THI RD DI VI SI ON

DOYLE, P. J.

, REESE, 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

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.

https ://w w w

. ga a ppe a ls .us /r ule s

M ay 5, 2022



# I n th e Co u r t o f

A p p eals o f

G eo r g ia

A2 2 A0 41 5 . M A TTA v . THE STATE.

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

Fo l l owi n g a ju ry tri al

, M arl o n M at ta was co n v ict ed o f ag g rav at ed so d o m y

, 1

ag g rav at ed ch i l d m o l es t at i o n

, 2 an d t h ree co u n t s o f ch i l d m ol es t at i o n

. 3 He ap p eal s t h e

d en ial o f h i s m o ti o n fo r n e w t r i a l

, arg u i ng t h at t h e l ack o f a co m p l et e an d accu rat e

t ran s cri p t o f t h e t ri al an d t h e ex cl u s i o n o f e v i d e n c e o f al leg at io n s o f s ex u al ab u s e

m ad e b y th e v i ct i m ag ai n s t an o t h er i n d iv i d ual m an d at ed a n ew t ri al

. Fo r th e reas on s

t h at fo ll o w, we affi rm

.

1 OCGA § 1 6 -6 -2 (a) (2 ).

2 OCGA § 1 6 -6 -4 (c).

3 OCGA § 1 6 -6 -4 (a).Co n st ru ed in t h e l i gh t m o s t fav orab l e t o t h e v erd ict

, 4 t h e reco rd s ho ws t h at

wh en t h e v i ct i m ’ s m o t her was b at h i n g th e v i ct i m

, wh o was u n d er 1 0 y ears o f ag e at

t h e t i m e, s h e n o t iced t h a t h i s rect u m was “ v ery red an d o p en .” Sh e al s o n o t i ced

ch an ges i n t h e v i ct i m ’ s b eh av i o r, i n cl u d i n g s o il i n g h i s u n d erwear, b ei n g di s t ract ed

i n s ch o o l

, an d p u l l i n g h i s p an t s d o w n i n p rep arat i o n fo r wh at s he b e li ev ed was a

s ex u al act wi th h i s y o u n g er co u s i n

. Th e vi ct im t o l d h is m o t h er t h at M at t a “ t o u ch [ed ]

h i m ” du ri n g w eek l y Bi b l e st u d y t h a t t h e v i ct i m

, h i s fam i l y

, an d 1 0 -1 2 o t h er

i n d i v i d u a l s at t en d ed at Mat t a’ s h o m e. T h e v ict i m un d erwen t a fo ren s ic i n t erv i ew,

d u ri n g wh i ch h e rep o rt ed t h at M at t a h ad an al ly pen et rat ed h i m m ore t h an fi v e t i m es

d u ri n g Bi b le s tu dy an d t h at M at t a m ad e h i m wat ch p o rn og rap h i c m ov i es an d l o o k at

p o r n o g rap h i c m ag azi n es

. Th e v i ct i m rep eat ed t h es e al l eg at io n s d u ri ng t ri al

,

ex p lai n i n g t hat M at t a’ s act i o n s cau s ed h i m p ai n an d m ad e h i m fee l “ l i k e [ h e] was

t h ro wi n g u p .”

W h i l e b ei n g in t erv i ewed b y p o l i ce, M at t a d en i ed t h e v i ct i m ’ s al l eg at i o n s an d

d en ied t hat t h e v ict i m h ad ev er b een i n h i s b ed ro o m

. M at t a l at er co nt rad i ct ed h i m s el f,

s t at i n g t h at t h e v i ct i m h ad b een i n h i s b ed ro o m at l eas t t hree t i m es du ri n g Bi bl e s t u dy

an d cau g h t M at t a wat ch i n g p o rn o g rap h y

. Du ri n g a co n s en t search of M at t a’ s h o m e,

4 See Ca n tr el l

v. S t a t e , 3 6 0 Ga. Ap p . 8 6 2 (8 6 2 SE2 d 3 2 9 ) (2 0 2 1 ).

2p o l i ce fo u nd p o rn o grap h ic m ag azi nes a n d vi d eo s i n h i s b ed ro o m i n a l o cat i o n

c o n s i s ten t wi t h det ai l s p ro v i d ed b y t h e v ict i m

. Po l i ce al s o co nfi rm ed t he v i ct i m ’s

s t at em en t t h at h e co u ld s e e d o wn t h e h o m e’ s h al l way t h ro u g h a crack i n t h e d o o r

wh en M at t a an al l y

s o d om i zed h i m

.

At t h e co ncl u s i o n o f t h e t ri al

, M at t a w as co n vi ct ed o f ag g rav at ed s o d o m y

,

ag g rav at ed ch i ld m ol es t at i o n

, an d t h ree co u n t s o f ch i ld m o l es t at i o n

. He fi l ed a m o t i o n

fo r n ew t ri al

, w h i c h h e l at er am en d ed t hree t i m es

, an d t h e t ri al co urt d en i ed t h e

m o ti o n aft er a h eari n g

. Th i s ap p eal fo l lo wed

.

1

. M at ta co nt en d s t h at t h e t ri al co u rt erred b y d en y i n g h i s m ot io n fo r n ew t ri al

b ecau s e t h e t ri al t ran scri p t i s m i s s i n g a p o rt i o n of t h e t es t i m o n y o f o n e o f t h e St at e’ s

wi t n es s es . W e d is ag ree.

M at t a’ s t ri al t o o k p l ace o v er t wo d a y s i n Sep t em b er 2 0 12

. In Oct o ber 2 0 1 2,

M at ta m o v ed fo r a n ew t ri al

. On M arch 31

, 2 0 1 6, becau s e t h e t ri al t ran s cri p t h ad n ot

y et b een fi l ed

, M at t a m o v ed fo r t h e co urt t o req u i re t h e co u rt rep ort er t o p ro d u ce t h e

t ran s cri p t o r gran t h i m a n ew t ri al . On M arch 3 1 , 2 0 1 7 , M at t a am en d ed h i s m o t i o n,

s eek i n g a n ew t ri al b e c a u s e t h e t ran s cri pt was i n co m p l et e b as ed o n t h e co u rt

rep o rt er’ s i n ab i l i t y t o t ran s c r i b e t h e tes t i m o n y o f Teres a W ri g h t

, a wi t n es s fo r t h e

p ro s ecu ti o n

.

3Th e co u rt rep o rt er, Pam El l i s

, p ro d uced a 21 2 -p ag e tran s cri p t o f M at t a’ s t ri al

,

wh i ch i ncl u d ed t h e tes t im o n y o f n i n e wi tn es s es

. In t h e “ Cert i fi cat e o f Rep ort er,” El l i s

cert ifi ed al l pag es of t h e t ran s cri p t ex cep t fo r on e, wh i ch co n t ai ned t h e fo l l o wi n g

s t at em en t : “ As t o pag e n u m b er 1 2 0 o f th e wi t h i n p ro ceed i ng s

, t h e u n d ers i g n ed i s

u n ab le t o cert ify

t h e co m p l et en es s o f o n l y t hat pag e as i t rel at es t o t h e t es t i m o n y o f

St at e’ s wi t n es s Teres a W ri g ht

, an d t h e m at t ers set o ut in rep o rt ers han d -wri t t en n o t es

q u o t ed i n i t al i cs o n t h e fo reg o i n g p ag e 1 2 0 fo r t he reas o ns s tat ed t h erei n .” Pag e 1 2 0

o f t h e t ran s cri p t co n t ai ned t h e fo l l o wi n g “ Rep o rt er’ s No t e”: “ Du e t o rep ort er erro r,

t h e ex am i n a t i o n o f wi t n es s Teres a W ri g h t was u n i nt en t i o nal l y reco rd ed o v er. Th e

fo l l o w i n g u n cer t i

f i ed n o t es are t h e rep o rt er’ s han d -wri t t en n o t es o f t h e t es t i m o n y

. .

. .” 5 El l i s’ s n o t es i n d i cat ed t h at W ri g h t ’ s t es t i m o n y b eg an at 2 : 45 p .m

. an d en d ed at

4 : 2 0 p .m

. 6 Acco rd i n g t o El l i s ’ s no t es

, d efen se co u n s el d id n o t cro s s

5 (Em p h as i s i n o ri g i n al ).

6 Th e co u rt rep o rt er’ s n ot es s tat e:

2 : 4 5 P.M

. – Dire c t/B rashe r : P rev i o u s l y Teres a Th o m as

. Em p l o y ed CAC

1 1 y ears (al l at CAC). I h av e BA i n Ps y ch o lo g y

. Co rn er h o u s e Ch i l d

i n t erv i ew t rai n i n g

. I fo l l o w t h at p ro t o co l

. I do 9 8 % o f ch i l d ab u s e

i n t erv i ews

. W i t n es s t en d / ad m as ex p ert

. I i n t erv i ewed J ord an (p ro t oco l ),

DVR reco rd ed

. Fro m o b s erv at i o n ro om

, can v i ew i n t erv i ew o n m o ni t o r

4ex am i n e W ri g h t

. Du ri n g W ri g h t ’ s n i n et y -fi ve-m in u t e t es t i m o n y

, t h e ju ry t o o k a

t wen t y -m i n u t e b reak

, an d t h e ap p ro x i m at el y o n e-h o u r vi d eo of T ho m as ’ s in t erv i ew

o f J . G. was p l ay ed

.

A t t h e m o t i o n fo r new t ri al h eari ng

, El l i s t es t i fi ed t h at s he h ad ap p aren t l y

m i s t ak en l y reco rd ed o ver Th o m as ’ s t es t i m o ny

. Acco rd i n g t o E l l i s

, ex cl u d i n g t h e

t wen t y -m i n u t e b r e a k an d t h e o n e-h o u r v id eo

, W ri g h t’ s t es t i m o n y l as t ed

ap p ro x i m at el y fi ft een m i n u t e s

. M at t a’ s t ri al co u n sel t es t ifi ed at t h e h eari n g t h at h e

h ad n o s p eci fi c reco ll ect i o n ab ou t W ri g h t ’ s tes t im o n y an d th at h e had “ n o reas o n to

d i s p u t e an y

o f [t h e co u rt rep ort er’ s ] n o t es .”

Th e p ro s ecu t o r al so t es t ifi ed

, ex p l ai ni n g t hat b ecau s e M at t a’ s t ri al was h er fi rs t

ch i l d m o l es t at i o n p ro s ecu t i o n

, s h e t y ped o u t h er ex am i nat i o n q u es t i o n s i n co m p l et e

s en t en ces an d as k ed t h em “ vi rt ual l y i n t h e ex act o rd er t h at th ey

. . . are ty p ed o u t [i n

t h e n ot es

. ] .” Acco rd i ng t o t he p ro s ecu t o r’ s n o tes

, wh i ch were ad m i t t ed i n t o ev i d en ce,

wi t h 2 -way rad i o

. S

-1 5

– Vi d eo d i s k o f ch il d i n t erv iew (t en d/ ad m .) J u ry

o u t 2 : 5 0

, i n 3 : 1 0 (Break ). In t erv i ew fo rm at , RACTAC. S-1 5 i nt erv i ew

v i d eo p lay ed (ap p ro x

. 1 h r. v i d eo

, en d ed 4 : 1 5 P.M

. )

. B r a s h er /co n t d

Di r e c t : S

-l 7

— Pap er u s ed i n J o rd an in t erv i ew (t en d / ad m ). No t

u n co m m o n n o t t o d i s cl o se ev ery t h in g i n 1 s t i n t erv i ew; n o t u n co m m o n

d i s cl o s u re n o t m ad e fo r s ev eral y ears

. Mr

. Ca i n

– No q u es t i o n s

. W i t n es s

ex cu s ed , 4 : 2 0 P.M

.

5W ri g h t co n d u ct ed t h e fo ren s i c i n t erv i ew o f th e v i ct i m

. Th e p ro s ecu t o r t es t i fi ed at t h at

h eari n g t h at W ri g h t was n o t “ a s u bs t an ti al w i t nes s as far as i n fo rm at i o n ,” an d t h e

“ m ai n p u rp o s e” o f her t es t i m o n y “ was t o p ro v id e i n fo rm at i o n ab o u t t h e [ch i ld

ad v ocacy cen t er] an d h o w i n t erv i ews were do n e an d, s p eci fi cal l y

, h o w th i s in t erv i ew

was d o n e an d t o b e ab l e t o t en d er i n b o t h t h e fo ren s i c i n t erv iew an d t h e d i ag ram s at

t h at ti m e.” Th e p ro s ecu t o r al s o recal l ed as k i n g W ri g h t “ s o m e g en eral q u es t i on s ab o ut

d el ay ed d i s cl o su re i s s u es ”; sh e d i d n o t as k W ri gh t “ an y t h i n g ab o u t s p eci fi cal l y wh at

h ap pen ed i n t h e [fo ren s ic] i n terv i ew [o f t h e v ict i m ] .”

Fo l l owi n g t h e heari n g

, t he t ri al co u rt d en i ed t h e m o t i on fo r new t ri al

, fi n d i n g

t h at b as ed o n t he ev i d en ce an d tes t i m o n y p ro d u ced at t h e h eari n g

, “ th e t ri al tran s cri pt

i n t hi s cas e i s co rrect an d co m pl et e.”

Cert ai n l y

, “ [a] d efen d an t wh o i s tri ed an d co n v i ct ed h as a ri g ht t o ap p eal an d

a ri g h t t o a t ran s cri p t o f t h e t ri al t o u s e in b ri n g i n g t h at ap p eal [, an d a] n ap p el l an t wh o

i s d ep ri v ed o f an ad eq u at e t ri al t ran s cri p t h as effect iv el y been d en i e d h i s ri g h t to

ap p eal .” 7 Al t ho u g h t he St at e h as a d u ty t o fi l e a “ co rrect an d co m p let e t ran s cri p t ” i f

7 (Ci t at i o n s an d p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed .) Ga d s o n v. S t a t e

, 3 0 3 Ga. 8 71

, 8 7 7 (3 )

(a) (8 15 SE2 d 8 28 ) (2 0 1 8 ).

6req u es t ed b y t he d efen d an t

, fai l u re t o fu l fi l l t h at d u t y d o es n ot au t o m at ical l y

en t i t l e

t h e d efen d an t t o a new tri al

. 8 “ In st ead

, OCGA § 5 -6 -4 1 (f) an d (g ) al l o w an y p ar t y

wh o co n ten d s th at t h e reco rd ‘ do es n o t t ru l y o r fu ll y d is cl os e wh at t ran s p i red i n t h e

t ri al co u rt ’ t o h av e th e reco rd co m p l et ed ei t h er b y s t i p u l at io n of t h e p art i es o r, i f t h e

p art i es can no t ag ree, b y t h e d eci s i on of t h e t r i a l c o u rt .” 9 Su b s ect io n s (f) an d (g ) o f

OCGA § 5 -6 -4 1

, 1 0

8 See i d . at 8 7 8 (3 ) (a).

9 (Pu n ct uat i o n o m i t t ed

. ) Id

.

1 0 Th es e s u b s ect i o n s p ro v i d e:

(f) W h ere an y p art y co n ten d s t h at t h e t ran scri p t o r reco rd d o es n o t t ru l y

o r f u l l y d i s cl o s e wh at t ran s p i red i n t h e tri al co u rt an d t he p art i es a r e

u n ab l e t o ag ree t h ereo n, t h e t ri a l c o u rt s h al l s et t h e m at ter d o wn fo r a

h eari n g wi t h n o t i ce to b o t h p art ies an d res o l v e t h e d i fferen ce s o as t o

m ak e t h e reco rd co n fo rm t o t h e t ru t h

. If an y t h i n g m at eri al t o ei th er p art y

i s om i t t ed fro m t h e reco rd o n ap peal o r i s m i s s t at ed th erei n

, th e p art i es

b y s t i p u l at io n, or th e t r i a l c o u rt

, ei t h er b efo re o r aft er t h e reco rd i s

t ran s m i t t ed t o t h e ap p el l at e co u rt , o n a p ro p er s u g g es t i on o r o f i t s o wn

i n i t i at i v e

, m a y d i rect t h at t h e om i s s i o n o r m i ss t at em en t s h al l be

co rrect ed an d

, i f n eces s ary

, t h at a s u p p l em en tal reco rd sh al l b e cert i fi ed

an d t ran s m i t ted b y th e cl erk o f t h e tri al co u rt

. Th e t ri al co u rt or th e

ap p el l at e co u rt m ay at an y t i m e o rd er t h e cl erk o f t h e t ri al co u rt t o s en d

u p an y o ri g i n al p ap ers o r ex h i b i t s in t h e cas e, t o b e ret u rn ed aft er fi nal

7co n s t ru ed t o g et h er, p ro v i d e fo r t h e reco n s t ru ct i o n o f a m i s si n g tran s cri p t

o f t h e p ro ceed in g s wh et h er o r n o t t h e part i es ag ree as t o th e co n t en t s

.

An d wh i l e t h e co rrect n es s o f s u ch t ran s cri p t

, as d et erm i n ed b y t h e t ri al

ju d g e, i s fi n al an d n o t s ub je c t t o rev i ew, OCGA § 5 -6 -4 1 (g ), wh et h er

t h e t ran s cri p t i s co m

p l et e p u rs u an t t o O CGA § 5 -6 -4 1 (f) i s rev i ewab l e

o n ap p eal

. 1 1

W h ere al l o r an i m

p o rt an t p o rt i o n o f t h e o ri g i n al v erb at i m

t ran s cri p t o f a t ri al i s lo st an d t h e t ran s cri p t reco n s t ru ct ed p u rs u an t t o

OCGA § 5 -6 -4 1 (f) an d (g ) i s m an i fes t ly i n ad eq u at e, an ap p el l an t i s n o t

d i s p o s i t i o n o f t h e ap peal

.

(g ) W here a t ri al is no t rep o rt ed as referred t o i n su b sect io n s (b ) an d (c)

o f t h i s Co d e s ect i o n o r wh ere fo r an y o t h er reas o n t h e t ran s cri p t of t he

p ro ceed i n g s i s n o t o b t ai n ab l e an d a t ran s cri pt o f ev i d en ce an d

p ro ceed i n g s is p rep ared fro m reco l lect i o n

, t h e ag reem en t o f t h e p art i es

t h eret o o r t h ei r co un s el

, en t ered t h ereo n, s h al l en t i t l e s u ch t ran s cri p t t o

b e fi l ed as a p art o f t h e reco rd i n t h e s am e m an ner an d wi t h t h e s am e

b i n d i n g effect as a t ran s cri p t fi l ed by t h e co u rt rep o rt er as referred t o i n

s u b s ect i o n (e) o f t hi s Co de s ect i o n

. In cas e o f t h e i n ab i li t y o f t he p art i es

t o ag ree as t o th e co rrect n es s o f s u ch tran s cri p t

, t h e d eci s i o n o f t h e t ri al

ju d g e t h ereo n s h al l b e fi n al an d n ot s u b j ect t o rev i ew; an d

, i f t h e t ri al

ju d g e i s u n ab l e t o recal l wh at t ran s p ired , t h e ju d g e s hal l en t er an o rd er

s t at i n g t h at fact

.

1 1 (Pu n ct u at i o n an d em

p h as i s o m i t ted .) Ba mb er

g v. St a t e

, 30 8 G a. 3 4 0, 3 4 7 (2 )

(8 3 9 SE2 d 6 4 0 ) (2 0 2 0 ).

8req u ired t o s p eci fy h ow h e h as b een h arm ed b y a p a rt i cu l ar erro r t hat

m ay h av e o ccu rred at t ri al b u t i s n ow b uri ed i n u nreco rd ed h i s t o ry

. Bu t

wh ere, as h ere, an o t herwi s e v erb at i m t ran scri p t i s m i s s i n g o nl y on e o r

a few p art s o f t h e t ri al

, t h e ap p el l an t i s n o t en t i t l ed t o a n ew t ri al un l es s

h e al l eg es t h at h e h as been h arm ed b y s o m e sp eci fi ed erro r i n v o l vi n g th e

o m i t t ed p art an d s h o ws t h at t h e o m is s io n p rev en t s p ro p er ap p el l at e

rev i ew o f t h at erro r. 1 2

In t h i s ca s e

, M a t t a h as fai l ed t o p ro d u ce an y ev i d en ce i n s u p p o rt o f h i s

arg u m en t t h at t h e recreat ed r e c o r d i s i n co m p l et e, n o r has he rai s ed an y s p eci fi c

o b ject i on wi th t h e reco n st ru ct ed t es t im o n y

. 1 3 Fu rt h erm o re, h e h as n o t al l eg ed t h at h e

1 2 (Ci t at i o n o m i t t ed .) Ga d s o n , 3 0 3 Ga. at 8 7 8 (3 ) (a), ci t i ng Jo hn s on v. S t a t e

, 3 0 2 Ga. 1 8 8

, 1 9 7-1 9 8 (3 ) (c) (8 0 5 SE2 d 8 9 0 ) (2 0 1 7 ) (co l l ect i n g cas es ).

1 3 W e fi n d m eri t l es s M a t t a ’s arg u m en t t h at “ n o t ran s cri p t of t h e m i s s i n g

t es t i m o ny can b e rel i ab l y recreat ed ” b ecau s e th i s ap peal i n v o l v es a co n fl i ct o f i n t eres t

b et ween hi m an d t ri al co u ns el

. See Ba mb er g

, 3 0 8 Ga. at 3 5 0

, n

. 9 (reject i n g a s i m i l ar

arg u m en t b ecau s e t h e “ [t ] ri al co u n s el wo u l d hav e b een ai d i n g i n t h e reco ns t ru ct i o n

o f t h e t ran s cri p t

, n ot u s i n g t h e t ran s cri p t t o d em o ns t rat e an y erro r. M o reo v er,

[M at t a’ s ] ap pel l at e co u n s el cal led [h i s ] t ri al co u n s el at t h e h eari n g o n [h i s ] m o t i o n fo r

n ew t ri al

, an d [h e]

. . . qu es t io n ed [M at t a’ s ] tri al co u n s el

. . . ab ou t m at t ers o ccu rri n g

d u r i n g t h e t ri al

, as h as b een d o n e i n n u m ero u s ap p eal s

. . . i n wh i ch ap p e l l a n t s

co n ten d ed t h at t h ey recei v ed i n effect i v e as s i s t an ce o f t ri al co u n s el

. M o reo v e r

, in

m an y o f [t h e Su prem e Co u rt of Geo rg i a’ s ] p ri o r d eci s io n s o n a reco n s t ru ct ed reco rd

,

a d efen d a n t ’ s tri al co u n sel tes ti fi ed as part of t h e effo rt s at reco n s t ru ct i o n

, wh et h er

b y affi d av i t o r at a h eari n g hel d fo r t h at p u r p o s e

. ” )

, ci t i n g M o s ley v. S ta t e

, 3 0 0 Ga.

5 2 1

, 5 2 4 (2 ) (7 9 6 SE2 d 6 8 4 ) (2 0 1 7 ); Leeks v. S t a te

, 2 96 Ga. 5 1 5

, 5 1 7 (2 ) (7 6 9 SE2 d

2 9 6 ) (2 0 1 5 ); S t a t e v. Nej a d , 2 8 6 Ga. 6 9 5, 6 9 5-6 9 6 (1 ) (6 9 0 SE2 d 8 4 6 ) (2 0 1 0 ).

9was h arm ed b y an y erro r in v o l v i n g W ri g h t ’ s t es ti m o n y

. Acco rd i n g l y

, th e t ri al co u rt

d i d n o t err b y

d en y i n g M at t a’ s m o ti o n fo r n ew t ri al o n t h i s b as i s

. 1 4

2

. M at t a fu rt her arg u es t h at th e t ri al co u rt erred b y ex cl u d i n g ev id en ce t h at t h e

v i ct i m m ad e p ri o r al l eg at i on s o f s ex u al ab u s e ag ai ns t an ot h er i n d iv i d ual

. W e fi n d n o

b as i s fo r rev ers al

.

In p ro s ecu ti o n s fo r ch i l d m ol es t at i o n

, G e o rg i a’ s Rap e Sh i el d

St at u t e p ro h ib i t s t es t i m o n y r eg ard i n g a co m pl ai n in g wi t n es s’ s p as t

s ex u al b eh av i o r, b u t i t d o es n o t p ro h i b i t t es t i m o n y reg ard i n g p rev i o u s

fal s e al l eg at i on s b y t he co m p l ai n in g wi t n es s

. Befo re s u ch ev i d en ce can

b e ad m i t t ed

, h o wev er, t h e t ri al co urt m u s t m ak e a t h res h o l d

d et erm i nat i o n o u t s i d e t h e p res en ce o f t h e ju ry t h at a reas o n ab l e

p ro b ab i l i t y o f fal s i ty ex i s t s

. In t h i s co n t ex t

, a reas on ab l e p ro b ab il i t y i s

a p ro b ab i l i t y s u ffi ci en t t o u n d erm i n e co n fi den c e i n t h e o ut co m e.

Defen d an t s h av e t h e b u rd e n o f co m in g fo rward w i t h ev i d en ce at th e

h eari n g to es t ab l i s h a reas o n ab l e p ro b ab i l i t y t h at t h e v i ct i m h ad m ad e a

p ri o r fal s e accu s at i o n o f sex u al m i s co nd u ct

. W e wi l l n o t d i s t u rb t h e t ri al

1 4 See Ga ds o n

, 3 0 3 Ga. at 8 7 8 (3 ) (a), ci t in g Br o ckma n v. S t a t e

, 2 9 2 Ga. 7 0 7,

7 1 6 (5 ) (b ) (7 3 9 SE2 d 3 3 2 ) (2 0 1 3 ) (affi rm i n g d en i al o f m o t i o n fo r new t ri al b ecau s e

t h e d e f e n d an t di d n o t es t ab l i s h h arm o r s h o w t h at h e was p rev en t ed fro m rai s i n g

i s su es o n ap p eal b as ed o n fo u r m i s s i n g tri al ex h ib i t s ); R u f f i n v. St a t e

, 2 8 3 Ga. 8 7

, 8 8

(6 ) (6 56 SE2 d 1 4 0) (2 0 0 8 ) (affi rm i n g co n vi ct i o n b ecau s e d efen d an t fai l ed t o al l eg e

s p eci fi c h arm fro m th e ab s en ce o f a t ran s cri p t o f v o i r d i re, o p en i n g s t at em en t s

, b en ch

co n feren ces

, an d t h e p o l l i n g o f t h e j u ry ); S m i t h v. S ta t e

, 2 5 1 Ga. 2 2 9, 2 30 (2 ) (3 0 4

SE2 d 7 1 6 ) (1 9 8 3 ) (h o l d i n g al l eg at i o n of g en eral h arm i n s u f f i ci en t b ecau s e t h e

d efen d an t fai l ed “ t o s h ow h o w h e w as h arm ed o r t o rai se an y i ss u e wh i ch t h i s Co u rt

i s u n ab l e t o ad eq u at el y

rev iew b ecau s e o f s ki p s i n t h e reco rd ”).

10co u rt ’ s det erm i n at i o n o n t h i s t h res h o l d i s su e ab s en t a n a b u s e o f

d i s cret i o n

. 1 5

Here, t h e St at e fi l ed a m o t i o n i n li m i n e t o ex cl u d e an y t es t i m o n y or referen ce

t o p ri o r s ex u al accu s at i o ns t h e v i ct im m ad e ag ai n st i n d i v i d u al s o t h er t h an M at t a.

Du ri n g t h e t ri al

, d efen s e co u n s el arg u ed t h at h e s h o u l d b e p erm i t t ed t o cro s s -ex am i n e

t h e m o t h er ab o u t an i n ci den t in wh i ch s h e fo un d t h e v i ct im i n an act o f a s ex u al

n at u re wi t h an o t h er ch il d; wh en t h e m o t h er as k ed t h e v ict i m “ wh ere h e l earn ed i t[,]

. . . an o t h er p ers o n [–

Ax el

– ] m ay

[h av e] co m e u p .” 1 6 In res p o n s e, t h e St at e arg u ed

t h at t h e vi ct im d i d n o t m en t i o n Ax el

, b y n am e o r o th erwi se, du ri n g hi s fo re n s i c

i n t erv i ew, t h at th e St at e h ad n o e v i d e n ce reg ard in g Ax el

, an d t h at t h e v i ct i m ’ s

s t at em en t d i d n o t co n s t i t u t e a fal s e al l eg at i o n. Aft er h eari n g t h e arg u m en t o f co u n s el

,

t h e t ri al co u rt ru led t h at t h e d efen se h ad t o “ s t ay away fro m

. . . t he n am e, [Ax el ]

. . .

. J u s t t h e n am e.

. . , ” fi n d in g t h at t h ere was n o ev id en ce t h at t h e v i ct i m ’ s s t at em en t

ab o ut Ax el was fal s e.

1 5 (Ci t at io n s an d p un ct u at i o n o m i t t ed .) Va l l ej o v. St a t e

, 3 6 2 Ga. Ap p

. 3 3

, 3 4 (1 )

(8 6 5 SE2 d 6 4 0 ) (2 0 2 1 ) ( e n b a n c ), ci t i n g S t at e v. Pa r ks

, 3 5 0 Ga. Ap p

. 7 99

, 8 1 1 (2 )

(8 3 0 SE2 d 2 8 4 ) (2 0 1 9 ), d i s ap p ro v ed o f o n o t h er gro u n d s b y St a t e v

. H i l l

, 3 6 1 Ga.

Ap p . 2 3 0 , 2 3 5 (2 ) (b ) (8 6 3 SE2 d 6 9 9) (2 02 1 ); OCGA § 2 4-4 -4 1 2 (a).

1 6 At t h at t i m e, t h e v i ct i m i d en t i fi ed M at t a as t h e p ers on wh o sex u al ly ab u s ed

h i m

.

11Pret erm it t i n g wh et h er Mat t a m ad e a p ro per p ro ffer o f t h e m o t h er’ s t es t i m o ny

reg ard i n g t h e v i ct i m ’ s m en t io n o f A x el ’ s n am e, 1 7 M at ta fai l ed t o es t ab l i s h t h e fal s i t y

o f t h e p urp o rt ed p ri o r fal se s ex ual al l eg at i o n

. T h ere was n o ev i den ce ab o u t wh at Ax el

“ t au g h t ” th e v i ct i m

, an y e vi d en ce reg ard i n g t h e s p eci fi cs o f an y s ex u al act s p erfo rm ed

b y Ax el o n o r i n th e p res en ce o f t h e v i ct i m

, or an y i n fo rm at io n u p on wh i ch t h e t ri al

co u rt co u l d h av e d et erm i ned t h at t h e al l eg at i o n s reg ard i n g A x e l were fal s e.

“ Acco rd in g l y

, i n l i g h t o f t h e ev i d en ce b efo re t he t ri al co u rt , we d o n o t fi n d t h at t h e

t ri al co u rt ab us ed i t s d is cret i on i n ex cl u d i n g t hi s ev i d en ce at t ri al .” 1 8

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

. Rees e, J., a n d

S en i o r Ap p el l a t e Ju d

ge Her b er t

E. Ph i pp s

co n cu r

.

1 7 Al t h o ug h d efen se co u n s el s u m m ari zed t he ex pect ed t es ti m o n y

, co u n s el d id

n o t q u es t i o n t h e m o t h er ab o u t t h e v i ct i m ’ s m en t i o n o f t he o t h e r i n di v i d u al

, ei t h er

d u ri n g t h e m o t i o n i n l i m i n e p res en t at i o n, d u ri n g t ri al

, o r at t h e m o t i o n fo r n ew t ri al

h eari n g

. See Pa r k

s

, 3 5 0 Ga. Ap p

. at 81 2 (n o t i ng t h at a t ri al co u rt i s “ req u i red ” to

“ co n d u ct [] a pret ri al heari n g an d [t ak e] t es t i m o n y ” fro m wi t n es s es i n o rd er t o m ak e

a d et erm i n at i on ab o u t t h e fal s i t y o f a v i ct i m ’ s p ri o r fal s e al l eg at i o n ).

1 8 Id . at 81 3 (2 ).

12