FOURTH D I VI SI ON

DOYLE, P. J.

, COOM ER and M A R KLE, 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

M ar ch 5, 2020



# I n th e Co u r t o f

A p p eals o f

G eo r g ia

A1 9 A2 46 5 . SOLER v . THE STATE.

C O O M E R , J u d ge.

A ju ry fo u n d J os ep h Dav i d So l er g ui l ty o f on e co u nt o f b urg l ary i n th e s eco n d

d eg ree an d o n e co u n t of t h eft b y t ak i n g . So l er was s en t en ced t o s erv e a to t al o f fi v e

ye a r s i n c o n fi n em en t

. So l er fi l ed a m o t i on fo r new t ri al o n t h e g ro u n d s t h at t h e

e v i d e n c e was i n s u ffi ci en t t o s u p p o rt h i s co n v i ct io n o n bo t h co u n t s an d t h at h e

recei v ed in effect i v e as s i s t an ce o f co un s el

. Fo l l o wi n g a h eari n g, t h e t ri al co u rt d en i ed

So l er’ s m o t i o n i n a d et ai l ed ord er. So l er ap p eal s t h e o rd er, rai s i n g l arg el y t h e s am e

arg u m en t s m ad e b efo re t h e tri al co u rt

. Becau s e we fi n d t h e ev id en ce ad d u ced at t ri al

was s uffi c i e n t f

or a ju ry t o fi n d So l er gu i l t y b ey o n d a reas o n ab l e d ou b t o n b o th

co u nt s

, an d b ecau se So l er fai led t o m eet h i s b u r d e n in s u pp o rt o f h i s cl ai m s fo r

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

.On ap p eal fro m a cri m i n al co n v i ct io n

, we v i ew t he ev i d en ce i n th e

l i gh t m o s t fav o rab l e t o t h e verd i ct

, wi t h t h e d efen d an t n o l o ng er

en jo y in g a p res u m

p t i o n o f i n no cen ce. W e n ei t h er wei gh t h e ev i d en ce

n o r ju dg e t h e cred ib i l i t y o f wi t n es ses

, b u t d et erm i n e o n ly w het h er, aft er

v i ewi n g t h e ev i d en ce i n t h e l i g h t m o st fav o rab l e t o t h e p ro s ecu t i o n

, an y

rat i o n al t ri er of fact co u l d h av e fo un d th e es sen t i al el em en ts of t h e cri m e

b ey o n d a reas o n ab l e d ou b t

.

Hi l l ey v. S t a t e

, 34 4 Ga. Ap p

. 5 8

, 5 8 (8 0 6 SE2 d 28 0 ) (2 0 1 7) (ci t at i o ns an d pu n ct u at i o n

o m it t ed ). M o reo v er, “ [i ] f s om e co m pet en t ev i d en ce ex is t s t o s u p po rt each es s en t i al

el em en t i n t h e St at e’ s cas e, ev en i f co nt rad i ct ed

, t h e ju ry ’ s v erd i ct m u st b e u p h el d.”

Ha s la m v. S t a t e , 3 4 1 Ga. Ap p . 3 3 0 , 3 3 1 (8 0 1 SE2 d 6 1 ) (2 0 1 7 ).

So v iewed

, t h e ev i d en ce s h o ws t h at o n Ap ri l 2 2

, 2 01 8

, Offi cer As hl ey M o rri s

res p o n d ed to a cal l fro m t he Fai rb ri d g e In n m o t el reg ard i n g a b u rg lary t h at occu rred

t h er e t h e n i g h t befo re. Up o n h er arri v al at t h e l o b b y o f t h e m o t el

, Offi cer M o rri s

n o t i ced p ap ers t h at ap peared t o h av e b e e n r u m m ag ed t h ro u g h

, a bro k en wi n d o w in

t h e k i t ch en area o f t he o wn er’ s ap art m en t t h at w as co n n ect ed t o t h e offi ce an d l o b b y

,

an d m o ni t o rs t h at were m i s s i n g a co m p u t er. O ffi cer M o rri s s p ok e wi t h an em p l o y ee

o f t h e m ot el wh o i n fo rm ed h er t h at a cas h b ag

, m on ey fro m t h e reg i s t er, s urv ei l l an ce

cam eras

, an d a co m

p ut er b as e were m i s s i n g

. L a t er, t he o wn er o f t h e m o t el t o ld

Offi cer M o rri s t h at a DVR, cred i t card m ach i ne, an d an i Ph o ne 6 s w ere al s o m i s s i n g.

2Offi cer M o rri s s aw th at t h e wal l wh ere t h e s u rv ei ll an ce cam eras p rev i o u sl y h u n g was

d am ag ed

, an d it ap p eared t hat t h e cam eras h ad b een t orn fro m t h e wal l l eav i n g co rd s

h an gi n g o u t

. O ffi cer M orri s lat er o b s erv ed g ras s an d m u d i n th e k it ch en o f t h e

c o n n e c t e d ap art m en t b ut co u l d n o t co n fi rm w h et h er i t h ad b een t h ere wh en s h e

i n i t i al l y wal ked th ro u g h t h e ap art m en t

. O ffi cer M o rri s d i d n o t o bs erv e an y d am ag e

t o t he o t h er d o ors o r en t ran ces i n t h e l o b b y o r co n n ect ed ap art m en t.

On A p ri l 2 1

, 2 0 1 8

, t h e n i g h t o f t h e b u rg l ary

, So l er an d h i s th en -g i rl fri en d

Deb bi e Bo g g s

, were o v ern i g ht g u es ts of t h e m o t el

. On t h e m o rn i n g o f Ap ri l 2 2

, 2 0 1 8,

Bo g g s o b s erv ed So l er wi t h “ a l o t o f m o n ey .” W h en sh e as k ed h i m ab o u t t he m o n ey

,

So l er t o l d h er i t w a s n o n e o f h er b u si n es s

. Bo g g s l at er w en t wi t h So ler t o h er

s t ep b ro t h er’ s h o us e wh ere s h e s aw a co m pu t er th at So l er cl ai m ed s o m eo n e h ad g i v en

h i m

. W h en t h e co m

p u t er was tu rn ed o n

, t h e m o n i t or d i sp l ay ed t h e l og o fo r t h e m o t el

.

B o g g s a g a i n q u es t i o n ed So l er ab ou t t h e co m p u t er, b u t w as t o l d “ n o t to b e as k i n g

q u es ti o n s ab o u t t h i n g s t h at was n ’ t [h er] bu s i n es s

. ” So l er ev en t u al l y t o l d Bo g g s t h at

h e h ad g o t ten t h e co m

p u t er fro m

t h e m o t el wh ere t hey

s t ay ed

.

W h i l e at h er s tep b ro th er’ s h o u s e, Bo gg s al s o s aw a cred i t card m ach i n e wi th

a p i n k co rd nex t t o t he co m p u t er. So l er to ld Bo g g s t hat h e pl an n e d t o u s e t h e

co m p u t er an d cred i t card m ach i n e t o g et t h e s t o red cred i t card i n fo rm at io n t o b e u s ed

3fo r o n l i ne p u rch as es

. Bo g g s al s o s aw So ler wi t h an i Ph o n e t h at s h e h ad n o t prev i o u s l y

s een h i m wi t h p ri o r t o t h at d ay

. Bo g g s wi t n es sed So l er g et m o n ey ou t o f t h e “ h ead

l i ner” o f h er car t h at h ad n o t p rev i o u s l y b een t h ere.

On Ap ri l 23

, 2 01 8

, Offi cer Ky l e Yo rk w as as si g n ed as l ead i nv es t ig at or fo r t h e

b u r g l a r y. Offi cer Yo rk recei v ed a t i p t h at h e s h o u ld co n t act Bo g g s ab o u t t h e cas e.

Offi cer Yo rk s p ok e wi t h Bo g gs b y t el ep h o n e t h at s am e d ay

, an d s he to ld hi m t h at s h e

an d So l er h ad s tay ed at t h e m o t el t h e n i g h t o f th e b u rg l ary

, t h at s h e h ad s u s p i ci on s

ab o ut So l er wi t h res p ect t o th e b u rg l ary

, an d t h at So l er ad m i t t ed t o b reak i ng i n t o t h e

o ffi ce o f t h e m o t el

, st eal i ng i t e m s

, cu t t in g w ires

, an d b reak i n g t h e wi nd o w t o t h e

ap art m en t co n n ect ed t o t h e o ffi ce. Th e fo l l o wi ng d ay

, Bo g g s co n t act ed Offi cer Yo rk

ag ai n an d t o l d h i m t h at So l er h ad g i v en h er t h e DVR fro m t h e s e cu ri t y s y s t em t h at

was t ak e n f

r o m t h e m o t el an d t h at s h e wo u l d bri n g i t to t h e p o l i ce st at i o n l at er.

Sh o rt l y t h ereaft er, Bo g gs cal led O ffi cer Yo rk ag ai n t o t el l h i m t h at So l er h ad

t h reat en ed t o h arm h er an d her ch i l d ren i f s he t u rn ed th e DVR o v er t o p o li ce. Po l i ce

o ffi cers were t h en d i s p at ch ed t o l o cat e So l er.

So m e d ay s lat er, Offi cer Yo rk was co n t act ed b y Bo g g s’ m o th er, wh o i n fo rm ed

h i m t h at s h e h ad t h e DVR. Bo g g s ’ m o t h er t o l d Offi cer Yo rk t h at So l er h ad t h reat en ed

Bo g g s ab o u t th e DVR. Offi cer Yo rk an d an o th er i n v es t i g at o r wen t t o B o g g s ’

4m o th er’ s h o us e an d ret ri ev ed t h e D VR. Aft er Offi cer Yo rk ret u rn ed t o t h e p o l i ce

s t at i o n w i t h t h e DVR an d p l u gg ed i t i n t o a co m p u t er s creen

, h e s aw t h e m ot el ’ s l o g o

o n th e h om e s creen

. Th ere were n o v i d eo s s av ed o n th e DVR an d i t ap p eared t h at t h e

cas i n g h ad b een t am

p ered wi t h

.

On M ay 1 4

, 2 0 18

, Offi cer Yo rk w as co n t act ed b y t he IT co m p an y t h at p ro v i d es

t ech n i cal s u p p o rt fo r th e m o t el wh o g av e h i m t h e IP ad d res s of t h e co m p u t er t h at h ad

b een t ak en fro m th e m o t el

. W i t h t h i s in fo rm at i on

, Offi c e r Y o rk was ab l e t o g et a

s earch warran t fo r t h e l o cat i o n wh ere th e co m p ut er was b ei ng u s e d

. Th e s t o l en

co m p u t er was ret ri ev ed fro m t he h o m e o f a p ers o n wh o cl ai m ed t hat t h e co m p u t er

was b ro u g h t to t he h om e by Bo g g s ’ s t ep b ro t h er. Bo g g s ’ st ep b ro th er t o l d Offi cer Yo rk

t h at h e h ad recei v ed t h e co m p u t er fro m

So l er.

So l er was i n d ict ed fo r b u rg l ary i n t h e fi rs t d eg ree, b u rg l ary i n t he s eco n d

d eg ree, an d th eft b y t ak i ng

. At t h e s t art o f tri al

, th e St at e an n o u n ced t h at i t wo u l d n ot

p ro ceed t o tri al o n t he b u rg l ary i n t h e fi rs t d eg ree ch arg e. Th e ju ry fo u n d So ler g ui l t y

o n t he rem ai n i n g t wo ch arg es an d t h e t ri al co u rt s en t en ced So l er t o s e r v e a t o t al o f

fi ve y ears i n co n fi n em en t

. So l er fi l ed a m o t i o n fo r n ew t ri al

, as am en d ed

, ch al l en g i n g

t h e s u ffi ci en cy o f t h e ev i d en ce u s ed t o co n v ict h i m an d arg u i n g t h at h i s t ri al co u n s el

ren d ered i n effect i v e as s i s t an ce b y fai l in g to o b ject t o t h e i nt r o d u ct i o n of h i s p ri o r

5co n vi ct i o n s du ri n g t h e s en t en ci n g p h as e. Fo ll o wi n g a h eari n g, t h e t ri al co urt d en i ed

So l er’ s m o ti o n . Th i s ap p eal fo l l o wed

.

1

. So l er co n t en ds t h e ev i d en ce was i n s u ff i ci en t t o su p po rt h i s co n v i ct i o n

b ecau s e t h e St at e’ s cas e res t ed p ri m ari ly o n t h e tes t im o n y o f So l er’ s th en -g i rl fri en d

Bo g g s

. Ho w ev er, t h e ev i d en ce i n t h i s cas e co ns i s t ed of m o re t han Bo g g s ’ t es t i m o n y

,

wh i ch o n i t s o wn wo u l d b e s u ffi ci en t i f t h e ju ry fo un d Bo g g s t o be a cred i bl e wi t n es s

.

See V i cker s v. S ta te

, 2 46 Ga. A p p

. 7 3 4

, 7 34 (1 ) (5 4 1 SE2 d 69 4 ) (2 0 0 0 ) (“ Th e

t es t i m o ny o f a s i n g l e w i t nes s i s g en eral l y s u f f i c i en t t o es tab l i s h a fact .” (ci t at i o n

o m it t ed )). Here, t h e ev i d en ce co n s i s t ed o f t es t i m o n y fro m Bo gg s

, Bo g gs ’ m o t h er, t h e

o w n er of t h e m o tel

, an d t h e o ffi cers w h o i n ves t i g at ed th e b u rg lary

. Al l o f t h e s e

wi t n es s es p ro v i d ed ev id en ce up o n wh i ch t h e ju ry co u l d in fer th at So l er co m m i t t ed t h e

cri m es ch arg ed

. See Mo rr is o n v. S t a t e

, 1 5 7 G a. Ap p

. 4 0 5

, 4 0 6 (2 7 8 SE2 d 60 ) (1 9 8 1 )

( T e stim ony b y d efen dan t ’ s acq uai n t an ces t h at d efen d an t ad m i t t ed ro b bi n g res t au ran t

,

as wel l as o t h er ev i d en ce, was s u ffi ci en t t o p erm i t rat i o n al t ri er o f fact reas o n ab l y to

fi nd d efen d an t g u i l ty o f arm ed ro b b ery b ey on d reas o nab l e d o u b t

. ). Acco rd i n g l y

, we

fi nd t h e ev i d en ce ad d u ced at t ri al was l eg al l y s u ffi ci en t t o au t h o ri ze t h e ju ry ’ s v erd i ct

i n t h i s ca s e a n d t h e t ri al co urt d i d n ot err i n fi n d i n g t hat So l er was n ot en t i t l ed t o a

n ew t ri al

.

62

. So l er n ex t arg u es h e recei v ed i neffect i v e as s i s t an ce wh en hi s t ri al co u n s el

fai l ed t o o b

ject t o t he t ri al co u rt ’ s co n s i d erat i o n o f h i s p ri o r co n v i ct io n s d u ri n g t h e

s en t en ci n g p h as e o f t h e p ro ceed i n g s wi t h ou t fi rs t p ro v i d i n g h i m no t i ce o f it s i n t en t

t o d o s o p ri o r t o t ri al

. W e d is ag ree.

In o rd er t o es t ab l i s h i n effect i v e as s i s t an ce of co u n s el

, [So l er] m u st s h o w

b o t h t h at co un s el ’ s p erfo rm an ce fel l b e l o w an o b ject i v e s t an d ard o f

reas o n ab l en es s

, an d th at

, b u t fo r co un s el ’ s d efi ci en t p erfo rm an ce, t h ere

i s a reas o n ab l e p ro b ab i l it y t h at t h e o ut co m e o f t h e t ri al wo u l d h av e b een

d i fferen t

. W e affi rm t he t ri al co u rt ’ s ru l i n g o n a d efen d an t ’ s cl ai m o f

i n effect iv e as s is t an ce o f co u n sel un l es s th at d e t erm i n at i o n i s cl earl y

erro n eo us

.

Wi l b u r n v. S t a t e

, 2 7 8 Ga. Ap p. 7 6

, 7 7 (2 ) (6 28 SE2 d 1 7 4 ) (2 0 0 6 ) (ci t at i o n s a n d

p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed ). See al s o S t r i ckl a n d v. W a s h i n g t o n

, 46 6 U. S. 6 6 8, 6 8 7 (1 0 4 SCt

2 0 5 2

, 8 0 LE2 d 6 7 4 ) (1 9 8 4 ). At t h e s en ten ci n g h eari n g

, t h e St at e i n fo rm ed t h e t ri al

co u rt t h at So l er h as a “ s i g n i fi can t an d rel ev an t cri m i n a l h i st o ry ” an d p ro ceed ed to

reci te s ai d h i s t o ry t o t h e t ri al co u rt wi t h o u t o b ject i o n fro m d efen s e co u n s el

. Th e St at e

d i d n o t p ro v i d e cert i fi ed co p i es o f t h e p ri or co n v i ct i o ns t o t h e t ri al co urt an d t h e

reco rd do es n ot refl ect t h at t h e St at e p ro v i d ed So l er wi t h n o t i ce o f i t s i n t en t t o p res en t

h i s cri m i n al h i s t o ry t o t h e t r i al co u rt at t h e p res en ten ce h eari ng

. So l er co n t en d s h i s

t ri al co u n s el ’ s fai l u r e t o o b ject t o t h e St at e’ s u se o f h i s pu rp ort ed p ri o r cri m i n al

7h i s t o ry d u ri n g t h e pres en t en ci n g h eari n g in t h e ab s e n c e o f p ret ri al n o t i ce was

d efi ci en t an d res u l t ed i n p reju d i ce ag ai n s t h i m

.

O C G A § 1 7 -1 0 -2 (a) (1 ) p ro v i d es t h at d u ri ng a p res en t en ci n g h eari n g

, t h e

ju d g e “ sh al l h ear ad d i t io n al ev i d en ce i n ex t en u at i o n, m i t i g at i o n

, an d ag grav at i o n o f

p u n i s h m en t

, i n cl u d i n g t h e reco rd o f an y p ri o r cri m i n al co n v ict i on s an d p l eas o f g ui l t y

o r n o l o co n t en d ere of t he accu s ed

, o r t h e ab s en ce o f an y p ri o r co n v i ct i o n an d p l eas .”

OCGA § 1 7 -1 6-4 (a) (5 ) p ro v i d es t h at “ [t ] h e p ro s ecu t i n g at t o rn ey s h al l

, n o l at er t h an

t en d ay s p ri o r t o t ri al

, or at s u ch t i m e as th e co u rt o rd ers b u t i n no ev en t l at er t h an t h e

b e g i n n i n g o f t h e t ri al

, p ro v i de t h e d efen dan t w i t h n ot i ce o f an y ev i d en ce in

ag g rav at i o n o f p u n i s h m en t t h at t h e st at e i n t en d s t o i n t ro d u ce i n s en ten ci n g

. ” “ Un d er

t h e cu rren t s t at u t o ry

s ch em e, t h e St at e i s n ot req u i red t o p ro v i d e no t i ce o f it s i n t en t

t o u s e a pri o r co n v i ct i o n i n ag g rav at i o n o f s en t en ci n g u n d er OCGA § 1 7 -1 6 -4 (a) (5 )

u n l es s wri t t en n o ti ce o f a d efen d an t ’ s el ect i o n to p art i ci p at e i n reci p ro cal d i s co v ery

u n d er O CGA § 17 -1 6 -2 (a) is p ro v i d ed t o t h e St at e.” Ki ser v. S t a t e

, 3 2 7 Ga. Ap p

. 1 7,

2 3 (5 ) (7 5 5 SE2 d 5 0 5) (2 01 4 ).

In t h e p res en t cas e, al t h ou g h So l er o p t ed t o p art i ci p at ed i n r e c ipr oc a l disc ove r y

,

i t d o es n o t ap p ear fro m t h e reco rd t h at So l er o r h i s t ri al co u n sel recei v ed n o t i ce o f i t s

i n t en t to u se a p ri o r co n v ict i o n i n ag g rav a t i o n o f s e n t en ci n g an d th e St at e d i d n ot

8p ro v id e an y ev i d en ce th at s u ch n o ti ce was g i v en

, wri t ten o r o ral

, d u ri ng t h e h eari n g

o n t he m o t i o n fo r n ew t ri al

. So l er’ s t r i a l co u n s el d i d no t t es t i fy at t h e heari n g o n

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

, an d t h u s we can n o t es t ab li s h w hat

, i f an y

, reas o n h e m ay

h av e h ad fo r n o t ob

ject i n g t o t h e St at e’ s pres en t at i o n t o t h e ju d g e d u ri n g t h e

p res en t en ce h eari n g

. Ho w ev er, p ret erm i tt i ng wh et h e r So l er’ s t ri al co un s el ’ s fai l u re

t o o bject was d efi ci en t

, So ler can n o t s h o w t h at t h e ou t co m e o f sen t en ci n g wo u l d h av e

b een d i fferen t

. See Al l en v. S t a t e

, 2 8 0 Ga. Ap p

. 6 6 3

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

As t h e t ri al co u rt ex p l ai ned i n i t s o rd er d en y i ng So l er’ s m ot i o n fo r new t ri al

,

h ad t ri al co u n s el m ad e t h e ob ject i o n

, t he t ri al co u rt wo u l d hav e co n s i d e r e d s ev eral

o p t i o n s in cl u di n g “ gran t i n g a po s t p o n em en t o f t h e s en t en ci n g h eari n g t o faci l i t at e t h e

p u rp os e o f t h e n ot i ce” req ui rem en t an d “ [o ] n l y u p o n a s h o wi n g o f p reju di ce an d b ad

fai t h ” wo u l d t h e t ri al co u rt h av e b een perm i t t ed t o p rev en t th e St at e fro m i n t ro d u ci n g

So l er’ s cri m in al reco rd

. See Ki s er

, 3 2 7 Ga. Ap p

. at 2 4 (5 ) (“ To o bt ai n th e ex cl u s i o n

o f ev i den ce fo r t h e St at e’ s al l eg ed d i s co v ery v io l at i o n

, a d efen d an t m u st s h o w b o th

p reju d i ce an d b ad fai th .” (ci t at i on o m i t t ed )). Th e t ri al co u rt co n cl u d ed

, an d we ag ree,

t h a t So l er fai l ed t o p res en t an y ev i d en ce t h at t h e co nv i ct i o ns up o n wh i ch t h e t r i a l

co u rt rel i ed were “ u n co u n s el ed o r o t h erwi s e i n ad m i s s ib l e” an d wo u l d t h erefo re h av e

b een b arred fro m b ei ng rev i ewed b y th e t ri al co u rt

. T hu s

, h av i n g fai l ed to

9d em o n s t rat e t h at h e was p reju d i ced i n an y way b y h i s t ri al co u n s el ’ s fai l u re t o o b ject

,

t h e t ri al co urt d i d n o t err i n d en y i n g h i s m ot i o n fo r n ew t ri al

. See P et er s on v. S t a t e

,

2 8 4 G a. 2 75

, 2 80 (6 6 3 SE2 d 1 6 4 ) (2 0 0 8 ) (ev en i f defen d an t ’ s t ri al co u n s el was

d efi ci en t, fai l u re t o d em on s trat e p reju d i ce was fat al t o i n effect i v e as s i s t an ce cl ai m ).

See al s o Ho w a r d v

. S t a t e

, 26 7 Ga. Ap p

. 2 57

, 2 5 8-2 5 9 (1 ) (5 99 SE2 d 2 3 1 ) (2 0 0 4 )

(d efen d an t m

u s t d em o n s t rat e h arm

as wel l as erro r t o warran t rev ers al ).

Ju d g men t a f f i r m ed . Do yl e, P. J., a n d

Ma r kl e, J., co ncu r

.

10