In th e S u p re m e Co u rt o f Ge o rg ia

De c id e d: No v e m b e r 2

, 2 0 15

S 1 5 A0 8 3 4 . HIGUERA-GUITERREZ v . THE S TATE.

MELTON, Ju stic e

.

F o llo win g a ju ry tria l, Ro g e lio Hig u e ra -Gu ite rre z wa s fo u n d g u ilty o f th e

fe lo ny m u rd e r o f S a n to s P a la c io s-Va sq u e z a n d An to n io C la rk

, th e v o lu n ta ry

m a n sla u g h te r o f V a sq u e z a n d Cla rk

, c o n sp ira c y to tra ffic c o c a in e , a n d

p o sse ssio n of a fire a rm d u rin g th e c o n sp ira c y to tra ffic c o c a in e

. 1 F o r th e re a so n s

1 On Ja n u a ry 2 6

, 2 0 1 0

, Gu ite rre z wa s in d ic te d fo r two c o u nts o f m a lic e

m u rd e r (o n e fo r Va sq u e z a n d o n e fo r Cla rk ), fo u r c o u n ts o f fe lo n y m urd e r (two

c o u n ts p e r v ic tim p re d ic a te d o n a g g ra v a te d a ssa ult an d c o n sp ira c y to tra ffic in

c o c a in e ), two c ou n ts o f a g g ra v a te d a ssa u lt with a d e a dly we a po n (o n e fo r e a c h

v ic tim ), c o n sp ira c y to tra ffic in c o c a in e , a n d two c o u n ts o f p o sse ssio n o f a fire a rm d u rin g th e c o m m issio n o f a c rim e (o ne re la te d to a g g ra v a te d a ssa u lt o f

C l ark a n d Va sq u e z a n d th e o th e r re la te d to c o n sp ira c y to tra ffic c o c a i n e )

. F o llo w i n g a j u ry tria l, Gu ite rre z w a s fo u n d g u ilty o f th e fo llo win g: (1 ) fo u r

c o u n ts o f v o lu n ta ry m a n sla u g h te r a s le sse r in c lu d e d o ffe n se s of th e two m a lic e

m u rd e r c ou n ts, o n e c o u n t o f th e fe lo ny m urd e r o f Cla rk p re d ic a te d o n

a g g ra v a te d a ssa u lt, a n d o n e c o u n t o f th e fe lo n y m u rd e r o f Va sq u e z p re d ic a te d

o n a g g ra v a te d a ssa u lt; (2 ) two c o u n ts o f fe lo n y m urd e r (o n e fo r e a c h v ic tim

p re d ic a te d on c on sp ira c y to tra ffic in c o c a in e ) ; ( 3 ) c o n sp ira c y to tra ffic in

c o c a in e ; a n d (4 ) o n e c o u n t of p o sse ssio n o f a fire a rm d u rin g th e c o m m issio n o f

a c o n sp ira c y to tra ffic c o c a in e

. Gu ite rre z wa s in itia lly se n t e n c e d to life

im p riso n m e n t fo r e a c h c o u n t o f fe lo n y m u rd e r, with an a d d itio n a l fiv e y e a rs fo rse t fo rth b e lo w, we m u st re v e rse

.

1 . Th e u n d e rly in g fa c ts o f th is c a se h a v e a lre a d y c om e b e fo re th is Co urt

in th e a p p e a l o f Gu ite rre z ’s c o -d e fe nd an t, De lm a n Hig u e ra -He rn a n d e z , with

wh o m Gu ite rre z sh a re d a jo in t tria l. Th e re , th is Co urt su m m a riz e d :

Co n stru e d m o st stro n g ly in su p p o rt o f th e v e rd ic ts, th e e v id e n c e sh o ws th a t [He rn a n d e z ]

. . . m e t [Ja m e s P la tt, Ja rre tt Dix o n , a n d

Cla rk ] a t a n a

p a rtm e n t fo r th e p u rp o se o f se llin g two k ilo g ra m s o f

c o c a in e

. A fte r re c e iv in g a la rg e a m o u n t o f c a sh

, [He rn a nd e z ] sh o t

a n d k ille d Cla rk

. P a la c io s-Va sq ue z wa s fa ta lly sh o t, a n d [He rn a n d e z ] h im se lf w a s sh o t in th e a b d o m e n

. He fle d w ith th e h e lp

o f o th e rs a n d so u g h t tre a tm e nt a t a h osp ita l, cl a im in g th a t h e wa s in ju re d in a n a tte m

p te d ro b b e ry

. A lth o ug h [ He r n an d e z ] d e n ie d

k n o wle dg e o f th e a

p a rtm e n t, h is b lo od wa s fo u n d a t th e c rim e

sc e n e , a n d a se t o f k e y s t o th e a p a rtm e n t wa s d isc ov e re d a t h is

h o u se

. In v e stig a to rs a lso fo u n d o v e r 2 8 gra ms o f c o c a in e with a

p u rity o f a t le a st 10 % a t th e a p a rtm e n t in a d iffe re n t c o n ta in e r fro m th e p u rp orte d two k ilo gra m s o f c o c a in e o ffe re d fo r sa le

.

Hig ue ra -He rn a n d e z v

. S ta te

, 2 8 9 Ga

. 5 5 3

, 55 3-5 5 4 (1 ) (7 1 4 SE2 d 2 36 ) (2 0 1 1 ).

In a d d itio n to th e se fa c ts, th e re c o rd sh o ws th a t a ja ilh o u se in fo rm a n t

b o th c o n sp ira c y to tra ffic in c oc a in e a nd p osse ssio n of a h a n d g u n

. Th e

re m a in in g c h a rg e s we re m e rg e d fo r p u rp o se s o f se n te n c in g , an d

, b y la te r

a m e n d m e n t, th e c h a rg e o f c o n sp ira c y to tra ffic in c o c a in e wa s m e rg e d in to o n e

o f th e fe lo n y m

u rd e r c ou n ts a s we ll. On Ap ril 9

, 2 0 1 0

, Gu ite rre z file d a m o tio n fo r ne w tria l

, a m e n d e d o n S e p te m b e r 1 9

, 2 01 1 a n d Ma y 7

, 2 0 1 2

, th a t wa s

u ltim a te ly d e nie d o n De c e m b e r 2 0

, 2 0 1 2

. Gu ite r r e z file d a tim e ly n o tic e o f

a p p e a l, a n d a fte r p re p a

ra tio n o f tra n sc rip ts an d re c o rd

, h is c a se wa s d o c k e te d to
th e Ap ril 2 0 1 5 Te rm o f th is Co u rt a n d su b m itte d fo r d e c isio n o n th e b rie fs.

2n a m e d Ju a n F lo re s C a ld e ro n te stifie d th a t h is c o u sin

, An do Ca ld e ro n , is a d ru g

su p p lie r. An d o to ld Ju a n F lo re s th a t h e p ro v id e d a m a n n a m e d Vin c e nte 2 with

fiv e k ilo s o f c o c a in e a t th e Ma g n o lia Ap a rtm e n ts. Th re e k ilo s we re re se rv e d a t

a n a p a rtm e n t in Ma g n o lia A p a rtm e n ts, an d Vin c e nte

, a c lo se frie n d o f Gu ite rre z ,

to o k th e o th e r two k ilo s to H e r n a n d e z a t his n e a rb y a p a rtm e n t fo r pu rp o se s o f

a d ru g sa le

. Vin c e n te wa ite d ju st o u tsid e He rn a nd e z ' s a pa rtm e n t wh ile th e d ru g

tr a n s a ct io n wa s su p p o se d to o c c ur. Ju a n Flo re s in itia lly p ro v id e d th is

in fo rm a tio n to fe d e ra l a g e n ts, wh o re fe rre d h im to lo c a l p o lic e

. A t so m e p o in t

th e re a fte r, Ju a n F lo re s sh a re d a ja il c e ll with He rn a n d e z , wh o a lso c o n v e y e d

d e ta ils o f th e d ru g tra n sa c tio n a n d sh o oto u t to h im

. F o r e x a m p le

, p rio r to th e

sa le

, He rn a n d e z m e t two Afric a n -Am e ric a n m e n a n d a La tin o m a n in a n In fin iti

se d a n, a n d le d th e m to h is a p a rtm e n t to c o n d u c t th e tra n sa c tio n

. As m o n e y wa s

b e in g e x c h a n g e d

, o n e o f th e A f r i ca n -Am e ric an m e n pu lle d a gu n , a n d

He rn a n d e z sh o t h im

.

In a d d itio n , Om a r Cu sto d ia Mo ng e , a lo n g tim e frie n d o f He rn a n d e z ,

te stifie d th a t He rn a

n d e z c a lle d h im im m e d ia te ly a fte r b e in g sh o t a n d re q u e ste d

2 S o m e e v id en c e s h o we d th a t o n e o f Gu ite rre z ’s c o -in dic te e s, Ju a n Ce rv a nte s Ma ld o n a do

, a lso g o e s b y th e n a m e Vin c e n te Re n te ria Ma ld o n a d o

.

3a ssista n c e

. Mo n g e a n d P a tric io

, a c o u sin o f H e r n a n d e z , d ro v e to He rn a n d e z ' s

a p a rtm e n t c o m

ple x wh e re th e y fo u n d He rn a n d e z a n d A n to n io La ra -Lan d e ra ,

b o th o f w h o m h a d b e e n wo u n d e d in t h e s h o o to u t, wa itin g n e a r so m e b u sh e s.

Mo n g e th e n d ro v e He rn a n d e z to th e h osp ita l a n d o v e rh e a rd h im te ll P a tric io to

in stru c t Vin c e n te a n d Gu ite rre z to re trie v e m o n e y fro m th e b ush e s w h e re h e h a d

b e e n fo un d

. Mirro rin g th is te stim o n y , Ju a n F lo re s te stifie d th a t He rn a nd e z to ld

h im th a t it wa s Gu ite rre z ' s re sp o n sib ility to re trie v e m on e y , d ru g s, a n d we a p o n s

f r o m th e b u sh e s fo llo win g th e sh o o to u t. Mo n g e a lso re c o un te d th a t G u ite rre z

fo llo we d h is c a r to th e h o sp ita l a ft e r b e in g c o nta c te d b y He rn an d e z , a nd

, la te r

th a t d a y , Vin c e n te , Gu ite rre z , a n d Pa tric io m e t in Mo n g e ' s p re se n c e to d isc u ss

re trie va l o f th e d ru g s th a t h a d b e e n le ft be h in d b y He rn a nd e z

. F u rth e r e v id e n c e

sh o we d th a t Gu ite rre z ' s tru c k wa s se e n a t th e c rim e sc e n e a t so m e po in t a fte r th e

sh o o tin g h a d o c c u rre d

.

Ap p ro x im a te ly th re e m o n th s a fte r th e sh o o tin g s, p olic e le g a lly sto p p e d a

v e h ic le in wh ic h Gu ite rre z wa s a p a sse ng e r. 3 Ba se d on th e b e lie f th a t G u ite rre z

h a d b e e n in v o lv e d in th e d ru g tra n sa c tio n a n d sh o o tin g s, p o lic e p u t Gu ite rre z in

3 Th e d riv e r o f th e c a r, M a ld o n a d o , a lso k n o wn a s Vin c e n te

, wa s a rre ste d

fo r d riv in g with o u t a

p ro p e r lic e n se

.

4h a n d c u ffs, p la c e d him in a p a tro l c a r, an d t o o k h im to th e p re c in c t fo r

q u e stio n in g

. On c e th e re , Gu ite rre z wa iv e d h is Mira n d a rig h ts a n d sta te d

, a m o n g

o th e r th i n g s , t h a t h e liv e d in th e Ma g n o lia Ap a rtm e n ts, wh ic h is c lo se in

p ro x im ity to th e a

p a rtm e n t c o m

p le x wh e re th e d ru g tra nsa c tio n o c c u rre d

.

2

. Gu ite rre z c o n te n ds th a t th is e v id e nc e w a s i n s u f fic ie n t to su p p o rt h is

c o n v ic tio n a s a pa rty to th e c rim e s fo r wh ic h h e wa s fo u n d g u ilty

. “Ev e ry p e rso n

c o n c e rn e d in th e c om m issio n o f a c rim e is a

p a rty th e re to a nd m a y b e c h a rg e d

with a n d c o n v ic t e d o f c o m m issio n o f th e c rim e .” O CGA § 1 6 -2 -2 0 (a ). “ A

p e rso n is c o n c e rn e d in th e c o mm issio n o f a c rim e o nly if h e :

. . . (3 )

In te ntio n a lly a id s o r a

b e ts in th e c o m m issio n o f th e c rim e ; o r (4 ) In te n tio n a lly

a d v ise s, e n c o u ra ge s, hire s, c o u n se ls, o r p ro c u re s a n o th e r to c o m m it th e c rim e .”

OCGA § 1 6 -2 -2 0 (b ). Ap p ro v a l o f a c rim in a l a c t, sta n d in g a lo n e , do e s n o t rise

to e nc o u ra g e me n t su ffic ie n t to e sta b lish th a t th e d e fe n d a n t wa s a p a rty to th e

c rim e . Jo rd a n v

. S ta te

, 2 72 Ga

. 3 9 5 (1 ) (5 3 0 S E2 d 1 9 2) (2 0 0 0 ). Th e re m u st b e

so m e e v id e n c e sh o win g th a t th e d e fe nd an t sh a re d a c o m m o n c rim in a l in te n t to

c o m m it th e c rim e s in q u e stio n with th e a c tu a l p e rp e tra to rs. Jo n e s v

. S ta te

, 2 5 0

Ga

. 1 1

, 1 3 (2 95 S E2 d 7 1 ) (1 9 8 2 ). Cri m i n a l in te n t m a y b e in fe rre d fro m th e

d e fe n d a n t' s c o n d u c t b e fo re , d u rin g , a n d a fte r th e c rim e

. Be lsa r v

. S ta te

, 2 7 6 Ga

.

52 6 1

, 2 6 2 (1 ) (5 7 7 S E2 d 5 6 9 ) (2 0 0 3 ).

In th e p re se n t c a se , th e S ta te h a s fa ile d to e lic it a n y e vid e n c e sh o win g th a t

Gu ite rre z wa s pa rtic ip a tin g in th e cr i m in a l sc h e m e e ith e r b e fo re o r d u rin g th e

a c tu a l c o m m issio n o f th e c rim e s. Th e o n ly e v id e n c e th a t th e S ta te ha s p re se n te d

f o r th is c ritic a l tim e p e rio d is th e fa c t th a t G u ite rre z liv e d in th e M a g n o l i a

Ap a rtm e n ts, wh e re te stim on y in d ic a te d th a t th e d ru g s we re o rig in a lly d e liv e re d

.

Th e re wa s no te s t im o ny , h o we ve r, th a t th e d ru gs we re ta k e n to Gu ite rre z ’s

a p a rtm e nt, a n d

, a s a re su lt, th e be st th a t c a n b e in fe r re d is th a t th e d ru g s we re

ta k e n so m e wh e re with in th e c o m p le x

. As fo r th e tim e p e rio d in wh ic h th e d ru g

tra n sa c tio n a n d th e sh o o tin g s o c c u rre d

, th e S ta te p re se n te d n o e v id e n c e th a t

Gu ite rre z wa s p re se n t. As a re su lt, th e re is s im p ly n o c om

p e te n t e v id e n c e th a t

Gu ite rre z wa s p re se n t o r o th e rwise in v olv e d in th e p la n n in g o r e x e c u tio n o f th e

u n d e rly in g dru g tra n sa c tio n o r su b se q u e n t sh o o tin g s. T h e re f o r e , th e e v id e n c e

wa s in su ffic ie n t to su p p o rt h is c o n v ic tio n s.

Alth o u g h th e S ta te a n d th e tria l c o u rt re lie d o n Gu ite rre z ’s a c tio n s a n d

k n o w le d g e a fte r th e c o m m issio n o f t h e c rim e s to su p p o rt h is c o n v ic tio n s, th is

e v id e n c e is in su ff

i c ie n t to sa tisfy th e sta n d a rd o f OCGA § 1 6 -2 -2 0

. At b e st, it

wo u l d s h o w th a t G u ite rre z wa s a n a c c e sso ry a fte r th e fa c t, n o t a pa rty to th e

6c rim e s. 4 “ At c o m m o n la w a n d u n d e r m o d e rn p ra c tic e , a n a c c e sso ry a fte r th e fa c t

is n o t c o n si d e r e d a n a c c o m p lic e to th e un d e rly in g c rim e itse lf, b u t is g u ilty o f

a se p a ra te

, su bsta n tiv e o ffe n se in th e na tu re o f o b stru c tio n o f ju stic e .” P u rv is v

.

S ta te

, 2 0 8 Ga

. Ap p

. 6 5 3

, 6 5 4 (4 3 3 S E2 d 5 8) (1 9 9 3 ).Th e S ta te

, h o we v e r, d id n o t

c h a rg e Gu ite rre z with be in g a n a c c e sso ry a fte r th e fa c t.

Ju d g m e n t re ve rse d . All th e Ju stic e s c o nc u r.

4 Du e to th e sa m e la c k o f e v id e n c e sh o win g th a t Gu ite rre z wa s in v o lv e d

in th e sc h e m e o r c rim e s b ef o r e o r d u rin g th e ir c om m issio n , th e S ta te fa ile d to

p ro v e th a t Gu ite rre z c o n sp ire d to tra ffic c o c a in e

.

7