FI RST DI VI SI ON DOYLE, C. J.

, A NDREWS, P. J.

, and RA Y, J.

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 ay 6, 2016



# I n th e Co u r t o f

A p p eals o f

G eo r g ia

A1 6 A0 17 7 . GORDON v . THE STATE. DO-0 0 6 C

D O Y LE , Ch ief J ud g e.

Fo l l owi n g a b en ch t ri a l

, S h e r o m e G ord o n was co n v ict ed o f p o s s es s i o n o f

co cai n e, 1 a g g r av at ed as s au l t

, 2 fel o n y o b s t ru ct i o n of a p o l i ce o ffi cer, 3 an d

m i s d em ean o r o b s tru ct i o n o f a p o l i ce offi cer. 4 Go rd o n ap peal s fro m t h e d en i al o f h i s

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

, co nt en d i ng t h at t h e tri al co u rt erred b y (1 ) s en t en c i n g h i m fo r

ag g rav at ed as s au l t i n v io l at i o n o f t h e ru l e o f l e n i t y , an d (2 ) fai l i n g t o m erg e h i s

1 OCGA § 1 6 -1 3-3 0 (a).

2 OCGA § 1 6 -5 -2 1 (b ) (2 ).

3 OCGA § 1 6 -1 0-2 4 (b ).

4 OCGA § 1 6 -1 0-2 4 (a).co n vi ct i o n s fo r ag grav at ed as sau l t an d fel o n y obstr u ct i o n

. Fo r t h e reas on s t h at fo l l o w,

we affi rm

.

Co n st ru ed in fav o r o f t h e v erd i ct

, 5 t h e reco rd s h o ws t h at an o ffi cer s t o p p ed a

v e h i c l e b ecau s e i ts b rak e l i g h t s were n o t fu n ct i o n i n g. As he s po k e t o th e d ri v er,

Go rd o n , t h e o ffi cer s m el l ed al co h o l o n G o r d on ’ s b reat h an d o b s erv ed a b eer b o t t l e

i n p l ai n v i ew i n t h e b ack s eat

. Th e o ffi cer i nq u i red ab o u t th e b o t t l e , an d Go rd o n

res p o n d ed “ o h , Lo rd ,” an d h an d ed t h e o ffi cer t h e b o tt l e, wh ich was p art i al l y fu l l o f

b eer. Th e o ffi cer el ect ed t o arres t Go rd o n fo r an op en co n tai n er v i o lat i o n an d as k ed

Go rd o n t o ex i t t he v eh i cl e, wh i ch h e d i d

. As t h e offi cer a t t e m p t e d t o h an d cu ff

Go rd o n , G o rd o n fo rcefu l l y at tem p t ed t o fl ee, an d a s t ru g g l e en s u ed

. As t h e o ffi cer

h el d Go rd o n ’ s n eck , Go rd o n at t em p t ed t o b u rn t h e o ffi cer’ s ey e wi t h a l i t ci g aret t e.

Th e offi cer b l o ck ed t h e at t em p t

, an d t he t w o f

e l l t o t h e g ro u nd

, g rap p l i n g in a

s t al em at e u n t i l a g r o u p o f yo u n g m en fro m a n earb y frat ern i t y h o us e as s i s t ed t h e

o ffi cer i n s u b d u i n g Go rd o n

. U l t i m at el y , aft er d ep l o y i n g a t as er, t h e offi cer was ab l e

t o s ucces s fu l l y h an d cu ff Go rd o n

. Th e o ffi cer t h e n s earch ed Go rd o n an d fo u n d

co cai n e.

5 See S h o rt v. S t a t e , 2 3 4 Ga. Ap p

. 6 3 3

, 6 34 (1 ) (5 0 7 SE2 d 5 14 ) (1 9 9 8 ).

2Go rd o n w a s ch arg ed wi t h p o s s es si on o f co cai n e, ag g rav at ed as s au l t

, fel o ny

o b s t ru ct i on o f an o ff

i cer, m i s d em ean o r ob s tru ct i on o f an o ffi cer, o bs t ru ct i n g t h e

h i g h way , p o ss es s i o n o f an o p en co n t ai n er of al co h o li c b ev erag e wh i l e o p erat i n g a

v eh icl e, an d d ri v i n g wi t h no wo rk i n g b rak e l i g ht s

. Go rd on pl ea d e d g u i l t y t o t h e

co cai n e ch arg e, an d t h e St at e n o l l e p ro s s ed t h e ch arg es fo r o b s t ru ct i n g t h e h i g h way ,

h av in g an o p en co n t ai n er, an d h av i n g n o wo rk i ng b rak e l i g h t s

. Fo l l o wi n g a b en ch

t ri al

, G o rd o n was fo u n d g u i l t y o f ag g rav at ed as s au lt an d b o t h o b st ru ct io n ch arg es

.

Th e t ri al co u rt sen ten ced Go rd o n t o s erv e t en y ears o n t he co cai n e ch arg e co ns ecu t i v e

t o t en y ears o n t he ag grav at ed as s au l t ch arg e, wi th fi ve-ye a r a n d t wel v e-m o n th

co n cu rren t s en t en ces o n t h e fel o n y an d m is d em ean o r o bs t ru ct i o n ch arg es

. Go rd o n

u n s u cces s fu l l y ch al len g ed h is sen t en ces i n a m o t i o n fo r n ew t ri al

, g i v i n g ri s e t o t h i s

ap p eal

.

1

. Go rd o n co n ten d s t h at t h e ru l e o f len i ty req u i res t h at h e can o n l y b e

s en t en ced fo r fel o n y ob s t r u c t i o n o f an offi cer (an d n o t ag g rav at ed as s au l t ) b ecau s e

t h e ev i d e n ce s h ows t h at b o th o ffen s es s erv ed as al t ern at i v e ch arg es fo r t h e s am e

co n du ct

. W e d i s ag ree.

3As t h i s Co u rt recen t l y rec o u n t ed i n Go r do n v. S t a t e , 6 a wh o l e-co u rt cas e

d eci d ed aft er t h e b ri efi n g i n t h i s cas e,

t h e ru l e o f l en i ty fi n d s i t s ro o t s i n t h e v ag u en es s d oct ri n e, wh i ch req u i res

fai r warn in g as t o wh at co n d u ct i s p ro s cri b ed

. Th e ru l e o f l en it y , m o re

s p eci fi cal ly

, en s u res t h at i f an d wh en an am b i g u it y ex i s ts i n o n e o r m o re

s t at u t es , s uch t h at t h e l aw ex act s v ary i n g d eg rees o f p un i s hm en t fo r th e

s a m e offen s e, t h e am

b i g u i t y wi l l b e res o l v ed i n fav o r o f a d efen d a n t

, wh o wi ll th en recei ve t h e l es ser p u ni s h m en t

. Bu t i f aft er a p p l yi n g th e

t rad i t i o n al can o n s o f s t at u t o r y co n s tru ct i on t he rel ev an t t ex t rem ai n s

u n am bi g u o us , t h e ru l e o f l en it y wi l l no t ap p l y

. Th e fu n d am en t al i n qu i ry

wh en m ak i ng th i s as s es s m en t, t h en , i s wh et h er th e i den t i ca l co n d u ct

wo u ld s u p p o r t a co n vi ct i o n un d

er ei t h er o

f t wo c r i m e s wi t h di

f f er i n g

p en a l t i es , i .e., wh et h er t h e s t at u t es d efi n e t h e s am e o ffen s e s u ch t h at an

am b i g u i t y i s creat ed b y d i fferen t p u n i s h m en t s b ei n g set fo rt h fo r th e

s am e cri m e.

I n ex p l ai n i ng t h e ap p ro p ri at e an al y s i s t o ap p l y i n m ak i ng th i s

as s es s m en t

, h o wev er, t h e Su p rem e Co u rt o f Geo rg i a h as cau ti o n ed t hat

s i m p l y b eca u s e a si n gl e act ma y, a s a f a ct u a l ma t t er

, vi o l a t e mo r e t h a n

o n e p e n a l s t a t u t e d

o es n o t i mp l i ca t e t h e r u l e o f l en i t y

. By way o f

ex am p l e,

. . . [we n o t e t h at ] d ep en di ng u p o n at t en d an t ci rcu m s t an ces , i t

i s po s si b l e fo r t h e act o f s t ri k i n g an o t h er p ers o n wi t h an o b ject to m eet

t h e d e fi n i t i o ns o f each o f t h e cri m es o f: s im p l e b at tery

, OCGA §

6 3 34 Ga. A p p. 6 3 3 (7 80 SE2 d 3 7 6) (2 0 1 5) (wh o l e co u rt ). Th e d efen d an t i n t h at

cas e was Ky l e Lee Go rd o n, n o t Sh ero m e Go rd o n.

41 6 -5 -2 3

, a m is d em ean o r; ag g rav at ed b at t ery , OCG A § 1 6- 5- 24, a f e l o n y ;

s i m p l e as s au l t

, OCGA § 1 6 -5 -2 0

, a m is d em ea n o r; ag g rav at ed as s au l t

, OCGA § 1 6

- 5

- 2 1

, a fel o n y ; an d m al i ce m u rd er, OCGA § 1 6 -5 -1

, a

fel o n y

. In t he fo reg o in g ci rcu m s t an ce, a d efen dan t co u l d be p ro s ecu ted

fo r m u l t i p l e cri m es

. Bu t wh en a d efen d an t i s p ro s ecu t ed fo r an d [fo u n d

g u i l ty ] o f m

u l t ip l e cri m es b as ed u p o n a si n g l e act

, th e i n ju s t i ce t h at m

u s t

b e av oi ded i s s en t en ci ng t h e d efen dan t fo r m o re t h an on e cri m e

fo l l o wi ng [a g u i l ty v erd i ct f o r ] m u l t i pl e cri m es b as ed u po n th e s am e

act

. 7

Th erefo re, t o d eci d e w h et h er t h e r u l e o f l en i t y ap p l i es , we l o o k t o wh et h er t h ere i s

an y am b ig u i t y i n th e t w o s t a t u t es s u ch t h at “ b o t h cri m es co u l d b e p ro v ed wi t h t h e

s am e ev id en ce.” 8

Here, Go rd o n was accu sed o f ag g rav at ed as s au l t an d fel o n y o b s t ru ct i o n o f an

o ffi cer. Th e ag g rav at ed as s au l t s t at u te p ro v i d es , i n rel ev an t p art : “ A p ers o n co m m i t s

7 (Fo o t n o tes an d p un ct u at i o n o m i t t ed ; em p h as i s s u p p l i ed

. ) Id

. at 6 3 4 -6 3 5,

ci t i n g U n i t ed S t at es v. La n i er , 5 2 0 U. S. 25 9

, 2 6 6 (II) (1 1 7 SCt 12 1 9

, 1 3 7 LE2 d 4 3 2 ) ( 1 9 9 7 ) ( “ [A] s a s ort of ‘ ju n i o r v ers i on o f t h e v ag u en es s d oct ri n e,’

. . . t h e can o n o f

s t ri ct co n s t ru ct i on o f cri m i n al s t at u t es , o r ru l e o f len i t y , en s u res f a i r wa r n i n g b y s o

res o l vi n g am

b i g u it y i n a cri m i n al st at u t e as t o ap p l y i t o n ly t o co n du ct cl earl y

co v ered

. ”) (ci t at i on o m i t t ed )); McNa i r v. S t a t e , 2 9 3 Ga. 2 8 2, 2 8 3 ( 7 4 5 SE2 d 6 4 6 ) (2 0 1 3); Ba n ta v. S t a t e , 2 8 1 Ga. 6 1 5

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

8 (Pu n c t u a t i o n om i tt ed .) Go r d o n , 3 3 4 Ga. Ap p

. at 6 37

, q u ot in g Qu a wea y v. S t a t e , 2 7 4 Ga. Ap p

. 6 5 7 , 6 5 8 (6 1 8 SE2 d 7 0 7) (2 00 5 ).

5t h e o ffen se o f ag g rav at ed as s au l t wh en he o r s he as s au l t s 9

. . . wi t h an y ob ject

, d ev i ce,

o r i n st ru m en t wh i ch

, wh en us ed o ffen s i v el y ag ai n st a p ers o n , i s li k el y t o or act u al l y

d o es res ul t i n s eri o u s b o d i l y i n ju ry .” 1 0 Li kewi s e, a p ers o n co m m i t s fel o n y o bs t ru ct i o n

wh en h e “ k n o wi n gl y an d wi l l fu l l y res i s t s , o b s t ru ct s , or o p p o s es an y l aw en fo rcem en t

o ffi cer

. . . i n th e lawfu l d i sch arg e of h i s o r h er offi ci al du t i e s b y o fferi n g o r d o i n g

v i o l en ce t o t h e p ers o n o f s u ch o ffi cer o r l eg al l y au t h o ri zed p ers o n . . . .” 1 1

Bas ed o n t h es e t wo s t at u t o ry p ro v i s i o n s , G o rd o n’ s i nd i ct m en t accu sed h i m o f

co m m i t t i n g ag g rav at ed as s au l t an d fel o n y o b s t ru ct i o n i n t h e fo l l o w i n g way s :

Co u nt 2

An d t he g ran d ju ro rs

. . . f u r t h e r c h a r g e an d accu s e

. . . Go rd o n w i t h

h av i ng co m

m i t t ed t h e offen s e o f AGGRAVATED ASSAULT, fo r t hat

. . . Go rd on d i d

. . . m ak e an as s au l t up o n t h e pers o n o f D e p u t y M ark

Gu ari n o , wi t h an o bject

, d ev i ce o r i n s t ru m en t w h i ch

, wh en u s ed

o ffen s i v el y ag ai n st a pers o n , i s l i k el y t o or act u al l y d o es res u l t in s eri o u s

b o d i l y i n ju ry t o w i t : a l i t ci g aret t e b y at t em p t i n g to in s ert t h e l i t ci g aret t e

9 “ A p ers on co m

m it s t h e o ffen s e o f si m

p l e as sau l t wh en h e or s h e ei t h er: (1 )

At t em pt s t o co m

m i t a v i o l en t i n

ju ry t o t h e p ers o n o f an o t h er; o r (2 ) Co m m i t s an act
wh i ch p l aces an o t h er i n reas on ab l e ap p reh en s io n o f i m m ed i at el y recei v i ng a v i o l en t
i n ju ry .” OCGA § 1 6 -5 -2 0

.

1 0 OCGA § 1 6 -5 -2 1 (b ).

1 1 OCGA § 1 6 -1 0 -2 4 (b ).

6i n t o t h e d ep u t y ’ s ey e d u ri n g arres t

, c o n t rary t o th e laws o f t h i s s t at e

. .

. .

Co u nt 3

An d t he g ran d ju ro rs

. . . fu rt h er ch arg e an d accu s e

. . . Go r d o n w i t h

h av i ng co m

m i t t ed th e o ffen s e o f OBSTRUCTION OF AN O FFICER,

fo r t h at

. . . Go rd o n d i d

. . . k n o wi n gl y an d wi l l fu ll y res i s t Dep u ty M ark

Gu ari n o , a la w en

fo rcemen t o

f f i cer i n t h e l a wf

ul d i s ch a r g e o f h i s o f f i ci a l

d u t i es b y do i n g vi o l en ce t o s u ch o ffi cer b y

. . . at t em p t i n g t o i ns ert a l i t

ci g aret t e i n to t h e d ep u ty ’ s ey e d u ri n g l awfu l arres t

, co n t rary t o th e l aws

o f t h i s s t at e . . . . 1 2

A cl o s e read i ng of t h e i n d i ct m en t an d t h e ap p l i cab l e Co de s ect io n s rev eal s t h at

t h e t wo co u n t s d o n ot ad d res s t h e sam e cri m in al co nd u ct

, ev en t ho u g h t h e i n d i ct m en t

p red i cat ed b o t h o ffen s es o n t he s am e act o f at t em p t i n g t o i n s ert a l i t ci g aret te i n t o t h e

ey e of t h e d ep ut y

. Un d er th e i n d i ct m en t an d t h e st at ut o ry d efi n i t i o n s , Go rd o n co u ld

co m m i t fel o n y o b st r u c t io n o nl y i f h e o ffered v i o l en ce a g a i n s t a n o f fi cer wh i l e t h e

o f f i cer wa s i n t h e la wf

u l di sch a r

ge of h i s of

f ici a l d u t i es

. 1 3 Mo reo v e r , fel o ny

1 2 (Em p has is s u pp l i ed .)

1 3 S e e , e.g ., La n d v. S t a t e , 2 5 9 Ga. Ap p

. 8 6 0, 86 3 (2 ) (2 0 0 3) (“ An es s en t i a l

el em en t o f t he o f

f e n s e o f o b s t ru ct i o n o f an o ffi cer i s t hat t h e St at e p ro v e b ey o n d a

reas on ab l e d o u bt t h at t h e o b st ru ct i o n o ccu rred wh i l e t h e offi cer w as i n t h e l awfu l

d i s ch arg e o f h i s o ffi ci al d u t i es .”) (p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed ).

7o b s t ru ct i on can o ccu r reg ard l e s s o f wh et h er it i n v o lv ed t h e us e o f an o ffen s i v e

weap o n l i k el y t o res u l t i n s eri o us b o d i ly i n ju ry , un l ik e ag g rav at ed as s au l t

. 1 4 Th u s , t h e

t wo o ffen s es , as d es cri b ed i n t h e i n d i ct m en t an d t h e Co d e, are no t p ro v ed b y t h e s am e

ev i d en ce, an d t h e ru l e o f l en i t y d o es n o t ap p ly

. 1 5

If we were t o h o l d o t h erwi s e, an y d efen dan t wh o wres t l es a gu n away fro m an

o ffi cer an d m

u rd ers h i m co u l d o n l y b e p u ni s h ed fo r fel o n y o b s t ru ct i o n , wh i ch carri es

a m ax i m u m s en t en ce o f fi v e y e a r s , a s o p p o s ed t o a s en ten ce o f d eat h o r l i fe

i m p ri s o n m en t fo r m

u rd er. 1 6 W e d ecl i ne t o h ol d t h at t h i s i s w h at th e l eg i s l at u re

i n t en d ed wh en i t d efi n ed t he o ffen s es

. Si m p l y b ecau s e “ a si n g l e act m ay , as a fact u al

m at t er, v i o l at e m o re t h an o n e p en al s t at ut e do es no t i m p li cat e t h e ru le o f len i t y. ” 1 7

1 4 See Ba n ta

, 2 8 1 Ga. at 6 1 8 (2 ) (m i s d em e a n o r o b s t ru ct i o n u n d er OCGA §

1 6 -1 0-2 4 (a) i s d i s t in ct fro m m ak i ng a fal s e st at em en t t o a g o v ern m en t ag en cy u n d er OCGA § 1 6 -1 0 -2 0 ev en th o u g h t h e act o f l y i n g to an o ffi c e r c o u l d s a t i s fy b o th

s t at u to ry d efi n i ti o ns ). See al s o Ch yn o wet h v. S t a t e , 3 31 Ga. Ap p

. 1 2 3

, 1 2 6 (2 ) (7 6 8

SE2 d 5 3 6) (2 0 1 5 ) (fi n d in g t hat t h e ru l e o f l en i ty was n ot i m

p l i cat ed b y

co n v i ct i on s fo r ri o t i n a p en al i n s ti t u t i o n an d fel o n y o b s t ru ct i o n ).

1 5 See Ba nt a , 2 8 1 Ga. at 6 1 8 (2 ).

1 6 See OCGA § § 1 6 -5 -1 (e) (1 ); 1 6-1 0 -2 4 (b ).

1 7 Ba n t a , 2 8 1 Ga. at 6 1 8 (2 ).

8W h at i s req u ir e d i s a s t at u t o ry am b i g u i t y su ch t h at i d en t i cal evi d en ce , n o t m erel y a

s i ng l e act , res u l t s i n d i fferen t p u n i s h m en t s

. 1 8 W e d o n o t h av e t h at s cen ari o h ere.

2

. Go r d o n a l s o co n t en ds t h at t h e t ri al co u rt erred b y s en t en ci n g h i m fo r b o th

ag g rav at ed as s a u lt an d fel o ny o b s t ru ct i o n b ecau s e t h ey s h ou l d h av e m erg ed as a

m at t er o f fact . W e d i s ag ree.

W h en a d efen d an t i s co n v i ct ed o f m u l t i p l e cri m es b as ed u p on th e

s am e act

, t h e p ri n ci p le o f fact u al m erg er o p erat es t o av oi d th e i n ju s t i ce
[o f m u l t i p l e s en t en ces fo r t h e s am e o ffen s e]

. In Dr i nka r d v. [ W a l ker ]

, 1 9

[t he] Su p rem e Co u rt of Geo rg i a ad o p t ed t h e “ req u i red ev i d en ce” t es t s et

fo rt h by t h e Su p rem e Co u r t o f t h e U n i t ed St at es t o res o l v e t hes e

s i tu at i o n s

. Th u s , t o d et erm i n e wh et h er co n v i ct io n s fo r m u l t i p l e cri m es

m erg e fo r p u rp o s es o f s en t en ci n g , t h e ap p l icab l e ru l e i s t hat wh ere t he

s am e act o r t ran s act i o n co n s t i tu t es a vi o l at i o n of t wo d i st i n ct st at ut o ry

p ro v i s i o n s, t h e t es t t o b e ap p l ied t o d et erm in e wh et h er th ere are t wo

of f e ns es o r on l y on e, i s wh et h er each [s tat u t o ry ] p ro v i s i o n req u i res p roof

o f a fact wh i ch t h e o t h er d o es n o t

. 2 0

1 8 See, e.g ., Da wki n s v. S t a te

, 2 7 8 Ga. Ap p

. 3 4 3

, 3 45 (6 2 9 SE2 d 4 5 ) (2 0 0 6 ) (reco g n i zi n g t h at i t i s n o t po s si b l e to g i v e a fal s e n am e to a p ol i ce offi cer i n vi o l at i o n

o f OCGA § 1 6 -1 0 -2 5 (a m i s d em ean o r) wi t h ou t al s o m ak i n g a fal s e s tat em en t in

v i o l at i o n o f OCGA § 1 6 -1 0 -2 0 (a fel o n y )).

1 9 2 8 1 Ga. 2 1 1 (6 3 6 SE2 d 5 30 ) (2 0 0 6 ).

2 0 (Fo o tn o t es an d p u n ct u at i o n om i t t ed .) Go r do n , 3 3 4 Ga. Ap p. at 6 3 6, q u o t i n g
Dr i n ka r d

, 28 1 G a. at 2 15

, an d ci t i n g Bl ockb u r ger v. Un it ed S t a t es , 2 8 4 U. S. 2 9 9 (5 2

SCt 1 8 0, 7 6 LE 3 0 6 ) (1 93 2 ). See al s o Co r d er o v. S t a t e , 2 9 6 Ga. 7 0 3

, 71 0 (3 ) (7 7 0

9“ Th e t es t fo cu s es o n t h e ev i d en ce req u i red t o es t ab l i s h t h e s t at u to ry el em en t s o f each

cri m i n al o ffen s e, n ot t h e act u al ev i d en ce p res en t ed at t ri al .” 2 1

Here, a rev i ew o f t h e s tat u t o ry el em en t s o f fel o n y o bs t ru ct i o n an d ag g rav at ed

as s au l t d em o ns t rat es t h at th ey are t wo s ep arat e o ffen s es . As s t at ed i n Di v i s i o n 1 , t o

co m m i t fel o n y o b s t ru ct i o n , o n e m u s t o b s t ru ct o r res is t b y o fferi ng o r d o i n g v i o l en ce

t o a l aw en fo rcem en t o ffi cer wh o i s en g ag ed i n t h e l awfu l d i s ch arg e of h i s o f f i ci al

d u t i es

. 2 2 Hav i ng s u ch a l aw en fo rcem en t v i ct i m i s n o t an e l e m e n t o f ag g rav at ed

as s au l t

, wh i ch req u i res as an ad d i t i o n al e l e m e n t t h e u s e o f “ an y ob ject

, d ev i ce, o r

i n s t ru m en t wh i ch

, wh en us ed 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 or act u al l y d o es

res u l t i n s eri o us b o d il y i n ju ry .” 2 3 Al t h o u g h t h e fel o n y o b s t ru ct io n s t at u t e req u i res

o fferi n g o r u s i n g “ v i o l en ce,” reg ard les s o f wh et h er a weap o n i s u s ed

, i t d o es n o t

, by

SE2 d 5 7 7 ) (2 0 1 5 ) (“ In Dr i nka r d v. W a l ker

, w e ad o p t ed t h e “ req u i red ev i d en ce” tes t
fo r d et erm i n i n g wh en o n e cri m e i s “ i n cl ud ed i n ” an o t h er u n d er OCGA § 1 6-1 -6 (1 )

an d th erefo re m erg es as a m at t er o f fact ,” p u rs uan t t o O CGA § 1 6 -1 -7 (a) (1 )) (ci t at i o n an d p u nct u at io n o m i t ted ).

2 1 No l l ey v. S t a t e ,

_

_ Ga. Ap p

.

_

_ (2 ) (Cas e No

. A 1 5 A 1 6 8 6; d eci d ed Feb

. 2,

2 0 1 6 ).

2 2 See OCGA § 16 -1 0 -2 4 (b ).

2 3 O CGA § 1 6 -5 -2 1 (b ). W e n ot e t hat ag g rav at ed as s au l t m ay o ccu r i n o t h er

way s n o t at i s s u e h ere: i n t en t t o m u rd er, t o r a p e , o r t o ro b; u s e o f an o b ject to

s t ran gu l at e; o r d is ch arg i n g a fi rearm fro m wi t hi n a v eh i cl e. See i d

.

10i t s p l ai n t erm s , req u i re t hat t h i s v i o l en ce b e t h e t y p e t hat l i k el y wi l l o r act u al l y d o es

res u l t i n s eri o u s b o di ly i n j u ry

. W e reco g n i ze t hat i n cert ai n cas es t he u s e o f fi s t s , fo r

ex am p l e, can s u ffi ce as a w e a p o n fo r p u rp os es o f ag grav at ed as s au l t

. Bu t fel o ny

o b s t ru ct i on can en co m

pas s o t h er co n d u ct

, s u ch as verb al t h reat s t o k i l l 2 4 o r s l ap p i n g,

t h at can o ccu r wi t h o ut t h e u s e o f an o b j ect as a weap o n t h at is l i k el y t o o r a c t u a l l y

d o es res ul t i n s eri o u s bo d i l y i n ju ry

. It i s o f n o m o m en t t h at t h e v i ol en ce o ffered i n t h i s

cas e – at t em

p t i n g t o bu rn t he o ffi cer’ s ey e w i t h a ci g aret t e

– al s o s at i s fi es t h e

el em en t s o f ag g rav at ed as s au l t

. Un d er Dr i nka r d

, t h e rel ev an t i nq u iry fo cu s es o n t h e

e l em en ts o f t h e offen s es , an d ev en t h o u g h b ot h o ffen s es res ul t fro m t h e sam e a c t

,

each o ffen s e req u ire d p r o of o f an ad d it i on al el em en t t h at t he o t h er d i d n ot

. 2 5

Acco rd in g ly

, th e t ri al co u rt d i d n o t err b y fai l i n g t o m erg e t h e co n v i ct i o n s fo r

ag g rav at ed as s au l t an d fel o n y o b s t ru ct io n

.

W e n o t e t h at G o rd o n rel i e s o n Ta yl o r v. St at e , 2 6 wh i ch ad d res s ed a s cen ari o

i n v o l v i n g a d efen d an t ch a r g ed wi t h ag g rav at ed as s au l t u p o n a p ea ce of

f i cer an d

2 4 See S t ei l lma n v. S ta te , 2 9 5 Ga. Ap p . 7 7 8 , 7 81 (2 ) (6 7 3 SE2 d 2 86 ) (2 0 0 9 ).

2 5 See Dr i nka r d

, 2 8 1 G a. at 2 1 7 ( e x p l a i n i n g h ow d i fferen t cri m es wi th

o v erl ap p i n g el em en t s d o n o t m erg e ev en wh en cri m es o ccu rred by a si n g l e act b y t h e d efen d an t ), ci t i n g S

a n f o rd v. S t a t e , 1 6 9 Ga. Ap p . 7 6 9 (3 15 SE2 d 2 8 1 ) (1 9 8 4 ).

2 6 3 2 7 Ga. Ap p . 8 8 2 (7 6 1 SE2 d 4 2 6 ) (2 0 1 4 ).

11fel o n y o b s t ru ct i o n b as ed o n “ fi g h t i n g ” t h e o ffi cer. 2 7 Rel y i n g o n Do b b s v. S ta t e , 2 8 t h e

Co u rt co n cl u d ed t hat the tw o of f e nse s sh o u l d h av e m erg ed becau s e t h ey en co m p as s ed

t h e s am e cri m es

. 2 9 Nev ert h el es s, i n b ot h D o b bs an d Ta yl o r , t h e o ffen s e o f ag g rav at ed

as s au l t u p o n a p eace o ffi cer co n t ai n ed th e ad d i t io n al e l e m e n t t h at t h e as s au l t was

“ u p o n a peace o ffi cer wh i l e t he p e a c e o f f i c er is en g ag ed i n , o r o n acco u n t o f t h e

p erfo r m a n c e o f, h i s or h er offi ci al d u t ies ,” 3 0 wh i ch i s n o t t h e cas e h ere. Th erefo re,

b ecau s e t h e ag g rav at ed as s au lt o ffen s e at i s s u e i n t h i s c a s e do es n o t co n t ai n t h at

el em en t

, t h e o b s tru ct i o n ch arg e d i d co n t ai n an el em en t n o t i n t h e ag g rav at ed as s au l t

ch arg e, an d t he t wo d o n o t m erg e u n d er t h e Dr i nka r d an al y s i s

.

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

r ews , P. J. a n d

Ra y, J., co n cu r

.

2 7 See i d

. at 8 87 -8 8 8 (5 ), ci t i n g Do b b s v. S t a t e , 30 2 Ga. Ap p

. 6 2 8, 6 3 0 (2 ) (6 9 1

SE2 d 3 8 7) (2 0 1 0).

2 8 3 0 2 Ga. Ap p . at 6 2 8

.

2 9 See i d

.

3 0 OCGA § 1 6 -5 -2 1 (b ) (2 ), (d ). See Ta yl o r , 3 27 Ga. Ap p

. at 8 88 (5 ); Do b b s , 3 0 2 Ga. Ap p . at 6 30 (2 ).

12