FOURTH D I VI SI ON DOYLE, P. J.

, M I LLER and DI LLA RD, 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 ls .us /r ule s /

Nov em ber 12, 2014



# I n th e Co u r t o f

A p p eals o f

G eo r g ia

A1 4 A0 83 2 . LINGO v . THE STATE. DO-0 3 1

D O Y LE , Pres i d i n g J u d g e.

J am es L i n g o ap p eal s h i s co nv i ct i o n fo r ro b b ery , 1 arg ui n g t hat t h e t ri al co u rt

erred b y ad m i t t i n g ev id en ce o f h i s g an g affi l i at i on

. W e ag ree, b ut nev ert h el es s affi rm

b ecau s e Li n g o h as fai l ed to es t ab l i s h h arm

.

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 v erd i ct an d an ap p el lan t n o l o n g er en jo y s th e

p res um p t i o n o f i n no cen ce. Th i s Co u rt det erm in es wh et her t h e ev i d en ce

i s s u ffi ci en t un d er t h e s tan d ard o f Ja cks o n v. Vi r g i n i a , 2 an d do es n o t

wei g h t h e ev i d en ce o r d et erm i n e wi t n es s cred ib i l i t y

. An y co n fl i ct s o r

i n co ns is t en ci es i n t h e ev i d en ce are fo r t he ju ry t o res o l v e

. As l o n g as

t h ere i s s o m e co m

pet en t ev i den ce, ev en t h o u g h co n t rad ict ed

, t o s up p o rt

1 OCGA § 1 6 -8 -4 0 (a) (1 ).

2 4 4 3 U. S. 3 07 (9 9 SCt 2 7 8 1 , 6 1 LE2 d 5 6 0) (1 97 9 ).each f a c t n e c e s sary t o m ak e o u t t h e St at e’ s cas e, we m u s t u ph o ld th e ju ry ’ s v erd ict

. 3

So v i ewed

, t h e reco rd sh o w s t h at o n J an u ary 1 4

, 2 01 2

, m i d d l e sch o o l ers

Ri ch ard Do m i ng u ez an d Do n o v an M art i n ez w ere ap pro ach ed at a G wi nn et t Co u n t y

car wa s h b y t h r e e m al es wh o as k ed t o bo rro w a p ho n e. O n e of t h e m al es p o i n t ed a

k n i fe at Do m i n g u ez an d d em an d ed h i s p h o n e, an o t h er g rab b ed it

, an d t h en al l t h ree

as s ai lan ts ran

. A cco rd i n g to Do m i n g u ez, t h e m an wi t h t h e k n i fe was w h i t e, wo re a red

a n d b l ack v ars i t y s ch oo l jack et an d a b l ack b as eb al l cap , h ad o n a s k i m as k t h a t

co v ered t h e b o t t o m h al f o f h i s face, an d h ad a cen t i m et er l o ng “ op en ” s t ar m ark o n

h i s face b el o w h i s l eft ey e. Do m i ng u ez d es cr i b ed th e o t h er t wo as s ai l an t s as b l ack

m al es w eari n g gray h oo d ed jack et s

. M art i n ez t es t i fi ed t h at t wo o f t h e m en were b l ack

an d t he t h i rd m an , wh o wi el d ed t h e k n i fe, w as w h i t e, wo re a bl ack s k i m as k o v er h i s

m o ut h , a red v ars i t y

jack et , an d a red h at , an d h ad a s t ar u n d er o n e o f h i s ey es

.

Po l i ce sh o w ed Do m i n g u ez a p h o t o g rap h ic l i n e u p , wh i ch co n t ai n ed a

p h o t o g rap h o f L i n g o t ak en b efo re h e g o t h i s t at t o o 4 ; Do m i ng u ez was u n ab l e to

3 (Ci t at i o n o m i t t ed .) Ra n ki n v. S t a t e , 2 7 8 Ga. 7 0 4

, 7 05 (6 0 6 SE2 d 2 69 ) (2 0 0 4 ).

4 At t ri al

, an o ffi cer t es t i fi ed t h at wh en creat i n g a p h o t o grap h i c l i n eu p , p o l i ce i n t en t i o n al l y ei t h er d ig i t al l y rem o v e d i s t i n gu i s hi n g feat u res , s u ch as vi si b l e t at t o o s , fro m a s u s p ect ’ s p h o t o grap h o r s el ect o t h er i n d i v i d ual s fo r t h e l i neu p wh o h av e t h e

2i d en t i fy h i m

. At a Feb ru ary 2 9, 2 0 1 2 h eari n g, Do m i n g uez i n i t i al l y i d en t i fi ed Li n g o,

wh o was s i t t i n g at th e d efen s e t ab l e, as t h e wh i t e as s ai l an t

, b u t cl ari fi ed t h at h e was

n o t s u re o f h i s i d en ti fi cat i o n ; at t ri al , h o wev er, Do m i ng u ez t es t ifi ed t h at Li n g o was

t h e wh i t e as s ai l an t

. M art i nez i d en t i fi ed Li ng o at t ri al as th e as s ai l an t wh o wi el d ed a

k n i fe d u ri n g t h e ro b b ery

.

On J an u ary 2 5

, 2 0 1 2

, t een ag er Pat ri ck Reed was wal ki n g t h ro u g h t he p ark i n g

l o t o f t h e Cl ub Lak es ap art m en t co m p l ex i n Gwi n n et t Co un t y wh en a m al e g rab b ed

h i m fro m b eh i n d an d p ut h i m i n a ch o k e h o ld

. An o t h er m an ap p ro ach ed

, an d t h e t wo

b eg an p u n ch i ng Reed

, t h rew hi m t o t h e g ro u n d

, an d k i ck ed h i m

. On e o f t h e m en

d i rect ed t h e o t h er t o g et R e ed ’ s p h o n e an d ch eck h i s p o ck et s

. On e of t h e m en t o o k

m o ney fro m Reed

, b ut t h e as s ai l an t s fl ed wh en so m eo n e cam e o u t o f h i s o r h er h o m e

b efo re t h e as s ai l an t s co u l d wres t l e Reed ’ s p h o n e fro m h im

. Acco rd in g t o Reed , t h e

m an wh o i n i t i al l y g rab b ed h i m was wh i t e, wo re a red h at

, red jack et

, an d g reen t en n i s

s h o es , an d h e h ad a s tar t at t o o u n d er h i s l eft ey e; t h e o t h er m an was b l ack an d wo re

a n av y b l u e jack et

. A p o l i ce offi c e r i n v es t i g at in g a s ep arat e i n ci den t in t h e l at e

aft ern o o n on J an u ary 2 5

, 2 0 1 2, s aw Li n g o i n t h e Cl ub Lak es ap art m en t co m p l ex

weari n g a red j ack et an d a red b as eb al l cap

. Reed was un ab l e t o i d en t i fy t h e as s ai l an t s

s am e feat u re.

3fro m a ph ot o g rap h l i n eu p , bu t h e i den t i fi ed Li n g o as o ne o f t h e as s ai l an t s in a

s u b s eq u en t co urt p ro ceed in g i n Feb ru ary 2 0 1 2

.

On J an u ary 2 7

, 20 1 2

, Reed ’ s si st er w as d ri v i n g t h ro ug h t h e Cl u b Lak es

ap art m en t co m

p lex wh en sh e saw t w o m en m at ch i n g t h e d es cri p ti o n Reed g av e o f t h e

m en wh o as s au l t ed h i m t wo d ay s b efo re. Aft er cal l i n g Reed an d co n fi rm i n g h i s

d es cri p t io n , s h e cal l e d t h e p o l i ce, an d fo l l owed t h e t w o m en t o a nearb y m ark et

,

wh ere p o l i ce arri v ed

. Li ng o , wh o was on e of t h e m en po i n t ed o u t b y Reed ’ s s i s t er,

h ad a s m al l t at to o u n d er h is l eft ey e an d was weari n g red pan t s , red an d b l ack s h o es ,

an d a red At l an t a Brav es cap

. Li n g o ’ s co -d efen d an t, Ral ik J o nes , was al so p res en t

. 5

Po l i ce s earch ed Li n g o ’ s ap art m en t an d fo u n d a red an d g ray s weat s h i rt ; 6 g reen Ni k e

s h o es ; a b l ack , wh i te, an d red v ars i t y jack et ; an d a b l ue an d g ray jack et

.

Li n g o was ch arg ed wi th arm ed ro b b ery an d ag g rav at ed as s au l t i n co n n ect i o n

wi t h t h e J an u ary 12 i nci d en t i n v o l v i n g M art i n ez an d Do m i n g u ez; L in go an d co

d e f e n d an t J on es were ch arg ed wi t h ro b b ery i n co n n ect i o n wi th t h e J an u ary 2 5

5 J o n es was n o t t ri ed wi t h Li n g o

.

6 A p o l i ce o ffi cer t es t ifi ed at t ri al t h at Reed st at ed t h at t h e wh i t e m al e wh o

as s au l t ed h i m

was weari n g a red s weat sh i rt wi t h a g ray cen t er.

4i n ci d en t i n v o l v i n g Reed

. 7 Li n g o m ad e an o ral m o t i o n i n l i m i n e b efo re t ri al t o ex cl u d e

an y ev i den ce reg ard i n g h i s p art i ci p at i o n in a g an g

. A ft er h eari n g arg u m en t

, t h e t ri al

co u rt d en i ed t h e m o t i o n , p erm i t t i n g t he St at e t o i n t ro d u ce t es t i m o n y fro m an o ffi cer

reg ard i n g Li ng o ’ s g an g m em bers h i p fo r t h e pu rp o s e o f s h o wi n g i d en t i t y , co n cl u d i n g

t h at t h e p ro b at i v e v al u e o f t h e ev i d en ce o u t wei gh ed i t s p reju d ici al effect

. 8

Du ri n g t h e t ri al

, In v es t ig at o r Kev in Si p p l e t es t i fi ed t h at o n May 1 3

, 2 0 1 0,

Li n g o ad v i s ed t hat he was a t wo -s tar g en eral i n t h e Bl ack P St o n e Nat i o n g an g an d

t h at th e g an g ’ s p red o m in an t co l o rs are b lack an d red

, wi t h g reen as an as s oci at e co l o r.

Si p p le al s o t es t i fi ed t h at Li n g o ’ s co -d efe n d an t

, J o n es , was a m em ber of th e s am e

g an g, an d t h e g an g m em

b ers al l p red o m i n an t l y

wo re t h e g an g co l o rs

.

W i t h reg ard to t he ch arg es i n v o l v i n g Mart i n ez an d Do m i n g u ez, t h e t ri al co u rt

d i rect ed a v erd ict of acq u it t al as t o t h e ag g rav at ed as s au l t ch arg e, an d t h e ju ry fo u n d

Li n g o n ot gu i l t y of arm ed ro bb ery

. W i t h reg ard t o th e ch arg es i nv o lv i n g Reed

, t h e

7 Li n g o an d J o nes were al s o ch arg ed wi t h cri m i n al at t em p t t o co m m i t b u rg l ary

o f t wo s ep arat e res i den ces o n J an u ary 2 7

, 20 1 2

, bu t t h e St at e en t ered a n o l l e p ro s eq ui

as t o t h o s e ch arg es

.

8 Th e t ri al co u rt i n s t ru ct ed t h e j u ry t h at t he ev i d en ce was ad m i t t ed fo r a t h e s o l e

p u rp os e o f es t ab l i s h i n g i d en t it y

.

5ju ry fo u n d Li n g o no t g u i l ty o f arm ed ro b b ery , b u t g u il t y o f ro b b ery , 9 an d Li n g o was

s en t en ced t o t wen t y

y ears , t o s erv e ei g h t i n co n fi n em en t

.

Li n g o ap p eal s t he d en i al o f h i s s u b s eq u en t m o ti o n fo r n ew t ri al

, arg u i n g t h at

t h e t ri al co urt erred b y

ad m it ti n g t h e ev i d en ce o f h i s g an g affi l i at i o n

. W e ag ree, b ut

affi rm fo r t h e reas o n s t h at fo l l o w.

“ As a g en eral ru l e, ad m i s s i o n o f ev i den ce is a m at t er res t i n g wi t h in t he s o u n d

d i s cret i o n o f t he t ri al co u rt

, an d ap p el l at e co urt s wi l l n o t d i s t u rb t h e ex erci s e o f t h at

d i s cret i o n ab s en t ev i d en ce o f i t s ab u s e.” 1 0

Li n g o ’s t ri al b eg an o n M arch 1 1

, 2 0 1 3, aft er t h e effect i v e d at e o f G eo rg i a’ s

n ew Ev i d en ce Co de, wh i ch ap p l i es t o t ri al s co m m en ced on o r aft er J an u ary 1

, 2 0 1 3.

“ Th e n ew Co d e ad op t ed

, i n l arg e m eas u re, t h e Fed eral Ru l es o f E v i d en ce, an d i t s

s ect i on s are co m

p arab l e t o co rres p o n d i n g fed eral ru l es

. Becau s e o f t h i s s i m i l ari t y , i t

i s p ro per t h at we gi v e co n s i d erat i o n an d g reat wei gh t to co n s t ru ct i o n s pl aced o n t h e

Fed eral Ru l es b y

t h e fed eral co u rt s .” 1 1

9 Li n g o was t ri ed s ep arat el y fro m J o n es

.

1 0 (Pu n ct u at i o n om it t ed .) W i l l i a ms v. S t at e ,

_

__ Ga

. A p p

.

_

_ _,

_ __ (1 ) (Cas e No . A1 4 A0 9 8 6, d eci d ed Au g . 2 6 , 2 0 14 ).

1 1 (Fo o t n o t es an d pu n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed .) Jo n es v. S ta te

, 3 26 Ga. Ap p

. 6 5 8

, 6 6 0 (1 ) (7 57 SE2 d 2 61 ) (2 0 1 4 ).

6OCGA § 2 4 -4 -4 0 4 (b ) p ro v i d es i n rel ev an t p art :

Ev i d en ce o f ot h er cri m es , wro n g s, o r act s s h al l n o t b e ad m is s i b l e t o

p ro v e t h e ch arac t e r o f a p ers o n i n o rd er t o s h o w act i o n in co n fo rm i t y

t h erewi th

. It m ay , h o wev er, b e ad m i s s ib l e fo r o t h er p urp o s es , i n cl ud i n g , b u t n o t l im i t ed t o , p ro o f o f m o t i v e, op p o rt u n i t y , i n t en t

, p r e pa rat i o n , p l an , k n o wl ed g e, i d en t i t y , o r ab s en ce o f m i st ak e o r acci den t

.

“ Th u s , i f t h e ev i d en ce o f ot h er act s i s rel ev an t fo r s o m e o t h er pu rp o s e t h an t o s h o w

a p ro b ab i l i ty t h at t h e d efen d an t co m m i t ted t he cri m e b ecau s e h e i s a m an o f cri m i n al

ch aract er, t h e ev i d en ce i s ad m i s si b le d es p i t e i n ci d en t al l y p laci n g t h e d efen d an t ’ s

ch aract er i n i s su e.” 1 2

T h e [ E l ev en t h ] Ci rcu i t u t i l i zes a t h ree-p art t es t fo r ev i d en ce o f o t h er

cri m es o r act s t o be ad m i s s i b l e p u rs u an t to Fed eral Ru l e of Ev i d en ce

4 0 4 (b ): (1 ) i t m

us t b e rel ev an t to an i s s u e o th er t h an d efen d an t ’ s

ch aract er; (2 ) t h ere m

u s t b e s u ffi ci en t p ro of t o en ab l e a ju ry t o fi n d b y

a prep o nd eran ce o f th e ev i d en ce t h at t h e d efen d an t co m m i t t ed t h e act (s )

i n q u es ti o n ; an d (3 ) t h e p ro b at i v e v al u e o f t h e ev i d en ce can n o t be

s u b s t a n t i a l l y o u t wei g h ed b y u n du e p reju di ce, an d t h e ev i d en ce m u s t

s at i s fy Fed eral Ru l e o f Ev i d en ce 4 0 3

. 1 3

1 2 (Ci t at i o n s an d p u n ct u at i o n o m i tt ed .) W a s h i ng t o n v. S t a t e , 2 94 Ga. 5 6 0

, 5 6 3 (2 ) (7 55 SE2 d 1 60 ) (2 0 1 4 ).

1 3 Jo n es , 3 2 4 Ga. Ap p

. at 6 6 0 (1 ), ci t i n g Un i t ed S t a t es v. Ed o u a r d

, 4 8 5 F3 d

1 3 2 4

, 1 3 44 (II) (C) (1 1 th Ci r. 20 0 7 ); Un i t e d S t a t e s v

. Del g a d o , 5 6 F3 d 1 35 7

, 1 3 6 5 (III) (B) (1 1 t h Ci r.1 9 9 5 ).

7OCGA § 2 4-4 -4 03

, wh i ch track s Fed eral Ru l e 4 0 3

, p ro v id es th at “ [r] el ev an t ev i d en ce

m ay b e ex cl ud ed i f i ts p ro b at i v e v al u e i s s u b s t an t i al l y o u t w ei g h ed b y

t h e dan g er o f

u n fai r p reju d i ce, co n fu s i o n o f th e i s s u es , or m i s lead i n g t h e ju ry o r b y co ns i d erat i on s

o f u n du e d el ay , was t e o f t i m e, o r n eed l es s p res en t at i o n o f cu m ul at i v e ev id en ce.”

In t h i s cas e, t h ere was n o ev i d en ce wh at s o ev er t h at t h e ro bb eri es were g an g

rel at ed

. Al t h o u g h g an g affi l i at io n m ay b e ad m i s s i b l e to s h o w m o t i v e, 1 4 t h at was n ot

t h e pu rp o s e o f t h e ad m i s s i o n of t h e ev i d en ce i n t h is cas e, an d t h ere was no ev i d en ce

t h at Li n g o ’ s g an g m em

b ers h i p was i n an y way rel at ed t o h i s m o t i v e fo r co m m i t t i n g

t h e cr i m e s

. A n d al t ho u g h t h e Su p rem e Co u rt o f Geo rg i a an d t h i s Co u rt h av e

p r e v i ou s l y affi rm ed th e ad m i s s i o n o f ev id en ce reg ard i ng a d efen dan t ’ s p ri o r g a n g

affi l i at i o n as res g es t ae, 1 5 h ere, b ecau s e t h e ev id en ce o f Li ng o ’ s g an g affi li at i o n was

1 4 See, e.g ., W

ol f e v

. S t a t e , 2 7 3 Ga. 6 7 0, 67 4 (4 ) (a) (5 4 4 SE2 d 1 4 8 ) (2 0 0 1 ) (g an g m em

b ers hi p was key to th e d efen d an t ’ s m o t iv e to co m m i t th e cri m es , wh i ch h e d i d at th e req u es t o f g an g m em b ers an d pu rs u a n t to g an g ’ s co d e o f co n d u ct

, wh i ch

req u i red h i m t o p art i ci p at e or t o s u ffer rep ercu s s io n s ); Jo h n s o n v. St a te

, 2 7 7 Ga. Ap p. 4 9 9

, 5 0 7 (4 ) (6 27 SE2 d 1 1 6 ) (2 0 0 6 ) (ev i d en ce o f d efen d an t ’ s g an g m em b ers h i p was ad m i s s i b l e an d “ re l e v a n t to s h o w h o w th e defen d an t s k n ew on e an o t h er, an d to

p ro v id e a co nt ex t an d m ot i v e fo r t he d efen d an t s ’ jo in t p art i ci p at i o n i n t h e ro b b ery ”).

1 5 See, e.g ., Co r

z a v. S t at e , 2 7 3 Ga. 1 6 4

, 1 6 6 (2 ) (5 39 SE2 d 1 4 9 ) (2 0 0 0 ); Mo r ey

v. St a t e , 3 1 2 G a

. A p p

. 6 7 8

, 6 8 4 -6 8 5 (1 ) (b ) (7 1 9 SE2 d 5 0 4) (2 0 1 1 ). Si m i larl y , t h e El ev en th Ci rcu i t h as h el d t h at “ [e] v i d en ce, n o t p art o f t h e c r i m e ch arg ed b ut

p ert ai n i n g t o th e ch ai n of ev en t s ex p l ai n i n g t h e co n t ex t

, m o t i v e, an d s et -u p o f t h e cri m e, i s p ro p er l y ad m i t t ed i f l i n k ed i n t i m e an d ci rcu m s t an ces wi t h th e ch arg ed

8u n rel at ed t o t he cri m es , it was n o t res g es t ae. M o reo v er, L i n g o’ s p ri o r g an g affi l i at i o n

h ad m i n im al p ro b at iv e v al u e wi t h reg ard t o i d en t it y

. T h e fact th at Li n go was weari n g

g an g co l o rs

– red an d b l ack

– at t h e t i m e t h e cri m es were co m m it t ed i s no t en o u g h in

i t sel f t o es tab li s h a p ro bat i v e co n n ect i o n b et ween t h e cri m es al l eg ed an d h i s g an g

affi l i at i o n , p art i cu l arl y g i v en t h at o t h ers wh o w ere i nv o l v ed i n th e ro bb eri es were n ot

weari n g g an g co l o rs

. 1 6 Si m i l arl y , t h e fact t h at Li n g o ’ s c o

- d efen d an t was al s o a

m em b er o f t h e s am e gan g was o f l i m i t ed p ro b at i v e v al u e, co n s id eri ng t h at t h ey were

ap p reh en d ed t og et h er an d i n t h e ab s en ce of an y ev id en ce t hat t h e cri m es w ere g an g

rel at ed

. T h us , th e ev i d en ce o f Li n g o ’ s g an g m em b ers h ip two y ears b efo re t he cri m es

i n t he cas e was o f m in im al , i f an y , p ro bat i v e v al u e.

In t h e ab s en ce o f a ch arg e o f v i o l at i o n o f t h e Geo rg ia St reet Gan g Terro ri s m

an d Prev en t i o n Act

, 1 7 ev i d en ce o f a d e fen d an t’ s g an g affi li at i o n i s h i g h l y

cri m e, o r fo rm s an i n t eg ral an d n at u ral p art o f an acco u n t o f th e cri m e, o r i s n eces s ary

t o co m p l et e t h e s t o ry

o f t h e cri m e fo r t h e ju ry .” Ed o u a rd , 4 8 5 F3 d at 1 34 4 (II) (C).

1 6 Co m p are Jo h n s o n v. S t a t e , 2 6 1 Ga. Ap p

. 9 8

, 1 0 4 (5 ) (c) ( 5 8 1 S E 2 d 7 1 5 ) (2 0 0 3).

1 7 OCGA § 1 6 -1 5 -1 et s eq

.

9p reju d i ci al

. 1 8 An d in th is cas e, t h e u n fai rl y p reju d i ci al effect o f t h e ev i d en ce o f

Li n g o’ s gan g affi l i at i on s ub s t an t i al l y o u t we i g h e d i t s m i n i m al p ro b at iv e v al u e. 1 9

Acco rd in g ly

, t h e t ri al co u rt ab u s ed it s d i s cret io n i n ad m i tt i n g t h e ev id en ce o f Li n g o ’ s

g an g m em

b ers h i p

. 2 0

Nev ert h el es s , “ i t is fu n d am en tal t h at harm as wel l as erro r m u s t b e sh o wn fo r

rev er s a l

. ” 2 1 In t h i s cas e, t h e v ict i m i d en t i fi ed Li ng o i n co u rt ; a p o l i ce offi cer s aw

Li n g o in t he sam e ap art m en t c o m p l e x w here t h e cri m es occu rred o n t h e d ay o f

1 8 S ee Jo n es v. S t at e , 2 9 2 Ga. 6 5 6

, 66 2 (2 ) (7 40 SE2 d 5 9 0) (2 0 13 ) (“ i t w a s h i g h l y p reju d i ci al fo r t h e p ro s ecu t i n g at t orn ey t o arg u e th at [t h e d efen d an t] h ad b een i n v o l v ed i n a p ri o r g an g s h o o t i n g ”).

1 9 Th e El ev en t h Ci rcu i t has d es cri bed Fed eral Ru l e o f Ev i d en ce 4 0 3 “ as ‘ an

ex t rao rd i n ary rem ed y wh i ch t he co u rt s s ho u l d i n v o k e s p ari n g l y , an d t h e b al an ce

s h o u ld b e s t ru ck i n fav or o f ad m i s s i b i l i t y .’ ” F la d i n g v. S ta t e , 3 2 7 G a. A p p

. 34 6

, 3 5 1

- 3 5 2 (2 ) (7 5 9 SE2 d 6 7 ) (2 0 1 4 ), qu o t i n g Un it ed S t a t es v. S u mn er , 5 2 2 Fed .Ap p x

. 8 0 6,

8 1 0 (1 1t h Ci r. 2 01 3 ). Th e El ev en t h Ci rcu i t h as al s o ex pl ai n ed

, h o wev er, t hat “ [t ] h e

m ajo r fu nct i o n o f Ru l e 4 0 3 i s t o ex cl u d e ev i den ce ‘ of s can t o r cu m u l at i v e pro b at i v e fo rce, drag g ed i n b y t h e h eel s fo r th e s ak e o f i ts preju d ici al effect ,’ ” wi th i n wh i ch

cat eg o ry t h e ev i den ce o f Li n go ’ s g an g affi l i at i o n fal l s i n t h i s cas e

. Un i t e d S t a t es v. Ag u il a

– U r ba y , 4 80 Fed .Ap p x. 5 6 4 , 5 6 7 (1 1 t h Ci r. 2 0 1 2 ).

2 0 See e.g

., Jo n es , 3 2 6 Ga. Ap p. at 6 6 6 (1 ).

2 1 (Pu n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed .) O’Nea l v. S t a t e , 2 8 8 Ga. 21 9

, 2 23 (2 ) (7 0 2 SE2 d 2 8 8 ) (2 0 1 0), qu ot i n g Ma t t h ews v. S t at e , 2 6 8 Ga. 7 9 8

, 8 0 3 (4 ) (4 93 SE2 d 1 3 6 ) (1 9 9 7 ). See

al s o W il l i a ms ,

_ _ _ G a. A p p.

_

_ _ ,

_ _ _ (1 ) (erro n eo u s ad m i s s i o n o f ev i d en ce u n d er OCGA § 2 4 -4 -4 0 3 i s s u bject t o h arm l es s erro r an al y s i s ).

10co m

m i s s io n ; L i n g o was ap p r eh en d ed t wo d ay s aft er t h e ro b b ery i n t h e s am e

ap art m en t co m

p l ex weari n g a red h at an d red jack et m at ch in g t h at d es cri b ed b y t h e

v i ct i m ; an d t h e p o l i ce d i s co v ered i n Li n g o ’ s h o m e cl o t h i n g m at ch i n g t h e d es cri p t i o n

o f t h at wo rn b y b o t h as sai l an t s o n t h e d ay o f t he ro b b ery

. Gi v en t h i s ev i d en ce an d t h at

t h e ju ry acq u it t ed Li n g o o f t h e arm ed ro b b ery o f Do m i n g u ez, we co n cl u d e t h at t h e

t ri al co u rt ’ s erro n eo u s ad m i s s i o n o f th e ev i d en ce o f Li n g o ’ s g an g a f fi l i at i o n was

h arm l es s an d d o es n o t req u ire rev ers al

.

Ju d g men t a f f ir med

. Mi l l er

, J., co n cu rs

. Di l l a rd

, J., co n cu r

s i n j u d g m en t o n l y

.

11A1 4 A0 83 2 . LINGO v . THE STATE

D I LLA R D , J u dg e, co n cu rri n g i n ju d g m en t o n l y

.

I co ncu r in ju d g m en t o n l y b ecau s e I d o n o t a g r e e w i t h a l l t h at i s s ai d i n t h e

m ajo ri ty o p i n i o n . As s u ch , t h e m ajo ri t y ’ s o p i ni o n d eci d es o n l y t h e is su es p res en t ed

i n t he cas e s u b j u d i ce an d m ay n o t b e ci t ed as b i n d in g p rece d en t

. S ee Co u rt o f

Ap p eal s Ru l e 3 3 (a).