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 i de r a tion m us t be

ph y sic a l ly r e ce iv ed i n our c le r k ’s offic e w ithin te n

da y s of the da te of de c is ion to be de e m ed tim e ly file d.

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

M ar ch 12, 2019



# I n th e Co u r t o f

A p p eals o f

G eo r g ia

A1 8 A1 64 3 . J A CKSON v . THE STATE.

M C M ILLI A N , J u dg e.

I n J u n e 2 0 1 3, Greg o ry J ack s o n an d h i s co -d efen d an t An th o n y Hal l wer e

i n d i ct ed b y t h e Do u g h ert y Co u n t y g ran d ju ry fo r s ev en co un t s o f th eft b y co n v ers i o n

(b reach o f a fi d u ci ary d u t y ). Fo l l o wi n g a fo ur-d ay j u ry tri al

, J ack s on was s en t en ced

t o a t ot al o f t w en t y fi v e y ears

, wi t h fi ve y ears t o b e s erv ed i n co n fi n em en t

, an d

o rd e r e d t o p ay $8 2 ,0 5 5.4 4 i n res t i t ut i o n. 1 J ack s on no w ap peal s hi s co n v i ct i o n s o n

Co u n t s 1

, 2

, 4

, 6

, an d 7

, as s ert i n g t h at t h e v erd i ct i s a n u l l i t y as t o t h os e co u n t s

. 2 Fo r

1 J u s t p ri o r t o t ri al , Hal l en t ered a g u i l t y p l ea o n t h ree co un t s

.

2 J ack s o n d i d n o t ap p eal h i s co n v ict i o n o n Co u nt 3

, an d t h e St at e n o l l e p ro s s ed

Co u n t 5 d u ri n g t h e co u rs e o f t h e t ri al

.t h e reas o n s s et fo rt h b el o w, we ag ree an d rev ers e h i s co n v i ct io n s o n Co u n t s 1 , 2 , 4

,

6 , an d 7

.

Vi ewed i n t h e l ig h t m o s t fav orab l e t o th e v erd i ct

, 3 t he ev i d e n c e s ho ws t h at

Seco n d Harv es t o f So u t h Geo rg i a (“ Seco n d Harv es t ”) i s a n o n p ro f i t h u n ger rel i ef

o rg an i zat i o n t h at d i s t ri b u t es pro d u ct s an d fo o d i t recei v es fro m co rp orat e d o n at i on s

t o l o cal i nd i v i d u al s

. In Ap ri l 2 0 1 0

, Seco nd Harv es t ab s o rb ed an o t h er l o cal n o n p ro fi t

,

Fo o d Ban k o f So u t h wes t Geo rg i a, wh ere Jack s o n an d Hal l were em p l o y ed at t h e t i m e.

J ack s o n s t ay ed o n wi t h Seco n d Harv es t as t h e wareh o u s e m an ag er, an d Hal l rem ai n ed

as t h e b ran ch d i rect o r. J ack s on ’ s ro l e i n c l u d e d m an y d i fferen t res p o n s i b i l i t i es

,

i n cl u d i n g s h ip p i n g, recei v i n g

, su p erv i si n g t h e d ri v ers

, faci l i t y safet y

, i nv en to ry o f al l

p ro d uct s

, p ro d uct p l acem en t i n t h e b u i l d i ng

, an d s ch ed u li ng

. Seco n d Harv es t u s ed

d i fferen t v eh i cl es fo r i t s d el i veri es , i n cl u d in g u ti l i t y t rai lers , s t rai g h t t ru ck s cap ab l e

o f carry in g t en t o t wel v e p al l et s , an d a t ract o r-t rai ler t h at co u l d carry t wen t y -t wo t o

t wen t y -fo u r p al l et s

.

As a n o n p ro fi t

, Seco n d H arv es t i s req ui red t o k eep reco rd s an d acco u n t fo r

ev ery d o n at ed i t em

. J ack s o n w a s res p o n s ib l e fo r m ak i n g s u re t h at d et ai l ed

i n fo rm at i o n fo r ev ery d o n at io n was en tered i n t h e d at ab as e. In J u l y 2 0 1 1

, W i l l

3 Ja cks o n v. Vi r

gi n i a , 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 ).

2Ro b i ns o n

, t h e ch i ef o p erat i o n s o ffi cer fo r Seco n d Harv es t

, recei v ed an an o n y m ou s

cal l t h at p ro m

p t ed h i m to t rav el t o a b arb ers h o p i n Sy l v es ter, Geo rg i a t o in s p ect wh at

ap p eared t o b e s ev eral p al l e t s o f t h ei r d o n at ed p ro d u ct s fo r s al e, i n cl ud i n g p ap er

p ro d uct s fro m Pro ct o r & Gam b l e (“ P&G”) an d ch ai rs t h at Seco n d Harv es t k ep t in

s t ock

. Ro b i n s o n t h en co n t act ed J ack s o n an d Hal l t o d ri v e o ne o f t he Seco n d Harv es t

t ru ck s t o t h at l o cat i o n t o ret ri ev e t h e i tem s an d b ri n g t h em b ack t o t h e wareh o u s e.

Ro b in s o n t es ti fi ed t hat h e al s o d i s co v ered at v ari o u s t i m es i n 2 0 11 th at t h e G PS

t rack er o n t h e t ract or-t rai l er ap peared t o h av e b een d i s ab led o r t u rn ed o ff s o t h at h e

was no t ab l e t o track t h e v eh i cl e’ s l o cat i o n

. W h en ev er t h at o ccu rred

, h e wo u ld

co n tact J ack s o n t o s ee wh at w as h ap p en i n g

, an d Jack s o n wo u l d t el l hi m t h at h e wo u ld

t ak e a lo o k at t h e u ni t an d g et i t wo rk i n g ag ai n. Th is co n t in u ed u n t i l Ro b i n so n

d eci d ed t o m o v e th e t ract o r-t rai l er t o t h e Seco n d Harv es t l o cat i o n i n Val d o s t a wh ere

h e co ul d k eep a d i rect ey e o n i t

.

In Au gu s t 2 01 1

, Ro bi n s o n recei ved a cal l fro m Larry Van w h o as k ed h i m wh en

h e w as g o i n g to m o v e h i s p ro d u ct o u t of h is wareh o us e, k n own as t h e “ M acGreg o r

b u i l d i n g .” Ro bi ns o n w a s co n fu s ed b ecau s e h e was n o t aware o f an y s t o rag e o f

Seco n d Harv es t p ro p ert y o ffs i t e. Van ag reed t o l et h i m co m e o v er t o t h e M acGreg o r

b u i l d i n g t o s ee wh at h e was tal k i n g a b o u t

. T h ere, Ro bi ns o n fo u n d 1 7 -1 8 em p t y

3p al l et s t h at h ad o b v i o u sl y had P&G pro d u ct s o n t h em at s om e p o i n t an d s ev eral o t h er

p al l et s w i t h P&G p ro d u ct s s t i l l p res en t

. Ro b i n so n co n t act ed po l i ce an d t ran s p o rt ed

t h e em p t y p al l et s an d rem ai n i n g p ro d u ct i nt o t h e t ract o r-t rai l er t o ret urn t o t h e Seco n d

Harv es t wareh o u se. Ro b i n s o n ex p l ai n ed t h at

, b as ed o n t h e em pt y pal l et s an d

rem ai n i n g p ro d u ct

, th ere m u s t hav e b een t wo en t i re t ract o r-t rai ler’ s wo rt h o f p ro d u ct

i n t he M acGreg o r b u i l d i n g at o n e p o i n t

. 4

Van t es t i fi ed at t ri al t h at h e had ag reed t o l et Seco n d Harv es t tem po rari l y s t o re

g o o d s at t h e M acGreg o r b u i l d in g wh ere he own ed a b read d i s tri b ut i o n co m p an y

. He

co n fi rm ed t h at h e s aw J ack so n u n l o ad a l arg e am o u n t o f p ap er t o wel s an d t o i l et p ap er

o ff a t ract o r-t rai l er i nt o t he b u i l d i n g

. Aft er t h e p ro d u ct s rem ai n ed t h ere fo r o v er a

m o nt h

, Van t o ld J ack s on t h at h e n eed ed t o hav e h i s b o s s

, Hal l

, co m e an d p i ck t h em

b ack up . Becau s e Van h ad g i v en Hal l t h e co m b i n at i o n t o t h e g at e l o ck an d a k ey to

t h e b u i l d in g

, Van was n o t al w ay s t h ere w h en Hal l o r h i s em pl o y ees cam e t o p i ck u p

p ro d uct s

, b u t h e h ad s een a n u m b er o f p eo p l e rem o v e p ro d u ct fro m th e b u i l d i n g i n to

p i ck u p t ru ck s

. He ev en v o i ced h i s co n cern t o Hal l t h at t h e p ro d u ct was bei n g s t o l en

.

4 Th e reco v e r e d p ro p ert y was wo rt h ap p ro x i m at el y $ 2 2,0 0 0

. Th e CEO o f

Seco n d Harv es t acco m

p an i ed Ro b i n s o n t h at da y a n d t o o k a v id eo o f t h e p ro d u ct

d i s co v ered i n t h e M acGreg o r b u i l d i n g , wh i ch was p l ay ed fo r t h e ju ry

.

4Aft er ret ri ev i n g th e p ro p ert y an d co n fi rm i n g th at i t h ad n ev er b een en t ered i n to

Seco n d H arv e s t ’s d a t a b as e, Ro b i n s o n co n tact ed P&G to see i f h e co u l d d et erm i n e

wh en i t had act u al ly d o n at ed t h e p ro d u ct s

. He al s o s p o k e wi th J ack s on

, wh o i n i t i al l y

d en ied kn o wi n g an y t hi n g ab o u t t h e reco v ered p ro p ert y

. Ho wev er, J ack s on l at er t o ld

Ro b i ns o n t h at h e h ad been i n s t ru ct ed b y h is su p erv is or t o u n l o ad t h e p ro d u ct at t h e

M acGreg o r bu il d i n g an d n o t t o en t er t h e p ro du ct s in t o t h e Seco n d Harv es t dat ab as e.

Ro b i ns o n ex pl ai n ed t h at th ere was n o i s s u e wi t h s u ffi c i e n t s t o r ag e i n t he Seco n d

Harv es t wareh ou s e i n Al b an y t h at w o u l d hav e n eces s i t at ed u si n g t h e M acGreg o r

b u i l d i n g

.

Bo t h J ack s o n an d H al l were t erm i n at ed s h o rt l y t h ereaft er. Aft e r s e a r ch i n g

J ack s o n ’ s d es k

, Ro bi ns o n l o cat ed s ev eral P&G bi l l s o f l ad i n g

, wh i ch Seco n d Harv es t

i s r e q u i r e d t o s i g n wh en recei v i n g a d o n at i o n

. Th e p ro d uct s l i st ed on t h o se b i l l s o f

l ad i n g were n o t en t ered i n to t h e Seco n d Harv es t i n v en t o ry d at ab as e. In t o t al

, s ix

t ru ck l o ad s o f p ro d u ct do n at ed b y P&G b et ween Jan u ary an d J un e 2 0 1 1

, w i t h a t o t al

v al u e o f $ 1 6 4 ,0 0 0

, were un acco u n t ed fo r. Du ri n g h i s i n v es t i g at i o n, Ro b i n s o n al s o

d et erm i n ed t h at Seco n d Harv es t h a d recei v ed bi l l s fo r t ru ck ren t al s t h at Seco n d

Harv es t h ad n o t au t h o ri zed

. A fax co v er s h eet ad dres s ed t o J ack s o n fo r o n e s u ch

ren t al was fo u n d in J ack s on ’ s des k

, d es p i t e h i s l ack o f au t h o ri zat io n t o ren t a t ru ck

.

5W eb b i e H i l l, a m i ni s t er at a l o cal ch u rch

, t es ti fi ed th a t o n two d i fferen t

o ccas i o n s h e h ad s een p ro d u ct s b ei n g u n l o a d ed fro m a Seco n d Harv es t t ru ck an d

Hal l ’ s tru ck i n fro n t o f t h e b a rb ers h o p i n Sy l v es t er, Geo rg i a. Th e o wn er o f t h e

b arb ers h o p t es t i fi ed t hat he had p u rch as ed m u l t i p le cas es o f p ap er to wel s an d t i s s u es

,

as wel l as a few ch a i r s fro m a m an s el li n g t h em o ff o f a fl at bed t rai ler b efo re

Ro b i ns o n co n t act ed h i m t o t el l h i m t h ey b el o n g ed t o Seco n d Harv es t. Th e St at e al s o

p res en t ed th e t es t i m o n y o f Geo rg e Barb er, an offi cer wi th th e Al b an y Po l i ce

De pa r tm e nt, w h o inte r

v ie w ed J ack s o n o n t wo s ep arat e d at es

. J ack s on ad m i t t ed d u ri n g

h i s i n t erv i ew t h at h e u n l o ad e d t h e p ro d uct s i n M arch 2 0 1 1 at t h e M acGreg o r

b u i l d i n g . Reco rd i n g s o f t ho s e i n t erv i ews were p lay ed fo r t h e ju ry

.

J ack so n t es t ifi ed i n h i s o wn d e f e n s e an d s t at ed t h at i n M arch 2 0 1 1

, Hal l

i n s t ru ct ed h i m to u n l o ad a s h i p m en t at t h e M acGreg or b u i l d i n g b e c a u s e Seco n d

Harv es t was in t h e p ro ces s o f m o v i n g w areh ou s es an d n eed ed t he e x t r a s p ace. He

d en ied b ei n g i n ch arg e o f en t eri n g i n v en t o ry i n t o t h e d at ab as e an d s p eci fi cal l y d en i ed

s el l i n g an y

p ro d u ct b el o ng i n g t o Seco n d Harv es t

.

Fo l l owi n g h i s co n vi ct i o ns

, J ack s o n fi l ed a m o t i o n fo r acq u i t t al o n co un t s 1

, 2,

4

, 6

, an d 7 an d a m o t i on fo r n ew t ri al

, wh i c h th e t ri al co u rt den i ed aft er a h eari n g.

Th i s ap p eal fo l l o wed

.

61

. In h i s fi rs t en u m erat io n o f erro r, J ack s o n as s ert s t h at h i s co n vi ct i o n s o n

co u nt s 1

, 2

, 4

, 6, an d 7 m

u s t b e v acat ed b ecau s e t h e ju ry fo un d h i m n o t g u i l t y o f t h eft

b y co n v ers i o n.

W e s t art b y ex am i n i n g t h e rel ev an t s t at u t ory fram ewo rk fo r J ack s o n’ s ch arg ed

o ffen s es . A p ers o n co m

m i t s t h e o ffen s e o f t h eft b y co n v ers io n wh en

h av i ng l awfu l l y ob t ai n ed fu n d s o r o th er p ro p ert y o f an o t her

. . . u n d er an

ag reem en t o r o t h er kn o wn l eg al o b li gat i o n t o m ak e a s p eci fi ed

ap p l icat i o n o f s u ch fu n d s o r a s p eci fi ed d i s p o s i t i o n o f s u ch p ro p ert y

, he

k n o wi n g l y co n v ert s t h e fu n d s o r pro p ert y to h i s o wn u se i n v i o l at i o n o f

t h e ag reem en t o r l eg al o bl i g at i o n

.

OCGA § 1 6 -8 -4 (a). O CGA § 1 6-8 -1 2 t h en p ro v i d es fo r p u n i s h m en t as ei t h er a

m i s d e m e a n o r o r a fel o n y d ep en d in g on v ari o u s fact o rs

, i ncl u d in g t h e v al u e o f t h e

p ro p ert y

. In ad d i t i o n

, i f t h e pro pert y was t ak en b y a fi d u ci ary i n b reach o f a fi d u ci ary

o b l i g at i o n, t h e o ffen s e i s p u n i s h ed as a fel on y w i t h a hei g h t en ed s en ten ce. OCGA §

1 6 -8 -1 2 (a) (3 ).

Here, t h e v erd i ct f

o r m i n c l u d ed fo u r q u es t i o n s o n each o f th e s ix co u n t s as

fo l l o w s : 5

5 T h e v erd i ct fo rm fo l l owed th e s am e fo rm at fo r each co un t

. We p ro v i d e t h e

q u es ti o n s fo r Co u n t 1 as an ex am p l e.

7As t o Co u n t 1 : Th eft b y Co n v ers i o n

, we t h e ju ry

fi n d t h e d efen dan t :

Gu i l ty OR No t Gu i l t y

Al s o as t o Co u n t 1 : As a Fi d u ci ary , we t h e ju ry fi n d t h e d efen d an t :

Gu i l ty OR No t Gu i l t y

Al s o as t o Co u nt 1 : If No t Gu i l ty ab ov e, w e t h e ju ry fi nd t h e d efen d an t :

Gu i l ty o f Th eft b y Co n vers io n of an am ou n t ex ceed in g $ 50 0

. 0 0 6

OR No t Gu i l t y

Al s o as t o Co u nt 1 : If No t Gu i l t y ab o v e, w e t h e ju ry fi nd t h e d efen d an t :

Gu i l ty o f Th eft b y Co n v ers i o n o f an am o u n t l es s th an $ 4 9 9.9 9 O R

No t Gu i l t y

On Co u n t s 1

, 2

, 4

, 6

, an d 7

, t h e ju ry fo un d J ack s o n gu i l ty o n l y “ [a] s a fi d u ci ary ” an d

m ark ed “ n ot gu i l t y ” o n t he o t her q u es t i o n s

. On Co un t 3, th e ju ry fo u n d h i m g u i l t y o f

6 At th e ti m e of t h e al l eg es o ffen s es

, th e t h res h o l d am o u n t was $ 5 0 0 .0 0

. See §

1 6 -8 -1 2 (a) (1 ) (2 0 11 ).

8t h eft b y co n v ers i o n

, g u i l ty of t h eft b y co n v ers i o n as a fi d u ci ary

, an d g ui l t y o f t h eft by

co n vers io n o f an am o u n t l es s t h an $ 4 9 9

. 9 9. 7

OCGA § 1 7 -9 -2 p ro v i des :

Th e ju ry s h al l b e t h e j u d g e s o f t h e l aw an d th e fact s i n t h e t ri al o f al l

cri m i n al cas es an s h al l g i v e a g en eral v erd i ct of ‘ gu i lt y ’ o r ‘ no t g u il t y .’

Up o n a v erd i ct s o f ‘ g u i l ty ,’ t h e s en t en ce s h al l b e i m p o s ed b y t h e ju d g e,

u n l es s o t herwi s e p ro v i d ed b y l aw. Verd i ct s are t o h a v e a reas o n ab l e

i n t en d m en t

, are t o recei v e a reas o na b l e co n st ru ct io n

, an d are n o t to be

av o i ded u n l es s fro m n eces s i t y

.

“ W h en an am

b i gu ou s v erd i ct i s ret u rn ed b y a ju ry

, t he t ri al co u rt m ay refu s e t o accep t

t h e v erd i ct an d req ui re t h e ju ry t o co nt i n u e i t s del i b erat i o n s .” (Ci t at i o n an d

p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed

. ) In g r a m v. S t a t e

, 2 9 0 Ga. 5 0 0, 5 0 3 (2 ) (7 2 2 SE2 d 7 1 4 ) (2 0 1 2 ).

Ho wev er, aft er a v erd i ct “ h as b een recei v ed

, reco rd ed

, an d t h e j u ry di s p ers ed

, i t m ay

n o t b e am en d ed i n m at t er o f s u b s t an ce, ei t her by w h at t h e ju ro rs s ay t h ey i n t en d ed to

fi nd o r o t h erwi se.” OCGA § 1 7 -9 -4 0

. See al s o W a s h i n g t on v. S t a t e

, 3 3 9 Ga. Ap p.

7 1 5 , 7 2 6 (2 ) (c) (7 9 2 SE2 d 4 79 ) (2 0 16 ) (p h y si cal p reced en t o nl y ). An d a d efen d an t

“ i s en t i t led t o th e b en efi t o f t h e d ou b t i n t h e co n s tru ct io n o f an am b i g uo u s v erd i ct .”

7 Un d er t he ru l e o f len i t y

, t h e t ri al co u rt s en t en ced J ack s o n t o t h e l es s er,

m i s d em ean o r o ffen s e o f t h eft b y co n v ers io n on Co un t 3. J ack s o n i s n o t ap p eal i n g h i s

co n vi ct i o n o n t h at co u n t.

9(Ci t at i o n o m i t ted .) Li n d s a y v. S t a t e

, 2 6 2 Ga. 66 5

, 6 6 6 (1 ) (4 2 4 SE2 d 6 1 6 ) (1 9 9 3 ). If

aft er ap p ly i n g t h e s e p ri n ci p les

, i t i s d et erm i n ed t h at t h e verd i ct ret u rn ed i s a m ere

n u l l i ty

, i t h as t he l eg al effect o f an acq u i t t al

. See S t u bb s v. S t a t e

, 2 2 0 Ga. Ap p

. 1 0 6,

1 0 7 ( 1 ) (4 6 9 SE2 d 2 2 9) (1 9 96 ) (“ If t h e t ri al co urt recei v es a v erd ict of g u i l t y o n a

cri m e t h at was n ei t h er ch arg ed n o r was a les s er i n cl u ded o ffen s e o f a cri m e ch arg ed

,

t h en t h e v erd i ct h as t h e l eg al effect o f an acq u it t al .”) ; Cr o s s v. S t a t e

, 1 2 4 Ga. Ap p.

1 5 2

, 1 5 3 (2 ) (1 83 SE2 d 9 3 ) (1 97 1 ) (p ro p er p ro ced u re b y t ri al co u rt w o u ld h av e b een

t o refu s e t o recei v e t h e v erd i ct

, b u t h av i n g recei v ed i t

, t h e s en t en ce b as ed th ereo n i s

v o i d ) (p h y s i cal p reced en t o n l y ).

Here, t h e reco rd refl ect s t h at b o t h th e p art i es an d th e t ri al co u rt s t ru gg l ed wi th

t h e b e s t m e t h o d of pres en ti n g t h e co u n t s o n t h e v erd ict fo rm an d reco g n i zed t h e

p o t en t i al co n fu s i o n fo r t h e ju ry at t h e ch arg e co n feren ce, i n cl os i n g arg u m en t

, an d in

ch arg i n g t h e ju ry

. In i ts c l o s i n g arg u m en t

, t h e St at e ack n o wl ed ged t h e d i ffi cu l t y in

craft i n g th e v erd i ct fo rm :

No w, o n t h e v erd ict fo rm

– an d t h ere’ s s i x pag es b ecau s e t h ere’ s s i x

co u n t s

. Y o u h av e t o d eci d e i f we, t h e ju ry

, fi n d t h e Defen d an t g u i l t y o r

n o t g u i l t y

. Yo u al s o h av e t o d eci de if h e was a fi d u ci ary

. Di d h e o w e an

o b l i gat i o n to Seco n d Harv es t ? Yo u wi l l s a y was h e

– I m ay h av e t o

ch an g e t h at b ecau se t hat ’ s n o t m ak i n g s en se t o m e. Al l ri g h t

. Bu t y ou d o

h a v e t o d e ci d e wh et her or n o t t he p ro pert y t h at was t ak en

, th e

10t ru ck l o ad s

, d id i t ex ceed

– t h e v al u e of i t ex ceed $ 5 0 0 .0 0 ? Yo u d o h av e

t o d eci d e t hat

.

An d aft er ch arg i ng th e j u ry

, t h e t ri al co u rt at t em p t ed t o ex pl ai n t h e v erd i ct fo rm t o t h e

ju ry :

Yo u wi ll be as ked

– as t o each co u n t, y o u ’ l l b e as k ed t h e fo l l owi n g

q u es t i o n s

– th e fi rs t qu es t i o n : As to t h eft b y co n v ers i o n

, we t h e ju ry

,

fi nd t h e Defen d an t

– y o u can s ay g ui l t y or n o t g u i l t y

. T hen t h e q u es t i o n

i s : As a fi d u ci ary

, we, t h e ju ry , fi n d t h e Defen d an t g u il t y o r n o t g u i l t y

.

Th en i t m o ves on

. If y o u d o n ’ t fi n d t h e D efen d an t g u il t y as a fi d u ci ary

,

t h en y o u h av e t o d et erm i n e wh et h er o r n o t y o u fi n d t h e Defen d an t g u i l t y

o f t h eft by co n v ers i o n in an am o u n t ex ceed i ng $ 5 0 0 .0 0

, o r n o t g ui l t y i n

an am o u n t ex ceed i n g $ 5 00 .0 0

. If y o u d o n ’ t fi n d t h e Defen d an t g ui l t y o f

an am o u n t e x ceed i n g $ 5 0 0 .0 0

, t h e fi n al q u es t i on i s : W e, t h e ju ry

, fi n d

t h e Defen d an t g u i l ty o r n o t gu i l t y o f t h eft b y c o n v e rs io n i n an am o u n t

l es s t h an $ 4 9 9.9 9

. Al l ri g h t ?

So y o u h av e t o

– I t hi n k o n ce y o u p l ace y o u r ey es o n i t

, y ou ’ l l s ee i t

. It

l o o k s co m

p l i cat ed

, b u t o n ce y o u k i nd o f g o t h r o u g h i t

, I t h in k i t

s i m p l i fi es . Al l ri g h t ?

Aft er t h e ju ry i n fo rm ed t h e t ri al co u rt t h at i t had reach ed a v er d i ct an d

p res en t ed t h e v erd i c t

, t h e t ri al co u rt ad d res sed co u ns el o u t si de t h e pres en ce o f t h e

ju ry an d as k ed fo r an y o b ject i o n s

. J ack s o n o b

j ect ed t o t he i l l o g i cal fi n d in g o f n ot

11g u i l t y of th eft b y co n v ers i o n b u t g u i lt y “ as a fi d u ci ary .” Th e t ri al co u rt o v erru l ed t h e

o b ject i on

, n o t i ng t h at t h ey wo u l d b e o n a “ s l i p p ery s l o p e” i f th ey were t o “ as k fo r o ral

ex p lan at i o n s o f t he v erd i ct fo rm .” 8 T h e ju ry w as t he n b ro u g h t b ack i n, an d t h e

fo rep ers o n p u b l i s hed t he ju ry ’ s v erd i ct

.

Co n st ru i n g t h e v e rd i ct fo rm i n o rd er t o g i v e t h e d efen dan t th e b en efi t o f t h e

d o u b t

, as we m

u s t

, we are co n s t r a i n ed t o fi nd t hat th e v erd i ct ret urn ed i s a l eg al

n u l l i ty as t o Co u n t s 1

, 2

, 4

, 6

, an d 7

. Al t h ou g h t h e ju ry fo u n d Jack s o n g u i l t y “ as a

fi du ci ar y ,” t h ey s p eci fi cal ly fo u n d h i m n o t g u il t y o f th eft by co n v ers i on i n an y

am ou n t

. Th es e fi n d i n g s are at b es t am b i g u o us

, an d a fai r read i n g o f t h e verd i ct read i l y

i n cl u d es t h e p os s i b i l i t y t h at t he ju ry fo u n d J ack so n was act i n g i n a fi d u ci ary cap aci t y

fo r Seco n d H arv es t b u t was n o t g u i l t y o f t h eft b y co nv ers i o n

. M erel y act i n g as a

fi du c i a r y i s n o t cri m i n al

. Gi v i ng J ack s o n t h e b en efi t o f t h e do u b t in co n s t ru i n g t h e

v e r d i c t

, we rev ers e J ack s o n ’ s co n v i ct i o ns o n Co u n ts 1

, 2

, 4

, 6

, an d 7

. See S mi t h v.

S t a t e

, 1 1 7 Ga. 1 6, 1 9 (4 3 SE 4 40 ) (1 9 0 3 ); S t u b b s

, 2 2 0 Ga. A pp

. at 1 0 7 (1 ) (wh ere t ri al

co u rt erred i n s en t en ci n g d efen d an t o n o n e co u n t

, t h at po rt i o n o f t h e ju d g m en t m u s t

b e rev ers ed ). J ack s o n ’ s rem ai n i n g co n v i ct i o n o n Co u n t 3 wi l l s t an d

.

8 Ho wev er, t he t ri al co urt al so ag reed t o s ch ed u l e o ral arg u m en t reg ard i n g t h e

v al i d i t y o f t h e v erd ict fo rm

. Th e t ri al co u rt fu rt her s t at ed t hat t h e fi d uci ary q u es t i o n

s h o u ld h av e b een l i s t ed fi rs t , t h eft b y co nv ers i o n s eco n d , an d t h en t h e am o u n t s

.

122

. Bas ed o n o u r h o l di n g i n Di v i s i o n 1

, w e n eed n o t reach J ack s o n ’ s rem ai n i n g

en u m erat i o n o f erro r.

Ju d g men t r ever sed i n p a r t . Ba r n es , P. J., a n d Rees e, J., co n cu r

.

13