FI FTH DI VI SI ON

M CFA DDEN, C. J.

, M CM I LLI A N, P. J.

, and GOSS, J.

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

Jul y 2, 2019



# I n th e Co u r t o f

A p p eals o f

G eo r g ia

A1 9 A0 67 1 . W A RD v . THE STATE.

M C M ILLI A N , Pres i d i n g J u d g e.

Aft er M i ch ael Ch arl es Wa r d w as acq u i t t ed o f s tal k i n g

, h e was t ri ed an d

co n vi ct ed b y a ju ry

o f ag g rav at ed s t al k i n g ag ai n s t th e sam e v i ct i m . He ap p eal s

, p ro

s e, fo l l owi ng t h e d en i al o f hi s m o t i o n fo r n ew t ri al

, as am en d ed

, rai s i n g cl a i m s o f

d o u b l e jeo p ard y

, p ro s ecu t o ri al m i s co n d u ct

, a b i as ed ju d i ci ary

, in effect i v e as s i s t an ce

o f co u n s el

, a d efect i v e an d i m p ro p er i n d i ct m en t

, an d i m p ro p er an d in su ffi ci en t

ev i d en ce t o s u p po rt h i s co n v ict i o n

. A s m ore fu l l y s e t f o r t h b el o w, we n o w rev ers e.

Co n st ru ed s o as t o s u p po rt th e ju ry ’ s v erd i ct

, t he reco rd s ho ws t h at W ard an d

t h e v i ct i m 1 b eg an dat i n g i n 2 0 0 5 an d h ad an on -ag ai n

, o ff-ag ai n rel at i o n s h i p fo r t h e

1 W e s et o u t h ere t h e ev i d en ce ad d u c e d a t Wa r d’ s t ri al o n t he ag g rav at ed

s t al k in g ch arg e, wh i ch we wi l l refer t o as “ Tri al 2.” Ho wev er, we wi l l al so n o t e i f a

wi t n es s t es t i fi ed o r t h e ev i d en ce was i n t ro d uced at W ard ’ s fi rs t t ri al o n m i s d em ean o rn ex t s ev eral y ears

. Du ri n g th is t i m e, W ard l i v ed i n M ari et t a, Geo rg i a, an d t he v i ct i m

l i ved al on e i n a h ou se l o cat ed i n a s o m ewh at rem ot e area i n Oco nee Co un t y

, an d s h e

a l s o h a d a v a cat i o n h o m e o n a l ak e i n an o t h er co u n t y

. By t h e s u m m er of 2 0 0 7

, t h e

v i ct i m an d W ard were o nce ag ai n h av i n g p ro b lem s, an d t h e v i ct i m t o l d h im s h e d id

n o t wan t t o co n t in u e s eei n g h i m

. Ov er t h e s um m er, W ard s h o wed u p at t h e v i ct i m ’ s

v ari o u s res id en ces u n an n o u n ced

, an d o n at l eas t o n e o ccas i o n he b ro u gh t a h an d g u n

t h at h e t ol d t h e v i ct i m

h e p lan n ed t o u s e t o s h o o t wh o m ev er h e fo u n d h er wi t h

.

In earl y A u gu s t 2 0 0 7

, t h e v i ct i m t o l d W ard no t t o cal l h er an y m o re, b u t W ard

cam e t o h e r h o m e w h i l e s h e was o u t o f t o wn

. Lat er i n Au g u s t

, t he v i ct im s en t an

em ai l t o W ard rei t erat i ng t h at t h ei r rel at i o n s h i p was o v er an d t h at h e n eed ed t o co m e

p i ck u p h i s b el on g i n gs , an d W ard s ho wed u p at h er h o us e un an n o u n ced a few d ay s

l at er. Th e v i ct i m h el p ed h i m pack up h i s t h i n gs an d t h en t o l d h i m o n ce ag ai n t h at t h e

r e l a t i o n sh i p was o v er. Ho wev er, t h e v i ct i m kep t recei v i n g l o ng em ai l s fro m W ard

rei t erat i ng h is lo v e fo r h er, an d h e s ho wed u p at h er h o m e ag ai n i n earl y Sep t em b er

i n ho p es o f a reco nci l i at io n b ut t h e v i ct i m o n ce ag ai n t o l d h i m th ey were t h ro u g h an d

req u es t ed h e l eav e. An d o n Sep t em b er 6, 2 0 0 7 , t h e v i ct i m

s en t W ard an o th er em ai l

wi t h t h e s u bject li ne “

NO M ORE,” i n wh i ch sh e em p h at i cal l y t ol d hi m n ot t o co n t act

s t al k in g an d o t h er ch arg es , wh ich we wi l l refer t o as “ Tri al 1 .”

2h er in an y way

. Nev ert h el es s

, aro u n d Sep t em b er 1 8, 2 0 0 7

, W ard s ho wed u p at h er

h o u s e wi t h g i ft s an d as k ed h er t o m arry h i m

. S h e d ecl i ned an d t o l d h i m t o l eav e.

Ho wev er, h e was w ai t i n g fo r h er wh en s h e cam e h om e t h e n i g h t o f Oct ob er 2

, 2 0 0 7,

an d s he t o l d h im

h e was fri g h t en i n g h er wi t h h i s b eh av i o r an d as k ed h im t o l eav e.

Du ri n g t h is t i m e fram e, t h e v i ct i m al s o d et ect ed s i g n s t h at s o m eo n e had b een

i n h er h o m e wh i l e s h e was away

. Becau s e o f h er co n cern s ab ou t W ard ’ s b eh av i o r, t h e

v i ct i m co n t act e d a n a t t o rn ey s h e k n ew i n earl y Oct ob er 2 00 7

. 2 Th e at to rn ey cal l ed

W ard an d t o l d h im t h at t h e v i ct i m d i d n ot wan t t o h av e an y fu rt her co n t act wi t h h i m

an d th at h e w o u l d b e sen d i ng h i m a l et t er to t h at effect

, wh ich he s en t s h o rt l y

aft erward s ; t h i s let t er was read t o t he ju ry at t ri al

. On O ct o b er 2 2

, 2 0 0 7

, t he v i ct i m ’ s

h o u s ek eep er an d t een ag e d au g h t ers 3 saw a m an d res s ed in ca m o u f l ag e wal k i n g

aro u n d t h e o u t s id e of t h e v i ct i m ’ s Oco n ee C o u n t y h o u s e an d i n t h e n earb y wo o d s

.

Th e h o u s ek eep er cal l ed po l i ce an d s h o wed th em a p ict u re o f W ard an d “ s u g g es t ed ”

i t m i g h t b e h i m

. At t h e res po n d i n g o ffi cer’ s s u g g es t i on

, t he v i ct i m m ad e a req u es t fo r

a s ecu r i t y ch eck

, wh i ch al ert ed o ffi cers o f t h e n eed t o p at ro l h er p ro p ert y m o re

2 Th i s at t o rn ey

al s o t es ti fi ed at Tri al 1

.

3 Th e h o u s ek eep er an d o n e o f h er t een ag e d au g h t ers al so t es t i fi ed at Tri al 1

.

3freq uen t l y

, an d wh i ch co n t ai n ed a s p eci fi c n o t at i o n th at W ard was n o t al l o w ed t o b e

o n t h e p ro p ert y

.

Aft er a t el ep ho n e cal l wi t h W ard at t h e en d o f Oct o b er du ri n g wh i ch h e cal l ed

t h e v i ct i m a “ wh o re” an d was s cream in g at h er, t h e v i ct i m wen t t o t h e Oco n ee Co u n t y

Sh eri ff’ s o ffi ce an d t al ked to a Det ect i v e. 4 O n No v em ber 2

, 20 0 7

, t h e Det ect i v e

co n tact ed W ard an d t o l d h i m t h a t h e h ad t al k ed t o t h e v i ct i m an d s h e h ad m ad e i t

cl ear t h at s h e d i d n o t wan t an y fu rt h er co n t act wi t h W ard o f an y k in d wh at s oev er. He

s ai d t h at W ard t ol d h i m t h at h e h ad al read y en d ed al l co n t act wi t h t h e v i ct i m

.

A few d ay s l at er, o n No v em b er 5

, 2 0 07

, t he v i ct i m ’ s nep h ew, 5 sp o t ted a car o n

p ro p ert y n ear t h e v ict i m ’ s h o u s e an d n o t i ced i t was reg is tered t o t he co u n t y wh ere

W ard l i v ed at t h e t i m e. Th e n ep h ew cal led t h e po l i ce an d t h en n o t i ced W ard wal k i n g

o u t o f t h e w o od s weari n g cam o u fl ag e. T h e Det ect i v e cam e t o t h e s cen e wh ere h e

reco v ered a nu m

b er o f i t em s fro m W ard ’ s car, i n cl u di n g a n um b er o f p ers o n al i t em s

t h at ap p eared t o b e t ak en fro m t h e v i ct i m ’ s h o m e, i n f o r m a t i o n ab o u t h er fri en d s

,

p h o n e n u m

b ers tak en fro m t h e cal l e r i d en t i fi cat i o n o n her p ho n e, an d v ari o u s t o o l s

4 Th e Det ect i v e al s o t es t i fi ed at Tri al 1

.

5 Th i s wi t n es s w as u n av ai l ab l e d ue to a m ed i cal em erg en cy an d d id n o t t es t i fy

at Tri al I.

4t h at co u l d b e u s ed t o b reak i n t o h er h o u se, wh i ch W ard ad m i t ted t o p o l i ce h e p l an n ed

t o u s e t o g ai n acces s t o t h e v i ct i m ’ s h om e. 6

Fo l l owi n g th is in ci d en t

, W ard w as arres t ed an d t hen rel eas ed o n a “ n o -co n t act ”

b o n d o n Tu es d ay

, No v em b er 6

, 2 0 0 7

. On N o v em b er 2 0

, 2 0 07

, a m

u l t i -co u nt

i n d i ct m en t was ret u rn ed ag ai ns t W ard ch arg i n g h im wi t h m u l t i p le co un t s o f b u rg l ary

,

co m p u t er t h eft

, t h eft by tak i n g

, p o s s es s i o n of t o o l s i n t h e co m m i ss i o n o f a cri m e, an d

s t al k in g

. In earl y Decem

b er 2 0 0 7

, W ard o rd ered a b o o k cal l ed “ Red eem i n g Lo v e” o ff

Am azo n

. co m an d h ad i t d el iv ered t o t h e v ict i m ’ s h o u s e. 7 W ard wa s a r r e s t ed fo r

v i o l at i n g h i s n o -co n t act b o n d an d s u b s eq u en t l y i n d i ct ed o n th e fel o n y o ffen s e o f

ag g rav at ed s t al k i n g o n J an uary 2 4

, 2 0 0 8

.

6 In ad di t i o n t o t h e ev id en ce reci t ed ab ov e, t h e j u ry al s o h eard ev i d en ce t h at

aft er h e was arres ted fo r ag g rav at ed s t al k i n g

, W ard wen t to t h e Co b b Co un t y p o l i ce

an d in s t i g at ed an i n ves ti g at i o n ag ai n s t t h e v i ct i m fo r “ co m p ut er i n v as i o n o f p ri v acy ,”

accu s i n g t h e v i ct i m of i m

p ro p erl y acces s i n g hi s em ai l s

. Ev i d en ce w as al s o i n t ro d u ced

at b o t h t r i a l s t hat wh i l e h e was i n jai l awai ti n g t ri al

, W ard w ro t e a l et t er o r m em o,

s e l f

- t i t l ed th e “ Gi g g les ” Mi s s i o n

, s et t i ng o u t an el ab o rat e p l an t o b reak i n t o t h e

v i ct i m ’ s h o m e an d t ak e s o m e i t em s o u t o f t h e h om e an d to o t h erwi s e wreak h av o c an d

d es t ru ct io n t h ro ug h o u t

. H o wev er, t h i s m i ss i v e w as sen t t o W ard ’ s s o n s o r ex -wi fe,

an d t h e v i ct i m d i d n o t k n o w ab o u t i t u n t i l W ard ’ s ex -wi fe sen t i t t o p o l i ce i n J u n e

2 0 0 8

.

7 W ard ad m i t t ed at a h eari n g o n Feb ru ary 8

, 2 0 0 8 t h at h e s en t t h e b o o k t o t h e

v i ct i m an d h as n ev er d en i ed s en d i n g t h e b o o k.

5In Au g us t 2 00 9

, W ard was t r i e d on t h e fi rs t i n d ict m en t ch arg i n g h i m wi th

m i s d em ean o r s t al k i n g an d v ari o u s o t h e r c r i m es

. Des p i t e t h e ev i d en ce o f W ard ’ s

u n s o li ci t ed an d al arm i ng co n t act s wi t h t h e v i ct i m

, a ju ry acq ui t t ed h i m of al l ch arg es

ex cep t fo r p o s s es s i o n o f t o o l s i n t h e co m m i s s i o n of a cri m e. W ard d id n ot ap p eal t h at

co n vi ct i o n

.

Fo l l owi n g W ard ’ s acq u it t al o n t h e m i sd em ean o r s t al k i n g ch arg e, th e St at e

m o ved t o d ead d ock et t h e p en di n g ag g rav at ed s t al k i n g ch arg e, b u t W ard o b ject ed an d

t h e t ri al co u rt d en i ed t h e St at e’ s req u es t. In J an uary 2 0 1 0, ju s t fi ve m o n t h s aft er h i s

acq u it t al o n t h e s t al ki ng an d o t h er ch arg e s

, a j u ry co n v ict ed W ard o f ag g rav at ed

s t al k in g

, 8 an d h e was s en t en ced t o th e m ax i m u m o f t en y ears wi t h cred it fo r t i m e

s erv ed

. W ard fi l ed a m ot i o n fo r n ew tri al o n Feb ru ary 3

, 2 01 0

, an d fo l lo wi n g s ev eral

am en d m en t s an d a l en g t hy d el ay

, a h eari n g was h el d o n t h e m o t i o n on Sep t em b er 2 1,

2 0 1 7

. Th e t ri al co u rt den i ed t h e m o t i o n o n Decem b er 1 4, 20 1 7

, an d W ard ti m el y fi l ed

a n o t i ce o f ap p eal t o t hi s Co u rt o n J an u ary 8

, 2 0 1 8.

1

. W e fi rs t ad d res s t h e i s su e o f t h e tro u b les o m e d el ay i n t h i s cas e b et ween t h e

t i m e o f t ri al an d t h e ru l i ng on t h e m o t i o n fo r n ew tri al

, wh ich d el ay ed th e d o ck et i n g

o f t h is ap p eal

. As n o t ed ab o v e, wel l o v er s ev en y ears p as s ed b et ween t h e t i m e W ard

8 W ard el ect ed t o rep res en t h i m s el f d u ri n g Tri al 2

.

6fi led h is m o t i o n fo r new tri al an d wh en th e t ri al co u rt h el d t h e h eari n g o n t h e m o t i o n 9

s u ch t h at W ard ’ s ti m el y n o t i ce o f ap p eal was n ot fi l ed i n t h i s cas e u nt i l al m o s t ei g ht

y ears aft er h i s co n v i ct i o n. W ard was i n jai l fro m t h e t i m e h e w a s re-arres t ed o n t h e

ag g rav at ed s t al k i ng ch arg e, an d a c c o r d i n g t o h i s b ri ef, h e co m pl et ed s erv i n g h i s

s en t en ce an d was rel eas ed fro m p ri s o n i n Feb ru ary

2 0 1 8

.

Th i s s o rt o f ex t rao rd i n ary po s t-co nv i ct i o n, p re-ap p eal d el ay p u t s

at ri s k t he ri g h t s o f d efen d a n t s a n d cri m e v i ct i m s an d t h e val i d i t y o f

co n v i ct i o ns o b t ai n ed aft er a fu l l t ri al

. It i s th e d u t y o f t h o s e i n v o l v ed i n

t h e cri m i n al ju st i ce s y s t em

, i n cl u d i n g t ri al co u rt s an d p ro secu t o rs as wel l

as d efen s e co u n s el an d d efen d an t s

, t o en s u re t h at th e ap p ro pri at e p o s t

co n v i ct i o n m o t i o ns are fi l ed

, l i t i g at ed

, an d d eci d ed wi t h o u t u n n eces s ary

d el ay . Th at d u t y

u n fo rt u n at el y

was n o t fu l fi l l ed i n t h is cas e.

Ro b in s o n v. S t at e , 3 3 4 Ga. Ap p. 6 4 6 , 6 4 7 (1 ) (7 8 0 SE2 d 8 6 ) (2 0 15 ).

2

. In s ev eral rel at ed en u m erat i o n s o f erro r, W ard arg u es t h at h i s p ro s ecu t i o n

o n th e ag g rav at ed s t al k i n g ch arg e vi o l at ed p ri n ci p les o f d o u b l e jeo pard y an d t h at t h e

t ri al co u rt sh o u l d h av e hav e g ran t ed hi s m o t i o n i n li m i ne to ex cl u d e ad m i s s i o n o r

referen ce t o t h e ev i d en ce i n t ro d u ced d u ri n g Tri al 1

. Sp eci fi cal l y

, h e arg u e s t h at

b ecau s e h e h ad b een acq u i t t ed o f s t a l k i n g i n Tri al 1, ev i d en ce fro m t ri al h ad b een

9 W e n o t e th at s ev eral m o n t h s l at er t h e t ri a l c o u r t p ro m p t l y i s s u ed an o rd er

d en y i n g t h e m ot i o n

.

7“ u s ed u p ” an d co u l d no t b e i n t ro d u ced to co n vi ct hi m o f ag g rav at ed s tal k in g i n Tri al

2

. He al s o as sert s t h at th e cri m es s h o u l d h av e b een p ro s ecu ted t o get h er u nd er OCGA

§ § 1 6 -1 -7 (b ) & 1 6 -1 -8 (b ) (1 ). Un d er t h e fact s o f t h i s cas e, we ag ree t h at rev ers al i s

req u i red

. 1 0

W e b eg i n o ur an al y s i s b y s t at i n g o u r s t an dard o f rev i ew. “ Th e ap p el l at e

s t an d ard o f rev i ew o f a gran t o r d en ial o f a d o u b l e jeo pard y pl ea i n b ar i s w h et h er,

aft er rev i ewi n g t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s o ral an d wri t ten ru li ng s as a wh o l e, th e t ri al co urt ’ s

fi nd i ng s s u p p o rt i t s co n cl u s i o n .” (Ci t at i o n an d p un ct u at i o n o m i t t ed .) Ga r r et t v. S t a t e

,

1 0 W e n o t e t h at W ard di d n o t fo rm al l y an d i n wri t i n g rai s e t h i s i s s u e u n t i l aft er

t ri al

. See Al exa n d

er v. S t a t e

, 2 7 9 Ga. 6 8 3

, 6 85 (2 ) (b ) (6 2 0 SE2 d 7 92 ) (2 0 0 5) (“ As a

g en eral ru l e,

. . . fai l u re t o fi l e a wri t t en p l ea i n b ar p ri o r t o a s eco nd t ri al wai v es t h e

ri gh t t o s u b s eq u en tl y rai s e a ch al l en g e o n p r o ced u ral d o u b le jeo p ard y g ro u n d s .”)

( c i t a t i o n o m i t t ed ); s ee al s o OCGA § § 1 7 -7 -1 1 0 ; 1 7 -7 -1 1 1 (as a g en eral ru l e

, a l l

s p eci al p l eas m

u s t be i n wri ti n g an d m ad e wi t h i n t en day s o f arrai g n m en t ). H o wev er,

al t h o u g h W ard d i d no t fi le a p re-t ri al m o t i o n as s ert i n g t h e b ar o f do u b l e jeo p ard y

, t h e

reco rd s ho ws t h at t h e t ri al co u rt b ro u gh t t he i s s u e t o t h e at t en ti o n o f b o t h p art i es o n

t h e fi rs t d ay o f t ri al an d t h e i s s u e was rep eat ed ly rev i si t ed t hro u g h o u t t h e

p ro ceed in g s

. Fu rt h er, t h e t ri al co u rt reco g n ized t h at wh et h er d o u b l e jeo p ard y was a

b ar i n t h i s cas e was d ep en d en t o n wh at ev id en ce t h e St at e ch o se to i n t ro d u ce at Tri al

2

, s o t h at i t co ul d n o t m ak e a p re-t ri al d et erm i nat i o n o f t h e i s s u e ev en i f W ard h ad

rai s ed i t

. T h e t ri al co u rt s t at ed l at er i n t h e pro ceed i n gs th at W ard ’ s fai lu re t o rai s e t h e

i s su e in a wri t ten m o t i o n m ean t t h at W ard w as l i m it ed t o rai s i n g t h e i s s u e i n a p o s t

t ri al m o t i o n fo r n ew t ri al (as s u m i n g h e was fo u n d g ui lt y ), an d W ard d i d i n fact rai s e

t h e i s s u e i n h i s m o t i o n fo r n ew t ri al an d al s o en u m erat ed t h e fai l u re t o fi l e a p re-t ri al

m o ti o n as i n effect i v en es s o n th e p art of hi s t ri al co u n s el

. Th u s

, we wi l l n o t deem t h e

f ai l u re t o fi l e a p re-t ri al m o ti o n fat al t o o u r co n s i derat i o n o f t hi s i s s u e. Se e a l s o

Ro b in s o n

, 3 3 4 Ga. Ap p. at 6 4 8 (2 ), n .1 3

.

83 0 6 Ga. Ap p

. 4 2 9

, 4 2 9 ( 7 0 2 SE2 d 4 7 0 ) (2 0 10 ). Ho w ev er, “ we rev i ew d e n o v o t h e

t ri al co u rt ’ s ap p l i cat io n o f th e l aw t o un d i sp u ted fact s .” (Ci t at i o n an d pu n ct u at i o n

o m it t ed .) Id

.

Th e Do u b l e J eo p ard y Cl au s e i n t h e Fi ft h Am en d m en t t o t h e Un i t ed St at es

Co n s t i t u t i o n p ro v i d es : “ [N] o r s h al l an y p ers o n b e s u b ject fo r t he s am e o ffen s e t o b e

t wi ce pu t i n jeo p ard y o f l ife an d l i m b

. ” Li k ewi s e, th e Ge o r g i a C o n s t it u t i o n an d

Geo rg i a s t at u t ory l aw p ro h i b i t t h e g o v ern m en t fro m p l aci n g a d efen d an t i n jeo p ard y

t wi ce fo r t h e s am e o ffen se fo l l o w i n g ei t h er a n a c q u i t t al o r a co n v i ct i o n an d al s o

p ro h ib i t m

u l ti p l e p un i s h m en t s fo r t h e s am e o ffen s e. 1 1

Th e S u p rem e Co u rt o f t h e Un it ed St at es h as reco g ni zed t hat t h e Do u b l e

J eo p ard y Cl au s e o f th e fed eral Co n s t i tu t i o n p ro t ect s t wo v i t al i n teres t s

. Y ea g er v.

Un i ted St a tes

, 5 5 7 U.S. 11 0

, 11 7 (II) (1 2 9 SCt 2 3 6 0

, 1 7 4 L E2 d 7 8 ) (2 0 0 9 ). Fi rs t

, t h e

St at e i s p ro h i b it ed fro m m ak i n g rep eat ed at t em p t s t o co n vi ct a n i n d i v i d u al fo r t h e

s am e o ffen s e, t h ereb y s u b ject i n g h i m to t h e o rd eal an d an x iet y o f s u cces s i v e

p ro s ecu ti o n s

. Id

. at 1 1 7-1 8 (II). In p art i cu lar, “ [t ] he D o u b l e J eo pard y Cl au s e fo rb i d s

1 1 Ga. Co n s t

. o f 1 9 8 3

, Art

. I, Sec. I, Para. XVIII (“ No p ers o n s h al l be p u t in

jeo p ard y o f l i f

e o r l i b e r t y m o re t h an o n ce fo r t he s am e o ffen se ex cep t wh en a n ew

t ri al h as b een g ran t ed aft er co nv i ct i o n o r i n cas e of m i s t ri al .”); OCGA § 1 6 -1 -7 & 1 6

-

1 -8 (p ro h i b i ti n g m

u l t i p le p ro s ecu t i on s f

o r t h e s am e co n d u ct an d p ro v i d i n g wh en

p ro s ecu ti o n b arred b y

fo rm er p ro s ecu t i o n , res p ect i v el y ).

9a s eco nd t ri al fo r t h e p u rp o s e o f affo rd in g th e p ro s e c u t i o n an o th er o p p o rt u n i t y to

s u p p ly ev i d en ce wh i ch i t fai l ed t o m u s t er i n th e fi rs t p ro ceed i n g s. Th i s i s cen t ral to

t h e o bject i ve of th e p ro h i b i ti o n ag ai n s t s u cces s iv e t ri al s .” Bu r ks v. Un i t ed S t a t es

, 4 3 7

U.S. 1

, 1 1 (9 8 SCt 2 1 4 1

, 5 7 L E d 2 d 1 ) (1 9 7 8). “ T h e s eco n d i n teres t i s t h e

p res erv at i o n o f th e f

i n al it y o f ju d g m en t s

. ” (Ci tat i o n an d p u n ct u at io n o m i t t ed .)

Y ea g er , 5 5 7 U.S. at 1 1 8 (II).

O u r Su p rem e Co u rt has s i m i l arl y reco gn i zed t hat u nd er t h e s hi el d o f d o u b l e

jeo p ard y

[a] d efen d an t i s pro t ect ed

. . . fro m at t em p ts t o re-l i t i g at e t h e fact s aft er

an acq u it t al an d fro m at t em p t s t o s ecu re ad di t i o n al p u n i s h m en t aft er a

p ri o r co n vi ct i o n an d sen t en ce. In ad d i t i o n t o t h e ri s k of en h an ced

p u n i s h m en t fo r t h e s a m e o ffen s e, s u cces s i v e p ro secu t i o ns al l o w th e

St at e t o u n fai rl y reh ears e i t s p res en t at i o n o f t h e ev i d en ce an d ho n e i t s

t ri al s t rat eg y

, w h il e al s o i n crem en tal l y i n creas i n g t h e b u rd en o n th e

d efen d an t t o d efen d h i m s el f.

(Ci t at i o n s an d p un ct u at i o n o m i t t ed .) P er ki n s o n v. S t a t e

, 2 7 3 Ga. 4 9 1

, 4 9 3 -9 4 (1 ) (5 4 2

SE2 d 9 1 ) (2 0 0 1 ). 1 2

1 2 Th es e pri n ci p l es h av e b een rei terat ed i n n u m ero us cas es

, i n cl u di n g t h e

fo l l o w i n g : B r a n tl ey v. S ta te

, 2 7 2 Ga. 8 9 2

, 8 9 3 (5 36 SE2 d 50 9 ) (2 0 0 0) (“ H av i n g fai l ed

10To d et erm i n e i f W ard w as t wi ce p u t i n jeo p ard y fo r t h e “ s am e o ffen s es ,” we

ap p ly th e “ req ui red ev i d en ce” o r “ s am e el em e n t s ” t e s t ou t l i n ed i n Bl o ckb u r g er v.

Un i ted St a tes

, 2 8 4 U.S. 2 9 9 (5 2 SCt

. 1 8 0

, 7 6 LEd

. 30 6 ) (1 9 32 ), an d l oo k to wh et h er

ea c h o f f e n s e req u i res p ro o f of an ad d it i on al fact o r el em en t wh ich t h e ot h er d o es

n o t

. 1 3 Th e el em en t s o f th e o ffen s e o f s t al k i n g are s et ou t in OCGA § 1 6 -5 -9 0 : “ A

p ers o n co m

m i t s th e offen s e o f s t al k in g i f h e o r s h e fo l l o ws

, pl aces u n d er su rv ei l l an ce,

o r co n t act s an o t h er pers o n

. . . w i t h o u t t h e co n sen t of t h e o t h er pers o n fo r t h e p u rp o s e

t o p ro v e an el em en t o f t he o ffen s e

. . ., t he St at e can n o t

, i n effect

, ret ry [an accu s ed ]

fo r t h e s am e cri m e an d t h ereb y v i o l at e t h e Do u b l e J eo p ard y C l a u s e o f t h e Un i t ed

St at es Co n st i t u t io n .”) (ci t at i o n an d p u n ct u at io n o m it t ed ); Ma yn a r d v. S t a t e

, 2 9 0 Ga.

Ap p

. 4 0 3

, 4 0 3 (6 5 9 SE2 d 8 3 1 ) (2 0 0 8 ) (“ Th e Do ub l e J eo p ard y Cl au s e fo rb i d s a

s eco n d tri al fo r t h e p u r p o s e o f affo rd i n g t h e p ro secu t i o n an ot h er o p p ort u n i t y to

s u p p l y ev i d en ce wh i ch i t fai l ed t o m u s t er i n t h e fi rs t p ro ceed i n g s .”) (ci t at i o n an d

p u n ct u at i o n o m it t ed .); S t a t e v. La mb er t

, 2 7 6 Ga. Ap p

. 6 6 8

, 6 6 9 (6 2 4 S E2 d 1 7 4 )

(2 0 0 5) (“ It is ax i o m at i c t h at

, am on g o th er th i n g s

, t h e Do ub l e J eo p ard y Cl au s e

p ro t ect s ag ai n s t a s eco n d pro s ec u t i o n fo r t h e s am e o ffen se aft er acq u i t t al .”)

(p u n ct u at i o n an d ci t at i on o m it t ed ); S t a t e v. Heg gs

, 2 52 Ga. A pp

. 8 6 5

, 8 65 (5 5 8 SE2 d

4 1 ) (2 0 0 1 ) (“ Th e p ri m ary p u rp o s e o f t h e Do ub l e J eo p ard y Cl au s e i s t o p ro h i b i t t h e

ret ri al o f a cri m i n al d efen d an t wh ere, at t h e i n i t i al t ri al

, t h e p r o secu t i o n fai l ed to

i n t ro du ce s u ffi ci en t ev i d en ce t o s u s tai n a co n v i ct i o n .”).

1 3 In i t s o rd er d en y i n g W ard ’ s m o t io n fo r n ew t ri al

, t h e t ri al c o u r t s t a t ed t h e

p ro p er t es t b u t th en co n cl u d ed t h e St at e was al l o w ed t o i n t ro d u c e e v i d en ce o f t h e

p ri o r s t al k i n g c h a r g e b ecau s e t h e ch arg e o f ag g rav at ed s t al k i n g co n tai n ed an

ad d it i o n al el em en t

– t h e v i o lat i o n o f a co n d i t i o n o f pre-t ri al rel eas e

– t h at t h e s t al k i n g

ch arg e d i d n ot

, an d o ccu rred at a l at er t i m e p eri o d

. Ho wev er, t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s an al y s i s

was i n co m

p l et e becau s e i t d i d n o t m en t i on o r co ns i d er wh et h er m is d em ean o r s t al k i n g

co n tai n ed an el em en t n o t co n t ai n ed i n ag g rav at ed s tal k i n g

.

11o f haras s in g an d i n t i m i d at in g t h e o t h er p ers o n .” Un d er OCGA § 1 6 -5 -9 1

, “ [a] p ers o n

co m m i t s t h e o ffen se o f ag g rav at ed s t al k i n g wh en s u ch p ers on

, i n v io l at i o n o f [am o n g

o t h er t hi n g s

, a co nd it i o n o f p ret ri al rel eas e]

. . . p l aces u n d er s u rv ei l l an ce, o r co n t act s

an o th er p ers on

. . . wi t h o u t t h e co n s en t o f t h e p ers o n fo r th e p urp o s e of h aras s i n g an d

i n t i m i d at i n g t h e o t h er p ers o n.” Th u s

, OCGA § 1 6 -5 -9 1 track s t h e l an g u ag e of OCGA

§ 1 6 -5 -9 0 ex cep t t h a t OC GA § 1 6 -5 -9 1 h as t h e ad di t i o n al req u i rem en t t h at t h e

co n tact b e i n v i ol at i o n o f a co u rt o rd er. A n d al th o u g h OC GA § 1 6 -5 -9 1 d o es n ot

d efi n e “ h aras s in g a n d i n t i m i d at i n g ,” o ur Su prem e Co urt h as ex p l ai n ed t h at “ t h e

l eg i s lat u re h as m ad e cl ear t h at t h e s i m p l e st al k i n g s t at u te[’ s d efi n i t io n o f t h o s e t erm s

i s ] fo r p urp o s es o f t h e en t i re art i cl e o n s tal k in g i n t h e Geo rg i a Co d e.” (Pu n ct u at i o n

o m it t e d .) S t a t e v. Bu r

ke

, 2 8 7 Ga. 3 7 7

, 3 7 8 (6 9 5 SE2 d 6 4 9 ) (2 0 1 0 ). Th u s, fo r t h e

p u rp os es o f b o t h st al ki n g an d ag g r a v a t e d s t al k i n g

, “ haras s i n g an d i n t i m i d at i n g ” i s

d efi n ed as “ a k n o wi n g an d w i l l fu l co u r s e o f c o n d u ct d i rect ed at a s peci fi c p ers o n

wh i ch cau s es em o t i o n al d i s t res s b y p laci n g s uch p ers o n i n reas o n ab l e fear fo r s u ch

p ers o n ’ s s afet y o r t h e s afet y o f a m em b er o f hi s o r h e r i m m e d i at e fam i l y

, b y

es t a b l i s h in g a p a tt er n o

f h a r a s si n g a n d i n t imi da t i ng b eh a vi o r

, a nd wh i ch s er ves n o

l eg i t i ma t e p ur

po s e .” (Em

ph as i s s u pp l i ed ) OCGA § 1 6 -5 -9 0 (a) (1 ).

12I n B u r k e

, o u r Su p rem e Co u rt m ad e cl ear wh at t h e St at e m u s t p ro v e i n an

ag g rav at ed s t al k i n g cas e:

Bas ed o n t h e p l ai n t erm s o f th e s t al k i ng s t at u t es

, a s i n g l e v i ol at i o n o f a

p ro t ect i v e o rd er, b y i t s el f, d oes n o t am o u n t t o ag g rav at ed s t al k i n g

. T he

co n t act wi t h th e v i ct i m i n v i ol at i on o f t h e p ro t ect i v e o rd er m u s t al s o be

wi t h ou t th e co n s en t o f th e o t h er p ers on fo r t h e p urp o s e o f h aras s i n g an d

i n t i m i d at i n g h im o r h e r

. O C G A § 1 6 -5 -9 1 (a). T h e “ h aras s in g an d

i n t i m i d at i n g ” co n d u c t m

u s t b e es t ab l i s h ed b y

, am o n g o t h er t hi n gs

, “ a

p a t t er n o f h aras s i ng an d i n ti m i d at i n g b eh av i o r.” A s i n gl e v i o l at i o n o f a

p ro t ect i v e o rd er, al o n e, s i m p l y d o es n o t es t ab l i sh “ a p at t ern o f haras s i n g

an d i n t i m id at i n g b eh av i o r.”

(Ci t at i o n s o m i t t ed .) Bu r

ke , 2 87 Ga. at 3 7 9

.

Th u s

, u n d er Geo rg i a’ s s tal k i n g s tat u t es

, i n o rd er to p ro v e ag g rav at ed s t al k i n g,

t h e St at e m

u s t al s o pro ve t h e l es s er i n cl u d ed o ffen s e o f m i s d em ean o r s t al k i n g

. An d

fo r p u rp o s es o f d o u bl e jeo p ard y , a l es s er-i n cl u d ed o ffen s e an d a great er o ffen s e are

t h e s am e o ffen s e u n der th e Fi ft h Am en d m en t an d th e Bl o ckb u r g er t es t becau s e t h e

l es s er cri m e req u i res n o pro of b ey o n d t h at wh ich i s req u i red fo r t h e co n v ict i o n o f t h e

g reat er o ffen se. 1 4

1 4 See Per ki n s o n

, 2 7 3 Ga. at 4 9 3 -9 4 (1 ) (“ Fo r d o u bl e j eo p ard y p u rp o s es

, a

l es s er-i n cl ud ed an d a g reat er o ffen s e are t he ‘ s am e o ffen se’ u n d er t h e Fi ft h

Am en d m en t b ecau s e t h e l es s er o ffen s e req ui res n o p r o o f b ey on d t h at wh i ch i s

req u i red fo r t h e co n vi ct i o n of t h e g reat er o ffen s e.”); P r a t er v. S ta t e

, 2 7 3 Ga. 4 7 7

, 4 8 1

13Al t h ou g h t h e Bl o ckb u r g er t es t fo cu s es o n t h e p ro o f n eces s ary t o es t ab l i s h t h e

s t at u to ry el em en t s o f each o ffen s e, rat h er t han o n t h e act u al ev i d en ce t o be p res en t ed

at t ri al

, we m

u s t al so d et e r m i n e w h e t h er t h e St at e rel i ed o n t h e s am e o ffen s e as a

m at t er o f fact t o p ro v e t he u n d erl y i n g s t al ki n g co u rs e o f co n du ct i n Tri al 2 as i t d id

i n Tri al 1 . Th i s is b ecau s e t he St at e i s p recl u d ed u n d er t he Do u bl e J eo p ard y Cl au s e

“ fro m rel i t i g at in g an y i s s u e t h at was n e c e s s a r i l y d eci d ed b y a ju ry ’ s acq u i t t al i n a

p ri o r t ri al .” Ro es s er

v. S ta t e , 2 9 4 Ga. 2 9 5, 2 9 6-9 7 (7 5 1 SE2 d 2 9 7 ) (2 0 1 3 ).

To d et er m i n e wh at a ju ry has n eces sari l y d eci ded

, a co u rt s h o u l d

ex am i n e t h e reco rd o f a p ri o r pro ceed i n g

, t ak in g i n t o acco u n t th e

p l ead i n g s

, ev i d en ce, ch arg e an d o t h er rel ev an t m at t er, an d co n cl u de

wh et h er a rat i o n a l ju r y co u l d h av e g ro u n d ed i t s v erd i ct u p o n an i s s ue

o t h er t h an t hat w h i ch t h e d efen d an t s eek s t o fo recl os e f r o m

co n s i d erat i o n

.

Id . at 2 9 7

. 1 5

(4 ) (5 4 5 SE2 d 8 64 ) (2 0 0 1 ) (s am e); Ga r r et t

, 3 0 6 Ga. Ap p at 4 3 1 (p ro o f t h at d efen d an t

was g u i l t y o f D UI i s a req u i red el em en t fo r co nv i ct i n g h i m o f s eri ou s i n ju ry by

v eh icl e an d wh il e t h e s eri o u s ch arg es req u i red p ro o f o f an ad d i t i o n al fact

, t h e DUI

ch arg e co n t ai n ed no ad d i t i o n al el em en t an d th u s d efen d an t ’ s s u bs eq u en t i n d i ct m en t

fo r s eri o us i n

ju ry b y v eh i cl e v i o l at ed t he Do u b l e J eo p ard y Cl au s e).

1 5 See al s o Ro b in s on v. S t a t e

, 3 3 4 Ga. A p p

. at 6 51 (d o u b l e jeo p ard y p recl u d ed

s eco n d arm ed ro b b ery t ri al wh en t h e St at e s ou g ht t o u s e t h e s am e part y t o t h e cri m e

t h eo ry ju ry h ad reject ed i n t h e fi rs t t ri al ); S a n d n er v. S ta t e

, 1 9 3 Ga. A pp . 6 2 , 6 3 (1 )

(3 8 7 SE2 d 2 7 ) (1 9 89 ) ( “ I n o r d e r t o s us t ai n a p l ea o f fo rm er jeo p ard y

, i t i s al way s

14Here, a co m p ari s o n o f t h e t ran s cri p t s fo r b o th t r i a l s s h o ws

, wi t h a few

ex cep t i o n s

, t h e S t a t e rel i ed o n al m o s t t h e ex act sam e ev i den ce t o p ro v e W ard ’ s

al l e g ed h aras s i n g an d i n t i m i d at i n g co u rs e of co n du ct at b o th t h e s t al k i n g an d

ag g rav at ed s t al k i n g t ri al s an d t h e b u l k o f t h e ev id en ce p res en t ed at Tri al 2 co n cern ed

ev en ts t hat o ccu rr e d d u ri n g t h e ran g e o f d at es s t at ed i n W ard ’ s fi rs t i n d ict m en t fo r

s t al k in g

. Th u s

, ex cep t fo r t h e a d d i t i o n al ev i d en ce co n cern i n g v io l at i o n o f t h e n o

co n tact ord er an d an en co u n t er wi t h t h e v i ct i m ’ s fam i l y t h at o ccu rred aft er h e was

ar r e s t e d t h e fi rs t t i m e, W ard was p ro s ecu ted t wi ce fo r t h e s am e st al k i n g co n d u ct

–

co n du ct wh i ch t h e ju ry i n Tri al 1 h ad reject ed as in s u ffi ci en t t o p ro v e t he ex act s am e

o ffen s e as t h e St at e was req u i red t o p ro v e i n T ri al 2

, ex cep t t h at t he St at e was ab l e to

i m p ro v e i t s ev i d en ce in s ev eral res p ect s in Tri al 2

. 1 6 Th i s is p re c i s el y t he k i n d o f

i n cu m ben t u p o n t he d efen d an t t o p l ead an d p ro ve t h at t h e t ran s act i o n ch arg ed i n t h e

s eco n d i n d ict m en t o r accu sat io n i s t h e s am e as a ma t ter o f f a ct as t h at ch arg ed i n t h e

f i r s t i n d i ct m en t o r accu s at i o n u n d er wh i ch h e was p u t i n jeo p ard y .”) (ci t at i o n an d

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

1 6 Du ri n g Tri al 2

, t h e h o u s ek eep er t es ti fi ed o n d i rect ex a m i n a t i o n ab o u t h er

s u s p i ci o n s t h at t h e m an s h e s aw o n t h e p rem i s es m ig h t b e W ard a n d t h at s h e g av e

p o l i ce a p h o t o g rap h o f W ard b as ed o n h e r s u s pi ci o n s b u t t h at t es t i m o n y was n ot

el i ci t ed du ri n g Tri al 1 b ecau s e, as t h e p ro s ecu t i n g at t orn ey ex p lai n ed at Tri al 1

, h e d id

n o t b el i ev e t he h o u s ek eep er co u l d i d en t i fy W ard as t h e p ers o n i n t he y ard

. Fu rt h er,

t h e v i ct i m ’ s n ep h ew wh o en co u n t ered W ard i n th e wo o d s o n No v em b er 5

, 2 0 0 7

, wh i ch was t h e in ci d en t t h at u lt i m at el y l ed t o W ard ’ s arres t

, was un av ai l ab l e t o t es t i fy

at Tri al 1 d u e t o a m ed i cal em erg en cy b u t t es t ifi ed at Tri al 2

.

15reh ears al an d h o n i n g o f ev id en c e t h at t h e D o u b l e J eo p ard y Cl au s e i s d es i g n ed to

p rev en t. Ta n ks v. S t a t e

, 29 2 Ga. Ap p

. 17 7

, 1 7 9 (6 63 SE2 d 81 2 ) (2 0 08 ) (p ro s ecu t i o n

f o r ag g rav at ed st al k i ng wh i ch was p red i cat ed o n t h e s am e act as a p ri or co n t em p t

p ro ceed in g was s ub

ject t o d o u b l e jeo p ard y

cl au s e). 1 7

Ci t i n g Da ker v. S t a t e

, 2 4 8 Ga. Ap p

. 6 5 7

, 6 6 0 (5 48 SE2 d 3 54 ) (2 0 0 1 ), t h e St at e

arg u es th at t h e fact t h at t h e s am e ev i d en ce h ad been p res en t ed i n a p rev i o u s s t al k i n g

t ri al d o es n o t p res en t a d o u b l e jeo p ard y i s s u e in a s t al k i n g cas e. As we ex p l ai n ed in

Da ker

,

i t wo u l d b e i m

p o s s i b l e fo r t h e St at e t o pro s ecu t e rep eat o ffen ders o f th e

s t al k i n g s tat u t e, as h av in g o n ce us ed t h e ev i d en ce t o dem o n s t rat e a

co u rs e o f co n d u ct

, t h e St at e wo u l d b e f o r ev er b arred fro m u si ng t hat

ev i d en ce ag ai n i n es t ab l i s h i n g a s u b s eq uen t s t al k i n g v i o l at i on

. As

s t al k i n g i s

, b y i t s v ery n at u re, a cu m u lat i v e cri m e, [t h i s ] i n t erp ret at i o n

o f d o u b l e jeo p ard y wo u l d ev i s cerat e t h e p u rp o se o f t he s t al ki n g s t at u t e,

l eav in g wo ul d-b e s t al k ers free t o b eg i n s t al k i n g t h ei r v i ct i m wi t h a cl ean

s l at e fo l lo wi n g a s t al k i n g co n v i ct io n.

1 7 See al so Ki n n ey v. St a t e

, 2 2 3 Ga. A p p

. 4 1 8, 4 20 (1 ) (4 7 7 SE2 d 84 3 ) (1 9 9 6 )

(p ro s ecu t i o n o f th e d efen d an t fo r ag grav at ed st al k i n g b as ed o n act s as s ert ed i n a p ri o r

t ri al to p ro v e v io l at i o n o f co u rt o rd er wh ere h e was ad ju d i cat ed no t gu i l t y b arred by

d o u b l e jeo p ard y ); s ee al s o Keen er v. S t a te

, 2 38 Ga. 7

, 8 (2 3 0 SE2 d 8 4 6 ) (1 9 7 6 )

(“ [W ] h en cri m es are t o b e p ro s ecu t ed s ep arat el y t h e m o re seri o us cri m es s h o u l d b e

p ro s ecu ted fi rs t t o av oi d t h e co n vi ct i o n o f a l es s er cri m e b arri n g a s u b s eq u en t

p ro s ecu ti o n fo r a m ore s eri ou s cri m e.”).

16Da ker

, 2 4 8 Ga. Ap p

. at 6 6 0

. Ho wev er, Da ker i s d is ti n g u i s h ab l e. Un l i k e t h e p res en t

cas e, D a ker i n v ol ved s ep arat e an d en t i rel y di s t i n ct i n ci d en t s of s t al k i n g th at occu rred

at d ifferen t t i m es

, i n d i fferen t co u n t i es

, an d i n vo l ved d i s ti n ct act i v it i es

. Fu rt h er, an d

p erh ap s m o re i m

p o rt an t l y

, Da ker d id n o t i n v ol v e a n a cq u i tt a l an d t h en t h e

i n t ro du ct i o n o f t h e s am e ev i d en ce p rev i o u s l y f o un d l ack i n g t o p ro v e th e s am e

el em en t s o f t h e s am e cri m e i n a n o t h e r tri al

. Hav i ng fai l ed t o p u t fo rt h su ffi ci en t

ev i d en ce o f t h e l e s s e r i n c l u d ed o ffen s e at T ri al 1

, t h e St at e can n ot t h en u s e t h o s e

s am e fact s to at t em

p t t o p ro v e th e s am e el em en t s as part o f t h e g reat er o ffen s e at Tri al

2 becau s e a ju ry has al read y d e em ed t h os e s am e fact s i n s u ffi ci en t to es tab l i s h t h e

el em en t s o f t h e l es s er o ffen s e. 1 8 Ro es s er

, 29 5 G a. at 2 9 9 (d o ub l e jeo p ard y n eces s ari l y

b arred l at er pro secu t io n fo r vo l u n t ary m an s l au g h t er wh en t h e j u ry h ad n eces s ari l y

d et erm i n ed t h at accu sed act ed i n s el f-d efen s e b y acq u i t t i n g hi m o f earl i er ch arg es o f

m al i ce m u rd er, fel o n y m

u rd er an d ag g rav at ed as s au l t ); R ob i n s o n v. S t a t e

, 3 3 4 Ga.

1 8 It i s im p o rt an t to em

p h as i ze t h at h ad W ard b een co nvi ct ed o f s t al k in g i n Tri al

1

, ev i d en ce o f h i s co n v i ct i o n fo r t h at o ffen s e co u l d h av e b een i n t ro du ced d u ri n g Tri al

2

. Fu rt h er, o u r o p i n i on here d oes n o t ad d res s wh et h er ev i d en ce f r o m T r i al 1 co u ld

h av e b een i nt ro d uced as wh at was at t h at t i m e referred t o as s i m i l ar t ran s act i o n

ev i d en ce b ecau s e t h at i s n o t th e p o s t u re o f t hi s cas e. W e n o te, ho wev er, t h at t h e fact

o f acq u i t tal d o es n o t n eces sari l y fo recl os e t h e i n t ro d u ct i o n o f ev i d en ce u n d er ei t h er

o u r fo rm er s i m i l ar tran s act i on s t at ut e o r u n d er OCGA § 2 4 -4 -4 0 4 (b ). S t a t e v. At ki n s

, 3 0 4 Ga. 4 1 3

, 4 1 8-1 9 (2 ) (b ) (8 19 SE2 d 2 8 ) (2 0 1 8 ).

17Ap p

. at 6 51 -5 2 (t h e ju ry h av i n g n eces s ari l y d et erm i n ed t h at d efen d an t was n ot a p art y

i n t h e fi rs t t ri al

, he co u l d n o t b e ret ri ed u n d er th e s am e t h eo ry in a su b seq u en t t ri al ).

T h e d i s s en t di s ag rees t h at t h ere was a d o u b l e jeo p ard y v i o l at i o n b ecau s e

s ev eral wi t n es s es t es t i fi ed a t T r i a l 2 t h at d i d no t t es t i fy at Tri al 1

, t h e d at e ran g e o f

t h e in d i ct m en t s was d i fferen t

, an d “ t h ere w as ad di t io n al ev i d en ce s h owi n g W ard ’ s

p at t ern o f t h reat en i n g an d h aras s i ng b eh av i o r s i n ce t h e ev en t s ch arg ed i n Tri al 1 was

s h o wn at Tri al 2 .” W e ag ree t h at i f t h e St at e h ad l i m it ed it s p res en t at i on o f t h e

ev i d en ce t o ev en t s s i n ce Tri al 1

, t h e ev i d en ce wo u l d h av e been s u ffi ci en t to s u s t ai n

t h e ag g rav at ed s t al k i n g ch arg e. Bu t t h e St at e ch o s e t o al so p res en t t h e s am e ev i d en ce

fro m Tri al 1

, wi t h s om e en h an cem en t s

, an d th at ev id en ce co n st i tu t ed t h e b u l k o f t h e

ev i d en ce i n Tri al 2

. Th e St at e’ s t h eo ry fo r p res en t in g t h e ev i d en ce fro m Tri al 1 was

t h at t h ey co n s t i t u t ed “ p ri o r d i ffi cu l t i es ” fo r t h e p u rp o s e of i l l u s trat i n g “ t h e s t at e o f

feel in g b et ween th e d efen d an t an d t h e al l eg ed v i ct i m an d t h e b en t o f m i n d an d co u r s e

o f co n d u ct o n part o f t he d efen d an t ,” an d t h at ’ s h o w t h e t ri al co u rt ch arg ed t h e ju ry

.

Th e St at e t h en arg u ed

, an d t h e ju ry was ch arg ed

, t h at t o fi nd ag grav at ed s t al k i n g

, t h ey

h ad t o fi n d t hat W ard co n t act ed t h e v i ct im w i t ho u t h er co n s en t “ f o r t h e p u rp o s e o f

h aras s i n g an d i n t im i d at i n g s u ch o t h er p ers o n ” an d t h at “ h aras si n g an d i nt i m i d at i n g ”

18m ean t “ a k n o wi n g an d wi l l fu l co u r s e o f co nd u ct d i rec t e d a t a s p eci fi c p ers o n ” t h at

cau s es t h em

em ot i o n al d i s t res s

.

It i s

, t h us

, cl ear t h at t he St at e was rel it i g at i ng t h e s tal k i n g ch arg e t h at was

n eces s ari l y d eci d ed ad v ers el y b y t h e ju ry ’ s acq u i t t al an d t h at u nd er t h e St at e’ s t h eo ry

o f th e cas e, as s u p p o rt ed b y t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s i n s t ru ct i o n s

, t he ju ry i n Tri al 2 w as u rg ed

t o fi nd th at t h e “ pri or d i ffi cu l t i es ” ev i d en ce p ro v ed t h e “ h aras s in g an d i nt i m i d at i n g ”

co u rs e o f co n d u ct req u i red fo r t h e ag g rav at ed s t al k i ng ch arg e. Th at th e St at e can n ot

d o wi t h o u t ru n n i n g afo u l o f t h e Do u b l e J eo p ard y cl au s e. Acco rd i ng l y

, W ard ’ s

co n vi ct i o n m

u s t b e rev ers ed

.

3

. Bas ed o n t he fo reg o i n g

, i t i s u n n eces s ary fo r us t o co ns i d er W ard ’ s

rem ai n i n g en um erat i o n s o f erro r as h e can no t b e ret ri ed

.

Ju d g men t r ever sed . McFa d

d en , C. J.,co n cu r

s a n d Go s s , J., d i ss en t

s .*

* THI S O P IN IO N IS PHYSI CAL PRECEDENT ONLY. SEE COURT OF

APPEALS RULE 3 3 .2 (a ).

19A1 9 A0 67 1 . W A RD v . THE STATE.

G O S S , J u d g e, d i ss en t i n g

.

I d is s en t b ecau s e I d i s ag ree th at t h e v erd i ct i n t h e 2 0 0 7 i n di ct m en t cas e (“ Tri al

1 ”) b arred t h e t ri al co n vi ct i o n fo r ag g ra v a t e d st al k i n g i n t h e 2 0 0 8 i n di ct m en t cas e

(“ Tri al 2 ”) b as ed o n t h e p ri n ci p l es o f d o ub l e jeo p ard y an d OCGA § § 1 6 -1

- 7 (b ) an d

1 6 -1 -8 (b ) (1 ). Th es e cas es

, wh i l e i n t ert wi n ed fro m th e s t an d p o i n t o f t h e p art i es an d

t h ei r rel at i o ns hi p h i s t o ry

, i n vo l v e s ep arat e act s o ccu rri n g o n d i fferen t d at es wi th

ad d it i o n al ev i d en ce an d wi tn es s es p res en t ed i n Tri al 2 t h at were n o t p art of Tri al 1

.

Th e el ev en -co u nt 2 0 0 7 i n d i ct m en t fo r Tri al 1 al l eg ed ev en t s o ccu rri n g be tw een

Sep tem b er 1

, 2 0 07

, an d t h e d at e o f W ard ’ s arres t o n No v em ber 5

, 2 0 0 7

. Th e en d d at e

o f t h e al leg at i on s i n t h e 20 0 7 i n d i ct m e n t a n d Tri al 1 co i n ci ded wi t h W ard b ei n g

d et ai ned at g un point by t he v i ct im ’ s ad u l t n ep h ew, To n y Lu cas

, u nt i l l aw en fo rcem en t

arri v ed i n res p o n s e t o h i s 9 1 1 cal l

. At Tri al 2 , Lu cas tes t ifi ed 1 t h at h e fo u n d W ard ’ s

car p ark ed o u t o f pl ace n ear h i s au n t ’ s ho m e. H e bl o ck ed W ard ’ s car wi t h h i s o wn

car, cal l ed 9 11

, an d t h en s aw W ard

, d res s ed i n f ul l cam o u fl ag e, ex it i n g t h e wo od s

1 Al t h o u g h L u cas t es t i fi ed at Tri al 2

, h e w as u n av ai l ab l e t o t es ti fy d u ri n g Tri al

1 fo r m ed i cal reas o ns

.n ear th e v i ct im ’ s h o m e d es p i t e h av i n g been to l d n o t to ret u rn

. 2 W ard was carry i n g a

b o o k b ag o v er h i s sh o u ld er. On ce l aw en fo rcem en t arri v ed

, they d i s co v ered t hat W ard

was i n po s ses s i o n o f p ry b ars

. Al t h o ug h W ard was acq u i t ted i n Tri al 1 o f t en co u n t s

s p an ni n g ev en t s b e t w e en Sep t em b er 1

, 2 0 0 7, an d No v em ber 5

, 20 0 7

, h e was

co n vi ct ed o f Co un t 9, p o s s es s io n o f t o o l s fo r t h e co m m i s si on of a cri m e (OCGA § 1 6

-

7 -2 0 ). Co u n t 9 o f t h e 2 00 7 in d i ct m en t ch arg ed W ard wi t h hav i n g p ry b ars i n h i s

p o s s es s i o n “ wi t h t h e i n ten t t o m ak e u s e t h ereo f i n t he co m m i s s i o n o f s ai d cri m e by

p ry i ng o p en a res i d en ce o f [t h e v i ct i m ] ” o n No v em ber 5, 20 0 7. O n Au g u s t 1 3

, 2 0 0 9,

W ard was s en t en ced to fi v e y ears o n p ro b at i o n wi t h co n d it i on s

. W ard d id n ot ap p eal

t h e v erd i ct

.

Th e 2 0 0 8 i n d i ct m en t an d Tri al 2 were fo r an ag grav at ed s t al k in g ch arg e ari s i n g

fro m an ev en t th at to ok p l ace aft er t he No v em b er 5

, 2 0 0 7 arres t d at e i n T ri al 1

. Aft er

W ard ’ s arres t on N o v e m

b e r 5

, 2 0 0 7

, t h e m ag i s t rat e ju d g e fi l ed a b on d o rd er wh i ch

co n tai n ed s p eci fi c, wri t ten co nd i t i on s req u i ri n g W ar d t o “ [ h ] av e n o co n t act o f a

h aras s i n g

, i n t i m i d at i n g

, t h reat en i n g

, p ro v o k in g o r v i o l en t nat u re, n o r o f an y s o rt wi th

t h e v i ct im

, wi t h th i rd p art i es reg ard i n g v i ct i m or an y m em b er o f v i ct im ’ s h o u s eh o l d,

2 Th i s i n cl u ded b ei n g t o l d b y t h e v i ct i m v erb al l y an d i n wri ti n g

, b y h er l awy er

an d b y l o cal l aw en fo rcem en t

.

2o r fam il y

, o r wi t h an y wi t n es s es i n t h i s cas e.” At Tri al 2

, t h e m ag i s t rat e ju d g e

t es t i fi ed 3 t hat w h en h e en t ered t h e b o n d o rd e r w i t h t he n o -co n t act p ro vi s i o n s o n

No v em b er 6

, 2 0 07

, h e d i d s o i n co u rt i n t h e p res en ce of W ard

. T he m ag i s trat e ju d g e

t es t i fi ed th at h e ex p l ai n ed t h e o rd er t o W ard

, t h at h e h an d ed W ard a wri t ten co p y o f

t h e ord er, an d t h at W ard s i g n ed t h e o rd er i n ack no wl ed g m en t

. Ad d i t i o n al l y

, t h e

m ag i s t rat e ju d g e s ch ed u l ed a b o n d co nd i t i o n s rev i ew heari n g

, wh ich was h el d o n

No v em b er 9 , 2 0 0 7

.

Aft e r co n ferri n g wi t h t he Di s t ri ct At t o rn ey ’ s Vi ct im ’ s Ad v o cat e Offi ce, t h e

v i ct i m el ect ed n o t to go i n t o t h e co u rt ro o m fo r t h e No v em b e r 9

, 2 0 0 7

, h eari n g.

Ho wev er, Mi ch el e Di ck en s

, t h e D i s t ri ct At t o rn ey ’ s Vi ct im ’ s Ad v o cat e, t es t i fi ed at

Tri al 2 4 th at s h e at t en d ed t h e h eari n g al on g wi t h t h e v ict i m s ’ fam i ly m em b ers

.

Di ck en s t es t i fi ed t h at

, aft er t h e b o n d h eari n g

, W ard fo l l owed t h e v i ct i m ’ s fam i l y o ut

o f t h e co u rt ro o m t h r o u g h t h e co u rt ho u s e, t ry i n g t o t al k to th em

, wh i ch u p s et t h e

fam i l y m em

b ers

. Di ck en s had to t el l W ard t h at he n eed ed t o l eav e. Th e pro v i s i o n s in

t h e n o -co n t act b on d o rd er ap p l i ed t o t h e v i ct im ’ s fam i l y m em b ers as wel l

.

3 Th e m ag i s t rat e ju d g e d i d n o t t es t i fy i n Tri al 1

.

4 Di ck en s d i d n o t t es ti fy

at Tri al 1

.

3Th e cen t ral ev en t g i v i n g ri s e t o t h e 2 0 08 ag g rav at ed s t al k i n g in d ict m en t t ri ed

i n Tri al 2 was W ard ’ s act of s h i p p i n g t he b o o k Red eemi n g Lo ve t o t h e v i c t i m v i a

o n l i n e p urch as e recei v ed o n Decem b er 3

, 2 0 0 7

. Th i s w a s i n v i o l at io n o f t h e n o

co n tact pro v i s i o n s of h i s bo n d o rd er en t ered n earl y a m o nt h earl i er. Fu rt h er, t h e r e

was ad d i t i o n al ev id en ce s h owi n g W ard ’ s pat t ern o f th reat en i ng an d haras s i n g

b eh av i o r s i n ce t he ev en t s ch arg ed i n Tri al 1 was s h own at Tri al 2. Di ck en s

, Lu cas an d

t h e m a g i s t rat e ju d g e t es ti fi ed at Tri al 2

, bu t d i d n o t tes t ify at Tri al 1. Ad di t i o n al l y,

To n y Sel f, an i nm at e at t h e co u n t y jai l

, t es t ifi ed o n l y at Tri al 2

. He t es t i fi ed t h at W ard

o ffered h i m

m o n ey t o fab ri cat e t es t i m o ny ag ai n s t t h e v i ct i m

.

Un l i ke t h e fact p at t ern i n S t a t e v. Bu rke

, 2 8 7 Ga. 3 7 7 (6 95 SE2 d 6 4 9 ) (2 0 1 0 ),

t h e ev i d en ce of W ard ’ s v i ol at i o n o f t h e n o -co n t act b o n d o rd er o n Decem b er 3

, 2 0 0 7,

was n o t a s i n g le ev en t

. Al t h o u g h t h e ju ry i n Tri al 1 acq u i t t e d W a r d o f s t al k i n g fo r

ev en ts o ccu rri n g b et ween th e d at es o f Sep t em b er 1

, 2 0 0 7, an d No v em

ber 5, 2 0 0 7

, t h e

ju ry in T ri al 1 d i d co nv i ct W ard o f b ei n g i n p o s s es s i o n o f t oo l s fo r t h e co m m i s s i o n

o f a cri m e, n o t ab l y pry b ars

, wi t h t h e i n t en t t o gai n en t ry i n t o t he v i ct i m ’ s h o u s e. Th i s

was ev i d en ce, al o n g w it h t h e t es t i m o n y o f t h e m ag is t rat e j u d ge, Di ck en s

, Lu cas an d

Sel f, t h at was p res en ted d uri ng Tri al 2 , b ut n o t d u ri ng Tri al 1

, th at al l owed t h e ju ry

t o ret urn a g u i l ty v erd i ct fo r th e a g g r a v a t e d s t al k i ng o ccu rri n g a m o n th aft er t h e

4ev en ts ou t l i n ed i n t h e 2 0 0 7 i n d i ct m en t an d Tri al 1. Th e ju ry i n Tri al 2 was p res en t ed

ev i d en ce fro m wh i ch it co u l d fi nd t h e “ h aras s i ng an d i n t im id at in g ” beh av i or req u i red

b y OCGA § 1 6 -5 -9 1 (a) t h at co n s i s t ed o f m ore th an t he s i n gl e ev en t o f s h i p p i n g t h e

b o o k recei v ed o n Decem b er 3 , 2 0 0 7

.

Si m i l arl y t o Da ker v. S t a t e

, 2 4 8 Ga. Ap p

. 6 5 7 (5 4 8 SE2 d 3 5 4 ) (2 0 0 1 ), t h e

ag g rav at ed st al k i n g ch arg e of t h e 20 0 8 i n d ict m en t an d Tri al 2 was b as ed o n a

d i fferen t ev en t o ccu rri n g at a d i fferen t t i m e fro m t h e e v e n t s o u t l i n ed i n t h e 2 0 0 7

i n d i ct m en t an d Tri al 1

. As n o ted i n Da ker

, “ [i ] f we were t o accep t [W ard ’ s ] arg u m en t

,

t h en i t wo u l d b e i m

po s s i b l e fo r t h e St at e t o p ro s ecu t e rep eat o ffen d ers o f t h e s t al k i n g

s t at u te as

, h av i n g o n ce u s e d t h e ev i d en ce t o d em o n s t rat e a co u rs e o f co n d u ct

, t h e

St at e wo u l d b e fo rev er b arred fro m us i n g t hat ev i d en ce ag ai n i n es t ab l i s h i n g a

s u b s e q u e n t s t a l k i ng v i o l at i o n

. . . . [S] tal k i n g i s, b y i t s v ery n at u re, a cu m u l at i v e

cri m e[.] ” Id

. at 6 6 0 (2 ). Here, th e 2 0 0 8 i n d i ct m en t an d Tri al 2

, wh i l e l i n k i n g b ack to

ev i d en ce o f t h e s eq u en ce o f ev en t s l ead i n g u p t o W ard ’ s No v em b er 5

, 2 0 0 7

, arres t

,

fo cu s ed o n h i s act i o n s s u b s eq u en t t o b ei n g rel eas ed o n a n o-co n t act b o n d o rd er o n

No v em b er 6

, 2 0 0 7

. Becau s e t h ere i s n o vi o l a t i o n o f d o u b l e jeo p ard y pri n ci p l es

, I

d i s s en t

.

5