FI RST DI VI SI ON

BA RNES, P. J.

, GOBEI L and PI PKI N, JJ.

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

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

D E A D LIN E S A R E N O LO N G E R TO LLE D IN T

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

.

Febr uar y 25, 2021



# I n th e Co u r t o f

A p p eals o f

G eo r g ia

A2 0 A1 62 6 . CHILDERS v . THE STATE.

G O B E I L
, J u d g e.

Fo l l owi n g a b en ch t ri al

, Bai l ee Ch i l d ers was co n v i c t e d o f a s i n g l e

m i s d em ean o r co u n t of fu rn i s hi n g a vap o r p ro d u ct t o a m i n o r. Ch i l d ers ap p eal s ,

arg u i n g : (1 ) t h e t ri al co u rt erred i n ad m i t ti n g t h e p ro d u ct l ab el as an ex cep t i o n t o t h e

ru l e ag ai n s t h ears ay ; an d (2 ) t h ere was i n s u ffi ci en t ev i d en ce t o s u st ai n h er co n v i ct i o n.

Fo r t h e reas o n s t h at fo ll o w, we affi rm

.

“ Up o n a fi n d i n g o f g u i l t fo l l o wi n g a b en ch t ri al

, th e p res u m p t i o n o f i nn o cen ce

n o l on g er ap p li es , an d o n ap p eal

, t h e ap p el l at e co urt co n s t ru es t he ev i d en ce i n fav o r

o f t h e ju d g e’ s fi n d i n g s o f fact .” Ma s o n v. St a te

, 3 5 3 G a. Ap p

. 4 0 4

, 40 8 (3 ) (8 3 7 SE2 d

7 1 1 ) (2 0 2 0 ) (ci t at io n an d pu n ct u at i o n o m i tt ed ). So v i ewed

, t he ev i d en ce s h o ws t h at

d u ri n g t h e s u m

m er o f 2 0 1 9

, th e Ch ero k ee Co u n ty M ars h al l ’ s Offi ce co n d u ct ed aco u nt y -wi d e “ Vap e Pro d u ct Un d erag e Sal es Co m p l i an ce Ch eck ” (t h e “ Op erat i o n ”).

Th e g en eral o b

ject i ve s o f t h e O p erat i on were t o co nd u ct co m p l i an ce in s p ect i o n s at

r e t ai l es t ab l i sh m en ts l ocat ed i n Ch ero k ee Co u n t y , an d arres t o r o b t ai n warran t s fo r

i n d i v i d u al s s el l i n g an y v ap o r p ro d u ct t o m i n ors

. E ach t eam in t h e Op erat i o n was

as s i g n ed at l eas t o n e u n d erag e o p erat i v e.

As rel ev an t h ere, o n J ul y 2 5

, 2 0 1 9, Serg ean t M ary Tu rn er o f t h e Can t on Po l i ce

Dep art m en t was as s i g n ed as t h e l ead l aw en fo rcem en t offi cer o f T e a m 5 o f t h e

Op erat i o n

. Team 5 was t as k ed t o co n d u ct a co m p l i an ce ch eck at t h e O L E 5 Vap o r

s t ore l o cat ed at 4 0 4 7 Mari et t a Hi g h way , Su i t e 1 0 0A, Can t o n , Geo rg i a (t h e “ St o re”).

Two h i g h s ch o o l s t u d en t s , J

. D. an d A. Z

., bo t h ag ed 1 6 at t h e t i m e , s erv ed as t h e

u n d erag e o p erat i v es fo r Team 5

. As p art o f t h e Op erat i o n , J

. D. an d A

. Z

. en t ered t h e

St o re a n d p u r c h as ed a b o t t le co n t ai n i n g a m an g o fl av o red n i co t i ne s al t

. Th e s t o re

cl erk

, Ch i l d ers , d id n o t as k fo r p ro o f o f ag e fro m ei t h er o f t h e t w o o p erat i v es

. Aft er

co m p l et i n g t h e t ran s act i on , J

. D. an d A. Z. ex i t ed t h e st o re an d p ro v i d ed t h e un o p en ed

p ro d uct t o Offi cer Lu i s Sal as , wh o i n t urn p h o t o g rap h ed t he ev i d en ce.

2Serg ean t Tu rn er t h en en t ered th e s t o re an d sp o k e t o Ch i l d ers , wh o was t h e o n l y

p ers o n i n s i d e t he s to re at th e t i m e. 1 W h en qu es t io n ed b y T u rn er, Ch i ld ers n ev er

d en ied th at s h e s o l d th e n ico t i n e s a l t t o J

. D. an d A. Z .; rat h er Ch i l ders m ai n t ai n ed

t h at s h e d i d n o t k n o w t h at t h ey were u nd erag e.

Th ereaft er, Ch il d ers was ch arg ed b y accu s at i o n wi t h o ne co u n t o f fu rn i s h i n g

a v ap o r p ro d u ct to a m i n or, i n v i o l at i o n of OCGA § 1 6 -1 2 -1 71 (a) (1 ) (A). On t h e d ay

o f tri al

, Ch i l d ers fi l ed a m o t i o n i n l i m i n e, (1 ) s eek in g to p rev en t t h e St at e’ s wi t n es s es

f r o m o p i n i n g o r ot herwi s e referri n g “ t o t h e co n ten t s o f a cert ai n bo t t l e o f ap p aren t

l i qu i d s ei zed as a ‘ v ap o r p ro d u ct ’ or as co n t ai n i ng n i co t i n e”; an d (2 ) arg u i n g t h at t h e

l ab el o n t h e b o t t l e, wh ich i d en t i fi ed t h e co n t en t s as “ ni c o t i n e s al t ,” co ns t i t u t ed

i n ad m is s i b le h ears ay

.

At t ri al

, Ch i l d ers ob

ject ed t o Serg ean t Tu rn er an s weri n g a q u es ti o n ab o u t t h e

t y p e of p ro d u ct t h at t h e m i no rs had p u rch as ed fro m Ch i ld ers as part o f t h e Op erat i o n.

Bo t h s i d es t h en p res en t ed arg u m en t o n Ch i l d ers ’ s m o t i o n in l i m i ne, bu t t h e t ri al co u rt

res erv ed i t s ru l i ng u n t i l t h e cl o s e o f ev i d en ce. Th e co u rt l at er p erm i t t ed t h e St at e to

en t er i n to ev i d en ce a p h o t o g rap h o f t h e p ro du ct t h at Ch i l d ers s o ld t o t h e t wo u n d erag e

1 Bo t h J . D. an d A. Z. id en t ifi ed Ch i l d ers as t h e s t o re em p l o y ee wh o h ad s o ld

t h em t h e p ro d u ct

.

3o p erat i v es , i n cl ud i n g i t s l ab el

, s u b ject to Ch i l d ers ’ s earl i er h ears ay o b j ect i o n

. T h e

l ab el i d en t i fi ed t h e pro d uct as a “ RAM To p -Off 4 5 M G n i co t i n e s al t b o tt l e,” as wel l

as an “ e-ci g l i q u id o r fl u i d.” 2

At t h e cl o se o f ev i d en ce, th e t ri al co u rt o ral l y d en i ed Ch il d ers ’ s m o ti o n , fi n d i n g

t h at t h e b o t t l e’ s l ab el

— wh i ch cl earl y d en o t ed t h e p ro du ct as a n i co t i ne p ro d u ct t o

b e u sed i n e-ci g aret tes an d n o t s o l d t o i nd i v i d u al s u n d e r t h e ag e o f 2 1

— was

ad m i s s i b l e un d er O CGA § 2 4 -8 -8 0 3

. 3 Im m ed i at el y t h ere a f

t er, t h e co u rt fo u n d

Ch i ld ers g u i l ty as ch arg ed

, an d s en t en ced her t o a t erm o f 1 2 m o n t hs t o b e s erv ed o n

p ro b at i o n . Th e i n s t an t ap p eal fo l l o wed

.

1

. Ch i ld ers as s ert s t hat th e t ri al co urt erred in ru l i n g t hat th e pro d u ct ’ s l ab el fel l

wi t h i n an ex cep t i o n t o t h e ru l e ag ai n s t hears ay

. Sh e co n t en ds th at ab s en t t h e

ad m i s s i o n of t h e p ro d u ct ’ s l ab el

, t h e tri al co u rt wo u ld n o t h av e fo u n d h er g u i l t y o f t h e

ch arg ed offen s e.

2 Th e co p y o f Ex hi b i t 5 s u b m i t t ed w i th t h e reco rd o n ap p eal i s dark an d l arg el y

u n read ab l e. N ev ert hel es s, Ch il d ers co n ced es i n h er b ri ef t h at t h e “ l ab el co n t ai n ed t h e

t erm s ‘ [n ] i co t i ne s al t ,’ ‘ ad d i ct i ve,’ ‘ n i c s al t e-l iq u i d ,’ an d a warn i n g t h at t hi s ‘ p ro d u ct

co n tai n s n i co t i n e, n i co t i n e i s an ad d i ct iv e ch em i cal .’ ”

3 Th e tri al co u rt ’ s ru l i n g d o es n o t s p eci fy t h e s u bs ect i o n o f OCGA § 2 4 -8 -8 0 3

u n d er w h i ch it fo u n d t h e l ab el ad m i s s i b l e as an ex cep t i on t o t h e ru l e ag ai ns t h ears ay

.

4Th e p art i es d o n o t d is p ut e t h at t h e l ab el o n t h e p r o d u c t i s h ears ay o ffered to

p ro v e th at t h e b o t t l e co n t ai n ed a v ap or p ro du ct . Rat h er, t he p art i es d i s p u t e wh et h er

t h e l ab el was ad m i s s i bl e u n der an ex cep t i o n t o t h e ru l e ag ai n s t h ears ay

. As ex p l ai n ed

b el o w, we co n cl u d e t h at ev en as s u m i ng t h e t ri al co u rt erred

, a n y s u c h erro r was

h arm l es s

.

(a) Fi rs t

, al t h o u gh t h e t ri al co urt d i d n o t s p eci fy u n d er wh i ch s u b s ect i o n o f

OCGA § 2 4 -8 -8 0 3 i t ad m i tt ed t h e l ab el as an ex cep t i o n t o t h e ru l e ag a i n st h ears ay ,

we co n cl u de t h at th e co u rt ad m i t t e d th e l ab el u n d er t h e “ m ark et -rep o rt s -an d

co m m erci al -p u b l i cat io n s ” ex cep t i o n co n tai n e d i n OCGA § 2 4 -8 -8 0 3 (1 7 ) fo r t h e

reas on s t h at fo l l o w.

In i t s o ral ru l i n g o n Ch i l d ers ’ s m ot i o n i n l i m i n e, t h e co u rt ex p lai n ed :

As t o t h e h ears ay o bject i o n

. . . J u d g e Po p e i n [t h e Led f o r d v. S t a t e , 2 3 9

G a

. Ap p

. 2 37 (5 2 0 SE2 d 2 2 5 ) (1 9 9 9 ) (p h y s ical preced en t on l y ) 4 ] c a s e

4 In Led fo r d

, t h e defen d an t

, wh o ack n o wl ed g ed “ h u ffi n g ” p ai nt fro m a s p ray

can , w as ch arg ed u n d er OCGA § 1 6 -1 3 -9 1 wi t h i nh al i n g “ p ai n t co n t ai n i n g acet o n e

an d to l uen e.” 2 3 9 Ga. Ap p

. at 2 3 7 -2 3 8

. Th at Co d e s ect i on p ro hi b it s , fo r t he p u rp o s e

o f cau s i n g , i n t er al i a, i n t o x icat i o n , “ i n t en t i o n al l y s m el l [i n g ] o r i n h al [i n g] t h e fu m es fro m an y m o d el g l ue[.] ” OCGA § 1 6 -1 3 -9 1. In OCGA § 1 6 -1 3 -9 0

, m o d el g l u e i s d efi n ed as an y “ g l u e, cem en t

, s o l v en t

, o r ch em i cal s u b s tan ce co n t ai ni n g o n e o r m o re

o f t he fo l lo wi n g ch em i cal s : [ num e r ous c he m ic a ls liste d, in cl u d in g ] t ol u en e.” T h e o n l y

p ro o f at t ri al o f t h e p res en ce o f t o l u en e in t he pai n t was t he in t ro d u ct io n o f t h e s p ray

p ai n t can , t h e l ab el o f wh i ch l i s t ed t h e i n gred i en t s , i n cl u d i n g t o l u en e. Led f o r d

, 2 3 9

5wro t e t h e d i s sen ti n g o p i ni o n wh i ch aft er t h e ch an g e i n t h e ev i d en ce l aw

t o b ri n g u s m o re i n l i n e wi t h t h e Fed eral ru l es , I b el i ev e i s th e cu rren t

s t at e o f t h e law, an d I b el i ev e b ecau s e o f th at

, t h e lab el

, al t ho u g h

h ears ay , wo u l d b e ad m i s s i b l e u nd er 8 0 3

.

Ch i ld ers co n t en d s t h at t h e t ri al co u rt erred i n fi n d i ng t h e l ab el ad m i s s ib l e u n d er t h e

reas on i n g o f J ud g e Po p e’ s di ss en t i n Led f o r d

, as t h e ru l es o f ev i d en ce h av e ch an g ed

s i nce t h at t i m e. Sp eci fi cal ly

, s h e as s ert s t hat th e t ri al co u rt d i d n o t ci t e to a s p eci fi c

s u b s ect i o n o f O CGA § 2 4 -8 -8 0 3 t o fi n d t h e l ab el ad m i s s i b l e as an ex cep t i o n t o t h e

ru l e ag ai n s t h ears ay ; rat h er, i t erro neo u s l y rel i ed on t h e “ n eces s i t y e x cep t i o n ,” as

d i s cu s s ed b y t h e Led

fo r d di ss en t (an d l at er rep l aced b y th e “ res i d u al ex cep t i o n ” n o w

co d ifi ed at OCGA § 2 4 -8 -8 07 ) t o ad m i t t h e l ab el

.

Th e St at e c o u n t e r s t h at

, al t h o u g h t h e t ri al co u rt di d n o t ci t e t o a s p eci fi c

s u b s ect i o n o f OCGA § 24 -8 -8 0 3 i n h o l d in g t h e l ab el ad m i s si b l e, th e co urt referen ced

OCGA § 2 4 -8 -8 0 3 as t h e b as is u p o n wh i ch i t was ad m i t t i n g t he l ab e l

, a n d f u r t h er

Ga. Ap p. at 2 3 8

. Th i s Co u rt fo u n d t h at t h is hears ay , al o n e, was l eg al l y in su ffi ci en t

t o pro ve t h e p res en ce o f t o l u en e, wh i ch was an e s s e n t i a l el em en t o f th e cri m e ch arg ed

. Id . In h i s d is s en t , J u d g e Po p e ag reed t h at t he l ab el o n t h e can o f p ai n t was h ears ay , b u t pro ceed ed to an al y ze cas e l aw fro m o t h er ju ri s d i ct i o n s t o arg u e t h at “ [a]

l a b e l i n cl ud i n g (rat h er t h an ex cl u d in g ) a h azard o u s s u b s t an ce i s i nh eren t l y

t ru s t wo rt h y , i n th at a m an u fact u rer wo u l d h av e n o in t eres t i n p ro cl ai m i n g t h a t t h e

p ro d uct co n tai n ed s u ch a s u b s t an ce i f i n fact i t d i d n o t .” Id . at 2 43 -2 4 5 (Po p e, P. J

., d i s s en t i n g) (ci tat i o n an d p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed ).

6d i rect ed Ch i l d ers ’ s co u n s el t o rev i ew t h e s peci fi c p ro v i s i o ns o f s u b s ect i o n 1 7 i n o p en

co u rt

. No t ab l y , as h i g h li g h t ed b y t h e co u rt i n i t s o ral ru li n g d en y i n g Ch i l d ers ’ s

m o ti o n i n l i m i n e, t he cas e s J u d g e P o p e ci t ed t o i n h i s Led f o r d d i s s en t al l i n cl u d e

p ro v is i o n s t h at m i rro r R u l e 8 0 3 (1 7 ) of t he Fed eral Ru les o f Ev i d en ce. At t h e t i m e

Led fo r d w a s i ss ued i n 2 0 0 3

, Geo rg i a d i d n o t hav e t h e “ m ark et -rep o rt s -an d

co m m erci al -p u b l i cat io n s ” h ears ay ex cep t i o n n o w co d i fi ed at OCGA § 2 4 -8 -8 0 3 (1 7 )

wh i ch m i rro rs t h e fed eral ru l e. Rat h er, p ri o r t o t he en act m en t o f t he rev i s ed Ev i d en ce

Co d e i n 2 0 1 3

, Geo rg i a co u rt s t y p i cal ly rel i ed o n t h e “ neces s i t y ” ex cep t i o n fo u n d at

OCGA § 2 4 -3 -1 (b ) to ad m it t h is t y p e o f ev i d en ce as an ex cep ti o n t o t h e ru le ag ai n s t

h ears ay

. See Y

a n cey v. S t a t e , 2 7 5 Ga. 55 0

, 5 53 (2 ) (a) (5 7 0 SE2 d 26 9 ) (2 0 0 2 ) (“ To

b e ad m i s s i b l e u n d er [t h e n eces s i t y ] ex cep ti o n, t h e p art y p res en t i n g t he ev i d en ce m u s t

p ro v e t h at t h e d ecl aran t i s u n av ai l ab l e t o t es ti fy at t ri al

, t h e d ecl aran t ’ s o u t -o f-co u rt

s t at em en t i s rel ev an t t o a m at eri al fact an d m ore pro b at iv e o n t h at fact th an o t h er

av ai l ab l e ev i d en ce, an d t h e s t at em en t s h o ws p art i cu l ar g u ara n t ees o f t h e

t ru s t wo rt h in es s .”).

7Bas ed o n t he f o r eg o i n g, we co n cl u de t h at t h e t ri al co u rt i n t h e i n s t an t cas e

ad m i t t ed t h e p ro d uct l ab el u n d er t h e h ears ay ex cep t i o n co nt ai n ed in OCGA § 2 4 -8

-

8 0 3 (1 7). 5

(b ) Gi v en o u r co n cl u s i o n t h at t h e tri al co u rt ad m i t t ed t he l ab el u n d e r t h e

“ m a r ke t- r e por ts- a n d- c om

m e r c ia l- public a tions” e xc e ption c onta in ed in OCGA § 2 4 -8

-

8 0 3 (1 7 ), we n ex t co ns i der wh et h er t h e co u rt erred i n ad m i t t in g t h e l ab el u n d er t h at

s u b s ect i o n

. W h e t h e r t h e l ab el on t h e co n t ai n er o f a v ap o r p ro d u ct co m es wi t h i n an

5 To t h e ex t en t t h at Ch i l d ers as s ert s t h at t h e res i d u al ex cep t i o n, n o w co d i fi ed

at OCGA § 2 4-8 -8 0 7

, d i d n o t ap p l y t o ren d er t h e l ab el ad m is si b l e, t h e t ri al co u rt d id

n o t ad m it t h e l ab el u n d er t h e res i d u al ex cep t io n , as ev i d en ced b y th e fact t h at i t n ev er

m en t i o n ed t h i s ex cep t i o n in i ts ru l i n g

. See Ami ca v. S t a t e , 3 0 7 Ga. A p p

. 2 76

, 2 8 2 (2 ) (7 0 4 SE2 d 8 3 1 ) (2 0 1 0 ) (ex p l ai n i n g t h at t h i s Co urt i s a co u rt fo r co rrect i o n o f erro rs

o f l aw m ad e b y t h e t ri al co u rt

, w h i ch h av e as t h ei r b as es s p eci fi c ru l i ng s m ad e b y t h e

t ri al co u rt

, an d i n t h e ab s en ce o f s u ch a ru l i n g , t h e cl ai m o f erro r p res en t s n ot h i n g fo r

t h i s Co u rt t o rev i ew). In an y ev en t

, t h e St at e cl ari fi es i n i t s b ri ef t h at it d i d n o t m o v e

t o ad m i t th e l ab el u n d e r t h e res i d u al ex cep t i o n , wh ich h as s p eci fi c n o t i ce

req u i rem en t s

. See OCGA § 2 4 -8 -8 0 7 (“ a st at em en t m ay n o t b e ad m it t ed u n d er [t h e

res i du al ex cep t i o n ] u n les s t h e p ro p o n en t o f i t m ak es k n own t o t h e ad v ers e p art y ,

s u ffi ci en t l y i n ad van ce of t h e t ri al o r h eari ng t o p ro v i d e th e ad v ers e p art y wi t h a fai r

o p p o rt u ni t y to p rep are t o m eet it

, t h e p ro p o nen t ’ s i n t en t io n to o ffer t h e s tat em en t an d

t h e p art i cu l ars o f i t”). M o reo v er, as d i s cu s s ed ab o v e, t h e t ri al co u rt ad m i t t ed t h e l ab el

u n d er OCGA § 2 4 -8 -8 03 (1 7 ). See S t a t e v. Ha m i l to n , 3 0 8 Ga. 11 6

, 1 2 4 (3 ) (b ) n

. 1 0 (8 3 9 SE2 d 5 6 0 ) (2 0 2 0) (“ [B] ecau s e t h e res i d u al ex cep t i o n ap p li es o n l y t o st at em en t s

n o t s p eci fi cal l y co v ered b y an y l aw, t ri al co u r t s s h o u l d co n s i d er wh et h er a s p eci fi c

ex cep t i o n t o t h e h ears ay ru le ap p l i es b efo re ap p l y i n g Ru l e 8 0 7. In deed

, Ru l e 8 0 7 ’ s

res i du al h ears ay ex cep ti o n i s des i g n ed t o be u s ed v ery rarel y , an d o n l y i n ex cep t i o n al

ci rcu m s t an ces

. ”) (ci t at i o n s an d p u n ct uat i o n o m it ted ; em ph as i s i n o ri gi n al ).

8ex cep t i o n t o t h e g en eral ru l e ag ai n st h ears ay i s a m at t er o f fi rs t i m p res s io n i n G eo rg i a.

Ru l e 8 0 3 (1 7 ) 6 p ro v i d es t h at “ [m ] ark et q u o t at i o n s , t ab u l at io n s , li s t s , d i rect o ri e s , o r

o t h er p u bl i s h ed co m

pi l at i o n s g en eral l y u s ed an d rel ied u p o n b y t h e p u b l i c o r by

p ers o n s i n t h e wi t nes s’ s p art icu l ar o ccu p at i o n ” are n o t ex cl u d ed b y t h e ru le ag ai n s t

h ears ay

. 7 Ev en as s u m i n g , wi t h o u t deci d i ng , t h at t h e t ri al co u rt erred in ad m i t t i n g t h e

6 Si n ce Geo rg i a ad o p t ed t h e n ew Ev i d en ce Co d e i n 2 01 3

, t hi s Co u rt h as ad d res s ed t h e hears ay ex cep t i o n o u t l i n ed i n Ru l e 80 3 (1 7 ) o n ly o n two o ccas i o n s

. Fi rs t

, i n Al l en v. S ta t e , t h i s Co u rt u p h el d t he t ri al co u rt ’ s ru li n g t h at t es ti m o n y fro m

an i nv es t i g at o r t hat h e ran t h e ro u t i n g n u m ber p ri n t ed o n d efen d an t ’ s ch eck t h ro u g h

a b an k i n g w eb s i t e t o v e ri fy t he ro u t i n g n u m b er’ s v al id i t y was ad m is si b l e, as i t fel l

wi t h i n m ark et -rep o rt s -an d -co m m erci al -p u bl i cat io n s ex cep t i o n to h ears ay ru l e, in

p ro s ecu ti o n fo r m i s d em ean o r t h eft an d fo rg ery cri m es

. 3 4 7 Ga. Ap p

. 7 31

, 7 3 4 -7 3 5 (3 ) (8 2 0 SE2 d 7 4 7 ) (2 0 1 8 ). Ev en t h o u g h t h e i n v es t i g at o r di d n o t t es t i fy t h at t h e web si t e w as rel i ed u p o n b y b an k i n g i n d u s t ry o r po l ice, an o t h er i n v es t i g at o r, wh o was

a fo rm er b an k t el l er, t es t ifi ed at t ri al t h at l aw en fo r c e m e n t an d b an k i n g i n d u s t ry

co m m o n ly u s ed t h e b an k i n g web s i t e t o v eri fy ro u t i ng n um b ers

. Id

. Seco n d

, in

M o r r i s o n v. Ki ckl i

g h t er , we referen ced Ru l e 8 0 3 (1 7 ) an d ex p l ai n ed th at wh ere i d en t i fi ed an d ex p l ai n ed b y ex p ert t es t i m o n y , i n du s try s t an d ard s rel i ed u p o n by

p ers o n s i n t h e wi t nes s’ s p art icu l ar o ccu p at i o n are ad m i s s i b l e as an ex cep t io n t o t h e

ru l e ag ai n s t h ears ay . 3 2 9 Ga. Ap p

. 6 3 0, 6 3 2 (2 ) (a) (7 65 SE2 d 7 7 4 ) (2 0 1 4).

7 Becau s e OCGA § 2 4-8 -8 0 3 m i rro rs Ru l e 80 3 o f t h e F ed eral Ru l es o f

Ev i d en ce, we ty

p i cal ly wo u l d l oo k t o cas e law fro m t he El ev en t h Ci rcu i t fo r g u i d an ce i n i n t erp ret i n g t h at s t at u t e. See Ga. L. 2 0 1 1

, p

. 9 9

, § 1 ; Ba r n u m v. Co a s t a l Hea l th

S vcs

. , 28 8 Ga. Ap p

. 20 9, 2 1 5 (2 ) (b ) (6 5 3 SE2 d 8 16 ) (2 0 0 7). Ho wev er, t h e El ev en th

Ci rcu i t h as y et t o an al y ze t h e ad m i s s i b i l it y o f a p ro d u ct l ab el u n d er an y reco g n i zed

ex cep t i o n t o t h e ru l e ag ai n s t h ears ay , i ncl u d in g u n d er Ru l e 8 03 (1 7 ), an d u n d er t h e

res i du al ex cep t i on co d i fi ed at Fed

. R. E v i d

. 8 0 7

. In fact

, o u r res earch rev eal ed a

s u rp ri s i n g l ack o f an y fed eral ap p el l at e o p i n i o n s ad d res s i n g t h e ad m i ss i b il i t y o f a

p ro d uct l ab el u n der a h ears ay ex cep t io n t o p ro v e i t s co n ten t s.

9l ab el o f th e p ro du ct t h at Ch i l d ers fu rn i s hed t o t h e t wo m i n o rs u n der t h e “ m ark et

rep o rt s -an d -co m

m erci al -p u b l i cat i o n s ” e xc e ption to the r ule a ga inst h e a

r s a y c onta i n ed

i n OCGA § 2 4 -8 -8 0 3 (1 7 ), we co n cl u de t h at an y s u ch erro r was h arm l es s fo r t h e

reas on s o u t l i n ed i n Di v i si o n 2

.

2

. Ch i ld ers arg u es t h at th e ev i d en ce was i n s u ffi ci en t t o su p po rt her co n v i ct i o n.

Th e cru x o f Ch i l d ers ’ s arg u m en t i s t hat t h e St at e fai l ed t o m eet i t s b u rd en t o s h o w

t h at t h e p ro d u ct s h e s o l d t o t he t wo m i n o rs was a “ v ap o r p r o d u c t

. ” Fo r t he reas on s

t h at fo l l o w , we co n cl u d e t h e ev i d en ce was s u ffi ci en t fo r t he tri al co u rt t o fi n d

Ch i ld ers g u i l t y

o f fu rn i s hi n g a v ap o r p ro d uct t o a m in o r.

A p p l yi n g OCGA § 1 6 -1 2 -1 7 1 (a) (1 ) (A) t o t h e s al e o f a v ap o r p ro d u ct t o a

m i n o r ap p ears t o b e o n e o f fi rs t i m p res s i o n i n Geo rg i a. 8 O u r a n al y s i s, t herefo re,

n eces s ari l y

b eg i ns wi t h t h e l an g u ag e of t h e s tat u te. See Ch a n v. El l is

, 2 9 6 Ga. 8 3 8,

8 3 9 (1 ) (7 7 0 SE2 d 8 5 1) (2 0 1 5 ) (“ [a] s t at u t e draws i t s m ean i n g , of co u rs e, fro m i t s

t ex t ”). A s rel ev an t h ere, O CGA § 1 6 -1 2 -1 7 1 (a) (1 ) (A) (2 0 1 4 ) p ro v i d e s t h a t “ [i ] t

s h al l b e u n l awfu l fo r an y p ers o n k n o wi ng l y t o [s ] el l o r bart er, d i rect ly o r i n d i rect l y ,

an y ci g aret t es , t o b acco p ro d u ct s , t o b acco rel at ed o b ject s, al tern at i v e n i co t i n e

8 Des p i t e th e p ro l i ferat io n o f v ap i n g an d rel at ed p ro d u ct s i n recen t y ears , t h ere is a s u rp ri s i n g d eart h o f cas es ad d res s i n g su ch p ro d u ct s , ev en fro m ot h er ju ri sd i ct i o n s

.

10p ro d uct s , o r v ap o r p ro d u ct s t o a m i n or[.] ” 9 OCGA § 1 6 -1 2 -1 7 0 (1 0 ) (2 01 7 ), i n t u rn ,

d efi n es “ v ap o r p ro d u ct ” as

an y n o n co m

b u s t i b l e p ro du ct co n t ai n i n g n i co t i n e th at em p lo y s a h eat i n g

el em en t

, p o wer s o u rce, el ect ro n i c ci rcu i t

, o r o t h er el ect ro n i c, ch em i cal

,

o r m ech an i cal m ean s , reg ard l es s o f s hap e o r s i ze, t h at c a n b e u sed t o

p r o d u ce v ap or fro m n i co t i n e i n a so l u t i on o r o t h er fo rm

. Th e t erm

“ v ap o r p ro d u ct ” s h al l i n cl u d e an y el ect ro n i c ci g aret te, el ect ro ni c ci g ar,

el ect ro n i c ci g ari ll o , el ect ro n i c p i p e, o r s i m i l ar p ro d u ct o r dev i ce an d an y

v ap o r cart ri d g e o r o t h er co n t ai n er o f n i co t i n e i n a s o lu t i o n o r o t h er fo rm

t h at i s i n t en d ed t o b e u s ed wi t h o r i n an el ect ro n i c ci g aret t e, el ect ro ni c

c i g ar, el ect ro n ic ci g ari l l o , el ect ro n i c p i p e, o r s i m i l ar pro d u c t o r

d ev i ce. [ 1 0 ]

9 Fo r p u rp o s es o f t h i s ap p eal

, “ m in o r” i s defi ned as “ an y pers o n wh o i s u n d er

t h e ag e o f 1 8 y ears .” OCGA § 1 6 -1 2 -1 7 0 (5 ) (2 0 1 7 ). Effect i v e J u l y 2 2

, 2 0 2 0

, OCGA § 1 6-1 2-1 7 1 (a) (1 ) (A) n o w read s : “ It s h al l b e u n l awfu l fo r an y p ers on k n o wi n g l y to [s ] el l o r bart er, d i rect l y o r in di rect l y , an y ci g aret t es , t o b acco p ro d u ct s, t ob acco rel at ed

o b ject s , al t ern at i v e n i co t i ne p ro d u ct s , o r v ap o r pro d u ct s t o an y in d i v i du al u n d er t h e

ag e o f 2 1 y ears [.] ” Becau s e t he i n s t an t o ffen s e t oo k pl ace o n J ul y 2 5

, 2 0 19

, t h e p ri o r

v ers i on o f t h e s t at u te ap p l i es

. In an y ev en t

, t h e 1 6 -y ear-o l d op erat i v es i n t h e i n s t an t

cas e wo u l d b e co n s i d ered m i n ors u n d er ei t h er v ers i o n o f t h e s tat u te.

1 0 E v en t ho u g h t h e leg i s l at u re r e c e n t l y am en d ed t h e d efi n i t i o n o f “ v ap o r

p ro d uct ,” t he p ri o r v ers i o n o f t h e s t at u t e ap p l i es i n t h e i n s t an t ap p eal as th e o ffen s e

t o o k p l ace i n J ul y 2 0 1 9

. Effect i v e Ju l y 2 2

, 2 0 2 0

, OCGA § 1 6 -1 2-1 7 0 (9 ) n o w read s :

“ V a por pr oduc t” m e a ns a ny nonco m b u s ti b l e p ro d u ct co n tai n i n g n i cotine

t h at em p l oy s a h eat ing el em en t

, p o wer s o urce, el ect ro n i c ci rcu i t

, o r o t h er

el ect ro n i c, ch em i cal

, o r m ech an i cal m ean s , reg ard l es s o f sh ap e o r s i ze,

11In d et erm i n in g t h e s co p e o f co n d uct co v ered b y OCGA § 1 6 -1 2 -1 7 1 (a) (1 ) (A)

(2 0 1 4), we p res u m e th at “ t h e Gen eral As s em b l y m ean t wh at i t s ai d an d s ai d wh at i t

m ean t .” Dea l v. Co lema n , 2 9 4 Ga. 1 7 0

, 17 2 (1 ) (a) (7 5 1 SE2 d 3 3 7) (2 0 1 3) (ci t at i o n

an d p u n ct u at io n o m i t t ed ). To t h at en d

, we “ affo rd t he s t a t u t o r y t ex t i t s pl ai n an d

o rd i n ary m ean i n g ,” an d we read t h at t ex t i n t he “ m os t n at u ral an d reas o n ab l e way , as

an o rd in ary

s p eak er o f t h e En g li s h l an g u ag e w o u l d.” Id

. at 17 2 -1 7 3 (1 ) (a) (ci t at i o n

an d p u n ct u at i o n o m i t ted )

. S e e a l s o OCGA § 1 -3 -1 (b ) (“ [i ] n al l i n t erp ret at i o n s o f

s t at u tes

, t h e ord i n ary s ig ni fi cat i o n s h al l b e ap p l i ed t o al l w ord s ”). Th i s Co u rt i s

req u i red t o read a p art icu l ar s t at u t e as a wh o l e, co n si d eri ng s peci fi c wo rd s an d

p h ras es n o t i n i s o lat i o n , b u t i n rel at i o n t o each o t h er. W a r r en v. S t a t e , 2 94 Ga. 5 8 9,

5 9 0 (1 ) (7 5 5 SE2 d 1 71 ) (2 0 1 4 ). As o u r Su p rem e Co urt h as ex p l ai ned :

t h at can b e us ed t o pro du ce v ap o r o r aero s ol fro m n i c o t i n e o r o t h er

s u b s t an ces in a s ol u t i o n or o th er fo rm

. Su ch t erm s h al l i n cl u d e, b u t sh al l

n o t b e l i m i t ed t o , a n y el ect ro n i c ci g aret t e, el ect ro n i c ci g ar, el ect ro ni c

ci g ari l lo

, el ect ro n ic pi pe, o r s i m i l ar p ro d u ct o r d ev ice an d an y v ap or o r

aero so l cart ri d ge o r o t her co n t ai n er o f n i co t i ne o r o t h er s u b s t an ce i n a

s o l u t i o n o r o t h er fo rm , in cl u d in g, bu t n o t l i m i t ed t o, a d ev i ce

co m p on en t

, part

, o r acces s ory o f t h e d ev ice, t h at i s i n t en ded t o b e u s ed

wi t h o r i n a n e lect ro n i c ci g aret t e, el ect ro n i c ci g ar, el ect ro n ic ci g ari l lo

, el ect ro n i c p i p e, o r s i m i l ar p ro d u ct o r d ev i ce.

12[i ] n ou r s earch fo r t h e m ean i n g o f a p art i cu l ar s t a t u t o ry p ro v i s i o n, we

l o o k n o t on l y t o t he wo rd s o f t hat p ro v i s io n , b u t we co n si der i t s l eg al

co n t ex t as wel l

. Aft er al l, co n t ex t is a p ri m ary d et erm in an t o f m ean i n g

. Fo r co n t ex t

, we m ay l o ok t o t h e o t h er p ro v i s i o n s o f t h e s am e s t at u t e, th e

s t ru ct u re an d h is t ory o f t h e wh o l e s t at u t e, an d t h e o t h er l aw

—

co n s t i t ut i o n al

, s t at u t o ry , an d co m m on l aw al ik e

— t h at fo rm s t h e l eg al

b ack g ro u n d o f t h e s t at u t o ry p ro v i s i o n i n q ues t i o n

.

Fed

. Dep o s i t In s. Co r

p

. v. Lo u d

er mi l k

, 29 5 Ga. 5 7 9, 5 8 8 (2 ) (7 6 1 SE2 d 3 3 2 ) (2 0 1 4 )

(ci t at i o n an d p u nct u at io n o m i t ted ).

(a) On ap p eal

, Ch i l d ers as s ert s t h at b as ed o n t h e t ex t o f OCGA § 1 6 -1 2 -1 7 1 (a)

(1 ) (A) (2 0 1 4), t h e St at e h ad th e b u rd en t o p ro ve t h at t h e pro d u ct Ch i l ders s o l d t o t h e

m i n o rs : (i ) was n o n co m

b u s ti b l e, (i i ) co n t ai n ed n i co ti n e, an d (i i i ) em p l o y ed a m ean s

t o p ro d uce v ap o r fro m n i co ti n e i n a s o l u t i o n. Th e cru x o f Ch i ld ers ’ s arg u m en t i s t h at

t h e St at e fai l ed t o p ut fo rt h an y ev i d e nce o t h er t h an t h e p ro d u ct l ab el

, s u ch as

ch em i cal an al y s is o r ex p ert t es t i m o ny , to es t ab l i s h t h at t h e p ro d u ct Ch i l d ers fu rn i s h ed

t o t h e m i no rs m eet s th e s t at u t ory d efi n i t i o n o f a “ v ap o r pro d u ct .” At t h e o u t s et

, we

n o t e t h at Ch i ld ers fai ls t o ci t e leg al au t h o ri t y fo r h er in t erp ret at i o n req u i ri n g ex p ert

t es t i m o ny o r ch em i cal t es t i n g t o p ro v e t h at a p ro d uct m eet s t h e s t a t u t o ry d efi n i t i o n

13o f an y of t h e p ro d u ct s l i s t ed i n OCGA § 1 6 -1 2 -1 71 (a) (1 ) (A). 1 1 A s th is is an i s s u e

o f f i rs t i m p res s i o n i n Geo rg i a, we fi n d i t i n s tru ct i ve t o l o o k fo r g u i dan ce i n t h e

an al o g o us co n t ex ts o f al co ho l an d n arco t i cs

.

OCGA § 4 0 -6 -2 5 3 (a) (1 ) d efi n es an “ al co h o li c b ev erag e” t o i n cl u d e

[b ] eer

. . . an d o t h er s i m il ar ferm en t ed b ev erag es , . . . [w] i n e o f n o t l es s

t h an o n e-h al f of 1 p ercen t o f al co ho l by vo l um e; o r [d ] i s t i l l e d s p i ri t s

wh i c h i s t h at su b st an ce k n o wn as et h y l al co h o l

, et h an o l

, o r s p i ri t s o f

wi n e i n an y fo rm , i ncl u d i n g al l d i l u ti o ns an d m i x t u res t hereo f fro m

wh at ev er s o u rce o r b y

wh at ev er p ro ces s p ro d u ced

.

OCGA § 4 0 -6 -2 5 3 (b ) (1 ) i n t u rn “ p ro v i d es t h at “ [a] p ers o n s h al l n o t [c] o n s u m e an y

al co h o l i c bev erag e o r [ p ]o s s es s an y o p en al co h o l i c b ev erag e co n t ai n er i n t h e

p as s en g er a r e a o f an y m ot o r v eh icl e wh i ch is o n t h e ro ad w ay [.] ” Ou r d eci s i on s

reg ard i n g t h e s u ffi ci en cy of t he ev i d en ce i n o p en co n t ai n er cas es d o n o t reco g n ize a

b u rd en o n t h e St at e t o p ro v e s peci fi c al co ho l co n cen t rat e in l i qu i d fo un d in l ab el ed

al co h o l b o t t l es

. See Ayi t eyf i o v. S t a t e , 30 8 Ga. Ap p

. 2 8 6

, 2 89 (1 ) (b ) (7 07 SE2 d 1 8 6 )

(2 0 1 1) (u p h o l d i n g o p en c o n t ai n er co n v i ct i o n wh ere o ffi cer t es t i fi ed t h at h e fo u n d t wo

1 1 In fact

, t h e o n l y Geo rg i a cas e t h at ci t es t o OCGA § 1 6-1 2 -1 71 (a) (1 )

i n v o l v es t h e ad m i s s i b i l i t y o f a p o l i ce o ffi cer’ s t es t i m o n y t o es t ab l i s h th at p ers o n s to
wh o m d efen d an t s o l d ci g aret tes were u n d er t h e ag e of 1 8. Gr i f f i n v

. S t a t e , 2 9 5 Ga. Ap p . 4 7 2 , 4 7 3 (1 ) (6 7 2 SE2 d 4 5 3 ) (2 0 0 9 ).

14p art i al l y fi l l ed b ot t l es of vo d k a an d o n e p art i al l y fi l l ed b o t tl e o f t eq u i l a in th e v eh i cl e,

an d p ro v i d ed p h o t o g rap hi c ev i d en ce o f sam e); Y at es v. S t a t e , 2 6 3 Ga. Ap p

. 2 9

, 3 0 (1 )

(5 8 7 SE2 d 1 80 ) (2 0 03 ) (o ffi cer’ s t es t i m o n y des cri b i n g “ t h ere was a [s ic] o p en b o t t l e

o f b eer act ual l y o n th e fro n t s eat ” s u ffi ci en t ev i d en ce t o s u s tai n d efen d an t ’ s

co n vi ct i o n o f d ri v i ng wi t h an o p en co n tai n er o f al co h o l ).

Si m i l arl y , in th e co n t ex t o f n a r c o t i cs , we h av e ex p l ai ned t h at “ [e] x p ert

t es t i m o ny i s n o t n eces s ary t o i d en t i fy a s ub s t an ce, i n cl u d i n g d ru g s .” M o o re v. S t a t e ,

3 5 4 G a

. A p p

. 1 4 5

, 1 5 4 (3 ) (f) (8 4 0 SE2 d 51 9 ) (2 0 2 0 ) (ru l i n g t h at t ri al co u rt was

wi t h i n i t s d i s c r et i o n in p erm i t t i n g i n v es t i g at o r, wh o p art i ci p at ed i n search o f

d efen d an t ’ s h o us e, t o g i v e h i s o p i n i o n t h at t h e s ub s tan ce fo u n d i n defen d an t ’ s h o u s e

was s yn t h e t i c m ari

ju an a, i n h u m an t raffi ck i n g p ro s ecu t i o n i n vo l v i n g v i ct i m , wh o

t es t i fi ed t h at d efen d an t g av e v i ct i m s y nt h et i c m ari ju an a t o co erce h er t o p erfo rm s ex

act s fo r m o n ey ) (ci t at i o n an d p u n ct u at i o n o m it t ed ). See al so Un i t ed S t a t es v. Ro u s e ,

7 3 2 Fed

. Ap p x. 8 5 3

, 85 7 (III) (1 1 t h C i r. 20 1 8 ) (u n p u b li s hed ) (rei n fo rci n g t h e

El ev en th Ci rcu i t ’ s “ ‘ ex p an s i ve v i ew’ th at co n t ro l l ed s ub s tan ces can b e i d en t i fi ed by

v ari o u s m ean s o f ci rcu m st an t ial ev i d en ce, s u ch as l ay ex p eri en ce b as ed o n fam i l i ari t y

t h ro u g h pri o r u s e, t rad i n g , o r l aw en fo rcem en t ; a h i gh sal es p ri ce; o n -t h e

- s c en e

rem ark s b y a co n s p i rat o r i d en t i fy i n g t h e su b s t an ce a s a d ru g ; an d b eh av i o r

15ch aract eri s t i c o f s al es an d u s e, su ch as t es t i n g, wei gh i n g , cu t t i n g an d p ecu l i ar

i n g es t i o n .”) (ci t at i o n an d p u n ct u at i o n o m i t ted ).

Here, t h e St at e p res en t ed s ep arat e ev i den ce as i d e fro m t h e p ro d u ct l ab el to

s h o w t hat Ch il d ers fu rn i s h ed a v ap o r p ro d u ct t o a m i n o r. Sp eci f i c al l y , Serg ean t

Tu rn er t es t i fi ed ab o ut t he o b ject iv es of t h e Op erat i o n

— t o co n d u ct co m p l i an ce

i n s p ect i on s at ret ai l es t ab l i s h m en ts l o cat ed i n Ch ero kee Co u n t y , an d arres t o r o b t ai n

warran t s fo r i n d iv i d u al s s el li n g a v ap o r p ro d u ct t o m i n o rs

. As p art o f th e Op erat i o n,

t h e two un derag e o p erat i v es en t ered t h e St o re o n J u l y 2 5

, 2 0 1 9

, wh ere Ch i l d ers was

wo rk i n g t h at d ay

. On e o f t h e m i n o rs , J

. D

., t es t i fi ed t h at sh e p urch as ed “ m an g o eju i ce” fro m Ch i l d ers

. Th e s eco n d o p erat i v e, A. Z., s t at ed t h at Ch i l d ers t o l d t h e m i n o rs

t h at t h e St o re, t i tl ed “ OLE 5 Vap o r s t o re,” s ol d “ cu st o m v ap e ju i ces .” A. Z. as k ed to

h av e t h e n i co t i n e sal t p ro d u ct “ m i x ed t og et h er,” wh i ch Ch i l d ers d i d

. Th e m i n o rs t h en

ex i t ed t he s t ore an d p ro v i d ed t h e s o l ut i o n , p ack ag ed i n a bo t t l e, t o t h e p o l i ce. 1 2

Serg ean t Tu rn er al s o t es t i fi ed t h at t h e t wo o p erat i v es p urch as ed “ a m an g o fl av o red

n i co t i n e s al t ” as p art o f t h e Op er a t i o n

. Im po rt an tl y , Ch i l ders hers el f ad m i t t ed to

1 2 Al t h ou g h Ch i l d ers rai s ed a h ears ay o b ject i o n t o th e ad m i s s i o n o f t h e l ab el

,

s h e d id n o t o b

j ect t o t h e p ict u re o f t h e b o t t l e i ts el f.

16s el l i n g “ s al t ni co t i n e” t o t h e t wo u n d erag e o p erat i v es , as cap t ured on Tu rn er’ s b o dy

cam , t h ereb y

es t ab l i s h in g t hat t h e p ro d u ct co n t ai ned n ico t i n e.

Bas ed o n t h e fo reg o i n g , w e co n cl u d e t h at th e St at e p res en t ed t h e s am e

i n fo rm at i o n co nt ai n ed i n t h e p ro d u ct l ab el fro m s o u rces s ep arat e an d d i s t i n ct fro m t h e

l ab el i t s el f. An d acco rd i n g l y , tak en as a wh o l e, t h e r e w a s s u ffi ci en t ev i d en ce fro m

wh i ch t h e t ri al ju d g e was au t h o ri zed t o i n f e r Ch i l d ers ’ s g u i l t o f fu rn is hi n g a v ap o r

p ro d uct

— co n t ai n in g ni co t i ne fo r u s e w i t h a n o n co m b u s t i b l e el ect ro n i c ci g aret t e 1 3

— t o a m i n o r i n v i o l at io n o f OCGA § 1 6 -1 2 -1 7 1 (a) (1 ) (A) (2 0 1 4 ). See Co r s i n i v.

S t a t e , 2 38 Ga. Ap p

. 3 83

, 3 8 3 (1 ) (5 1 9 SE2 d 3 9 ) (1 9 9 9 ) (“ A t ri al co u rt ’ s fa c t u al

fi nd i ng s are n o t cl earl y erro neo u s i f t h ere i s an y ev i d en ce t o s u pp o rt t h em

. T h i s i s t ru e

ev en wh ere s u ch fi n d i n g s are b as ed u p o n ci rcu m s t an t i al ev i den ce an d th e reas o n ab l e

i n feren ces wh ich fl ow t h erefro m .”); Gr een v. S t a t e , 3 23 G a

. A p p

. 8 3 2

, 8 3 3 (1 ) (a)

(7 4 8 SE 2 d 4 79 ) (2 0 1 3 ) (“ [T] o su s t ai n a ju dg m en t o f co n v i ct i o n [b as ed o n

c ir c um st an t i al ev i den ce]

, th e ev i d en ce n eed n o t ex cl u d e ev ery i n feren ce or hy pothe sis

1 3 Th i s i s d i st i n g ui s h ab l e fro m co m b u s t i b l e n i co t i n e t h at i s u s ed i n reg u l a r

c i g a r e t t e s

. U n i t e d S t a t e s F o o d & D r u g A d m i n i s t r a t i o n ( h t t p s : / / www.fd a.g ov / t o b acco -p ro d u ct s / h e a l t h

- i n f o r m a t i o n / n i c o t i n e

- a d d i c t i v e

- c h e

m i cal -t o b acco -p ro d u ct s ) (l as t v i s i ted , Feb . 1 1 , 2 0 2 1 ).

17ex cep t t h e g u i l t o f t h e accu s ed

, b u t o n l y reas o nab l e i nferen ces an d h y p o t h es es , s o as

t o ju s t ify t h e i n feren ce, b ey o nd a reas o n ab l e d ou b t , o f g ui l t .”).

(b ) Ch i l d ers al s o co n t en d s t h at t o m eet t h e d e f i n i t i o n o f t h e t erm “ v ap o r

p ro d uct ,” as em

p l o y ed i n OCGA § 1 6 -1 2 -1 71 (a) (1 ) (2 0 1 4 ), t h e St at e h ad t o p ro v e

t h at sh e s o l d a p ro d u ct t o a m i n o r t h at i n cl u d es b o th t h e c o m p o u nd o r s o l u t i o n

co n tai n i n g n i co t i n e t o b e u s ed i n an el ect ro n i c ci g aret t e d ev i ce a n d t h e el e c t r o n i c

s m o k i n g d ev ice i ts el f. W e d i s ag ree.

Fi rs t

, Ch i ld ers o ffers n o l eg al au t h o ri ty i n s u p p o rt o f h e r p o s i t io n

. Seco n d

, a

p l ai n co m

m o n s en se read i n g o f t h e fo rm er v ers i o n of OCGA § 16 -1 2 -1 7 0 (1 0 )

d e m o n s t rat es t h at th e t erm “ v ap o r p ro d u ct ” referen ces an y of th e l is t ed ex am p l e s

i n cl u d i n g , as rel ev an t h ere, t h e co m p o u n d u s ed in an el ect ro n i c s m ok i n g d ev i ce, s u ch

as a “ co n t ai n er of ni co t i ne i n a s o l u t i o n o r o t her fo rm ,” a s w e l l as t h e el ect ro n i c

s m o k i n g d ev i ce i t s el f. OCGA § 16

- 1 2 -1 7 0 (1 0 ) (2 0 1 7 ). Fi nal l y , Ch i l d ers ’ s

i n t erp ret at io n cl earl y co n fl i ct s wi t h t h e p u rp os e o f t h e s t at u t e: t o p rev en t t h e s al e o f

v ap or p ro d u ct s t o m in o rs

. 1 4 By read i n g b o t h p art s o f OCGA § 1 6 -1 2 -1 7 1 (a) (1 ) i n t h e

1 4 W e g l ean t h e p u rp os e o f t he s t at u te fro m it s ex p res s l an g uag e, an d n o t o n l y i s Art i cl e VII en t i tl ed “ Sal e or Di s t ri b u t i o n t o, o r Po s s es s i o n by

, M i no rs o f Ci g aret t es

an d To b acco Rel at ed Ob

ject s ,” b u t i t s p ro h ib i t i o n s s et fo rt h in OCGA § 1 6 -1 2 -1 7 1 (a) (1 ) ex p l i ci t l y

fo cu s o n p ro h i b i t i n g acces s t o s uch p ro d u ct s b y m i no rs

.

18co n

j u n ct i v e, as Ch i l d ers s u gg es t s , i t wo u l d b e p erm i s si bl e fo r ex am p l e, fo r a p ers o n

t o s el l an “ el ect ro n ic ci g aret te” t o a m i n or so l o n g as t h e m i n o r al s o was n ot

p u rch as in g a “ v ap o r cart ri d g e o f n i co t i n e.”

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

Pi p ki n , J., co n cu r

.

19