FOURTH D I VI SI ON

BA RNES, P. J.

, RA Y and M CM I LLI A 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.

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

Nov em ber 10, 2015



# I n th e Co u r t o f

A p p eals o f

G eo r g ia

A1 5 A1 00 7 . BENNETT v . THE STATE.

M C M ILLI A N , J u dg e.

Kei t h Ben n et t a p p e a l s t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s d en i al o f hi s m o t i o n fo r n ew t ri al

fo l l o w i n g hi s co n v ict i o n o n Oct o b er 2 4

, 2 0 1 3 fo r t raffi ck i n g m et ham p h et am i n e i n a

q u an ti t y o f 2 0 0 o r m ore g ram s

, p o s ses s i o n of m et h am p h et a m i n e wi t h t h e i n t en t to

d i s t ri b u t e, p o ss es s i on o f cl o n azep am

, p o s s es s i o n of a fi rearm d u ri ng t h e co m m i s s i o n

o f a cri m e, an d p o s ses s i o n o f a g u n b y a co n v i ct ed fel o n . W e affi rm

.

Vi ewed i n t h e l i gh t m o s t fav o rab le t o t h e v erd i ct

, 1 t h e ev i d en ce s h o wed t h at o n

Oct o b er 1 7

, 2 0 1 2

, Ken n y Po g u e d ro v e Ben n et t an d Po g u e’ s fri en d

, Kel s ey Lam b ert

,

i n Po g u e’ s v eh icl e t o a p rearran g ed m et ham p h et am i ne tran s act i o n wi t h M ark Ph am

.

Po g u e su b seq u en t l y p l ed g u i lt y t o ch arg es ari s i n g fro m t h i s i n c i d en t, an d th e St at e

1 Ja cks o n v. Vi r

gi n i a , 4 4 3 U.S. 3 0 7 (9 9 SCt 2 7 8 1 , 6 1 LE2 d 5 6 0 ) (1 9 7 9 ).cal l ed h im as a wi t n es s ag ai n s t Ben n et t at t ri al

. Al t h o u g h Po g u e refu sed t o an s wer

m o st of t h e pro s ecu t o r’ s q u es t io n s o n d irect ex am i n at i o n, P o g u e t es t i fi ed o n cro s s

ex am i n at i o n t h at Ben n et t had a g u n an d d ru g s wh en h e g o t in t o Po g u e’ s car. He s ai d

t h at t h e t h ree i n d i v i d u al s i n t h e car co m b i n ed t h ei r d ru g s i n to on e b ag an d h i d i t u n d er

t h e d as h b ecau se t h ey w ere co ncern ed t h at Ph am wo u l d ro b th em o f t h ei r d ru g s

. He

al s o s ai d t h at Ben n et t ro d e wi t h h i m t o th e m eet i n g wi t h P h a m t o m ak e su re t h at

Po g u e rep ai d m o n ey

h e o wed t o o n e o f Ben n et t ’ s fri en d s fro m a p ri o r d ru g d eal

.

Th e St at e al s o i n t ro d u ced ev i d en ce o f Po g u e’ s t es t i m o n y d u ri n g h i s g u i l t y p l ea

h eari n g

. Du ri n g th at t es t i m on y

, Po g u e s t at ed t h at b efo re t h e m e e t i ng

, Ben n et t

,

Lam b ert

, an d h e co m

b i n ed t h ei r s u p pl y o f d ru g s i n t o o n e b ag

, an d Po gu e p u t t h e b ag

u n d er t h e d a s h o f h is car. Th ey t h en m et wi t h o n e o f Ben n et t’ s fri en d s

, wh o p ut

an o th er b ag o f d ru g s u n d er th e h o o d of Po g u e’ s car. Becau s e Ben n et t ’ s fri en d d i d n ot

t ru s t Po g u e, Ben n et t acco m pan i ed Po gu e to k eep an ey e o n h i s fri en d ’ s d ru g s an d to

m ak e s u re t h at Po g u e bro ug h t t h e m o n ey b ack t o h is fri en d

. Lam b ert t e s t i f i e d t h at

b efo re arri v i n g at t h e arran g ed l o cat i o n

, Po g u e s t o p p ed t h e car an d p u ll ed t wo g un s

o u t fro m u n d ern eat h hi s s eat

, h an d i n g o n e g u n t o Ben n et t an d keep i n g th e o t h er o n e

h i m s el f.

2Un b ek n o wn s t t o t h e th ree p eo p l e i n t h e car, Ph am w a s a co n fi d en ti al i nfo rm an t

,

wh o was wo rk i n g wi t h t h e Hal l Co u n t y M u l t i -Ag en cy N arco ti cs Sq u ad t o s et u p a

co n tro l l ed b uy fro m Po g u e. W h en t h e t hree ap p ro ach ed t he v acan t h o u se w h ere t h e

m eet i n g was t o t ak e p l ace an d s p o t t ed p o l ice o ffi cers

, Po g u e an d Ben n et t t h rew t h ei r

g u n s ou t o f t h e car w i n d o ws

. T h e offi cers s u b seq u en t l y ret ri ev ed t h e two g u n s

, al o n g

wi t h a s m al l bag o f p i l l s an d a s m al l b ag g i e o f m et h am ph et am i n e fro m t h e area wh ere

t h ey h ad o b s erv ed i tem s t h ro wn fro m th e car. Aft er Po g u e

, Ben n et t

, an d Lam b ert

were t ak en i n t o cu s t o d y

, t h e o ffi cers co n d u ct e d a s earch o f t h e v eh i cl e. A b ag o f

m et h am p h eta m i ne w e ig h i n g 1 7 5 .0 5 g ram s was di s co vered u nd er t h e d as h b o ard o f t h e

car. Th e o ffi cers al so fo un d a m ag n et i c b o x u n der t he car’ s h o o d co n t ai n i n g 3 6 1 .3 1

g ram s o f m et h am

p h et am i n e, m ari

ju an a, o x y co d o n e p i l l s

, a s et of s cal es

, an d a l ed g er.

Po l i ce fu rt h er d i s co v ered $ 7 ,5 0 0 i n cas h i n t h e car’ s g l o v e co m part m en t

.

Du ri n g a t ap ed i n t erv i ew wi t h t h e p o l i ce t h at was p l ay ed d u ri n g th e t ri al

,

Ben net t ad m i t ted t h at h e s u s p ect ed Po g ue was a d ru g d eal er an d t h at h e ag reed t o ri d e

wi t h h i m t o a v acan t h o u s e t h at n i g h t t o m eet a m an w ho o wed Po g u e m o ney

. Ben n et t

d eci d ed t o ri d e wi t h Po g u e becau s e Po g u e o wed m o n ey t o Ben net t ’ s fri en d

, wh o h ad

as k ed Ben n et t t o m ak e su re n o t h i n g hap p en ed t o Po gu e. Ben n et t accep t ed a g u n fro m

Po g u e i n t h e car, wh i ch Po g u e des cri b ed as “ i n s u ran ce.” Ben n et t su s p ect ed t h at t h ere

3m i g h t b e t ro u bl e an d was s cared w h en Po gu e h an d ed hi m t h e g un

. Ben n et t d en i ed

act u al k no w l ed g e t hat t h ere were d ru g s i n t h e car. Ho wev er, wh en an offi cer reci t ed

t h e e v e n t s o f th at n i g h t

, i ncl u d i n g t h at Ben n et t kn ew t h at Po g u e w as a d ru g d eal er,

t h at Po gu e was “ p ro b ab l y carry i n g d o p e,” an d t h at t hey were co l l ect in g m o n ey fo r a

d ru g d eb t, he as k ed Ben n et t t o t el l h i m i f t h at b as ical l y was wh at h ap pen ed t h at n i g h t

.

Ben net t rep l i ed

, “ Th at i s bas i cal l y wh at h ap p en ed ,” an d h e di d n o t co rrect an y p o rt i o n

o f t h e o ffi cer’ s reci t at i on

.

1

. We fi rs t ad d res s Ben n et t ’ s as sert i o ns t h at t h e tri al co u rt i m p erm i s s i b l y

al l o wed un s w o rn t es t i m o n y fr o m Po g ue an d i m p ro p erl y ad m i t ted Po g ue’ s p ri o r

t es t i m o ny fro m h i s g ui l t y

p l ea h eari n g t o i m

p each h i m

.

W h en t h e St at e cal l ed Po g u e t o th e s t an d

, h e refu s ed to t ak e t h e o at h an d

an n ou n ced t h at h e wo u l d no t t es t i fy b ecau s e h e d i d n o t wan t t o “ g et s t ab b ed ” in

p ri s o n fo r h i s t es t i m o n y at t ri al

. In res p o n s e, Ben n et t ’ s t ri al co u n sel as k ed t h at Po g u e

n o t t es t i fy

. Aft er t h e l awy ers co n ferred wi t h t he t ri al ju dg e, t h e p ro s ecu t o r t ri ed ag ai n

t o ad m i n is t er t he o at h t o Po g u e. Bu t h e ag ai n refu s ed , an d t h e p ro secu t o r req u es t ed

t o p ro ceed wi t h un s w o rn t e s t i m o n y

. Th e t ri al co u rt g ran t ed t h e req u es t wi t h o ut

o b ject i on fro m Ben n et t ’ s co u ns el

. A n d t ri al co un s el lat er cro s s-ex am i n e d P o g ue,

el i ci t i n g fu rt h er u n s wo rn t es t i m o n y

.

4(a) Geo rg i a l aw p ro v i d es t h at “ [b ] efo re t es t i fy i n g

, ev er y wi t n es s s h al l b e

req u i red t o d ecl are t h a t h e o r s he w i l l t es t i fy t ru th fu l l y b y o at h o r affi rm at i o n

ad m i n is t ered i n a fo rm cal cu l at ed t o awak en t h e wi tn es s ’ s co ns ci en ce an d i m p res s t h e

wi t n es s ’ s m i n d wi t h t he d u ty t o d o s o .” O CGA § 2 4 -6 -6 0 3 (a). Ho w ev er, it i s wel l

s et t l ed t h at t h e fai l u re to o b ject t o u n s wo rn t es ti m o n y wai v es t h e i s s u e fo r ap p eal

. See

Br o wn v. S t a t e

, 2 90 Ga. 3 21

, 3 2 2 (4 ) (7 20 SE2 d 6 1 7) (2 0 1 2 ); Ch a p ma n v. S ta t e

, 2 5 7

Ga. 19

, 2 0 (3 ) (3 5 4 SE2 d 1 4 9 ) (1 9 8 7 ); S weet in g v. St a t e

, 2 9 1 Ga. Ap p

. 6 93

, 6 9 4 (6 6 2

SE2 d 7 8 5 ) (2 0 0 8); Hi l

s o n v. S t a t e

, 2 0 4 Ga. A pp

. 2 0 0

, 2 0 3 (1 ) (4 1 8 SE2 d 7 84 ) (1 9 9 2 ).

Al t h o u g h Ben n et t as s ert s o n ap p eal t h at h i s co u n s el o bject ed t o Po g u e’ s t es t i m o n y

,

t h e ci t ed p ort i o n s o f t h e reco rd fai l ed t o p res erv e Ben n et t ’ s arg u m en t fo r rev i ew b y

t h i s Co u rt

. Aft er Po g ue i n it i al l y refu s ed t o t ak e t h e o at h

, Ben n et t ’ s at t o rn ey s t at ed

, “ I

as k th at h e n o t t es ti fy ,” wi t h o u t art i cu l at in g t h e reas o n fo r t h e req ues t or t h e g ro u nd s

fo r an y o b ject i o n

. Fu rt her, h e rai s ed n o ob ject i o n at t h e t im e t h e St at e req u es t ed t h at

Po g u e b e al l o wed t o p ro v i d e u n s wo rn t es t i m o n y

. Al t h o ug h Ben n et t ’ s a t t o rn ey

o b ject ed o n rel ev an ce g ro u n d s t o q ues t i o n i ng ab o u t Po g u e’ s b ei n g “ ju m p ed ” wh i l e

i n p ri s on , Ben n et t h as n ot ci t ed u s t o an y o b ject i o n rai s ed b y

h is co u n s el t o t h e fact

t h at Po g u e g av e u n s wo rn t es t i m o n y

. “ [I] n o rd er to rai s e o n ap peal an im p ro p r i e t y

reg ard i n g th e ad m i s si b il i ty o f e v i d e n ce, t h e s peci fi c g ro u n d o f o bject i o n m u s t b e

5m ad e at t h e t i m e t h e ev i d en ce i s o ffered

, an d t he fai l u re t o d o s o am o u nt s t o a wai v er

o f t h at s p eci fi c g ro un d .” (Ci t at i o n an d p u n ct u at i on o m i tt ed .) H i t es v. S t at e

, 2 9 6 Ga.

5 2 8 , 5 3 0 (2 ) (7 6 9 SE2 d 3 64 ) (2 0 1 5 ).

Acco rd i ng l y , we fi nd t h at Ben n et t wai ved an y o b ject i o n t o Po g u e’ s u n s wo rn

t es t i m o ny

.

(b ) Ben n et t al s o arg u es t h at t h e t ri al co u rt erred i n a l l o w i n g t h e St at e to

i n t ro du ce Po g u e’ s t e s t im o n y fro m h i s g ui lt y

p lea h eari n g

. Du ri n g t he St at e’ s d i rect

ex am i n at i o n

, t h e p ro s ecu to r as k ed Po g ue ab o u t t h e i n d i v i du al s tat em en t s h e m ad e in

h i s p ro ffer at t h e g u i l t y pl ea h eari n g

, an d h e res p o nd ed b y st at in g “ I d o n’ t k n o w” o r

“ I d o n’ t rem em

b er” t o t h e St at e’ s qu es t i o n s

. H e g av e s i m i lar a n swers wh en

q u es ti o n ed ab o u t h i s p ri o r s t at em en ts t o po l i ce. Ho wev er, wh e n Ben n et t ’ s t ri al

co u ns el c r os s -ex am i n ed Po g ue ab o u t h i s p ri o r co n v i ct io n s

, h i s p ri o r st at em en t s to

p o l i ce, an d t h e d ru g s an d g u n s p res en t t h e d ay of th e cri m e, Po g u e an s wered hi s

q u es ti o n s

. Th e t ri al co urt l at er al l o wed t h e St a t e t o cal l a vi ct i m ad v o cat e wh o was

p res en t at Po g u e’ s g u i l t y p l ea h eari ng t o read th e tran s cri p t o f t h e p ro ffer Po g u e m ad e

at t hat ti m e.

Pri o r t o t h e en act m en t o f t h e n ew Ev i den ce Co d e,

6a g u i l t y p l ea o f a jo in t o ffen der [was ] n o t ad m i ss i b l e i n ev i d en ce at th e

t ri al o f an o th er jo i n t offen d er. Th i s ru l e [d i d] n o t ap p l y wh ere t h e jo i n t

o ffen d er [was ] p res en t at t ri al an d [t es t i fi ed ] as a wi t n es s s u b ject t o

cro s s-ex am in at i o n. No r [d i d ] i t ap p l y w h ere t h e jo i nt offen d er’ s g u i l t y

p l ea [was ] ad m i t t ed wi t h i n s t ru ct io n s t hat i t no t b e u s ed as ev i d en ce o f

t h e d efen dan t ’ s g ui lt

.

Pi n ckn ey v. S t a t e

, 2 3 6 Ga. Ap p

. 7 4

, 7 4 -5 (5 1 0 SE2 d 9 2 3 ) (1 9 99 ). Ho w ev er, Ben n et t

was t ri ed i n 20 1 3

, aft er t h e effect iv e d at e o f Geo rg i a’ s n ew Ev i d en ce Co d e. See Ga.

L. 2 0 1 1

, p p

. 9 9

, § 1 0 1 (n ew Co d e ap p l i es “ t o a n y m o t i o n m ad e o r h eari n g o r t ri al

co m m en ced o n o r a ft er” J an u ary 1

, 2 0 13 ). Th e Pi n ckn ey cas e, u p o n w h i ch Ben n et t

re l i e s

, w as d eci d ed u n d er fo rm er OCGA § 2 4 -3 -5 2

, 2 23 6 Ga. A p p

. at 7 5 (1 ), wh i ch

was rep eal ed wi th n o d i rect l y co rres p o n d i n g p ro v i s i o n u n d er t h e n ew Co d e. See Ga.

L. 2 01 1 , p . 9 9

, § 2 Bu t s ee Ro nal d L. Carl s o n & M i ch ael Sco t t Carl s o n

, Carl s o n o n

Ev i d en ce 5 0 4 (3 d ed

. 2 0 1 5 ) (s u g g es t i n g t h at OCGA § 2 4 -3 -5 2 m ay h av e b een

s u b s u m ed wi t h i n O CGA § 2 4 -8 -8 0 1 (d ) (2 ) (E) reg ard i n g t h e ad m i s s i o n o f st at em en t s

b y co -co n s p i rat ors m ad e i n fu rt h eran ce o f a co n s p i racy ).

2 Th at s t at u t e “ pro vi d ed

, i n t ot o

, t h at ‘ (t )h e co n fes s i o n o f o ne j o i n t o ffen d er o r

co n sp i rat o r m ad e aft er t h e en t erp ri s e i s e n ded s hal l b e ad m i s s ib l e o nl y ag ai n s t

h i m s el f.’ ” Al len v. S t at e , 2 9 6 Ga. 7 8 5 , 7 8 8 (5 ) (7 7 0 SE2 d 8 2 4 ) (2 0 1 5 ).

7W e n eed n o t det erm in e wh et h er t h e h o l d i n g in Pi n ckn ey h as cu rren t ap p lic a tion

i n t h i s cas e b ecau s e Ben n et t fai l ed t o p r e s erv e t he i ss u e fo r ap peal

. W h en t h e St at e

o ffered t h e t ran s cri p t o f t h e g u i l t y p l ea i n t o ev i d en ce as a p ri o r i n co ns i s ten t s t at em en t

,

Ben net t ’ s co un s el o b

ject ed t o t he ad m i s s i o n o f t he t ran s cri pt o n pro ced u ral g ro u n d s

,

an d th e t ri al co u rt refu s ed t o ad m i t t h e t ran s cri p t th ro u gh Po g u e’ s t es ti m o n y

. Th e n ex t

d ay

, th e St at e cal l ed t h e v i ct im ad v o cat e wh o had at t en d ed t h e p l ea h eari n g

, an d

, aft er

arg u m en t

, t h e t ri al co u rt al l o wed h er t o read t h e t ran s cri p t t o th e ju ry

. Ben n et t ’ s

co u ns el ap paren tl y ren ewed h i s o b ject i o n t o t h e p ro ced u re as w el l as a p ri o r o b ject i o n

o n t h e g ro u n d s t h at read i n g t h e t ran s cri p t w o u ld b e “ red u nd an t an d cu m u l at i v e ” t o

Po g u e’ s c r o ss- e xa m ina tion t h e p rev i o us d ay

. 3 Becau s e Ben n et t ’ s co u n sel n ev er rai s ed

an y s p eci fi c o b

ject i o n o n t h e g ro u n d o f Po g u e’ s s t at u s as a jo i nt o ffen d er as d es cri b ed

i n Pi n ckn ey

, h e w ai ved t h e i s s u e fo r ap peal

. See Ba i l ey v. S t a t e

, 2 7 3 Ga. 3 0 3

, 3 0 6 -0 7

(4 ) (5 40 SE2 d 2 02 ) (2 0 0 1 ).

2

. Ben net t al so arg u es t h at t h e ev i d e n ce p res en t ed at t ri al was i n s u ffi ci en t to

s u p p ort h i s co n v i ct i o n s b ecau s e h e as s ert s t h at on l y Po g ue’ s t es t i m o n y ti ed h i m t o an y

o f t h e d ru g s fo u n d i n t h e car.

3 Th e arg u m en t o n t h i s i s s u e t oo k p lace i n t h e m o rn i n g b efo re t he t ri al s t art ed

fo r t h e d ay

an d ap p aren tl y

was n o t t ak en d own b y

t he co u rt rep o rt er.

8On ap p eal

, we d o n o t wei g h ev i d en ce o r d et erm i n e t h e cred i b i l i t y o f t h e

wi t n es s es

. Rat h er we co n s id er wh et h er, v i ewe d i n t h e l i g h t m os t fav o rab l e t o t h e

v erd i ct

, t h e ev i d en ce i s su ffi ci en t fo r a rat i o n al t ri er of fact t o fi n d Ben n et t g u i l t y o f

t h e cri m es o f wh ich h e was co n v i ct ed b ey o nd a reas o nab le d o ub t

. Cl a r k v. S t a t e

, 2 9 6

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

Un d er Geo rg i a’ s new Ev i d en ce Co de, t h e t es t i m o n y o f a si n g l e acco m p l i ce i s

g en eral l y i n s u ffi ci en t t o s up p o rt a fel o n y co n v i ct io n an d m

u s t b e co rro b o rat ed wi th

o t h er ev id en ce. O CGA § 2 4 -1 4 -8

. Th i s Co de s ect io n i s “ v i rt u al l y i d en t ical ” t o fo rm er

OCGA § 2 4 -4 -8

, an d t h e F e d e ral Ru l es of E v i den ce co n t ai n n o co m p arab l e

p ro v is i o n

. 4 Br a ds h a w v. St at e

, 2 9 6 Ga. 6 5 0

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

Acco rd in g ly

, “ we g i ve t h e n ew acco m p l ice p ro v i s i on t h e sam e m e an i n g as t h e o ld

o n e.” Id

. An d Geo rg i a co u rt s h av e i n t erp ret ed t h e acco m p l i ce p ro v is i o n t o m ean t h at

“ s u ffi ci en t co rro b orat i n g ev i d en ce m ay b e ci rcu m s t an t i al

, i t m ay b e s l i g h t

, an d i t n eed

n o t o f i t s el f b e s u ffi ci en t t o warran t a co nv i ct i o n o f t h e cri m e ch arg ed .” (Ci t at i o n

o m it t ed .) Cl a r

k

, 2 9 6 Ga. at 5 4 7 (1 )

. S e e al s o Od le v. S t a t e

, 3 3 1 Ga. Ap p

. 1 4 6

, 1 5 0

4 In fact

, un d er t h e fed eral ru l e s t he “ ‘ u n co rro b orat ed t es t i m o n y o f an

acco m pl i ce i s s u ffi ci en t t o su p po rt a co n v i c t i o n i n t h e Fed eral Co u rt s i f i t i s n o t o n

i t s face i ncred i b l e or o t h erwi s e i n s u b s t an t i al .’ Un i t ed S t a t es v. LeQu i r e

, 9 4 3 F.2 d

1 5 5 4 , 1 5 6 2 (1 1t h Ci r. 1 9 9 1 ).” Br a ds h a w , 2 9 6 Ga. at 6 54

.

9(7 7 0 S E 2 d 2 5 6) (2 0 1 5) (o n l y s l i g h t ev i d en ce i s req u i red t o co rro b o rat e an

acco m pl i ce’ s t es ti m o n y an d t he i n d ep en d en t co rro b o rat i n g e vide nc e n eed o n l y ju s t i fy

an i n feren ce t h at t he d efen d an t i s g u i l t y ). “ An d wh et her t h e St at e p res en t s su ffi ci en t

co rro b o rat io n o f th e acco m p l i ce’ s t es t i m o n y i s pecu l i a rl y a m at t er fo r t h e ju ry to

d et erm i n e.” (Ci t at i on an d pu nct u a t i o n o m i t t ed .) Hi n es v. S t a t e

, 3 2 0 G a. Ap p

. 8 5 4,

8 5 7 -5 8 (1 ) (7 4 0 SE2 d 7 8 6 ) (2 0 1 3 ).

M o reo v er,

[e] v en i f a pers o n d oes n o t d i rect l y co m m i t t h e c r i m e, a p ers on wh o

i n t en t i o n al l y ai d s o r ab et s i n t h e co m m i s s i o n o f a cri m e o r in t en ti o n al l y

ad v i ses

, en co u rag es

, hi res

, co u n sel s o r p ro cu res an o t h er t o co m m i t th e

cri m e m ay be co n vi ct ed o f t h e cri m e as a p art y t o t h e cri m e. W h et h er a

p ers on i s a p art y t o a cri m e m ay b e i n ferred fro m t h at p ers o n ’ s p res en ce,

co m p an i o n sh i p, an d co n d u ct b efo re, d u ri n g an d aft er t h e cri m e.

( C i t a t i o n s an d p u nct u at io n o m i t t ed .) Gr een v. S t at e

, 2 9 8 Ga. Ap p. 1 7

, 2 0 (1 ) ( 6 7 9

SE2 d 3 4 8 ) (2 0 0 9 ). See al s o B u r u ca v. St a t e

, 2 7 8 Ga. Ap p

. 6 5 0

, 6 5 2 (1 ) ( 6 2 9 S E2 d

4 3 8 ) (2 0 0 6 ).

In t h e in s t an t cas e, Po g u e’ s t es t i m o n y i ncri m i n at i n g Ben n et t was co rro b o rat ed

,

i n t er al ia, b y ev i den ce t h at Ben n et t was arres ted as a p as s en g er i n a veh icl e co n t ai n i n g

o v er 5 0 0 g ram s o f m et h am p het am i n e, m ari

ju an a, cl on azep am p il l s, a d i g it al s cal e,

10an d a l arg e am o u n t o f cas h i n a d ru g s t i n g o perat i o n ; b y Ben n et t’ s o wn a d m i s s i on s

t h at h e su s p ect ed Po g u e w as a d ru g d eal er, t h at he kn ew Po g u e “ pro b ab l y ” h ad d ru g s

i n t h e car, t h at h e was in t h e car wi t h Po g ue to h el p hi m co l lect a d ru g d eb t

, an d t h at

h e w a s t h ere t o pro tect Po g u e; an d b y Lam b ert ’ s tes t im o n y th at Ben n et t accep t ed a

g u n fro m Po g u e an d t h rew i t o ut t h e wi n d o w wh en h e s aw p o l i ce. W e fi n d t h at t h i s

an d o th er ev i d en ce at t ri al was s u ffi ci en t t o s u p p ort Ben n et t ’ s co n v i ct i o n s b ey o n d a

reas on ab l e d o u b t

. See Gr een

, 2 9 8 Ga. A p p

. at 2 1 (acco m p l i ce’ s s t a t em en t s was

s u ffi ci en t l y co rro b o rat e d by ev i d en ce th at a weap o n was l o cat ed un d er t h e

d efen d an t ’ s feet an d a bl ack b a g c o n t ai n i n g d ru g m o n ey was fo un d wi t h i n arm ’ s

reach o f t h e d efen d an t ).

3

. B e nnet t fu rt h er as s ert s t h at a fat al v ari an ce ex is t s b et ween t h e i n d i ct m en t an d

t h e v erd ict reach ed b y t h e ju ry wi th reg ard t o t h e ch arg e o f t raffi ck i n g in

m et h am p h et am i ne becau s e t h e t ri al co u rt ch arg ed t h e ju ry o n t raffi ck in g i n m o re t h an

2 0 0 g ram s o f m et h am

p het am i n e, i n ad d i t i o n t o ch arg i n g t h em o n t raffi ck i ng i n m o re

t h an 4 00 g ram s o f m et ham p h et am i n e, as al l eg ed i n t h e i n d i ct m en t

.

(a) Un d er OCGA § 1 6 -1 3 -3 1 (e),

[a] n y p ers on wh o s el l s

, d el i v ers

, o r b ri n g s i nt o th i s s t a t e o r h as

p o s s es si o n of 2 8 gram s o r m o re o f m et h am ph et am i n e, am

p h et am in e, o r

11an y m i x t u re co n t ai n in g ei t her m et h am p het am i n e o r am

p h e t a m i n e, as

d es cri b ed i n Sch ed ul e II, i n v io l at io n o f t h i s art icl e co m m i t s t h e fel o n y

o ffen s e o f t raffi ck i n g i n m et h am p h et am in e o r am

p h et am i n e.

Th e s t at ut e d el i n eat es t h ree l ev el s o f p u ni s h m en t fo r t raffi ck i n g i n m et h am p h et am i n e

d ep en d i ng u p o n t h e q u an t i t y o f m et h am p h et am i n e i n vo l v ed

. “ If t h e q uan t i t y o f

m et h am p h et am i ne, am

p h et am i n e, o r a m i x tu re co n t ai n i n g ei t h er s u b s t an ce i n v o l v ed

i s 2 8 g ram s o r m o re, b ut l e s s t h an 2 00 g ram s

, th e p ers o n s h al l b e s en t en ced t o a

m an d at o ry m i n i m

u m t erm o f i m

p ri s o n m en t o f t e n ye a r s an d sh al l p ay a fi n e o f

$ 2 0 0 ,0 0 0 .0 0 ” u n d er s u b s ect i on (e) (1 ). If t h at q u an t i t y “ i s 2 0 0 g ram s o r m o re, b u t l es s

t h an 4 0 0 g ram s

, t h e p e r s o n s h al l b e s en ten ced t o a m an dat o ry m i n i m u m t erm o f

i m p ri s o n m en t of 1 5 y ears an d s h al l p ay a fi n e of $3 0 0 ,0 00 .0 0 ” u n d er s u b s ect i o n (e)

(2 ). A n d i f t h e q u an t i t y “ is 4 0 0 g ram s o r m o re, t h e p ers o n sh al l b e s en t en ced t o a

m an d at o ry m i ni m

u m t e r m o f i m

p ri s o n m en t of 2 5 y ears an d s h al l p ay a fi n e o f $ 1

m i l l io n ” u n d er s u b s ect i o n (e) (3 ).

Ben n et t was ch arg ed wi t h t raffi ck i n g b y k n o wi n g l y p o s s es s i n g m o re t h an 4 0 0

g ram s of m et h am

p h et am i n e u n d er OCGA § 1 6 -1 3 -3 1 (e) (3 )

, an d t h e ev i d en ce at t ri al

s h o wed t h at m et h am

p h et am in e was f

o u n d i n Po g u e’ s v eh i cl e i n two pl aces

, wi th

1 7 5

. 0 5 g ram s o f m et h am p het am i n e i n a b ag un d er th e d as h o f t h e car an d 3 6 1

. 3 1

12g ram s o f m et h am p h et am i n e i n a bl ack b o x un d er t h e h o o d o f t h e car. Du r i n g t h e

ch arg e co n feren ce, t h e St at e req u es t ed t h at

, i n ad d i t i o n to ch arg i ng t h e ju ry wi t h t h e

am ou n t s p eci fi ed u n der s ub s ect i o n (e) (3 ) o f OCGA § 1 6 -1 3 -3 1, t he t ri al co u rt al s o

ch a r g e d th e ju ry un d er s u b s ect i o n s (e) (1 ) an d (e) (2 ). Ben n et t ’ s co u n s el d i d n ot

o b ject t o t h e ch arg e, b u t i ns t ead rep l i ed :

If we d o t h i s

, . . . w e wo u l d b e g iv i n g 4 0 0 g ram s as ch arg ed , 2 8 g ram s

t raffi ck i n g

, s i m

p l e p o s s es s i o n i f t h ey can ’ t m ak e u p th ei r m i n d

, an d

wh i l e y o u are at i t

, t o b e t h o ro ug h

, I g ues s ov e r 20 0

, wh i ch wo u l d n ’ t

m ak e a l o t o f s en s e, h o nes t l y

, b u t I g u es s y o u h av e t o b e co m p l e t e

,

b ecau s e we wo u l d s ay i f we are g oi n g t raffi ck in g o n l y

, g i v e u s s i m p l e

p o s s es si o n. I d o n’ t k no w i f t h e 20 0 m ak es an y s en s e, ex cep t fo r t h e fact

t h at t h e co -d efen d an t p l ed t o 2 0 0, so i n a s en s e o f fai rn es s

, t h e ju ry m ay

d eci de th at t h at wo rk s

. A n d s i n ce o n e b a g w as o v er 1 7 5 g ram s

, ad d a

l i tt l e m o re, we co u ld b e g u i l t y o f o v er 2 00

. A l o t o f [v erd i ct ] fo rm t o

g i v e [t h e ju ry ]

, b u t i f w e are g o i n g t o g o 4 0 0 an d 2 8 p o s s e s s i o n

, we

m i g h t as wel l

–

Th e t ri al ju d g e t h en i n t erject ed

, “ Yeah

, i f I’ m g o i n g t o gi v e t h em o n e l es ser, I g u es s

I h av e t o g i v e al l o f t h e l es s ers . So t h en y o u are o k ay wi t h t hat ? ” Ben n et t ’ s co u n s el

res p o n d ed

, “ I d on ’ t l ov e i t

, b ut i f we’ re g o i n g t o g i v e on e, we’ l l g i v e th em al l .” Th e

ju ry u l t im at el y co n v i ct ed Ben n et t o f “ t raffi ck i ng i n m et h am ph et am i n e (2 0 0 o r m o re

g r am s ),” i n l i eu o f t h e o t h er al t ern at i ve o ffen s es

. Ben n et t arg ues t h at t h i s p ro c e s s

13res u l ted i n a fat al vari an ce b et ween t h e fo rm of t h e i n d i ct m en t an d h i s co n vi ct i o n

. W e

d i s ag ree.

Geo rg i a co urt s d o n o t ap p l y an ov erl y t ech n i cal an al y si s t o a cl ai m o f fat al

v ari an ce, b u t rat h er fo cu s o n t h e m at eri al i t y o f an y d i s crep an cy

.

Th e t ru e i n q u i ry , t h erefo re, i s n o t w h et h er t h ere h as b een a v ari an ce i n

p ro o f, b u t wh et h e r t h ere h as b een s u ch a v ari an ce as t o affect th e

s u b s t an t i al ri g h t s o f t he accu s ed

. It i s t h e u n d erl y i n g reas o n s fo r t h e ru l e

wh i ch m u s t b e s erv ed : 1 ) t h e al l eg at i o ns m u s t d efi ni t el y i n fo rm th e

accu s ed as t o th e ch arg es ag ai n s t h i m s o as t o en ab l e h i m to p res en t h i s

d efen s e an d n o t t o b e t ak en b y s u rp ri s e, an d 2 ) t h e al l eg at io n s m u st be

ad eq u at e t o p ro t ect th e accu s ed ag ai n st an o t h er p ro secu t i o n fo r t he s am e

o ffen s e.

(Ci t at i o n o m i t ted .) Gr een v. S t a t e

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

al s o DePa l ma v. S t a t e , 2 2 5 Ga. 4 6 5 , 4 6 9 -7 0 (3 ) (1 6 9 SE2 d 8 0 1 ) (1 9 6 9 ).

W e fi n d t h at t raffi ck i ng i n m et h am p h et am i ne i n a qu an t it y o f 20 0 o r m o re

g ram s i s a l es s er i n cl u d ed o ffen s e o f t raffi ck i n g i n m et h am p h et am i n e i n a q u an t i t y o f

4 0 0 o r m ore g ram s , b ecau se p ro o f o f t h e fo rm er i s n eces sari l y i n cl u ded i n t h e l at t er

14(i

. e., a d efen d an t can n o t p o ss es s 4 0 0 o r m o re g ram s wi t h o ut p o s s es si ng 2 0 0 o r m o re

g ram s ). 5 An d i t i s wel l s et t l ed th at

an i n d i ct m en t n o t o n ly

ch arg es t h e d efen d an t wi t h t h e s p eci fi ed cri m e,

i t al s o em b races al l l es s er i n cl u d ed o ffen s es of t h e ch arg ed o ffen s e. An

i n d i ct m en t p l aces an accu s ed o n n o t ice t h at h e can b e co n v i ct ed o f t he

cri m es ex p res s l y ch arg ed as wel l as l es s er cri m es t h at are i n cl u d ed i n th e

ch arg ed o ffen s es as a m at t er o f l aw or fact

. I n d e e d

, i f an o ffen s e i s a

l es s er i n cl u d ed o ffen s e as a m at t er o f l a w o r fact

, an accu s ed can be

co n v i ct ed o f t h at o ffen s e.

(Ci t at i o n o m it t ed .) Br

ya n t v. S t a t e

, 32 0 Ga. Ap p

. 8 3 8

, 8 42 -4 3 ( 3 ) ( 7 4 0 S E2 d 7 7 2 )

(2 0 1 3). See al s o OCGA § 1 6 -1 -6 ( 1 ) ( “ An a c cu s ed m ay b e co n vi ct ed of a cri m e

i n cl u d ed i n a cri m e ch arg ed i n t h e i n d i ct m en t o r accu sat i on . A cri m e i s s o i n cl u d ed

wh en

. . . [i ] t i s es t ab li s h ed b y p ro o f o f th e s am e o r l es s t h an al l t h e fact s . . . t h an i s

req u i red t o es tab l i s h t h e co m m i s s i o n o f t h e cri m e ch arg ed ” )

. B e n n e t t was b o th

5 St at ed an o t h er way

, u n d er t h e req u i red ev i d en ce t es t set o u t i n Dr in ka r d v.

W a l ker

, 2 8 1 Ga. 21 1 (6 36 SE2 d 5 3 0 ) (2 0 0 6 ), b ecau s e t raffi ck i n g i n 2 00 o r m o re

g ram s d o e s n o t r eq u i re p ro o f o f an y el em en t th at t raffi ck i n g i n 40 0 o r m o re g ram s

d o es n o t al s o req u i re, t h e fo rm er i s a l es s er i n cl u d ed o ffen s e o f t h e l at t er. See

Jer n i g a n v. S t a t e

, 33 3 Ga. Ap p

. 3 3 9

, 3 4 3 (3 ) (7 7 5 SE2 d 7 91 ) (2 0 1 5 ) (u n d er t h e

Dr i n ka r d t es t

, co u rt ex am i n es “ wh et h er ea ch o ffen s e req u i res p ro of of a fact wh i ch

t h e o t h er d o es n o t ”) (ci t at io n an d p u n ct u at i o n o m it t ed ; em ph as i s s u p p li ed ); S t u a r t v.

S t a t e

, 3 1 8 Ga. Ap p

. 83 9

, 8 42 -4 3 (7 3 4 SE2 d 8 1 4 ) (2 01 2 ) ( D r i nka r d t es t ap p l i es to

d et erm i n e wh et h er o n e o ffen se i s a l es s er i n cl u d ed o ffen s e o f an o t her).

15ch arg ed wi t h an d co n v ict ed o f t raffi ck i n g i n m et h am p h et am i n e i n s o m e am o u n t

. Th e

fact t h at t h e ju ry fo u nd h i m g u i l t y o f t raffi ck i n g i n a s m a l l e r am o u n t o f

m et h am p h et am i ne th an th e in d i ct m en t al leg ed d o es n o t g i ve ri se to a fat al v ari an ce.

(b ) M oreo v er, t o t he ex t en t t hat Ben n et t i s arg u i n g t h at th e t ri al co u rt ’ s ch arg e

o n t raffi ck i n g m et h am

p h et am i n e co n s ti t u t ed p lai n erro r, we fi n d th at h i s co u n s el

i n v i t ed an y erro r by ag reei n g t o t h e ch arg e an d t h u s affi rm at i v el y wai v ed a p p e l l at e

rev i ew fo r p l ai n e r r o r. See Hi cks v. S t a t e

, 2 9 5 Ga. 2 6 8

, 2 7 5 (2 ) (7 59 SE2 d 5 0 9 )

(2 0 1 4); S h a n k v. S t a t e

, 2 9 0 Ga. 8 4 4

, 8 4 5 (2 ) (7 2 5 SE2 d 2 4 6 ) (2 0 1 2); Ch ed d er s i n g h

v. S t a te

, 2 9 0 Ga. 6 8 0, 6 8 2-8 4 (2 ) (7 2 4 SE2 d 3 66 ) (2 0 1 2 ) (Affi rm at i ve wai v er req u i res

“ d ev i at io n fro m a l eg al ru le m u s t h av e been i n t en ti o n al l y rel i n q u i s h ed o r

ab an do n ed .”) (ci t at io n an d p un ct u at i o n o m i t t ed ).

Acco rd i ng l y

, we affi rm t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s den ial o f Ben n et t ’ s m o t i o n fo r n ew

t ri al

.

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

Ra y, J., co n cu r

.

16