FOURTH D I VI SI ON

BA RNES, P. J.

, RA Y and M CM I LLI 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

Septem ber 28, 2015



# I n th e Co u r t o f

A p p eals o f

G eo r g ia

A1 5 A0 91 1 . LAGON v . THE STATE.

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

A Cl ay t o n Co u n t y j u ry fo u n d Sh el t o n LaGo n g ui l ty o f o n e co u n t of st at u t o ry

rap e, two co un t s of ag g rav at ed ch i l d m o l es t at i o n, t w o co u n t s o f ch i l d m o l es t at i o n,

an d t wo co u n t s o f ag g rav at ed s ex u al b at t ery

. LaGo n fi l ed a m o t i o n fo r n ew t ri al , as

am en d ed

, wh ich t h e t ri al co u rt den i ed

. On ap p eal

, L aGo n co n ten d s t h at t h e t ri al co u rt

erred b y fai l i n g t o ap p o in t d ifferen t co u n s el to rep res en t h im at t ri al ; by s t art i n g t h e

t ri al an d co n du ct i n g p o rt i o n s o f t h e p ro ceed i n g s i n h is ab s en ce aft er LaGo n refu s ed

t o en t er th e co u rt ro o m ; an d by d ecl i n i n g to g ran t L aGo n a co n t in u an ce fo r an al l eg ed

d i s co v ery v i o l at i o n co m

m i tt ed b y t h e S t a t e

. Fo r t h e reas o n s d i s cu s sed b el o w, we

affi rm

.

Fo l l owi n g a cri m i n al co n vi ct i o n

, we v i ew t h e ev i d en ce i n t h e l i g h t m o s t

fav o rab l e t o th e v erd ict

. To wr y v. St a t e

, 30 4 G a. Ap p

. 1 3 9 (6 9 5 SE2 d 6 8 3 ) (2 0 1 0 ). So

v i ewed

, t h e ev i d en ce s h o wed t hat d u ri n g t h e t i m e p eri od i n qu es t io n

, th e v i ct i m l i v edwi t h her o l der bro t h er an d h er m at ern al g ran dm o t h er i n Cl ay to n Co u n t y

. T h e v i ct i m ’ s

m o t h er d i d n o t h av e cu s t o d y o f t h e vi ct i m o r h er b ro t h er, b ut sh e freq u en t l y wo u l d

v i s i t h er ch i l d ren at t h e g ran d m o t h er’ s ho m e. LaGo n was a fri en d o f t he v i ct i m ’ s

m o th er an d h ad kn o wn t h e vi ct i m an d h er b ro t h er s i n ce t h ey were s m al l ch il d ren

, an d

h e wo u l d at t en d fam i l y

g at h eri n g s wi t h t h em

.

In J u n e 20 1 2

, t h e v i ct i m was 1 2 y ears ol d an d LaGo n w as 3 5 y ears o l d

. On e

d ay t h at m o nt h

, L aGo n v i s i t ed t h e g ran d m o t h er’ s h om e. On l y t he vi ct im an d h er

b ro t h er were t h ere at t h e t i m e. Aft er s en d i n g t h e v i ct i m ’ s b ro t h er away t o p u rch as e

s o m e m ari

ju an a, L aGo n ap p ro ach ed t h e v i ct i m

, wh o was tak i n g a s h o wer, an d t o ld

h er th at he h ad s en t h er b ro t h er away an d t h at “ he [k n ew] s o m et h i n g [t hey ] co u l d d o.”

On ce t h e v ict i m

g o t o u t o f t h e s h ower an d p ut o n s o m e cl o t h es

, LaGo n ap p ro ach ed

t h e v i ct i m ag ai n an d t o l d h er t o co m e i n to t h e b e d r o o m w i th h i m

. LaGo n t o l d t h e

v i ct i m t o b en d o v er t he b ed

, an d h e t h en rem o v ed h er p an t s an d h ad v ag i n al s ex wi th

h er. Th e v i ct i m s t art ed t o b l eed an d was s cared d u ri ng t h e en co u n ter. Aft er hav i n g s ex

wi t h t h e v i ct i m , LaGo n l eft b efo re t h e b ro t h er ret urn ed h o m e.

Th e v i ct i m t urn ed 13 l at er t h at s u m m er. Sev eral m o nt hs p as s ed

, an d LaGo n

t h en at t en d ed a fam il y g at h eri n g at t h e g ran d m o t h er’ s h om e wh en t h e v i ct i m was o ut

o f s ch o o l o n Th an k s g i v i n g b reak

. Th at n i g ht

, aft er t h e v ict i m ’ s m o t h er left t o d o s o m e

2h o l i d ay sh op p i n g an d t h e o t h er fam i l y m em b ers h ad fal l en as l eep

, t h e vi ct im g o t u p

t o u s e t h e b at h ro o m

. W h en s h e cam e o u t o f th e b at hro o m

, LaGo n a p p ro ach ed h er

wi t h hi s p en i s ex p os ed

. LaGo n i n s t ru ct ed t h e v i ct i m t o b en d o v er, rem ov ed her p an t s

,

an d t o l d h er t h at t h ey were g o in g t o “ t ry s om et h i n g n ew.” LaGo n t h en p en et rat ed t h e

v i ct i m ’ s v ag i n a w i t h hi s fi n ger an d h ad an al s ex wi t h h er. L aGo n l eft th e h o m e b efo re

t h e v i ct i m ’ s m o t h er ret u rn ed fro m t h e s t o re.

On Decem

b er 1 5

, 2 0 1 2

, LaGo n at t en ded an o t h er fam i l y g at h er i n g at t h e

g r an d m o t h er’ s h o m e. T h at n i g ht

, t h e v i ct i m ’ s m ot h er an d b ro t her fel l as l eep o n t h e

l i vi n g ro o m co u ch

. LaGo n an d t h e v i ct i m w e r e s t i l l awak e i n t h e s am e ro o m

. Aft er

m ak i n g s u re t h at ev ery o n e el s e w as as l eep

, L aGo n p u l l ed d o w n t h e v i ct i m ’ s p an t s an d

p en et rat ed h er v ag i n a wi t h hi s fi n g er. LaGo n t h en h ad t h e v i ct im p erfo rm o ral s ex o n

h i m wh i l e h e ru b b ed h er b u t t o ck s

.

Th e v i ct i m ’ s g ran d m o t h er was as l eep i n h er bed ro o m wh i le t he o t h er fam i l y

m em b e r s were i n t he l i vi ng ro o m

. Ho w ev er, th e g ran dm o t h er w o k e u p d u ri n g t h e

m i d d l e of t h e n i g h t

, an d as t he v i ct i m was p erfo rm i n g o r a l s e x o n LaGo n

, t h e

g ran d m o t h er cam e i n t o t h e l i v i n g ro o m o n h er way to ch eck t h e l o ck o n t h e fro nt

d o o r. A l t ho u g h th e l iv in g ro o m was d ark ex cep t fo r t h e l i g ht fro m t h e t el ev i s i o n

, t h e

g ran d m o t h er co u l d see t h at s o m eo n e was p erfo rm i n g o ral s ex o n LaGo n on th e co u ch

.

3Th e g ran dm o t h er co u l d t el l t h at t h e pers o n perfo rm i ng o ral s ex wo re a g ray s h i rt an d

at fi rs t as s u m ed t hat it was t h e v i ct i m ’ s m o t h er. Bu t th e g r a n d m o t h er t h en real i zed

t h at o nl y t h e v ict i m w as weari ng a g ray s h i rt an d t h a t s h e m u st h av e b een t h e o n e

p erfo rm i n g o ral s ex o n LaGo n. Th e g ran d m o t her s cream ed at LaGo n an d k ick ed h i m

o u t o f h er h o m e.

Th e g ran d m o t h er an d m o t h er t o o k t h e v ict i m t o t h e h o s p i t al

. Th e v i ct i m

i n i t i al l y den ied t o h er g ran d m o t h er an d m o t h er t h at an y t h i n g h a d h ap p en ed wi th

LaGo n

, b u t t hen b eg an cry i n g at t h e ho s pi t al an d t o l d t h em t h at s he h ad oral s ex wi th

LaGo n an d p r e v i o u s l y h ad v ag i n al an d an al i n t erco u rs e wi th hi m

. Th e vi ct i m al s o

s p o k e wi t h d et ect i v es ab o u t wh at h ad o ccu rred

, a n d s h e s u b seq u en t l y u n derwen t a

p h y s i cal ex am i n at i o n an d was t ak en to a ch i l d ad v o cacy cen t e r w h e r e a reco rd ed

fo ren s i c i n t erv iew was co nd u ct ed

.

LaGo n was arres t ed an d i n d ict ed o n o n e co un t of s tat u t o ry rap e, t w o co u n t s o f

ag g rav at ed ch i l d m o les tat i o n

, t wo co un t s of ch i l d m o l e s t a t i o n

, an d t wo co u n ts o f

ag g rav at ed s ex u al b at t ery

. 1 At t h e en s u i n g ju ry t ri al

, t h e vi ct i m

, her m o t h er, h er

g ran d m o t h er, an d her b ro t h er t es t i fi ed t o t h e ev en t s as s et ou t ab ov e. Th e l ead

1 LaGo n al s o w as i n d i ct ed o n o n e co u n t o f rap e, b u t t he St at e l at er req u es t ed

an d o b t ai n ed en t ry

o f a n o l l e p ro s eq u i o n t h at co u n t

.

4d et ect i v e as s i g n ed t o t he cas e, t h e p ed iat ri c n u rs e w h o c o n d u ct ed t h e p h y s i cal

ex am i n at i o n o f t h e v ict i m

, an d t h e fo ren s ic i n t erv i ewer al s o tes t ifi ed

. Ad d it i o n al l y

,

t h e St at e i n t ro d u ced an d p l ay ed a reco rd in g o f t h e v ict i m ’ s fo ren s ic i n t erv iew.

Aft er th e tri al co u rt d en i ed LaGo n ’ s req u es t fo r n ew co un s el

, LaGo n refu s ed

t o at t en d t h e fi rs t few d ay s o f t h e t ri al

. Ho w ev er, on t h e fo u rt h d ay o f t h e t ri al

, LaGo n

was p res en t an d t es t i fi ed i n h i s o wn d efen s e. LaGo n d en i ed t h at h e ev er h ad s ex u al

co n tact w i th th e v ict i m an d cl ai m ed t h at i t h ad b een t he v ict i m ’ s m ot h er p erfo rm i n g

o ral s ex o n h i m w h en t h e g ran d m o t h er wal ked i nt o t h e l iv i n g ro o m

. L aGo n ad m i t t ed

,

h o wev er, t h at wh en h e i n it i al l y s p o k e w i t h a d et ect iv e i n a r e c o r d ed tel ep h o n e

co n vers at i on

, h e nev er cl ai m ed t h at t h e v i ct i m ’ s m o t h er was th e o n e perfo rm i n g o ral

s e x o n h i m

. Acco rd i n g t o LaGo n

, th e v i ct i m ’ s m ot h er h ad fal s el y accu s ed h i m

b ecau s e s h e d i d n ot wan t h er b oy fri en d t o k n ow t h at s h e h ad p erfo rm ed o ral s ex o n

LaGo n

.

Aft er heari ng t h e co n fl i ct i n g t es t im on y

, t h e ju ry fo u n d LaGo n g u i l ty o f t h e

ch arg ed o ffen s es

. LaGo n fi l ed a m o t i o n fo r n ew tri al

, as am en d ed

, an d t h e t ri al co u rt

co n du ct ed a h eari n g an d d en i ed t h e m o ti on . Th i s ap peal fo ll o wed

.

1 . LaGo n co nt en d s t hat t h e t ri al co urt co m m i t ted rev ers ib l e erro r b y d en y i n g

5h i s req u es t t o d i s ch arg e h i s ap p oi n t ed co u n s el an d rep l ace h i m wi t h an o t her at t o rn ey

.

W e d i s ag ree.

An i n d i g en t d efen d an t h as n o ab s o l ut e ri g ht un d er t h e Si x t h Am en dm en t to

co u ns el o f h is o wn ch o i ce. Hu l et t v. S t a t e , 2 9 6 Ga. 4 9 , 5 6 (3 ) (7 6 6 SE2 d 1 ) (2 0 1 4 ).

Rat h er, “ [ a ] r e qu es t b y an i n d i g en t cri m i n al d efen dan t t o d i s ch arg e o n e

co u rt -ap p o i n t ed co un s el an d hav e an o th er s u b s t i t u t ed i n h is p lace ad d res s es i t s el f to

t h e s o u n d d i s cret i o n o f t h e t ri al co u rt

. ” (Fo o t n ot e om i t ted .) Ni cel y v. S t a t e , 2 7 7 Ga.

Ap p . 1 4 0 , 1 4 1 (1 ) (6 2 5 SE2 d 5 3 8 ) (2 0 0 6 ). A t ri al co urt ab u s es i t s d is cret i o n o n ly i f

t h e d efen d an t ’ s req ues t “ i s s u p p ort ed b y o b ject i ve co n s i d e r a t i o n s fav ori n g t h e

ap p oi n t m en t o f [n ew] co un s el

, an d t h ere are n o c o u n t e r v ai l i n g co n s i d erat i o n s o f

co m p a r a b l e wei g h t

. ” (Ci tat io n an d p u n ct uat i on o m it t ed .) Hu l et t

, 2 9 6 Ga. at 5 6 (3 ).

Here, t h e reco rd refl ect s t h a t L a G o n was arres t ed i n J an u ary 2 0 1 3 an d was

a p p o i n t ed co u n s el a few d ay s l at er. Th e s am e co u n s el h ad rep res en t ed LaGo n i n a

p ri o r cas e an d t h u s was fam i li ar wi t h LaGo n

. A ft er h i s ap po i n t m en t i n t h e p r e s en t

c a s e

, co u n s el m et w i t h LaGo n at th e jai l an d s p o k e wi t h h im o n t h e t el ep h o n e o n

s ev eral o ccas i o n s

, p art i ci p at ed i n reci p ro cal d i sc o v ery wi th t h e St at e, an d fi l ed

p ret ri al m o t i o n s o n LaGo n’ s b eh al f.

6Th e cas e was s p eci al l y s et fo r t ri a l o n J a n u ary 1 3, 2 0 14

. W h en t h e cas e was

cal l ed o n t h at d at e, LaGo n d i d n o t ex p res s an y d is s at i s fact i o n wi t h h i s rep res en t at i o n

o r m o ve fo r a co nt i n u an ce t o secu re n ew co u ns el

. Ho wev er, b ecau s e t h e p ro s ecu t i n g

at t o rn ey h ad a co n fl i ct

, t h e cas e was res et fo r Feb ru ary 3 , 2 0 1 4

.

W h en t h e cas e was cal l ed o n Feb ru ary 3

, 2 0 1 4, LaGo n ro s e i n o p en co u rt an d

f o r th e fi rs t t i m e ex p res s ed h i s d is s at i s fact i o n wi t h h is ap p o i n t ed co u n sel a n d h i s

d es i re fo r n ew rep res en t at i o n

. LaGo n cl ai m ed th at h i s t r i a l co u n s el h ad refu s ed to

i n t erv i ew t h e St at e’ s wi tn es s es ; h ad d en i ed h is req u es t t o l et h i m wat ch t he reco rd i n g

o f th e v i ct i m ’ s fo ren s ic i n t erv i ew an d h ea r th e au d i o reco rd i n g of h i s tel ep h o n e

co n vers at i on wi th t h e d et ect i v e; refu s ed to s u b po en a a p o ten t i al d efen s e wi t n es s ; an d

h ad fai l ed t o ret ai n an ex pert t o rev i ew t h e fo ren s ic i n t erv iew.

LaGo n ’ s ap p o in t ed co u n s el res p o n ded t h at h e h ad m ad e effo rt s t o co n v i n ce t h e

St at e’ s wi t n es s es t o s p eak wi th h i m b u t h ad b een u n s u cces s fu l , wh i ch h e ex p l ai n ed

was “ n o t u n co m

m o n i n a cas e o f th i s n a t u r e .” Co u n s el al s o ex p l ai n ed t h at h e h ad

o ffere d La G o n an o p p ort un i t y t o wat ch t h e v i ct im ’ s fo ren s i c in t erv i ew, b ut LaGo n

h ad refu s e d t o wat ch i t

. Ad d i t i o n al l y

, co u n s el t o l d th e co u rt t h at h e had pl an n ed to

h av e LaGo n l i s t en t o h i s reco rd ed t el ep h on e co n v ers at i o n wi t h t h e d et ect iv e s h o rt l y

b efo re t ri al

, b u t a b ad wi n t er s to rm h ad p rev en ted h i m fro m m eet in g wi t h L aGo n to

7p l ay t h e t ap e fo r h im

. Co u n s el fu rt h er s t at ed t h at h e wa s u n aware o f an y fav o rab l e

d efen s e w i t n e s s e s w h o co u l d b e s u b po en aed

, an d t h at h e had m ad e a s t rat eg i c

d eci s i o n , aft er rev i ewi n g th e reco rd ed fo ren si c i n t erv i ew, n o t t o h ire an ex p ert

.

Aft er l i s t en i n g t o LaGo n an d hi s ap p o i n t ed co un s el

, t h e t ri al co u r t d en i ed

LaGo n ’ s req ues t fo r n ew co u ns el

, b u t o rd ered t h at LaGo n wo u l d b e affo rd ed an

o p p o rt u ni t y t o wat ch t h e reco rd i n g o f t h e v i ct i m ’ s fo ren s i c i nt erv i ew an d l i s t en t o t h e

au d io reco rd i n g o f h i s t el ep ho n e co n v ers at io n wi th t h e d e t ect i ve d u ri n g a reces s

b efo re th e t ri al co m

m en ced

. In d en y i n g LaGo n ’s r e q u e s t fo r n ew co u n s el

, t h e t ri al

co u rt cred i t ed ap p o i n t ed co u n s e l ’s e x p l an at i o n s an d fo u nd t h at h e h ad m ad e

“ s u ffi ci en t effo rt s o n beh al f o f h i s cl i en t an d ha[d ] m ad e u n d ers t an d ab l e t act i cal

d eci s i o n s ” t o wh i ch t h e co urt wo u l d g i v e d eferen ce. T h e t ri al co u rt fu rt h er co n cl u d ed

t h at LaGo n h ad t h e b en efi t o f an ap p o i n t ed at t o rn ey w h o w as “ trai n ed an d

ex p eri en ced i n t h e l aw” an d t h at h i s “ s t ro ng ad v i ce” was fo r L aGo n t o t ak e ad v an t ag e

o f h i s co u n s el ’ s t rai n in g an d ex p eri en ce.

Fo l l owi n g a reces s d u ri n g wh i ch LaGo n l i s t en ed to t h e v i ct i m ’ s fo ren s i c

i n t erv i ew an d h i s t el ep h o n e co n v ers at i o n wi t h t h e d et ect i v e, t h e t ri al co urt fu rt h er

n o t ed t h at LaGo n had b een arres t ed in Jan u ary 20 1 3 b u t h ad n o t ex p res s ed an y d es i re

fo r n ew co u n sel u nt i l ap p ro x i m at el y 1 9 m o n t h s l at er, o n t he m o rn i n g of t ri al

, an d h ad

8p r e s en t ed no ev i den ce t h at wo u l d ju s ti fy del ay i n g t h e p ro ceed i ng s s o t h a t n e w

co u ns el co ul d b e ob t ai n ed

. Co n s eq u en t l y

, t h e t ri al co u rt m ad e th e ad d i t i o n al fi n d i n g

t h at L aGo n ’ s req u es t fo r n ew co u n s el was d on e “ fo r t h e p u rp o s e o f d el ay i n g t h e

p ro ceed in g s .”

In l i g h t o f t hi s reco rd

, t h e t ri al co u rt d i d n o t err i n d en y i ng LaGo n ’ s req u es t to

d i s ch arg e h i s ap po i n t ed co u n s el an d o bt ai n n ew rep res e n t at io n

. Si t t i n g as t h e

fact fi n d er o n t h i s i s s u e, th e t ri al co u rt was en t i t l ed t o d i s b el i ev e LaGo n an d i n s t ead

rel y o n hi s ap po i n t ed co u n s el ’ s ex p l an at i o n o f wh at h ad t ran s p i red b et ween t h em an d

wh at p rep arat i o n h e h ad d o n e o n t h e cas e. See Hi ckey v. S t a t e

, 2 5 9 Ga. Ap p

. 2 4 0

, 2 4 3

(2 ) (a) ( 5 7 6 SE2 d 6 2 8 ) (2 00 3 ). Co n s eq u en t l y

, t h e t ri al co urt was au t h ori zed t o fi n d

t h at L aGo n h ad fai l ed t o d em o n st rat e t h a t h i s ap p oi n t ed co u ns el was un ab l e o r

u n wi l l i n g t o effect i v el y

rep res en t h i m . See F

ea s t er v. S t a t e

, 2 8 3 Ga. Ap p

. 4 1 7

, 4 1 9

(2 ) (6 4 1 SE2 d 6 3 5 ) (2 0 0 7 ). Mo reo v er, g i v en t h e t i m i n g o f L aGo n ’ s req u es t, t h e t ri al

co u rt was au t h o ri zed t o fi n d t h at LaGo n was s i m p ly at t em pt i n g t o u s e th e d i s ch arg e

o f h i s a p p o i n t e d co u n sel an d em p l o y m en t o f new co u n s el as a d i lat o ry t act i c. See

Ni cel y , 2 7 7 Ga. Ap p. at 1 4 1 (1 ); Hi ckey , 2 59 Ga. Ap p. at 2 44 (2 ) (a).

9Th e t ri al co u rt al so was en t i t led t o fi n d t h at an y d i ss at i s fact i o n t hat LaGo n h ad

wi t h hi s ap p o i n t ed co un s el was o u t wei g h ed b y t h e co u nt erv ai li n g co n s i d erat i o n s t h at

co u ns el h ad been wo rk i n g o n t h e cas e fo r a p p r o x i m at el y 1 9 m o n th s an d t h at

rem o v in g h i m fro m t h e cas e wo u l d fu rt h er del ay a tri al t h at h ad al read y b een

co n ti n u ed on ce b efo re. See Hu let t

, 2 9 6 Ga. at 5 7 (3 ); W a d d el l v. St at e

, 2 9 2 G a. Ap p.

8 0 1

, 8 0 4 (6 6 5 SE2 d 8 9 3 ) (2 0 0 8). An d

, at l eas t s o m e o f LaG o n ’s co n cern s wi t h h i s

ap p oi n t ed co u n s el w ere m i t i gat ed b y t h e tri al co u rt ’ s deci s i o n t o affo rd LaGo n an

o p p o rt u ni t y t o wat ch t he vi ct i m ’ s fo ren s i c i n t erv i ew an d l i s t en t o h i s reco rd ed

t el ep ho n e co n vers at i on wi t h t h e d et ect i ve b efo re t h e t ri al co m m en ced

.

Acco rd i n g l y, b ecau s e t he reco rd s u pp o rt s th e t ri al co u rt ’ s co n cl u si o n t h at

LaGo n ’ s p ers o n al p referen ce fo r n ew co u n s el w as n o t s u p p o rt ed b y o b ject i v e

co n si d erat io n s t h at o u t wei g hed co unte r v a i l i n g co n s i d erat i o n s

, t h e co u rt d i d n o t ab u s e

i t s d i s cret i on i n d en y i n g h i s r e q u es t t o d i s ch arg e h i s ap p o i n ted at t o rn ey an d o b t ai n

n ew co u n s el

. See Hu l et t

, 2 9 6 Ga. at 5 8 (3 ). LaGo n t h erefo re was n o t en ti t l ed t o a n ew

t ri al o n t h e as s ert ed g ro u n d

.

2

. LaGo n co nt en d s t h at t h e t r i a l co u rt v i o lat ed h i s co n s t i t u t i on al ri g h t t o b e

p res en t at h i s t ri al b y al l owi ng th e t h i rd d ay o f th e t ri al (Feb ru ary 5

, 2 0 1 4) t o p ro ceed

i n h i s ab sen ce. Acco rd i n g t o LaGo n

, h e t o l d jai l p ers on n el t h at h e wan ted t o at t en d

10t h e t h i rd day o f t he tri al

, b u t t h ey refu s ed t o b ri ng h i m to t h e co urt ro om aft er al l eg ed l y

t el l i n g h i m t h at he was no t n eed ed i n t h e p ro ceed i n g s

. W e co n cl u d e t h at LaGo n ’ s

co n ten t i o n s are b el ied b y t he reco rd an d p ro v i d e n o b as i s fo r rev ers al

.

Un d er t h e Si x t h Am e n d m e n t t o th e U n i t ed St at es Co n s t i t u t i o n

, a cri m i n al

d efen d an t h as t h e ri g h t t o be p res en t in t h e co u rt ro o m at al l cri t i cal s t ag es o f h i s t ri al

.

See U.S. Co n s t

. Am en d

. VI; Ten n es s ee v. La ne

, 54 1 U S 5 0 9

, 5 23 (1 24 SC 1 9 7 8

, 1 5 8

LE2 d 8 2 0 ) (2 0 0 4 ); Il l i n o i s v. Al l en

, 3 9 7 U.S. 3 3 7, 3 3 8 (9 0 SCt 1 0 5 7 , 2 5 LE2 d 3 5 3 )

(1 9 7 0). Si m i l arl y

, t h e Geo rg i a Co n s t i t u t i o n affo rd s a cri m i nal d efen d an t t h e ri g h t to

b e pres en t at ev ery s tag e o f t h e p ro ceed i ng s m at eri al l y affect in g h i s cas e. See 1 9 8 3

Ga. Co ns t ., Art . I, Sec. I, Par. XII; W i l s o n v. S t a t e

, 2 7 4 Ga. 6 3 7

, 6 3 9 (3 ) (5 5 5 SE2 d

7 2 5 ) (2 0 01 ). Bu t t h e ri g h t t o b e p res en t bel o n g s t o t h e d efen d an t

, an d t h e d efen d an t

i s free t o wai ve t h at ri g h t

. See Lo n ch a r v. S ta te

, 2 5 8 Ga. 4 4 7

, 4 5 2 (2 ) (a) (3 6 9 SE2 d

7 4 9 ) (1 9 8 8 ). In ad di t i o n t o a n e x p r e s s wai v er of h i s ri g h t t o be p res en t at t ri al

, a

d efen d an t can i m

p li ci t l y w ai ve h i s ri g h t t o b e p res en t b y co n d u ct i n g h i m s el f i n a

d i s ru p t i v e m an n er b efo re t h e t ri al co u rt o r b y v o l u n t ari ly ab s en t in g h i m s el f fro m t h e

p ro ceed in g s

. See Al l en

, 3 9 7 U.S. at 3 4 2 -3 4 3 ; W ea ver v. S ta t e

, 2 8 8 Ga. 5 4 0

, 5 4 2 -5 4 3

(3 ) (7 0 5 SE2 d 6 2 7 ) (2 0 1 1 ); Co l ey v. S t a t e

, 2 72 Ga. A p p

. 4 4 6

, 44 9 (3 ) (6 1 2 SE2 d 6 0 8 )

(2 0 0 5); An d

er s o n v. S t a t e

, 2 3 8 G a

. Ap p. 8 6 6

, 8 7 3 (3 ) (5 19 SE2 d 46 3 ) (1 9 9 9 ). A

11d efen d an t al s o can wai v e h i s ri g h t t o b e p res en t t h r o u g h c o u n s el

, i f t h e wai v er i s

m ad e b y co u ns el i n t h e d efen d an t ’ s p res en ce o r w i t h h i s ex p res s p erm i s s i o n

, o r i f t h e

d efen d an t s u b s eq u en t l y acq u i es ces t o co un s el ’ s wai v er. See Al l en v. S ta t e

, 1 9 9 Ga.

Ap p

. 3 6 5, 3 6 7-3 68 (6 ) (4 0 5 SE2 d 9 4 ) (1 9 9 1 ). W e wi l l affi rm t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s fi n d i n g

o f wai v er i f t h ere i s an y

ev i d en ce t o s u p po rt i t. See i d . at 3 6 8 (6 ).

Al t h o u gh LaGo n co m

p l ai n s i n t h i s en u m erat i o n o f h i s ab s en ce fro m t h e t h i rd

d ay o f t ri al

, h i s ab s en ce o n t h at d ay can on l y b e fu l l y u n d ers t oo d t h ro u g h a ren d i t i o n

o f t h e fact s l ead i n g u p t o

, i n cl ud i n g

, an d fo l l o wi n g t h at dat e. Th e rel ev an t fact s are

as fo l l ows

.

Th e Fi r s t Da y o f Tr i a l (Feb r u a r

y 3

, 2 0 1 4

). As p rev i o u s l y n o t ed

, o n t h e

m o rn i n g of t h e fi rs t d ay o f t ri al

, LaGo n as k ed t o di s ch arg e h i s ap p o i n t ed co u n s el an d

o b t ai n n ew co u n s el

, b u t t h e t ri al co u rt d en i ed h i s req u es t

. Th e tri al co urt t h en cal l ed

a reces s s o t hat

, am o ng o th er t h i n g s

, LaGo n co u l d rev i ew t he v i c t i m ’s fo ren s i c

i n t erv i e w an d h i s t el ep h on e i n t erv i ew wi t h t he d et ect i v e. Ho wev er, t h at aft ern o o n,

wh en t he t ri al co u rt reco n v en ed t h e p ro ceed i n g s, a s h eri ff’ s d ep u t y i n fo rm ed t h e co u rt

t h at LaGo n w as in th e “ at t o rn ey ’ s b o o t h ” t h at was “ j u s t o n e wal l away fro m t h e

co u rt ro o m ” an d was refu s i n g t o ret u rn t o t h e co u rt ro o m

. T he t ri al co urt i n s t ru ct ed t h e

d ep ut y t o s p eak wi th LaGo n an d i n fo r m h i m t h at if h e fai l ed t o ret u rn t o t h e

12co u rt ro o m

, t h e co u rt wo u l d “ t ak e t h e p o s i t i o n t h at h e h a s v o l u n t ari l y ch o s en t o b e

ab s en t fro m h i s t r i a l

. ” Th e t ri al co u rt t h en cal l ed a reces s s o t h at t h e d ep ut y co u ld

s p eak wi th LaGo n i n t h e at t o rn ey ’ s b o o t h

.

Aft er t h e reces s

, t h e d ep u t y rep o rt ed b ack t o t h e tri al co u rt t hat h e h ad i n fo rm ed

LaGo n t h at b y refu si n g t o co m e i n t o t h e co u rt ro om

, LaGo n wo u l d b e g i v i ng u p h i s

ri gh t t o at t en d t h e t ri al

. Acco rd i n g to t he d ep u t y

, LaGo n co n t in u ed to refu s e t o co m e

i n t o t h e co u rt ro o m b u t i n s i s t ed t h at h i s refu s al was n o t a w ai v er o f h i s ri g h t t o at t en d

t h e p ro ceed i ng s . Th e t ri al co u rt t h en i n s t ru ct ed t h e d ep u t y t o

g o b a c k t o t he d efen d an t an d t el l h i m t hat h e n eed s t o co m e i n t o t h e

co u rt ro om

. . . . An d t hen I wan t y o u, to t h e ex t en t y o u can

, to cau s e h i m

t o co m e i nt o t h e co u rt ro o m

. Ho wev er, i f y o u d et erm i n e t hat t h e o n l y

way y o u co u l d cau s e h i m t o co m e in t o t he co u rt ro o m w o u l d b e b y

en g ag i n g h im i n a fi g h t

, a p h y s i cal s t ru g g l e,

. . . th e n s t o p a n d co m e

rep o rt t h at b ack t o m e.

Fo l l o wi ng an o th er reces s

, t h e d ep u t y rep o rt ed t o t h e co u rt

, “ [LaGo n ] sai d we’ re g o i n g

t o h av e t o d rag h im

i n h ere i f t h at ’ s wh at i t t ak es .”

Th e tri al co u rt i n s t ru ct ed LaGo n ’ s at t o rn ey t o “ s t ep i n t o t h e at t o rn ey b o o t h an d

s ee if [LaGo n ] wi l l s p eak wi t h y o u o n t h i s i s s u e

. ” A f t e r m eet i n g wi t h LaGo n

, t ri al

co u ns el rep o rt ed

, “ [LaGo n ] h as i n d i cat ed t o m e t hat u n l es s t h ere i s an ag reem en t t h at

13a n ew at t o rn ey b e ap p o i nt ed h e wo u l d h a v e t o b e p h y s ical l y drag g ed i n t o t h e

co u rt ro o m .”

Th e t ri al co u rt s u b seq u en t l y s t at ed o n t h e reco rd

,

I h av e d o n e ev ery t h i n g I can t h i n k o f t o p ers u ad e [LaGo n ] t o co m e o ut

,

i n cl u d i n g t h e i n fo rm at i o n wh i ch h as b een co nv ey ed to t h e d efen d an t b y

t h e dep u t y s heri ffs at m y d i rect i o n an d at m

y d i rect i o n b y h i s o wn

at t o rn ey

, an d as I u n ders t an d i t fu rt h er, t h at t he defen d an t ’ s b ro t her h as

b een as k ed t o sp eak wi t h h i m as wel l

.

Aft er LaGo n ’ s co un s el co n fi rm ed t h at LaGo n ’ s b ro t her h ad t ri ed t o p ers u ad e h i m to

at t en d co u rt

, th e t ri al co u rt i n s t ru ct ed t h e d ep u ti es t o on ce ag ai n t el l LaGo n “ i t ’ s t i m e

t o c o m e t o co u rt ,” b u t cau ti o n ed t h e d ep u t i es th at i f a v i o l en t s tru g g l e w o u l d b e

n eces s ary t o acco m

p li s h t h at g o al

, t o “ s t o p an d t h en co m e b ack an d rep o rt t h at b ack

t o m e.”

Aft er an o t h er reces s

, t h e s h eri ff’ s d ep u t y i n ch arg e o f co u r t r o o m s ecu ri t y

rep o rt ed b ack t o t h e t r i a l co u rt

, “ [LaGo n ’ s ] s ti l l refu s i n g

. H e h as h i s l eg s wrap p ed

aro u n d t h e s eat

. So i n o rd er t o get h i m o u t h ere h e’ s g o i n g to fi g ht u s .” At t h at p o i n t

,

t h e t ri al co u rt ru l ed t h at LaGo n h ad v o l u nt ari l y wai v ed h is ri g h t t o b e p res en t at t ri al

,

b u t ad j o urn ed t h e cas e fo r t h e d ay

, t h ere b y g i vi n g L aGo n t im e t o reco n s i d er h i s

d eci s i o n n o t t o at t en d h i s t ri al

.

14Th e S eco n d Da y o f Tr i a l (Feb r u a r

y 4

, 2 01 4 ). O n t h e s eco n d d ay

o f t ri al , t h e

l o wer co u rt beg an th e pro ceed i n g s b y as ki n g L aGo n’ s t ri al co u n s el i f h e h ad s p o k en

wi t h LaGo n th at m o rn in g ab o u t h i s wi l l i n g n es s t o at t en d t ri al

. L aGo n ’ s t ri al co u n s el

i n f o r m e d t h e co u rt

, “ He i n di cat es t o m e h e d o es n o t wi sh t o part ici p at e.” LaGo n ’ s

co u ns el al so i n fo rm ed t h e t ri al co u rt t h at LaGo n was refu s i n g t o c h a n g e o u t o f a

ju m p s u i t an d i nt o co u rt ro o m at t i re.

J u ro rs were bro u gh t i n t o t h e co u rt r o o m a n d v o i r d ire co m m en ced

. Befo re

s el ect i o n

, t h e ju ry w as i n s t ru ct ed t h at LaGo n h ad m ad e a v o l u nt ary d eci s io n t o ab s en t

h i m s el f fro m t he p ro ceed i n g s bu t t h at ju ro rs sh o u l d “ n o t h o l d t h at f a c t a g a i n s t t h e

d efen d an t i n an y

way wh at s o ev er. It ’ s n o t a rel ev an t fact o r i n y o u r d eci s i o n at al l i f

y o u ’ re sel ect ed to p art i ci p at e as a ju ro r[.] ” Aft er v o i r di re, t h e ju ry was s w o rn an d t h e

t ri a l c our t a ga in c au t i o n ed t h at LaGo n ’ s v o lu nt ary ab s en ce fro m t h e co u rt ro o m s h o u ld

n o t p l ay an y ro le i n t h e ju ro r’ s d eci s i o n in t h e cas e. Th e t r i a l t h e n p ro ceed ed in

LaGo n ’ s ab s en ce. W h en t h e tri al co u rt l at er ad jo u r n e d th e tri al fo r t h e ev en i n g

, t h e

t ri al co u rt i n s t ru ct ed t h e ju ro rs n o t t o rep o rt b ack un t i l 1 : 3 0 p .m

. t h e fo l l o wi n g

aft ern o o n t o acco m

m o dat e t h e co u rt ’ s cal en dar i n an o t h er ju ri s d i ct i on

.

T h e T h i rd Da y o f Tr i a l (Feb r u a ry 5

, 2 0 1 4

). W hen t h e t ri al co u rt reco n v en ed

t h e pro ceed i n gs aro u n d 1 : 30 p

. m

. t h e fo l l o wi n g d ay

, th e co u rt fi rs t n ot ed t h at a

15s h eri ff’ s d ep u t y h ad i n fo rm ed th e co u rt th at LaGo n h ad b een as k ed i f h e wi s h ed to

co m e t o co u rt t h at d ay

. T h e d ep u t y s ai d t h at LaGo n h ad res po n d ed t h at “ he wo u l d n ot

l eav e t h e jai l u n l es s h e was d rag g ed o u t o f t h e jai l an d b ro u g h t i n to t he co u rt h o u s e.”

Th e t ri al co u rt co n cl u d ed t h at LaGo n w as co n ti n u i n g t o vo l u n t ari l y ab s en t h i m s el f

fro m t h e p ro ceed i ng s

.

Ad d it i on al wi t n es s es t es ti fi ed at t h at p o i n t

. Aft er a reces s

, t h e t ri al co u rt n o t ed

o n th e reco rd t hat t h e co u rt h ad b een i n fo rm ed b y a sh eri ff’ s dep u t y t h at LaGo n n o w

w i s h ed to co m e i n t o t h e co urt ro o m an d b e p res en t fo r t ri al

. Th e t ri al co u rt cal l ed a

fu rt her reces s s o t h at LaGo n co u l d g et d res s ed in ci v i l i an at t i re an d be b ro u g h t t o t h e

co u rt ro o m

.

F o l l o wi ng t h e reces s

, L aGo n ’ s co un s el rep o rt ed t o t h e t ri al co u rt

, “ [LaGo n ]

ex p res s ed t o m e t h at h e h as wan t ed t o co m e t o co u rt al l d ay an d th at h e was t o l d t h at

jai l p ers o n n el h ad b een t o l d h e was n ’ t n eed ed

. No w t hat h e’ s co m e h ere h e’ s t o l d m e

h e d oes n o t wan t t o p art i ci pat e i n t h i s cas e.” Aft er h eari n g co u n s el ’ s rep o rt

, a s h eri ff’ s

d ep ut y cl ari fi ed t o t h e t ri al co urt t h at LaGo n h ad s im pl y b een t o l d b y

jai l pers o n n el

t h at h e was n o t n eed ed fo r co urt t h at m orn i n g an d was o n l y s ch ed u l ed fo r co u rt t h at

aft ern o o n

. L aGo n ’ s co un s el t hen t o l d t h e tri al co urt t hat h e had i n fo rm ed LaGo n t h at

t h ere had b een no co u rt t h a t m o r n i n g b u t t h at

, o n ce LaGo n was in fo rm ed t h at t h e

16v i ct i m h ad al read y t es t i fi ed , Lag o n d eci d ed h e n o l o n g er wi s h ed t o at t en d t h e d ay ’ s

p ro ceed in g s

. Co n cl u di n g t h at LaGo n was co n ti n u i n g t o v o l u n t ari l y ab s e n t h i m s el f

fro m t h e co u rt ro o m

, t h e co u r t p r o c e e d ed wi t h t ri al fo r t h e rem ai nd er o f th e d ay in

LaGo n ’ s ab s en ce.

Th e Fo u r th a n d Fi

f th Da ys o f Tr i a l (Feb r u a r

y 6 -7

, 2 0 1 4 ). Th e n ex t m o rn i n g,

LaGo n cam e t o t h e co u rt ro om

. LaGo n was pres en t fo r t h e rem ai n der o f t he t ri al an d

t es t i fi ed i n h i s o wn d efen se.

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

, LaGo n t es t i fi ed t h at h e ch o s e n o t to

at t en d h i s t ri al b ecau s e h e b e l i e v e d h e w as n o t b ei n g rep res en t ed wel l b y h i s

ap p oi n t ed co u ns el

. A cco rd i n g t o LaGo n

, h e t h ou g h t he co ul d s t o p t h e t ri al by refu s i n g

t o at t en d

. Ho wev er, L aGo n l at e r a d m i t t ed t h at h e kn ew t h e t ri al was t ak i n g p l ace

wi t h o u t h i m

. LaGo n ’ s ap p oi n t ed co u n s el al s o t es t i fi ed at t h e h ea r i n g t h at h e h ad

s p eci fi cal l y ad vi s ed LaGo n o f hi s ri g h t t o at t en d h i s t ri al an d th at t he t ri al co urt wo u ld

p ro ceed w i t h t h e t ri al wi t h ou t h i m i f h e refu s ed t o co m e i n t o t h e co u rt ro o m

.

Bas ed o n t h i s co m

b in ed reco rd

, t h e t ri al co u r t was au t h o ri zed t o fi n d t h at

LaGo n was v ol un t ari l y ab s en t fo r t he fi rs t th ree d ay s o f t ri al a n d th u s wai v ed h i s

co n st i t u t io n al ri gh t t o b e p res en t d u ri n g t h o s e p ro ceed i n g s.

17Th e reco rd s h o ws th at [LaGo n] was rep eat ed l y ad v i s ed o f h i s ri g h t t o be

p res en t at t ri al

, an d h e refu s ed t o at t en d

. On t he ot h er h an d

, wh en he

wan t ed t o d o s o, [LaGo n ] at t en d ed t h e t ri al

. Th e t ri al co u rt i ns t ru ct ed th e

ju ry t h at t h ey were n o t t o co n s i d er [LaGo n ’ s ] ab s en ce i n t h ei r

d el i b erat i o n s . W e fi n d n o erro r [i n t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s d eci si o n t o co n d uct

t h e fi rs t t h ree d ay s o f t h e p ro ceed i ng s i n LaGo n ’ s ab sen ce]

.

Co l ey , 2 7 2 Ga. Ap p . at 4 49 (3 ). See An d er s o n , 2 3 8 Ga. Ap p . at 8 7 3 (3 ).

In reach i ng t h i s co n cl u si o n

, we n o t e th at o n ce LaGo n refu s ed to e n t er t h e

co u rt ro o m an d at t en d t h e t ri al p ro ceed i n g s, t h e t ri al co u rt was n o t req u i red “ t o m ak e

m o m en t -b y -m o m e nt inquir es ” as t o wh et her L aGo n h ad ch an ged hi s m i n d an d wi s h ed

t o b e p res 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 .) W ea ver

, 2 8 8 Ga. at 5 4 3 (3 ). Rat h er,

i t was s u ffi ci en t fo r th e t ri al co u rt t o h av e t h e s h eri ff’ s d ep u t i e s a n d La Go n ’ s

ap p oi n t ed co u n s el p eri o d i cal l y s p eak wi t h LaGo n an d i n qu i re w h e t h e r h e h ad

c h an ged h is m i n d an d wi s h ed t o at ten d

, p art i cu l arl y si n ce LaGo n i n di cat ed t h a t h e

wo u l d o n l y ret u rn t o t h e co u rt ro o m an d s p eak wi t h t he t ri al co u rt i f p hy s i cal l y fo rced

t o d o s o b y

t h e d ep u t i es . See i d.

Las t ly

, wh i l e L aGo n cl ai m s t h at h e rep eat ed l y as k ed to b e t ak en t o t h e

co u rt ro o m o n t h e t h i rd d ay o f t ri al b u t was t h w art ed b y j ai l p ers o n n el

, t h e t ri al co u rt

was n o t req u i red to reach s u ch a co n cl u s io n

. Rat h er, t h ere was ev id en ce fro m wh i ch

18t h e t ri al co u r t co u l d fi n d th at t h e jai l p ers o n nel si m p l y t o l d LaGo n th at h e was n ot

n eed ed i n t h e co u rt ro o m d u ri n g t h e m o rn i n g o f t h e t h i rd d ay b ecau s e t he co u rt was

co n du ct in g o t her u n rel at ed b u s i n es s

, b u t t h at LaGo n o th erwi se was g i v en an

o p p o rt u ni t y t o at t en d t h e co u rt p r o c e e d i ng s t h at aft ern o on bu t refu sed to d o s o.

Acco rd in g ly

, b ecau s e t h e r e was ev i d en ce t h at wo u l d s u p p o rt a fi n d i n g t h at LaGo n

k n o wi n g l y an d v o l u n t ari l y ch o s e t o ab s en t hi m s el f fro m t h e co u rt ro o m

, t h e t ri al co u rt

d i d n o t err b y pro ceed i n g wi t h t ri al i n h i s ab s en ce. See A ll en

, 1 9 9 G a. A p p

. at 3 6 8 (6 )

(ap p l y i ng an an y

ev i d en ce s t an d ard t o t h e wai v er q ues t i o n ).

3

. In a r el at ed en u m erat i o n o f erro r, L aGo n co n t en ds t hat t h e tri al co u rt

v i o l at ed h i s co n s t i t u t i o n al ri g h t t o b e p res en t b y s t art i n g th e t ri al i n hi s ab s e n c e

.

Acco rd in g t o LaGo n

, b ecau s e h e refu s ed t o en t er th e co u rt ro o m b efo re th e ju ry h ad

b een em p an el ed an d swo rn

, w ai v er p ri nci p l es d i d n o t ap p l y

, an d th e t ri al co u rt t hu s

co u ld n ot s t art t h e t ri al

. W e are u n p ers u ad ed u nd er t h e s p eci fi c ci rcu m s t an ces o f t h i s

cas e.

It i s tru e t h at if a cri m i n al d efen d an t free o n b o n d o r o n h i s o wn reco g n i zan ce

fai l s t o ap p ear at t he s t art o f t ri al

, t h e t ri al co u rt can n o t try t h e d efen d an t i n a b s en t i a ;

i n s t ead

, t he t ri al co u rt m

u s t d el ay t h e s t art o f t ri al an d rel y o n o t h er s an ct i o n s s u ch as

b en ch warran t s an d b o n d fo rfei t u res

. See S t a cey v. S t a t e

, 2 5 4 Ga. Ap p

. 4 6 1

, 4 6 2 (1 )

19(5 6 2 SE2 d 8 0 6 ) (2 0 0 2); R i l ey v. S t a t e

, 2 5 2 Ga. Ap p

. 7 8 1

, 7 8 1 -7 8 2 (1 ) (5 5 6 SE2 d 9 1 7 )

(2 0 0 1); Lo

p er v. S t a t e

, 1 9 1 Ga. A p p

. 5 15

, 51 5 -5 1 6 (1 ) (3 8 2 S E 2 d 2 1 2 ) ( 1 9 8 9 );

Po l l a r d v. S ta t e

, 1 7 5 Ga. Ap p

. 2 6 9

, 26 9 -2 70 (3 3 3 SE2 d 15 2 ) (1 9 85 ). W ai v er

p ri n ci p l es d o n o t ap p l y i n t hat co n t ex t

, an d i f t h e t ri al co u rt co n d u ct s t h e t ri al i n t h e

ab s en ce of t h e d efen d an t

, th e co u rt v io l at es t h e defen d an t ’ s co n s ti t ut i o n al ri g h t t o b e

p res en t

, en t i tl i ng h i m to a new t ri al

. See i d

. 2 A t ri al “ s t art s ” o n ce a ju ry h as b een

em pan el ed an d s wo rn . See P o l l a r d , 1 7 5 Ga. Ap p . at 2 7 0

.

Th e p res en t cas e, h owev er, i s cl earl y d i s t i n g u i s h ab l e. Th is i s n o t a cas e wh ere

a d efen d an t o u t o n b o n d o r h i s o w n reco gn i zan ce fai l ed t o ap p ear at t h e t ri al

p r o ceed i n g s wh en th ey co m m en ced an d t h en was t ri ed an d co n vi ct ed in ab s e n t i a

.

Rat h er, L aGo n was i n s t at e cu s to d y an d m ad e a co n s ci o u s ch o i ce t o at t en d s o m e b ut

n o t al l o f h i s t ri al

, t h reat en i n g t o v i o l en tl y res i s t i f t he s h eri ff’ s d ep u t i es at t em p t ed to

co m p el h i s at t en d an ce i n t h e co u rt ro o m a n d t h ereb y d i s ru p t th e co u rt pro ceed i n g s

.

Ot h er co u rt s h av e h el d t h at a d efen d an t ’ s ri g h t to b e p res en t at t ri al i s no t v i o l at ed in

t h e ci rcu m s t an ce wh ere t h e d efen d an t i s in cu s t o d y an d m ak es cl ear t o t h e t ri al co u rt

2 In co n tras t

, a cri m i n al d efen d an t free o n b o n d or hi s o w n reco g n i zan ce wh o

i s p res en t wh en th e t ri al s t art s

, bu t l at er a b s co n ds d u ri ng t h e co urs e of t h e t ri al

, wai v es h is ri g ht t o b e p res en t , an d t h e t ri al can p ro ceed fo rward i n h is ab s en ce. See

Hi l l v. St a t e

, 2 9 0 Ga. 4 9 3

, 4 9 4 -4 9 5 (2 ) (7 2 2 SE2 d 7 0 8 ) ( 2 0 1 2 ); Es t ep v. S t a t e

, 2 3 8

Ga. Ap p . 1 7 0 , 1 7 1-1 72 (1 ) (5 1 8 SE2 d 1 7 6 ) (1 9 9 9).

20t h at h e wi l l n o t at t en d t h e s t art o f t ri al wi th o u t cau s i n g a d i s ru p t i o n

. See, e.g

., Un i t ed

S t a t es v. S t er l i n g

, 7 38 F3 d 22 8

, 2 3 5 -2 3 7 (1 1 th Ci r. 2 0 1 3 ) ( d i s t ri ct co u rt co m m i t t ed

n o erro r i n fi n d i n g t h at t h e d efen d an t h ad wai v ed h i s p res en ce at t ri al u n d er fed eral

p ro ced ural ru les

, wh ere t h e d efe n d an t

, w h i l e i n i n t erv iew ro o m b efo re t ri al

co m m en ced

, m ad e cl ear t h at h e wo u l d h av e t o b e f o r c i b l y bro u g h t i n t o t h e

co u rt ro o m ); Un i t ed S t a t es v. B en a b e

, 6 5 4 F3 d 7 5 3, 7 6 8 -7 74 (7 t h Ci r. 2 0 1 1 ) (d i s t ri ct

co u rt d id n o t v i o lat e d efen d an ts ’ ri g h t t o b e p res en t at t ri al u n der fed eral

co n st i t u t io n al an d p ro ced ural ru l es b y rem o v i ng th e d is ru p t i v e d efen d an t s b efo re t h e

ju ry was s el ect ed ). Cf. Un i t ed S t a t es v. Per ki ns

, 7 87 F3 d 13 2 9, 1 3 3 8 -1 3 3 9 (1 1 t h Ci r.

2 0 1 5 ) (an y p u rp o rt ed co n st i t ut i o n al o r p ro ced u ral erro r i n t h e d efen d an t ’ s fai l u re to

b e pres en t at t he b eg i n n in g o f t ri al was i n v it ed erro r an d w o u ld no t b e rev i ewed o n

ap p eal , g i v en t h at t h e defen d an t h ad refu s ed t o leav e t h e i n t erv iew ro o m o n t h e d ay

h i s t ri al was s et t o b eg i n i n an effo rt t o “ sab o t ag e t h e cri m i n al p ro ceed i ng s ”).

W e si m il arl y co n cl ud e t h at wh ere a cri m in al d efen d an t wh o i s i n s t at e cu s t o dy

– aft er b ei n g m ad e aware of h i s ri g ht t o b e p res en t a n d t h at t h e tri al wi l l p ro ceed

f o r ward in h i s ab s en ce

– refu s es t o at t en d th e st art o f h is t ri al wi t h o u t ca u s i n g a

d i s ru p t i o n, t h e tri al co u rt h as t h e d i s cret i o n t o co ncl u d e t h at t h e d efen d an t h as wai v ed

h i s ri g h t t o b e p res en t fo r t h e p ro ceed i n g s an d b eg i n t h e t ri al i n h i s ab s en ce. As t h e

21Un i ted St a t es Su p rem e Co u rt h as n o t ed

, “ t ri al ju d g es co n fro n t ed wi t h d i s ru p t i ve,

c o n t u m aci o u s

, s t u b b o rn l y d efi an t defen dan t s m u s t b e g iv en s u ffi ci en t d i s cret i o n t o

m eet t h e ci rcu m s t an ces o f each cas e.” Al len

, 3 9 7 U.S

. at 3 4 3

. See W ea ver

, 2 8 8 Ga.

at 5 4 2 -5 4 3 (3 ). An d w e d o n o t b el i ev e t h at i n t h i s co n t ex t

, a t ri al co u rt sh o u l d b e

req u i red to h av e a res i s tan t d efen d an t fo rci b l y t ran s p o rt ed i n t o t h e co u rt ro o m i n fro nt

o f s h o ck ed ju ro rs s o t h at he c a n q u i ck l y w ai v e h i s ri g h t t o b e p res en t an d t h en b e

rem o v ed

, s im

p ly s o t h at i t can b e s ai d t h at t h e d efen d an t was “ p res en t ” at th e s t art o f

t ri al

.

Fo rci n g th e d efen d an t t o act u al l y co m e i n t o t h e co u rt ro o m

, fo r n o o t h er

reas o n t h an t o h av e t h e ju ro rs b ri efl y ey eb al l h i m

, wo ul d h av e s erv ed n o

g o o d pu rp o s e, bu t i n s t ead wo u l d h av e en d an g ered t h e s afet y o f al l

as s em b l ed

, p reju d i ced t

he de f e n d an t b efo re t he ju ry

, an d un d erm i n ed th e

d i g n i t y o f t h e co u rt

.

Un i ted S t a tes v. Per ki n s

, No

. 1 : 1 0 -CR-9 7 -1 -J EC-LTW

, 2 0 1 3 W L 38 2 07 1 6

, a t * 2 1

(N.D. Ga. J u l y 2 3 , 2 0 1 3), aff’ d , 7 8 7 F3 d 1 3 2 9 (1 1 t h Ci r. 2 0 1 5).

Acco rd i ng l y

, we co n cl u de t h at t h e t ri al co u rt co m m i t t ed n o erro r b y beg i n n i n g

LaGo n ’ s t ri al i n h i s ab s en ce, g i v en t hat LaGo n was i n cu s to d y an d was i n fo rm ed o f

h i s ri g h t t o b e p res en t an d t h at t h e t ri al wo u l d p ro ceed w i t ho u t h i m

, b ut m ad e cl ear

22t h at h e wo u l d n o t en t er t he co urt ro om wi th o u t a fi g h t

. L aGo n t h erefo re i s n o t en t i t l ed

t o a n ew t ri al o n t h e en u m erat ed g ro u nd

.

4

. Las t l y

, LaGo n co n t en d s t h at t h e t ri al co u rt co m m it t ed rev ers i b l e erro r by

d ecl i ni n g t o g ran t a co n t in uan ce aft er t h e St at e b el at ed l y t u rn ed o v er t h e v i ct i m ’ s

h o s p it al m ed i cal reco rd s i n vi o l a t i o n o f t h e reci p ro cal d is co v ery s tat u t e. W e are

u n p ers u ad ed

.

W h ere t h e t ri al co u rt has d en i ed a m o t i o n fo r a co nt i n u an ce fo r a d i s co v ery

v i o l at i o n

, t h e defen d an t m u s t s h o w n ot o n l y t h at t h e c o u r t erred i n d en y i n g t h e

co n ti n u an ce, b ut al s o t h at h e was h arm ed b y t h e den i al

. Mu r ra y v. St a te

, 3 2 8 Ga. Ap p.

1 9 2

, 1 9 5 (3 ) (7 6 1 SE2 d 59 0) (2 0 1 4 ). Here, LaGo n f a i l e d t o m ak e a p ro ffer o f t h e

m ed i cal reco rd s

, wh i ch t h erefo re h av e n o t b een m ad e p art o f t h e ap p el lat e reco rd

, an d

h e h as no t o th erwi se s h o wn h o w a co n t in u an ce wo u l d h av e b een b en efi t t ed h i m

.

Th e reco rd refl ect s t hat defen s e c o u n s el recei v ed t h e m ed i cal reco rd s o n t h e

s eco n d d ay

o f t ri al , an d t h e p ro ceed i n g s reces s ed fo r t h e d ay b efo re t h e St at e’ s fi rs t

wi t n es s

, t h e v i ct i m

, h ad b een su b ject t o cro s s -ex am i n at i o n. An d

, as p rev i o u sl y n o t ed

,

t h e t ri al co u rt di d n o t s t art t h e t ri al o n t h e t h i rd d ay u n t i l t h at aft ern o on b ecau s e o f a

s ch ed u l i n g co n fl i ct

, an d it was on l y at t h at p o i nt th at d efen s e co u n s el b eg an h i s cro s s

ex am i n at i o n of t he v i ct i m

. Th u s

, LaGo n ’ s co u n s el had t h e en t i re m o rn i ng o f t h e t h i rd

23d ay o f t ri al an d t h e p rev io u s ni g h t t o rev i ew t he m ed i cal reco rd s an d t h en us e t h em

fo r t h e cro s s -ex am i n at i o n o f th e v i ct i m an d o t h er su b seq u en t wi t n es s es i f h e wi s h ed

t o d o s o

. Acco rd i n g l y

, ev en i f t h e St at e v i o l at ed t h e d i s co v ery s t at u t e b y

i ts b el at ed

p ro d uct i o n o f th e v i ct i m ’s m e d i c a l reco rd s, Lag o n h as fai l ed t o carry h i s b u rd en o f

es t ab l i s h in g t h at t h e v i o l at i o n was h arm fu l an d t h u s i s n ot en t it l ed t o a n ew t ri al o n

t h at b as i s . See i d

.

Ju d g men t a f f i r m ed . Ra y a n d McMi l l i a n , JJ., co n cu r

.

24