FOURTH D I VI SI ON

DI LLA R D, C. J.

, RA Y, P. J. and SELF, J.

N O T IC E : M otions for r e c ons i de r a tion m us t be ph y sic a l ly r e ce iv ed i n our c le r k ’s offic e w ithin te n da y s of the da te of de c is ion to be de e m ed tim e ly file d.

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

October 19, 2017



# I n th e Co u r t o f

A p p eals o f

G eo r g ia

A1 7 A0 85 8 . M A THIS v

. THE STATE. SE-0 2 7 C

S E LF , J u d g e.

Fo l l owi n g a j u ry t ri al

, t h e Su p eri o r Co u rt o f Fl o y d Co u n t y en t ered ju d g m en t s

o f co n v i ct i o n ag ai n s t Ch ri s t o p h er M at h i s o n 52 co u n t s rel at ed t o M at h i s ’ t h e f t o f

m o r e t h an $ 6 0 0 ,0 0 0 as t h e op erat o r o f a Po n zi s ch em e. 1 W i t h th e ex cep t i o n o f

1 Th e ju ry ret urn ed v erd ict s o f g u i l t y ag ai n s t M at h is o n fo u r co u n t s o f fel o ny d ep os i t acco un t frau d (OCGA § 1 6 -9 -2 0 ) (co u n t s 1

, 6

, 1 0

, an d 1 4 ); t h i rt een co u n t s o f

t h eft b y t ak i ng (OCGA § 1 6 -8 -2 ) (co u n t s 2

, 7

, 1 1, 1 5

, 1 8

, 2 1

, 2 7

, 3 1, 3 4, 3 8

, 4 1

, 4 5,

an d 4 8); t h i rt een co u n t s o f t h eft b y co n v ers i o n (OCGA § 1 6 -8 -4 ) (co u n t s 3

, 8

, 1 2

, 1 6,

1 9

, 2 2

, 2 8

, 3 2

, 3 5

, 3 9

, 42

, 4 6, an d 4 9 ); fo u rt een co u nt s of t h eft b y d ecep t i o n (OCGA § 1 6 -8 -3 ) (co u n ts 4

, 9

, 13

, 1 7

, 2 0

, 2 3, 2 5, 2 9

, 33

, 36

, 4 0

, 4 3

, 4 7

, an d 5 0 ); fi ve co u n t s

o f ex p lo i t at i o n o f an el d er p ers o n (OCGA § 3 0 -5 -8 .C) (co u n t s 5

, 2 4

, 3 0

, 3 7, an d 4 4 );

an d o ne co u n t each o f fi rs t d eg ree fo rg ery (OCGA § 1 6 -9 -1 (b )) (co u n t 2 6 ), s ecret i n g

p ro p ert y t o d efrau d an o t h er (OCGA § 1 6-9 -5 3 ) (co u n t 5 1 ), an d v i o l at i o n o f o at h o f

p u b l i c offi ce (OCGA § 1 6 -1 0 -1 ) (co u n t 5 4). Co u n t s 5 2 (t h eft b y t ak i n g) an d 5 3 (l iv es t o ck t h eft [OCGA § 1 6 -8 -2 0 ] ) were s ev ered fro m M at h i s ’ t ri al

, an d h e en t ered

p l eas o f g u i l t y

t o t h es e t w o co un t s fo l l o wi n g t ri al fo r t h e rem ai n i n g 5 2 co un t s

.co rrect in g t h ree o f M at h is ’ s en t en ces , t h e t ri al co u rt d en i ed M at hi s ’ m o ti o n fo r n ew

t ri al as am en d ed an d M at h is ap p eal s

. M at h i s n o w co n ten d s t h at t h e t ri al co u rt erred

i n a p o rt i o n o f i t s ju ry i n s t ru ct i o n an d t h at i t fai l ed to m erg e h i s co nv i ct i o ns fo r t h eft

b y co n v ers i o n an d t h eft b y d ecep t i o n i n to hi s co n vi ct i o n s fo r t h eft by t ak i n g

. Becau s e

we co n cl u d e th e tri al co u rt fai l ed t o m erg e M at h is ’ co n v ict i o n s fo r t heft b y t ak i n g , we

v acat e t h o s e co n v i ct i o n s an d rem an d t o t h e t ri al co u rt fo r res en t en ci n g

. W e fi n d n o

ad d it i o n al erro r, an d t h erefo re affi rm M at h i s ’ rem ai n in g co n v i ct i o n s.

Vi ewed i n t h e l i g h t m o s t fav o rab l e t o t he v erd ict

, t he ev i den ce r e v e a l e d t h at

M at hi s s erv ed as t h e el ect ed ch i ef m ag i s t rat e o f Fl o y d Co u n t y

. M at h i s al s o o wn ed a

cat t le farm

. At v ari ou s t i m es t h ro u gh o u t 2 0 0 8 an d 2 0 09

, M at h i s ap pro ach ed at l eas t

1 3 p o t en ti al i n v es t o rs t o s o l i ci t fu n d s fo r an i n ves t m en t i n cat t le. Acco rd i ng t o t h e

v i ct i m s , m o s t of wh o m had k n o wn M at h i s fo r a su b st an t i al len g t h o f t i m e, M at h i s

p ro p os ed p u rch as i n g t h e cat tl e an d m ai n t ai n i n g t h em o n h i s farm

, breed i n g t h em , an d

t h en s el l i n g th em fo r a pro fi t

, s p l i t t i ng th e pro fi t wi t h t h e v ict i m s

. C o l l e c t i v el y , t h e

v i ct i m s gav e M at h i s in ex ces s of $ 89 8 ,0 0 0. W it h l i m i t ed ex cep ti o n s, 2 M at h i s fai l ed

2 F o r e x a m

p le, M at h i s rep ai d t h ree earl y v ict i m s i n fu l l an d a fo u rt h earl y

v i ct i m al m os t in fu l l

, b u t t h en o n l y p ai d o n e co u p le $ 5,0 0 0 fo l lo wi n g t h ei r o ri g i n al

i n v es t m en t o f $ 5 9 ,5 0 0 an d g av e an o t h er c o u pl e $ 1 ,4 0 0 an d o n e h ead o f b eef fo r

s l au g h t er fo ll o wi n g t h ei r o ri g i n al i n ves t m en t o f $ 2 5,0 0 0

.

2t o rep ay t h e v i ct i m s an y o f t h e m o n ey t h ey in v es ted o r an y ret u rn o n t hei r i n v es t m en t

.

On s ev eral o ccas io n s , M at hi s g av e a ch eck t o a v i ct i m rep res en t i n g t h e v i ct i m ’ s

o r i g i n al in v es t m en t an d t h ei r p ro fi t ; h o wev er, t h o s e ch eck s were di s h o n o red u p o n

p r e s e n t m e n t fo r i n s u ffi ci en t fu n d s

. Of t h e 1 3 v i ct i m s, 5 were o v er th e ag e o f 6 5.

M at hi s ’ s ch em e b eg an t o u nrav el wh en o n e o f t h e v i ct i m s recei v ed a b ad ch eck fo r

$ 6 1 ,0 0 0 fro m M at h i s a n d rep o rt ed t h e ch eck t o t h e Ro m e J u d i ci al Ci rcu i t Di s t ri ct

At t o rn ey ’ s Offi ce. L o cal au th o ri t i es co nt act ed t h e Geo rg i a Bu reau o f In ves t i g at i o n,

wh i ch i n v es ti g at ed an d d et ai l ed M at h i s ’ s ch em e.

1

. M at h is fi rs t co n t en d s t h at t h e t ri al co u rt erred b y i n s t ru ct i n g t h e j u ry t h at i t

“ m a y, i f y o u ch o os e, rev iew th e d et ai l s o f each ch arg e” o f t h e i nd i ct m en t d u r i n g

d el i b erat i o n s

. Acco rd in g t o M at h i s , t h e t ri al co u r t ’s i n s t ru ct i o n es s en t i al ly t o l d t h e

ju ry i t w as n o t n eces s ary t o read t h e i n d i ct m en t

, wh i ch was p art i cu larl y h arm fu l g i v en

t h e s h e e r s i ze an d t ech n i cal n at u re o f t h e i nd i ct m en t. Ho wev er, i n v i ew o f t h e ju ry

ch arg e i n i ts en ti ret y , we fi nd n o rev ers i b l e erro r.

Aft er t he t ri al co u rt ad m i n i s t ered t he o at h t o t he v en i re p an el , b u t b efo re ju ry

s el ect i o n , t h e t ri al co u r t r e a d th e 5 2 -co u n t i n d i ct m en t i n i t s en t i ret y t o t h e p an el

.

Th ereaft er, i n ad m i n i s t eri n g t h e oat h t o t h e ju ro rs s el ect ed fo r tri al

, t h e t r i a l c o u r t

n o t ed t h at M at h is was “ ch arg ed wi th fo u r co u n t s o f d ep o s i t acco u n t frau d

, 1 3 co u n t s

3o f t h eft b y tak i n g , 1 3 co un t s o f t h eft b y co n v ers i o ns , 1 4 co u n t s o f t h eft b y d ecep t i o n,

fi ve co u n t s o f ex p lo i t at i o n o f [an ] el d er p ers o n , o n e co u n t o f f o r g ery i n t h e fi rs t

d eg ree, o n e co u nt o f d am ag i n g , d es t ro y i n g an d s ecret i ng pro p ert y t o d efrau d an o t h er

an d o n e co u n t o f v i ol at i o n o f o at h o f pu b l i c o ffi ce fo r a t o t al o f 5 2 co un t s

. . . .”

Fo l l o wi ng t h e ch arg e co n feren ce, t h e t ri al co u rt n o t ed t h at t h e p art i es ag reed “ t h e

Co u rt co u l d s um m ari ze t h e i n d i ct m en t i n t h e s am e fas h i o n i t d i d wh en i t ad m i n i s t ered

t h e oat h t o t h e ju ry .” As a res u l t

, t h e t ri al co u rt ch arg ed t h e j u ry th at Mat h i s was

ch arg ed wi t h “ 5 2 offen s es co n si s t i n g o f 4 co u n t s o f d ep o s i t acco u n t frau d

, 1 2 co u n t s

o f t h eft b y t ak i n g , 1 3 co u nt s o f t h eft b y co n v ers i o n , 1 4 co un t s o f t h eft b y d ecep t i o n,

5 co u n t s o f ex p l o i t at i o n o f an el d er p ers o n , o n e co u n t o f fo rg ery i n t h e fi rs t d eg ree,

o n e co un t o f d am ag i n g , d es t ro y i n g an d s ecret i n g p ro p ert y an d o ne co u n t o f vi o l at i o n

o f o at h o f p u b l i c o f

f i c e.” Th e t ri al co u rt fu rt h er i n s t ru ct ed t h e j u ry t h at “ [y ] o u wi l l

h av e t h e i n d i ct m en t o u t wi th y o u i n t h e ju ry ro o m d uri n g th e del i b erat i o n s , at wh i ch

t i m e y o u m ay , i f y o u ch o o s e, rev i ew th e d et ai l s o f each ch arg e.” Tri al co u n s el d i d n ot

o b ject t o t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s i n s t ru ct i o n at t h e cl o s e o f i t s ch arg e. M at h i s n o w co n t en d s

t h at t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s i n s tru ct i o n t o t h e j u r y t h a t i t “ m ay , i f y ou ch o os e, rev i ew t h e

d et ai ls o f each ch arg e” i s erro r.

4As a t hres h o l d m at t er, b ec a u s e M a t h i s fai l ed t o rai s e t h i s arg u m en t as a

“ s p eci fi c o b

j ect i o n an d t h e g ro u n d s fo r s u ch o b ject i on b ef

o r e t h e j u ry [ret i red ] to

d el i b erat e,” OCGA § 1 7 -8 -5 8 (a), t h e arg u m en t h as b een wai v ed

. See OCGA § 1 7 -8

-

5 8 (b ). No n et h el es s , we are req u i red t o ev al u a t e th e al l eg ed l y erro neo u s ju ry

i n s t ru ct i o n fo r p l ai n erro r. See O CGA § 1 7 -8 -5 8 (b ); S ta t e v. Kel ly

, 2 9 0 Ga. 2 9

, 3 2 -3 3

(2 ) (a) (7 1 8 SE2 d 2 3 2 ) (2 0 1 1 ); Reyes v. S t at e , 3 22 Ga. Ap p. 4 9 6

, 5 0 1 (4 ) (7 4 5 SE2 d

7 3 8 ) (2 0 1 3 ). W h en an al y zi ng ju ry i n s t ru ct i o n s fo r p l ai n erro r, w e co n s i d er fo u r

p ro n gs :

Fi rs t , t h ere m

u s t b e an erro r o r d efect

— so m e s ort o f d ev i at i o n fro m a

l eg al ru le

— t h at h as n o t b een i n t en t io n al l y rel i n q u i s h ed o r ab an d o n ed

, i .e., affi rm at i vel y wai v ed

, b y t h e ap p el l an t

. Seco n d

, th e l eg al erro r m u s t

b e cl ear o r o bv io u s , rat h er t h an s u b ject t o reas o n ab l e d i sp u te. Th i rd

, th e

erro r m u s t hav e affect ed t h e ap p el l an t’ s s u b s t an t i al ri g h t s , wh i ch i n th e

o rd i nary cas e m ean s h e m u s t d em o n st rat e t h at it affect ed t h e o ut co m e o f

t h e t ri al co u rt p ro ceed i n gs

. Fo u rt h an d fi n al l y , i f t h e ab o v e t h ree p ro n g s

are s at i s fi ed

, t h e a p p e l l a t e co u rt h as t he d is cr et i o n t o rem ed y t he erro r

— d i s cret i o n wh i ch o u g h t t o b e ex erci s ed on l y i f t h e erro r s eri o us l y

affect s t h e fai rn es s, i n t eg ri t y or p u b li c rep u t at i o n o f ju d i ci al

p ro ceed i n g s . (Em

ph as i s i n o ri g i n al

. )

Reyes

, 32 2 Ga. Ap p

. at 50 1 (4 ) (ci t i ng Kel l y , 2 9 0 Ga. at 3 3 (2 ) (a)). “ St at ed m o re

s u cci n ct l y , t h e pro per i n q u i ry i s w he the r t he i n s t ru ct i o n was erro n eo u s , wh et h er i t was

5o b v i o u s l y s o , an d wh et h er it l i k el y affect ed th e o u t co m e of t h e p ro cee d i n g s

. ”

(Ci t at i o n an d p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed .) Al vel o v. S t a te

, 2 9 0 Ga. 6 0 9

, 6 1 4 (5 ) (7 2 4 SE2 d

3 7 7 ) (2 0 12 ). To t h at en d

, “ ju ry i n s tru ct i o ns m

u s t b e read an d co n si dered as a wh o l e

i n det erm i n i n g w h e t h er t h e ch arg e co n t ai n ed erro r.” (Ci t at i o n s an d pu n ct u at i o n

o m it t ed .) Reyes , 3 2 2 Ga. Ap p . at 5 0 1 (4 ).

Pret erm it t i n g t he rem ai n in g p ro n gs o f t h e p l ai n erro r an al y s is

, w e co n cl u d e t h at

M at hi s can n o t d em o n s t rat e t he t h i rd p ro n g : t h at an erro r in t h e tri al co urt ’ s ch arg e

“ affect ed t h e o u tco m e o f t h e t ri al co u rt p ro ceed i n g s .” R eyes , 3 2 2 Ga. Ap p

. at 5 0 1 (4 ).

Se e a l s o H

e n d er s o n v. S t a te

, 3 2 0 Ga. Ap p

. 5 5 3, 5 6 2 (8 ) (7 4 0 SE2 d 28 0 ) (2 0 1 3 )

( “ [ P ] ret erm i t t i n g wh et h er t h e fi rs t

, s eco n d

, o r fo u rt h p ro n g s were sat i sfie d, H e nde r son

fai l ed t o s at i s fy t h e t h i rd .”). Up o n rev i ew o f t h e i n s t ru ct io ns as a wh o l e, t he t ri al co u rt

reci ted t h e ch arg es ag ai n s t M at hi s an d pro p erl y i n s t ru ct ed t h e ju ry o n th e p res u m p t i o n

o f i n n o cen ce, t h at n o co n vi ct i o n co u l d res u l t “ u n les s an d u n t il each el em en t o f t h e

cri m e i s p ro v en t o y ou b ey o n d a reas o n ab l e d o u b t ,” th at t h e St at e b o re t h e b u rd en “ to

p ro v e ev ery m at eri al al l eg at i o n o f t h e i n di ct m en t an d ev ery es s en t i al el em en t o f t h e

cri m e ch arg ed b ey o n d a reas o n ab l e d o u bt ,” an d t h at t he bu rd en of p ro o f n ev er s h i ft s

t o t he d efen d an t

. See, e.g ., i d

.

6In ad d i t i o n , t h e t ri al co urt ’ s i n s t ru ct i o n co m p o rt s w i t h t h e rel ev an t p at t ern ju ry

i n s t ru ct i o n s fo r t h e o ffen s es ch arg ed

. See Su g g es t ed Pat t ern J u ry In s t ru ct i o n s , Vo l

.

II: Cri m i nal Cas es , 4 t h ed

. (2 0 07 ) § § 2

. 6 4 .2 0, 2

. 6 4.6 0, 2 .6 4

. 9 0. M o reo v er, t h e t ri al

co u rt em p has i zed t h e im

p o rt an ce o f t h e i n d i ct m en t b y s t at i ng t h at “ i f aft er

co n si d eri n g t h e t es t i m o n y an d ev i d en ce p res en t ed t o y o u to g et h er wi t h t he ch arg e o f

t h e Co u rt y o u s h o u l d fi n d an d b el i ev e b ey o nd a reas o n ab l e d o u b t t h at t h e d efen d an t

. . . d i d

. . . co m

m i t t he o ffen s es a s a l leg ed i n t h e i n di ct m en t

, y o u w o u ld b e au t h o ri zed

as t o each o f s ai d co u nt s to fi n d t h e d efen d an t g u i l t y .” (Em p h as i s s u p p l i ed .) Si m i l arl y ,

t h e v erd i ct fo rm s et o u t each co u n t o f t h e i n di ct m en t s ep a r a t e l y. Fi n al l y , t h e

i n d i ct m en t was p ro v i d ed t o t h e ju ry d uri n g del i berat io n s , an d t h e v erd i ct fo rm

p rep ared fo r t h e ju ry

co n tai ned o n l y

t h o s e ch arg es i n cl u d ed i n t h e i n d i ct m en t

.

In co n cl u s i o n , wh i l e t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s st at em en t t o t h e ju ry t h at i t “ m ay , i f y o u

ch o os e, rev i ew th e det ai l s o f each ch a r g e ” i s i m p reci s e an d s h o u ld b e av o i d ed

, we

co n cl u d e t h at M at hi s h as fai l ed t o d em o n s t rat e t h at t h e st at em en t “ affect ed t h e

o u t co m e o f t he t ri al co u rt p ro ceed i n gs .” See Reyes

, 3 2 2 G a

. Ap p

. at 5 0 1 (4 ).

Acco rd in g ly

, wh en v i ewed i n i t s en t i ret y , w e f i n d th ere i s n o p l ai n erro r in t h e t ri al

co u rt ’ s ch arg e. See Kel l

y , 2 9 0 Ga. at 3 2 -3 3 (2 ) (a); R eyes , 3 2 2 Ga. Ap p

. at 5 0 1 (4 ).

72

. Seco n d

, M at h is co n t en d s t h e tri al co u rt erred in fai l i n g t o m erg e h i s

co n vi ct i o n s fo r t h eft b y co n vers i o n an d t h eft b y d ecep t io n i n t o h i s co n v i ct i o n s fo r

t h e f t b y t ak i n g b ecau s e “ ev en i f [each al leg at i on o f th eft ] i n v o l v e[s ] di ffere n t

el em en t s , t h ey were co nv i ct i o n s fro m t ak i n g t h e s am e m on ey fro m th e s am e v i ct i m .”

W h i l e w e ag ree t hat cert ai n o f M at h i s ’ co nv i ct i o n s s h o u l d h av e m erg ed fo r

s en t en ci n g , we d o n o t ag ree t hat t h eft by co n v ers io n an d t h eft b y decep t i o n m erg e

i n t o t h eft b y

t ak i n g

.

“ W h et her t wo o ffen s es s h o u l d b e m erg ed i s a q u es t i o n o f l aw, an d we ap p ly a

‘ pl ai n l eg al erro r’ s tan d ard of rev i ew.” (Ci t at i on o m i t t ed .) La vi g n e v. S t a te

, 2 9 9 Ga.

Ap p . 7 1 2 , 7 1 4 (2 ) (6 8 3 SE2 d 6 5 6 ) (2 0 0 9 ). OCGA § 1 6-1 -7 (a) p ro vi d es t h at

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

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

He m ay n ot , h o wev er, b e co n v i ct ed o f m o re t h an o n e cri m e i f:

(1 ) On e cri m e i s i n cl u d ed i n t h e o th er; o r

( 2 ) T h e cri m es d i ffer o n l y i n t h at o n e is d efi n ed t o p ro hi bi t a

d es i gn at ed k in d o f co n du ct g en eral l y an d t h e o t h er t o p ro h i b i t a s p eci fi c

i n s t an ce o f s u ch co n du ct

.

8Here, Mat h i s wa s c h arg ed wi t h t h eft b y t ak i n g , t h eft b y decep t i o n, 3 an d t h eft by

co n vers io n

. 4 Un d er OCGA § 1 6 -8 -2

, “ [a] p ers o n co m m it s t h e o ffen s e o f t h eft by

t ak i n g wh en h e u nl awfu l l y t a k es o r, b ei n g in l awfu l p o s s es s i on t h ereo f, u n l awfu l l y

ap p ro p ri at es an y p ro p ert y o f an o t h er wi t h t he i n t en t io n of d ep r i v i n g h i m o f t h e

p ro p ert y , r eg a r d l es s of t he ma nn er i n wh i ch t h e p r o p er t y i s t a ken o r a

pp r o p r i a t ed

. ”

(Em p h as i s s u p p li ed .) As a res u l t

,

[u ] n d er t h e [t h eft b y t ak i ng ] s t at u te, th e p h ras e “ reg ard les s o f t h e m an n er

i n wh i c h t h e p ro p ert y i s t ak en o r ap p ro pri at ed ” i s a cat ch -al l p h ras e

ren d eri n g o u r t h eft b y t ak i n g s t at ut e bro ad en o u g h t o en co m p as s t h eft b y

c o n v e rs io n , t h eft b y decep t i on o r an y o t h er o f t h e m y ri ad an d e v e n

y et -t o -b e-co n co ct ed s ch em es fo r d ep ri v i n g p eo p l e o f t h ei r p ro p ert y

.

Th u s , t h e [S] t at e m ay i n d i ct s o m eo n e fo r t heft b y t ak in g , b ut p ro v e t h eft

b y d ecep t i o n

. . . . Or, t h e [S] t at e m ay p ro ve t h eft b y

co nv ers i o n

. . . .

3 “ A p ers o n co m

m it s th e offen se o f t h eft b y d ecep t i o n w h en h e o bt ai ns p ro p ert y b y an y d ecei tfu l m ean s o r art fu l p ract i ce w i t h t h e in t en t i o n o f d ep ri v i n g t h e o wn er o f

t h e p ro p ert y .” OCGA § 1 6 -8 -3 (a).

4 Th eft b y co nv ers i o n o ccu rs wh en , “ h av i n g l awfu l l y o b t ai n ed fu n d s o r o t h er

p ro p ert y o f an o t h er i ncl u d i n g , bu t n o t l i m i t ed t o , l eas ed o r ren ted p ers o n al p ro p ert y ,

u n d er an ag reem en t o r o t h er k n o wn l eg al o bl i g at i o n t o m ak e a s p eci fi ed ap p l i cat i o n

o f s uch fu n d s o r a s p eci fi ed d i s p o s it i o n o f s u ch pro p ert y , h e k n o wi n gl y co nv ert s t h e fu n d s or pro pert y t o hi s o w n u se i n v i o lat i on o f th e ag reem en t o r l e g a l o b l i g at i o n.” OCGA § 1 6 -8 -4 (a).

9Pa t t er

s o n v. S t a t e , 2 89 Ga. Ap p

. 6 6 3

, 6 6 5 -6 6 6 (1 ) ( 6 5 8 S E 2 d 21 0 ) (2 0 0 8). Us i n g

Co u n t s 2 t h ro u g h 4 as an ex am p l e, t h e i n di ct m en t al l eg ed t h at Mat h i s , “ BETW EEN

THE 1 8 t h D AY O F FEBRUARY, 2 0 0 8 AND THE 8 th DAY OF J ULY, 2 0 1 0 ” d id

“ unla w f ully a p pr o pri at e [$ 2 5 ,0 0 0 ] wi t h th e i n t en t i on o f d ep ri v i n g [t h e v i ct i m s ] o f sa id

p ro p ert y ”; d i d “ kn o wi n g l y co n v ert [$ 2 5 ,0 0 0] t o h i s / h er o w n u se i n vi ol at i o n o f [an ]

ag reem en t an d l eg al o b l i g at io n [t o m ak e a s p eci fi ed d i s p o s i t i o n o f t h e p ro p ert y ] ”; an d

d i d o b tai n $ 2 5 ,0 0 0 fro m

t h e v i ct i m s

wi t h t h e i n t en t i o n o f d ep ri v i n g t h e [v i ct i m s ] o f s ai d p ro p ert y b y d ecei t fu l

m ean s an d art fu l p r a c t i ce b y CREATING THE IM PRESSION THAT

SAID M ONEY W AS TO BE USED TO PURCHASE CATTLE, THE

OW NERSHIP OF W HICH W AS TO BE SHARED W H EN [M ATHIS]

HAD NO INTENTION O F PURCHASI N G CATTLE FOR SHARED

OW NERSHIP[.] (Em

p h as i s i n o ri g i n al .)

In s ho rt

, t h en , fo r t h e s ol i ci t at i on o f a s in g l e su m o f m o n ey fro m each o f 1 3 s ep arat e

v i ct i m s , t h e St at e i n d i ct ed M at h i s fo r t h eft b y t ak i n g, t h eft b y co n vers i o n , an d t h eft

b y d ecep t i o n , res u l t i n g i n 1 3 co u n t s 5 o f each cri m e. 6

5 A fo u rt een t h co u n t o f t heft by d ecep t i o n (Co u n t 2 5 ) was t h e res u l t o f o n e o f

t h e 1 3 vi ct i m ’ s s o n s’ p art i ci p at i o n i n t h e v i ct im ’ s i n v es tm en t

.

6 Co m p are Ki l b y v. S t a te

, 3 3 5 Ga. Ap p

. 2 3 8

, 2 4 4 (3 ) (7 8 0 SE2 d 4 1 1 ) (2 0 1 5 ) (n o

m erg er o f m

u l t ip l e co un t s o f t h eft b y t ak i n g w h e re d efen d an t t oo k m o n ey fro m

m u lt i p l e vi ct i m s ); Ar no l d v. S t a t e , 2 9 3 Ga. Ap p

. 39 5

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

10W e n o t e th at t h eft b y t ak i n g p ro s cri b es cert ai n cri m in al co n d u ct g en eral l y ,

wh i le t h eft b y co n v ers i o n an d t heft b y d ecep ti o n are sp eci fi c cri m es

. 7 As a res u l t

, we

co n cl u d e t h at M at h is ’ co n vi ct i o n s fo r t h eft b y t ak i n g m erg e p u rs uan t t o OCGA § 1 6

-

1

- 7 ( a ) ( 2 )

. 8 Cf. Ad

ki n s v. S t a te

, 3 0 1 Ga. 1 5 3, 1 6 0 -1 6 1 (4 ) (8 0 0 SE2 d 3 4 1 ) (2 0 1 7 )

(g en eral cri m e o f ag g rav at ed as s au l t wi t h a d ead l y weap on (OCGA § 1 6-5 -2 1 (b ) (2 ))

m erg ed i nt o s p eci fi c cri m e o f ag g rav at ed as s au lt b y d i s ch arg i n g a fi rearm fro m wi t h in

a m ot o r veh icl e (OCGA § 1 6 -5 -2 1 (b ) (4 ))); S p ur g eo n v. S t a t e , 2 14 Ga. Ap p

. 2 2 7

(4 4 7 SE2 d 1 6 4 ) (1 9 9 4 ) (d i ct a t h at “ t h eft b y tak i ng ch arg es m erg ed wi t h t h e [t h eft b y ]

d ecep t i o n ch arg es ”); Ta l l ey v. S t a t e , 2 0 0 Ga. Ap p

. 4 4 2

, 44 6 ( 4 ) (4 08 SE2 d 4 6 3 )

(1 9 9 1) (i n p art i al rel i an ce u p o n OCGA § 1 6 -1 -7 (a) (2 ), g en eral cri m e o f p o s s es s i o n

o f m ari ju an a m erg ed wi t h s p eci fi c cri m e o f p os s es si o n o f m a r i j u a n a w i th i n t en t to

d i s t ri b u t e). Bu t s ee Ken n ed y v. S t a t e , 2 0 5 Ga. Ap p

. 15 2

, 1 5 6 (5 ) (a) (4 2 1 SE2 d 5 6 0 )

(n o m erg er wh ere d efen dan t t o o k s u m s fro m s am e v ict i m

o n s ep arat e o ccas i o n s).

7 Fo r t h i s reas on , th e “ req u i red ev i d en ce” t es t i s n o t ap p l i cab l e. See Dr i n ka r d

v. W a l ker

, 2 8 1 G a. 2 11

, 2 1 6, n

. 3 2 (6 3 6 SE2 d 5 3 0 ) (2 0 0 6 ); S t u ar t v. S ta t e , 3 1 8 Ga. Ap p . 8 3 9 , 8 4 3 (7 3 4 SE2 d 8 1 4 ) (2 0 1 2 ) (s am e).

8 Becau s e t h eft b y t ak i n g i s t h e m o re gen eral cri m e an d Mat h i s ’ s en ten ces fo r

t h eft b y t ak i n g m

u st b e v acat ed

, s ee OCGA § 1 6 -1 -7 (a) (2 ), we n eed n o t d e c i d e in

t h e fi rs t i n s t an ce wh et h er t h eft b y tak i n g m erg es i n t o t h eft b y co n v ers i o n o r t h eft by

d ecep t i o n

.

11(1 9 9 2) (d i ct a t hat “ t h eft by co n v ers i o n was m erg ed i n t o [a] t h eft b y t ak in g co n v i ct i o n

at s en t en ci n g ”); Jo h n s o n v. S t a t e , 1 30 Ga. Ap p

. 1 3 4

, 1 3 7-1 3 8 (3 ) (2 0 2 S E2 d 5 2 5 )

(1 9 7 3) (p h y s i cal p reced en t o n l y ) (s p eci fi c cri m e o f t h eft o f m o t o r v eh i cl e m erg ed i n to

g en eral cri m e of t heft b y t ak i n g ). Pa t t er s o n , s up ra, an d s i m il ar cas es d o n o t m an d at e

a d i fferen t res ul t

, i n as m

u ch as t h o s e cas es ad d res s t h e s u f fi ci en cy o f t h e ev i d en ce

rel at i v e t o p ro o f o f t h eft by co n v ers i o n o r t h eft by d ecep t i o n fo l l o w i n g an i n d i ct m en t

fo r t heft b y t ak i n g , rat h er t h an t h e p ot en t i al m erg er of t h os e ch arg es

. See, e.g .,

Pa t t er s o n , 2 8 9 Ga. Ap p

. at 6 6 5 -6 6 6 (1 ); B ra d fo r d v. St a t e , 2 6 6 Ga. Ap p . 1 9 8

, 2 0 1

-

2 0 2 (2 ) (5 9 6 SE2 d 7 1 5 ) (2 0 0 4 ); McMa ho n v. S ta t e , 2 5 8 Ga. Ap p

. 51 2

, 5 1 4 -5 1 5 (1 )

(5 7 4 SE2 d 5 4 8 ) (2 0 02 ). A cco rd i n g l y , we v acat e M at h i s ’ s en t en ces fo r t h eft b y t ak i n g

an d rem an d t h i s cas e t o t h e t ri al co u rt fo r res en t en ci n g

. 9

9 Becau s e t h eft b y co n v ers i o n an d t h eft b y decep t i o n each req u ire p ro o f o f an el em en t o r fact wh ich t h e o th er d o es n o t

, t h es e co n v i ct i o n s d o n o t m erg e as a m at t er

o f fact o r l aw. Co m

p are OCGA § § 1 6 -8 -3 w i t h 1 6 -8 -4

. See Dr in ka r d

, 2 8 1 Ga. at 2 1 3,

2 1 5 ; La vi g n e , 29 9 Ga. Ap p

. at 7 1 4 -7 1 5 (2 ). M o reo v er, as M at h i s has n o t al l eg ed t h at
h i s co n v i ct i o n s fo r t h eft b y co n v ers i on (wh i ch req u ires l awfu l p o s s es s i o n o f “ fu nd s

o r ot h er p ro p ert y o f an o t h er”; s ee OCGA § 16 -8 -4 (a)) an d t h eft by d ecep ti o n (wh i ch

req u i r e s an u n lawfu l t ak i n g “ b y an y d ecei t fu l m ean s o r art fu l pract ice”; s ee OCGA § 1 6-8 -3 (a)) rep res en t a m u t u al l y ex cl u s i v e v erd ict an d si nce h e d i d n o t o b ject t o t h e

v erd i ct fo rm , t hat i s su e h as been wai v ed

. See Peo p l es v. S t a t e , 2 9 5 Ga. Ap p

. 7 3 1

, 7 3 4 (6 7 3 S E2 d 8 2) (2 0 0 9 ) (“ s i n ce [t h e defen dan t ] do es n ot co n t en d o n ap p eal t h at t h e cri m es at i ss u e h ere are m u t u al l y ex cl u s i v e, we d o no t reach t h e i s s u e”); S m i t h v. S t a t e , 2 8 2 Ga. Ap p . 3 3 9 , 3 4 1 (1 ) (6 3 8 SE2 d 7 9 1 ) (2 0 0 6 ) (“ A d efen d an t wai v es an y

arg u m en t t h at t he v e r d i ct co nt ai n s m ut u al l y ex cl u si ve fi n d i n gs o r i s o t h erwi s e

12Ju d

g men t a f f i r med i n p a r t

, va ca t ed i n p a r t

, a n d ca s e r e m a n d

ed f o r

r es en t en ci ng . Di l l a r d

, C. J., a n d

Ra y, P. J., co n cu r

.

i n co n s i s t en t

, co n fu s i n g , o r i rreg u l ar i f h e fai l s t o o b ject t o t h e fo rm o f th e v erd i ct .”).

13