FOURTH D I VI SI ON

BA RNES, P. J.

, M C M I LLI A N, and M ERCI ER, 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

Febr uar y 9, 2016



# I n th e Co u r t o f

A p p eals o f

G eo r g ia

A1 5 A1 74 5 . LOCKRIDGE v . STATE

B A R N E S , Pres i d i n g J ud g e.

Fo l l owi n g h i s co n v i ct i o n o f f e l o n y t h eft b y s h o p l ift i n g an d t he d en ial o f h i s

m o ti o n fo r n ew t ri al

, Ken net h Lo ck ri d ge ap p eal s

. L ock ri d g e co n t en d s t h at t h e

ev i d en ce was i n s u ffi ci en t to p ro v e g u i l t b ey o n d a reas o n ab le d o u b t, t h at h i s t ri al

co u ns el fel l b el o w a n o b

ject i v e s t an d ard o f reas o n ab len es s fo r fai lu re t o co n d u ct a

m ean i n g fu l i n v es t i g at i on

, an d t h at t h e t ri al co u rt erred b y d en y i n g h i s m o t io n fo r n ew

t ri al b as ed o n n ewl y di sco vered ev i d en ce. Fo r t h e reas o ns s et fo rt h b el ow, we affi rm

.

At t ri al

, t h e ju ry fo u n d Lo ck ri d g e g u i lt y o f fel o n y t h eft b y s h o p l i ft i n g.

Lo ck ri d ge m ov ed fo r a n ew t ri al o n t h e b as i s o f n ew ev i den ce, a s u rv ei l l an ce v i d eo

reco rd i n g

. A ft er a h eari n g o n t h e m ot i o n an d wat ch in g th e v id eo in q u es t i o n

, t h e t ri al

co u rt d en i ed Lo ck ri d g e’ s m o ti o n fo r n ew t ri al . Lo ck ri d g e fi l ed a t im el y ap p eal

.

1 . Fi rs t , Lo ck ri d g e co n t en d s t h at t h e ev i d en ce was i n su ffi ci en t t o s u p p o rt h i s

co n vi ct i o n f

o r fel o n y t h eft b y s h o pl i ft i n g

. Fo l l o wi n g a cri m in al co n v i ct i o n

, t h ed efen d an t i s n o l on g er p res u m ed i n no cen t

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

fav o rab l e t o s u s tai n t h e v erd i ct

. An t h o n y v. S ta t e

, 3 1 7 Ga. Ap p

. 8 0 7 (7 3 2 SE2 d 8 4 5 )

(2 0 1 2).

So v i ewed

, t h e ev i d en ce s h o w s t h at Lo ck ri dg e was arres t ed fo r sh o pl i ft i n g at

Ho m e Dep ot i n M ay

, 2 0 11

. A n em p l o y ee n ot i ced Lo ck ri d g e act i n g s u s p i ci ou s l y an d

rep o rt ed h i m t o th e as s i s t an t s t o re m an ag er. T h e m an ag er al ert ed t h e as set p ro t ect i o n

s p eci al i s t o f t h e b e hav i o r, w ho t h en fo l l o wed Lo ck ri d g e aro u n d t h e s t o re. He

o b s erv ed Lo ck ri d ge co n ceal s ev eral i t em s i n an em p t ied b ag o f m

u l ch an d t h en p l ace

i t i n h i s s h o p pi n g cart am o n g s t o t h er s i m i l ar b ag s

. Aft er p ay i n g o n l y fo r t h e b ag s o f

m u lch an d l eav i n g t h e s to re wi t h t h em

, Lo ck ri d ge was s t o p p ed in t h e p ark i n g l o t by

s t ore em p l o y ees

. W h en he was fi r st co n fro n t ed

, Lo ck ri d g e at t em p t ed t o reach fo r a

k n i fe i n h i s p o ck et b u t t w o em p l o y ees s u bd u ed h i m

, h an d cu ffed h i m

, an d b ro u g h t h i m

t o t he b ack o f t h e s t o re t o wai t fo r t h e p ol i ce.

W h i l e w ai t i n g

, Lo ck ri dg e t o l d t h e as s et p ro t ect i o n s p eci al i s t “ t h at he d id n ’ t p ay

fo r t h e i tem s t h at were co nceal ed i n t h e b ag an d th at h e was s o rry

. ” W h en th e p o l i ce

o ffi cers arri v ed

, Lo ck ri d g e s p on t an eo u s l y “ ap o lo g i zed fo r co n ceal i n g t h e i t em s an d

t ak i n g t hem .” L o c k r i d g e ad m i t t ed at t ri al t h at t h e s t o len m at eri al h ad b een i n h i s

2s h o p pi n g cart

, b u t t es t i fi ed “ I h av e n o i d ea h o w i t g o t i n t h at b u g g y .” Lo ck ri d g e al s o

ad m i t t ed t h at h e s el ect ed t he id en t i fi ed s t o l en i t em s fro m aro u n d t h e s t o re an d p l aced

t h em i n an o t h er s h o p p i ng cart

, wi t h t h e i n t en t io n o f p u rch as i n g t h em l at er. Las t l y

, t h e

as s et pro tect io n s peci al is t t es t i fi ed t h at th e t o t al p ri ce o f t h e go o d s fo u n d wi t h i n t h e

b ag o f m u l ch cam e t o $ 4 3 6

. 8 0

. 1

W h en rev i ewi n g t h e s u ffi ci en cy of t h e ev i d en ce, we l oo k t o s ee i f “ a n y rat i o n al

t ri er of fact co u l d h av e fo u n d t h e es s en t i al el em en t s o f t h e cri m e b ey o n d a reas o n ab l e

d o u b t .” Ja c k

s o n v. Vi r g i n i a

, 44 3 US 3 0 7

, 31 9 (9 9 SCt 27 8 1

, 6 1 SE2 d 5 6 0 ) (1 9 7 9 );

Cr a f t v. S t a t e , 3 2 4 Ga. Ap p . 7 , 8 (7 4 9 SE2 d 1 6 ) (2 0 1 3).

A p ers o n co m

m i ts t h eft b y s h op l i f

t i n g wh en h e co n ceal s o r t ak es

p o s s es si o n o f th e go o d s o r m e r c h a n di s e o f an y s t o re o r ret ai l

es t ab l i sh m en t w i t h t h e i n t en t o f ap p ro p ri at i ng t he m erch an d i s e t o h i s

o wn wi t h o u t p ay i n g f

o r t he s am e. Th e o ffen s e i s p u n is hed as a

m i s d em ean o r i f th e v al u e t ak en i s $ 3 0 0 or les s

. Th e o ffen s e i s a fel o n y

i f t h e v al u e o f m erch an d i s e t ak en i s g reat er t h an $ 3 0 0

. 2

1 Th i s t o t al in cl u d ed two “ h i g h -t heft ” ro l l s o f el ect ri cal wi re, each v al u ed at

$ 1 8 0 , b ri n gi n g t h e t o t al v al u e t o o v er $ 3 0 0.

2 In 2 0 1 2

, t h e Gen eral As s em b l y rev i s ed OCGA § 1 6 -8 -4 (b ) (1 ) t o p ro v i d e t h at

t h e o ffen s e was a fel o n y i f t he v al u e ex ceed ed $ 5 00

. As Lo ck ri d g e ’s o f fen s e t o o k

p l a c e b efo re t h e rev i si o n, t h e St at e was o n l y req u i red t o p ro v e t h at t h e v al u e o f t h e

s t ol en g o o d s ex ceed ed $ 3 0 0

.

3(Ci t at i o n an d p u n ct u at i o n o m i tt ed .) La n i er v. S t a t e

, 2 6 9 G a

. A pp

. 2 84

, 2 87 (1 ) (b )

(6 0 3 SE2 d 7 7 2 ) (2 0 0 4 ); O CGA § 1 6 -8 -1 4 (b ) (1 ). It i s th e ro l e o f t h e j u ry

, an d n o t t h e

ap p el l at e co u rt

, t o “ as s es s t h e cred i b i l i ty o f t h e w it nes s es

, t o res o l v e an y co n fl i ct i n g

ev i d en ce, an d t o d et erm in e th e fact s in t he ev i d en ce.” Pa r h a m v. S t a t e

, 3 2 0 Ga. Ap p.

6 7 6 , (1 ) (7 3 9 SE2 d 1 3 5 ) (2 0 1 3).

Bas ed o n t h e ab o v e fact s

, t h ere w as s u ffi ci en t ev i d en ce fo r a rat i on al t ri er o f

fact t o fi n d Lo ck ri d g e g u i lt y o f fel o n y t h eft b y s h o p l i ft in g

.

2

. Nex t

, Lo ck ri d g e arg u es i n effect iv e as s i s t an ce of co un s e l

, a l l eg i n g t h at h i s

t ri al co u n s el d i d n o t co n d u ct a m ean i n g fu l i n v es t i gat i on b ecau s e h e fai l ed t o o b t ai n

a s urv ei l lan ce v i d eo fro m t h e St at e. 3 Th e t ri al co u n sel ’ s d efen se s t rat eg y co ns i s t ed o f

p u t t i ng L o ck ri d g e o n t h e st an d t o t es ti fy t h at he d i d no t s t eal t h e i tem s, b u t i n s t ead

s el ect ed t h em

an d p u t t h em

as id e, s o h e co u ld ret u rn wh en h e h ad en o ug h m o n ey

.

Th e t ri al co u ns el was aware o f t h e s u rv ei ll an ce v i deo b ecau s e i t was i n cl u d ed

o n t h e St at e’ s d i s co v ery l i s t, bu t t es ti fi ed t h at wh en h e as k ed t h e St at e fo r t h e v i d eo

,

t h e p ro s ecu t o r to l d h i m “ t h ere wo u l d n o t b e an y v id eo

. Th ere was n o v i d eo

. ” Th e t ri al

3 Th e s urv ei ll an ce vi d eo co n s i s t s of s ecu ri t y fo o t ag e o f d i fferen t areas o f Ho m e

Dep ot o n t he d at e Lo ck ri d g e was arres t ed fo r s h op l i ft i n g

.

4co u ns el t es t i fi ed t hat h e ch o s e n o t t o p u rs u e t he v i d eo b ecau s e h e bel i ev ed i t was n ot

i n t he St at e’ s p o s s es s i o n

.

T o p rev ai l o n a cl ai m o f i n effect i v e co un s el [Lo ck ri dg e] m u s t

s h o w t hat h i s co u n s el ’ s perfo rm an ce was defi ci en t an d t h at t h e d efi ci en t

p erfo rm an ce s o p reju d i ced d efen d an t t h a t t here is a reas o n ab l e

l i kel i h o o d th at

, b u t fo r co u n s el ’ s erro rs

, t h e o u t co m e of th e t ri al w o u l d

h av e b een d i fferen t

.

Jo h n so n v. S t at e

, 2 8 7 Ga. 7 6 7, 7 6 9 ( 2 ) ( 7 0 0 SE2 d 3 4 6) (2 0 1 0 ); See S t ri ckl a n d v.

W a s h i n g t o n

, 4 6 6 U.S. 6 6 8

, 6 8 8 (III) (A) (1 0 4 S. Ct

. 2 0 5 2

, 8 0 LE2 d 6 7 4 ) (1 9 8 4 ). “ If

a d efen dan t fai l s t o m eet [h i s ] b u rd en o n o n e p ro n g o f t h e t w o p r o n g t e s t

, t h en t h e

o t h er pro n g n eed n o t be rev i ewed b y t h e co u rt .” Po wel l v. S t a te

, 2 9 7 Ga. 3 5 2

, 2 5 6 (5 )

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

Pret erm it t i n g wh et h er t ri al co u n s el ’ s fai lure t o ob t ai n a co p y o f t he s urv ei l l an ce

v i d eo was reas o n ab l e p ro fes s i o n al co n d uct

, Lo ck ri d g e h a s f ai l ed to es t ab l i s h t h at

c ounse l’ s de fi ci en cy s o p reju d i ced h i s d efen s e t h at a reas o n ab l e p ro b ab il i ty ex i s t s t h at

t h e v erd i ct wo u l d h av e b een d i fferen t

. Jo hn s on , 2 87 Ga. at 7 7 0 (2 ). 4

4 “ A reas o n ab l e p ro bab i l i t y i s a p ro b ab i l i t y s u ffi ci en t t o u n derm in e co n fi d en ce

i n t he o u t co m e.” (Ci tat i o n an d p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed .) Do u g l a s

, 3 2 7 G a. Ap p . at 7 9 6

(2 ) (b ) .

5“ W e s t ro n g l y p res u m e t h at t h e t ri al co u n s el ren d ered ad eq u at e as s is tan ce an d

m ad e al l s i gn i fi can t d eci s i o ns i n t h e ex erci s e o f reas o n ab l e p ro fes s io n al j u d g m en t .”

Do u g l a s v

. S t at e

, 3 2 7 Ga. Ap p

. 7 9 2

, 7 94 (2 ) (7 6 1 SE2 d 1 8 0) (2 0 1 4). In reg ard s to

p re-t ri al p rep arat i o n

, “ co u n s el h as a d u t y t o m ak e reas o n ab l e i nv es t i g a t i o n s o r to

m ak e a reas o nab l e d eci s io n t h at m ak es part i cu l ar i n v es t i g at i o n s u n n eces s ary .” Id at

7 9 5 (2 ) (a).

Lo ck ri d g e’ s wi fe t es t i fi ed t h at t h e su rv ei l l an ce v i d eo “ j u s t s h o wed i n d i v i d u al s

wal k i n g d o wn t h e ai s l es ,” i n cl u d i n g Lo ck ri d g e, b ut d i d n o t sh o w Lo ck ri d g e ch eck i n g

o u t at t h e cas h reg i s t er. T h e S t a t e a r g u ed d u ri n g t he h eari ng o n th e m o t i o n fo r n ew

t ri al t h at th e v i d eo w as a co m pi l at i o n o f sev eral cam era an g l es i n v ari o u s p art s o f t h e

s t ore, an d wi t h o ut k n o wi n g w h at Lo ck ri d g e was w eari n g i t was h ard t o t el l “ wh at was

g o i n g o n.” A sh o pp i n g cart co n t ai n i n g i t em s s i m i l ar t o t h o s e th e as s e t p ro t ect i o n

s p eci al i s t t es t i fi ed t h at L o ck ri d g e h ad pi ck ed o u t was v is i bl e as i t was p u s h ed t h ro u g h

t h e gard en cen t er, b u t n o th in g el s e w as cl ear u n t i l p o l i ce o ffi cers es co rt Lo ck ri d g e

t h ro u g h t h e st o re, th e St at e s ai d

. Th e t ri al co u rt rev iewed t he v i d eo i n fu l l

, as d i d t h i s

co u rt

.

6W h i l e Lo ck ri d g e as s ert s t h at “ [t ] h e v i deo co n t rad i ct s t h e t es t i m o n y o f t h e

St at e’ s wi t n es s es ” an d t h u s t here i s a reas o n ab l e p ro b ab i li t y t h at h e wo u l d h av e b een

acq u it t ed i f t ri al co u n s el h ad o bt ai n ed t he v i d eo , h e ci tes t o n o p art i cu l ar t es t i m o ny

an d p res en t s n o fu rt h er arg um en t o n t h e m at t er. See Ha m pt o n v. S t a t e

, 2 7 9 Ga. 6 2 5,

6 2 8 (5 ) (6 1 9 SE2 d 6 1 6) ( 2 0 0 5 ) (h o l d in g th at t h e cl ai m of i n effect i v e as s is t an ce o f

co u ns e l f a il ed wh en t h e d efen d an t “ o ffer[ed ] on l y h i s s p ecu l at i o n reg ard i n g t h e

co n ten t o f s u ch al leg ed p o t en t i al fav o rab le ev id en ce.”)

Fu rt herm o re w e h a v e rev i ewed t h e v id eo an d g i ven t h e co n t en t o f t h e v i d eo

,

t h e fai l u re o f Lo ck ri d ge’ s t ri al co u n s el t o o b t ai n t h e vi d eo d i d n o t p reju d i c e t h e

d efen d an t

. Hu ds o n v. S t a t e

, 3 2 2 Ga. Ap p

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

Acco rd in g ly

, h av i n g fai l ed t h e s eco nd pro n g

, Lo ck ri d g e’ s in e f fect i v e as s i s t an ce o f

co u ns el arg u m en t i s wi t h ou t m eri t

.

3

. Las t l y

, Lo ck ri d g e al s o c o n t en d s t h at t h e t ri al co u rt erred b y d en y i n g h i s

m o ti o n fo r n ew t ri al b as ed o n n ewl y d i s co v ered ev i d en ce i n t h e s u rv ei l l an ce v i d eo

.

W e d i s ag ree.

W h en rev i ewi n g t h e den i al o f a m o t i o n f o r n ew t ri al b as ed o n n ewl y

d i s co v ered ev i d en ce, t he tri al co u rt ’ s d i s cret i o n wi l l n o t b e d i s t u rb ed u n l es s t h ere i s

7an ab us e o f t h at di s cret i o n

. S t a t e v. S i mmo ns

, 3 2 1 Ga. Ap p

. 68 8

, 69 2 (7 4 2 SE2 d 5 0 5 )

(2 0 1 3).

Ou r Su p rem e Co u rt es t ab l i s h ed t h at a d efen d an t s eek i n g a n ew t ri al o n t h e

b as i s o f n ew ev id en ce m

u s t s ho w t h e t ri al co u rt :

(1 ) t h at t h e ev i d en ce h as co m e t o h i s k n o wl ed g e si n ce t he t ri al ; (2 ) t hat

i t was n o t o wi n g t o an y lack o f d u e d i l i g en ce t hat he d id n o t acq u ire i t

s o o n e r ; (3 ) t hat it i s s o m at eri al i t wo u l d p ro b ab l y p ro du ce a d i fferen t

v erd ict ; ( 4 ) t hat i s i t n o t cu m u l at i v e o n l y ; (5 ) t h at t h e affi d av i t o f th e

wi t n es s h i m s el f s h o u l d b e p ro cu red o r i t s ab s en ce acco u n t ed fo r; an d (6 )

t h at a new t ri al wi l l n o t b e g ran t ed i f t he o n ly effect o f t h e ev i d en ce wi l l

b e t o i m p each t h e cred i b il i t y o f a wi t n es s

. Al l s i x req u i rem en t s m u s t be

co m p li ed wi th t o g ran t a n ew t ri al

.

(Ci t at i o n an d p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed .) Ti mb er la ke v. St a t e

, 2 4 6 Ga. 4 8 8

, 4 9 1 (1 ) (2 7 1

SE2 d 7 9 2 ) (1 9 8 0); Si mmo ns

, 3 2 1 Ga. A p p

. at 6 9 3. At th e m o t i o n fo r n ew t ri al an d in

h i s b ri ef, Lo ck ri d ge fai l ed t o m eet s ev eral o f t h e req u i rem en t s

.

Fi rs t

, Lo ck ri dg e fai l ed t o s h o w t h at t he ev i d en ce cam e t o h i s kn o wl ed g e s i nce

t h e t ri al

. Ba n ks v. S t a t e

, 29 0 Ga. Ap p

. 8 8 7, 8 8 9 (3 ) (6 6 0 SE2 d 8 7 3 ) (2 0 0 8 ) (h o l d i n g

t h at a wi t n es s ’ s n am e i n cl u d e d i n t h e p ro s ecu t i on ’ s d i s co v ery l i s t is n o t n ew

ev i d en c e ) ; Wh e el er v. S t at e

, 2 9 0 Ga. 8 1 7

, 8 1 9 -8 2 0 (5 ) (7 2 5 SE2 d 5 80 ) (2 0 1 2 )

8(h o l d i n g t h at a d efen d an t can n o t u s e t h e s am e DNA ev i d en ce t o p res en t a n ew t h eo ry

fo r t h e d efen s e).

T w i ce d u ri n g t h e j u ry t ri al

, Lo ck ri d g e as k ed t h e tri al co u rt ab o u t t h e

s u rv ei l l an ce v id eo . Lo ck ri d ge t o l d t h e t ri al co u rt aft er he was s en t en ced t h at h e d id

n o t u n d ers t an d wh y t h e v i d eo was n o t in t ro d u ced

, b ecau se “ [i ] f it was so d am ag i n g,

t h ey sh o u l d h av e h ad i t as ev id en ce ag ai ns t m e, b u t i t was n’ t .” Lo ck ri d g e al s o d i d n ot

cl ai m in h i s m o t i o n fo r t h e n ew t ri al o r at t h e h e a r i n g on t h e m o t i o n t h at h e was

u n aware o f t he v i d eo ’ s ex is t en ce d u ri n g t h e t ri al

. Cl earl y , h e fai l ed to s h ow t h at t h e

ev i d en ce was n ewl y

d i s co v ered

.

Fu rt her m o r e

, Lo ck ri d g e d i d n o t o ffer an y p ro o f t h at t h e ev i d en ce was s o

m at eri al i t wo u l d res u l t i n a d i fferen t v erd i ct

. S i mmo ns

, 3 2 1 Ga. Ap p

. at 69 3

. He o n l y

arg u ed t h at t h e d i s

jo i n ted vi deo wo u l d n o t o n ly i m p e ach t he as s et p ro t ect i o n

s p eci al i s t

, b u t wo ul d al s o co n t rad i ct t he tes t im on y o f th e St at e’ s o t h e r wi t n es s es

.

Ho wev er, Lo ck ri d g e has fai l ed t o ci t e to an y p art i cu l ar t es ti m o n y co n t rad i ct ed b y t h e

v i d eo

. Th i s arg u m en t i s n ot s u ffi ci en t t o sh o w t h at t h e n ew ev i d en ce was s o m at eri al

i t wo u ld res u l t i n a d i fferen t v e r d i ct

. 5 Th e v i d eo d o es n o t d is pro v e t h e t h eft

5 As d i s cu s s ed s u

p r a i n Di v i s i o n II.

9es t ab l i s h ed b y t h e ey ewi t n es s acco un t s

, an d i t i s i n f a c t un cl ear an d d iffi cu l t to

d i s t i n gu i sh Lo ck ri d g e fro m o t her s h o p p ers

.

Th e t ri al co u r t rev i ewed t h e s u rv ei l l an ce v i deo an d in i ts d i s cret i o n

, d en i ed

Lo ck ri d ge’ s m o ti o n fo r n ew t ri al b as ed o n n ewl y d i sco v ered ev i d en ce. 6 W e fi n d n o

ab u se o f t h i s d is cret i on

. S i mmo n s , 3 2 1 Ga. Ap p . at 6 9 2

.

Ju d g men t a f f i r m . McMi l l i a n a n d

Mer ci er , JJ., co n cu r

.

6 At t h e en d o f t hi s en u m erat io n o f erro r, L o ck ri d g e al s o arg u es t h at t h e St at e

v i o l at ed th e ru les o f di sco very co n t ai n ed i n OCGA § 1 7 -1 6 -4 (a) (1 ). Ho wev er, t h i s

arg u m en t fai l s b ecau s e t he vi deo d i d n o t co n tai n an y s t at em en t b y Lo ck ri d g e an d t h e

St at e d i d n ot i nt en d t o o ffer t h e v i d eo as ev i d en ce ag ai n s t Lo ck ri d g e. D ea l v. S t a t e

, 1 9 9 Ga. Ap p . 1 8 4 , 1 8 6 -1 8 7 (3 ) (4 0 4 SE2 d 3 4 3) (1 99 1 ).

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