FI FTH DI VI SI ON

M CFA DDEN, P. J.

, BRA NCH and BETHEL, JJ.

N O T IC E : M otions for r e c ons i de r a tion m us t be

ph y sic a l ly r e ce iv ed i n our c le r k ’s offic e w ithin te n

da y s of the da te of de c is ion to be de e m ed tim e ly file d.

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

June 5, 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 44 1 . I N T H E I N T E R E S T O F W . B.

B R A N C H , J u d g e.

Fo l l owi n g an ad

ju d i cat o ry h eari n g i n t h e M u s co g ee Co u n ty J u v en i l e Co u rt

, t h e

co u rt fo u n d th at W

. B. h ad co m m i t t ed b urg l ary i n t h e fi rs t d eg ree an d h ad e n g ag ed

i n cri m in al g an g act i v i t y

. Th e ju v en i l e co u rt t herefo re ad ju d i cat ed W

. B. d el i n q u en t

an d p l aced h im i n res tri ct i ve cu s t o d y fo r fi ve y ears

. W

. B. n ow ap p eal s

, as sert i n g t h at

t h e ev i d en ce was i n s u ff

i c i e n t t o s u p p o rt a fi n d i n g t h at h e h ad en g ag ed i n cri m i n al

g an g act i v it y

. W e ag r e e w i t h W

. B., an d we t h erefo re rev ers e t h e ad ju d i cat i o n o f

d el i n q u en cy

fo r cri m i nal g an g act i v i t y

.

“ In r e v i ewi n g an ad

j u d icat i o n o f d el i n q u en cy

, t h is co u rt co n st ru es t h e ev i d en ce

an d al l reas o n ab l e i n feren ces t h erefro m ‘ i n fav o r o f t h e ju v en il e co urt ’ s ad ju d i cat i o n

t o d et erm i n e i f a reas o n ab l e fi n d er o f fact co u l d h av e fo u nd

, b ey o n d a reas o n a b l ed o u b t

, t h at t h e ju v en i le co m m i t t ed t h e act s ch arg ed .’ ” In t he In t er es t o f A. G.

, 3 1 7 Ga.

Ap p

. 16 5

, 16 5 ( 7 3 0 S E 2 d 1 8 7 ) (2 0 1 2 ) (p u nct u at i o n an d fo o t n o t e om i t t ed ). An d in

m ak i n g t h at d et erm i n at i o n

, “ w e n ei t h er wei g h t h e ev i d en ce no r d et erm i n e wi t n es s

cred i b i l i t y .” Id . (fo o t no t e o m it t ed ).

Vi ewed i n t h e l ig h t m o s t fav o rab l e t o t h e a d j u d i c a t i o n o f d el i n q u en cy

, t h e

reco rd s h o ws t h at on J a n u ary 1 9

, 2 0 1 6

, W

. B., t o g et h er wi t h h is t wo ju v en i l e co

d efen d an t s an d an ad u lt

, b u rg l ari zed a h o m e i n Co l u m bu s

. In Feb ru ary 2 0 1 6

, t h e St at e

fi led a d el i n q u en cy p et i t i o n al l eg i n g t h at W

. B. h ad co m m it t ed b urg l ary i n t h e fi rs t

d eg ree, an d i t s u b s eq u en t l y am en d ed t h at p et it i o n t o al l eg e t h at W

. B. h ad en g ag ed

b o t h i n th e b urg lary an d i n cri m i nal g an g act i v i ty on Jan u a ry 1 9

. W

. B.’ s cas e was

h ear d t o g et h er wi t h t h e d el i n qu en cy cas es o f h is t wo ju v en i l e co -d efen d an t s

, J

. W

.

an d M

. J

. At t h e o u t s et o f t he h eari ng

, co u ns el fo r each o f t h e t h r e e d e f e n d an t s

an n ou n ced t h at h i s o r h er cl i en t was ad m i t t i n g t o t h e b u rg l ary ch arg e b u t was

2co n tes t i ng t h e ch arg e o f cri m in al gan g act i v i ty

. T h e St at e t h ereaft er d e c l i n e d to

p res en t an y ev i d en ce reg ard i n g t h e b urg l ary o r t h e p ol i ce in v es t i g at i o n o f t h at cri m e. 1

In s u p p o r t o f t h e ch arg e o f cri m i n al g an g act i v i t y

, th e St at e pres en t ed t h ree

wi t n es s es : Co r p o r al M i ch ael O ’ Keefe, a p at ro l o ffi cer wi t h t he Co l u m b u s Po l i ce

Dep art m e n t ; C h r i s Sam ra, a s p eci al ag en t wi t h t h e G eo rg i a D ep art m en t o f

Co rrect i o n s, wh o w a s q u al i fi ed as an ex p ert i n g an g i d en t i fi cat i o n ; an d M arcu s

Du b o s e, Di rect o r o f St u den t Serv ices fo r t he M u s co gee Co u n t y Sch o o l s

.

O’ Keefe t es t i fi ed t h at h e h ad b een a p at ro l o ffi cer fo r 1 0 y ears

, an d d uri n g t h at

t i m e, h e h ad recei v ed ap p ro x i m at el y 4 0 0 h o urs o f t rai n i n g o n cri m i n al g an g s an d h o w

t o i d en t i fy

t h em . Ad d i t i o n al l y , O’ Keefe s t at ed t h at t h e area i n wh i ch h e p at ro l s an d

1 We n o t e t h at so m e i n fo rm at i o n reg ard i ng t h e bu rg l ary an d t h e p o l i ce

i n v es t i g at i o n o f t h e cri m e i s i n cl u d ed i n t h e ap p el l at e reco rd

, as i t ap p ears th e p o l i ce

rep o rt s were fi l e d w i t h th e co u rt i n co n ju n ct i o n wi t h t h e fi l in g o f t he d el i n q u en cy

p et i t i o n s

. An d i n i t s ap p el l at e b ri e f

, t h e S t a t e ci t es t hes e d o cu m en ts t o s u p p o rt i t s

arg u m en t t h at t h e ev i den ce su ffi ced t o p ro v e t h at W

. B. h ad en g ag ed i n cri m i n al g an g

act i vi t y

. Un fo rt u n at el y

, ho wev er, t h e St at e di d n o t i n t ro d u ce an y o f t h o s e d o cu m en t s

o r tes t i m o n y reg ard i n g t he s am e i n t o ev i den ce at t h e d el in q u en cy h eari n g.

Acco rd in g ly

, we can n o t co n s i d er t h em i n d et erm i n i n g wh et h er th e ev i d en ce s u ffi ced

t o p ro v e th at W

. B. h ad en g ag ed i n cri m i n al g an g act iv i t y

. See, e.g

., W h i t e v. S t a t e

, 3 1 0 Ga. Ap p

. 3 8 6

, 3 8 8 ( 2 ) (7 1 4 SE2 d 31 ) (2 0 1 1 ) (wh en t hi s Co urt co n s id ers t h e

s u ffi ci en cy o f t h e ev i d en ce, “ we m u s t as k wh e t h er an y rat i o n al [t ri er of fact ] co u ld

fi nd p ro o f o f g u i l t b ey o n d a reas o nab l e d ou b t i n t h e evi d e n ce a d d u ced a t t r i a l

,

v i ewi n g t h at ev i d en ce i n t h e l i g h t m o st f a v o r a b l e to th e v erd i ct ”) (ci t at i o n an d

em ph as i s s u p p l i ed ).

3i n wh i ch t h e bu rg l ary o ccu rred was k no wn fo r “ h e a v y g a n g act i v i ty .” Th e

p red o m i n an t g an g in t h e area was t h e W i n s t on Ro ad Sq uad g an g an d in O’ Keefe’ s

ex p eri en ce, t h at g an g was i n v o l v ed i n a n u m ber of i l leg al act i vi t i es

, i n cl u d i n g

b u rg lary ri n gs

, n arco t i cs

, p ro s t i t ut i on

, an d t he i l l eg al s al e o f fi rearm s

. O’ Keefe

t es t i fi ed t h at h e h ad t ak en t h e rep o rt o f t he b u rg l ary an d at t h at t i m e, t h e ho m eo wn er’ s

s o n rep o rt ed h av i n g r e c e i v ed t ex t m es s ag es reg ard in g peo p l e i n po s s es s i o n o f t h e

s t ol en p ro p ert y . O’ Keefe d i d n ot t es t i fy

, h o wev er, as t o t h e al l eg ed co n t en t o f t h o s e

m e s s a g e s o r wh et h er t h e m es s ag es referen ced t h e W i ns t o n Ro ad Sq u ad g an g.

Acco rd in g t o O ’ Keefe, t h e m es s ag es w ere s en t b y an i n d i v i d u al k n own o n l y as

“ Sq u ad Bo s s ,” b ut O’ K eefe w a s n o t p ers o n al l y fam i l iar wi t h th at i n d i v i d u al

.

Al t h o u g h O’ K eefe b el i ev ed th at Sq u ad B o s s was “ s u sp ect ed of b ei n g i n v o l v ed in

g an g act i v i t y ,” O’ Keefe d i d no t i d en ti fy ei t h er t h e g an g th a t p o l i c e b el i ev ed Sq u ad

Bo s s b el o ng ed t o o r t h e g an g act iv i ty i n w h i ch Sq uad Bo s s was su s p ect ed o f

p art i ci p at i n g

.

W i t h res p ect t o t h e t h ree d efen d an t s

, O’ Keefe t es t i f i e d t h at h e was fam i l i ar

wi t h al l t h ree ju v en i l es fro m h i s t i m e p a tro l l i n g t h ei r n ei g hb o rh o o d an d t h at h e

p rev i o u s l y arres t ed a n u m ber o f t h ei r k n o wn as s o ci at es

. Th e o ffi cer, h o wev er, d i d n ot

i d en t i fy an y of t h os e as s o ci at es o r t e s t i fy as t o wh et h er th ey were m em b ers o f t h e

4W i ns t o n Ro ad Sq u ad g an g

. Aft er p o l i ce i d en t i fi ed t h e t hree ju v en i l es as s u s p ect s in

t h e b u rg l ary

, O’ K eefe lo ok ed at each j u v en il e’ s Faceb o o k p ag e t o s ee if h e co u l d fi n d

an y ev i d en ce o f g an g act i vi t y

. Acco rd i n g t o O’ Keefe, s u ch ev i den ce wo u l d i n cl u d e

p i ct u res feat u ri n g t h e j u v en i l es d res s ed i n g an g co lo r s o r o t h er t y p es o f cl o t h i n g

t y p i cal l y wo rn b y

a s p eci fi c gan g ; t h e ju ven i l es “ t h ro wi n g ” o r m ak i n g k no wn g an g

s i gn s wi t h t h ei r h an d s ; an d t h e ju v en i l es d i s p l ay i n g fi rearm s. On W . B.’ s Faceb o o k

p ag e, O’ Keefe o bs erv ed W

. B. i n p h o t o g rap h s “ h ol d i n g u p g an g s i g n s wi t h hi s h an d s

,

weari n g co l o rs th at [were] k n own t o b e w o rn b y g an g m em b ers

, ” an d d i s p l ay i n g

fi rearm s

. 2 Ad d i t io n al l y

, O ’ Keefe o b s erv ed t h at W

. B. h ad p o s t ed p i ct u res o f h i m s el f

“ wi t h o t h er i n d i v i d ual s wh o h av e b een arres ted an d are s u s p e c t e d o f

. . . cri m i n al

g an g act i v i t y ,” i n cl u di n g o n e p i ct u re t hat s h owed Sq u ad Bo s s

. Aft er v i ewi n g each

d efen d an t ’ s i n d iv id u al Faceb o o k acco u n t s

, p o l i ce ch arg ed t h em w i t h cri m in al g an g

act i vi t y

.

Sam ra, wh o was q u al i fi ed as an ex p ert i n g an g i d en t ifi cat i o n, t es t i fi ed t h at t h e

W i ns t o n Ro ad Sq u ad g a n g w a s a s t reet gan g t h at fu n ct io n ed as a su b set o f a l arg er

g an g, t h e Gan g s t er D i s ci p les

. Th e W i n s t o n Ro ad Sq uad g an g was k n o w n t o en g ag e

2 O’ K eefe di d n o t t es t ify wh at t h e s ig n s we r e

, wh a t t h e co l o rs were, o r wi th

wh i ch g an g o r g an g s t h e s i gn s an d t h e co l ors were as s o ci at ed

.

5i n as s au lt s

, b u rg l ari es an d arm ed ro bb eri es

, an d as a g en eral ru l e, an y pro ceed s fro m

t h es e act iv i t ies wo u l d b e u s ed t o fu n d t h e g an g

. Ad d i ti o nal l y

, a p o rt i o n o f an y m o n ey

recei v ed b y t h e Wi n s t o n Ro ad Sq u ad g an g wo u l d b e fo rward ed t o t h e Gan g s t er

Di s ci p l es

. Sam ra fu rt h er t es t i fi ed as t o t h e di fferen ce b et ween gan g as s o ci at es an d

g an g m em

b ers

, ex p l ai n i n g th at as s o ci at es were n o t “ fu l l -fl ed g ed ” m em b ers

. In s t ead

,

as s o ci at es were p eo p le wh o “ h u n g o u t” wi t h g an g m em b ers an d wh o m i g h t p ro v i d e

s o m e as s i s t an ce t o t h e g an g

. Sam ra al s o t es t i fi ed t h at t h e W i n s t o n Ro ad Sq u ad g an g

was a “ h y b ri d g an g,” an d ex pl ai n ed t h at h y b ri d gan g s o p erat e at a very l o cal l ev el an d

m i g h t i ncl u d e m em

b ers o f on e o r m o re l arg er g ro u ps

. Acco rd i n g t o S am ra, h y b ri d

g an gs are “ k i n d o f l i k e th e [T] ri p l e A v ers i o n ” o f g an g s

– i .e., h y b ri d g an g s are wh ere

m em b ers “ l earn h o w t o do [t h i s] s t u ff an d t h en t h ey m o ve up i n to a m o re cen t ral i zed

co re u n t i l t h ey wo rk t h ei r way u p [i n t h e m ai n g an g ] l i k e a m i l i t ary s tru ct u re.”

W i t h res p ect t o so ci al m ed i a, Sam ra t es t i fi ed t hat g an g s u s e so ci al m ed i a b o th

as a recru i t in g t o o l an d t o es t ab li s h wh at i n d i v i d u al g an g m em b ers hav e d o n e as t h ey

wo rk t h e i r w a y u p i n t h e g an g h i erarch y

. Sam ra ex p lai n ed t h at h y

b ri d g an g s o ft en

i d en t i fy m em

b ers o n s o ci al m ed i a b y h av i n g al l m em b ers u se t h e s am e m i d dl e n am e

o r i n i t i al

. In t h i s cas e, Sam ra h ad ex am i ned t h e Faceb o o k acco un t s fo r W

. B. an d h i s

t wo co -d efen d an t s an d he n o t ed t hat a l l t h r e e u s ed t he i n it i al s “ AG” in p lace o f a

6m i d d l e n am e. Th e St at e i n t ro d u ced i n t o ev i d en ce pri n t o u t s fro m t h e Faceb o o k p ag es

o f W

. B. an d h is co -d e f

e n d a n t s

, an d o n t h ei r p ag es

, al l t hree ju v en i l es d i s p l ay ed

em oji s t h at i ncl u d ed g u n s

, bo m b s

, an d d o l l ar s i g n s

. A d d i ti o n al l y

, W

. B. p o s t ed

p h o t o g rap h s of h i m s el f m ak i n g s i g n s wi th hi s h an d s t h at Sam ra s ai d were g an g s i g n s

,

b u t Sam ra o ffered n o tes ti m on y as to wh at gan g wo u ld b e as s o ci at ed wi t h t h os e s i g n s

.

Sam ra n o t ed t h at i n so m e p i ct u res

, W

. B. was m ak i n g a “ t h ro wd o wn ” s i g n

, wh i ch was

u s ed b y g an g m em

b ers t o s h o w t h at th e m em b er h ad weap o n s

. Ad d i t i o n al l y

, W

. B.

p o s t ed p i ct u res of h i m s el f p o i n t i n g a h an d g un at t h e cam era, wh ich Sam ra ex p l ai n ed

wo u l d b e t y

p i cal o f g an g m em

b ers

. Sam ra al s o s t at ed t hat i n s o m e o f t h e p i ct u res

, W

.

B. was d res s ed ei t h er i n cam o u fl ag e o r was weari ng a red h at

, an d Sam ra ap p aren t l y

s aw t h at as a s i g n o f g an g m em b ers h i p

, as h e h ad prev i o u s l y t es t i fi ed t hat t he weari n g

o f c e r t a i n c o l o rs w o u l d i n d i cat e g an g affi li at i o n

. T he St at e o ffered n o t es ti m o n y o r

o t h er ev i den ce, h o wev er, t o s h o w t h at red an d cam o u fl ag e were t h e co l o rs o f ei t h er

t h e W i n s t o n Ro ad Sq u ad g an g o r t h e Gan g s t er D i sci p l es

. Fi n al l y

, Sam ra t es ti fi ed t h at

t h e Fa c e b o o k po s t sh o wed W

. B. an d o n e o f h is co d efen d an ts d i sp l ay i n g t at t o o s o f

wh at co ul d b e t h ei r n i ck n am es

, an d h e o bs erv ed th at g an g m em b ers o ft en wen t by

n i ck n am es

.

7Du b o s e t e s t i f ied t h at i n h i s cap aci t y as Di rect o r o f St u d en t Serv i ces fo r

M u s co gee Co u n t y

, h e s erv ed as a d i s ci p l i n ary h eari n g offi cer an d h e m ai n t ai n ed t h e

d i s ci pl i n ary reco rd s fo r M u s co g ee Co u nt y s t u d en t s

. Du b o s e s t at ed t h at Ru l e 1 4 o f t h e

M u s co gee Co u n t y Sch o o l D i s t ri ct Beh av i o r Co d e p ro hi b i t s g an g act i v i t y o n s ch o ol

p ro p ert y

. 3 In Au g u st 2 01 5

, ap p ro x i m at el y fi v e m o n th s b efo re t h e bu rg l ary at i s s ue,

W

. B. an d o n e o f h i s co -d efen d an t s as s au l t ed a s t u d en t at a Mu s co g ee Co u nt y m i d d l e

s ch o ol

, an d d u ri n g t h e s u b s eq u en t d i s ci p l i n ary p ro ceed i n g s

, ea c h a d m i t t ed to

v i o l at i n g Ru l e 1 4 ’ s p ro h i b i t i o n o n g an g act iv i t y

.

Bas ed o n t h e fo reg o i ng ev i d en ce, t h e ju v en i l e co u rt fo u n d t h a t W. B

. h ad

en g ag ed i n cri m i n al g an g act i v i t y . W . B. n o w ap p eal s t h at d eci s i o n

.

3 Th e St at e i n t ro d uced a co p y o f Ru l e 1 4 i n t o ev i d en ce, an d t h e ru l e p ro v i d es :

Gan g act i vi t y i s pro hi b i t ed

. Gan g s are cl u bs

, g ro u p s

, or o rg an i zat i o ns o f

l i m i t ed m em

bers h i p, wh i ch are k n o wn t o ad v o cat e, pract i ce, en gag e o r

p art i ci pat e in u n la

w f ul a c ts su ch as i nt i m i d at i o n

, v i o l en ce, o r d es t ru ct i o n

t o p ro p ert y

. Gan g s are n o t perm i t t e d o n s ch o o l p rem i s es or i n sch o o l

faci l it i es

. G an g m em

b ers are p ro h i b i t ed fro m co nd u ct in g an y act i v i t i es

,

m eet i ng s

, or g at h eri n gs o n or ab o u t s ch o o l faci li t i es

, prem is es

, o r

p ro p ert y at an y t i m e.

8Geo rg i a’ s St re e t G a n g a nd T e r ro ri s m Prev en t i o n Act

, OCGA § 1 6 -1 5-1

, et seq

.,

m ak es i t “ u n l awfu l fo r an y p ers o n em

p l o y ed b y o r as s o ci at ed wi t h a cri m in al s t reet

g an g t o co n d u ct o r p art i ci pat e i n cri m in al g an g act i v i t y t h ro u g h th e co m m i ss i o n o f”

cert ai n en u m erat ed cri m i n al offen ses

, i n cl ud i ng b u rg l ary

. See OCGA § 1 6 -1 5 -4 (a);

OCGA § 1 6

- 1 5 -3 (1 ) (A); OCGA § 1 6 -1 4 -3 (5 ) (A) (v i i). Here, t h e d el i n q u en cy

p et i t i o n al l eg ed t h at W

. B. h ad v i o l at ed th i s s tat u t e b y co m m i t t i n g t h e b urg l ary wh i l e

“ as so ci at ed wi t h t h e ‘ W i n s t o n Ro ad Sq u ad ’ g an g.” Th u s, t o p ro ve t h at W

. B. h ad

v i o l at ed t h e St reet Gan g Act as ch arg ed

, t h e St at e w as req u i red t o s h o w t h at W

. B.

wa s a s s o c i a t ed w it h t h e W i n s t o n Ro ad Sq uad g an g ; t h at t h e W i n s t o n Ro ad Sq u ad

g an g w as a cri m i nal s treet g a n g ; t h a t W

. B. co m m i t t ed a pred i cat e act of cri m i n al

g an g act i v i t y

, n am el y t he b u rg l ary w it h wh ich h e w as ch arg e d ; an d t h at t h e

co m m i s s i o n o f t h e b u rg l ary “ 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 W i n s t o n

Ro ad Sq u ad g an g ] .” Jo n es v. S t a t e

, 2 9 2 G a. 6 5 6

, 6 59 (1 ) (b ) (7 40 SE2 d 5 9 0 ) (2 0 1 3 );

Ro d ri g u ez v. St a t e

, 2 84 G a. 8 0 3

, 8 0 6 -8 07 (1 ) (6 7 1 SE2 d 4 9 7 ) (2 0 0 9). On ap p eal

, W

.

B. as s ert s t hat t h e St at e fai l ed t o p ro v e ei t her t h at h e was as s oci at ed w it h t h e W i n s t o n

Ro ad Sq u ad g an g

, o r t hat t h e b urg l ary w as co m m i t t ed t o fu rt h er t h e i n t eres t s o f t h at

o rg an i zat i o n

. As s u m i n g fo r p urp o s es o f t h i s ap p eal t h at t h e St at e’ s ev id en ce s u ffi ced

t o p ro v e t h at W

. B. was as s oci at ed wi t h t h e W i ns t o n Ro ad Sq u ad g an g an d t h at t h e

9W i ns t o n Ro ad Sq uad g an g w as a cri m i n al s treet g an g

, 4 we fi n d t h at t h e ev i d en ce was

i n s u ffi ci en t t o s h o w th at W

. B. co m m i t t ed t h e b u rg l ary to fu rt h er th e in teres t s o f t h e

g an g. 5

To s u s t ai n W

. B.’s co n v i ct i o n u nd er OCGA § 1 6-1 5 -4 (a), t he St at e was

req u i red t o p r o v e “ s o m et h i n g m o re t h an t h e m ere co m m i s s io n o f a cri m e b y g an g

m em b ers .” Ra n d

o l p h v

. S t at e

, 3 3 4 Ga. Ap p

. 4 7 5

, 48 1 (4 ) (7 8 0 SE2 d 1 9 ) (2 0 1 5 ).

4 S e e OCGA § 1 6 -1 5 -3 (2 ) (p ro v i d i n g t h at t he ex i s t en ce of a “ cri m i n al s t reet

g an g” “ m ay b e es t ab l i s h ed b y ev i d en ce o f a co m m o n n am e o r co m

m o n i d en t i fy i n g

s i gn s

, s y m

b o l s

, tat to o s

, graff

i t i

, o r at t i re o r o t h er d i s t i n g u i s h i ng ch aract eri s t i cs

, i n cl u d i n g

, b u t n o t l i m i t ed t o , co m m on act i v i t i es

, cu s t o m s

, o r b eh av i o rs ”); Za mu d io

v. S t a t e

, 3 3 2 Ga. Ap p

. 3 7

, 41 (2 ) (a) (7 7 1 SE2 d 73 3 ) (2 0 1 5 ) (ev i d en ce t h at d efen d an t

h ad gro wn u p i n g an g t e r ri t o ry

, th at offi cer h ad s een n u m ero u s p ho t o g rap h s o f

d efen d an t wi t h o t h er g an g m em b ers i n fro n t o f a s i g n i d en t i fy i n g a g an g

n ei g h b o rh o o d wh i l e m ak i n g t h e s i g n o f t h at g an g, an d t h at d efen d an t part i ci p at ed in

a fi g h t o n b eh al f o f t h e g an g s uffi ced t o p ro v e d efen dan t w as a m em b er o f th at g an g ).

Co m p are Jo nes

, 29 2 Ga. at 65 9 (1 ) (b ) (rev ers in g d efen d an t ’ s co n v i ct io n fo r cri m i n al

g an g act i v i t y b ecau s e “ al t h o ug h o ffi cers tes t i f i e d a t t ri al t h at m em

b ers o f t h e

So u t hs i d e Bl o o d s o ft en d i s p l ay cert ai n s y m b o l s a n d co l o rs

, n o ev i d en ce was

p res e n t ed t h at [d efen d an t] o r an y o f h i s acco m p li ces d i s p l ay ed th o se s y m b o l s o r

co l o rs

, ei t h er o n t h e d ay o f th e [cri m e] or at an y o t h er t i m e”); In t h e In t er es t o f A. G

., 3 1 7 Ga. Ap p

. at 1 66 (ev i d en ce t h at t h ree ju v en i l e d efen dan t s wo re b an d an nas

, wh i ch

an o ffi cer t es t i fi ed was i n d i cat i v e o f g an g m em b ers h i p, an d t h at a fo u rt h ju v en i l e k ep t

a n o t eb o o k “ w r i t t en i n a s t y l e as s oci at ed wi t h g an g s” was “ i n s u ffi ci en t t o p ro v e

b ey o n d a reas o n ab l e do u b t t h at t h e fo u r ju v en il es were m em b ers o f a cri m i n al s t reet

g an g”) (fo o t no t e o m i t t ed ).

5 As n o t ed ab ov e, W

. B

. a d m i t ted t h at h e h ad co m m i t t ed t h e fi rs t d eg ree

b u rg lary wi t h wh ich h e was ch arg ed

.

10In s t ead

, t h e St at e h ad t o p ro v e t h e ex i s t en ce o f a n ex u s bet ween t h e b u rg l ary “ an d an

i n t en t t o fu rt h er s t reet g an g act i v i t y .” Ro d r ig u ez

, 2 84 Ga

. a t 8 0 7 (1 ) (p u n ct u at i o n

o m it t ed ). Pu t an o t h er way

, t o p r o v e a v i o l at io n o f OCGA § 1 6 -1 5 -4 (a), i t i s

“ es sen t ial ” t h at t h e St at e d em o n s t rat e “ t h at t h e co m m i s s i o n o f t he p red i cat e act 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 .” Mo r r i s v. S t a t e

, 3 4 0 Ga. Ap p. 29 5

, 2 9 8

(1 ) (7 9 7 SE2 d 2 0 7 ) (2 0 1 7 ) (p u n ct u at io n an d fo o tn o t e o m i t t ed ). Th i s req u i rem en t i s

s at i s fi ed by ev i d en ce t h at t h e g an g recei v ed t h e pro ceed s fro m o r o th erwi se b en efi t ed

fro m t h e co m

m i ss i o n o f a p art i cu l ar cri m e. Ev id en ce s h o wi n g t h at a cri m e was d o n e

i n ret al i at i o n fo r s o m e a ct o r i n s u l t co m m i t t ed ag ai n s t t h e g an g o r i ts m em b ers wi l l

al s o s erv e t o s h o w t h at t h e cri m e fu rt h ered t h e g an g’ s i nt eres t s. See In t h e In t er es t of

L. P

. , 3 2 4 Ga. A pp

. 7 8

, 8 4 (3 ) (7 4 9 SE2 d 38 9 ) (2 0 13 ); Mo r ey v. S ta t e

, 3 1 2 Ga. Ap p.

6 7 8

, 6 8 6 (2 ) (b ) (7 19 SE2 d 5 0 4 ) (2 0 1 1). Ad d it i o n al l y

, Geo rg i a co u rt s h av e prev i o u s l y

h el d t h at ev i d en ce s h owi n g t h at t h e cri m e was co m m i t t ed i n a h i g h l y v i si bl e m an n er

s o as to al l o w w i t nes ses an d vi ct i m s “ t o [d i s co v er] t hat a p art i cu l ar g an g co m m i t t ed

t h e cri m e,” A l

s t o n v. S ta t e

, 3 2 9 Ga. Ap p

. 4 4

, 4 7 (1 ) (7 6 3 SE2 d 5 0 4 ) (2 0 1 4 ), o r

ev i d en ce t h at th e p u rp o s e o f t he cri m e was t o es t ab l i s h, rei n f o r c e, o r en h an ce t h e

g a n g ’ s rep ut at i o n s at i s fi es t he n ex u s req u i rem en t

. Id

. See al s o Ra nd o lp h

, 3 3 4 Ga.

Ap p

. at 4 8 2 (4 ). Th i s req u i rem en t i s al s o s a t i s fi ed wh ere t he St at e sh o w s t h at g an g

11m em

b ers referen ced a p art i cu lar i n ci d en t o n so ci al m ed i a s o as t o es t ab l is h t h at t h e

g an g w as res p o n s i b l e fo r a s peci fi c cri m e, ei t h er fo r t h e p u rp o s e of en h an ci n g t h e

g an g’ s rep u t at i o n o r i n t i m i d at i n g o t h ers

. See Mo r r i s

, 3 4 0 Ga. Ap p

. at 3 0 0 (1 ). An d

ev i d en ce, i n cl u d i ng s o ci al m ed i a p o st s

, t h at a sp eci fi c g an g m em b er p erp et rat ed t h e

cri m es s o as t o p ro m o te h i m s el f wi t h i n t h e g an g h i erarch y wo u l d al s o su ffi ce t o p ro v e

t h e req ui red n ex u s

. See In t h e In t er es t o f X. W

. , 3 0 1 Ga. A p p

. 6 2 5, 6 2 9 -6 30 (3 ) (6 8 8

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

Here, t h e St at e p res en t e d n o e v i d en ce fro m w hi ch t h e ju ven i l e co u rt co u ld

co n cl u d e t hat W

. B. co m m it t ed t h e b u r g l ary t o fu rt h er t h e i nt eres t s o f t h e W i n s t o n

Ro ad Sq u ad g an g

. A l t ho ug h th e St at e p res en t ed ev i d en ce s h o wi n g t h at W

. B. an d h i s

co -d efen d an t s h ad p o st ed pi ct u res an d o t her i t em s o n Faceb o o k wh ich i n d i cat ed t h ey

h el d m em

b ers h i p i n a g an g

, t h ere was n o ev i d e n ce s h o wi n g t h at ei t her W

. B., h i s

co d efen dan t s

, o r o t h er m em b ers o f t h e W in s t o n Ro ad Sq u ad g an g h ad p o s t ed

an y t h i n g ab o u t t h e b u rg l ary on Faceb o o k. Th u s

, t h e s o ci al m ed i a ev i den ce g av e n o

i n d i cat i o n th at W

. B. or h i s co -d efen d an t s h ad co m m i tt ed t h e b u rg l ary i n an effo rt to

p ro m o t e t h em sel v es w it hi n t he g an g o r t o o t h erwi s e en h an ce t h e g an g ’ s rep u t at i o n.

No r d i d th e St at e p res en t an y ev i d en ce s h o wi n g t h at th e vi ct i m s o f t h e b u rg l ary o r an y

wi t n es s es were aware t hat t h e cri m e was co m m i t t ed b y m em

b ers of t he W i ns t o n Ro ad

12Sq u ad g an g

. Ad d it i on al l y

, t h ere was n o ev i d en ce t h at t h e i t em s s t o l en b y t h e ju v en il es

d u r i n g t he b u rg l ary were fo r an y t h i n g o th er t h an t hei r p ers on al u s e. 6 Acco rd i n g l y,

t h ere was n o ev i d en ce t h at t h e W i n st o n Ro ad Sq u ad g a n g h ad b en efi t t ed fro m t h e

b u rg lary , ei t h er fi n an ci al l y o r o t h erwi s e.

Gi v en t h at th e St at e fai l ed t o p ro v e t h at W

. B. co m m i t t ed th e b urg l ary t o fu rt h er

t h e i n t eres t s of t he W i n st o n Ro ad Sq uad g an g, we rev ers e t h e j u v en i l e co u rt ’ s fi n d i n g

t h at W

. B. en g ag ed i n cri m i n al st reet g an g act i v it y

. See Jo n es

, 2 9 2 Ga. at 6 6 0 (1 ) (b ).

Ju d g men t r ever sed . McFa d

d en , P. J., a n d

Bet h el

, J., co n cu r

.

6 Du ri n g t he ev i d en t i ary p o rt io n o f t h e h eari n g

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

o f wh at h ap p en ed t o t h e pro p ert y t h at w as s t o l en d u ri n g th e b u rg lary

. St at em en t s

m ad e d u ri n g t he s en t en ci n g p has e o f th e h ea ri n g, ho wev er, i n di cat ed t h at at l eas t

s o m e o f t h at p ro pert y

was ret u rn ed t o t h e h o m eo wn er.

13