FI RST DI VI SI ON

GOBEI L and M A RKLE, J. J.

, and SENI OR A PPELLA TE JUDGE PHI PPS.

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

.

A pr i l 8, 2021



# I n th e Co u r t o f

A p p eals o f

G eo r g ia

A2 1 A0 16 9 . FRILANDO v . THE STATE.

P H I P P S , Sen i o r Ap p el l at e J u d g e.

Fo l l owi n g a ju ry t ri al

, Jo h n A n t ho n y Fri l an d o was co n vi ct ed of t wo co u n t s o f

ag g rav at ed s t al k i n g

. Fri lan d o fi l ed a m o t i o n fo r n ew t ri al

, wh i ch th e tri al co u rt d en i ed

.

O n ap p eal

, Fri l an do co n t en ds t h at t h e t ri al co u rt erred b y den y i n g h i s m o t i o n f o r a

d i rect ed v erd i ct o f acq u i tt al b ecau s e t h e ev i den ce was i n su ffi ci en t t o s u s t ai n h i s

co n vi ct i o n s

. He al s o co n t en ds t h at t h e tri al co u rt erred by ad m i t t i n g cert ai n ev i d en ce,

ex cl u d i n g o t h er ev i d en ce, an d s en t en ci ng hi m as a reci d i v i s t u n d er OCGA § 1 7 -1 0 -7

(c). W e d i s ag ree an d affi rm

.

Th e st an d ard of rev i ew fo r t h e d en i al o f a m ot io n fo r d i rect ed

v erd ict of acq u i t t al i s t h e s am e as t h at fo r rev i ewi ng t h e s u ffi ci en cy o f

t h e ev i d en ce t o su p po rt a co n v i c t i o n. Un d er t hat st an d ard we v i ew th e

ev i d en ce in t h e li g h t m o s t fav o rab l e t o th e ju ry ’ s v erd i ct an d d et erm in ewh et h er an y rat i on al t ri er o f fact co u ld h av e fo u n d t he 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 ou b t. Co n fl i ct s i n t he t es t i m o n y o f th e

wi t n es s es

, i n cl u d i n g t h e s t at e’ s wi t n es s es

, are a m at t er o f cred i b i l it y fo r

t h e ju ry t o res o l ve.

Br o oks v. S t a t e , 3 1 3 Ga. Ap p . 7 8 9 , 7 9 0 (7 2 3 SE2 d 2 9 ) (2 0 1 2 ) (ci t at io n o m i t t ed ).

So v i ewed

, t h e ev id en ce s h ows t h at Fri l an d o an d R. L. were m arri ed i n 1 9 9 2.

Sev eral y ears l at er, Fri l an do was s en t en ced t o a p ri s o n t erm o f t wen t y y ears

, an d h e

wen t to pri s o n i n Feb ru ary 1 9 9 7

. R. L. m ai n tai n ed co nt act wi t h Fri l an d o t h e fi rs t few

y ears h e w as i n p ri s o n. In 19 9 8 o r 1 9 9 9

, R. L. ceas ed co m m u n icat i o ns w i t h Fri l an d o,

b u t h e co n t i n u ed t o at t em p t t o co n t act her th ro u gh l et t ers an d t el ep h o n e cal l s

.

Fri l an d o m ad e m

u l t i p l e t el ep h o n e cal l s t o t h e n u rs i n g ho m e wh ere s h e wo rk ed an d

t o t h e o wn er o f t h e nu rs i n g h o m e’ s h o us e. Fri lan d o al s o s en t R. L. nu m ero u s l et t ers ;

R. L. n ev er res p on d ed

.

I n 2 0 0 3

, R. L. m o v ed fro m So u t h Caro l in a to Geo rg i a. A few y ears l a t e r

,

Fri l an d o fi l ed fo r d i v o r c e f r o m R. L. R. L. tes t ifi ed t h at s h e d i d n o t fi l e fo r d i v o rce

earl ier b ecau se s h e d i d n o t wan t Fri l an d o t o k n o w wh ere s h e l i v ed

. R. L. st at ed s h e

fel t scared b ecau s e Fri l an d o h a d p r ev i o us l y s en t s o m eo n e t o h er m o t h er’ s h o m e to

h aras s h er m o t h er. Fri l an d o an d R. L.’ s d i v o rce was fi n al i zed in 20 0 7

. In 2 00 8

, R. L.

m arri ed K. R.

2Fo l l owi n g th ei r d i v o rce, Fri l an d o co n t i n u ed t o co n t act R

. L

. Fri l an d o s en t

l et t ers to R. L .’ s h om e, h er m ot h er’ s h o m e, her n ep h ew’ s ho m e, an d h e r p l ace o f

em pl o y m en t

. R. L. sav ed s o m e o f t h e let t ers fro m Fri l an do

, wh i ch were en tered i n to

ev i d en ce. On e l et ter fro m 2 0 0 8 read s

, in p art : “ I was t h i n k i n g o f t hat t i m e, an d was

wo n d eri n g Ho w w o u l d th i n g s w o u l d h av e b een d i fferen t h ad y o u d i ed ! W o n d eri n g

wo u l d it h av e b een b et ter fo r m e, o r wh at ? Becau se i t co u l d n ot h av e b een no wo rs t !

Yo u d on ’ t m i n d i f I cal l y ou Ro t t en Bo t t o m ? W el l y o u k no w I d o n ’ t care an y way .”

Fri l an d o al l eg ed t h at R. L

. h ad t o o m an y ab o rt i o n s

. He co n t i n u ed

, “ I feel m es s ed u p

b ecau s e I a l wa ys c h i ll ed wi t h m y m o m s fo r h ol i d ay s

, [u n t i l ] y o u cam e aro u n d n o w

y o u g et t o b e wi t h yo u r n o g o od as s m o m ’ s wh i l e m y m o m s i s i n a g rav e! Bu t y o u

wi l l feel t h e s am e way I d o , wh en s h e g o es !”

In a l et t er t o R. L. fro m

J an u ary 2 0 1 0 , Fri l an do wro t e:

As k y o u rs el f wh y co u ld y o u no t h o l d o r hav e a b ab y ?

. . . [N] o w y o u

wan t t o ru n o ff wi t h m

y t h i n g s an d b an k o n t h i s t i m e. I n ev er wan t ed fo r

u s t o b e li k e th is

, b u t y o u l o o k at h o w y o u pl ay ed y o ur han d

. Ri g h t n o w

y o u t h i n k t h at wh at y o u d i d i s co o l

, an d wh o ev er t h i s [K. R.] i s he i s

ju s t s o m eo n e wh o h ap p en t o g et at y o u at th e t i m e t h at y o u was fu ck ed

u p an d g u es s h e t o l d y o u t h e th i n gs y o u wan t ed t o h ear.

. . . An d j u s t l ik e

[P’ s m o m ] d ied a m es sed u p way

, s o wi l l y o urs fo r b ei n g d own w i t h

y o u

, n ev er wo u l d I h av e t h o u gh t t h at a m o t h er wo u l d p im p o u t h er o wn

g i r l

. Yo u t wo p l ay ed a ni ce g am e b u t i t wi ll co m e t o an en d

, an d t h a t

3wi l l b e wh en s h e d i es b ecau s e y o u wi l l b e l o s t

, an d I g ues s t h at w i l l be

en o u g h fo r m e. Yo u wi l l b eg i n t o s ee t h at fo r h o w y o u d i d m e t h i s wi l l

co m e b ack 1 0 x s

. I wi s h I co u l d s ee y o u r face, I can ’ t b el i ev e t h at we w as

o n ce s o s tro ng to g et h er o r was t h a t p a r t o f y o u r g am e? D am n l i fe i s

crazy . Ho pe y o u u n ders t an d t h at y o u fu ck ed u p as wel l

.

In a J an u ary

2 0 1 3 l et t er, Fri l an d o t o l d R. L.:

Al l I wan t t o b ri n g t o y o ur at t en t i o n is t h at I wi l l b e co m i n g h o m e so o n

an d y o u an d m e can s et t l e t h i s b et ween u s o r y o u c a n d eal wi t h m y

s i st er. Y o u w a s l eft i n ch arg e o f al l m y th in g s [R. L.] I wi l l b e co m i n g

h o m e t o n o t h i n g

. So d o y o u wan t u s to be i n co n f l i c t ? O r d o y o u wan t

u s t o m o v e o n i n l i fe? Yo u k n o w th at no m an y o u ev er h ad h as d on e fo r

y o u l i k e I h av e. So n o w i f y o u wi s h t o p l ay m e l ik e s o m e l am e t hen y o u

k n o w t h at y o u wi l l h av e t o d eal wi t h a b u n ch o f Bu l l s h it as wel l

.

Th e l et t er en d ed

, “ Rem em b er [R

. L

. , I] g av e y o u a l i fe t h at n o o t h er m an g av e y o u.

No w y o u m

u st g i v e [m e] b ack [m

y ] l i fe.”

K. R. t es t ifi ed th at h e t o o recei ved l et ters fro m Fri l an d o an d

, ap p aren t l y

, fro m

Fri l an d o ’ s fri en d s

. O n e l et t er K. R. recei v ed fro m Fri l an d o, d at ed i n 2 00 7

, read

, in

p art :

So t h i s t el l s m e t wo t h in g s ei t h er [y o u ’ re] rel at ed t o [R. L.] o r y o u was

fu ck in g aro u n d wi t h h er.! No w [K. R.] t h i s i s t h e d eal

, i f [y o u ’ re] a m an

,

t h en y o u wi l l u n d ers t an d wh y t h i s i s co m in g t o y ou ,t h is crazy b i t ch ran

o ff wi t h m

y t h i n g s an d s o l d m y h o u s e.

. . . See ev ery th i n g s h e h as i s

4b ecau s e o f m e an d li k e s i n ce I’ m n o h at er l i fe g oes o n an d I d on ’ t wan t

t o s t o p n o o n e fro m

l i v i n g ! Bu t n o o n e wi ll s t o p m e fro m l i v i ng ei t h er.

Aro u n d 2 0 0 7

, Fri l an do fi l ed a l i en o n a ho u s e t h at K. R. h ad pu rch as ed in

Geo rg i a. In a J an uary 2 0 0 9 l et t er t o R

. L

. , F r i l a n d o t ol d h er ab ou t t h e l i en : “ W el l I

wi l l k no w i f y ou g o t t hi s l et t er b ecau s e i f s o y o u m i g h t wan t t o res po n d

. I p u t a l i en

o n t h e h o us e at [ad d res s ] an d on y o u an d K. R., an d [I’ m ] wi l l i n g t o rem ov e i t an d ju s t

wi s h y o u a h ap p y li fe. H o wev er, y o u m us t co m e cl ean

. Yo u k n o w t h at wh at y o u h av e

d o n e i s l i ke d ead wro ng

, an d we n eed t o m ak e p eace.” Fri l an d o cl ai m ed t h at R. L. an d

K. R. b ou g h t t h e h o u s e wi t h m o n ey fro m t he s al e o f Fri l an d o an d R. L.’ s h o u s e in

S o u t h Caro l i n a. R. L. t es t i fi ed t h at t h i s was u n tru e, an d K. R. p u rch as ed t h e h o u s e

wi t h h is own m o n ey

. In J u n e 2 0 1 4

, t h e Su p eri o r C o u r t o f Ch at h am Co un t y en t ered

an o rd er vo i d i n g t he l ien fi led by Fri l an d o

. Th e o rd er i n cl ud ed a n o -co n t act p ro v i s i o n:

“ Sh o u ld t h e p l ai n t i ff, J o h n A. Fri l an d o

, b e rel eas ed fro m Fed eral c u s t o d y h e i s

res t rai n ed an d en

jo i n ed fro m co n t act i ng ei t h er D efen d an t [R. L. o r K. R.] o r co m i n g

wi t h i n 5 0 0 [ ] y ard s o f ei th er o f t h em .”

Aft er t h e n o -co n t act o rd er was i s s u ed

, Fri lan d o co n t i n u ed to s en d let t ers t o R.

L., bo t h d i rect l y an d th ro u g h h er at t o rn ey

. In Feb ru ary 2 0 1 6

, Fri l an d o s en t a l et t er to

t h e h u m an res o u rces dep art m en t at R. L.’ s pl ace o f em p l o y m en t. Th e let t er pu rp o rt ed

5t o b e fro m t h e Dru g En fo rcem en t Ad m i n i s trat i o n

, i n d i c a t e d t h at R. L. was u n d er

i n v es t i g at i o n fo r d ru g co n sp i racy

, an d req u es t ed t hat R. L. b e rel i ev ed o f h er p o s i t i o n

wi t h h er em

p lo y er. R. L. t e s t i f

i e d t h at s h e fel t t h reat en ed an d “ as h am ed t h at I

as s o ci at ed wi t h s o m eb o d y l i k e t h at

. ”

In Fe b r u a r y 2 01 6

, R. L. co n t act ed Fri lan d o ’ s s i st er an d as k ed h er t o t el l

Fri l a n d o t o s t o p wri t i n g l et t ers t o R. L .’ s em p l o y er. R. L. al s o t al k ed to Fri l an d o ’ s

s i st er ab o u t Fri l an d o’ s up co m i ng rel eas e fro m p ri s o n

. R. L. t o l d Fri l an d o ’ s si s t er t h at

s h e wan ted Fri l an do t o g et p art of t he m o n ey s he recei v ed fro m t h e s al e o f t h ei r So u th

Caro l i n a h ou s e. R. L. h ad recei ved ap p ro x i m at el y $ 2 4,0 0 0 fro m t h e s al e o f t h e h o u s e,

an d s h e wan t ed t o g i v e Fri l an d o $ 1 2 ,0 0 0. Sh o rt l y b efo re Fri l an do was rel eas ed fro m

p ri s o n , Fri lan d o ’ s s i s ter em ai l ed R. L. t o co o rd i n at e s en d i n g t h e m o n ey t o h i m

.

Pri o r t o Fri lan d o ’ s s ch ed u l ed rel eas e d at e i n J u l y 20 1 6

, R. L. h ad a s urv ei l l an ce

s y s t em i n s t al l ed i n h er h o m e b ecau s e s h e was wo rri ed t h at Fri l an d o wo u ld co m e to

h er h o u s e

. A f

t e r h e was rel eas ed

, Fri l an d o co n t i n ued t o co n t act R. L. b y tel ep h o n e

an d l et t er. R. L. t es t i fi ed t h at h e cal l ed h er a t h e r o f f i c e “ a lo t

. ” In a l et t er t o R. L.

d at ed Oct o b er 2 0 16 , Fri l an d o wro t e:

It was crazy t h at y o u t h o u g ht y o u w e r e b ei n g h aras s ed

. . . . I was ju s t

t ry i n g to l et y ou k n o w t h at I p l a n o n g e t t i n g m e a p l ace i n J an

. I w as

6g i v i ng p l en t y o f t i m e to h i t m e o ff i n J an wi t h a li t tl e ex tra! Pl u s

, y o u

k eep t al k i n g t h is t al k ab o u t co m e an d s ee y o u th at y o u g o i n g t o get

d o wn

. . . . M e I am co ol i f I co m e t o s e e y o u i t i s no t wh at y o u wan t

. I

d o n ’ t wan t n o p ro b l em s , u n l es s t h ey are cal l ed fo r.

On Decem

b er 2 3

, 2 0 1 6

, Fri l an d o w en t t o R. L

. an d K. R.’ s ho m e an d ran g t h e

d o o rb el l

. R. L

. l o o k ed o u t her wi n d o w an d s aw Fri l an do

. Sh e had n o i d ea wh y h e was

t h ere an d fel t i n t i m i d at ed an d scared

. Al th o u g h Fri l an do sai d h e was th ere t o t el l R.

L. t o s en d t h e m o n ey fro m t h e s al e o f t h e h o u s e t o h i s s i s t er i n s tead o f t o h i s co u si n,

R. L. t es t i fi ed t h at h e h ad n o reas o n t o b e t h ere b ecau se s he was i n co nt act wi t h h i s

s i st er. K. R., w o rri ed fo r h i s wi fe’ s s afet y

, g rab b ed h i s g un wh en h e saw Fri l an d o at

t h ei r d oo r. K. R. t es t i fi ed t h at t h ere was n o p h y s ical co n fro n t at i o n b ecau s e t h ey d id

n o t op en t h e d o o r. R. L. as k ed Fri l an d o t o l e a v e

, a n d h e d i d. Sh e t h en cal l ed t h e

p o l i ce.

Fri l an d o was s u bs eq u en t l y i n d i ct ed fo r an d co nv i ct ed o f t wo co u n t s o f

ag g rav at ed s t al k i n g fo r vi o l at i ng t h e pe r m a n en t i n ju n ct i o n i n t h e Ch at h am Co u n t y

Su p eri o r Co urt o rd er b y u n l awfu l l y co n t act in g th e t wo v i ct i m s at t h ei r h o m e wi t h o ut

t h ei r co n s en t fo r t h e p u rp o s e o f h aras s i ng an d i n t i m i d a t i ng t hem

. Fri l an d o fi l ed a

m o ti o n fo r new t ri al

, wh i ch t h e t ri al co u rt d en i ed aft er a h e a r i n g

. T hi s ap p eal

fo l l o w ed

.

71

. Fri l an d o co n t en d s th at t h e ev i d en ce was i n s u ffi ci en t t o s u p p o rt hi s

co n vi ct i o n s o f ag g rav at ed s t al ki n g . W e d o n o t ag ree.

Un d er OCGA § 1 6-5 -9 1 (a),

[a] p ers o n co m

m i t s t he offen s e o f ag g rav at ed s t al k i n g w h en s u ch p ers o n

,

i n v i o l at i o n o f a

. . . p erm an en t in ju n ct i o n

. . . co n t act s an o t h er p ers o n at

o r ab o u t a p l ace o r p l aces wi t h ou t t h e co n s en t o f t h e o t h er p ers o n fo r th e

p u rp o s e o f h aras s i n g an d i n t i m i d at i n g t he o t h er p ers o n.

Al t h o u g h t he ag g rav at ed s t al k i n g s t at u t e d o es n o t defi n e “ h aras s i n g an d

i n t i m i d at i n g ,” th e t erm i s d efi n ed i n th e s im pl e st al ki n g s t at ut e as “ a k no wi n g an d

wi l l fu l co u rs e o f co n d u ct d i rect ed at a s p eci fi c p e r s o n w h i ch cau s es em o t i o n al

d i s t res s b y p l aci n g s u ch p ers o n i n reas o n ab l e f e a r f o r su ch p ers on ’ s s afet y o r t h e

s a f e t y o f a m em

b er o f h i s o r h er i m

m ed i at e fam i l y

, b y es t ab l i sh i n g a p at t e r n o f

h aras s i n g an d i n t im i da ting be ha vior

, a nd w hi ch serv es n o leg i t i m at e p u rp o s e.” OCGA

§ 1 6-5 -9 0 (a) (1 ). “ Ov ert t h reat s o f bo d i ly h arm are no t req u i re d

. ” Ph i l l i p s v. S t a t e

,

2 7 8 Ga. Ap p

. 1 9 8, 1 9 9 (1 ) (6 2 8 SE2 d 6 3 1 ) (2 0 06 ) (ci t at i o n an d p un ct u at io n o m i t t ed ).

W h i l e a s i ng l e vi o l a tion of a p ro t ect i v e o rd er, st an d in g al o n e, d o es n o t es t ab l i s h

t h e “ p at t ern o f h aras s i n g an d i n t i m i dat i n g b eh av i o r” req u i red fo r ag g rav at ed s t al k i n g,

S t a t e v

. Bu r

ke

, 2 8 7 Ga. 3 77

, 3 78 -3 7 9 (6 9 5 SE2 d 6 4 9 ) (2 01 0 ), i t i s wel l s et t l ed t h at

ev en a si n g l e v i o l at io n o f a p ro tect i v e o rd er can co n s t i t u t e ag g rav at ed st al k i n g i f t h at

8v i o l at i o n i s p art o f a p at t ern of h aras s i n g an d i n t i m i dat i n g b eh av i or. Ol i ver v. S t a t e

,

3 2 5 Ga. Ap p . 6 4 9 , 6 5 2 (1 ) (7 53 SE2 d 4 6 8 ) (2 0 1 4).

In d et erm i n i n g wh et her a d efen d an t h as ex h i b i t e d s uch a p at t ern o f

b eh av i o r, t h e ju ry can co n s i d er a n u m ber o f fact o rs

, in cl u d i n g t h e p ri o r

h i s t o ry b et w ee n t h e p art i es

, t h e d efen dan t ’ s s u rrep t i t i o us co n du ct

, as

we l l as h i s o v ert l y co n fro n tat i on al act s

, an d an y at t em p t s b y th e

d efen d an t t o co n t act

, co m m u n i cat e w i t h

, o r co n t ro l t h e v i ct i m [s ]

i n d i rect l y , as t h ro u gh t h i rd p art i es

.

Lo u i syr v. S t a t e

, 3 07 Ga. Ap p

. 7 2 4

, 7 2 9 (1 ) (7 0 6 SE2 d 1 1 4 ) ( 2 0 1 1 ) ( c i t a t i on s

o m it t ed ).

Fri l an d o arg ues t h at th e St at e h as no t s ho wn a p a t t e r n o f h aras s i n g an d

i n t i m i d at i n g b eh av i o r or t h e l ack o f a l eg i t i m a t e p u rp os e fo r h i s co n t act wi t h t h e

v i ct i m s becau se h e wen t to t h e v i ct i m s ’ h ou s e fo r t h e l eg i t i m at e pu rp o s e o f cl ari fy i n g

wh ere R. L. s ho u l d s e n d m o n ey t h at s he fel t s h e o wed hi m

. Co n si st en t w i t h t h i s

arg u m en t

, Fri l an d o t es t i fi ed t hat h e w en t t o t h e v i ct i m s ’ h o u se t o t el l R. L. t o s en d t h e

m o ney t o h is s i s ter i n st ead o f to h i s co u s i n

. Ho wev er, R. L. t es ti fi ed t h at Fri l an d o h ad

n o reas o n t o b e t her e b ecau s e s h e w as i n co n t act wi t h h i s s i st er. Th u s, Fri l an d o ’ s

i n t en t in go i n g t o th e v ict i m s ’ h o u s e was fo r t he ju ry t o d et erm i n e. Da vi d s o n v. S t a t e

,

2 9 5 Ga. Ap p

. 7 0 2

, 7 0 5 -7 0 6 (6 7 3 SE2 d 9 1 ) (2 0 0 9 ). Al t h o u g h Fri l an do d en i es t h at h e

9wen t t o t h e v ict i m s ’ h o u se wi t h an i n t en t haras s or i nt i m id at e t h em

, “ i n t e n t i s a

q u es ti o n o f fact t o b e d et erm i n ed b y t h e ju r y u p o n co n s i d erat io n o f [Fri l an d o ’ s ]

wo rd s

, co n d u ct

, d em ean o r, m o t i v e an d al l o t h er ci rcu m s t an ces co n n ect ed wi th t h e act

fo r wh i ch t h e accu s ed i s pro secu t e d .” Ho lmes v. S t a t e

, 2 9 1 Ga. Ap p

. 1 9 6, 1 9 8 (1 )

(6 6 1 S E 2 d 6 0 3 ) (2 0 0 8 ). Th e ju ry d i d n o t h av e t o fi nd Fri l an d o ’ s p u rp o rt ed l y

l eg i t i m at e reas o n fo r b ei n g at t h e v i ct i m s ’ h o u s e t o b e cred i b l e. See Ol iver

, 3 2 5 Ga.

Ap p

. at 6 5 3 (2 ) (t ri er o f f a c t n o t req u ired t o b el i ev e d efen d an t ’ s tes t i m on y t h at s h e

arri v ed at h er m o t h er’ s h o u s e i n v i o l at i o n of p ro t ect i v e o rd er fo r p u rp os e o f s eek i n g

m ed i cal h el p ).

Fu rt herm o re, i n d et erm i n i n g w h e t h er Fri l an d o h ad ex h i b i t ed a p at t ern o f

h aras s i n g an d i n ti m id at i n g beh av i o r, t he ju ry was au t h o ri zed t o co n s id er ev i d en ce o f

Fri l an d o ’ s p ri o r b eh av io r t o ward t h e v i ct im s

, i n cl u d i n g h i s cal l s an d t h e l et t ers t h at

h e sen t t o t h e vi ct i m s di r e c t l y an d t h ro ug h t h i rd p art i es

. See Lo u i s yr

, 3 0 7 Ga. Ap p.

at 7 2 9 (1 ). Th e ev i d en ce was s u ffi ci en t fo r th e ju ry t o fi n d t h at Fri lan d o ’ s vi o l at i o n

o f th e c o u r t o rd er w as a co n ti n u at i o n o f a p at t ern of h aras s i n g an d i n t i m i d at i n g

b eh av i o r wi t h o u t a l eg it i m at e p u rp o s e. See Br o o ks

, 31 3 Ga. Ap p

. at 7 92 (“ Ev en i f h i s

m es s ag es t o th e v ict i m w ere n o t o v ert l y t h reat en i n g

, g iv en t h e h is t o r y o f [t h e

d efen d an t ’ s] p ers is t en t act i o n s, an d h i s refu s al t o l eav e t h e v i ct im al on e, a r a t i o n al

10ju ry co u l d h av e fo u n d b ey o n d a r eas o nab l e d ou b t t h at s u ch act s were i n t en d ed to

h aras s an d i n t i m i d at e an d p l aced t h e v ict i m i n fear fo r h er s afet y .”) (ci t at i o n s an d

p u n ct u at i o n o m it t ed ).

2

. Fri l an d o n ex t co n t en d s th at t h e t ri al co u rt erred i n al l o wi ng ev i d en ce o f

co n tact s p ri o r t o t h e effect i v e d at e o f t h e n o -co n t act o rd er. W e d i s ag ree.

Ci t i n g OCGA § § 2 4

- 4

- 4 0 2 an d 24 -4 -4 03

, Fri l an d o arg u es th e ev i d en ce o f

l et t ers p ri o r t o t h e no -co n t act p ro h i b it i on w as n o t rel ev an t an d was u n d ul y p reju d i ci a l

.

“ Bu t d eci s i o ns reg ard i n g rel ev an ce are co m m i t t ed t o t he s o u n d d i s cret i o n o f t h e t ri al

co u rt

, an d t h e ex cl u si o n o f rel ev an t ev i d e n c e u n d e r Ru l e 4 0 3 i s an ex t rao rd i n ary

rem ed y t h at s h o u l d b e u s ed o n l y sp ari n g l y

. ” Ma yn a r d v. S ta t e

, 3 5 5 G a. Ap p

. 8 4

, 8 7

(2 ) (8 42 SE2 d 5 32 ) (2 0 2 0 ) (ci t at i o n an d p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed ).

To p ro v e Fri l an do was g u i l t y o f ag grav at ed s t al k i n g, t he St at e h ad t o s h o w a

p at t ern o f h aras s i n g an d i n t i m i d at i n g b eh av i o r. Ol i ver , 3 2 5 Ga. Ap p

. at 65 2 (1 ). As

s et fo rt h ab o v e, i n d et erm i n i n g w h et h er the e v i d en ce es t ab li s hes a p at t ern o f haras s i n g

a n d in t i m i dat i n g b eh av io r, th e ju ry can co n s i d er “ t h e p ri o r h i st o ry b et w ee n t h e

p art i es

, t h e d efen d an t ’ s su rrep t i t i o us co n d uct , as wel l as h i s o vert l y co n fro n t at i o n al

act s

, an d an y at t em

pt s b y t h e d efen dan t t o co n t act

, co m m u ni cat e wi th

, o r co n t ro l t h e

v i ct i m [s ] i n d i rect ly

, as t h ro ug h t h i rd p art i es .” Lo u i s yr

, 3 0 7 Ga. Ap p

. at 7 2 9 (1 )

11(ci t at i o n s o m i t t ed ). Co n s eq u en t l y

, th e t ri al co u rt d i d n o t ab u se i t s d i s cret i o n by

al l o wi n g t h e ju ry t o co n s i d er ev i d en ce o f Fri l an d o’ s p ri or co n t act s w i t h t h e v i ct i m s

.

3

. Fri l an d o co n ten d s t h at t h e t ri al co u rt e r r e d “ i n d i sal l owi n g t es t i m o ny

co n cern in g t h e b ack g ro u n d o f th e fu n d s at t h e cen t er o f co m m u n i cat i o n b et ween t h e

Ap p el l an t an d h is fo rm er wi fe.” Ag ai n , we d is ag ree.

On cro s s -ex am i nat i o n

, F ri l an d o ’ s t ri al co u n s el as k ed R. L. wh et her s h e h ad

b een part o f t h e p ro ceed i n g s in v o l v i n g Fri l an d o ’ s g ui l ty p l ea t o d ru g co n s p i racy

ch arg es

. T h e St at e o b

ject ed o n g ro u n d s o f rel ev an ce. Fri lan d o ’ s co u n s el i n fo rm ed t h e

t ri al co u rt t h at hi s p l an was t o as k R. L. wh et h er s he h ad b een a wi t n es s fo r t h e

g o v ern m en t ag ai n s t Fri l an d o i n t h e d ru g co n sp i racy cas e. Th e t ri al co urt p ro h i b i t ed

t h i s cro s s -ex am i n at i o n o f R. L

. Lat er, befo re Fri l an d o t es t i fi ed

, t h e S t at e m o v ed to

ex cl u d e ev i d en ce reg ard in g Fri l an d o ’ s gu i l t y p l ea i n t h e pri o r d ru g co n v i ct i o n,

arg u i n g t hat tes t i m o n y reg ard i ng R. L.’ s al l eg ed i n v o l v em en t i n Fri l an do ’ s p ri o r d ru g

co n vi ct i o n wo u l d b e i rrel ev an t t o t h e i s s u es b ei n g c on s id ered b y t h e ju ry

. Th e t ri al

co u rt g ran t ed th e St at e’ s m o t i o n

. T h e t ri al co u rt e x p r e s s l y d id n ot l i m i t q u es t i on s

ab o ut h o w m

u ch m o n ey Fri l an d o an d h i s fo rm er wi fe h ad o r wh ere t h e m o n ey wen t

,

b u t it p ro h i b i ted q u es t i o n s reg ard i n g h o w t h ey earn ed t h e m o ney o r an y t h i n g h av i n g

t o d o wi t h t h e p l ea i t s el f. Fri l an d o t es t i fi ed t h at w hen h e wen t t o p ri s o n

, h e l e f t “ a

12co u pl e h u n d red t h o u s an d” i n cas h an d “ a w h o l e b u n ch o f jewel ry ” at R. L.’ s m o t h er’ s

h o u s e. Aft er Fri lan d o t es t ifi ed , h i s t ri al co u ns el p ro ffered t h e fo l l owi n g:

T h e ev i den ce t h at we di d n o t b ri n g o u t was t h at M r. Fri l an d o

wo u ld t es t i fy

t hat h e was

. . . ch arg ed an d co n vi ct ed an d p led g u i l t y t o

co n s p i racy

t o d i s t ri bu t e crack co cai n e. Hi s wi fe was p art an d p arcel o f

t h at co n sp i racy

. Sh e tran s p o rt ed t he d o p e. Sh e t ran sp o rt ed th e m o n ey

.

Sh e was ab o u t an eq u al p art n er i n t h e co n s pi racy

.

Th e U.S. A t t o r n e y’ s Offi ce fl i p p ed h er an d w en t fo r t h e h i gh er

fo l k s, an d t h at ’ s h o w t h e m o n ey cam e to b e h i d d en b y h er aft er h e wen t

t o p ri s o n.

I t h in k t h at wo u l d

– y es

, i t ’ s go i n g aft er t h e wi tn es s o r t h e al l eg ed

v i ct i m

, b u t I t h in k th at t es t i m o n y co u l d h av e co m e o u t l eg a l l y. An d I

t h i n k i t wo u ld h av e an i m p act o n th e ju ry as far as

, y o u k n ow, wh o i s

t erro ri zi n g wh o. Th at ’ s al l I h ad

.

Fri l an d o arg u es t h at h i s en t i re d efen s e was t h at h e m ad e co n t act wi t h R. L. t o g et t h e

m o ney b ack t h ey h ad co l l ect ed t o g et h er, no t t o h aras s o r i n ti m i dat e, an d t h e ex cl u s i o n

o f t h i s t es t i m o ny d ep ri v ed h i m o f a ch an ce t o ex p l ai n wh y h i s co n t act wi t h R. L. an d

K. R. was fo r a l eg i t i m at e p u rp o s e.

OCGA § 2 4- 4- 401 d efi n es rel ev an t ev id en ce as “ ev id en ce hav i n g an y t en d en cy

t o m ak e t h e ex i s t en ce of an y fact t h at i s o f co n s eq u en ce t o t h e d et erm i n at i on o f t h e

act i on m o re p ro b ab l e o r l es s p ro b ab le t h an i t wo u l d b e wi t h ou t t h e ev id en ce.” “ It i s

wel l -s et tl ed t h at q u e st i o ns o f rel ev an ce are wi t h i n t h e s ou n d d i s cret i o n o f t h e t ri al

13co u rt

, an d ab sen t a cl ear ab u se o f d i s cret i o n , a co urt ’ s d eci si o n to ex cl u de ev i d en ce

o n t h e g ro u n d s o f a l ack o f rel ev an ce w i l l n o t b e d i s t u rb ed o n ap p eal .” S t a t e v.

S t ep h en s

, 3 1 0 Ga. 5 7

, 59 (1 ) (8 4 9 SE2 d 45 9 ) (2 0 2 0 ) (ci t at i o n an d pu n ct u at i o n

o m it t ed ). “ A t r i a l co u rt d o es n o t ab u s e i t s d i s cret i o n b y ex cl u di n g i rrel ev an t

ev i d en ce.” Id . (ci t at i on an d p u n ct u at i o n o m i t ted ).

By t ri al co u ns el ’ s own ad m i ss i o n

, t he p ro ffered rel ev an ce o f t h e t es t i m o n y was

“ g o i n g aft er t h e wi tn es s ” an d t h at “ i t wo u l d hav e an i m p act o n t h e ju ry

as far as

. . .

wh o i s t erro ri zi n g wh o.” As d i s cu s s ed i n Di v i si on 1

, F r i l a n d o co nt en d s t h at h i s

l eg i t i m at e pu rp o s e fo r g oi n g t o t h e v i ct i m s ’ h o u s e was t o cl ari fy wh ere R. L. s h o u ld

s en d m on ey t h at s h e fel t sh e o wed h i m fro m t h e s al e of t h ei r h o us e i n So u th Caro l i na.

As s et fo rt h ab o v e, Fri l an d o was al l owed t o t es t i fy ab o ut t h i s p u rp o rt ed l y l eg i t i m at e

p u rp os e. M o reo v er, Fri l an do tes t i fi ed t h at h e had l eft “ a co u p l e o f hu n dred t ho u s an d ”

i n cas h wh en h e wen t t o pri s o n as wel l as “ a wh ol e b un ch o f j ewel ry .” Th u s, Fri l an d o

was no t dep ri v ed o f t h e o p p ort u n i t y t o t es t ify reg ard i n g w h at h e co n t e n d s w a s h i s

l eg i t i m at e p urp o s e fo r co n t act i n g t h e v i ct i m s

. Rat h er, h e w a s p ro h i b i t ed fro m

p ro v id i n g i rrel ev an t t es t i m o n y reg ard i n g R. L.’ s p u rp o rt ed i n vo l v em en t i n t h e d ru g

co n sp i racy fo r wh i ch h e wen t t o p ri s o n

. T h u s

, t h e t ri al co u rt d i d n o t a b u s e i t s

d i s cret i o n i n ex cl u d i n g s u ch t es t i m o n y

.

144

. Fri l an d o co n t en d s t h e t ri al co u rt erred i n sen t en ci n g h i m as a reci d i v i s t u n d er

OCGA § 1 7 -1 0 -7 (c) b ecau s e t h e St at e fai l ed t o p ro v e t h e al l eg ed p ri or co n v i ct i on s

fro m New Yo rk . Th i s co n t en t i on h as n o m eri t

.

At t h e s en t en ci n g h eari n g

, t o p ro v e th e p ri o r co n v i ct io n s fro m New Yo rk

, t h e

St at e t en d ered a t ran s cri p t o f a p l ea h eari n g i n a N ew Y o r k c o u r t s h o wi n g t h at

Fri l an d o en t ered g u i l t y p l eas i n t wo cas es o f b urg l ary

. Fri l an d o ’ s t ri al co u n s el s t at ed

t h at h e h ad n o o b

ject i o n

. Th e t ri al co u rt t h en ad m i t t ed t h e t ran s cri p t i n to ev i d en ce.

Fri l an d o ’ s t ri al co u n sel co n ced ed t h at Fri l an d o h ad p ri o r fel on y co n v i ct i o n s an d i s a

reci di v i s t u n d er OCGA § 1 7-1 0-7 (a) an d (c).

Fri l an d o n o w co n ten d s t h a t t h e pl ea t ran s cri p t i s i n s u ffi ci en t t o s h ow a p ri o r

co n vi ct i o n b ecau s e i t d o es n o t in d i cat e t h at t h e New Yo rk co urt i m po s ed a sen t en ce.

Ho wev er, Fri l an d o wai v e d t h i s arg u m en t b y n o t ob ject i n g an d co n ced i n g h e was a

r e c i d i v i s t. See vo n Th o ma s v. S t a t e

, 2 9 3 Ga. 56 9

, 57 5 (2 ) (7 48 SE2 d 4 4 6 ) (2 0 1 3 )

(o b ject io n s t o th e v al i d it y o f p ri o r co n v i ct io n s u s ed i n ag g rav at i o n of s en t en ce can b e

wai v ed ); s ee al s o W

el l s v. S t at e

, 3 1 3 Ga. Ap p

. 5 2 8

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

(“ W e h av e h el d t h at wh en n o o b ject i on t o t h e fo rm o f t h e ev i d en ce of t h e p ri o r

co n vi ct i o n [s ] was m ad e at th e p re-s en t en ce h eari ng

, t h e i s s u e w as n o t pres erv ed fo r

rev i ew o n ap p eal .”); Th o mp s o n v. S t at e

, 2 6 6 Ga. Ap p

. 2 9

, 3 3 (3 ) (5 9 6 SE2 d 2 0 5 )

15(2 0 0 4) (“ Th e t i m e t o ch al l en g e th e v al i di t y o f a p ri o r co n v i ct i o n i s at s en t en ci n g wh en

t h e [S] t at e at t em

p t s t o p ro v e s u ch co n v i ct i o n .”).

Ju d g men t a f f i r m ed . Go b ei l

a n d Ma r kl e, JJ., co n cu r

.

16