SECOND DI VI SI ON

BA RNES, P. J.

, BOGGS and RI CKM 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

A u gust 3, 2016



# I n th e Co u r t o f

A p p eals o f

G eo r g ia

A1 6 A0 90 7 . CHISM v . THE STATE.

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

Dean d re Ch i s m p lead g u i l t y t o arm ed ro b b ery

, k i d n ap p i n g

, an d o th er o ffen s es

i n 2 0 0 5, an d was s e n t en ced t o l i fe p l u s ten y ears

. Aft er rep eat ed u n s u cces s fu l

at t em p t s t o o b t ai n a co p y o f h i s p l ea t ran s cri pt an d o th er d o cu m en t s

, in 2 01 5 Ch i s m

fi led a p ro s e m o t i o n fo r an o u t -o f-t i m e ap p eal

. T he t ri al co urt d en i ed t h e m o t i o n

, an d

fo r t h e reas o n s t h at fo l lo w, we affi rm

.

In h i s m o ti o n fo r an o u t -o f-t i m e ap p eal , Ch is m arg u ed t h at o n N o v em

b er 1 1,

2 0 0 5

, t h ree d ay s aft er h e p l ed g ui l t y an d was s en t en ced

, h e as ked h i s co u rt -ap p o i n t ed

l awy er t o fi l e ei t h er a m o t i o n t o wi t h d raw h i s p l ea o r an ap p e a l

. A t t a c h e d t o h i s

m o ti o n i s a let ter fro m Ch i s m ’ s ap p o i n t ed t ri al co u ns el t o t h e co u n ty p u b l i c

d efen d er’ s o ffi ce rel ay i n g Ch i sm ’ s req u es t s

, a n d n ot i n g t h at co u n s el h ad t ak en n o

act i on

. In J u l y 2 00 6

, Ch i s m m ad e h i s fi rs t req u es t t o t he cl erk o f co u rt fo r a co p y o f

h i s pl ea t ran s cri p t an d o t h e r d o c u m en t s p ert ai ni n g to h i s cas e, t o wh i ch t h e cl erkres p o n d ed b y s ay i n g a rep res en t at i v e co u l d co m e to t h e co u rt an d m ak e co p ies o f t h e

reco rd fo r 2 5 cen t s per p ag e. Al t ern at i v el y , i f Ch i s m req u es t ed s p eci fi c d o cu m en t s

,

t h e cl erk co u ld p rep are a b i l l of co s t s to b e p ai d b efo re co p i es wo u l d b e m ad e an d

t ran s m i t t ed t o h i m

, o r h e co u l d s eek a co p y o f h i s fi le fro m h i s l awy er. Th e cl erk al s o

d i rect ed Ch i s m t o co n t act t h e co u rt rep o rt er t o o b t ai n a co py o f t h e h eari n g t ran s cri p t

.

In Au g u s t 2 00 6

, Ch i s m s en t a req u es t fo r a co p y of h i s fi l e an d t h e pl ea h eari n g

u n d e r t h e Op en Reco rd s Act

, an d o n t h e req u es t is w ri t t en : “ M ot i on d en i e d

.

Defen d an t was rep res en ted b y co u n s el w h o m ay hav e p re-t ri al do cu m en t s

. . . . [T] h e

co u rt rep o rt er wi l l s up p l y th e p l ea t ran s cri pt u p o n req ues t an d rem un erat i o n

. No

ap p eal h as b een fi l ed

, an d t i m e fo r ap p eal h as e xp i red

. Th i s 1 6 Au g u s t 2 0 0 6.

[Si g n at u re,] J u d g e.”

Ch i s m f i l e d a d d i t i o n al req ues t s fo r a co p y o f th e reco rd an d t he p lea h eari n g

t ran s cri p t

, i n cl ud i n g p au p er’ s affi d av i t s

, i n Sep t em b er 2 00 6 an d i n M ay 2 00 7

. Th e

t ri al co u rt cl erk res p o nd ed t o t h e M a y 2 0 0 7 req u es t as s h e d i d to t h e J u l y 2 0 0 6

req u es t

. In M arch 2 0 0 8

, Ch i s m fi l ed a “ Pet i t i o n –

Ap p l i cat i o n fo r Cas e Reco rd an d

Tran s cri p t s o f Pro ceed in g s ” an d a “ Req u es t t o Pro ceed i n Fo rm a Pau p eri s ,”

ex p lai n i n g t h at h e s o u g h t t he reco rd s becau s e he wan t ed t o fi le h a b e as co rp u s

p et i t i o n s an d co u l d n o t m ak e th e n eed ed p ri m a faci e s h o wi n g wi t h o u t t hem

. Th e t ri al

2co u rt wro t e “ Den i ed

, th i s 2 7 M arch 2 0 0 8 ” on t h e p et i t i on

, an d o n Ap ri l 1 0

, 2 0 0 8,

Ch i sm fi l ed a n o t ice o f ap peal fro m t h at d en i al

. Th e t ri al co u rt cl erk s en t Ch i s m a b i l l

o f co st s fo r $ 2 5 4 o n Ap ri l 2 5, 2 00 8

, an d t h e t ri al co u rt d i s m i s s ed t h e ap p eal i n Au g u s t

2 0 0 8 b ecau s e Ch i s m h ad n o t p ai d t h e co s t s

.

Ch i s m co n t i n u ed try i ng to o b t ai n a co p y o f t h e reco rd an d p l ea t ran s cri p t i n t h i s

cas e, fi l i n g p l ead i n gs i n No v em b er 2 0 0 8

, J an u ary 2 0 0 9

, Sep t em b er 2 0 0 9, M ay 2 0 1 0,

an d Ap ri l 2 0 13 Th e t ri al co u rt i s s u ed n u m ero u s o rd ers i n res p o n s e, n ot i n g i n i t s o rd er

o f No v em b er 2 0 13 t h at i t h ad al read y d en i ed Ch is m ’ s req u es t fi v e t i m es

. Fi n al l y

, in

Feb ru ary 2 0 1 5

, Ch i s m fi l ed a m o ti o n fo r an o ut -o f-t i m e ap peal

, arg u i n g t h at n ei t h er

t h e t ri al co u rt n or h is t ri al co u n s e l t o l d h i m h e co u l d ap p eal

, t h at he t o l d h i s t ri al

co u ns el h e wan t ed t o ap p eal o r m o v e t o wi t h d raw hi s p l ea, an d th at h i s t ri al co u n s el

was i n effect i ve i n t en s p eci fi c areas

. He al s o arg u ed t h at h i s k i d n ap p i ng co n v i ct i o n

co u ld no t b e s u s tai n ed b ecau s e t h e el em en t o f as p o rt at i on wa s ab s en t

, p er Ga r z a v.

S t a t e , 2 8 4 Ga. 6 96 (2 0 0 8 ).

Th e t ri al co urt d en i ed Ch i s m ’ s m o t i on b ecau s e fi rs t

, Ga r za was d eci d ed m o re

t h an th ree y ears aft er Ch i s m ’ s p l ea an d h e h ad n o d i rect ap p eal p en di n g, an d t h erefo re

t h e req u i rem en t t h at t h e St at e s h o w m o re t h an “ s l i gh t m o v em en t ” t o es t ab l i s h t h e

es s en t i al el em en t o f as p o rt at io n i n a k i d na p p i n g c harg e d i d no t ap p l y

. Fu rt h er, t h e

3fact s p ro ffered b y t h e St at e at Ch i s m ’ s p lea w ere t h a t C h i s m hel d a s h ot g un t o t h e

h e a d o f hi s tax i d ri v er v i ct i m an d fo rced h i m t o d ri v e i n t o a d es ert ed area b efo r e

ro b b in g h i m

, wh i ch s at is fi ed ev en t h e m ore s t ri n g en t req u irem en t s o f Ga r z a

. Seco n d,

t h e t ri al co u rt d en i ed Ch i s m ’ s m o t i o n b ecau s e h i s cl ai m s o f i n effect i v e as s i s t an ce

co u ld n ot b e res o l v ed b y rev i ewi n g t h e cu rren t reco rd an d t ran s cri pt ; t h u s, if h e were

g ran t ed a d i rect ap p eal

, “ t h ere wo u l d b e n o reco rd u p o n wh i ch t o b a s e t h e v ari ou s

cl ai m s o f i n effect i v e as s i s t an ce wh i ch h e i s n ow s eek i n g t o rai s e.”

Ch i s m fi l ed a no t i ce o f ap p eal i n M arch 2 0 1 5, an d t h e cl erk s en t h i m a b i l l o f

co s t s

. Ch i s m fi l ed a req u es t t o p ro ceed as a p au per i n Sep t em b er 20 1 5, an d s h o rt l y

aft er t h at h e fi l ed a s eco n d m o t i o n fo r an o u t

- o f

- t i m e a p p eal

. In an o rd er is s u ed in

Decem b er 20 1 5

, th e tri al co u rt n o t ed t h at i t co u ld req u i re t h e St at e t o pro d u ce Ch i s m

fo r a heari n g t o co n s i d er wh et h er t h e ap p eal s h o u l d b e d i s m i s s e d f o r fai l ure t o p ay

co s t s o r fi l e a t i m el y aff

i d av i t o f i n d i g en cy

, b u t t h e co u rt wo ul d s ti l l b e req u i red to

ad d res s Ch i s m ’ s req u es t t o p ro ceed i n fo rm a p au peri s

. Th e co u rt co n t i n ued

,

Th e s t at e’ s t ri al ju dg es face a dai l y s t ru g g l e t o fi n d b a l a n c e b e t w een

fai l v l y ad dres s in g the volum inous f il i n g s by p ri s on i n m at es an d en su ri n g

t h o s e wi t h arg u ab l e m eri t are ad d res s ed i n a t im el y fas h i on to en s ure t hat

co l o rab l e c l a i m s are effi ci en t l y heard

. Th i s cas e i s b u t o ne s m al l

ex am p l e o f t h at i s s u e. T h i s co u rt fi n ds t h e b es t co u rs e i n t hi s cas e i s t o

fi nd t h e d efen d an t t o b e i n d i g en t b as ed u p o n h i s m o s t recen t fi l i n g an d

4d i rect s t h e Cl erk t o s ub m i t t h e reco rd fro m t h e No t i ce o f Ap p eal t o th e

Co u rt o f Ap p eal s

.

Th i s ap p eal was t hen d o ck et ed i n t h i s co u rt o n Feb ru ary 4

, 2 01 6

. Th e reco rd

i n cl u d es t h e i n d ict m en t

, n u m ero u s p re-t ri al m o t i o n s fi l ed b y Ch i s m ’ s t ri al co u n s el

,

i n cl u d i n g a m o t i o n t o s u p pres s Ch i s m ’ s cu s t o d i al st at em en ts an d a m o t i on an d o rd er

g ran t i n g fu n d s fo r a m en t al h eal t h ev al uat i o n o f Ch is m

, v o lu m i n ou s d i s co v ery fro m

t h e St at e, t h e p l ea h eari n g t ran scri p t, an d al l o f Ch i s m ’ s p o s t -co n vi ct i o n fi l i n g s an d

t h e t ri al co urt ’ s res po n s es t h eret o

.

W e fi n d n o erro r i n t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s deci s io n to d en y Ch i s m ’ s m o t i o n f o r an

o u t -o f-t i m e di rect ap p eal fro m t h e ju d g m en t an d s en t en ce en t ered o n hi s g u i l t y p l ea,

b ecau s e h i s i n effect i v e as s i s t an ce cl ai m s can no t b e res o l v ed fav o rab l y b as ed o n t h e

c u rren t reco rd

. W h i l e a d efen dan t h as an ab s o l ut e ri g h t t o a d i rect ap p eal f r o m a

co n vi ct i o n an d s en t en ce en t ered aft er a ju ry o r b en ch t ri al

, a d efen dan t wh o en t ers a

p l ea o f g u i l t y h as n o ri g h t to a d i rect ap p eal

. S mi t h v. S t a t e

, 2 6 6 G a. 6 8 7

, 6 8 7 (4 7 0

SE2 d 4 3 6) (1 9 9 6). In s tead

,

[a] d i rect ap p eal fro m a ju d g m en t o f co n v ict i o n an d s en t en ce en t ered o n

a g u i l t y p l ea i s o n l y

av ai l ab l e i f t h e i s s ue o n ap p eal can b e res o l v ed b y

referen ce t o fact s o n t h e reco rd

. Th e ab il i ty t o d eci d e t h e ap p eal b as ed

o n t h e ex is t i n g reco rd th u s b eco m es t h e d eci d i n g fact o r i n d et erm i n i n g

5t h e av ai l ab il i t y o f an o u t-o f-t i m e ap p eal wh en t h e defen d an t h as p led

g u i l ty

. Is s u es reg a r d i n g t h e effect i v en es s o f co un s el are n o t reach ed

u n l es s t h e req u i rem en t t h at t h e ap peal b e res o l v ed by referen ce t o fact s

o n t h e reco rd i s m et

.

Gr a nt h a m v. S t a t e , 2 6 7 Ga. 6 3 5 , 6 3 5 (4 8 1 SE2 d 2 1 9 ) (1 9 9 7 ).

Here, Ch i s m arg u ed i n t h e t ri al co u rt t hat h i s tri al co u ns el was i n effect i v e fo r

al l o wi n g h im t o en t er a n on -n eg o t i at ed pl ea d es p i t e h i s m en t al i l l n es s an d l i m i t at i o n s

,

fo r f ai l in g t o req u es t a m en t al co m pet en cy h eari n g

, fo r fai l i n g t o p res en t ev i d en ce

ab o ut Ch i s m ’ s h i s t ory o f m en t al e v a l u a t i on s

, fo r m i s rep res en t i n g Ch i s m ’ s ju v en i l e

o ffen d er i n fo rm at i o n du ri n g t h e p l e a heari ng

, fo r fai li n g t o p res en t ev i d en ce o f

Ch i sm ’ s m en t al h eal t h st at u s as a m i t i g at i n g fact o r i n s en ten ci n g

, fo r fai l i ng t o req u es t

a p l e a o f g u i l t y b u t m en t al ly i ll

, an d o t h er cl ai m s rel at ed t o t h e b li n d p l ea. “ Th e s e

i s su es can no t b e res o l v ed b y referen ce to t h e fact s c o n t a i n ed in t h e reco rd

, an d

i n s t ead

, can b e d ev el o p ed on l y i n th e co n t ex t o f a p os t -p l ea h eari n g

. Th erefo re, a

m o ti o n fo r an o u t -o f-t i m e ap p eal i s n ot av ai l ab l e to [Ch i sm ] o n t h es e is s u es

, an d

i n s t ea d

, h e m

u s t pu rs u e co u n s el ’ s al l eg ed i n effect iv en es s i n an act i o n fo r h ab eas

co rp u s .” W

et h er i n g t o n v. S t a t e , 2 9 6 Ga. 4 51 , 4 55 (7 6 9 SE2 d 5 3 ) (2 0 1 5).

Ju d g men t a f f i r m ed . Bo g

g s a n d Ri ckma n , JJ., co ncu r

.

6