THI RD DI VI SI ON

DOYLE, P. J.

, REESE and BROWN, 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.

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

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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

.

October 4, 2021



# I n th e Co u r t o f

A p p eals o f

G eo r g ia

A2 1 A0 70 9 . ALLEN v . THE STATE.

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

F ol l o wi n g a ju ry t ri al

, Marcel l o us Al l en was co n v i ct ed o f t h ree co u n t s o f

v i o l at i o n o f t h e Geo rg i a St reet Gan g T erro ri s m an d Prev en t i o n Act

, OCGA § 1 6 -1 5 -1

et s eq

. He ap p eal s h is co nv i ct i o n s a n d t h e den i al o f h is m o t i o n fo r n ew t ri al

,

ch al l en g i n g t h e su ffi ci en cy of t h e ev id en ce an d co n t en d i n g t h at h is co n v i ct i on s

v i o l a t e h i s co n s t i t u t i o n al ri gh t t o free as s o ci at i o n

. Al l en al s o co n t en d s th at t h e t ri al

co u rt erred i n (1 ) ad m i t ti n g a reco rd i n g o v er h is h e a r s a y an d Co n fro n t at i o n Cl au s e

o b ject i on s ; (2 ) ad m it t i n g ev i d en ce o f Al l en ’ s g an g i n vo l v em en t ; an d (3 ) d en y i n g h i s

m o ti o n s fo r m i s t ri al . Fo r t h e reas on s t h at fo l l ow, we affi rm

.

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

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

fav o rab l e to t h e v erd i ct

, w i t h t h e d efen d an t n o l o n g er en j o y i n g a p res u m

p t i o n o fi n n o cen ce.” (Ci tat i o n an d p un ct u at i o n o m i tt ed .) S o l o mo n v. S t a t e

, 3 4 2 Ga. Ap p

. 8 3 6

(8 0 5 SE2 d 2 9 3 ) (2 0 1 7 ). So v i ewed

, th e reco rd s h ows th at aro u n d 3 : 0 0 p .m

. o n

Oc t o b e r 3

, 2 0 1 7, a “ s ho o t o ut ” o ccu rred o u t s i d e t h e G&T Sn ack Bar in Hart wel l

.

Em p l o y ees wo rk i n g i n n earb y o ffi ces t es t ifi ed t h at t h ey h eard m u l t i p l e s et s o f g u n fi re

an d o b s erv ed m en ru n n in g by o u t si d e, in cl u d i n g o ne m an weari n g a wh i t e t an k t o p

wh o was arm ed w it h a gu n

. Po l i ce res p on d ed t o t he s h o o t i n g an d aft er s p eak i n g wi th

wi t n es s es

, l earn ed th at Ray Tat e, Al l en

, an d s o m e ot h e r m e n were i n v o l v ed i n t h e

s h o o to u t

. Sh o rt l y aft er t h e i n ci d en t

, p o li ce fo u n d Tat e h i d i n g wi t h a gu n i n a n earb y

ap art m en t an d ap p reh en d ed h i m

. On t h e fo l lo wi n g d ay

, p o l i ce arres t ed Al l en

. Al l en

d i d no t h av e a g u n at th e t i m e o f h i s a rres t

. In hi s i n t erv i ew wi th po l i ce, Al l en

ad m i t t ed b ei n g p res en t du ri n g t h e s h o o t o u t

, b ut th at h e r a n w h en Ray Tat e s t art ed

s h o o ti n g an d d i d n o t ret urn fi re.

P o l i ce al s o i n t erv i ewed a by s t an d er w ho w i tn es s ed t he s h oo t o u t

. In t h e

i n t erv i ew, wh i ch was p l ay ed fo r t h e ju ry

, t h e b y s t an d e r s t a t e d h e s aw t h ree m en

,

i n cl u d i n g Al l en an d “ Yo u ng Mo n ey ,” s tart s h o o ti n g at Ray Tat e. W h en t h e b y s t an d er

was cal l ed t o tes t ify

, h e d en i ed s eei n g an y t h i n g t o d o wi t h t h e s h o o t o u t

. A fem al e

ey ewi t n es s t es t i fi ed t h at s h e h eard g u n s h o t s an d saw Al l en

, Ray Tat e, an d “ Yo u n g

M o n ey ” ru n n i n g , b ut s h e d i d n o t s ee a g u n

.

2On e o f Al l en ’ s as s o ci at es

, 1 “ Sl i m e,” t es t i fi ed t h at on t h e d ay o f t he i n ci d en t

, h e

m et Al l en an d s o m e o th ers n ear t h e G&T Sn ack Bar, th at th ey wal ked t o th e G&T an d

ap p ro ach ed Ray Tat e, t h at T a t e s t art ed s h o o ti n g

, an d t h at an o th er as s o ci at e cal l ed

“ Yo u n g M on ey ” 2 s h o t b ack at Tat e b efo re ev ery on e st art ed ru nn i n g

. Sl i m e t es t i fi ed

t h at h e s aw Al l en w i t h a gu n an d t h at Al l en ran i nt o an al l ey b efo re Sl im e heard m o re

s h o t s fi red

. A cco rd i n g t o Sl i m e, Al l en was a m em b er o f th e Sex -M o n ey -M u rd er

g an g. 3

On t h e n i g h t p ri o r t o t h e s h o o t o u t

, Ray T at e was on Faceb o o k l i v e, rep eat ed l y

as k i n g “ wh ere m

u rd er g an g at

, s t o p h i d i n g ” an d cal l i ng Al l en a “ bi t ch .” T at e al s o

cal l ed o u t “ Sl i m e” a n d “ Y o u n g M o n ey

. ” A n au d i o reco rd i n g o f t h i s Faceb o o k l i v e

was p l ay ed fo r t h e ju ry

. Reco rd s o b t ai n ed fro m Al l en ’ s ce l l u l a r p h o ne s ho wed t h at

at 9 : 46 p

. m

. t h at s am e n i g h t, A l l en recei ved a tex t m es s ag e s t at i ng

, “ Ray o n l i v e

1 Th e as s o ci at e recei ved i m m un i t y i n ex ch an g e fo r h i s t es t i m o n y

.

2 Th e as so ci at e cl ari fi ed t h at “ Yo u n g M o n ey ” was Qu en t o n Si m p s on

, Al l en ’ s

co -i n d i ct ee.

3 T h e St at e al so s u b m i t t ed p h o to g rap h s an d p o s t s fro m Al len ’ s Faceb o o k,

i n d i cat i n g A l l en was affi l iat ed wi t h t h e “ Sex -M o n ey -M u rd er” g an g

. An in v es t i g at o r

ad m i t t ed as an ex p ert i n cri m in al s t reet gan g s t es t i fi ed t h at “ Sex -M o n ey -M urd er” i s

a su b s et of t he “ Bl o o ds ,” a cri m i n al s treet g an g

. Th e p art i es s u b seq u en t l y s t i p u l at ed

t h at “ Sex -M o n ey -M u rd er” i s a cri m i n al s treet g an g

.

3t al k i n b o u t m u rd er g an g st o p h i d i n g .” Th e reco rd s refl ect ed th e t ex t m es s ag e was

“ read .” Al l en ’ s p h on e reco rd s al s o e s t ab l i s hed t hat Al len an d Sl i m e ex ch an g ed

m u lt i p l e ph o n e cal l s i n t h e ap p ro x im at el y t wen ty m i nu t es l ead i ng u p t o t h e s h o o t o u t

.

In a jo in t i n d i ct m en t

, 4 Al l en was ch arg ed wi t h fo ur co u n t s o f v i o l at i o n o f t h e

St reet G an g Terro ri s m an d Prev en t i o n Act an d o n e co u n t each o f ag g rav at ed as s au l t

,

p o s s es s i o n o f a fi rearm d u ri n g co m m i s s i o n o f a fel o n y

, po s ses s i o n of m ari j u an a wi th

i n t en t to d i st ri b u te, i l l eg al u s e o f co m m un i cat i o n faci l i ty

, an d p o ss es s i o n of a fi rearm

b y a co n v i ct ed fel on

. Th e ju ry fo u n d Al len gu i l t y o f t h ree co u n t s o f v i o l at i o n o f St reet

Gan g Terro ri s m an d Prev en t i o n Act (Co u n t s 1 -3 ) an d no t g u i l ty of ag grav at ed as s au l t

an d p o s s es s i on o f a fi rearm d u ri n g co m m i s s i o n o f a fel o n y (Co u n t s 4 an d 5 ). Th e t ri al

was b i fu rcat ed

, an d t he ju ry ret u rn ed a n o t g u i l t y

v erd i ct o n po s s es s i o n o f a fi rearm

b y a co n v i ct ed fel o n an d o n e co u n t o f v i o l at i o n o f t h e St reet Ga n g T erro ri s m an d

Prev en ti o n Act (b as ed o n p os s es s i on o f a fi rearm b y a co n v i ct ed fel o n). Th e co u n t s

ch arg i n g p o s s es s io n o f m ari j u an a w i t h i n t en t t o d i s t ri bu t e an d i l leg al u s e o f

co m m u n icat io n faci l i t y w ere s ev ere d an d t ri ed s ep arat el y

. Al l en 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 t h e m o t io n , as am en d ed

.

4 Al l en ’ s co -i n d ict ee, Q u en t o n Si m p s on, ple a de d guilty pur sua nt to a n eg o t i at ed

p l ea d eal p ri o r t o Al l en ’ s t ri al

.

41

. Al l en arg ues t h at t h e ev i d en ce w as i n s u ffi ci en t t o s u s t ai n hi s co n v i ct i o n s fo r

v i o l at i o n o f t h e St reet Gan g Terro ri s m an d Prev en t i o n Act

. Sp eci fi cal l y

, h e co n t en d s

t h at t h e St at e fai l ed t o es t ab l i sh t h at h e co m m i t t ed t h e p r e d i c a t e act s o f “ cri m i n al

s t reet g an g act iv i t y ” b ecau s e he was acq u i t t ed o f t h e p red i cat e o ffen ses ch arg ed i n t h e

i n d i ct m en t

. W e d is ag ree.

Al l en w as ch arg ed wi th t h ree c o u nt s o f v i ol at i n g t h e Geo rg ia St reet Gan g

Terro ri sm an d Prev en t i o n Act b y p art i ci p at i n g in cri m i n al s treet g an g act i v i t y t h ro u g h

t h e co m m i s s io n o f ag g rav at ed as s au l t (Co u nt 1), p o s s es s i o n of a fi rearm d u ri n g

co m m i s s io n o f a fel o n y (Co u n t 2 ), an d d i s ch arg i n g a fi rearm n ear a p u bl i c h i g h way

( C o u n t 3 ), wh i l e as s oci at ed wi t h “ Sex -M o n ey -M u rd er, a s u bs et o f t h e Bl o o d s

, a

cri m i n al s treet g an g .” 5 Th e i n d i ct m en t ch arg ed Al l en wi t h t w o o f t h e p red i cat e

o ffen s es

, n am el y ag g rav at ed as s au l t an d p o ss es s i o n of a fi rearm d u ri n g co m m i s s i o n

o f a fel on y

.

In o rd er to es t ab l i s h t h at Al l en v i ol at ed t h e St reet Gan g Te r r o r i s m an d

Prev en ti o n Act

, t h e St at e was req u ired to p ro ve fo u r el em en t s : “ (1 ) t h e ex i st en ce o f

a cri m i n al s t reet g an g

, [as ] d efi ned i n O C G A § 1 6

- 1 5 -3 (2 )

. . . ; (2 ) [Al l en ’ s ]

5 A s earl i er s t at ed

, Al l en was ch arg ed wi th a fo u rt h co u n t o f v i o l at i o n o f t h e

St reet Gan g Terro ri s m an d Prev en t i o n Act t hro u g h t h e co m m i s si on o f p o s s es s i o n o f

a fi rearm b y a co nv ict ed fel on . Al l en h o wev er was acq u i tt ed o f t h is ch arg e.

5as s o ci at io n wi t h t h e g an g ; (3 ) t h at [Al l en ] co m m it ted o n e o f t h e o ffen s es i d en t i fi ed

i n OCGA § 16 -1 5 -3 (1 ); an d (4 ) t h at t h e cri m e was i n t en d ed t o fu rt h er t h e i n t eres t s

o f t h e g an g .” (Ci t at i o n an d pu n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed .) Bo yd v. St a te

, 3 0 6 Ga. 2 04

, 2 0 9 (1 )

(b ) (8 3 0 SE2 d 1 6 0 ) (2 0 1 9). Acco rd Br o xt on v. S t a t e

, 3 0 6 Ga. 1 27

, 1 3 3 (2 ) (8 2 9 SE2 d

3 3 3 ) (2 01 9 ). Al l en o n l y d i s pu t es t h e s u ffi ci en cy o f t h e e v i d e n ce wi th reg ard t o t h e

t h i rd el em en t becau s e h e was acq u i t t ed o f t h e p red i cat e o ffen s es

, an d we co n cl u d e

t h at s u ffi ci en t ev i d en ce s u p p o rt s t h e rem ai n i n g el em en t s.

“ An acq ui t t al o n o n e ch arg e d oes n o t affect t h e s u ffi ci en cy of t h e ev i d en ce as

t o an ot h er ch arg e, ev en i f t h e co n v i ct i o n is a co m p o u n d o ffen s e, an d t h e acq ui t t al was

fo r a p red i cat e o ffen s e.” H o u s ewo r t h v. S t a t e

, 3 4 8 Ga. Ap p

. 1 1 9

, 1 2 4 (1 ) (c) (8 2 0

SE2 d 23 1 ) (2 0 1 8 ). A c co rd in g l y

, ev en t h o u gh Al l en was acq ui t t ed o f ag g rav at ed

as s au l t an d p o s s es si o n o f a fi rearm d u ri n g c o m m i s s i o n o f a fel o ny

, an y ev i d en ce

o ffered d u ri n g t h e t ri al m ay b e u s ed t o ev al u at e th e su ffi ci en cy o f t h e ev i d en ce fo r h i s

co n vi ct i o n s fo r v i o l at i on o f t h e St reet Gan g Terro ri s m an d Prev en t i o n Act

. See Al l en

v

. S t a t e

, 3 5 1 Ga. A p p. 6 8 0

, 6 8 4 (8 3 2 SE2 d 65 9 ) (2 0 1 9 ). On ap p eal

, “ [w] e n e i t h e r

wei g h t h e ev i den ce n o r j u d g e t h e cred i b i l it y of wi t n es s es

, b u t d et erm i n e o n l y

wh et h er, aft er v iewi n g 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 t he p ro secu t i o n

, an y

rat i o nal t ri er o f fact co ul d h av e fo u n d th e es s en t i a l e l e m en t s o f t h e cri m e b ey o n d a

6reas on ab l e d o u b t .” (Ci tat i o n an d pu n ct uat i o n o m i t t ed .) Byn es v. S t a te

, 3 3 6 G a. Ap p.

2 2 3 ( 7 8 4 SE2 d 71 ) (2 0 1 6 ). “ [T] h e ju ry ’ s v erd i ct wi l l b e u p h el d so l o n g as t h ere i s

s o m e co m p et en t ev i d en ce, ev en t ho u g h co n t rad ict ed

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

t o m ak e o u t t h e St at e’ s cas e.” Mo r r i s v. S ta t e

, 34 0 Ga. A p p

. 2 9 5

, 2 9 7 (7 9 7 SE2 d 2 0 7 )

(2 0 1 7).

Here, t he St at e p res en t ed s u ffi ci en t ev i d en ce fro m wh i ch a j u ry co ul d co n cl u d e

t h at Al l en co m

m i tt ed th e p red icat e o ffen s es o f ag g rav at e d as s au l t, p o s s es s i o n o f a

fi rearm d u ri ng co m m is s i o n of a fel o n y

, an d di s ch arg in g a fi rearm n ear a p u b l i c

h i g h way

. Ey ewi t n es s t es t im o n y es t ab l i s h ed t h at a s ho o t o u t i n v o lv i n g m u l t ip l e m en

t o o k p lace o u t s i de t h e G&T Sn ack Bar, t hat at l eas t o n e o f t h e m en was arm ed wi th

a g u n

, an d t h at Al l en w as i n v o lv ed

. On e o f t h e m en i nv o l v ed i n t h e sh o ot o u t t es t i fi ed

t h at Al l en had a g u n an d t h at h e h eard g u ns h o t s aft er Al l en ran in t o an al l ey

. Fu rt h er,

o n e b y s t an d er s t at ed t h at h e s aw Al l en s h oo t in g at Ray Tat e. Al t h o ug h t h e b y s t an d er

recan t ed hi s s t at em en t at t ri al

, “ i t i s t h e ju ry ’ s ro l e t o res o l v e co n fl i ct s i n t h e ev i d en ce

an d det erm i n e th e cred i b il i t y o f wi t n es s es

, an d t h e p res en ce of su ch co n fl i ct s d o es n ot

ren d er t h e ev i d en ce i n s uffi ci en t .” (Ci t at io n an d p u nct u at i o n o m itt ed .) Ben t o n v. S t a t e

,

3 5 6 Ga. Ap p

. 4 4 1

, 4 4 4 (1 ) (c) (8 4 7 SE2 d 6 2 5 ) (2 0 2 0 ) (“ [t ] h i s l aw ap p l i es ev en wh en

a wi t n es s recan t s h er p rev i o u s s t at e m e n t ”). See al s o W al ker v. S t a t e

, 3 4 8 Ga. Ap p.

72 7 3

, 2 7 5 (1 ), n.1 (8 2 1 SE2 d 5 6 7 ) (2 0 1 8 ). Fi n al ly

, t he St at e p res en t ed ev i d en ce o f

A l l e n ’s m o t i v e i n t h e fo rm o f Ray Tat e’ s Faceb o o k l i v e, i n w h i ch h e cal l ed o u t t h e

“ Sex -M o n ey -M urd er” g an g as wel l as Al len i n d iv i d u al ly

.

M o reo v er, t h e t ri al co u rt ch arg ed t h e ju ry on t h e l aw reg ard i n g p art y t o a cri m e.

Un d er t h i s t h eo ry

, “ [o ] n e i s cu lp ab l e as a p art y t o a cri m e, ev en i f h e d i d n o t d i rect l y

co m m i t it

, i f he i n t e n t i o n al l y ai d s o r ab et s i n t h e co m m i s s i o n o f t h e cri m e o r

i n t en t i o n al l y ad v i ses

, en co u rag es

, h i res

, co u n s el s

, o r p ro cu res an o t h er t o co m m i t t h e

cri m e.” (Ci t at i on s an d p u n ct u at i o n o m i t ted .) St ewa r t v. S t a te

, 2 4 3 G a. A p p

. 8 6 0

, 8 6 1

(1 ) (5 3 4 SE2 d 5 4 4 ) (2 0 0 0 ). “ Pres en ce, co m p an i o n sh i p

, an d co n d u ct b efo re an d aft er

t h e o ffen s e are ci rcu m s t an ces fro m wh i ch o n e’ s p art i ci p at io n i n t h e cri m i nal i n t en t

m ay b e i n ferred .” (Ci t at i on an d p u n ct uat i o n o m i t t ed

. ) Id

. Al t h ou g h t he ju ry acq u i t t ed

Al l en o f t h e ch arg ed p red i cat e o ffen s es

, we co n cl u d e t h at ev i d en ce was s u ffi ci en t to

p r o v e t h at Al l en co m

m it t ed t h e p red i cat e o ffen s es as a p art y t o t h e cri m es

. Cf.

Da n i el y v. S t a te

, 3 0 9 Ga

. A p p

. 1 2 3

, 12 4 -1 2 5 (1 ) (7 0 9 SE2 d 2 7 4 ) (2 0 1 1 ) (fi n d i n g

ev i d en ce s u ffi ci en t t o affi rm co n v i ct i o n of p o s s es s i o n o f a k n i fe d u ri n g t h e

co m m i s s io n o f t h e fel o n y o f ag grav at ed as s au l t

, d es p i t e t he d efen d an t’ s acq u i t t al fo r

p red i cat e o ffen s e). See al s o Di xo n v. S t at e

, 3 0 9 Ga. 2 8

, 3 5-3 6 (2 ) (b ) (8 4 3 SE2 d 8 0 6 )

8(2 0 2 0) (reject i ng co n t en t i o n t h at t h e p ri nci p l e o f “ p art y t o t h e cri m e” i s n o t av ai l ab l e

fo r a ch arg e o f p art i ci p at i ng i n cri m i n al g an g act i v it y u nd er OCGA § 1 6 -1 5-4 (a)).

To t h e ex ten t Al l en rai ses an i n co n s is t en t v erd i ct arg u m en t

, su ch an arg u m en t

l ack s m eri t

. “ As a g en eral ru l e, i n co ns i st en t verd i ct s o ccu r w h en a ju ry i n a cri m i n al

cas e ren ders seem i n g l y i n co m p at i bl e v erd i ct s of g u i lt

y o n o n e ch arg e an d n o t g u i l t y

o n an o t h er. In Geo rg i a,

. . . we hav e ab o l i s h ed t h e ru l e t h at i n co n s i s t en t v e r d i c t s

req u i re rev ers al .” (Em

p h as i s i n o ri g i n al .) McEl r a t h v. S t a t e

, 3 0 8 Ga. 1 0 4

, 1 0 8 (2 ) (a)

(8 3 9 SE2 d 5 7 3 ) (2 0 2 0). See al s o S t a t e v. Ro b i n s o n

, 2 7 5 Ga. A pp

. 1 17 (6 1 9 SE2 d 8 0 6 )

(2 0 0 5) (“ [t ] h e Su p rem e Co u rt of Geo rg i a ab o l is h ed th e i n co n s i st en t v erd i ct ru l e

. . .

an d th e rel ev an t q u es t io n o n ap p eal i s wh et h er t h e ev i d en ce vi ewed i n t h e l i g h t m o s t

fav o rab l e t o t h e co n v i ct io n i s s u ffi ci en t t o s u pp o rt t h e v erd i ct ”) (ci t at i o n o m i t t ed ).

[I] n c o n s i s t en t v erd i ct s

— ev en v erd i ct s t h at acq u i t on a p red i cat e

o ffen s e wh i l e co n vi ct i n g o n t h e co m p o u n d o f fen s e

— s h o u l d n o t

n eces s ari l y be i n t e r p ret ed as a wi n dfal l t o t h e Go v ern m en t at th e

d efen d an t ’ s ex p en s e. It i s eq u al l y p o s s i b l e t h at t h e ju ry

, co n v in ced o f

g u i l t, p ro p erl y reac he d its co n cl u s i o n o n t h e co m p o u n d offen s e, an d t h en

t h ro ug h m i s t ak e, co m

p ro m i s e, o r l en i t y

, arri ved at an i n co n s i st en t

co n cl u s i o n o n t h e l es s er o ffen s e.

McEl r a t h

, 3 0 8 Ga. at 1 0 8 -1 0 9 (2 ) (a), ci t i n g Un it ed St at es v. Po wel l

, 4 6 9 U. S. 5 7,

6 4 -6 5 (1 0 5 SCt 47 1

, 8 3 LE2 d 4 6 1 ) (1 9 8 4 ). “ Becau s e o f t h i s

, t h e i s su e i s n o t wh et h er

9an acq u i t t al o n o ne ch arg e wo u ld l o g i cal l y n eces s it at e acq u i t t al o n an o t h er ch arg e o n

wh i ch t he ju ry co n v i ct ed th e d efen d an t ; rat h er t h e s o l e q u es ti on i s w h e t h e r t h e

ev i d en ce v i ewed i n fav or o f t h e co n v i ct i o n was s u ffi ci en t t o s up p o rt t h e g ui l t y

v erd i ct .” (Ci t at i o n

, p u n ct uat i o n

, an d em ph as i s om i t t ed

. ) Pr es l ey v. St a t e

, 3 5 8 Ga.

Ap p

. 27 7

, 2 8 1 ( 1 ) ( 8 5 5 SE2 d 3 0 ) (2 0 2 1 ). In s um

, we co ncl u d e t h at t h e ev i d en ce

p res en t ed ag ai n s t Al l en was s uffi ci en t t o au t h ori ze a rat i o nal ju ry t o fi n d b ey o n d a

reas on ab l e d o u b t th at h e was g u i l t y o f t h e o ffen s es t h at s erv ed as a p red i cat e fo r h i s

co n vi ct i o n s fo r v i o l at i o n o f t h e St reet Gan g Terro ri sm an d Prev en t io n Act

.

2

. Al l en al s o as s ert s t h at h i s co n v i ct i o n s vi o lat e h i s co n s t i t u t i on al ri g h t t o free

a s s oci at i o n

. Al l en p os i ts t h at b ecau s e h e w as acq ui t t ed o f t h e ch arg ed p red i c a t e

o ffen s es , h e was , i n effect , co n v i ct ed b as ed o n “ m ere as s o ci at i o n .” 6

Ou r S u p r e m e C o u rt p rev i o u s l y has h el d t h at OCGA § 1 6 -1 5-4 (a) d o es n ot

i n fri n g e u p o n t h e Fi rs t Am en d m en t ri g h t t o freed o m o f as so ci at i o n :

Th e act o f as s o ci at i n g wi t h co m p at ri o t s i n cri m e is n o t a p ro t ect ed

as s o ci at i o nal ri g h t

. T o s u p p o rt a co nv i ct i o n, t h e accu s ed m u s t b e s ho wn

t o h av e co n d uct ed o r part i ci p at ed i n cri m i n al s t reet g ang a c tivi t y t h ro u g h

6 O n e o f Al l en ’ s co n v i ct i o n s fo r v i o l at i o n o f t h e St reet Gan g Terro ri s m an d

Prev en ti o n Act w as p rem i s ed o n d i s ch arg i n g a fi rearm n ea r a p u b l i c h i g h way

, an

o ffen s e fo r wh i ch h e was n o t s ep arat el y ch arg ed i n t h e i n d ict m en t

. W e t h erefo re fi n d

Al l en ’ s arg u m en t i n t h is reg ard i n ap p l i cab l e t o t h is co n v i ct i o n

.

10t h e co m m i s si o n o f a n act u al cri m i n al act

. M ere as s o ci at i o n i s

i n s u ffi ci en t

. OCGA § 1 6 -1 5 -4 (a) co m p o rt s wi th d u e-p ro ces s

req u irem en ts b ecau s e i t p u n i s h es co n d u ct

, n ot as s o ci at i o n

. It d o es n o t

u n co n s t i t u t i o n al l y cri m i n al i ze m em b ers h i p i n an o rg an i zat i o n bec au s e

t h e s t at u t e d o es n o t i m

p erm i s s i b l y

es t ab l is h g u i l t b y

as s o ci at i o n al o n e.

M o reo v er, t h e ri g h t t o as s o ci at i o n d o es n ot p ro v i d e p ro t ect io n t o t h o s e

o rg an i zat i o n s t h at co m

m i t a fel o n y

. Cri m i n al g an g act i v i t y i s n o t

p ro t ect ed act i v i t y ev en wh en co m m it t ed by a g ro u p ex er c i s i n g t h ei r

co n s t i t ut i o n al ri gh t t o free as s o ci at i o n

.

(Ci t at i o n s an d p u n ct uat i o n o m i t t ed .) Ro d r ig u ez v. S ta t e

, 2 8 4 Ga. 8 0 3, 8 10 (4 ) (6 7 1

SE2 d 4 9 7 ) (2 0 0 9 ). As co n cl u d ed i n Di v is i on 1

, t h ere was s u ffi ci e n t e v i d e nce fro m

wh i ch a ju ry co u l d co n cl u d e t h at Al l en co m m i tt ed t h e p red i cat e o ffen s es

. Th e fact

t h at t he ju ry d eci d ed t o ret u r n a n o t g ui l t y v erd i ct on t h e ag g rav at ed as sau l t an d

p o s s es s i o n o f a fi re a rm du ri n g co m m i s s io n o f a fel o n y ch arg es d o es n o t ren d er

Al l en ’ s co n v ict i o n s u n co n s t i t u t i o n al . See i d

.

3

. Al l en co n t en d s t h at th e t ri al co u rt erred i n ad m i t t i n g o v e r h i s o bject i o n an

au d io reco rd i n g o f t h e Faceb o o k v i d eo b y Ray T at e b e c a u s e i t v i ol at es t h e

Co n fro n t at i o n Cl au s e an d co n s t i t u t es i nad m is si b l e h ears ay . W e d i s ag ree.

(a) Al l en co n t en d s t h at t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s ad m i s s i o n o f t h e reco rd i n g v i ol at ed h i s

Co n fro n t at i o n Cl au s e ri g h t s b ecau s e “ t h e d efen s e w as n o t ab l e t o co n fro n t t h e

11s t at em en t s m ad e [i n th e reco rd in g ] .” Becau s e th e s t at em en ts i n th e reco rd i n g d o n ot

i m p l i cat e t h e Co n fro nt at i o n Cl au s e, we d i s ag ree.

As o u r Su p rem e Co u rt h as ex p l ai n ed

, “ [t ] he Co n fro n t at i o n Cl au s e im p o s es an

ab s o lu t e b ar to ad m it t in g o u t -o f

- c o u rt s t at em en t s i n ev i d en ce wh en t h ey are

t es t i m o ni al i n n at u re, an d wh en t h e d efen d an t d o es no t h av e an o p p o rt u n i t y to

cro s s -ex am i n e t h e decl aran t .” (Ci t at i on an d p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed .) M cCo rd v. S t a t e

,

3 0 5 Ga. 3 1 8

, 3 2 1 ( 2 ) ( a ) (8 2 5 SE2 d 1 2 2 ) (2 0 19 ). Th u s

, “ t h e Co n fro n tat i o n Cl au s e

ap p li es o n ly t o o u t-o f-co u rt s t at em en t s th a t a re tes t i m on i al i n n at u re.” (Ci t at i o n,

p u n ct u at i o n

, an d em

p h as is o m i t t ed .) McCl en d o n v. S t a t e

, 2 9 9 Ga. 6 1 1

, 6 1 7 (4 ) (b )

(7 9 1 SE2 d 6 9 ) (2 0 1 6). “ A s t at em en t is t es t i m o n i al if i t s p ri m ary p u rp o s e was to

es t ab l i s h ev i d en ce t h at co u l d b e u s ed i n a f u t u re p ro s ecu t i o n.” (Ci t at i o n an d

p u n ct u at i o n om i t t ed .) Fr a nkl i n v. S t a t e, 2 98 Ga. 6 36

, 6 4 0 (2 ) (7 8 4 SE2 d 3 59 ) (2 0 1 6 ).

See al s o Cr a wf

o r d v. W a sh i n g to n

, 5 4 1 U. S. 3 6

, 5 1 -5 2 (III) (A) (1 24 SCt 1 35 4

, 1 5 8

LE2 d 1 7 7 ) (2 0 04 ) (d es cri b i n g t h e “ co re cl as s o f ‘ t es t i m o n i a l ’ s t at em en t s ” as “ ex

p a r t e in -co u rt t es t i m o ny o r i t s fu n ct i o n al eq u i v al en t

— t h at i s

, m at er i al

. . . t h at

d ecl aran t s wo u l d reas o n ab l y ex p ect t o b e u s ed pro s ecu t o ri al l y ”). Aft er “ a

d et erm i n at i o n i s m ad e t h at a s t at em en t i s n o n t es t i m o n i al in nat u re, n orm al ru l es

reg ard i n g th e ad m i s si o n o f h e ars ay ap p l y .” (Ci t at io n an d pu n ct uat i on o m i t t ed .)

12McCo r d

, 3 0 5 Ga. at 3 2 2 (2 ) (a). Here, t h e s t at em en t s m ad e i n t h e Faceb o o k l i v e

reco rd i n g cl earl y were n o t i nt en d ed fo r u s e i n a fu tu re p ro s ecu t i on an d t h u s were n ot

t es t i m o n i al

. See, e.g

., F

a vo r s v. S t a t e

, 2 9 6 Ga. 8 4 2

, 8 4 4 -8 4 5 (2 ) (7 7 0 SE2 d 8 5 5 )

(2 0 1 5) (co -co n s p i rat o r’ s s t at em en t s t o g i rl fri en d t h at “ ‘ t h e l i ck wen t b ad ’ ” an d t h e

v i ct i m was s h o t were n o t t es t i m o n i al i n n at ure b ecau s e t h ey were n o t “ m a d e u n d er

ci rcu m s t an ces i nd i ca t i n g th e decl aran t ’ s i nt en t t o p ro vi de ev i d en ce fo r a fu t u re

p ro s ecu ti o n ”). Acco rd in g l y

, we t u rn t o wh et h er t h e s t at em en t s i n th e reco rd i n g were

i m p erm i s s i b le h ears ay

.

(b ) Fo r a s t at em en t t o co n s t i t u t e h e a r s a y

, i t m u s t b e “ o ffered i n ev id en ce to

p ro v e t h e t ru t h o f t he m at t e r a s s ert ed .” OCGA § 2 4 -8 -8 0 1 (c). H ere, t h e st at em en t s

co n tai n ed in t h e reco rd i n g were n o t offered t o p ro v e t h e t ru t h o f t h e m at t er as s ert ed

.

Rat h er, t h e reco rd i ng was offered t o s h o w i t s effect o n A l l en an d h i s m o t i v e fo r

p art i ci p at i n g i n t h e s h o o t o u t

. See Ga t es v. S t a t e

, 2 9 8 Ga. 3 24

, 3 26 (2 ) (7 8 1 SE2 d 7 7 2 )

(2 0 1 6) (t ex t m es sag es vi ct i m s en t t o d efen d an t ’ s g i rl fri en d n o t offered fo r t h ei r t ru th

b u t fo r effect o n d efen dan t

, es t ab l i s h i n g h i s m ot i v e fo r t h e m u rd er). In o t h er wo rd s

,

t h e s t at em en t s are n ot h e a r say b ecau se t h e St at e o ffered t h em fo r a

p u rp o s e t h at d id n o t req ui re t he ju ry t o as s u m e t h at t h e s u bs t an ce o f th e

s t at em en t s was t ru e.

. . . Rat h er, [t he] s tat em en t s were s i g n i fi can t

13b ecau s e t h ey h ad been m ad e an d bec a u se t h ey were l i k el y t o h av e h ad

an effect o n t h e h earer, [Al l en ]

.

Br o wn v. S t a t e

, 3 3 2 Ga. Ap p. 6 3 5

, 6 3 7 (1 ) (7 7 4 SE2 d 7 0 8 ) (2 01 5 ). A c c o r d i n g l y

,

Al l en ’ s cl ai m

t h at t hi s ev i d en ce was i n ad m i s s ib l e h ears ay i s wi t h o u t m eri t

. 7

4

. Al l en al s o co n t en d s t h at t h e t ri al co u rt erred i n ad m i t t i n g “ h i g hl y p reju d i ci al

ev i d en c e w h i c h h ad l i t t l e t o no p ro b at iv e v al u e.” W h i l e h is en u m erat i o n fai l s to

i d en t i fy t h e “ hi g h l y preju d ici al ev i den ce,” Al l en s eem s t o t ak e i s su e wi t h t h e

ad m i s s i o n o f p h o t o g rap h s p o st ed t o h i s Faceb oo k p ro fi l e s h o wi n g Al l en ’ s g an g

affi l i at i o n as w el l as t es t im o n y fro m t h e i n v es t i g at o r ad m i t t ed as an ex p ert i n cri m i n al

s t reet g an g s an d a fo rm er p ri s o n g u ard

. “ Th e ad m i s s i o n o f ev i d en ce i s co m m i t t ed to

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

, an d t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s d eci si o n w h et h er t o ad m i t

o r ex cl u d e ev i d en ce wi l l n o t b e d i s t u rb ed o n ap p eal ab s en t an ab us e o f d i s cret i o n.”

An g li n v. S t a t e , 3 0 2 Ga. 3 3 3 , 3 3 5 (2 ) (8 0 6 SE2 d 5 73 ) (2 0 1 7).

Th e t ri al co u rt ad m it t ed t h e p h ot o g rap h s ov er Al l en ’s o b ject io n t h at t h ei r

p ro b at i v e v al u e was su b st an t ial l y o u t wei g h ed by t h e d an g er o f u n fai r p reju d i ce. See

7 Al l en arg u es t h ere i s i n s u ffi ci en t ev i d en ce t h at h e h eard t h e reco rd i n g fo r i t

t o h av e b een ad m i t t ed as “ effect o n l i s t en er.” W e d i s ag ree an d fi n d th at t h e S t a t e

p res en t ed s u ffi ci en t ev i d en ce fro m wh i ch t h e ju ry co u l d co n cl u d e t h at A l l en s aw, o r

at l eas t h eard ab o ut , t h e s t at em en t s m ad e i n Tat e’ s Faceb o o k l i ve.

14OCGA § 2 4 -4 -4 0 3 (“ Ru l e 4 0 3 ”). Al l en o bject ed t o t h e ex p ert ’ s t es t i m o n y s t at i n g i t

was “ bad ch aract er ev i d en ce” an d t h at t h e d e f en s e al read y had co n ced ed h e was in

a cri m in al st reet g an g

. T h e t ri al co urt o v erru l ed th e o b ject i o n

. Du ri n g th e t es t i m o ny

o f t h e fo rm er p ri s on g u ard

, Al l en vo i ced an o b ject io n u n d er Ru l e 4 03

, arg u i n g t h at

“ we’ v e al read y ad m i tt ed g an g m em b er as s o ci at io n . . . . Th e p reju d i ci al effect s o far

o u t wei gh s t h e p ro b at iv e v al ue

. . . [s ] in ce w e’ ve ad m i t t ed t h e f a c t [

. ]” T h e co u rt

al l o wed th e g u ard ’ s t es t im o n y o v er t h e o b

ject io n

.

On ap peal

, Al l en ag ai n arg u es t h at ev i d en ce o f h i s g an g m em b ersh ip

, i n cl u d i n g

t h e p h o t o g r a p h s an d t h e t es t i m o n y fro m b o th wi t n es s es

, was “ u n n eces s ari l y

cu m u l at i v e,” an d t h u s “ h i g h l y p reju d i ci al w i t h l i tt l e t o n o p ro bat i ve val u e,” b ecau s e

h i s t ri al co u n s el ad m i t t ed d u ri n g o p en i ng arg u m en t th at Al l en was a m em b er o f “ Sex

M o n ey -M u rd er,” a cri m i n al s t reet g an g

. Bu t co u n sel ’ s s t at em en t s d uri n g h i s o p en i n g

were n o t ev id en ce, a n d t h e St at e s t i l l h ad t o p ro v e t h at Al l en was a m em b er o f a

“ cri m in al s t reet g an g” k n o wn as “ Sex -M o n ey -M urd er,” as w el l as a co nn ect i o n

b et ween t h at g an g an d t h e cri m es at i s s u e. See Jo r d an v. S ta t e

, 3 0 7 Ga. 4 5 0

, 4 5 3 (2 )

(8 3 6 SE2 d 8 6 ) (2 0 1 9). See al s o OCGA § 1 6 -1 5 -3

. W e co n cl ud e t h at t h e tri al co u rt d id

n o t ab u s e i t s d i s cret i o n un d er Ru l e 40 3 wh en it ad m i t t ed t h e ev i d e n c e o f g an g

15act i vi t y

. 8 See Jo r d a n

, 3 0 7 G a. at 4 5 3 (2 ) (t ri al co u rt d i d n o t a b u s e i t s d i s cret i o n in

ad m i t t i ng ev i d en ce o f defen d an t ’ s g an g act i vi t y wh ere d efen d an t was ch arg ed

, i n t er

al i a, wi t h cri m i nal g an g act iv i t y

, d es p i t e d efen s e l a w ye r ’s s t at em en t s d u ri n g h i s

o p en in g t h at d efen dan t was a m em b er o f “ ‘ a g an g ’ ” an d t h at h e was “ ‘ i n a b i n d

. . .

wi t h t h i s g an g’ ”).

8 Al l en al s o as s ert s wi t h o u t ci t at i o n t o th e reco rd t h at “ [t ] h e S t a t e i n t ro d u ced

n u m ero u s p h o to s o f [h i m ] i n p ri s o n .” Al l en h as n o t i d en t i fi ed wh i ch p h ot o g rap h o r

p h o t o g rap h s h e t ak es i s s u e wi t h o u t o f t h e n earl y t h i rt y ad m i t t ed i n t o ev i d en ce. Th e

reco rd s ho ws t h at t he d efen s e o b ject ed t o al l o f t h e p h o t o grap h s “ o n t h e b as i s t h at

s i nce we’ v e ad m i t t ed h e’ s a g an g m em b er

. . . th es e p ict u res

. . . rel at e t o p ro v i n g h e’ s

a g an g m em

b er, b u t t h ey ’ re s o i n fl am m at o ry an d preju d ici al t h at t hey ’ re real l y b ad

ch aract er ev i d en ce.

. . .” Th e d efen s e t h en s in g led o ut o n e p h o t o g rap h

, s tat i n g “ I’ d

p o i n t o u t t h at ’ s DOC n o w.” Th e St at e res p o n d ed t h at t h e p h o to grap h w as rel ev an t

b ecau s e it s h o w ed A l l en fl as h in g a g an g s i g n

. W h i ch p h o t o grap h t h e p art i es were

referri n g t o i s u n cl ear. In t h e ab s en ce o f a s p eci fi c referen ce t o t h e reco rd o r

t ran s cri p t

, t h i s Co u rt wi l l n o t s earch fo r an d m ay no t co n s id er th at en u m erat i o n

. Co u rt

o f Ap peal s Ru le 2 5 (c) (2 ) (i ). “ It i s n o t t hi s Co u rt ’ s jo b to cu l l t h e reco rd o n b eh al f

o f t h e ap pel l an t t o fi n d al l eg ed erro rs

. ” (Ci t at io n an d pu n ct u at i o n o m it t ed .) En t wi s l e

v. S t a t e

, 3 4 0 Ga. Ap p . 1 22 , 1 3 1 (2 ) (7 9 6 SE2 d 7 43 ) (2 01 7 ). Acco rd in g l y

, Al l en h as

fai l ed t o carry h i s b u r d e n o f s h o wi n g an ab us e of d i s cret i o n b y t h e t ri al co u rt in

ad m i t t i ng t h e p h o t o g rap h s

. See W es t mo r el a nd v. S ta t e

, 28 7 Ga. 68 8

, 69 6 -6 9 7 (1 0 )

(6 9 9 SE2 d 1 3 ) (2 0 1 0 ) (ap p el lan t fai l ed t o sh o w rev ers i b l e erro r affi rm at i v el y b y t h e

reco rd

, wh ere ap p el l an t co n ten d ed t h at tri al co u rt erred i n ad m i tt i n g p h o t o g rap h s

, b ut

ap p el l an t fai l ed t o i d en ti fy wh i ch o f t h e h un d red s o f p ho t o g rap h s ad m i t t ed were

al l eg ed l y o b

ject i o n ab l e o n es s o as t o al l o w t h e ap p el l at e co u r t t o i s ol at e th em fo r

rev i ew o f ap p el l an t ’ s cl ai m an d wh et h er h e l o d g ed a co n t em p o ran eo u s o bject i o n an d

i f s o t h e n at u re o f t h e o bject i on ).

165

. Al l en l as t l y co nt en d s t h at t h e tri al co u rt erre d i n d en y i n g h i s m o t i o n s fo r

m i s t ri al fo l l o wi n g “ t wo i n s t an ces o f t h e St at e n eg l i g en t l y s h o wi n g d ocu m en t at i o n [o f

Al l en ’ s s t at u s as a co n vi ct ed fel o n ] on co u n sel t ab l e s ” d u r i n g v oi r di re. He al s o

co n ten d s t h at t h e co u rt erred i n d en y i n g hi s m o t i o n fo r m i s tri al fo ll o wi n g t h e

t es t i m o ny o f t h e fo rm er pri so n g u ard i m p l y i n g th at Al l en h ad b een i n p ri s o n

. Las t l y

,

Al l en arg u es t hat t h e t ri al co u rt s h ou l d h av e g ran t ed a m i s t r ial b as ed o n t h e

p h o t o g rap h s s h o wi n g h i m i n p ri s o n

.

(a) Mo t i o n s d

u r i n g vo i r di r e

. On t h e fi rs t d ay o f v o i r d i re, t h e St at e left a co py

o f i t s n o t i ce t h at i t s ou g h t reci d i v i s t p u ni s h m en t face-u p o n th e d efen s e t ab l e. Th e

reco rd s h o ws t hat a d i scu ss io n was h el d i n t h e t ri al j u d ge’ s ch am b ers

, du ri n g wh i ch

d efen s e co u n s el arg u ed as fo ll o ws :

A n y [p ro sp ect iv e] j u ro r wal k i n g b y t h at tab l e k n o ws t hat [Al l en i s] a

fel o n n o w, i f t h ey read i t at al l

. . . . T h ere’ s n o way we can k n o w wh o o r

. . . h o w m an y ju ro rs s aw i t

. . . . I d o n’ t t h i nk t he St at e d i d it in t en ti o n al l y

b ecau s e i t ’ s b ad fo r t h em

, b u t I th i nk t he en t i re j u ry p an el ’ s in ex t ri cab l y

t ai n t ed

, an d i t ’ s go i n g t o cal l i n t o q u es t i o n fu n d am en t al fai rn es s o f an y

ju ry we pi ck fro m t h i s p an el

. I d o n’ t t hi n k t h ere’ s an y way t o p ro ceed at

t h i s p o i n t b e c a u s e t h ere’ s n o way i n g oo d fai t h t h at we can k no w wh o

ex act l y ha s s e en th is wi th o u t act u al l y s ay in g h e’ s a fel o n

. I’ m m o v i n g

fo r a co n t i n u an ce fo r t he t erm b as ed o ff t h at

.

17Su b s eq u en t l y

, th e t ri al co urt d en i ed t h e m o t i o n an d i n s t ru ct ed t h at i t wo u l d p ro ceed

wi t h t h e cas e.

On t h e fo l l o wi ng d ay

— day t wo o f v o i r d i re

— A l l en ’ s co u n s el b ro u g h t t o t h e

t ri al co u rt ’ s at t en t io n t hat t h e St at e h ad a n o teb o o k o n it s t ab l e du ri n g t h e fi rs t d ay o f

v o i r d i re, an d t h e c o v e r o f th e n o t eb o o k l i s t ed t h e ch arg es ag ai ns t Al l en

, i n cl u d i n g

p o s s es s i o n o f a fi rearm b y a co n v i ct ed fel on . Defen s e co u n s el t h en “ cl ari f[i ed ] ” h i s

p ri o r m o t i o n as fo l lo w s : “ I d o n ’ t t h i n k I ev er act ual l y s ai d t h e wo rd ‘ m i s t ri al ’

y es t erd ay

, b u t I w o ul d y et ag ai n m ov e fo r m i s t ri al an d a co nt in u an ce fo r t h e t erm an d

ren ew t h at m o t i o n at th i s p oi nt .” Th e t ri al co u rt ex p lai n ed t h at i t h ad t reat ed t h e

p rev i o u s m o ti o n as o n e fo r m is t ri al an d fu rt h er n o t ed t h at “ [h ] av i n g g o n e b ack i n t h e

co u rt r o o m y es t erd ay aft er t h e h eari n g an d l o o k ed at t h e di st an ces

, t h at fu rt h er

reaffi rm ed i n m

y m i n d t h at th e m o t i o n sh o u l d b e d en i ed .” T h e co u rt t h en wen t o n to

d en y t h e ren ewed m o t i o n bas ed o n t he St at e’ s n o t eb o o k becau s e it “ d o es n ’ t i n v o l v e

an y t h i n g t h at h as n ’ t al read y been co v ered w i t h ju ro rs i n v o i r d i re.” Vo i r d i re was n ot

t ran s cri b ed

.

As a p rel i m i n ary m at t er, “ [a] m i s t ri al i s n o t a p ro p er rem ed y

. . . b efo re t h e ju ry

h as b een em

p an el ed an d swo rn .” Mi t ch el l v. S t a te

, 2 8 4 Ga. Ap p

. 2 0 9 (1 ) (6 4 4 SE2 d

1 4 7 ) (2 0 0 7 ). Th i s i s b ecau s e “ t h e t i m e fo r m a k i n g a m o t i o n fo r m i st ri al i s n o t ri p e

18u n t i l t he cas e h as b eg u n

, an d th e t ri al d o es n o t b eg i n un t i l t h e ju ry h as b een i m p an el ed

an d s wo rn .” (Ci t at i o n an d p un ct u at i o n o m i t t ed .) P u r n el l v. S t a te

, 35 5 Ga. Ap p

. 8 9 9,

9 0 1 (8 4 3 SE2 d 6 3 7 ) (2 02 0 ). In st ead

, “ th e p ro p er p ro ced u ral t o o l [i s ] ei t h er a

ch al l en g e t o t h e p o l l or a m o ti o n f o r a p os t p o n em en t to i m p an el o t h er ju ro rs [.] ”

(Ci t at i o n an d p u n ct u at io n o m i t ted .) S h a r p e v. S ta t e

, 2 72 Ga. 6 8 4

, 6 8 7 (5 ) (5 3 1 SE2 d

8 4 ) (2 0 0 0 ). See al s o Pu r n el l , 3 5 5 Ga. Ap p . at 9 0 1

.

Here, Al l en ap p aren t l y s o u g h t t o p os t p on e t he t ri al an d res tart t h e v o i r d i re

p ro ces s

. Des p i t e t h e n o m en cl at u re o f th e m o t i o n s

, t h e t r i al co urt ap p ro p ri at el y

co n si d ered t hei r m eri ts

. See Pu r n el l

, 3 5 5 Ga. Ap p

. at 9 0 1

. See al so Lo r d v. S t a t e

, 3 0 4

Ga. 5 3 2

, 5 3 5 (2 ) (8 2 0 SE2 d 16 ) (2 0 1 8 ) (t ri al co u r t p ro p erl y ad d res s ed m eri t s o f

d efen d an t ’ s m o t i o n fo r m i s t ri al wh i ch

, i n s u b s t an ce, was a r eq u es t fo r a n ew ju ry

p an el ). An d u n d er t h e ci rcu m s t an ces

, we fi n d n o ab us e o f d i s cret i o n in i t s d ecl i n i n g

t o p o s t p on e Al len ’ s t ri al i n o rd er t o i m p an el o t h er ju ro rs

. Bas ed o n t h e reco rd b efo re

u s

, t h ere is n o ev id en ce t h at an y p ro s p ect i v e ju ro r s aw o r read ei t her d ocu m en t

, o r t h at

ev en i f a p ro s p ect i ve ju ro r d i d s ee o r read t h e d o c u m e n t

, t h at t h e ju ro r u l t i m at el y

en d ed u p o n t h e ju ry

. M o reo v er, as t o t h e s eco n d d o cu m en t

, t h e tri al co u rt s peci fi cal l y

fo u n d t h at t h e ch arg e o f p o s s es s i o n o f a fi rearm b y a co n v i ct ed fel o n “ al read y [h ad ]

b een co v ered wi t h ju ro rs i n v oi r d i re.” W hi l e v oi r d i re was n o t t ran s cri b ed

, an d t hu s

19we are u n ab l e t o d et erm i n e wh at ex act l y was “ co v ered

, ” we m

u s t k eep i n m i n d t h at

“ [c] o n tro l o f vo i r d i re i s v es t ed i n t h e so u n d d i s cret i o n o f th e t ri al co u rt an d ap p el l at e

co u rt s wi l l n o t i n t erfere wi t h t h at d i s cret i o n u n l es s i t h as b een ab u s ed .” Mi t ch el l

, 2 8 4

Ga. Ap p . at 2 0 9 (1 ).

(b ) Mo t i o n d

ur i ng t r i a l

. Al l en al so m o v ed fo r a m is t ri al d uri n g t h e t es t i m o ny

o f an o ffi cer wh o t es t i fi ed t h at h e p rev i o u s l y w o r k ed at a st at e p ri s o n

. Th e o ffi cer

t es t i fi ed t h at du ri n g a co n v ers at i o n wi t h Al l en in A p ri l 2 01 6

, Al l en co n fi rm ed t h at h e

was a m em

b er o f Sex -M o n ey -M u rd er an d h ad b een fo r a few y ears at t h at p oi n t

. Th e

St at e t hen as k ed t h e o f

f i cer wh et h er t h ere w ere an y p h y s i cal ch aract eri s t i cs t o l o o k

fo r i n d et erm i n i n g wh et h er s o m eo n e i s i n a g an g

. T h e o ffi cer an swered : “ Lo o k at

t at t o o s

, t h ei r

— w h o t h ey as s o ci at e wi t h

, an y k i nd o f wri t i n g

. A l o t o f t i m es in

p ri s o n s

, t h ey ’ l l wri t e w h at t h ei r a f f i l i at i o n i s o n th ei r cl o t h i ng .” Th e offi cer t h en

co n fi rm ed t h at Al l en h ad wri ti n g o n h i s cl o t h i n g t h at was co n s i s t en t wi t h h i m b ei n g

a m em ber o f Sex -M o n ey -M u rd er. Co u n s el d i d n o t req u es t a cu rat i v e i n s t ru ct i o n

, an d

t h e t ri al co urt d en ied t he m o ti o n fo r m i s t ri al

.

“ W h et her t o d ecl are a m i s t ri al i s i n t h e d i s cret i on o f th e t ri al co u rt an d wi l l n ot

b e d i s tu rb ed o n ap p eal u n l es s i t i s ap p aren t t hat a m is tri al i s es s en t i al t o t h e

p res e r v a t i o n o f t h e ri g h t t o a fai r t ri al .” (Ci tat i o n an d p un ct u at i o n o m i t t ed .) Ra f i v.

20S t a t e

, 2 89 Ga. 7 1 6

, 7 2 0 (4 ) (7 1 5 SE2 d 1 1 3 ) (2 0 11 ). “ A p as s i n g referen ce t o a

d e f en dan t ’ s i n carcerat io n d o es n o t p l ace h i s ch aract er i n ev i den ce.” (Ci t at i o n a n d

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

wi ms v. S t a t e

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

M o r e o v e r

, wh i l e it co ul d b e i n ferred fro m t he o ffi cer’ s tes t i m on y t h at Al l en

p rev i o u s l y was i n p ri s o n

, t h is was n o t s tat ed d irect l y

. U n d er t h es e ci rcu m s tan ces

, we

co n cl u d e t h at t he t ri al co u rt act ed wi t h i n i ts d i s cret i o n i n d en y i n g t h e m is t ri al m o t io n

. 9

See id

. at 6 5 4-6 5 5 (2 ) (t ri al co u rt d i d n o t ab u se i t s d i s cret i o n i n d en y i n g d efen d an t ’ s

m o ti o n fo r m i s t ri al b as ed o n wi t n es s t es t i m o n y t h at d efen d an t h ad been i n carcerat ed

i n an o th er s t at e fo r an u n s t at ed cri m e).

( c ) Ph o to gr a

ph s

. Al l en al s o arg u es t h at th e t ri al co u rt s h o u l d h av e g ran t e d a

m i s t ri al b as ed o n th e p h o t o g rap h s s h owi n g h im i n p ri s on

. Ho wev er, Al l en o n l y

o b ject ed t o t h ei r ad m i s s i o n o n Ru l e 4 0 3 g ro un d s

. Becau s e h e d i d n o t m o v e fo r a

m i s t ri al at t h e t i m e o f t h e i r a d m i s s i o n

, th i s cl ai m i s n o t p res erv ed fo r rev i ew. See

Go i ns v. S t a te , 3 1 0 Ga. 1 9 9 , 2 0 6 (5 ) (8 5 0 SE2 d 6 8 ) (2 0 2 0 ).

Ju d g men t a f f i r m ed . Do yl e, P. J., a n d

Rees e, J., co n cu r

.

9 “ Fai l u re t o g i ve an u nreq u es t ed cu rat i v e in s t ru ct i o n do es n o t creat e rev ers i b l e

erro r.” (Ci t at i o n an d p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed

. ) S wi ms v. S ta t e

, 3 0 7 Ga. 6 5 1

, 6 5 5 (2 ) (8 3 8

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

21