ag ai n

. Th e t wo fi n al ly m et on M arch

41 2 an d Grah am t o l d t he v i ct i m th at i t wo u l d co s t an ad di ti o n al $ 7,2 0 0 t o co m p l et e h er

k i t ch en b ecau s e h e h ad t o t ak e ap art t h e fi rs t s et o f b ox es h e b u il t fo r h er. W h en t h e

v i ct i m refu s ed to p ay Grah am an o t h er $ 7,2 0 0

, wh i ch was n earl y d o u b l e t h e p ri ce t h ey

h ad ag reed u p o n i ni t i al l y

, Grah am i n v it ed h er t o “ v i s i t t h e m ag is t rat e co urt d o wn t h e

s t reet fro m h i s h o u s e an d fi l e [h er] ci v i l cas e ag ai n s t h i m

. ” As o f t h e d at e o f t ri al

, t h e

v i ct i m d i d n ot recei v e t h e cab i n et s

, was n ev er “ ab le i n p ers o n t o s ee an y co n s t ru ct ed

cab i n et s fo r [h er] h om e,” an d h ad n o t recei v ed an y m o ney b ack fro m Grah am

.

G rah am t es t ifi ed in h i s o wn d efen s e t h at h e d i d no t b eg i n wo rk i n g o n t h e

co n st ru ct i o n o f t h e b o x es un t i l Oct o b er 2 0 1 1 o r “ t wo t o t h ree w eek s fro m t h e i n i t i al

s i gn i n g of t h e co n tract ” b ecau s e h e h ad a d iffi cu l t t i m e g et ti n g t h e vi ct i m to ap p ro v e

t h e d rawi n g s an d n eed ed an ad d i t i o n al m eas urem en t

. He cl ai m ed t h at aft er h e h ad

al read y b u i l t t h e b o x es fo r t h e up p er cab i n et s, t h e v ict i m “ ch an g ed h er m i n d o n t h e

o ri g i nal si ze s he w an t ed ” an d wan t ed l a r g e r cab i n et s

. Grah am ex p lai n ed t h at aft er

s ev era l em ai l s an d cal l s co ncern i n g t h e ch an g es t h e v i ct i m req u es t ed

, t h ey m et an d

h e t o l d h er t hat h e wo u l d h av e t o ch arg e h er ex tra fo r t h e reb u i l d o f t h e cab i n et s

. He

cl ai m ed t h at h e t o o k ap art t h e b o x e s h e h ad co n s t ru ct ed at th e v i ct i m ’ s req u es t

b ecau s e s h e “ ch an ged t h e wh o l e k i t ch en at t h at p o i n t. Sh e wan t ed i t al l rearran g ed

d i fferen tl y .” Grah am d en i ed t el l i n g t h e v i ct i m t h at t he co s t wo u ld b e an ex t ra $ 7 ,2 0 0,

5b u t ex p l ai n ed t h at h e t o l d h er “ th e d i fferen ce was o nl y $ 4 ,4 0 0 .” H e t es t i fi ed t h at aft er

t h e v i ct i m refu s ed t o n eg o t i at e an y fu rt h er, s h e fi l ed a ci v i l s u it an d was award ed t h e

am ou n t “ s h e h ad p ai d [Grah am ] wh i ch was li k e $ 5

, 6 0 0 .” G rah am di d no t res p o n d o n

cro s s -ex am i n at i o n w h en h e was as k ed

, “ wh en d i d y ou o ffer t o g i v e h er t h e wo o d an d

t h e m at eri al s ? ” He as s ert ed t h at h e di d n o t o we th e v i ct im an y m o n ey b ecau s e h e “ d id

wh at [h e] t o l d h er [h e] wo u l d d o an d t h at s h e s i g n ed a co n t ract fo r.”

Th e St at e al s o pres en ted t wo s i m i l ar act wi tn es s es wh o t es ti fi ed t h at t h ey al s o

l o cat ed Grah am o n Crai g s l i st an d h i red h i m to m ak e cab i n et s

. Bo t h wi t n es s es t es t i fi ed

t h at t h ey p ai d G rah am m o ney bu t n ev er recei ved co m p l et ed cab i n et s n o r a refu n d o f

t h ei r m o n ey

.

Grah a m t es ti fi ed th at wi t h reg ard t o th e fi rs t s i m il ar act wi t n es s

, h i s wo rk to

co m p l et e t h e cab i net s was d el ay ed b ecau s e t h e wi t n es s ’ h u sb an d was i l l

. He s t at ed

f u r t h e r t h a t h e h ad o ffered to “ b ri n g t h e b as e cab i n et s o ut an d s et t h em .” An d wi th

reg ard t o t h e s eco n d s i m il ar act wi t n es s

, Grah am as s ert ed t hat t h i s wi t n es s “ b reach ed

t h e co n t ract

. I d o owe h im m o n ey

. I o we h im b ack 50 0 an d s o m e d o l l ars .” He t es t i fi ed

t h at h e d i d n o t “ p l an t o t ak e an y m o n ey a w a y fro m th es e p eo p l e w i th o u t do i n g t h e

wo rk ,” an d “ n ev er i n t en ded t o d efrau d t hem .”

6Grah am arg u es t h at t h e fact s s h o w m erel y “ a ci vi l m at ter” an d t h at t h ere was

“ n o cri m i n al i n t en t b y [h i m ] t o t ak e [t h e v i ct i m ’ s ] m o ney an d n o t m ak e t h e cab i n et s

s h e h ad o rd ered .” OCGA § 1 6 -8 -2 p ro v i d es t hat “ [a] p ers o n co m m i t s th e o ffen s e o f

t h eft b y t ak i n g w h en h e u n l awfu l l y t a kes o r, b ei ng i n l awfu l p o s ses s i o n t h ereo f,

u n l awfu l l y ap p ro pri at es an y p ro p ert y o f an o t h er wi t h t h e i nt en t i o n o f dep ri v i n g h i m

o f t h e pro p ert y

, reg ard l es s o f t h e m an n er i n wh i ch t h e p r o p ert y i s t ak en o r

ap p ro p ri at ed .” Th e ev i d en ce p res en t ed h ere s h o wed t h at Grah am accep t ed m o n ey

fro m t h e v i ct i m fo r t h e p u rp o s e o f co n s tru ct i ng cab i n et s

, d i d n o t co m p l et e t h e

cab i n et s or p ro vi d e t he v i ct i m wi t h wh at h ad b een co m p l et ed

, an d fai l ed t o ret u rn an y

m o ney t o t h e v i ct i m

. “ Un d er t hes e ci rcu m s t an ces

, t h e ju ry was au th o ri zed t o i n fer t h at

[Grah am ] act ed wi t h frau d u l en t i n t en t an d t o fi n d h i m gu i l t y o f t h eft b y t ak i n g.”

(Ci t at i o n s om i tt ed .) Bea r d en v. S t a t e

, 3 1 6 G a

. Ap p

. 7 2 1, 7 2 4 (1 ) (7 2 8 SE2 d 8 7 4 )

(2 0 1 2) (ev i d en ce s u ffi ci ent to suppo rt t h eft b y tak i n g wh en defen d an t recei v ed m o n ey

t o co n s t ru ct m o d u l ar h o m es b u t s h ort l y th ereaft er ab an d o n ed t h e p ro j ect s an d fai l ed

t o ret u rn fu n d s t o v i ct i m s ); s ee al s o S mi t h v. S t a t e

, 2 6 5 Ga. A p p

. 5 7

, 5 9 (1 ) (5 9 2 SE2 d

8 7 1 ) (2 0 04 ) (ev i d en ce su ffi ci en t t o s u p p o rt ch arg e o f th eft by t ak i n g wh en d efen d an t

a b an do n ed p ro

ject an d fai l ed t o ret u rn t h e u n earn ed po rt i o n o f d o w n p ay m en t aft er

p ro m i s i n g t o d o s o).

72

. Grah am arg u e s t h at th e t ri al co urt erred i n ad m i t t i n g ev i d en ce o f t h e t wo

s i m i l ar act s

. Th e St at e s o u g h t to ad m i t t h e e v i d en ce p u rs uan t t o OCGA § 2 4 -4 -4 0 4

(b ) t o s ho w Grah am ’ s i nt en t

, kn o wl ed g e, an d p l an

, an d th e t ri al co u rt al l o wed t h e

s i m i l ar act s fo r t h es e p u rp o ses

. T h e co u rt d et erm i n ed t h at t h e s i m il ar act s were

“ rel ev an t t o an i s s u e o th er t h an t h e d efen d an t ’ s ch aract er,” t h e p ro b at i ve v al u e was

“ n o t su b s t an ti al l y ou t wei g h ed b y t h e u n d u e p reju di ce t h at t he ev i d en ce m ig h t el i ci t ,”

an d t h ere was “ s u ffi ci en t pro of fo r a ju ry t o es t ab l i sh o r fi n d t h at t h e d efen d an t was

t h e p ers o n t h at co m

m i tt ed t he i n d ep en d en t o r o th er act s .”

OCGA § 2 4 -4 -4 0 4 (b ) p ro v i d es :

E v i d en ce o f o th er cri m es

, wro n g s, o r act s s h al l n o t b e ad m i s si b l e t o

p r o v e th e ch aract er o f a p ers o n in ord er t o s h o w act i o n in co n fo rm i t y

t h erewi th

. It m ay

, h o wev er, b e ad m i s s ib l e fo r o t h er p urp o s es

, i n cl ud i n g

,

b u t n o t l im i t ed t o

, p ro o f o f m o t i v e, op p o rt u n ity

, in t en t

, p rep arat i o n

, p l an

,

k n o wl ed g e, i d en t i t y , o r ab s en ce o f m i st ak e o r acci den t

.

An d

[i ] n det erm in i n g th e a d m i s s i bi l it y o f “ ot h er act s ” ev i d en ce, th i s Co u rt

h as ad o p t ed t h e El ev en t h Ci rcu i t ’ s t h ree-p art tes t fo r ad m i s s i b i l i t y u nd er

Fed eral Ru le o f Ev i den ce 4 0 4 (b ) wh i ch req u i res t hat t h e ad m i t ti n g co u rt

fi nd (1 ) t h e ev i d en ce i s rel ev an t t o an i s s u e in th e cas e o t h e r t h a n t he

d e f e n d an t ’ s ch aract er, (2 ) t h e p ro b at i ve v al u e i s n o t s u b s tan t i al l y

o u t wei g h ed by u nd ue p reju d i c e

, a n d (3 ) t h ere i s s u ffi ci en t p ro o f fo r a

8j u r y t o fi n d by a prep o n d eran ce o f t h e ev i d en ce t h at th e d efen d a n t

co m m i t t ed t h e p ri o r act

. W hen wei g h i n g t h e p ro b at iv e v al ue o f o t h er

act s ev i den ce ag ai n st i t s p r e j u d i ci al effect

, Geo rg i a co u rt s ap p l y th e

b al an ci ng t es t s et fo rt h i n O C G A § 2 4-4 -4 0 3,[ 1 ] w h i ch s i m i l arl y t rack s

i t s fed eral co u n t erp art

.

(Ci t at i o n s o m it t ed .) Br a nn o n v. S t a t e

, 2 9 8 Ga. 6 0 1

, 6 06 (4 ) (7 8 3 SE2 d 6 4 2 ) (2 0 1 6 ).

On ap p eal

, we rev i ew t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s ru li n g ad m it t in g ev i d en ce p u rs u an t t o OCGA

§ 2 4-4 -4 0 4 (b ) “ fo r a cl ear ab u s e o f d i scret i o n

, a rev iew req u i ri n g t h e ap p el l at e co u rt

t o m ak e a co m

m o n sen s e as ses s m en t o f al l t he ci rcu m s t an ces s urro u n di n g t h e

ex t ri ns i c o ffen s e, i n cl u d i n g p ro s ecu t o ri al n eed

, o v eral l s im i l ari t y b et ween t h e

ex t ri ns i c act an d t h e ch arg ed o ffen s e, as w el l as t em p o ral rem o t en es s .” (Ci t at i o n an d

p u n ct u at i o n o m it t ed .) Id

.

Grah am a r g u e s t h at t h e o t h er t wo act s were m o re p reju d i ci al t h an pro b at i v e

b ecau s e th e ci rcu m s t an ces o f t h o se act s w ere d i fferen t

. He arg ues t h at t h e f i r s t

wi t n es s “ was un h ap p y wi t h t h e q u al i t y o f t h e wo rk an d wan t ed h e r m o n ey b ack ,”

wh i le t h e s eco n d wi t n es s “ was u n h ap p y wi t h t h e t i m e i t was t ak i n g fo r Grah am to

1 Th i s Co de s ect i on p ro v i d es : “ Rel ev an t ev i d en ce m ay b e ex cl ud ed i f i t s

p ro b at i v e v al u e i s s ub s t an t i al l y o u t wei gh ed b y t he d an g e r o f u n fai r p reju d i ce,

co n fu s i o n o f t h e i s s u es , o r m i s l ead i n g t h e ju ry o r b y co n s i d erat i o n s o f u n d u e d el ay

,

was te o f t i m e, o r n eed l es s p res en t at i o n o f cu m u l at i v e ev i d en ce.”

9co m

p l et e t h e w o r k a n d [ wan t ed ] t o can cel h i s co n t ract b ecau s e o f s om e m i s s ed

ap p oi n t m en t s .”

W i t h o u t q u es t i o n, “ i n t en t was p u t i n i s s u e b y [Grah am ] en t eri n g a p l ea o f n ot

g u i l t y .” Ol d

s v. S ta te

,

_

_ _ Ga.

_ _ _ , s l i p o p. at 1 4 (2 ) (Cas e No . S1 5 G 1 6 1 0 ; d eci d ed

M ay 2 3

, 2 0 1 6 ). An d

, as Grah am co n ced es

, “ t h e i s s ue o f i nt en t was v ery i m p o rt an t to

[h i s ] d efen s e.” Grah am ’ s co un s el arg u ed at t ri al th at G rah am h ad n o in t en t t o d ep ri v e

t h e v i ct i m o f h er p ro p ert y

. Ev i d en ce of t hes e o t h er act s

, w h i ch i n v o l v ed t h e s am e s o rt

o f i n ten t as req u i red t o p ro v e t h e t h eft here an d h ad a t en d en cy t o p ro v e s uch i n t en t

,

were rel ev an t an d s at is fi ed t h e fi rs t req u i rem en t fo r ad m is si o n

. See i d

., s l i p o p

. at 1 3,

2 0 -2 2 (2 ). M o reo v er, t h e ev i d en ce h ad a “ great er

. . . t en d en cy t o m ak e t h e ex i s t en ce

o f” G rah am ’ s i n t en t m ore p ro b ab l e. See i d., sl i p o f at 21 -2 2

. Co n t rary t o h i s arg u m en t

o n a p p e a l

, t he y ear-an d -a-h al f s p an i n wh i ch t h e s i m i l ar act s an d ch arg ed act

o ccu rred

, s ee Br a n n on

, s u p ra, 2 9 8 Ga. at 6 06 (4 ) ( a s s es s m en t of ci rcu m s t an ces

i n cl u d es t em

p o ral rem ot en es s ), an d “ t h e si m i lari t y b et ween t h e cri m es an d t h e fact s

rel at i n g t h eret o m ak e t h e fo rm er act [s ] hi g h l y pro b at i v e o f [Grah am ’ s] i n t en t .”

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

, 3 3 2 Ga. Ap p

. 6 2 6

, 6 2 9 (7 7 4

SE2 d 1 7 9) (2 0 1 5).

10In l i gh t o f t h e q u al it y of th i s ev i d en ce an d t h e s t ren g t h o f i t s l o g ical co n n ect i o n

t o es tab l i s h i ng Grah am ’ s in t en t

, we are s at i s fi ed t h at th e t ri al co u rt d i d n o t ab u s e i t s

d i s cret i o n i n det erm i n i n g t h at t h e p ro b at i v e v al u e o f t h e s i m i l ar act s was n ot

o u t wei gh ed b y t hei r p reju di ci al effect

. See O l d s

, s u p ra, s l ip o p

. at 2 1 -2 3

. Fi n al l y

, we

h o l d th at t h e t h i rd el em en t i s s a t i s f i e d b e c au s e t h e t es ti m o n y o f t h e si m i l ar act

wi t n es s es an d t h e t es t i m o n y o f G r a h a m w a s s u ffi ci en t p ro o f fo r a ju ry t o fi n d b y a

p rep o n d eran ce o f t h e ev i den ce t h at t h e d efen d an t co m m i t t ed t h e p ri o r act s

.

Fo r th es e reas o n s

, we h ol d t h at t h e t ri al co u rt d id n o t a b u s e i t s d i s cret i o n in

al l o wi n g t h e ad m is s i o n of t h es e s i m i lar act s

. 2

3

. Grah am arg ues t h at hi s t ri al co u n sel was i n effect i v e in fai li n g t o i n v es t i g at e

o r p res en t at t ri al o t h er wi t n es s es

, wh o se n am es G rah am p ro v i d ed

, t o s h ow t h at h e

“ was a l eg i t i m at e cab i n et m ak er.”

T o e s t a b l i s h i n effect i v e as s i s t an ce of co u n s el

, a d efen dan t m us t s h o w

t h at h i s co u n s el ’ s p erfo rm an ce was p ro fes s io n al l y d efi ci en t an d t h at b u t

fo r s u ch d efi ci en t p erfo rm an ce t h ere i s a reas o n ab l e p ro b ab i l i t y th at th e

res u lt o f th e t ri al wo u l d h av e b een d i fferen t

. S t r i ckl a n d v. W as h i ng t o n

,

4 6 6 U. S. 6 68

, 6 85

, 69 5 (1 0 4 SCt 2 0 5 2

, 8 0 LE2 d 6 74 ) (1 9 84 ). To p ro ve

2 Becau s e t h e s i m i l ar act ev i d en ce was ad m i s s i bl e t o p ro v e in t en t “ we n eed n ot

d et erm i n e wh et h er i t was al s o ad m i ss i b l e t o s ho w [k n owl ed g e] an d p l an .” An t h o n y

v. S t a t e , 2 9 8 Ga. 8 2 7 , 8 3 2 (4 ) n .3 (_

_ _ SE2 d _

_ _ ) (2 0 1 6 ).

11d efi ci en t p e r f o r m a nce, on e m

u st s h o w th at h i s at t o rn ey perfo rm ed at t ri al

i n an o b ject i v el y u n reas o n ab l e way co n s i d eri n g a l l t h e ci rcu m s tan ces

an d i n t h e li g ht o f p rev ai l i n g p ro fes s i o nal n o rm s . If t h e d efen dan t fai l s

t o s at i s fy ei t h er t h e “ d efi ci en t p erfo rm an ce” or t h e “ preju d ice” p ro n g o f

t h e S t ri ckl a nd

t es t , t h i s Co u rt i s n o t req u i red t o ex am i n e t h e o th er.

(Ci t a t io n s an d p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed .) F ra n kl in v. S t a t e

, 2 9 8 Ga. 63 6

, 6 3 8 (2 ) (7 8 4

SE2 d 3 5 9) (2 0 1 6).

At t h e m o t i o n fo r n ew t ri al h eari n g

, G rah am ex p l ai n ed t h at h e h ad g iv en t ri al

c o u n s el t h e n am es o f o t h er cu s t o m ers w ho w o u l d h av e t es t i fi ed t h at h e h a d

s at i s fact o ri l y co m

p l et ed t h ei r cab i n et s

. Bu t Gra h a m “ d i d n o t pro ffer an y u n cal l ed

wi t n es s t o t es t ify

at t h e h eari ng o r o t h erwi s e p ro ffer a leg al ly reco g n i zed s ub s t i t u t e

fo r s u ch tes t im o n y

. In t h e ab s en ce of su ch ev i d en ce, ap p el l an t can n ot p rev ai l o n t h e

p reju d i ce p ro n g of h i s i n effect i v e as s i s t an ce cl ai m

, an d we n eed n o t rea ch t h e

d efi ci en cy p r o n g .” (Ci t at io n s o m i t t ed .) Ba r g e v. S t a t e

, 2 9 4 Ga. 56 7

, 5 6 9 (2 ) (7 5 5

SE2 d 1 6 6 ) (2 0 1 4); see Cu r t i s v. S t a t e

, 3 3 0 Ga. Ap p

. 8 39

, 8 42 (1 ) (b ) (7 6 9 SE2 d 5 8 0 )

(2 0 1 5) (wh ere “ ‘ t h e d efen d an t fai l s t o pro ffer t h e t es t i m o ny o f an u n cal l ed wi t n es s

,

h e can no t p ro v e th at t h ere i s a reas o n ab l e p ro b ab i l i t y t hat t he t ri al wo u l d h av e en d ed

d i fferen tl y ’ ”[Ci t s

. ] ). T h e t ri al co u rt th erefo re d i d n ot err in d en y i n g Grah am ’ s m o t i o n

fo r n ew t ri al o n t h e b as i s o f i n effect i v e as s i st an ce o f co u n s el

.

12Ju d

g men t a f f i r m ed . Ba r nes , P. J., a n d

Ri ckma n

, J., co n cu r

.

13