FI FTH DI VI SI ON

M C FA DDEN, C. J.

, R I CKM A N, P. J.

, and SENI OR A PPELLA TE JUDGE PHI PPS.

N O T IC E : M otions for r e c ons i de r a tion m us t be

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D E A D LIN E S A R E N O LO N G E R TO LLE D IN T

H I S

C O U R T. A LL FILIN G S M U ST B E S U B M I TTE D WITH IN

TH E TIM E S S E T B Y

O U R C O U R T R U LE S

.

A pr i l 8, 2021



# I n th e Co u r t o f

A p p eals o f

G eo r g ia

A2 1 A0 22 7 . BUW E E v . THE STATE.

P H I P P S , Sen i o r Ap p el l at e J u d g e.

A ju ry fo u n d Eb en ezer Bu wee g u i l ty o f ag g rav at ed ch i l d m o l es t at io n an d ch i ld

m o les t at i o n

, an d t h e t ri al co urt den i ed h i s m o t i o n an d am en d ed m o t i o n s fo r n ew t ri al

.

Bu wee fai l ed to t i m el y fi l e a no t i ce o f ap p eal fro m t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s ord er, a n d h e

m o ved fo r an o ut -o f-t i m e ap p eal

, w h i c h t h e t ri al co u rt g ran t ed

. On ap peal

, Bu wee

arg u es th at t h e ev id en ce was in s u ffi ci en t t o s up p ort h i s co n v i ct i on s an d th at t h e t ri al

co u rt erred b y st ri k i n g a ju ro r ov er h i s o bject io n

. Fo r t h e fo l lo wi n g reas o n s

, we affi rm

Bu wee’ s co n vi ct i o ns

.

W h en we co ns i der t he l eg al s u ffi c i e n c y o f t h e ev i d en ce, we vi ew th e

ev i d en ce i n th e l i g ht m o s t fav o rab l e t o t h e v e r d i c t an d i n q ui re o n l y

wh et h er an y rat i o n al t ri er o f fact m i gh t fi nd b ey on d a reas o n ab l e d o u b t

t h at t h e d efen d an t is g u i l t y o f t h e cri m es o f wh i ch h e was co n v i ct ed

. Un d er t h i s rev i ew, we m u s t p u t as id e an y q u es t i o n s ab o u t co n fl i ct i n gev i d en ce, t he cred i b i l i t y o f wi t n es ses

, o r t h e wei g ht o f t h e ev id en ce,

l eav in g t h e res o l u t i o n of s u ch t h i n g s to t h e d i s cret i on o f t h e t ri er o f fact

.

J o n es v. S t a t e

, 3 5 4 Ga. Ap p

. 5 6 8

, 5 71 (1 ) (8 41 SE2 d 11 2 ) (2 0 2 0) (ci tat i o n s a n d

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

, t h e ju ry ’ s v erd i ct w i l l b e u p hel d as l o ng as t h ere i s s o m e

co m p et en t ev i d en ce, ev en th o u g h co n t rad i ct ed

, to suppor t e a c h f a c t ne c e s s ary t o m ak e

o u t t h e St at e’ s cas e.” W

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

, 3 0 9 Ga. Ap p

. 3 9 8, 39 9 -4 0 0 (1 ) (7 1 0 SE2 d

5 9 4 ) (2 0 1 1 ) (ci t at i o n an d p u nct u at i o n o m i t t ed ).

So v i ewed

, t h e ev i den ce s h o ws t h at wh en A

. D. was 1 5 y ears o l d

, s h e l i v ed

wi t h her g ran dm o t h er, au n t

, u ncl e, bro t h er, an d Bu wee, wh o was d at i n g her au n t

. Sh e

h ad recen t l y g ot t en h er o wn ro o m aft er an o t h er au n t an d a co u s i n m o v e d o u t

, b ut

Bu wee k ep t s u i t s an d s h o es i n t h e cl o s et of t h at b ed ro o m

. In M ay 2 0 1 7

, A. D. awo k e

aro u n d 2 : 0 0 a.m

. wh en Bu wee en t ered h er b ed ro o m

. Acco rd i ng t o A. D., Bu wee

cam e i n t h e ro o m

, an d he wen t t o t h e cl os et

, an d I b el i ev e he was p u t t i n g

h i s s tu ff u p an d t h en h e s t o o d o v er m e an d t h en -- he s t oo d ov er m e an d

t h en aft er a wh i l e, h e s t art ed t o uch i n g m e l i k e feel i n g on m y bo d y an d

t h en -- an d t h en h e s l id h i s h an d d o wn m y p an t s an d in s ert ed h i s fi n gers

i n m y v ag i n a.

A. D. t es t i fi ed t h at Bu wee fi rs t t o u ch e d h e r b u t t o ck s wi t h h is h an d

, an d sh e fro ze.

Bu wee t h en m o v e d h i s h an d aro u n d t o her fro nt

, p ut t h em i n s i d e h er p an t i es

, an d

2i n s ert ed h i s fi n g ers i n t o h er v ag i n a, wh i ch cau s ed pai n an d d i s co m fo rt

. At t h i s p o i n t

,

A. D. “ s h o t u p an d s tart ed ru n n i n g d o wn s tai rs .”

A. D. was p an i ck i n g, cry i n g

, an d t ry in g t o t el l h er g ran d m o th er an d au n t wh at

h ad h ap p en ed

. Sh e ev en t u al l y cal m ed en o u gh to t el l th em

, an d t h en cal led h er co u s in

an d t o l d h er co u s i n an d au nt wh at had h ap p en ed

. H er b ro t h er t ol d h e r t o c a l l t h e

p o l i ce, b u t h er g ran d m o th er an d au nt s ai d t h ey co u l d res ol v e t h e p ro bl em

. A. D., i n

fact

, d i d cal l t h e p o li ce, b ut A. D. w as u ps t ai rs wh en t h e p o l i ce cam e, an d h er

g ran d m o t h er an d au n t wo u l d n o t l et A. D

. t al k t o t h e p o l i ce. Th e po l i ce l eft

, an d

Bu wee rem a i n ed at t h e ho u s e, s o A. D. l o ck ed her b ed ro o m d o or an d d id n o t s l eep

b ecau s e s h e w as s o s cared

. Sh e s p en t t h e n ex t week s leep i n g at an o th er au n t ’ s h o u s e

u n t i l Bu wee l eft h er g ran d m o t her’ s h o u s e.

Th e d ay aft er t h e in ci d en t o ccu rred

, A. D. sp o ke wi t h h er co un s el o r at s ch o ol

an d t o l d h er wh at had h ap p en ed

. Sch o o l o ffi ci al s cal l ed t h e po l i ce, wh o cam e t o t h e

s ch o ol

, s p o k e w i t h A.D., an d to o k h er fo r a fo ren s i c m ed i cal ex am

. Th e s ex u al as s au l t

n u rs e t es t i fi ed t h at s he ex am i n ed A. D. wi t h i n 1 2 h o u rs o f t h e as s au l t

. A. D. reco u n t ed

t h e s am e v ers i o n o f ev en t s d u ri n g h er ex am an d t ol d t h e n u rs e t h at s h e ex p eri en ced

p ai n

. In ad d i t i on

, t h e n u rs e fo u nd a lacerat i o n i n A. D.’ s gen i t al s co n s i s ten t wi t h t h e

ab u se des cri b ed b y A. D., an d pi ct u res of t h e l acera t i o n w e r e p res en t ed t o t h e ju ry

.

3A d et ect i v e c o n d uct ed a v i d eo -reco rd ed i nt erv i ew o f A

. D. at t he Gwi n n et t Sex u al

As s au l t Cen ter, an d i t was p l ay ed fo r t h e ju ry

.

Bu wee t es t i fi ed i n h i s o wn defen s e an d ex p l ai ned th at he h ad go n e i n to A. D.’ s

b e d r o o m t o get s o m e cl ot h es fro m t h e cl o s et

, an d o n t h e way h e s t u m b l ed an d fel l

.

Aft er h e fel l

, h e ju m

ped u p

, an d h e s aw s o m eo n e ru n o u t o f t h e ro o m

. He d en i ed

t o u ch i n g A. D. o r an y

o th er ch i l d i n a s ex u al m an n er.

1

. Bu wee fi rs t a s s ert s t h at t h e ev i d en ce was i n s uffi ci en t t o s u pp o rt h i s

co n vi ct i o n s

. Sp eci fi cal l y

, h e arg u es t h at reas o n ab l e do u b t ex i s ted reg ard i n g t h e

m o les t a t i o n b ecau s e a n um b er o f ad u l t s were p res en t i n t h e h o us e wh en t h e

m o les t at i o n o ccu rred

, th ere was a l ack o f p h y s ical ev i d en ce, an d t h e fam i l y was n ot

al arm ed en o u g h t o s p eak wi t h p o l i ce. W e d i s ag ree.

“ A p ers on co m

m i t s t h e o ff

en s e o f ch i ld m o l es t at i o n wh en s u ch p ers o n

. . .

[d ] o es an y im

m o ral o r in decen t act t o o r in th e p res en ce o f o r w i t h an y ch i l d u n d er t h e

ag e o f 1 6 y ears w i th t h e i n t en t t o aro u s e o r s at i s fy t h e s ex u al d es i res o f e i t h er t h e

c h i l d o r t h e p ers o n [.] ” OCGA § 1 6 -6 -4 (a) (1 ). “ A p ers o n co m m i t s t he o ffen s e o f

ag g rav at ed ch i l d m o l es t at i o n wh en su ch p ers on co m m i t s an o ffen s e o f ch i ld

m o l e s t a t i o n wh i ch act p h y s i cal l y i n ju res th e ch i l d o r in v ol v es an act o f s o d o m y .”

OCGA § 1 6 -6 -4 (c). “ Si g n i fi c a n t l y

, a ch i l d ’ s t es t i m o n y t h at t h e m ol es t at i o n was

4p ai n fu l i s s uffi ci en t t o p ro v e t h e el em en t o f p h y s i cal i n ju ry .” Mo o n v. S t a t e

, 3 3 5 Ga.

Ap p . 6 4 2 , 6 4 6 (1 ) (b ) (7 8 2 SE2 d 6 9 9) (2 01 6 ).

Here, t h e ev i d en ce was s u ffi ci e n t f o r t h e ju ry to fi n d Bu wee g u i l t y b ey o n d a

reas on ab l e d o u b t of ch i l d m o l es t at i o n fo r t o u ch i n g A. D.’ s b u t t o ck s an d ag g rav at ed

ch i l d m o l es t at i o n fo r i n s ert i n g h i s fi n g ers i n to h er v ag i n a an d h u rt i n g h er, as al l eg ed

i n t h e i n di ct m en t

. Fi rs t o f al l

, “ t h e ev i d en ce o f t h e vi ct i m al o n e i s s u ffi c i e n t to

au t h o ri ze t h e ju ry to fi n d a d efen dan t g u i l ty of ch i l d m o l e s t a t i o n

. N o req u i rem en t

ex i s t s th at th i s tes ti m on y b e co rro b o rat ed .” Reyes v. St a te

, 3 5 6 G a. A p p

. 3 4 6

, 3 4 7 (1 )

(8 4 7 SE2 d 2 5 ) (2 0 2 0 ) (ci t at i o n an d p u n ct u at io n o m i t t ed ); s ee al s o OCGA § 2 4 -1 4 -8

(“ Th e t es t i m on y o f a s in gl e w i t n es s i s g en eral l y s uffi ci en t t o es tab l i s h a fact .”).

Acco rd in g ly

, A. D.’ s t es t i m o ny t h at Bu wee t o uch ed h er b u t t o ck s an d h u rt h er wh en

h e i n sert ed h i s fi ng ers i n t o h er v ag i n a al o n e was s u ffi ci en t ev i d en ce fo r a rat i o n al t ri er

o f f act to fi n d Bu wee g u i l t y of ch i l d m o les t at io n an d ag g rav at ed ch i l d m o l es t at i o n.

Reyes

, 3 5 6 Ga. Ap p

. at 3 4 7 -3 4 8 (1 ); Mo o n

, 3 3 5 Ga. Ap p

. at 6 4 6 (1 ) (b ). In ad d i t i o n,

t h e St at e p res en t ed ad d i t io nal ev i d e n c e t o s up p o rt th e ch arg es

, i n cl ud i n g ev i d en ce

reg ard i n g A. D.’ s des cri pt io n of t h e i n ci d en t t o o th ers

, t es ti m o n y o f t he s ex u al as s au l t

n u rs e t hat s h e d i s co v ered a l acerat i o n i n A. D.’ s v ag i n a co n si s t en t wi th A

. D

. ’s

5acco u n t o f t h e ev en t s

, p h o to gr a p h s o f th e l acerat i o n

, an d t h e d et ect i v e’ s v i d eo

i n t erv i ew o f A. D.

Des p i t e Bu w ee’ s as s ert i on s t h at h e s im p l y s t u m b l e d an d d i d n o t co m

m i t t h e

ch arg ed o ffen s es

, i t was t h e s o l e p ro v i nce o f t h e ju ry to ju d g e th e cred i b i li t y o f t h e

wi t n es s es

, r es o l v e an y co n fl i ct s i n t h e ev id en ce, an d d et erm i n e wh et her Bu wee

co m m i t t ed t he ch arg ed act wi t h t h e req u i s i t e i n t en t

. See Reyes

, 3 5 6 Ga. A p p

. at 3 4 7

(1 ); Bu r ke v. S t a t e

, 3 1 6 Ga. Ap p

. 3 8 6

, 3 9 0 (2 ) (7 2 9 SE2 d 5 3 1 ) (2 01 2 ) (wh et h er t h e

req u i s i t e i n t en t fo r ch i ld m o l es t at i o n ex is t s i s a q ues t i o n o f fact

, wh i ch m ay b e p ro v ed

i n feren t ial ly an d i s t o b e det erm i n ed b y t h e fact fi n d er i n l i gh t o f t h e t o t al i t y o f t h e

ci rcu m s t an ces ). Th e t ri al co u rt d i d n o t err i n d en y i n g Bu w ee’ s m o ti o n fo r n ew t ri al

o n t h i s g ro u n d

.

2 . Bu wee n ex t as s ert s t h at t h e t ri al co urt erred b y s t ri ki n g a p ro s p ect i v e ju ro r

fo r cau s e o v er h is o b

ject i o n. W e d is ag ree.

Un d er OCGA § 1 5 -1 2 -1 6 4 (a), a p ro s pect i v e ju ro r m ay b e s et as id e fo r cau s e

i f h e (1 ) h as fo rm ed an d ex p res s ed an y o pi n io n i n reg ard t o t h e g u il t o r i n n o cen ce o f

t h e accu s ed ; (2 ) h as an y p reju d i ce o r bi as ei t h er fo r o r ag ai n s t t h e accu s ed ; (3 ) can n ot

b e i m p art i al b et w een t h e s t at e an d t h e accu s ed ; or (4 ) i s co n s ci en t i ou s ly o p p o s ed t o

cap i t al p u n i s h m en t . In ad d i t i o n

,

6[t ] h e co u rt sh al l al s o ex cu s e fo r cau se an y j u ro r w h o fro m t h e t ot al i t y o f

t h e ju ro r’ s an s wers o n v o i r d i re i s d et erm i n ed b y t he co urt t o be

s u b s t an t i al l y i m

p ai red i n t h e ju ro r’ s ab i l i t y t o b e fai r an d im part i al

. T he

ju ro r’ s o wn rep res en t at io n t hat t h e j u ro r wo u l d b e fai r an d i m p art i al i s

t o b e co n s i d ered b y

t he co u rt b u t i s n o t d et erm in at i v e.

OCGA § 1 5 -1 2 -1 6 4 (d ).

“ W h et her t o s t ri k e a ju ro r fo r cau s e i s wi t h i n th e d is cret i o n o f t h e t ri al co u rt

a n d t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s ru l i n g s are p ro p er ab sen t so m e m an i fes t ab u se of d is c r e t i o n

. ”

S a l l i e v. S t a t e

, 2 76 Ga. 5 0 6

, 50 8 (2 ) (5 7 8 SE2 d 44 4 ) (2 0 0 3) (ci t at i o n o m i t t ed ). “ W e

v i ew t h e reco rd as a w h o l e t o d et erm i n e s up p o rt fo r t h e tri al co u rt ’ s fi n d i ng s

, an d we

p ay d eferen ce t o t he t ri al co u rt ’ s res o l u t i o n o f an y co n fl ict s o r eq u i vo cat i o n s i n t h e

p ro s p ect i v e ju ro r’ s v o i r d i re res p o ns es as wel l as i t s u l t i m at e d et erm i n at i o n o f a

ju ro r’ s q u al i fi cat i on .” Id

.

Ap p el l at e ju d g es

, aft er al l

, h av e o nl y a co l d reco rd fro m wh i ch t o s i ze

u p a p ro s p ect i ve ju r o r

, a n d t h e y are in n o p o s i t i o n t o as s es s wh et her a

p ro s pect i ve ju ro r s p ok e wi t h a s s u ran ce or un cert ai n t y

, en t hu s i as m o r

h es i tat io n , can d or o r g u i l e. On t h e o t h er han d , a t ri al ju d ge i s u n i q u el y

p o s i t i o n ed t o ev al u at e wh et h er a p ro s pect i ve ju ro r can ren der an

i m p art i al v erd i ct

, c o n s i d eri n g th at t h e t ri al ju d g e can ob s erv e a

p ro s pect i ve j u ro r i n p ers o n an d t ak e acco un t of h e r d em ean o r an d

co u n t en an ce, n o t ju s t t he wo rd s t h at s h e s peak s

.

7Ed

en f i el d v. S t a t e

, 2 9 3 Ga. 3 7 0

, 3 7 9 -3 8 0 (7 ) (7 4 4 SE2 d 7 3 8) (2 0 1 3), o v erru led i n p art

o n o t h e r g r o u n d s b y W

i l l i s v. S t a t e

, 3 0 4 Ga. 6 86

, 7 0 6 n

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

(2 0 1 8) (ci t at i o n an d p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed ).

Here, t h e reco r d s ho ws t h at

, d u ri n g v o i r d i re, J u ro r # 2 1 i n d i cat ed t hat h e h as

a d ep res s i o n p ro b l em an d t ri es t o s t ay away fro m s t res s b ecau s e of h eal t h i s s u es

. H i s

fat h er d i ed at an y earl y ag e o f card i ac arres t

, an d d o ct o rs h av e t o l d t h e ju ro r t o s t ay

away fro m s tres s t h at co u l d affect h i s h eal t h

. In fact

, th e ju ro r i n d icat ed t h at h e t ak es

m e d i c a t i o n fo r h i s is s u es

, h ad a s t res s t es t s ch ed ul ed fo r t h e fo l lo wi n g week

, an d

b el i ev ed t h at b ei n g s eat ed o n t h e j u ry wo u ld d et ri m en t al l y affect h i s h eal t h.

Acco rd in g t o t h e ju ro r,

[t ] o b e h o n es t wi t h y ou , I t ry t o s t ay away fro m an y k i n d o f d i s cu s s i o n

i f t h ere is s o m et h in g l i k e an y v i o len ce o r an y -- an y t hi n g t h at p ut m e at

s t res s fo r m e, I t ry t o s t ay away fro m i t

. It au t o m at i cal l y affect s m y

h eal th . Th at ’ s wh y

I d o n ’ t g et i nv o l v ed i n an y o f t hat s t uff.

Th e ju ro r fu rt her s t at ed t h at h e d i d n o t p res u m e t hat Bu wee was g u il t y or i n n o cen t

,

b u t becau s e t h e cas e in v o l v ed a ch i l d

, h e b el i ev ed i t n eces s ari l y w o u ld i n v o l v e m o re

s t res s.

Aft er v o i r d i re, t h e St at e req u es t ed t h at t h e t ri al co u rt s t ri k e J u ro r # 2 1 fo r cau s e

b as ed o n t h e ju ro r’ s i n di cat i o n t h at h e s u ffered fro m d ep res si o n an d wan ted t o av o id

8t h e s tres s o f a t ri al

. Bu wee’ s at t o rn ey o b ject ed o n t h e g ro u n d t h at a t ri al i s n o t s o

o v erb eari n g an d s t res s fu l th at i t s h o ul d d i s q u al i fy t h e ju ro r. Th e t ri al co u rt ex cu s ed

t h e ju ro r fo r cau s e, s t at i n g

,

It ’ s m y co ncern i s t h at h e’ s ap p aren t l y deci d ed t o t u n e h i m s el f ou t

, t hat

h e d o es n ’ t i nt en d to p ay at t en t i o n to an y t h i n g t h at m ig h t cau s e h i m s o m e

s t res s

. Th e i m

p l i c at i on o f h i s an s wers t o t h es e q u es ti o n s was h e w as

g o i n g t o av o i d st res s b y s i m p l y i g no ri n g th e ev i d en ce t h at w as

p res en ted

. So I am g oi n g t o g o ah ead an d ex cu s e J u ro r Nu m b er 2 1 f o r

cau s e.

In ad d i t i o n

, i n i t s o rd er d en y i n g Bu wee’ s m ot i o n fo r n ew t ri al

, t h e co u rt n o t ed t h at

i t recal l ed

J u ro r 2 1 an d t he p art ies ’ v o i r d i re o f hi m

. J u ro r 2 1 ex p res s ed h es i t at i o n

o v er s i t t i n g o n t h e ju ry d u e t o co n cern s ov er h i s h eal t h an d h i s s t res s

l ev el

. Th e Co u rt fu rt h er o b s erv ed J u ro r 21 i n p ers o n an d co n cl u ded t hat

h e ap p eared ei t h er u n wi l l i n g o r u n ab l e t o g i ve th e cas e t h e at t en t i o n

n eed ed t o ren d er a ju s t v erd i ct

.

Bu wee arg u es o n ap p eal t h at t h e t ri al co urt s h ou l d n o t h av e ex cu s ed J u ro r # 2 1

fo r cau s e b ecau s e t h e ju ro r’ s res p on s es d i d n o t s h o w t h at h e c o u l d n o t b e fai r an d

i m p art i al

. W e di s ag ree. Al t h o ug h J u ro r # 21 m ay no t h av e ex p res s l y s t at ed t h at h e

co u ld no t b e f

a i r an d im

p art i al

, t h e t ri al co u rt co n cl u ded t h at b ecau s e o f th e ju ro r’ s

h eal t h p ro b l em s an d h i s co n cern o v er t h e s t res s i n v o l ved i n a ch i l d m o l es t at i o n cas e,

9J u ro r #2 1 l i k el y wo u ld h av e i g no red t h e ev i d en ce p res en t ed t o p ro t ect h is h eal t h

, an d

s u ch act i o n wo u l d n o t b e fai r t o ei t h er p art y

. See g en eral l y S a ll ie

, 2 7 6 G a. at 5 1 0 -5 1 1

(5 ) (n o ab u s e o f d i s cret i o n i n d i s m is s i n g p ro sp ect i v e j u ro r wh o h ad been prev i o u s l y

t reat ed fo r sch izo p h ren i a an d o th er m en t al h e al t h p ro b l em s

, ex h i bi t ed b i zarre

b eh av i o r wh il e wai t i n g t o b e q ues t i o n ed o n v o ir d ire, an d ram b l ed wh en an s weri n g

q u es t i o n s )

. We d efer to t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s ab i li t y i n t h i s cas e t o o b s erv e p ro s p ect i v e

J u ro r #2 1 i n p ers o n an d t ak e acco u n t o f hi s d em ean o r an d co u n t en an ce, n ot ju s t t h e

wo rd s t h at h e s p o k e. See Ed en fi el d

, 2 9 3 Ga. at 3 7 9-3 8 0 (7 ). Rev i ewi n g t h e reco rd as

a wh ol e in t h i s cas e, we fi n d n o ab u s e o f d i s cret i on i n t he t r i a l c o u r t ’s deci s i o n to

s t ri k e p ro s p ect iv e J u ro r # 2 1 fo r cau s e.

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

d en , C. J., a nd

Ri ckma n, P. J., co n cu r

.

10