FI RST DI VI SI ON

BA RNES, P. J.

, M CM I LLI A N and R EESE, JJ.

N O T IC E : M otions for r e c ons id e r a tion m us t be phy s ic a l ly r e c e iv e d in 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 e d tim e ly file d.

http://w w w .ga a ppe a l s .us /r ule s

June 19, 2018



# I n th e Co u r t o f

A p p eals o f G eo r gia

A1 8 A0 6 9 6 . BLACKW ELL v . THE STATE.

R E E S E , J u d g e.

A ju ry fo u n d Ken n et h Bl ack wel l g u i l t y o f ag g rav at ed ch i ld m o l es t at i o n ,

ag g rav at ed s ex u al b at t ery , an d s t at u t o ry rap e. 1 Th e t ri al co u rt s en t en ced Bl ack wel l t o

l i fe p l u s 20 y ears ’ i m

pri so n m en t . Bl ack wel l ap peal s fro m t h e d en ial o f hi s am en d ed

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

, arg u i n g, i n t er al i a, t h at h i s t ri al co u n s el was i n effect i v e i n fai l i n g

t o o b ject t o t h e im

p ro p er ad m i s s i on o f ch i l d h e a rs ay ev i d en ce. Fo r th e reas o n s s et

fo rt h , i n fra, we affi rm

.

Vi ewed i n t h e l i g h t m o s t fav o rab l e t o t h e ju ry ’ s v erd ict

, 2 th e ev i d en ce p res en t ed

at t ri al s h o wed t h e fo l l o w i n g fact s . In 2 0 06 , wh en t h e v i ct i m , K. S. was ab o u t s ev en

1 See OCGA § § 1 6 -6 -4 (a) (1 ), (c); 1 6 -6 -2 2.2 (b ); 1 6 -6 -3 (a).

2 See Ra n ki n v. S t at e , 2 7 8 Ga. 7 04 , 7 05 (6 0 6 SE2 d 2 6 9 ) (2 0 04 ).y ears o l d

, Bl ack wel l b eg an d at i n g K. S.’ s m o t h er. A t t h e t i m e, K. S. an d h er fam i l y

l i v ed i n Oh i o

. Acco rd i ng t o K. S., Bl ack wel l “ s t art ed t o t o u ch ” h er aro u n d th at t i m e,

u s i n g h i s fi n g ers t o t o u ch h er b reas t s an d h er v ag i na. Two o r t h ree y ears l at er, wh en

K. S. was n i n e or t en y ears o l d

, Bl ack wel l b eg an h av i ng s ex ual i n t erco u rs e wi t h h er.

In 2 0 1 0

, wh en K

. S. was t en o r el ev en y ears o l d

, h e r f a m i l y an d Bl ack wel l

m o v ed to Gwi n n et t Co u n ty

, wh ere t h e s ex ual i n terco urs e an d fo n dl i ng co n t i n u ed

. In

ad d i t io n , Bl ack wel l b eg an t o fo rce h er t o p erfo rm o ral sex o n h im

. A cco rd i n g t o K. S.,

t h e s ex ual ab u s e hap p en ed “ [a] l o t ,” b ut sh e d i d n o t tel l h er m o t h er b ecau s e s he

t h ou g h t h er m o t h er wo ul d n o t b el i ev e h er.

Th en , i n J u ly 2 0 1 2

, wh en K. S. was 1 3 y ears o l d

, Bl ack w el l i m p reg nat ed h er,

an d s h e h ad t o un d erg o a s eco n d -t ri m es t er ab o rt i on

. Acco rd i n g t o K

. S., s h e d i d n o t

t el l h er m o t h er t h at Bl ack wel l was t h e m an wh o h ad i m p reg n at ed h er, an d her m o th er

d i d n ot as k h er w h o i t h ad b een

. Bl ack wel l

, h o wev er, to ld K. S.’ s m o t h er t h at s h e h ad

b een rap ed b y s o m eo n e i n t h e n ei g hb o rh oo d

. I t i s u n d i s p u t ed t h at n ei th er K. S.’ s

m o t h er n o r Bl ack wel l cal l ed t h e p o l i ce t o rep o rt t h e al l eg ed rap e.

Fo l l o wi n g t h e ab o rt i o n , B la c kw e ll c ontin u ed t o h av e s ex u al i n t erco u rs e an d oral

s ex wi t h K. S. rep eat ed l y u n ti l earl y May 20 1 4, w h en s h e was 1 5 y ears o l d

. Ab o u t t wo

week s aft er t h e l as t t i m e Bl ack wel l s ex u al l y as s au l t ed h er, K. S. ran away fro m h o m e

2an d wen t t o a fri en d’ s h o u se s eek i n g a p l ace t o s p en d t h e n ig h t

. Acco rd i n g t o K

. S.,

s h e ran away b ecau s e s h e was afrai d fo r her o wn s afet y an d t hat o f h er l i t t l e s i s t er, wh o

was fi ve o r s ix y ears o ld at t h e t i m e.

Th e fri en d ’ s m ot h er t es t i fi ed t h at K

. S. t o l d h er “ ab o u t t h e t h i n g s [ B l ack wel l

was ] d o i n g t o h er” an d t h at s h e h ad t o l d h er m o t her ab o u t t h e ab us e s ev eral t i m es , b u t

h er m o t her d i d n o t b el iev e h er. Th e fri en d ’ s m o t h er t es t i fi ed t h at K. S. h ad “ t o l d [h er

t h at ] ev er s i n ce sh e was [n i n e y ears o l d

, Bl ack wel l ] h ad b een t o u ch i ng h er a n d he

h a[d ] s ex wi t h h er an d

. . . m ad e h e r p e r f o r m oral s ex on h i m an d t h at s h e [h ad

b eco m e] p reg n an t b y h im

. . . wh en s h e was

. . . 1 3 or 1 4

– an d t h at t h e ch i l d

. . . w as

. . . ab o rt ed [.] ” Th e fri en d’ s m o t h er, wh o was a p o li ce o ffi cer, cal l ed K. S.’ s m o t h er,

wh o arri v ed s h o rt l y

t h ereaft er, an d t h e p o l i ce.

Th e Gwi n n et t Co u n ty p o l i ce o ffi cer w h o res p on d ed t o t h e c a l l, An g el i ca

Gri s s om , t es t i fi ed at tri al t h at s he s p o k e b ri efl y wi t h K. S. at t h e fri en d ’ s h o m e. K

. S.

t o ld Gri s s o m

t hat Bl ack wel l

s t art ed t o u ch i n g h er w h en s h e was ab o u t [s ev e n ] ye a r s o l d an d t h at h e

act u al l y s t art ed i ns ert i n g h i s p en i s o r p en et rat i n g h er wh en sh e w as ab o u t

[t en ]

. [K. S.] i n i t ial l y t o l d [Gri s s o m ] t hat i n t h e s u m m er o f 20 1 3 s h e h ad

an a b o r t io n

. [H] er m om [t o l d Gri s so m , h o wev er,] t h at s h e p ai d fo r an

ab o rt i o n i n t h e su m

m er o f 2 0 12

. [K. S.] s t at ed [t h at Bl ack wel l ] wo u l d

n o rm al l y co m e i n t o h er b ed ro o m l at e at n i g h t wh en h er m o m was as l eep

.

3Sh e s t at ed t h at m an y t i m es s h e w as act u al l y as l eep hers el f an d [Bl ack wel l

wo u l d ] wak e h er u p

. [K. S. s t at ed t hat t h e s ex u a l a b u s e] h ap pen ed fo r

s ev eral y ears

. [T] h ei r l as t en co u n t er was ab o u t t wo week s p ri o r t o t h [e]

rep o rt b ei n g fi l ed wi t h t h e p o l i ce [i n M ay 2 0 1 4 ]

.

Gri s s om al s o t es t i fi ed th at s h e as k ed K. S.’ s m o t her if sh e b el i ev e d K

. S.’ s cl ai m s

ab o u t Bl ack wel l, an d t h e m o t h er res p o nd ed t h at s he d i d

. 3

Det ect i v e Ki m Ri d d l e wi t h t h e Gwi n n et t Co u n t y Po l i ce Dep art m en t’ s Sp eci al

Vi ct i m s Un i t co nd u ct ed a fo ren s i c i n t erv iew o f K. S. in J u n e 2 01 4

. Acco rd i n g t o

Ri d d l e, K. S. s ai d th at t h e s ex u al ab u s e i n Gwi n net t Co u n t y s t art ed in 2 0 1 0 wh en s he

was i n 6 th g rad e an d ab o u t el ev en y ears o ld an d t h at i t co n t i n u ed “ u n t i l t wo o r t h ree

week s p ri o r t o t h e rep o rt ,” i

. e., earl y M ay 2 0 1 4

. In fact

, K. S. sp eci fi cal l y t ol d Ri d d l e

t h at s h e h ad p erfo rm ed o ral s ex o n Bl ack wel l ab o ut two week s b efo re s he rep o rt ed t he

ab u s e

. T h e St at e p l ay ed a red act ed v i deo reco rd i n g of t h e n earl y t wo -h o u r fo ren s i c

3 To t h e ex t en t t h i s t es t i m o n y co ns t i t u t e d i n ad m i s s i b l e h ears ay o r i m p ro p er b o l s t e r i n g , Bl ack wel l’ s t ri al co u n s el d i d n o t o b ject t o t hi s t es t i m o n y at tri al

, n o r d i d

B l a c k wel l rai s e t h e fai l u re t o ob ject as an i n effect i v e as s i s t an ce cl ai m o r rai s e t h i s i s s u e o n ap p eal

. Th us , an y erro r i n t h e ad m i s s i o n o f t h i s s t at em en t was wa i v e d

. See

OCGA § 2 4 -1 -1 03 (a) (“ E rro r s h al l n o t b e p red i cat ed u p on a ru l i n g wh i ch ad m i t s

. .

. ev i d en ce u n l es s a s u b s t an t ial ri g h t o f th e part y i s affect ed an d [ ] a ti m el y o b ject i o n

o r m o t i o n t o s tri k e ap pears o f reco rd [.] ”); McGl o ckl in v. S t a t e , 2 92 Ga. Ap p

. 1 6 2

, 1 6 3 (6 64 SE2 d 5 5 2 ) (2 00 8 ) (fai l u re t o rai s e in e f f e c t i v e as s i s tan ce cl ai m i n t ri al co u rt

co n s t i tu t es w ai ver); Co b bl e v. St a t e , 2 6 8 Ga. Ap p

. 7 9 2

, 7 9 4 (2 ) (6 0 3 SE2 d 8 6 ) (2 0 0 4 ) (arg um en t s n o t en um erat ed as erro r i n b ri ef are wai v ed ).

4i n terv i ew fo r t h e ju ry

. Du ri n g t h e i n t erv i ew, K. S. d et ai l ed t h e y ears o f s ex u al ab u s e

b y Bl ack wel l , t el l i n g Ri dd l e t h at i t h ap pen ed “ wh en ev er [Bl ack wel l ] wan t ed i t .”

In ad d i t i o n t o t h i s ev i d en ce, K. S.’ s y o u n g er b ro t h er, D. S., t es ti fi ed t h at he

l earn ed ab o u t h i s s is t er’ s as s au l t aft er s h e rep o rt ed i t. A cco rd i n g t o D. S., s h e t o l d h i m

“ t h at t he s m al l p eri o d o f t im e wh en [Bl ack wel l ] was l i v i ng wi t h [t h em ] i n [Oh i o , ]

. .

. [Bl ack wel l ] wo u l d s t art feel i n g h er an d

. . . s h e co u l d n ’ t t el l an y b od y b ecau s e he

t h reat en ed to k i l l al l o f [t h em .] [Aft er t h ey m o ved t o Geo rg i a,] i t s t art ed p i ck i n g u p

m o re an d m o re[,] an d ev en t ual l y s h e h ad an ab o rt i o n .”

Th e St at e i n d i ct ed Bl ack wel l

, ch arg i ng hi m w i t h co m m i t t i n g th e act s o f

ag g rav at ed ch i l d m o les tat i o n , ag g rav at ed s ex u al b at t ery , an d s t at u t o ry rap e ag ai n s t t he

v i ct i m

. Acco rd i n g t o each co un t

, Bl ack wel l co m m i t t ed t h es e act s s o m et i m e b et ween

Oct o b er 1 , 2 0 1 0 , an d M ay 1 , 2 0 1 4

.

Aft er Bl ack wel l was c o n v i ct ed o n al l t h ree o f th e ch arg ed cri m es , h e fi l ed a

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

. Bl ack wel l’ s t ri al co u ns el t es t i fi ed at t h e m o t i on h eari n g t h at he

d i d n o t fi l e a m ot i o n in l i m i n e o r o b ject t o t h e ad m i s s i o n o f K. S.’ s o u t -o f-co u rt

s t at em en t s b ecau s e he d id n o t b el i ev e h e h ad a l eg al b as is t o o b ject

, gi v en K. S.’ s ag e

wh en s h e m ad e t h e s t at em en t s an d t h e fact t h at s h e was av ai lab l e t o t es t i fy at t ri al

.

5Th e t ri al co u rt d en i ed t h e m o t i o n fo r n ew t ri al

, ru l i n g t h at K. S.’ s o u t -o f-co u rt

s t at em en t s t o h er fri en d ’ s m o t h er, h er b ro t h er, G ri s so m , an d Ri d dl e (h erei n aft er, “ t he

h ears ay wi t n es ses ”) were ad m i s s i bl e u n d er t h e ch i l d hears ay s t at u t e becau s e s h e w as

u n d er 1 6 y ears o l d at t he t i m e s h e m ad e t he s t at em en t s . Th e co u rt al s o ru l ed t h at t he

s t at em en t s w ere ad m i s si b l e as p ri o r co n si s t en t s t at em en t s

. Th u s , t he co urt co n cl u d ed

t h at co u n s e l ’ s fai l u re t o rai s e a m eri t l es s ob ject i o n d i d n o t co ns t i t u te d efi ci en t

p erfo rm an ce. Bl ack wel l ap p eal s

.

On ap p eal fro m a cri m in al co n v i ct i o n , we v i ew t he ev i den ce i n t h e

l i g h t m o s t fav o rab l e t o th e v erd i ct an d an ap pel l an t n o l on g er en jo y s t h e

p res u m p t i o n o f i nn o cen ce. Th i s Co u rt d et erm i n es wh et h er th e ev i d en ce

i s su ffi ci en t u n d er th e s t an d ard o f Ja cks o n v. Vi r g i n i a , 4 an d d o es n o t

wei g h t he ev id en ce o r d et e r m i n e wi t n es s cred i b il i t y

. An y co n fl i ct s o r

i n co n s i s t en ci es i n t h e ev i d en ce are fo r t h e ju ry t o res o l ve. A s l on g as

t h ere i s s o m e co m

pet en t ev i d en ce, ev en t h o u gh co n t rad i ct ed

, t o s u p p o rt

each fact n eces s ary t o m ak e o u t t h e St at e’ s cas e, we m us t u p h o l d t h e ju ry ’ s v erd ict

. 5

4 4 4 3 U. S. 3 0 7 (9 9 SCt 2 7 8 1 , 6 1 LE2 d 5 6 0 ) (1 9 7 9 ).

5 W a l ker v. St a t e , 3 2 9 Ga. Ap p

. 3 6 9

, 37 0 (7 6 5 SE2 d 5 9 9) (2 0 14 ) (p u nct u at i o n

an d ad di t i o n al fo o t n o t e o m i t t ed ).

6“ Th e s t an d ard o f Ja cks o n v. Vi r g i n i a ,[ 6 ] is m et i f t h e e v i d e n c e i s s u ffi ci en t fo r an y

rat i o n al tri er o f fact to fi n d t h e d efen d an t g u i l t y b ey o n d a reas o nab l e d ou b t o f t he

cri m e ch arg ed .” 7

In o rd er t o p rev ai l o n a cl ai m of i n effect iv e as s is t an ce o f co u n s el

,

a cri m i n al d efen d an t m

us t s h o w t h at c ou n s el ’ s p erfo rm an ce was d efi ci en t

an d t h at th e defi ci en t p erfo rm an ce s o p reju d i ced th e cl i en t t h a t t h ere i s

a reas o n ab l e l i kel i h o o d th at

, b ut fo r co u n s el ’ s erro rs , t h e o u t co m e o f t h e

t ri al wo u ld h av e b een d i ffe r e nt. [ 8 ] T he c ri m i n al d efen d an t m u s t o verco m e

t h e s t ro n g p res u m

p ti o n t h at tri al co un s el ’ s co n du ct fal l s wi t h i n t h e b ro ad

ran g e o f reas o n ab le p ro fes s io n al co n d u c t

. W e accep t t h e t ri al co urt ’ s

fact u al fi n d i n gs an d cred i b i l it y d et erm in at i o n s un l es s cl earl y erro n eo u s , b u t we i nd ep en d en t l y

ap p l y t he l eg al p ri n ci p l es t o t h e fact s. 9

“ Si n ce an ap p el l an t cl ai m i n g i n e ffect i v e as s i s t an ce of co u ns el m us t s ho w bo t h

d efi ci en t p erfo rm an ce an d act u al preju d ice st em m i n g f r o m th at defi ci en cy , an

i n su ffi ci en t s h o wi n g on ei t h er o f t h es e p ro n g s rel i ev es t h e rev i ewi n g co u rt o f t h e n eed

6 4 4 3 U. S. at 3 1 9 (III) (B).

7 B a u t i s t a v. S t at e , 3 0 5 Ga. Ap p . 2 1 0 , 2 1 1 (1 ) (6 9 9 SE2 d 3 9 2 ) (2 0 1 0 ).

8 S t r i ckl a n d v. W

a s hi n g t o n , 4 6 6 U. S. 6 6 8

, 6 9 0 (III) (A) (1 0 4 SCt 2 0 5 2, 8 0 LE2 d

6 7 4 ) (1 9 8 4 ).

9 Ro b i ns on v. S t a t e , 2 7 7 Ga. 7 5

, 7 5 -7 6 (5 8 6 SE2 d 3 1 3 ) (2 0 0 3 ) (ci t at i o n s an d

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

7t o ad d res s t h e o th er p ro n g

. ” 1 0 W i t h t h es e g u id i n g p ri n ci p l es i n m i n d , we t u rn n o w t o

Bl ack wel l ’ s s p eci fi c cl ai m s o f erro r.

1

. A s an i n i t ial m at t er, we co n cl u de t h at K

. S.’ s t e s t i m o n y was s u ffi ci en t t o

p ro v e Bl ack wel l ’ s g ui l t b ey o n d a reas o n ab l e d ou b t

, i.e., t h at h e co m m i t t ed at l eas t o ne

cri m i n al act in t h e m an n er al l eg ed i n each co u n t o f t h e i n d i ct m en t

– ag g rav at ed ch i l d

m o l es t at i o n , 1 1 ag g rav at ed s ex u al b at t ery , 1 2 an d s t at u to ry rap e 1 3

– bet ween Oct o b er 1

,

2 0 1 0

, an d M ay

1 , 2 0 1 4

.

1 0 Ri gg in s v. S t a t e , 2 7 9 G a. 4 0 7

, 4 0 9 (2 ) (6 1 4 SE 2 d 7 0 ) (2 0 0 5 ) (ci t at i o n an d

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

1 1 See OCGA § 1 6 -6 -4 (c) (“ A p ers on co m m i t s t h e o ffen se o f ag g rav at ed ch i l d

m o l es t at i o n wh en s uch p er s o n c o m m i t s an o ffen s e o f ch i l d m o l es tat i o n wh i ch

. . . i n vo l v es an act o f s od o m y .”); s ee al s o OCGA § 1 6 -6 -4 (a) (1 ) (ap p l i cab l e d efi n i t i o n

o f ch i l d m o l es tat i o n ).

1 2 See OCGA § 1 6 -6 -2 2 .2 (b ) (“ A p ers o n co m m i t s t he offen s e o f ag g rav at ed

s ex u al bat t ery wh en h e o r s h e i n t en t i o n al l y p en et rat es wi t h a fo rei g n o b ject th e s ex u al

o rg an

. . . o f an o t h er p ers o n wi th o u t t h e co n s en t o f t h at p ers o n.”); s ee al s o OCGA §

1 6 -6 -2 2 .2 (a) (“ Fo r th e p urp os es o f t h i s Co d e sect i o n , t h e term “ fo rei g n o b j ect ” m ean s

an y art i cl e o r i n s t ru m en t o t h er t h an t h e s ex u al o rg an o f a p ers on .”).

1 3 See OCGA § 16 -6 -3 (a) (“ A p ers o n co m m i t s t h e o ff

e n s e o f s tat u to ry rap e wh en h e o r s h e en g ag es i n s ex u al i n terco u rs e wi t h an y p ers o n u nd er th e ag e o f 1 6

y ears a n d n o t h i s o r h er s p ou s e, p ro v i d ed t h at n o co n vi ct i o n s h al l b e h ad fo r t h i s

o ffen se o n t h e u n s up p o rt ed t es ti m o n y o f t he v i ct im .”).

8It i s ax io m at i c t h at “ [t ] he t es t i m o n y o f a s i n g l e w i t n es s i s g en eral l y s u ffi ci en t

t o es t ab l is h a fact

. ” 1 4 Here, K

. S. t es t i fi ed at t ri al th at Bl ack wel l rep eat ed l y s ex u al l y

as sau l t ed h er b y , am o n g o th er th i n g s , h av i n g s ex u al in t erco u rs e an d o ral s ex wi t h h er

t h ro u g h o u t t h e ap p li cab l e p eri o d wh i l e h er fam i l y was l i v i n g i n Gwi n n et t Co u n t y

.

M o reo v er, K. S. s p eci fi cal l y t es t i fi ed t h at Bl ack wel l im preg n at ed h er i n 2 0 1 2 an d

, as

a res u lt , s h e h ad t o u n d erg o a s eco nd -t ri m es ter ab o rt i o n wh en s h e w as o n l y 1 3 y ears

o l d

. K. S’ s t es t i m on y reg ard i n g t h e p reg n an cy an d ab o rt i o n was su p po rt ed b y h e r

m ed i cal reco rd s , as wel l as B l a c k w e l l ’ s ad m i s s i o n th at h e acco m p an i ed h er an d h er

m o t h er t o t h e cl i ni c wh ere t h e p ro ced u re was p erfo rm ed

. 1 5

1 4 OCGA § 2 4 -1 4 -8 ; s ee H a mmo n t r ee v. S t a te

, 2 8 3 Ga. Ap p

. 7 3 6

, 73 7 (1 ) (6 4 2

SE2 d 4 1 2 ) (2 0 0 7 ) (In a ch i l d m o les t at i o n cas e, “ [t ] h e v ict i m ’ s t es t im o n y al on e s u ffi ced

t o es t ab l i sh t h e el em en t s o f t h e cri m e ch arg ed .”) (ci t at i o n s o m i t t ed ) ; Lewi s v. S t a t e , 2 7 5 Ga. Ap p . 4 1 , 4 2 (1 ) (6 1 9 SE2 d 6 9 9 ) (2 0 0 5 ).

1 5 See OCGA § 1 6 -6 -3 (a) (A co nv i ct i o n fo r st at ut o ry rap e req u i res t h at t he

v i ct i m ’ s t es t i m o ny b e s u p p o rt ed b y ot h er ev i d en ce.); s ee al s o In t h e In t er es t o f B. L.

S

. , 2 64 Ga. 6 4 3

, 6 4 4 (2 ) (4 4 9 SE2 d 8 2 3 ) (1 9 9 4) (Ev i d en ce was su ffi ci en t t o u p ho l d

co n v i ct i o n fo r d el in q u en cy b as ed u p o n s t at u t o ry rap e b ecau s e “ [i ] t was n o t n eces s ary

t h at th e v i ct i m ’ s t es t i m o n y b e co rro b o rat ed i n ev ery p art i cu l ar[.] ”) (ci t at i o n om i t t ed );

Da vi s v. S t a t e , 20 4 Ga. Ap p

. 6 5 7 (1 ) (4 20 SE2 d 3 4 9 ) (1 9 9 2 ) (It i s n o t n eces s ary fo r t he

St at e t o p res en t ev i d en ce t o co rro b o rat e t h e v i ct i m ’ s i d en t i fi cat io n o f t he d efen d an t as

t h e p ers o n w h o co m

m i tt ed t h e s t at u t o ry rap e. “ Th e q u an t u m o f co rro b o rat i on n eed ed

i n a [s tat u t o ry ] rap e cas e i s n o t t h at wh i ch i s i n it sel f s u ffi ci en t to co n v i ct t h e accu sed

, b u t o n l y t h at am o u n t o f i n d ep en d en t ev i d en ce wh i ch t en d s t o p ro v e t h at t h e i n ci d en t

o ccu rred as al l eg ed .”) (ci t at i o n an d p u n ct u at io n o m it t ed ).

9Th erefo re, we fi nd t h at K. S.’ s t es ti m o n y , as su p po rt ed by h er m ed i cal reco rd s

an d Bl ack wel l ’ s ad m i s si o n, w as s u ffi ci en t to au t h o ri ze t h e j u r y’s verd i ct t h at

Bl ack wel l was g u i l t y b ey o n d a reas o n ab l e d o ub t o f t h e cri m es as ch arg ed

. 1 6

2

. Bl ack wel l arg u es t h at hi s t ri al co u n s el was i neffect i v e fo r fai li n g t o o b ject t o

K

. S

. ’s t e s t i m o n y ab o u t s ex u al ab u s e t hat t o o k p l ace i n Oh i o b ecau s e t h e tri al co u r t

l ack ed s u b

ject m at t er ju ri s d i ct i o n o v er t ho s e cri m es

. A n y o b ject i o n wo u l d h av e b een

fu ti l e, h owev er, as t h i s ev i d en ce was ad m is s i b l e t o s h o w t he p ri or d i ffi cu l t ies b et ween

Bl ack wel l an d t h e v i ct i m u n d er OCGA § 2 4-4 -4 0 4 (b ). 1 7

“ Un l i k e s i m i l ar tr a nsact i o n s , p ri o r d iffi cu l t i es d o n o t i m p l i cat e i n d ep en d en t act s

o r occu rren ces , bu t are co n n ect ed act s o r occu rren ces ari s i n g fro m th e rel at i o n s h i p

b et ween t h e s am e p eo pl e in v o l v ed i n th e pro s e c u t i o n a n d are rel at ed an d co n n ect ed

1 6 See Lewi s , 2 7 5 Ga. Ap p

. at 4 1 -4 2 (1 ) (I n a c hi l d m o l es tat i on cas e, t he

u n d e r a g e v i ct i m ’ s t es t i m o n y th at h er s t ep fat her fo n d l ed h er an d en g ag ed i n o ral sex

an d s ex u al i n t erco u rs e w i t h h er o v er a p eri o d o f y ears was co rro b o rat ed b y a fri en d ’ s

t es t i m o ny t h at s he wi t n es s ed at l eas t o n e i n s tan ce o f oral s ex an d o t her wi t n es s es

co n fi rm ed o t h er s ex u al l y s u g ges t i v e co n d uct b et w een t h e d efen d an t an d v ict i m .).

1 7 See Lo p ez v. S t at e , 3 32 Ga. Ap p . 5 1 8

, 5 2 0 (2 ) (7 7 3 SE2 d 7 8 7 ) (2 0 15 ).

10b y s uch nex u s .” 1 8 T h u s , b ecau s e t h e ev i den ce w as ad m i s s ib l e i n t h i s cas e, Bl ack wel l

h as fai led t o s h ow d efi ci en t p erfo rm an ce b y co u ns el

. 1 9

3

. Bl ack wel l arg u es th at h i s t ri al co u n s el was i n e f f e c t iv e i n fai l i n g t o fi l e a

m o t i on i n l i m i ne t o ex cl u de t h e o u t-o f-co u rt s t at em en t s K. S. m ad e t o th e h ears ay

wi t n es s es ab o u t an y act s o f s ex u al as s au lt he co m m i t t e d a g a i n s t h er p ri o r to J u ly 1

,

2 0 1 3

. In a rel at ed arg u m en t

, Bl ack w el l co n t en d s t h at h i s t ri al co u n s el was i n effect i ve

i n fai li n g t o o b

j ect t o t h at h ears ay t es t i m o n y at t ri al

. A cco rd i n g to Bl ack wel l

, t h e o u t

o f-co urt s t at em en t s were i n ad m i s s i b l e u n d er t h e Ch i l d Hears ay St at u te b ecau s e, at t he

t i m e t h os e act s were co m m i t t ed

, t h e h ears ay ex cep ti o n on l y ap p l ied t o s t at e m e n t s

m ad e b y a ch i l d u n d er t h e ag e o f 1 4 y ears , an d K. S. w as 1 5 y ears ol d wh en s h e m ad e

h er i n i t i al o u t cry

.

1 8 Lo pez , 3 3 2 G a. Ap p

. at 5 2 0 (2 ) (Th e n o t i ce req u i rem en t o f OCGA § 2 4 -4 -4 0 4 (b ) d o es no t ap p l y to ev i d en ce o f p ri o r d i ffi cu l t i es b et ween t he accu s ed an d t h e al l eg ed

v i ct i m .); s ee al s o OCGA § 2 4 -4 -4 1 4 (ad m i s si b i l i t y o f ev i d en ce o f p ri o r act s o f ch i l d

m o l es t at i o n co m

m i t t ed b y th e d efe n d a n t ) ; Un i fo rm Su p eri or Co urt Ru l e 3 1 .1 (p ro ced u ral ru l es fo r t h e ad m i s si o n o f s i m i l ar t ran s act i o n ev i d en ce).

1 9 See An gl i n v. S t a t e , 3 02 Ga. 3 3 3

, 3 4 3 (8 ) (8 0 6 SE2 d 5 7 3 ) (2 0 1 7) (“ Th e fai lu re

t o p u rs u e a fu t i l e o b

ject i o n d o es n o t am o u n t t o in effect i v e as s is t an ce.”) (ci t at i o n an d

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

11As s h o wn ab ov e, t h e i n d i ct m en t ch arg ed Bl ack wel l wi t h s ex u al l y as s au l t i n g t he

v i ct i m bet ween Oct o b er 2 0 10 an d M ay 2 0 1 4

. Th u s , t w o d i fferen t v ers i o n s o f

Geo rg i a’ s Ch i l d Hears ay

St at u t e ap p l y

i n t h i s cas e.

(a) Fo r t h e act s o f s ex u al as s au l t t h a t B l ack wel l co m m i t t ed ag ai ns t K. W

.

b et ween J u l y 1

, 2 0 1 3

, an d M ay 1

, 2 0 14

, OCGA § 2 4-8 -8 2 0 ap p l i ed

. 2 0 Pu rs u an t t o t h at

s t at u t e,

[a] s t at em en t m ad e b y a ch i l d y o u n ger t h an 1 6 y ears o f ag e des cri b i n g

an y act o f s ex u al co n t act o r p h y s i cal ab u s e perfo rm ed wi t h o r o n s u ch

ch i l d b y an o t her or wi t h o r o n an o t her in t h e p res en ce o f s uch ch i l d s hal l

b e ad m i s s i b l e i n ev i d en ce b y t h e t es t i m o n y o f t h e p ers on t o wh o m m ad e

i f t h e p ro p o n en t o f su ch s t at em en t p ro v i d es no t i ce to t h e ad v ers e p art y

p ri o r t o tri al o f th e i n t en t io n t o u s e s u ch o u t -o f-co u rt s tat em en t an d s u ch

ch i l d t es ti fi es at th e t ri al

, . . . an d

, at th e t i m e o f t he t es t i m o n y reg ard i n g

t h e o u t-o f-co u rt s t at em en t s , t h e p ers o n to wh o m t h e ch i l d m ad e s u ch

s t at em en t i s s ub

ject t o cro s s -ex am i n at i o n reg ard i n g th e o u t -o f-co u rt

s t at em en t s

.

T h e r e c o r d s h o ws t h at t h e s t at u t e’ s n o t ice an d p ro ced ural req u i rem en t s were m et i n

t h is cas e. Th u s, as Bl ack wel l ap p ears t o co n ced e in h i s b ri ef, a n y o u t

- o f-co u rt

2 0 See Ga. L. 2 01 3 , p . 2 2 2 , § § 1 3 (rev i si n g OCGA § 2 4 -8 -8 2 0 ), 2 1 (“ Th i s Act

s h al l beco m e effect iv e on Ju l y 1

, 2 0 1 3

, an d s h al l ap p l y t o offen s es w h i ch o ccu r o n o r aft er t h at d at e. An y o f

f e n s e o c c u rri n g b efo re J u l y 1

, 20 1 3

, sh al l b e g o v ern ed b y t he

s t at u t e i n effect at t he t i m e o f s u ch o ffen s e.”).

12s t at em en t s m ad e b y K. S. t o t h e h e a r say wi t n es s es ab ou t act s o f s ex u al ab u s e

co m m it t ed b y Bl ack wel l b et ween J u l y 1

, 2 0 1 3, an d M ay 1

, 2 0 1 4

, were ad m i s s i b l e

u n d er OCGA § 2 4 -8 -8 20

.

(b ) Fo r act s o f s ex u al as s au l t t hat were co m m i t ted ag ai n s t K. S. b efo re J u l y 1

,

2 0 1 3

, fo rm er OCGA § 2 4 -3 -1 6 ap p l i ed

. 2 1 Th at s t at u t e p ro v i d ed :

A s t at em en t m ad e b y a ch i l d u n d er th e ag e of 1 4 y ears d es cri b i n g a n y

s ex u al co n t act o r p h y si cal a b us e p erfo rm ed wi t h o r o n t h e ch il d b y

a n o t h e r

. . . i s ad m i ss i b l e i n ev i d en ce b y t he t es ti m o n y o f th e p ers o n o r

p ers o n s t o wh o m m ad e i f t h e ch i l d i s a v a i l a b l e t o tes t ify i n t h e

p ro ceed i n g s an d t h e co urt fi n d s th at t h e ci rcu m s t an ces o f t he s t at em en t

p ro v i d e s u ffi ci en t i nd i ci a o f rel i ab i l it y

. 2 2

Th u s, Bl ack wel l i s co rrect th at t he h ears ay wi t n es s e s ’ tes ti m o n y reco un t i n g s t at em en t s

m ad e b y K

. S. ab o u t act s o f s e x u al ab u s e b y Bl ack wel l t h at o ccu rred b efo re J u ly 1

,

2 1 See OCGA § 2 4 -8 -8 2 0 ; s ee al s o S t a t e v. W a l ker

, 3 4 2 Ga. Ap p

. 7 3 3, 7 3 3 -7 3 4 (8 05 SE2 d 262) ( 2017)

. T he G e or gia Gen eral As s em b ly s u b s t an t i al l y reen act ed fo rm er OCGA § 2 4 -3 -1 6 (red es i g nat i n g t h e s t at ut e as OCGA § 2 4-8 -8 2 0) wh en i t en act ed t he

n ew Ev i d en ce Co d e. See Ga. L

. 2 0 1 1

, p

. 9 9

, § 2

. T h e n ew E v i d e n c e C o d e h ad an effect i v e d at e o f J an u ary 1

, 2 0 1 3

. See Ga. L. 2 0 1 1

, p

. 9 9

, § 1 0 1

. Th u s , t h e fo rm er

v ers i o n o f OCGA § 2 4 -8 -8 2 0 t e c h n i c a ll y ap p l i ed t o act s co m m i t t ed i n t h i s cas e b et ween J an u ary 1 an d J u l y 1

, 2 0 1 3

. Gi v en t h e “ n earl y i den t i cal ” l an g u ag e i n fo rm er OCGA § 24 -3 -1 6 an d fo rm er OCGA § 2 4 -8 -8 2 0

, s ee La s t er v. S t a t e , 3 4 0 Ga. Ap p

. 9 6

, 9 9 (1 ) n

. 2 (7 9 6 SE2 d 4 84 ) (2 0 1 7 ), t h e in s t an t an al y s i s is t h e s am e un d er bo t h s t at u t es

.

2 2 See Ga. L. 1 9 9 5 , p . 9 3 7 , § 1

.

132 0 1 3

, w ere n o t ad m i s si b le u nd er OCGA § 24 -3 -1 6

, b ecau s e K

. S. was 1 5 y ears o l d at

t h e t i m e s h e m ad e t h e s t at em en t s

.

Pret erm i tt i n g wh et h er Bl ack wel l ’ s t ri al co u n s el ’ s perfo rm an ce was d efi ci en t i n

fai l i n g t o o b

ject to t h i s ev i d en ce, h o wev er, w e fi n d t h at Bl ack wel l h as fai l ed t o s h o w

t h at t h ere i s a reas o nab l e p ro b ab i l i t y t h at t h e o u t co m e o f t h e tri al wo u l d h av e b een

d i fferen t i f t h e ev i den ce h ad been ex cl u d ed

. 2 3 Here, th e h ears ay wi t n es s es ’ t es t i m o n y

reco u n t i ng K. S.’ s s t at em en ts ab o u t s ex u al ab u s e t hat o ccu rred p ri o r t o J u l y 1

, 2 0 1 3

,

w a s m e r e l y cu m

u lat i v e o f K. S.’ s t ri al tes t i m o n y an d o th er ev id en ce i n t h i s cas e, al l

o f wh i ch w as b o t h ad m i s s i b le at t ri al an d s u ffi ci en t t o s u st ai n t h e ju ry ’ s v erd i ct

. 2 4 As

t h is Co u rt h as rep eat ed l y h el d

, th e fai l u re t o o b ject t o h ears ay ev i den ce t h at is m erel y

cu m u l at i v e o f o t h er, pro p erl y ad m i tt ed e v i d e n c e is h arm l es s an d

, th u s, d o es n o t

co n s t i tu t e i n effect i v e as s i st an ce o f co u ns el

. 2 5 Co n s eq u en t l y , Bl ack wel l has fai l e d t o

2 3 See R o b i n s o n , 2 77 Ga. at 7 5 -7 6

.

2 4 See Di v i s io n 1 , s u p ra.

2 5 See, e.g ., Th o ma s v. S t a t e , 2 9 6 Ga. Ap p

. 1 7 0

, 1 7 4 (2 ) (c) (6 7 4 SE2 d 5 6 ) (2 00 9 ); Su l l i va n v. S t a t e , 2 9 5 Ga. Ap p

. 1 4 5

, 1 5 1-1 5 2 (4 ) (6 7 1 SE2 d 1 8 0 ) (2 0 0 8 );

C u rr i ng t o n v. S t a t e , 2 70 Ga. Ap p

. 3 8 1

, 38 7 (4 ) (6 0 6 SE2 d 6 1 9 ) (2 0 0 4 ); In g r a m v

. S t at e , 2 6 2 Ga. Ap p

. 3 0 4, 3 0 5 (2 ) (5 8 5 SE2 d 2 11 ) (2 0 0 3 ).

14m eet h i s b u rd e n o f d e m o n s trat in g p reju di ce t hat aro s e fro m t h e i m p ro p er ad m i s s i o n

o f t hi s ev i d en ce. 2 6

4

. Si m i l arl y , Bl ack wel l co n t en d s t h at t h e ju d g m en t o f co n v i ct i o n is v o i d a b

i n it i o becau s e i t can n o t b e di s cern ed wh et h er t h e ju ry i m pro p erl y co n s i d ered ev i d en ce

o f t he Oh i o i nci d en t s i n reach i n g i t s v erd ict

.

P r e t e rm i t t i n g wh et h er s u ch co n s id erat i on wo ul d h av e b een im p ro p er, 2 7 each

co u n t i n th e in d i ct m en t accu s ed Bl ack wel l w i t h c o m m i t ti n g t h e ch arg ed act “ i n t he

St a t e o f G e o rg i a an d Co u n ty o f Gwi n n et t

, o n an d b et ween t h e 1 s t d ay o f Oct o b er,

2 0 1 0 an d t h e 1 s t d ay o f M ay , 2 0 1 4 [.] ” In t h e ju ry ch arg e, t he tri al c o u r t r e a d t h e

i n di ct m en t t o t h e ju ry an d s p eci fi cal l y i n s t ru ct ed t h e ju ry t h at v en ue i n Gwi n n et t

Co u n t y h ad t o b e p ro v en b y t h e St at e b e yo n d a reas on ab l e d o u b t as t o each cri m e

ch arg ed i n t h e i n di ct m en t

. Th e co u rt p ro perl y i n s t ru ct ed t h e j u ry , an d we m us t p res u m e

t h at t h e ju ry

fo l l o wed t h i s i n st ru ct i o n i n t h e ab s en ce o f ev i d en ce t o t he co n t rary

. 2 8

Ju d g men t a ff i r m ed . Ba r n es , P. J., a nd

McMi ll i an , J., co ncu r

.

2 6 See Br o wn v. S t a t e , 33 2 G a

. Ap p. 6 3 5

, 6 3 8 (2 ) (7 74 SE2 d 70 8 ) (2 0 1 5 ) (“ Fai l u re t o sat i s fy ei t h er p ro n g o f t h e S t r i ckl an d s t an d ard i s fat al t o an i n effect i ve

as si s t an ce cl ai m .”) (ci t at i o n s o m i t t ed ).

2 7 See Di v i s io n 2 , s u p ra.

2 8 See B r o wn v. S t a t e , 3 0 0 Ga. 4 4 6 , 4 4 9 (3 ) (7 96 SE2 d 2 8 3 ) (2 0 1 7 ).

15