THI RD DI VI SI ON

DI L LA RD, P. J.

, GOBEI L and HODGES, 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

Septem b er 9, 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 99 0 . M ILLER v . THE STATE.

D I LLA R D , Pres i d i n g J u d g e.

Fo l l owi n g tri al

, a ju ry co n v i ct ed Haro l d M i l l er of o n e co un t of t heft b y t ak i n g,

fo u r co u nt s o f ag g rav at ed as s au l t

, o n e co u nt o f a g g r a v at ed bat t ery

, on e co u n t o f

reck l es s co n d u ct

, t wo co u n t s o f o b s t ru ct i o n o f a law-en fo rcem en t o ffi cer, on e co u nt

o f fl eei ng fro m a l aw-en fo rcem en t o ffi cer, an d o n e co u n t o f t h eft b y recei v i n g

. On

ap p eal

, M i l l er ch al len g es t h e s u ffi ci e n c y o f t h e ev i d en ce as t o sev eral o f h i s

co n vi ct i o n s an d fu rt her co n t en d s t h at t h e t ri al co urt erred in den y i n g h i s cl ai m s o f

i n effect i v e as s is t an ce o f co u n s el . Fo r t he reas o n s s et fo rt h i n f r a , we affi rm

.

Vi ewed i n t h e li g h t m o s t fav o rab le t o t h e ju ry ’ s v erd i ct

, 1 t h e ev i d en ce s h o ws

t h at on O ct o ber 3, 2 01 4

, Au d rel i a Harri s a n d h er m o t h er d ro v e t o a rep o s s es s i o n

1 S ee, e.g

. , Po wel l

v. S t a te , 3 1 0 Ga. Ap p . 1 4 4 , 1 4 4 (7 1 2 SE2 d 1 3 9 ) (2 0 1 1 ).i m

p o u n d l o t i n Fo res t Park t o recl ai m h er v eh icl e, wh i ch had b een t ak en t h ere. Aft er

Harri s p ai d t h e fee, an em p l o y ee ret r i e v ed h er v eh i cl e fro m i n s i d e t h e fen ced -i n l ot

an d p ark ed i t

—wi t h t h e en g i ne st i l l ru nn i ng

— n ex t t o h er m ot h er’ s v eh i cl e ju s t

o u t s i d e t h e g at e. An d w hi l e Harri s co n t i n u ed s peak i n g t o o n e o f t h e i m p o u n d l o t ’ s

em pl o y ees at a k i o s k n ear t h e g at e, h er m o t h er n o t i ced a m an

— lat er i d en t i fi ed as

M i l ler— wal k i n g o n t h e s i d e o f t h e ro ad to ward wh ere s h e was p ark ed

. Th en

, u p o n

reach i n g Harri s ’ s st i ll -ru n n i n g v eh icl e, Mi ll er ju m ped i n to th e d ri v er’ s s eat an d s p ed

away wh i l e t h e m o t h e r y el l ed an d h o nk ed t h e h o rn to al ert h er d au g h ter an d t h e

i m p o u n d em p l o y ee o f wh at was t ran s p i ri n g

. Im m ed i at el y

, t h e o wn er of t h e i m p o u n d

l o t an d o n e o f h i s em

p lo y ees ju m

p ed i n t o t h e o wn er’ s t o w t ru ck an d g av e ch as e.

W i t h i n a few m i n u t es

, th e t wo p u rs u ers no t i ced t h at M i l ler h ad s t o p p ed at a red

l i gh t

, at wh i ch po i n t

, t he o wn er b l o ck ed M i ll er’ s p at h wi t h t h e t o w t ru ck

. Th e

em pl o y ee t h en ex i t ed t he t ru ck an d ran t o t h e d ri v er’ s s i d e wi nd o w o f Harri s ’ s v eh i cl e

t o co n fro nt M i l l er. Bu t M i l l er i m m ed i at el y t h rew t h e veh i cl e i n t o rev ers e, fo rci n g t h e

em pl o y ee t o ju m

p o nt o t h e h o o d t o av o i d bei n g h i t

. M i l l e r t h e n d ro v e fo rward

,

s werv ed b ack an d fo r t h i n o rd er t o t hro w t h e em p l o y ee o ff t h e h o od (wh i ch h e

q u i ck l y s ucceed ed i n d o i n g ), an d t h en s p ed away

. Su b s eq u en t l y

, t h e o wn er d ro v e h i s

em pl o y ee to a n earb y fi re s t at i o n

, wh ere em erg en cy m ed i cal tech n i ci an s b eg an

2t reat i n g hi m fo r i n ju ri es t o h i s el b o w, k n ees

, an d b ack

. An d w h i l e t here, t h e i m p o u n d

l o t o w n er co n t act ed p ol ice an d o n e o f h i s o t h e r e m p l o y ees

, wh o h e t h en had u s e a

co m p u t er p ro g ram t o t rack H a r r i s ’ s v eh icl e v i a a p rev i o u s l y i n s tal l ed GPS t rack er.

W i th t h is as s i s t an ce, p o l i ce o ffi cers t rack ed t h e v eh i cl e t o a m o t el o n Tara Bo u l ev ard

,

wh ere M i l l er h ad ap p aren t l y ab an d o n ed i t

.

Sh o rt l y t h ereaft er, bas ed o n s u rv ei ll an ce p h o to s fro m s ecu ri t y cam eras at t h e

i m p o u n d l o t an d m o t el

, as wel l as i n t erv i ews wi th a few wo m en wh o h ad b een s t ay i n g

at an o t h er m o t el freq u en ted b y t h e m an ul t im at el y i d en ti fi ed as M i l l er, a d et ect i v e

wi t h t h e Fo res t Park Po l i ce De p a r t m en t d et erm i n ed t h at t h e s us p ect i n t h e t h eft o f

H a r r i s ’ s v eh i cl e w en t b y t h e st reet n i ck n am e o f “ Bu l l ” an d was p o s s i b l y n a m e d

Haro l d Tu rn er. Co n s eq u en t l y

, t h e d et ect i v e o b t ai n ed an arres t warran t fo r Haro ld

Tu rn er an d p as s ed t h e in fo rm at i o n

, i n cl u d i n g a p h y s ical des cri p t i on

, o n t o t h e Cl ay t o n

Co u n t y Sh eri ff’ s Offi ce.

On O c t o b er 1 0

, 2 0 14

, o ne week aft er t h e t h eft o f Harri s ’ s v eh i cl e, a Cl ay t o n

Co u n t y sh eri ff’ s d ep u t y recei ved i n fo rm at i o n fro m a co n fi d en t i al in fo rm an t t h at Bu l l

was at an ab an d on ed h o u se o n Tara Ro ad

. So

, at aro u n d 8 :3 0 p

. m

. t h at ev en i n g

, fo u r

u n i fo rm ed d ep u t i es

— d ri v i ng i n t wo s ep arat e m ark ed veh i cl es

— wen t t o t h e h o u s e,

i n t en d i n g t o m ak e an arres t

. A p p r o ach i n g fro m t wo d i fferen t d i rect i o n s

, Dep u ti es

3M an n i n g an d Kearn s p ark ed j u s t s o u t h o f t h e h o u se, wh i l e D ep u t i es Ho g an an d

M o n tfo rd p ark ed to t h e n o rt h

. An d g i v en th e t i m e o f n i g ht an d t h e fact t hat t h e h o m e

was ab an d o n ed an d had n o l ig h t i n g

, t h e d ep u t ies were f o r c e d t o u s e fl as h l i g h t s as

t h ey ap p ro ach ed th e ho u s e vi a t wo g rav el d ri v eway s s ep arat ed b y ap p ro x i m at el y a

few y ard s

. Sh o rt l y aft er t h e d ep u t i es b eg an t hei r ap p ro ach

, Dep u t i e s M an n i n g an d

Kearn s aw a wh i t e m al e— wh o fi t t h e d es cri p t i on o f Bu l l an d was l at er i d en t i fi ed as

M i l ler— ru n t o ward t he b ack o f t h e pro p ert y wh ere a wh i t e v an was park ed

. Dep u t y

M an n i n g ye l l e d

, “ Sh eri ff’ s Offi ce! Sh o w m e y o u r h an d s !” Bu t M il l er, i g no ri n g t h e

d ep ut y ’ s co m

m an d w h il e l o o k in g s t rai g h t at h i m

, ju m p ed i n t o t h e d ri v er’ s s eat o f t h e

v an an d s t art ed t h e en g i n e. Dep u t y M an n i n g y el l ed at M i l l er to ex i t th e v eh i cl e, b ut

i n s t ead

, M i l l er b eg an d ri v i n g t o ward t h e t wo d ep u ti es

, wh o d rew t h ei r w eap o n s an d

d u ck ed b eh i n d a n earb y

t ree as t h e v an t h en v eered p as t t h em t o t h ei r ri g h t

.

M ean wh i l e, s ep arat ed fro m Dep u ti es Man ni n g an d Kearn s b y o n ly a few y ard s

b u t i n n earl y co m

pl et e d ark n es s

, Dep u t i es Ho g an an d Mo nt fo rd h e a r d D e p u t y

M an n i n g i d en t i fy hi m sel f as a s h eri ff an d o rd er so m eo n e t o s t op b u t co u l d n ot

i n i t i al l y s ee t o wh o m t h e o rd er was d irect ed

. A m o m en t l at er, t h e y h e a rd an en g i n e

rev v i n g u p an d t i res screech i n g

. As b o th Dep u t i es H o g an an d Mo n t fo rt d r e w t h ei r

weap o n s , t hey

s aw a wh i t e v an accel erat i n g d i rect l y t o w ard t hem . Feari n g h e co u ld

4n o t fi re h i s weap o n w i t ho u t h i t ti n g Dep u t y M o n t fo rd

, wh o was s l i gh t l y ah ead o f h i m

,

Dep ut y Ho g an d ov e ou t o f t h e way as th e v an b o re do wn o n t h e m

. B u t Dep u t y

M o n tfo rd fi red s ev eral s ho t s at M i l l er, wi t h on e h it t i n g h im

, an d t h en d ov e o u t o f t h e

v an ’ s way

, av o i di n g b ei n g st ru ck b y m ere i nch es

. As t h e v an s p ed o ff, t h e d ep u ti es

n o ti fi ed di s p at ch th at s h ot s h ad b een fi red an d i ss u ed a BOLO, b efo re ret u rn i n g t o

t h ei r v eh i cl es i n an at t em p t t o fo l l o w M i l ler.

A few m i l es away

, Se rg ean t Arn zen —an o th er Cl ay to n Co un t y s h eri ff’ s

d ep ut y

— was o n p at ro l i n a m ark ed v eh icl e wh en h e h eard t h e di s p at ch t h at sh o t s h ad

b een fi red an d t h e BOLO fo r t h e wh i t e v an

. A n d al read y aware th at t h e d ep u t i es h ad

p l an n ed t o e x ecu t e t h e arres t warran t fo r Bu l l at t he Tara Ro ad ad d res s t h at n i g h t

,

Serg ean t Arn zen h ead ed i n t hat d i rect i o n

. Th en

, l es s t h an t w o m i l e s away fro m t h e

h o u s e, Serg ean t Arn zen s p o t ted a wh i te v an d ri v i n g s l o w l y an d w eav i n g

. Th e v an

t u rn ed o n a d ead -en d s t reet an d

, u p o n reach i n g t h e cu l -d e-s ac, d ro v e i n t o t h e y ard o f

a h o m e, n earl y h i t t in g t h e h ou s e b efo re co m i n g t o a s t o p. As Serg ean t Arn zen ex i t ed

h i s p at ro l v eh icl e a n d a p p r o a ch ed t h e v an

, he n o t i ced t h at t h e dri v er m at ch ed t h e

d es cri p t io n fo r Bu l l

. Serg e a n t Arn zen t h en d rew h is weap o n an d l o u d l y s h o u t ed

,

“ Sh eri ff’ s Offi ce! St o p t he v eh i cl e! Sh o w m e y o u r h an d s!” M i l l er i g n o r ed t h e

s erg ean t ’ s co m

m an d s an d i n s t ead co n ti n ued t ry i n g t o d ri ve t h ro u g h t he y ard u n t i l t h e

5fro n t en d o f t h e v an p u sh ed u p ag ai n s t s o m e t al l s hru b s

. Serg ean t Arn zen rep eat ed h i s

o rd ers t o s t op th e v eh i cl e, b u t M i l l er ag ai n refu s ed to co m p l y

, res p o n d i ng

, “ Fu ck y o u,

I’ l l h i t y o u t o o .” Mi l l er t h en t h rew t h e v an i n rev ers e, at w h i ch p oi n t

, Serg ean t Arn zen

h o l s t ered h i s weap o n an d d ov e i n t o t h e v an t h ro u g h t h e o p en dri v er’ s s i de wi n d o w.

He t hen s h o v ed M i l l er o ver, an d

— wi t h h i s l eg s han g i ng o u t s i d e t h e w in d o w— fo rced

t h e van ’ s g ears h i ft i n t o p ark

. On ce t h e v an s to p p ed

, Serg ean t A rn zen cl i m b ed o u t o f

t h e v eh i cl e, d rew h is weap o n, an d h el d M i ll er at g u n po i n t u n t i l t h e ot h er d ep u ti es

arri v ed

.

Up o n t h e arri v al of b ack u p

, Serg ean t Arn zen req u es t ed an am b u l an ce i n l i g ht

o f M i l l er’ s g un s h o t wo u n d

, an d t h e am b u l an ce t h en t ran s p o rt ed M il l er t o a l o cal

h o s p it al

. In t h e aft erm at h of M i ll er’ s arres t

, h e ad m it t ed t h at h e w as k n o wn as “ Bu l l ,”

b u t th e d ep u t i es d et erm i n ed hi s i d e n t i t y w as Haro l d M il l er rat h er th an T u rn er. Th e

d ep ut i es al s o l earn ed t h at t he wh it e v an b el o n g ed t o t he o wn er o f a l o cal res t au ran t

an d h ad b een s t o l en earl ier t h at d ay wh en t h e o wn er’ s s o n l eft t h e key s i n t h e i g n i t i o n

wh i le u n l o ad i n g g ro ceri es

.

Th ereaft er, t h e St at e ch arg ed M i ll er, v i a in d i ct m en t

, wi t h o n e co u n t o f t h eft by

t ak i n g (rel at i n g t o t h e t h eft o f H a r r i s ’s veh i cl e), an d o ne co u nt each o f ag g rav at ed

as s au l t

, ag grav at ed b at t ery

, an d rec k l e s s co n du ct (al l rel at i n g t o t he i m p o u n d -l ot

6em

pl o y ee’ s at t e m

p t t o t h wart t h e t h eft o f Harri s ’ s v eh i cl e). In t h e s am e i n d i ct m en t

,

t h e St at e al s o ch arg e d M i l l er wi t h t w o co un t s o f ob s tru ct i o n o f a l aw-en fo rcem en t

o f f i c e r

, on e co un t rel at i n g t o h i s refu s al t o o b ey D ep u t y Man n i n g ’ s co m m an d s a n d

t h e o t h er rel at i n g t o h i s refu s al t o o b ey Serg ean t Arn zen ’ s ; fi v e co u n t s o f ag g rav at ed

as s au l t u p o n a l aw-en fo rcem en t o ffi cer (rel at i ng t o h is at tem pt s t o h i t each o f t h e

d ep ut i es wi t h t h e v an ); o n e co u n t o f fl eei n g fro m a l aw-en fo rcem en t o ffi cer (rel at i n g

t o hi s refu s al t o o b ey Serg ean t Arn zen ’ s ord er t o s to p t h e v an ); an d o n e co un t o f t h eft

b y recei vi n g (rel at i n g t o t he s t o l en wh i t e v an ).

Th e c as e u l t i m at el y p ro ceed ed t o t ri al

, d u ri n g wh i ch t h e St at e s ub m i t t ed t h e

ev i d en ce n ot ed ab o v e. In ad d it i o n

, t h e St at e cal l ed as wi t n es ses t h e t wo w om en wh o

l i ved at t h e m ot el wh ere M i l l er o ft en s t ay ed

. Bo t h wo m en i d e n t ifi ed M i l l er as t h e

p ers o n t hey k n ew by t he ni ck n am e “ Bu ll .” A n d o n e o f th e wo m en fu rt h er t es t i fi ed

t h at

, s h o rt l y aft er th e Oct o ber 3

, 2 0 1 4 t h eft o f Harri s ’ s v eh i cl e, Mi l l er b rag g ed ab o ut

s t eal in g a car an d s o m eo ne t ry i n g t o s t o p h i m b y ju m pi n g o n t o t h e v eh i c l e ’ s h o o d.

Th en

, at th e co n cl u s i o n of t h e tri al

, t h e ju ry fo u n d M i l l er g u i l ty o n t h e co u nt o f t h eft

b y tak i n g

, fo u r co u n ts o f ag g rav at ed as s a u lt (s p eci fi cal l y th o s e rel at in g t o t h e

i m p o u n d em p l o y ee, Dep u t i es M o n t fo rd an d Ho gan

, an d Serg ean t Arn zen ), t h e co u nt

o f ag g rav at ed b at t ery as t o t h e im p o u n d -l o t em

p lo y ee, t he co u n t o f reck l es s co n d u ct

,

7t h e t wo co u n t s o f o bs t ru ct i o n o f a law-en fo rcem en t o ffi cer, t h e co un t of fl eei n g fro m

a l aw-en fo rcem en t o ffi cer, an d t h e co u n t o f t heft b y recei v in g. Th e ju ry fo u n d M i l l er

n o t g u il t y o n t h e co u n ts o f ag g rav at ed as s au l t as t o Dep u ti es M an n i n g an d Kearn s

.

Aft erward

, M i l ler o b t ai n ed n ew c o u ns el an d fi l ed a m o t i o n fo r n ew t ri al

, in

wh i ch h e arg u ed

, i n t er a l i a

, t h at h i s t ri al co u ns el ren d ered i neffect i v e as s i s t an ce. Th e

St at e fi l ed a res p o n se, an d t h e tri al co u rt co n d uct ed a h eari n g o n t h e m ot i o n

, d u ri n g

wh i ch M i l l er’ s t ri al co u n s el t es t i fi ed

. No t lo n g t h ereaft er, th e co u rt i s s u e d a n o rd er

d en y i n g M i l ler’ s m ot i o n . Th is ap p eal fo l l ows

.

1 . In s ev en s ep arat e en u m erat i o n s o f erro r, Mi ll er co n t en ds t h at t h e ev i d en ce

was in s uffi ci en t t o su p p o rt hi s co n v i ct i on s of ag g rav at ed as s au l t u p o n Serg ean t

Arn zen an d D ep u t i es Mo n t fo rd an d Ho g an

, o b s t ru ct i o n o f Ser g e a n t Ar n zen an d

Dep ut y M an n i ng

, fl eei n g fro m Serg ean t Arn zen

, an d t h eft b y recei v i n g of t h e wh i t e

v an

. In d o i n g s o

, M il l er co n ced es t h at he co m m i t ted t h e act s al l eg ed i n t h e i n d i ct m en t

b u t

, n on et h el es s, m ai n t ai n s t h a t t h e ev i den ce was i n su ffi ci en t b ecau se t h e d ep u ti es

an d s erg ean t were no t l awfu l l y d i s ch arg i n g t h ei r d u t ies at t h e t i m e h e co m m i t t ed t h o s e

act s . W e d is ag ree.

Wh e n a cri m i n al co n v i ct i o n i s ap p eal ed

, th e ev i d en ce m u s t b e v i ewed i n t h e

l i gh t m o s t fav o rab l e to t h e v erd i ct

, an d t h e ap p el l an t n o l o n g er en jo y s a p res u m

p t i o n

8o f i n n o cen ce. 2 An d in ev al u at in g t h e s u ffi ci en cy o f t h e ev i d en ce, we do n o t wei g h t h e

ev i d en ce o r d et erm i ne wi t n es s cred i b i l i t y

, b u t “ on l y det erm in e wh et her a rat i o n al t ri er

o f fact co u l d h av e fo un d t h e d efen d an t g u i l t y o f t h e c h a r g e d o ffen s es b ey o nd a

reas on ab l e d o u b t.” 3 T h u s

, t h e ju ry ’ s v erd i ct wi l l b e u p h el d s o l o n g as t h ere i s “ s o m e

co m p et en t ev i d en ce

, e ve n though c o ntr a d i ct ed

, t o s up p o rt each fact neces s ary t o m ak e

o u t t he St at e’ s cas e.” 4 W i t h t h es e g u i d i n g p ri n ci p les i n m i n d

, we t u rn to M i l l er’ s

s p eci fi c cl ai m s co n cern i n g t he s u ffi ci en cy o f t he ev id en ce su p p o rt i n g h is c o nv i ct i o n s

.

An d t o do s o

, we wi l l fi rs t ad d res s h i s co n t en t i o n t h at t h e o ffi cers wh o co n fro n t ed h i m

were n o t l awfu l l y d i s ch arg i n g t h ei r d u t ies

.

Th e Su p rem e Co u rt o f th e Un i t ed St at es has co ns t ru ed t he Fo u rt 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 5 s o as to s et fo rt h t h ree t i ers of p o li ce-ci t i zen

2 S ee En g l i sh v. St a t e

, 30 1 Ga. A p p . 8 4 2 , 8 4 2 (6 8 9 SE2 d 1 30 ) (2 0 1 0 ) (n o t i n g

t h at fo ll o wi n g co n v i ct i o n

, an ap p el l an t n o l o ng er en j o y s a p res u m

pt i o n o f i n n o cen ce).

3 J o n e s v. S t a t e

, 3 1 8 Ga. Ap p

. 2 6

, 2 9 (1 ) (7 3 3 SE2 d 7 2 ) (2 0 1 2 ) (p u n ct u at i o n

o m it t ed ); s ee a l

so Ja cks on v. Vi r

g i n i a

, 4 4 3 U .S. 3 0 7

, 3 1 9 (III) (B) (9 9 SCt 2 7 8 1

, 6 1

LE2 d 5 6 0) (1 9 7 9 ).

4 Mi l l er v. S t at e

, 2 7 3 Ga. 8 3 1

, 83 2 (5 4 6 SE2 d 5 2 4 ) (2 0 0 1) (p u n ct u at i o n

o m it t ed ); a cco rd W

es t b r o o ks v. S t a t e

, 3 09 G a. Ap p

. 39 8

, 3 9 9 -4 00 (1 ) (7 1 0 SE2 d 5 9 4 )

(2 0 1 1).

5 U.S. CONST. am en d IV (“ Th e ri g h t o f t h e p e o p l e t o be s ecu re i n t h ei r

p ers o n s

, h o u s es

, p ap ers

, an d effect s, ag ai n s t u n reas on ab l e s earch es an d se iz u r e s, shal l

9en co un t ers : 6 “ (1 ) co m m u n i cat i o n b et ween p o l i ce an d ci t i zen s i n vo l v i n g no co erci o n

o r d et en t i o n . . . , (2 ) b ri ef s ei zu res t h at m u s t b e s u p p ort ed b y

reas o n ab l e s u s p i ci o n,

an d (3 ) fu l l-s cal e arres t s t hat m u s t b e s up p ort ed b y

p ro bab l e cau s e.” 7

In fi rs t-t i er en co un t ers

, p o l i ce m ay “ ap p ro ach ci t i zen s

, as k fo r i d en t i fi cat i o n,

as k fo r co n s en t t o s earch

, an d o t h erwi s e freel y q ues t i o n t h e ci t i zen wi t h o u t an y b as i s

o r b el i ef o f cri m i n al act iv it y s o l o n g as t h e p o l i ce d o n o t d et ai n th e ci t i zen o r co n v ey

t h e m es s ag e t hat t he ci ti zen m ay n o t l eav e.” 8 Bu t i s w el l set t led t h at a ci t i zen ’ s ab i l i t y

t o “ wal k away fro m o r ot h erwi s e av o i d a po l ice o ffi cer i s t h e t o uch s t o n e o f a fi rs t -t i er

en co un t er.” 9 In fact

, ev en ru n ni n g fro m p o li ce d u ri n g a fi rs t-t i er en co u n t er i s “ wh o l l y

n o t b e v i o l at ed

. . . .”); see a l s o Ga. Co n s t

. art 1

, § 1

, ¶ X III (“ Th e ri g h t o f t h e p eo p l e

t o b e s ecu re in t h ei r p ers o n s

, h o u ses

, pap ers

, an d effect s ag ai n s t u n reas o n ab l e

s earch es an d s ei zu res s h al l n o t b e v io l at ed ; an d n o w arran t sh al l i s su e ex cep t u p o n

p ro b ab l e cau se s u p p o rt ed b y o at h o r affi rm at io n p art icu l arl y des cri b i n g t h e p l ace o r

p l aces t o b e s earch ed an d t h e p ers on o r t h i n g s t o b e s ei zed

. ”).

6 Ewu mi v. St a t e

, 3 1 5 Ga. Ap p

. 6 5 6

, 65 8 (1 ) (7 2 7 SE2 d 2 5 7 ) (2 01 2 ); s ee S t a t e

v. W a l ker

, 2 9 5 Ga. 8 8 8

, 88 9 (7 64 SE2 d 8 0 4 ) (2 0 14 ) (n o t i n g t h at Fo u rt h Am en d m en t

ju ri s p ru den ce reco g n i zes t h ree t i ers o f p o li ce-ci t i zen en co un t ers ).

7 Ewu mi , 3 1 5 G a. Ap p

. at 6 5 8 (1 ) (p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed ); a cco rd W a l ker , 2 9 5

Ga. at 8 89

.

8 Ewu mi , 3 1 5 Ga. Ap p. at 6 5 8 (1 ) (p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed ); a cco rd W a l ker , 2 9 5

Ga. at 8 89

.

9 Bl a ck v. S t a te

, 2 8 1 Ga. Ap p

. 4 0

, 4 4 (1 ) (6 3 5 SE2 d 5 6 8) (2 0 0 6) (p u n ct u at i o n

o m it t ed ); a cco r d Jo h n so n v. S t a t e , 3 4 3 Ga. Ap p . 3 1 0 , 3 1 2 (8 0 7 SE2 d 1 01 ) (2 0 1 7 ).

10p erm i s s i b l e.” 1 0 An d

, o f co u rs e, an i n d i v i d u al m ay “ refu s e t o an s wer o r i g n o r e t h e

req u es t an d g o o n h is way i f h e ch o o ses

, fo r t h i s d o es n o t am o u n t to an y t y p e o f

res t rai n t .” 1 1

In co n t ras t

, i n a s eco n d -t i er en co u n ter— ev en i n t h e ab s en ce of p ro b ab l e

cau s e— a p o l ice o ffi cer m ay “ s to p p ers o n s an d d et ai n t h em bri efl y

, wh en t h e o ffi cer

h as a p art i cu l ari zed an d o b ject i v e b as i s fo r s u sp ect i n g t he p ers o n s are i n vo l v ed in

cri m i n al act i v i t y .” 1 2 Bu t i m p o rt an t ly

, i n ord er t o d o s o

, th e o ffi cer m us t “ h av e m o re

t h an a su b ject i v e, u n p art i cu lari zed s u s p i ci on or h u n ch .” 1 3 In d eed

, th e o ffi cer’ s act i o n

m u st b e “ ju s t i fi ed b y s p eci fi c an d art i cu l ab le fact s wh i ch

, t ak en t o g et h er wi t h rat i o n al

i n feren ce s f

ro m t h o s e fact s

, reas o n ab l y warran t th at i n tru s i o n .” 1 4 Fu rt h erm o re, t h e

1 0 Bl a ck

, 2 8 1 Ga. A p p. at 4 4 (1 ) (p u n ct u at i o n o m it t ed ) ; a c c o r d Jo h n s o n

, 3 4 3

Ga. Ap p . at 3 1 2

.

1 1 E wu m i

, 3 15 G a. Ap p

. at 6 58 (1 ) (p u n ct u at i o n o m i tt ed ); a cco r d W a l ker

, 2 9 5

Ga. at 8 89

.

1 2 Ewu mi

, 3 1 5 G a. Ap p

. at 6 5 8 (1 ) (p u n ct u at i o n o m i tt ed ); a cco r d W a l ker

, 2 9 5

Ga. at 8 89 -9 0

.

1 3 Ewu mi

, 3 1 5 Ga. Ap p

. at 6 5 8 (1 ) (p u n ct u at i on o m i tt ed ); a cco r d W a l ker

, 2 9 5

Ga. at 8 90

.

1 4 Ewu m i

, 3 1 5 Ga. Ap p. at 6 58 -5 9 (1 ) (p u n ct u at i o n om i t ted ); a cco r d W a l ker

, 2 9 5 Ga. at 8 9 0

.

11o ffi cer m

u s t h av e “ so m e b as i s fro m wh i ch t h e co urt can d et erm i n e t h at t h e d et en t i o n

was n ei t h er arb i t rary n or h aras si n g .” 1 5

Here, M i ll er co n t en d s t h at t h e ev i d en ce s up p ort i ng h is co n v i ct i o n s was

i n s u ffi ci en t b ecau s e t h e o ffi cers were n o t l awfu ll y d i s ch arg i n g th ei r d u t i es at t h e t i m e

o f t h ei r co n fro n t at i o n

. Sp eci fi cal l y

, h e arg ues th at wh en th e o ffi cers en co u nt ered h i m

at t h e ab an d o n ed h om e o n Tara Ro ad

, t h ey l ack ed an y rea s o n a b l e, art i cu l ab l e

s u s p i ci o n t h at h e was i n v o l v ed i n cri m i n al act i v i t y

. As a res u l t

, h e co n cl ud es t h at t h i s

was a fi rs t -t i er e n c o u n t e r fro m wh ich h e was free t o l eav e, ev en ru n

. M i l l er’ s

arg u m en t i s wi t h o u t m eri t

.

On t h e n i g h t i n qu es t io n

, t h e o ffi cers h ad an arres t w arran t fo r a p ers o n k n o wn

b y th e n i ck n am e Bu l l an d rel i ab l e i n f o r m at i o n th at t h is p ers o n was cu rren t l y at t h e

ab an do n ed Tara Ro ad h o m e. Wh e n t h ey arri v ed

, i n u n ifo rm an d m ark ed p at ro l

v eh icl es

, t h ey saw Mi l l er, wh o g en eral ly fi t t h e d es cri p t i o n o f t he warran t ’ s s u b ject

,

an d

, t h erefo re, t h ey were au t h o ri zed i n t h e i r at t em p t t o d et ai n hi m p en d i n g h i s

i d en t i fi cat i o n

. 1 6 An d wh i l e M i l l er arg u es t hat d et ai n in g h i m was u n reas o n ab l e

1 5 Ewu mi

, 3 1 5 Ga. Ap p

. at 6 5 9 (1 ) (p u n ct u at i on o m i tt ed ); a cco r d W a l ker

, 2 9 5

Ga. at 8 90

.

1 6 S ee S t a t e v. Ha r

gi s

, 2 9 4 Ga. 8 1 8

, 8 2 4 (2 ) (a) (7 56 SE2 d 52 9 ) (2 01 4 ) (h o l d i n g

t h at o ffi cer’ s det en t io n an d s u b s eq u en t arres t o f d efen d an t was l awfu l g i v en o ffi cer’ s

12b ecau s e h e d i d n ot m at ch t he des cri p t i o n i n t h e warran t, t h e d es cri p ti o n i n t h e warran t

w a s b a s e d o n t h e wi t n es s es ’ acco u nt s o f t h e t h eft fro m t h e i m p o u n d l o t

, as wel l a s

s u r v e i l l an ce p h ot o s

. Th u s

, t o t h e ex t en t t h ere were an y i n co ns i s ten ci es i n t h o s e

d e s c ri p t i o n s

, i t was u p t he ju ry t o res o lv e th em

. 1 7 Acco rd in gl y

, M i l l er’ s co n t en t i o n

t h at t h e ev i d en ce wa s i n s u ffi ci en t t o co n cl u de t h at t h e offi cers l awfu l l y d i s ch arg ed

t h ei r du t i es l ack s m eri t

. An d h av in g s o fo u n d

, we n o w d i rect o ur at t en t i o n t o an

an al y s i s o f t h e ev i d en ce s u p p o rt i n g t h e s peci fi c co n v i c t i o n s bei n g ch al l en g ed by

M i l ler.

b el i ef t h at d efen d an t w as t h e s u b ject of an arres t warran t ); Fr an ci s v. S t a t e

, 3 4 5 Ga.

Ap p

. 5 8 6, 5 8 9 (1 ) (8 1 4 SE2 d 5 7 1 ) (2 0 1 8 ) (h ol d i n g t h at hav i n g en co u n t ered d efen d an t

al m o s t i m

m ed i at el y up o n en t eri n g h o u s e, h i s sei zu re was au t h o ri zed p e nd i n g h i s

i d en t i fi cat i o n an d d et erm i n at i on o f wh et h er h e was t h e s u b je c t o f arres t warran t );

Ma u g e v. S t a t e

, 2 7 9 Ga. A pp

. 3 6

, 3 8 (6 3 0 SE2 d 1 7 4 ) (2 0 0 6 ) (co n cl ud i n g th at o ffi cers

h ad p ro bab l e cau s e t o d et ai n d efen d an t u n t i l t h e y co u l d as cert ai n h e w as n o t t h e

p ers o n n am ed i n t h e arres t warran t).

1 7 S ee S i ng l et o n v. S t a t e

, 32 4 Ga. Ap p

. 1 4 1

, 1 4 3-4 4 (1 ) (7 4 9 SE2 d 7 53 ) (2 0 1 3 )

(h o l d i n g t h at i n co n s i st en ci es i n a wi t nes s ’ s d es cri p t i o n o f a p erp et rat o r are a m at t er

fo r t he ju ry ). Al t h o u g h Mi l l er do es n o t ex p li ci t l y ch al l en g e t h e v al i d i ty o f t h e warran t

,

ev en if h e h ad

, “ [o ] u r Su p rem e Co u rt has h el d t h a t p r o b ab l e cau s e t o arres t ari s es

o n ce an arres ti ng offi cer learn s o f t he ex i s ten ce o f an arres t w arran t an d t h at ‘ wh et h er

o r n o t t h e i n fo rm at i o n ab o u t t h e warran t l at er p ro v es i n c o r r e c t o r i n v al i d i s

i m m at eri al .’ ” S t at e v. Lu ca s

, 3 3 2 Ga. Ap p

. 4 6 3

, 4 6 5 (3 ) (7 7 3 SE2 d 4 1 9 ) (2 0 1 5 ), ci t i n g

Ha r vey v. S t a t e , 2 6 6 Ga. 6 7 1 , 6 7 2 -7 3 (4 6 9 SE2 d 1 7 6 ) (1 9 96 ).

13(a) Ag g r a va t ed a s sa u l t o n a la w-en f o r cemen t o

f f icer

. U n d er OCGA § 1 6 -5 -2 1

(a) (2 ), a p ers o n co m

m i t s t h e o ffen s e of ag g rav at ed as s au l t wh en “ h e o r s h e as s au l t s

. . . [w] i t h a d ead l y weap o n o r wi t h an y o b j ect

, d ev i ce, or i n s t ru m en t wh i ch

, wh en

u s ed o ffen s i vel y ag ai n st a p ers o n

, i s l i k el y to o r act u al l y d o es res u l t i n s eri ou s b o d i l y

i n ju ry [.] ” A n d O C G A § 1 6-5 -2 0 (a) (1 -2 ) p ro v i d es t h at “ [a] p ers o n co m m i t s t h e

o ffen s e o f s i m

p le as s au l t wh en h e o r s h e e i t h er

. . . [a] t t em p t s t o co m

m i t a v i o l en t

i n ju ry t o t he p ers o n o f an o t h er; o r

. . . [c] om m i t s an a c t w h i c h pl aces an o t h er in

reas on ab l e ap p reh en s i o n o f i m m ed i at el y recei v in g a v i o l en t i n

ju ry .”

In t h i s m at t er, Co u n t s 8

, 9

, an d 1 2 o f t h e in di ct m en t ch arg ed M il l er wi th

ag g rav at ed as s au lt b y al l eg in g t h at h e m ad e an as s au lt up o n Serg ean t Arn zen an d

Dep ut i es M o n t fo rd an d Ho g an

, res p ect i v el y

, “ wi t h a m ot o r v eh icl e, an o b ject wh i ch

wh en u sed o ffen s i v el y ag ai ns t a p ers o n i s l i k el y t o res u l t i n seri o u s b o d i l y i n ju ry

, by

t ry i n g t o h i t s ai d p eace o ffi cer wi t h s ai d m o t o r v eh i cl e, wh i l e s ai d p eace o ffi cer was

en g ag ed i n t h e p erfo rm an ce o f hi s o ffi ci al d u t i es [.] ” In d eed

, t h e ev i d en ce s ho ws t h at

M i l ler d ro v e t h e st o len wh i t e v an d irect l y t o ward Dep u t i e s M o n t fo rd an d Ho g an

wh en t h ey at t em

pt ed to d et ai n h i m

, o n ly m i s s i n g t h em wh en t h ey d ov e o u t o f t h e way

.

Th e ev i d en ce al s o s h o ws t h at aft er dri v i n g t h e van i n t o th e y ard of a res i d en ce an d

b ei n g o rd ered t o s t o p b y Serg ean t Arn zen

, M i l l er v erb al l y t h reat en ed t o “ h i t ” Arn zen

14an d t h en at t em p ted t o rev ers e t h e d i rect i o n o f t h e v an s u ch t h at A rn zen b el i ev ed t h at

h e i n t en d ed t o carry o u t h i s t h reat

. Gi v en t h e s e c i rcu m st an ces

, t h e ev i d en ce was

s u ffi ci en t t o s u p p o rt M i l l er’ s ag g rav at ed -as s au l t co n v i ct i o ns

. 1 8

(b ) Ob s t ru ct i o n a n d f

l eei n g

. Un d er OCGA § 1 6 -1 0 -2 4 ( a )

, “ [ e ] x cep t as

o t h erwi s e p ro v i d ed i n s u b s ect io n (b ) o f t h is Co d e s ect i o n , a p ers o n wh o k n o wi n g l y

an d wi l l fu l l y o b s t ru ct s or h i n d e r s a n y l aw en fo rcem en t o ffi cer

. . . i n th e l awfu l

d i s ch arg e o f h i s o r h er o ffi ci al d u t i es s h al l be g u i l ty o f a m i s d em ean o r.” So m ewh at

rel at ed

, OCGA § 4 0-6 -3 9 5 (a) p ro v i d es :

It s h al l b e u n l awfu l fo r an y d ri v er o f a veh i cl e wi l l fu ll y t o fai l or refu s e

t o b ri n g h i s or h er v eh i cl e t o a s t o p o r o th erwi se t o fl ee o r at t em pt t o

el u d e a pu rs u i n g p o l i ce v eh i cl e o r p o l i ce offi cer w h en g i v en a v is u al o r

an au d i b l e s i g n al t o b ri n g t h e v eh i cl e to a s t o p

. Th e s i g n al g i v en b y th e

p o l i ce o ffi cer m ay b e b y h an d

, v oi ce, em erg en cy l i g h t

, o r s i r en

. T he

o ffi cer g i v i n g su ch s i g n al s h al l b e i n un i fo rm p ro m i nen t l y d i s pl ay in g h i s

1 8 S ee M yer s v. S ta te

, 3 1 1 Ga. Ap p

. 66 8

, 6 6 9 -7 0 (1 ) (7 1 6 SE2 d 7 7 2) (2 0 1 1 )

(h o l d i n g t h at ev i d en ce offi cer b el i ev ed d efen d an t ’ s v ehic le w ould hit hi m an d s t ep p ed

b ack w ard t o av o i d b ei n g h it was s u ffi ci en t t o s u p p o rt d efen d an t ’ s ag g rav at ed -as s au l t

co n vi ct i o n ); Y

o u n g v. S t a t e

, 2 7 3 Ga. A pp

. 1 5 1

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

(fi n di n g t h at ev id en ce s u p p o rt ed ag g rav at ed -as s au l t co n vi ct io n gi v en o ffi cer’ s

t e s t i m o n y th at d efen d an t t ri ed t o h i t h i m wi t h h i s v eh i cl e aft er o ffi cer i n i t i a t e d a

t r a f f i c s t o p ); W

eb b v. S t a t e

, 2 5 6 Ga. A pp

. 65 3

, 6 54 (1 ) (5 6 9 SE2 d 5 96 ) (2 0 0 2 )

(h o l d i n g t h at “ on e wh o ai m s a m o t o r v eh i cl e at an o t her p ers on m ay b e co n v i ct ed o f

ag g rav at ed as s au l t reg ard l es s of wh et h er t h e v i ct im s u s tai n ed an y i n ju ri es o r w as ev en

t o u ch ed b y

t h e v eh i cl e”).

15o r h er b ad ge o f o ffi ce, an d h i s o r h er v eh i cl e s h a l l b e ap p ro p ri at el y

m ark ed s h o wi n g i t t o b e an o ffi ci al p ol i ce v eh i cl e.

Here, i n Co u nt s 5 an d 1 1

, t h e St at e ch arg ed M il l er wi t h o b s t ru ct i o n o f a l awe n f o r c e m en t o ffi cer b y al leg i n g t h at he “ d i d k n o wi n g l y an d wi l l fu l l y o b s t ru ct ”

Dep ut y M an n i ng an d Serg ean t Arn zen

, res p ect i v el y

, “ a l aw en fo rcem en t o ffi cer

. . .

i n t h e l awfu l d i s ch arg e of h i s o ffi ci al d u ti es b y refu s i n g t o s t o p fl eei n g wh en g i v en

v erb al co m

m an ds to do s o b y sai d l aw en f o r c e m e n t o f

fi cer[,] ” an d “ b y refu s i n g to

s h o w h i s h an ds wh en g i v en v erb al co m m a n d s t o d o s o b y s ai d law en fo rcem en t

o ffi cer.” Ad d i ti o n al l y

, i n Co un t 1 0

, t he St at e ch arg ed M i l l er wi t h fl eei n g by al l eg i n g

t h at h e

d i d w i l l f u l ly fl ee a p u rs u i n g p o l i ce o ffi cer, aft er h av in g been g i v en a

v i s u al s i g n al t o b ri n g hi s veh i cl e t o a s t o p b y [Serg e a n t ] Arn zen

, an

o ffi cer wh o at t he t i m e o f g i v i n g s u ch s i g nal was in a u n i fo rm

p ro m i n en t l y d i sp l ay i n g t he o ffi cer’ s bad g e of h i s offi ce an d t h e offi cer’ s

v eh i cl e was ap p ro p ri at el y m ark ed s h o wi n g it t o b e an o ffi ci al p o l i ce

v eh i cl e.

At t ri al

, t h e ev i d en ce s h o wed t hat b o th Dep u ty M an n i n g an d Serg ean t Arn zen were

i n u n i fo rm an d d ri v i n g m ark ed p at ro l v eh i cl es w h en t h ey o rd ered M i l l er t o s t o p an d

h e i g n o red t ho s e co m

m an ds

. N ev ert h el es s

, M i l l er arg u es t h at t h ere was in su ffi ci en t

16ev i d en ce t h at t h e o ffi cers were l awfu l ly d i s ch arg in g t h e i r d u t i es b y d et ai n i n g h i m

d u ri n g a fi rs t -t i er e n co u nt er. Bu t as n o ted s up r a

, t h e o ffi cers w ere ju s t i fi ed in

co n du ct in g

, at th e v ery l eas t

, a s eco n d -t i er d et en t i o n o f M i l ler. 1 9 Co n s eq u en t l y

,

M i l ler’ s ab i l i t y “ t o wi t h d r a w f r o m a co n s en s u al fi rs t t i er en co u n t er d o es no t ap p l y

h ere.” 2 0 Acco rd i n g l y

, th e ev i d en ce s u ffi ci en t l y s u p p o rt ed h i s co n v ict i o n s o f

o b s t ru ct i on 2 1 an d fl eei n g

. 2 2

(c) Th ef t b y r ecei vi n g

. Un d er OCGA § 1 6 -8 -7 (a), “ [a] p ers o n co m m i t s t h e

o ffen s e o f t h eft b y recei v i n g st o l en p ro p ert y wh en h e recei v es

, d is p o s es o f, or ret ai n s

s t ol en p ro p e r t y w h i ch h e k n o w s o r s h ou l d k n o w was s t o l en un l es s t h e p ro p ert y i s

1 9 S ee s u p r a n o t e 1 6 an d acco m

p an y i ng t ex t

.

2 0 Pr a t her v. S t a t e

, 2 79 Ga. Ap p . 8 7 3 , 8 7 6 (2 ) (6 3 3 SE2 d 4 6 ) (2 0 0 6 ).

2 1 S ee W h i t e v. St a t e

, 3 1 0 Ga. Ap p

. 3 86

, 3 9 0 (2 ) ( b ) ( 7 1 4 SE2 d 31 ) (2 0 1 1 )

( n o t i n g t h at b ecau s e o ffi cers h ad p ro b ab l e cau s e t o arres t defen d an t

, ev i d en ce was

s u ffi ci en t t o s u pp o rt al l eg at io n t h at o ffi cers l awfu l l y d is ch arg ed t h ei r d ut y an d

, t h u s

,

o b s t ru ct i on co n vi ct i o n ); M a s s ey v. S t a t e

, 26 7 G a. A p p

. 4 8 2

, 4 8 4 (6 0 0 SE2 d 4 3 7 )

(2 0 0 4) (h o l d i n g t h at ev i d e nce s u p p o rt ed o b st ru ct io n co n v i ct i o n wh en d efen d an t

ad m i t t ed res i s t i n g arres t b u t i n co rrect ly cl ai m ed h i s arres t was u n l awfu l ).

2 2 S ee S a p p v. S t a t e

, 3 3 7 Ga. Ap p

. 1 4

, 1 5 -1 6 (7 8 5 SE2 d 6 5 4 ) (2 0 1 6 ) (h o l d i n g

t h at ev i d en c e d efen d an t fl ed u ni fo rm ed o ffi cer d es p i te o ffi cer’ s co m m an d s h e s t o p

s u p p o rt ed co n v i ct i on fo r fl eei n g ); Li g h t s ey v. St a t e

, 3 02 Ga. Ap p. 2 9 4

, 2 9 4

- 9 5 ( 1 )

(6 9 0 SE2 d 6 75 ) (2 0 1 0 ) (h ol d i n g t h at ev i d en ce defen d an t dro v e o ff aft er o ffi cers h ad

o rd ered h i m t o st o p w as s u ffi ci en t t o s u p po rt co n v i ct i o n o f fl eei n g a p o l i ce o ffi cer).

17recei v ed

, d i s p o s ed of, o r ret ai n ed wi t h i n t en t to res to re i t t o t h e o wn er.” An d b ecau s e

o f i t s v ery n a t u r e

, t h e cri m e o f t h eft b y recei v in g i s “ o n e t h at i s u s u al l y p ro v ed in

wh o l e o r i n p art b y ci rcu m s tan t i al ev i d en ce.” 2 3 Co ns eq u en t l y

, p o ss es s i o n o f recen t l y

s t ol en p ro p ert y

, t o g et h er wi t h ci rcu m s t an t i al ev i d en ce s u p p o rt i n g an i n feren ce t h e

d efen d an t kn ew t h e pro p ert y was s to l en

, wi l l “ s us t ai n a co n v i ct i o n fo r t h i s cri m e.” 2 4

I n t h i s m at t er, Co un t 1 3 o f t h e i n d i ct m en t ch arg ed M i l l er wi t h t h eft b y

recei v i ng o f t h e wh i t e v an t hat h e was d ri v i n g wh en he e n c o u n t ered t h e s h eri ff’ s

d ep ut i es

. A t t ri al

, t h e ev i d en ce u n d i s p u ted l y dem o ns t rat ed t h at t he v an h ad b een

s t ol en m ere h o u rs b efo re Mi l l er was o b s erv ed b y d ep u t i es d ri v i ng i t

. Fu rt h er m o re,

wh en t he d ep u t i es at t em p t ed to d et ai n h i m ou t si d e t h e Tara Ro ad h o u s e, M i l l er

at t em p t ed t o s t ri ke t wo o f t h em wi t h th e v an an d t hen fl ed th e s cen e i n i t. In ad d i t i o n,

t h e St at e i nt ro d u ced o t h er p ri o r-act s ev i d en ce s h o wi n g t h at

, i n 2 0 0 8

, M i l l er was

a r r e s t ed i n Fl o ri d a aft er l ead i n g p o l ice o ffi cers o n a h i g h -s p eed ch as e i n a s t o l en

2 3 Lee v. S t a t e

, 32 0 Ga. Ap p

. 5 7 3

, 5 7 7 (1 ) ( c ) ( 7 4 0 SE2 d 3 0 7 ) (2 0 1 3 )

(p u n ct u at i o n o m i tt ed ); acco r d S t a cey v. S t at e

, 2 9 2 Ga. 8 3 8

, 84 0 (1 ) ( b ) ( 7 4 1 SE2 d

8 8 1 ) (2 0 1 3 ).

2 4 Lee

, 3 2 0 Ga. Ap p

. at 5 78 (1 ) (c) (p un ct u at io n o m i t t ed ); s ee Th o r nt o n v. S t a t e

, 2 9 2 Ga. 7 9 6

, 7 9 7 (1 ) (b ) (7 4 1 SE2 d 6 4 1 ) (2 0 1 3 ) (h o l d in g t h at k n o wl ed g e t o es t ab l i s h

g u i l t fo r t h eft b y recei v in g m ay b e i n ferred fro m p o s ses s i o n o f recen tl y -s t o l en

p ro p ert y co u p l ed wi t h ci rcu m s t an t i al ev id en ce th at wo u l d rai se s u s p i ci o n i n o rd i n ary

p ru d en t p ers o n ).

18t ru ck

. G i v en t h es e ci rcu m s t an ces

, t h e ev i d en ce was s u ffi ci en t t o s u p p ort an i n feren ce

t h at M i l l er was aware t h at t h e v an was st ol en an d

, t h us

, h i s c o n v i c t i o n o f t h eft by

recei v i ng

. 2 5

2

. M i ll er al s o co nt en d s t h at t h e t r i a l co u rt erred in d en y i n g h i s cl ai m s o f

i n effect i v e as s i st an ce o f co u ns el b ecau se h i s co u n s el f a i l e d t o (1 ) s ecu re t h e

at t en dan ce o f a d efen s e wi t n es s

, an d (2 ) o b je c t t o t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s s en t en ce, wh i ch

am ou n t s t o “ cru el an d u n u s u al p u n i s h m en t ” wi t h i n t h e m ean i n g o f th e Un i t ed St at es

an d Geo rg i a co n s t i t u t i on s

. 2 6 Ag ai n , we d i s ag ree.

2 5 S ee id

. at 5 7 7 -7 8 (1 ) (c) (affi rm i n g d efen d an t ’ s t h eft -b y -recei v i n g co n v i ct i o n

wh en ev i d en ce s h o w ed t hat d efen d an t was d ri v i ng s to l en v eh i cl e o n l y 1 2 h o u rs aft er

i t was s t o l en

, at t em

p t ed t o f l ee fro m p o l i ce in v eh i cl e, an d on a p ri or o ccas i o n h ad

s i m i l arl y fl ed p o l i ce wh i l e d ri v i n g a s t o l en v eh i cl e); Da ws o n v. St a t e

, 2 71 Ga. Ap p.

2 1 7

, 2 1 8 -1 9 (1 ) (6 0 9 SE2 d 1 5 8 ) (2 0 0 5 ) (h o ld i ng t h at e v i d en ce t h at d efen d an t

p o s s es s ed v eh i cl e fo u r d ay s aft er i t was s t o l en an d fl ed wh en o ffi cers at t em p t e d to

s t op h i m

, t og et h er w i t h si m i lar t ran s act i o n ev i d en ce, was s uffi ci en t t o au t h ori ze t h e

ju ry t o i n fer g u i lt y

k n o wl ed g e an d s up p o rt t h eft -b y -recei v i n g co nv i ct i o n ).

2 6 U.S. Co n s t

. am en d

. VIII (“ E x ces s i v e b ai l s h al l n o t b e req u i red

, n o r ex ces s i v e

fi nes i m p o sed

, n o r cr u el a n d u n u s u al p u n i s hmen t s i n f l i ct ed

. ” (em

p h as i s s u p p l i ed ));

s ee a ls o Ga. Co n s t

., art

. I, § 1

, ¶ XVII (“ Ex c e s s i v e b a i l s hal l n o t b e req u i red

, n o r

ex ces s i v e fi n es i m

p o s ed

, n or cr u el a n d un u s u a l p u n is h men t s i n f l i ct ed ; n o r s h al l an y

p ers o n b e ab u sed in b ei n g arres t ed

, wh i l e u n d er arres t

, o r i n pri s o n.” (em p h as i s

s u p p li ed )).

19In o rd er t o ev al uat e M i ll er’ s cl ai m s o f i n effect i v e as s is tan ce o f co u n s e l

, w e

ap p ly t h e t wo -p ro ng ed t es t es t ab l i s h ed in S t r i ckl a n d v. W a s hi n g t o n

, 2 7 wh i ch req u i res

M i l ler t o sh o w t hat h i s t r i al co u ns el ’ s p erfo rm an ce was “ d efi ci en t an d t h at t h e

d efi ci en t p erfo rm an ce s o p reju di ced h i m t h at t h ere i s a reas o n ab l e l i k el i h o o d t h at

, b ut

fo r co u n s el ’ s erro rs

, t he o u tco m e o f t h e t ri al wo u ld h av e b een d i fferen t.” 2 8 In ad d i t i o n,

t h ere i s a s t ro n g pres u m

p t i o n t h at t ri al co u n s el ’ s co n d u ct fal l s wi t h i n t h e b ro ad ran g e

o f reas o n ab l e p r o f

e s s i o n al co n d u ct

, an d a cri m i n al defen d an t m u s t ov erco m e t h i s

p res u m p t i o n

. 2 9 In fact

, t he reas o n ab l en es s o f c o u n s el ’ s co nd u ct i s “ ex am in ed fro m

co u ns el ’ s p ers p ect i ve at t h e t i m e o f t ri al an d un d er t h e p art i cu l ar ci rcu m st an ces o f t h e

cas e[.] ” 3 0 I m

p o r t an t ly

, d eci s i o n s reg ard i n g t ri al t act i cs an d s t rat eg y m ay fo rm t h e

b as i s fo r an i n effect i v en es s cl ai m o n l y i f “ t h ey w ere s o p at en t l y u n reas o nab l e t h at n o

2 7 4 6 6 U.S. 6 6 8 (1 0 4 SCt 2 0 5 2 , 8 0 LE2 d 6 7 4 ) (1 9 8 4).

2 8 Ch a p ma n v. S t a t e

, 2 7 3 Ga. 3 4 8

, 3 4 9 -5 0 (2 ) (5 4 1 SE2 d 6 3 4 ) (2 00 1 ) ; s ee

S t r i ckl a nd

, 4 6 6 U.S. at 6 8 7 (III); As h mi d v. S t at e

, 3 1 6 G a. A p p

. 5 5 0

, 5 5 6 ( 3 ) (7 3 0

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

2 9 Ch a p ma n

, 2 73 Ga. at 3 5 0 (2 ); s ee Ca mmer v. W a l ker

, 29 0 Ga. 2 5 1

, 2 5 5 (1 )

(7 1 9 SE2 d 4 3 7) (2 0 1 1 ) (“ A cl ai m o f in effect i v e as s i s t an ce o f co u n s el i s ju d g e d b y

wh et h er co u n s el ren dered reas o n ab l y e f f ect i ve as s i s tan ce, no t b y a s t an d ard o f

erro rl es s co u n s el o r b y

h i n d s ig h t .” (p u nct u at i o n o m i t t ed )).

3 0 Lo ckh a r t

v. S t a te , 2 9 8 Ga. 3 8 4 , 3 8 5 (2 ) (7 8 2 SE2 d 2 4 5 ) (2 0 1 6 ).

20co m

p et en t at t o rn ey wo u ld h av e fo l l o w e d s uch a co u rs e.” 3 1 An d u n l es s cl earl y

erro neo u s

, t h i s Co u rt wi ll “ u p h o l d a t ri al co u rt ’ s fact ual d et erm i n at i on s wi t h res p ect

t o cl ai m s o f i n effect iv e as s i s t an ce o f co u n sel ; h owe v e r

, a t ri al co u rt ’ s l eg al

co n c l u s i o n s i n t h i s reg ard are rev i ewed d e no vo .” 3 2 Beari n g t h is wel l -es t ab l i s h ed

an al y t i cal fram ewo rk i n m i n d

, we wi l l n o w co n s i der M i l l l er’ s s p eci fi c cl ai m s o f

i n effect i v e as s is t an ce o f co u n s el

.

( a ) Fa i lu re t o en su r e at t en d a n ce o f a n a ll eg ed l

y excu l p a t o r y wi t n es s

. J u s t

b efo re t h e cl o s e o f ev i d en ce, t ri al co u n s el i n fo rm ed t h e co urt t h at a d efen s e wi t n es s

n am ed Barry St ev en s w o u l d n o t b e ab l e to t es t i fy t h at day

, as o ri g i n al l y s ch ed u l ed

,

b ecau s e h e was hav i n g d i ffi cu l t y g et t i ng t o th e co u rt ho u s e. In l ig h t o f t h i s wi t n es s ’ s

ab s en ce, M i l l er’ s t ri al co u n s el re q u es t ed a co n t i nu an ce b u t al s o i n fo rm ed t h e co u rt

t h at h e was read y to p ro ceed wi t h cl o s i n g arg u m en t s i f n eces s ary

. T h e St at e o b ject ed

t o an y co n t i n u an ce, an d th e t ri al co u rt d en i ed t ri al co u n s el ’ s req u es t

. A t t h e h eari n g

o n M i l l er’ s m o t i o n fo r n ew t ri al

, t ri al co u n s el tes t ifi ed t h at h e recal l ed in t erv i ewi n g

3 1 Id

.

3 2 S o wel l v. S t a t e

, 3 2 7 Ga. Ap p

. 5 3 2

, 5 3 9 (4 ) (7 5 9 SE2 d 6 0 2 ) (2 0 14 ); a cco r d

Du n ca n v. S t a t e

, 3 4 6 Ga. Ap p

. 7 7 7

, 7 8 3 (2 ) (8 15 SE2 d 29 4 ) (2 0 18 ); Ho wa rd v. S t a t e

, 3 4 0 Ga. Ap p . 1 3 3 , 1 3 9 (3 ) (7 96 SE2 d 7 5 7 ) (2 0 1 7).

21St ev en s an d th at h e in t en d ed to cal l h i m t o t es t i fy reg ard i n g t h e al l eg ed i d en t it y o f t h e

p ers o n o ri g i n al l y

n am ed i n t h e warran t fo r M i ll er’ s arres t

.

M i l l er n o w arg u es t h at h i s t ri a l c o u n s el p erfo rm ed d efi ci en t ly b y fai l i n g to

s ecu re St ev en s ’ s at ten d an ce at t ri al v i a a s u b p o en a, w h i ch h e c l ai m s wo u l d h av e

al l o wed h i m t o s u cces s fu l l y req u es t a continua n ce 3 3 wh en t h e wi t n es s fai led t o ap p ear,

an d t h at M i l l er was p r eju d i ced b y t h i s b ecau se St ev en s wo u l d h av e t es t i fi ed t h at

M i l ler was n o t t h e p ers o n d e s c r i b ed i n t he arres t w arran t o b t ai n ed aft er t h e t h eft o f

t h e v eh i cl e fro m t he i m

p o un d l ot

. Bu t as o u r Su p rem e Co u rt h as h el d

, “ [t ] h e d eci s i o n

as t o wh i ch d efen s e wi tn es s es t o cal l i s a m at ter o f t ri al s t rat eg y an d t act i cs ; t act i cal

erro rs in th at reg ard wi l l n o t co n s t i t u t e i n effect iv e as si s t an ce o f co u ns el u nl es s t h o s e

erro rs are u n reas o n ab l e on es n o co m p et en t at to rn ey wo u l d h av e m ad e u nd er s i m i l ar

ci rcu m s t an ces

. ” 3 4 Fu rt h erm o re, d u ri n g t h e m o t i o n fo r n ew t ri al h eari n g

, Mi l l er fai l ed

3 3 S ee S teven s v. S t a t e

, 2 6 1 Ga. A p p

. 7 3, 7 4 (2 ) (5 8 1 SE2 d 6 8 5 ) (2 0 0 3) (n o t i n g

t h at a d efen d an t c a n n o t co m p l ai n o f t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s fai lu re t o g ran t a co nt i n u an ce

b ecau s e o f t h e ab s en ce o f a wi t n es s

, as h e fai l ed t o s u b p o en a t h e wi t n es s); OCGA §

1 7 -8 -2 5

.

3 4 Di cken s v. S ta t e

, 2 8 0 Ga. 3 2 0

, 3 2 1 (2 ) (6 2 7 SE2 d 5 8 7) (2 0 0 6) (p u n ct u at i o n

o m it t ed ); a cco rd Br o o ks v. S ta te

, 3 2 3 Ga. Ap p

. 6 8 1

, 6 8 4 (2 ) (7 47 SE2 d 6 8 8 ) (2 0 1 3 );

Fel d er v. S t a t e

, 2 8 6 G a. Ap p

. 2 7 1

, 27 7 (5 ) (a) (6 48 SE2 d 7 5 3) (2 00 7 ); s ee Ha r d i n v.

S t a t e

, 34 4 Ga. Ap p

. 3 7 8

, 3 9 0 (3 ) (8 1 0 SE2 d 6 0 2 ) (2 0 18 ) (“ Th e d eci s i o n as t o wh i ch

wi t n es s es t o cal l i s a m at t er o f t ri al s t rat eg y wi t h i n t h e e x c l u s iv e p u rv i ew o f t h e

at t o rn ey aft er co n s u l t at i o n wi t h t h e cl i en t .”).

22t o act ual ly s h o w t hat St ev en s ’ s t es t i m o n y wo ul d h av e b een fav o rab le to h i s d efen s e

o r ch an g ed t he o u t co m e of th e t ri al

. In d eed

, St ev en s d i d n ot tes t i fy at t h e h eari n g

, an d

h i s t ri al co u n s el ’ s “ t es t i m o n y about w ha t h e t hough t [St ev en s ’ s ] t es t i m o ny m i g h t h av e

b een was m ere s p ecu l at i o n an d h ears ay .” 3 5 An d t o s ho w p reju d i ce res u lt i n g fro m

co u ns el ’ s fai l u re to cal l a wi t n e s s

, M i l l er “ was req u ired t o o ffer m o re t h an m ere

s p ecu l at i o n t hat t h e w i t nes s m ay h av e had ev id en ce t h at wo u l d h a v e a s s i s t ed [h i s ]

cas e at t ri al .” 3 6 Ad d i t io n al l y

, Mi l l er can n o t rel y o n h i s tri al co u n s el ’ s tes t i m on y ab o ut

wh at St ev en s m i g h t h av e s ai d as i t wo ul d b e h ears ay

. 3 7 Ag ai n

, as o u r Su p rem e Co u rt

h as cau t i o n ed

,

[h ] ears ay ev i den ce can no t b e u s ed ei t h er u n d er th e fi rs t S t r i ckl a nd p ro n g

t o reb ut t h e reas o n ab len es s o f t ri al co un s el ’ s t act i cal d eci s i o n o r u nd er

3 5 F el d er

, 2 86 G a. Ap p

. at 2 7 7 (5 ) (a); a cco r d Ma rs h a l l v. S t a te

, 3 2 4 G a. Ap p.

3 4 8 , 3 4 9 (1 ) (b ) (7 5 0 SE2 d 4 1 8) (2 0 1 3 ).

3 6 Di cken s , 2 8 0 Ga. at 3 22 (2 ) (p u nct u at i o n o m i t t ed ); acco r d Fel der

, 2 8 6 Ga.

Ap p . at 2 7 7 (5 ) (a).

3 7 S ee Di cken s

, 2 8 0 Ga. at 3 2 2 (2 ) (n ot i n g t h at i t w o u l d b e hears ay fo r a

d efen d an t t o u s e defen s e co un s el ’ s t es t i m o ny ab o u t w h at an u n ca l l e d wi t n es s h ad

b een ex p ect ed to s ay i n o rd er t o es t ab l i s h t h e tru t h of th at u n cal l ed wi t n es s ’ s

t es t i m o ny ); De w b e r r

y v. S t at e

, 2 7 1 Ga. 6 2 4

, 6 2 5 (5 2 3 SE2 d 2 6 ) (1 9 9 9 ) (s am e);

Fel d er

, 2 8 6 G a. A p p. at 2 7 7 (5 ) (a) (n o t i n g t h at a d efen dan t can n o t rel y o n t es t i m o ny

at h eari n g o n m o t io n fo r n ew t ri al ab o u t wh at an u n cal l ed wi tn es s m i g h t h av e s ai d in

o rd er to es t ab l is h th e t ru t h o f t h at u n cal l ed wi t n es s ’ s t es t i m o n y as s u ch wo u ld

co n st i t u t e h ears ay ).

23t h e s eco n d S t ri ckl an d p ro n g t o es t ab l i s h t h at t h e d efen s e was preju d iced

b y co u n s el ’ s d efi ci en t p erfo rm an ce. Ei t her th e u n cal l ed wi t n es s m u s t

t es t i fy o r t h e d efen d an t m u s t i n t ro d u ce a l eg al l y reco g n i zed s u b s t i t ut e

fo r t h e u n cal led wi tn es s ’ s t es t i m o n y

. 3 8

T hu s

, wh en

, as h ere, “ t h e defen d an t fai l s t o p ro ffer t h e t es t i m o n y o f a n u n c a l l e d

wi t n es s

, he can n o t pro v e t h at t h ere i s a reas o n ab l e pro b ab i l i t y t h at t h e tri al wo u ld

h av e en d ed d ifferen t l y

. ” 3 9 Acco rd i n gl y

, t h e t ri al co u rt d i d n o t err in d en y i ng M i l l er’ s

cl ai m o f i n effect i ve as s i s t an ce i n t h i s reg ard

.

(b ) Fa i l u r e t o ch a l l en g e t h e co ns t it u t i o na l i t y o f t h e t r i a l co u r t ’s s en t en ce

. At

t h e co ncl u s i o n o f t h e s en t en ci ng h eari n g, t h e t ri al co u rt i m p o s ed s ep arat e 2 0 -y ear

s en t en ces as t o each o f M i l l er’ s fo u r ag grav at ed -as s au lt co nv i ct io n s wi t h each o f t h e

s en t en ces t o b e s erv ed co n s ecu ti v el y

. As a res u lt

, t h e co u rt i m p o s ed a p ri s o n s en t en ce

u p o n M i l l er t o t al i n g 1 0 0 y ears

. M i ll er n o w arg ues t h at hi s tri al co u ns el re n d e r e d

i n effect i v e as s is t an ce b y

fai l in g t o ch al l en g e t h i s s en t en ce as co n s t it u t i n g cru el an d

3 8 Di cken s

, 2 8 0 G a. at 3 2 2 (2 ) (p un ct u at io n o m it t ed ); a cco r d Fel d er , 2 8 6 Ga.

Ap p . at 2 7 7 -7 8 (5 ) (a).

3 9 McDa n i e l v

. S t a t e

, 2 7 9 Ga. 8 0 1

, 8 0 2 (2 ) (c) (6 2 1 SE2 d 4 2 4 ) (2 0 0 5 )

(p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed ); a cco r d Fel d er , 2 8 6 Ga. Ap p. at 2 7 8 (5 ) (a); s ee Ha r d i n , 3 4 4

Ga. Ap p

. at 3 9 0 -9 1 (3 ) (h o l d i ng t h at b ecau s e d efen d an t fai l ed t o pro ffer t h e t es t i m o ny

o f h i s u n cal l ed wi tn es s , h e can n o t p ro v e t h at t here was a reas on ab l e p ro bab i l i t y t h e

t ri al wo u l d h av e en d ed d i fferen t l y ).

24u n u s u al p u n i s h m en t wi t h i n t h e m ean i n g o f t h e U n i t ed St at es an d Geo rg i a

Co n s t i t u t i o n s an d as an ab u s e o f t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s s en ten ci n g d i s cret i o n

.

Im p o rt an t l y

, M i l l er wai v ed an y d i rect co n s t i t u t io n al ch al l en g e to h i s s en t en ce

b y fai l in g t o rai s e s u ch a c h al l en g e at t he fi rs t o p p ort u n it y ( i .e.

, t h e s en t en ci n g

h eari n g ), 4 0 wh i ch is wh at g i v es ri s e t o h i s cu rren t as sert i o n t hat t ri al co u n s el ren d ered

i n eff e c t i v e a s s i s t an ce b y fai li n g t o m ak e s uch a ch al l en g e. 4 1 Tu rn i n g t o t he s t at u t es

at i s s u e, OCGA § 1 6

- 5 -2 1 (b ) p ro v id es : “ Ex cep t as p ro v i d ed i n su b s ect i o n s (c)

t h ro u g h (k ) of t hi s Co de s ect i o n

, a p ers on co n v i c t e d o f t h e offen se o f ag g rav at ed

as s au l t s h al l b e p un i s h ed b y i m p ri s o nm en t f

o r n o t l es s t han o n e n o r m o re t h an 2 0

y ears .” In ad d i t i on

, OCGA § 1 7 -1 0 -1 0 (a) p ro v i d es t h at wh en “ at o n e t erm o f co u rt

a pers o n is co n v i ct ed o n m o re t h an o n e i n d i ct m en t o r accu s at i o n, o r o n m o re t h an o n e

4 0 S ee Jo n es v. S ta t e

, 2 90 Ga. 6 7 0

, 6 7 3 -7 4 (3 ) (7 2 5 SE2 d 2 3 6) (2 0 1 2 ) (n o t i n g

t h at “ a co n s t i t ut io n al at t ack o n a s en t en ci n g s t at u t e sh o ul d n o rm al l y b e m ad e n o l at er

t h an t he s en t en ci n g h eari n g

, at a t i m e wh en co r r e ct i v e act i on i s s ti l l p os s i b l e” an d

t h at

, becau s e ap p el l an t “ fai l ed t o rai s e h i s co n s t i t u t i o n al ch al l en g es at t h e fi rs t

av ai l ab l e o p p o rt u n i t y d u ri n g th e s en t en ci ng h eari ng ” an d i n s tead “ fi rs t rai s ed [t h em ]

i n h i s am en d ed m ot i o n fo r n ew t ri al

, ” h i s ch al l en g es were u n t i m el y an d n o t s u b

ject

t o rev i ew).

4 1 S ee i d

. at 6 7 4 (3 ) (h o l d i n g th at

, b ecau s e ap p el lan t h ad wai v ed rev i ew o f

co n st i t u t io n al ch al l e n g e t o s en t en ci n g s t at u t e b y fai l i n g t o rai s e i t at t h e fi rs t

o p p o rt u ni t y

, “ t h e t ri al co u rt co rrect l y p ro ceed ed to ex am i n e wh et h er [t h e ap p el l an t ’ s ]

t ri al co u n s el was i n effect i v e fo r fai l i ng t o rai s e co n s t i t u t i o nal ch al l en g es t o t h e

s en t en ci n g s t at u t es ”).

25co u nt t h ereo f, an d sen ten ced t o i m p r i s o n m en t

, t h e s en t en ces s hal l b e s erv ed

co n cu rren t ly u n l es s o t h erwi s e ex p res sl y p ro v i d ed t h erei n .” An d i n i n terp ret i n g t h i s

s t at u te, t h e Su prem e Co u rt o f Geo rg i a h as hel d t h at “ [c] oex ten s i v e wi t h t hei r ab i l i t y

t o i m p o s e a s en t en ce th at fi ts t h e cri m e, t ri al co u rt s h av e g r eat d i scret i o n in

d et erm i n i n g wh et h er t o ru n s en t en ces co n cu rren t l y or co n secu t i vel y .” 4 2 In fact

, t h e

d i s cr e tiona

r y a sse ssm e nt of punishm e nt w ithin l e gisla t ive l y pr e s c r i b ed b ou n d ari es h as

“ l o ng b een i n grai n ed an d accep t ed i n Am eri can ju ri s prude nc e

, an d OCGA § 1 7 -1 0 -1 0

(a) s i m i l arl y frees a co u rt t o m ak e a d et erm i n at i on o f wh et h er to ag g reg at e

s en t en ces .” 4 3 Th u s

, o u r Su p rem e Co u rt h as h e l d t h a t w i th i n t h e l aw, t h ere i s “ n o

l i m i tat i on on t h i s b ro ad d i s cret i o n t h at wo u ld p recl u d e a t ri al co u rt fro m ru n n i n g

s en t en ces p art i al l y

co n cu rren t an d p art i al l y

co n s ecu ti v e t o o n e an ot h er.” 4 4

In t h i s m at t er, t h e tri al co u rt i m p o sed fo u r s ep arat e 2 0 -y ear s e n t e n c e s u p o n

M i l ler fo r each o f h i s fo u r ag g rav at ed

- a s s a u l t co n v i ct i o n s an d o rd ered t h at t h o s e

s en t en ces b e s erv ed co ns ecu t i v el y

. M i l l er arg u es t h a t h i s t r ial co un s el ren d ered

4 2 S t a t e v. Ri

g g s , 3 0 1 Ga. 6 3

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

4 3 Id

. (p un ct u at i o n o m it t ed ); a cc o r d R o o n ey v. S t a t e

, 28 7 Ga. 1

, 3 -4 (3 ) (6 9 0

SE2 d 8 0 4) (2 0 1 0).

4 4 Ri gg s , 3 0 1 Ga. at 7 0 (2 ) (a).

26i n effect i v e as si s tan ce b y fai l i n g t o o b ject t o wh at am o u nt ed t o a s en t e n c e o f 1 0 0

y ears

, wh i ch h e ch ara c t e r i zes as un co n s ti t u t io n al l y cru el an d u n u su al

. Bu t i f t h e

s en t en ce fal l s wi t h i n t h e s t at u t o ry ran g e o f p u n i s h m en t s et b y t he Gen eral A ss em b l y

,

t h e p r e s u m

p ti o n i s t h at t h e s en t en ce d o es n o t v i o l at e th e Ei g h t h

Am en dm en t

, an d t h e p res u m p t i o n r e m ai n s u n t i l a defen d an t s et s fo rt h

a fact u al p red i cat e s ho wi n g t h at su ch l eg is l at i v el y au t h ori zed

p u n i s h m en t was s o ov erl y s ev ere or ex ces si ve in p ro p o rt i o n t o th e

o ffen s e as t o s ho ck t h e co n s ci en ce. 4 5

Here, i t i s u n d is p u t ed th at t he 20 -y ear s en t en ce fo r each s ep arat e ag g rav at ed as s au l t

fa l l s w i th i n th e st at u t ory ran g e. 4 6 An d M i l ler h as fai l ed t o dem o n s t rat e t h at t h i s

p u n i s h m en t was s o ex ces s i v e i n p ro p o rt i o n t o t h e o ffen s es as t o s h o ck t h e co ns ci en ce.

In d eed

, t he ev i d en ce s ho wed t h at M i l ler st o l e a v eh i cl e an d t h en us ed t h at v eh i cl e to

as s au l t a p ers o n at t em

p t i n g t o th wart t h at t h eft

. Th en

, a week l at er, M i l l er— d ri v i n g

y et an o t h e r s t o l en v eh i cl e— nearl y s t ru ck t hree s ep arat e l aw-en fo rcem en t o ffi cers

,

wh o were at t em

p ti n g t o arres t h i m

. An d w h i l e i t i s u n d en i ab l e t h a t t h e t ri al co u rt

l en g t h en ed M i l l er’ s cu m

ul at i v e i m

pri s o n m en t b y i m

p os i n g co n s ecu t iv e s en t en ces

,

4 5 Gr i er v. St a t e

, 3 3 9 G a

. A p p

. 7 7 8

, 7 89 (6 ) (7 9 2 SE2 d 7 3 7 ) (2 0 1 6 )

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

4 6 S ee OCGA § 1 6 -5 -2 1 (b ).

27“ t h ere i s n o co ns t it u t i o n al ly co g n i zab l e ri g h t t o co n cu rren t

, rat h er t h an co n s ecu t i ve,

s en t en ces .” 4 7 Acco rd in g l y

, M i ll er h as fai l ed to s h o w ei t h er d efi ci en t p erfo rm an ce by

t ri al co u n s el o r a reas o n ab l e p ro b ab i li t y t h at th e o u t co m e wo u l d h av e b een d i fferen t

i f t h e co n s t i t u t i o n al ch al l en g e t o h i s s en t en ce h ad b een t im el y rai s ed

, an d h i s

i n effect i v e as s is t an ce cl ai m i s, t h erefo re, wi t h o u t m eri t

. 4 8

Fo r al l t h es e reas o n s

, we affi rm M i l ler’ s co n v i ct i o ns a n d t h e den i al o f h i s

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

.

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

a n d Ho d g es , JJ., co n cu r

.

4 7 Ro o ney

, 2 8 7 Ga. at 6 (3 ) (p u n ct u at io n o m i tt ed ); a cco r d O s b o r n e v. S t a t e

, 3 1 8

Ga. Ap p

. 3 3 9

, 3 4 2 (2 ) (7 3 4 SE2 d 5 9 ) (2 0 1 2 ); s ee S i mp s on v. S t a t e

, 31 0 Ga. Ap p

. 6 3,

6 4 (7 1 5 SE2 d 6 75 ) (2 0 11 ) (h o l d i n g t h at b ecau se d efen d an t ’ s s en t e n ce fo r s ev eral

ro b b eri es was wi t h t h e s t at u t o ry r a n g e a n d b ecau s e t h e l aw al l o ws s ep arat e an d

co n secu ti v e p u n i s h m en t fo r s ep arat e cri m i n al t ran s act i o n s

, t h e t ri al co u rt d i d n o t err

i n d en y i n g d efen d an t’ s m ot i o n t o s et as i d e a v o i d s en t en ce).

4 8 See Jo n es

, 2 9 0 Ga. at 6 7 6 (3 ) (h ol di n g t h at d efen d an t fai led t o es t ab l i s h t h at

h e recei v ed i n effect iv e as s i st an ce o f co u n s el b y co u n sel ’ s f a i l u r e t o ch al l en g e

s en t en ce as eq uat i n g t o cru el an d u n u s u al p u n i s h m en t); P ep e-Fr a zi er v. S t a t e

, 3 3 1

Ga. Ap p . 2 6 3 , 2 7 3-7 4 (3 ) (c) (7 7 0 SE2 d 6 5 4 ) (2 0 1 5 ) (s am e).

28