FI FTH DI VI SI ON

RI CKM A N, C. J.

, M CFA DDEN, P. J.

, and SENI OR A PPELLA TE JUDGE PHI PPS

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

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H I S

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

TH E TIM E S S E T B Y

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

.

Decem ber 29, 2021



# I n th e Co u r t o f

A p p eals o f

G eo r g ia

A2 1 A1 73 5 . FOSSIER v . THE STATE.

M C F A D D E N , Pres id i n g J u d g e.

Bry an Fo s s i er w as ch arg ed b y i n d i ct m en t wi t h fo u r co u n t s of ag g rav at ed ch i ld

m o les t at i o n fo r act s o f o ral s o d o m y wi t h a m i n o r v ict i m an d o n e co u n t o f c h i l d

m o les t at i o n fo r t ou ch i n g t h e v i ct i m ’ s p en i s

. Fo s s i er p l ed n o t gu i l t y t o t h e ch arg es an d

was t ri ed befo re a ju ry

, wh i ch fo u n d h i m g u i l t y o n al l co u n t s. T h e tri al co u rt

s en t en ced Fo s s i er as a reci d i v i st

, i m p o s i n g co n cu rren t l i fe s en t en ces fo r each co u nt

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

, wi t h 3 5 y ears t o b e s e r v e d in co n fi n em en t an d t h e

rem ai n d er o n p ro b at i o n. s Th e co u rt al s o i m p o s ed a co n cu rren t 2 0-y ear s en t en ce fo r

t h e co u n t o f ch i ld m ol es t at i o n

. Aft e r F o s s i er’ s m o t i o n fo r n ew tri al was den i ed

, h e

fi led th i s ap p eal

.Fo s s i er ch al l en g es t h e su ffi ci en cy o f t h e ev i d en ce s up p ort i n g h i s co n vi ct i o n s ;

b u t t h e reco rd s h ows t h at t h ere was en o u gh ev id en ce to au t ho ri ze a rat i on al t ri er o f

fact t o fi n d h i m g u i l ty b e y on d a reas o n ab l e d o ub t o f t h e ch arg ed offen ses

. Fo s s i er

al s o ch al l en g es th e t ri al c o u r t ’ s ad m i s s i o n o f ev i d en ce o f h i s p ri o r s ex u al as s au l t

co n vi c t i o n ; b u t s u ch ev i den ce was ad m i s si bl e u n d er OCGA § 2 4 -4 -4 1 3

, wh i ch

ad d res s es t h e ad m i s s i b i li t y o f ev i d en ce o f p r i o r o ffen s es i n cri m i n al s ex u al as s au l t

p ro ceed in g s

. Fo s s i er fu rt h er co n t en d s t h at t h e co u rt erred i n al l o wi n g ev i d en ce o f h i s

o t h er cri m i n al co n v i ct i on s ; bu t d u ri n g h i s t ri al t es t i m o ny

, Fo s s ier o p en ed t h e d o o r to

s u ch ev i d en ce. Fo s s i er n ex t cl ai m s i n effect i v e as s i s t an ce of t ri al co u ns el ; b u t h e h as

fai l ed t o s h o w t h at co u n s el ’ s p erfo rm an ce was b o t h defi ci en t an d p reju d i c i a l

.

Fo s si er’ s fi n al cl ai m o f erro r i s th at t h e t ri al co u rt s h o u l d hav e m erg ed t h e fo u r

ag g rav at ed ch i ld m o l es t at i o n o ffen s es fo r pu rp o s es o f s en t en ci ng ; b u t t h o s e o ffen s es

d i d n o t m erg e becau s e th ey w ere b as ed o n s ep arat e act s o f o ral s o do m y

. So we affi rm

t h e ju dg m en t s o f co n v ict i o n

.

1

. S u f f ici en cy o f t h e evi d en ce.

“ On ap p eal fro m [a] cri m i n al co n v i ct i o n

, [t h e d efen d an t] i s n o l o n ger p res u m ed

i n n o cen t an d al l o f t he ev i d en c e i s v i ewed i n th e l i gh t m o s t fav o rab l e t o th e ju ry ’ s

v erd i ct .” Al va r a do v. S t at e

, 3 6 0 G a

. Ap p

. 11 3 (8 6 0 SE2 d 8 8 6 ) (2 0 2 1) (ci t at i o n an d

2p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed ). “ [I] n ev al u at i n g t h e s u ffi ci en cy o f t h e ev i d en ce, we d o n ot

wei g h th e ev id en ce o r d et erm i n e w i t nes s cred i b i li t y

, b u t o n l y d et erm i n e wh et h er a

rat i o nal t ri er o f fact co u ld hav e fo un d t h e defen d an t g u il t y o f t h e ch arg ed o ffen s es

b ey o n d a reas o nab l e d o u bt .” M i r a n d a v. S t a t e

, 3 5 4 G a

. A p p

. 7 7 7

, 7 7 8 (8 41 SE2 d

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

So v i ewed

, t h e ev i d en ce p res en ted at tri al s h o wed t h at t h e 1 2 -y ear-o l d 1 v i ct i m

was wat ch i n g a m o v ie i n t h e l i v i n g ro o m of h i s co us i n ’ s h o m e w h e n Fo s si er, wh o

l i ved w i t h t h e co u si n

, en t ered th e l i v i n g ro om an d b eg an l oo k i n g fo r s o m et h i n g i n a

cl o s et

. Fo s s i er t o l d t h e ch i l d t h at h e was l o o k in g fo r a p orn o g rap h i c v i d eo i nv o l v i n g

g ay s ex an d as k ed t h e b o y i f h e was g ay

. A ft er tal k i n g t o t h e b o y ab o u t h i s s ex u al i t y

,

Fo s si er led t he ch i l d i n t o t h e h o m e’ s b ed ro o m an d rem ov ed t h e b o y ’ s pan t s

. Fo s s i er

t o u ch ed t h e v i ct im ’ s pen i s w i t h h i s h an d

, k n eel ed o n t h e fl o or, an d p u t h i s m o u t h o n

t h e bo y ’ s p en i s

. Fo ss i er s t o o d u p

, h ad t h e v i ct i m k neel i n fro n t of h i m

, an d p u t h i s

p en is in t h e ch il d ’ s m ou t h

. Th e v i ct im ev en t u al l y ran fro m t h e b ed ro o m

, p u t h i s p an t s

b ack o n

, an d res um ed wat ch i n g a m o v ie i n th e l i vi n g ro o m

. Ab o u t a n h o u r l a t er,

Fo s si er cam e i n t o t he l i v i ng ro o m an d d i rect ed t h e v i ct i m t o l i e o n a co u ch

, wh ere

1 Th e p art i es h av e referred t o t h e v i ct i m as bei n g 1 3 y ears o l d. Bu t t h e ev i d en ce,

v i ewed i n fav o r o f t h e v erd i ct

, s h o ws t h at h e w as b o rn i n Au gu s t 2 00 5 an d t h at t h e

i n ci d en t s o ccu rred i n t h e sp ri n g o f 2 0 1 8

, w h en h e wo u ld h av e s t i l l b een 1 2 y ears o l d.

3Fo s si er p l aced h i s m o u t h o n t h e ch i ld ’ s p en is an d al s o i n s ert ed h i s p en i s i n t o t h e

v i ct i m ’ s m o u t h.

In ch al l en gi n g t h e s u ffi ci en cy o f t he ev i d en ce, Fo s s i er arg u es t hat h e was n ot

i d en t i fi ed b y t h e v ict i m in co u rt

. W h il e t h e v i ct i m t es t i fi ed th at h e h ad n ot

en co un t ered Fo s s i er p ri o r t o b ei n g m ol es t ed by h im an d t h at h e co u l d n o t rem em b er

h i s f a c e

, h e al so t es t i fi ed t h at th e as sai l an t t o l d h i m t hat h i s n am e was “ Bry an ” an d

t h at h e was th e b o yf

r i en d o f t h e v i ct i m ’ s co u si n. Ot h er ev i d en ce s ho wed wi t h o ut

d i s p u t e th at Fo s s i er was t h e b o y fri en d li v in g wi t h th e v i ct i m ’ s co u s i n at t h e t i m e t h e

ch i l d w as m o l es ted

, i n cl u di n g t es t i m o n y fro m b ot h t h e co u s i n an d Fo s s ier h i m s el f

co n fi rm i n g t h ei r rel at i o n s h ip

. See R o eb u ck v. S t a te

, 2 77 Ga. 2 0 0

, 2 0 1 (1 ) (5 8 6 SE2 d

6 5 1 ) (2 00 3 ) (“ [C] o n co rd an ce o f n am e al o n e is so m e ev i d en ce of i d en t i t y

. Id en t i t y o f

n am e p res u m

p t i v el y i m

p o rt s i d en t i t y o f p ers o n, i n th e ab s en ce o f an y ev i d en ce t o t h e

co n trary .”) (ci t at i on s an d p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed ). Fo s s i er a lso a dm itte d t ha t w hile living

wi t h t h e v i ct i m ’ s co u s in h e h ad s een t h e v i ct i m in th e co u s i n ’ s h o m e. A n d m u l t i p l e

o u t cry wi t n es ses

, i n cl ud i n g a fo ren s i c i n terv i ewer, t es t i fi ed t h at t h e vi ct i m h ad

i d en t i fi ed Fo s s i er as h is as s ai l an t

. See Ha l l v. S t at e

, 28 2 Ga. 2 9 4

, 29 6 (2 ) (6 5 3 SE2 d

4 8 1 ) (2 0 0 7 ) (o u t -o f-co u rt i d en t i fi cat io n ad m i s s i b l e as ev i d en ce o f id en t i t y o f

p erp et rat o r).

4“ Co n t rary t o [Fo s s i er’ s ] arg u m en t

, ev en t ho u g h [t h e v i ct im d id n o t ] d i rect l y

i d en t i f[y ] h i m in t h e c o u rt ro o m as t h e p ers o n wh o co m m i tt ed t h e cri m es

, t h ere was

s u ffi ci en t ev i d en ce t o au t h o ri ze t h e ju ry t o fi n d t h at h e was t h e p erp et rat o r.” Du r d en

v. S ta t e

, 2 9 3 Ga. 8 9, 9 1 (1 ) (b ) ( 7 4 4 SE2 d 9 ) (2 0 1 3), o verru l ed i n p art o n o t h er

g ro u nd s b y Jef

f r ey v. S t a t e

, 2 9 6 G a

. 7 1 3

, 7 1 8 (3 ) (7 7 0 SE2 d 5 8 5 ) (2 0 1 5 ). See al s o

Ju n io r v. S t a te

, 2 8 2 Ga. 6 8 9

, 6 90 (1 ) (ev en t h o u g h t h e v ict i m w h o t es t i fi ed at t ri al d id

n o t i d en ti fy t h e d efen d an t in co u rt

, t h ere was s u ffi ci en t o t her ev i d en ce fro m wh i ch t h e

ju ry co u l d fi n d t h e d efen d an t g u i l t y ). Hav i ng v i ewed t h e ev i den ce i n th e l i gh t m o s t

fav o rab l e t o t h e v erd ict

, we co n cl u d e t h at “ t he ev i d en ce was s u ffi ci en t t o en ab l e an y

rat i o nal t ri er o f fact t o fi nd [Fo s s i er] g u i l t y b ey o n d a reas o n ab l e d o u b t o f th e cri m es

fo r w h i c h h e was co n v i ct ed .” W a r d v. S t a t e

, 2 7 9 Ga. 5 81

, 5 8 3 (1 ) (6 1 9 SE2 d 6 3 8 )

(2 0 0 5) (s u ffi ci en t ev id en ce t o s u p p o rt g u i l t y v erd i ct ev en t h o u g h v i ct i m s co u l d n ot

i d en t i fy d efen d an t as t h ei r as s ai l an t ). See al s o OCGA § § 1 6 -6 -4 (a) & (c) (d efi n i n g

ch i l d m o les t at i o n an d ag g rav at ed ch i ld m o l es tat i o n ).

2

. Pr i o r s exu a l a ss au l t

co n vi ct i on

.

Fo s s i er co n t en d s t h at t h e t r i al co u rt erred i n ad m i t t i n g ev i d en ce o f h i s 2 0 0 3

s ex u al as s au l t co n vi ct i o n. Th e co n t en ti o n i s w it ho u t m eri t b ecau s e t h e ev i d en ce was

ad m i s s i b l e u n d er OCGA § 2 4-4 -4 1 3

.

5OCGA § 2 4-4 -4 1 3 (a) p ro v i d es th at “ [i ] n a cri m i n al p ro ceed i n g i n wh i ch t h e

accu s ed i s accu s ed o f an o ffen s e o f s e x u a l a s s au l t

, ev i d en ce o f t h e accu s ed ’ s

co m m i s s io n o f an o th er o ffen s e o f s ex u al as sau l t s h al l b e a d m i s s i b le an d m ay b e

co n si d ered fo r i ts b eari n g o n an y m at t er t o wh i ch i t i s rel ev an t

. ” M oreo v er, “ OCGA

§ 24 -4 -4 1 3 c r e a t es a ru l e of i n cl u s i o n, wi t h a st ro n g p res u m p t i o n i n fav o r o f

ad m i s s i b i l i t y

, an d t h e [s ] t at e can s eek to ad m i t ev i d en ce un d er [i t s ] pro v i s i on s fo r an y

rel ev an t p u rp o se, i n cl u d i n g p ro p en s i t y .” W i l ker s o n v. S t at e , 3 5 6 Ga. Ap p . 8 3 1 , 8 3 4

(1 ) (8 49 SE2 d 6 77 ) (2 0 2 0 ) (ci t at i o n an d p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed ).

In t h i s cas e, Fo s s i er was accu s ed o f m u l t i p l e o ffen s es o f s e x u al as sau l t

. “ Fo r

p u rp os es o f OCGA § 2 4

- 4

- 4 1 3, t h e t erm ‘ o ffen s e o f s ex u al as s au l t ’ i n cl u d es an y

cri m e t hat i n vo l v es co n t act

, wi t h o ut co n sen t

, b et w een an y p art o f t h e accu s ed ’ s b o dy

an d t h e g en i t al s o f an o t h er p ers o n

. O C G A § 2 4 -4 -4 1 3 (d ) (2 ). [So Fo s s i er’ s ] act o f

t o u c h i n g [t h e m i n o r vi ct i m ’ s p en i s ] fal l s wi t h i n t h is d efi n it i on .” La t t a v. S t a t e

, 3 4 1

Ga. Ap p

. 6 9 6

, 7 0 0 (2 ) (8 0 2 SE2 d 2 6 4 ) (2 0 1 7 ) (p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed ). Fu rt h erm o re, an

o ffen s e o f s ex ual as s au lt u n d er t h i s co d e s ect i o n al s o i n cl u d es co n d uct t hat wo u ld

co n st i t u t e oral s o d o m

y i n vi o l at i o n o f OCGA § 1 6 -6 -2

. See OCGA § 24 -4 1 3 (d ) (1 ).

Th erefo re, Fo s s i er’ s v ari o u s act s o f o ral s o d o m y wi t h t h e v i ct i m were ad d i t i o n al

o ffen s es o f s ex u al as sau lt as t h at t erm i s d efi n ed i n OCGA § 2 4 -4 -4 1 3

.

6As fo r h i s 2 0 0 3 co n v ict i o n

, t h e ev i den ce s h o wed t h at i n th at cas e Fo s s i er h ad

p en et rat ed t h e v i ct im ’ s v ag i n a wi t h h i s fi n g ers

. As ex p l ai n ed ab o v e, s u ch u n wan t ed

co n tact wi t h t h e g en i t al s o f an o t h er p ers o n co n s t i t u t es an o ffen se o f s ex u al as s au l t fo r

p u rp os es o f OCGA § 2 4 -4 -4 1 3

. See OCGA § 2 4 -4 -4 1 3 (d ) ( 2 ) ; La t ta

, s u p ra

(d efen d an t ’ s “ act o f t o u ch in g [v i c t i m ’ s] vag i n a” co n s t i t u t ed an o ffen s e o f s ex u al

as s au l t ). So i n t h e i ns t an t cas e, i n wh i ch Fo s s i er was accu s ed o f m u l t i p l e o ffen s es o f

s ex u al as s au l t , ev i d en ce o f h i s p ri o r o ffen se o f s ex u al as s au l t was ad m i s si b l e u n d er

OCGA § 2 4 -4 -4 1 3 (a).

Bu t t h at i s no t t he en d o f o u r a n a l y s i s

. W e m u s t al s o ad d res s OCGA § 2 4 -4

-

4 0 3

, wh i ch p ro v i d es fo r ex cl u s i o n o f rel ev an t ev i d en ce d u e t o preju d ice, co n fu s i o n,

o r was t e o f t i m e.

[E] v i d en ce t h at i s ad m is s i b l e u n d er [OCGA § 2 4 -4 -4 13 (a)] m ay s t i l l be

ex cl ud ed u n d er OCGA § 2 4 -4 -4 0 3

. . . i f i t s p ro bat i v e v al u e i s

s u b s t an t i al l y o u twei g h ed b y t h e d an g er o f u nfai r p reju d i ce, co n fu s i o n o f

t h e i s s u es

, o r m i s lead in g t h e ju ry o r b y co n si d erat i on s o f u n du e d el ay

,

was t e o f t i m e, o r n eed l es s p res en t at i o n o f cu m u l at i v e ev i d en ce.

W i l ker s o n

, s u p ra at 83 3 (1 ) (p u nct u at i o n o m i t t ed ). Fo s s i er co n t en d s t h at t h e pro b at i v e

v al u e o f t h e p ri o r sex ual as s au l t ev i den ce was s u bs t an t i al l y o u t wei g h ed b y t h e d an g er

o f un fai r p reju d ice b ecau s e t h ere was a l ap se o f 1 5 y ears b et w een th e p ri o r an d

cu rren t o ffen ses an d th ere were fact u al di fferen ces b et ween t h e cas es

, i ncl u d i n g t h e

7ag e an d s ex o f th e v ict i m s

. Bu t “ t em p o ral rem o t en es s an d a d i fferen ce i n t h e v i ct i m s ’

s ex d o n o t d em an d ex cl u s i o n

. ” Id

. at 8 3 4 (1 ). In d eed

, “ [t ] h e l ap s e o f t i m e b et ween t h e

p ri o r occu rren ces an d t h e o ffen ses ch arg ed g o es t o th e wei g h t an d cred i b i l it y o f s u ch

t es t i m o ny

, n o t i t s ad m i s si b i li ty .” Ma n er v. S t a t e

, 3 5 8 G a. Ap p

. 2 1

, 2 4 (1 ) (8 5 2 SE2 d

8 6 7 ) (2 0 2 0 ) (ci t at i on an d p un ct u at io n o m i tt ed ). See al so Ki r kl a n d v. S ta t e

, 3 3 4 Ga.

Ap p

. 2 6

, 2 9 -3 0 (1 ) (7 7 8 SE2 d 4 2 ) (2 01 5 ) (we h av e h el d t h a t d i fferen ces i n t h e

v i ct i m s ’ ag es

, s ex

, an d s p eci fi cs o f m o l es tat i o n d o n o t ren d er an o t h er a c t

i n ad m is s i b le). Gi ven t h e “ s t ro n g p res u m p t i o n i n fav o r o f a d m i ss i b il it y [o f s u ch

ev i d en ce]

, we can n o t s ay t h at t h e t ri al co u rt ab us ed i t s d is cret i o n i n al l o w i n g t h e o t h er

act s ev i d en ce t o b e ad m i t t ed .” Gr een v. S t a t e

, 3 5 9 G a. Ap p

. 8 4 5

, 8 5 2 (3 ) (8 6 0 SE2 d

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

3

. Ot h er p r i o r co n vi ct io n s

.

Fo s s i er en u m erat es t h at t h e t ri al co u rt erred i n al l o wi n g t h e st at e t o in t ro d uce

ev i d en ce o f h i s o t h er p ri o r co n v i ct i o n s w h i l e cro s s -ex am i n i n g h im

. 2 Bu t Fo s s i er

2 Fo s s i er m ak es an ad di ti o n al arg u m en t reg ard i n g ev i d en ce of h is di v o rce. “ Bu t

[h e] d i d n o t l i s t [an y ru l i n g on t h e ad m is s i b i l i t y o f th at ev i d en ce] as an en u m erat i o n

o f e r r o r

, a n d h e m ay n o t m ak e arg u m en t s to ex pan d h i s so l e en u m erat i o n o f erro r

rel at ed t o t h e [p ri o r co n v i ct io ns ] ev id en ce.” Mi ms v. S t a t e

, 31 0 G a. 8 5 3

, 8 5 4 n

. 2 (8 5 4

SE2 d 7 4 2 ) (2 0 2 1). Acco rd Ta yl o r v. S t a t e

, 30 3 Ga. 6 2 4

, 6 28 (1 ) n

. 2 (8 14 SE2 d 3 5 3 )

(2 0 1 8).

8i n t ro du ced t h e t o pi c of h i s ex t en s i v e cri m in al hi s t o ry in h i s o p en i n g s t at em en t t o t h e

ju ry an d du ri ng h i s own d i rect t es t i m o n y

. So t he s tat e was au t h o ri zed t o ex p l o re t h e

t o p i c o n cro s s-ex am i nat i o n

.

In h i s o pen i n g st at em en t

, Fo s s i er’ s at to rn ey t o l d t he ju ry t h at Fo s s ier h ad a

p at t ern o f cri m e an d d ru g u s e, th at h e h ad pl ed g u i l ty t o m ul t i p l e cri m es

, t h at h e h ad

b een t o pri s o n, t h at h e s tab b ed a cel l m at e. Fo s s i er s u b s eq u en t l y t es t i fi ed o n d i rect

ex am i n at i o n t h at h e h ad b een i n t ro u b l e wi t h t h e p o l i ce b efo re t h e 2 00 3 s ex u al as s au l t

co n vi ct i o n d i s cu s s ed ab ov e i n D i v i s i o n 2 ; t h at wh i l e i n p ri s o n h e s tab b ed a cel l m at e

wh o h ad t h reat en ed to s ex u al ly as s au l t h i m ; t hat h e h as a l en gt h y an d co n t i n u i n g

h i s t o ry of d ru g ab us e; t h at h e h as p ro bat i o n v io l at i o n s rel at ed t o h is d ru g u s e; an d t h at

h e h a s p ri o r co n v i ct i o ns fo r p o s s es s i o n o f m et h am p h et am in e, ag grav at ed as s au l t

,

fam i l y v i o l en ce b at t ery

, cru el t y t o ch i l d ren

, an d fai l i n g t o reg is t er as a s ex o ffen d er.

He ex p l ai n ed t h e ci rcu m s t an ces s u rro u n d i n g t h o s e p ri o r co n v ict i o n s an d t es ti fi ed t h at

t h e v ict i m ’ s co us i n k n ew ab ou t h i s cri m in al h i s t o ry

, i n cl u d i n g hi s p ri o r s ex u al as s au l t

co n vi ct i o n

, b efo re th ey b eg an l i v i n g t o g et h er. He a l s o t e s t i fi ed t h at h e was

i n carcerat ed wh en h e l earn ed o f t h e ch arg es i n t h e i ns t an t cas e.

Fo s s i er o p en ed t h e d o or t o t h e i s s ue o f h i s cri m i n al reco rd

, s o t h e s t a t e was

au t h o ri zed t o ex pl o re t h at i s s u e o n cro s s-ex am in at i o n

.

9Th e [s ] t at e, l i k e an y o t h er p art y

, h as th e ri g h t t o co n d uct a t h o ro ug h an d

s i ft i ng c r o s s -ex am i n at i o n an d t o pu rs u e th e s p eci fi cs o f a t o p i c th e

d efen d an t i n tro d u ced

. T h u s

, wh en a d efen d an t t es t i fi es an d ad m i t s p ri o r

cri m i n al co n d u ct

, t h e [s ] t at e i s au t h o ri zed t o fu ll y ex p lo re t h e i s s u e o n

cro s s-ex am in at i o n. Gi v en [Fo ss i er’ s ] ad m i s s i on o f [h i s ] ex t en s iv e

[cri m i n al h i s t o r y]

, th e pro s ecu to r w as en t i t l ed t o cro s s -ex am i n e h i m

reg ard i n g t h e ex t en t o f [t h at h i s t o ry ]

.

Ri ch a r ds o n v. S ta te

, 3 05 Ga. Ap p

. 3 6 3

, 3 6 6 (3 ) (6 99 SE2 d 5 9 5 ) (2 0 1 0 ) (ci t at i o n s an d

p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed ). “ Si n ce [Fo s s i er] i n tro d u ced t h e t o p ic [o f h i s p ri o r co n v i ct i on s

i n h i s op en i n g s t at em en t an d ] on d i rect ex am in at io n

, h e can n o t n o w co m p l ai n t h at t h e

p ro s ecu to r fo l l o wed u p o n cro s s-ex am in at i on .” Mo r g a n v. S t a t e

, 2 7 5 Ga. 22 2

, 2 2 3 (3 )

(5 6 4 SE2 d 19 2 ) (2 0 0 2 ) (ci t at io n an d p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed ). Un d er t h es e

ci rcu m s t an ces

, “ [t ] h e t ri al co u rt d id n o t ab u s e i ts d is cret i o n i n al l o wi n g t h is ev i d en ce

t o co m e in .” Pa r

ks v. S ta t e

, 30 0 G a. 3 0 3

, 30 9 (3 ) (7 9 4 SE2 d 6 2 3 ) (2 0 16 ) (wh ere

d efen d an t t es t i fi ed t h at he h ad b eco m e m o re res p o n s i b l e s i n ce a p ri o r co n v ict i o n an d

ad m i t t ed t h at h e h ad b een i n o t h er t ro u b l e t h ro ug h o ut h i s l i fe, h i s o t h er co n v i ct i on s

b ecam e rel ev an t ev id en ce wh i ch t h e s tat e was en t i t l ed to ex p l o re o n c r o s s

ex am i n at i o n ).

4

. In ef f ect i ve a s s i s t a n ce o

f co u n s el

.

Fo s s i er cl ai m s t h at h i s t ri al co u n s el was i n effect i ve i n fai l i n g t o o b ject to

t es t i m o ny b y t h e v i ct im ab o ut an act o f an al sex w i t h t h e d efen d an t an d i n i n t ro d u ci n g

10h i s c r i m i n a l reco rd as d is cu s s ed ab o v e i n Di v i si o n 3

. To p rev ai l o n t h es e

i n effect i v en es s cl ai m s

, Fo s si er “ m u s t s h o w t h at co u ns el ’ s p erfo rm an ce was d efi ci en t

an d t h at t h e d efi ci en t p erfo rm an ce s o p reju d i ced [h i m ] t h a t t here i s a reas o n ab l e

l i kel i h o o d t h at

, b ut fo r c o u n s e l ’ s erro rs

, th e o u t co m e of th e t ri al wo u l d h av e b een

d i fferen t.” P u c k

e t t v

. S t a t e

, 3 4 2 Ga. Ap p

. 5 1 8

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

(ci t at i o n om i t t ed ). Fo s si er h as fai l ed t o s h o w t hat h is tri al co u n s el ’ s p erfo rm an ce was

d efi ci en t.

(a) Vi ct i m’s t es t i mo n

y.

W i t h reg ard t o t h e v i ct im ’ s t es t i m on y ab o u t an act o f an al s ex

, co u n s el t es t i fi ed

at t h e m o t i o n fo r n ew t ri al h eari n g t h at h e d eci d ed n o t t o o b j e c t t o t h e t es t i m o ny

b ecau s e i t d i ffered s i gn i fi can t l y fro m th e v i ct i m ’ s p ri o r s t at em en t s ab o ut t h e ev en t s

an d h e b el i ev ed s u ch an i n co n s i st e nc y da m ag ed t h e v ict i m ’ s cred i bi l i t y

. An at t o rn ey ’ s

“ d eci s i on o f wh et h er t o i nt erp os e cert ai n o bject i o n s i s a m at t er o f tri al s t rat eg y a n d

t act ics .” Co l l i er v. S t a t e

, 3 03 G a. Ap p. 3 1

, 34 (3 ) (6 9 2 SE2 d 6 9 7 ) (2 01 0 ) (ci t at i o n an d

p u n ct u a t i o n o m it t ed ). Acco rd Ro b i n s o n v. St a t e

, 2 7 8 Ga. 3 1

, 36 (3 ) (c) (5 9 7 SE2 d

3 8 6 ) (2 0 0 4 ) (“ T h e m at t er o f wh en an d h o w t o rai se o b ject i o n s i s g en eral l y a m at t er

o f t ri al s t rat eg y .”) (ci t at i o n an d p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed)

. H e re, t ri al “ [c] o u n s el ’ s d eci s i o n

n o t t o o b ject [t o t h e t es t im o n y was ] s t rat eg i c i n n at ure, fel l w i t hi n t h e sco p e o f

11reas on ab l e a n d p ro fes s i o n al rep res en tat i o n

, an d [d i d ] n o t co n st i t u t e i n effect i v e

as s i s tan ce.” Ki l

pa t r i ck v. St a t e

, 2 76 Ga. 1 5 1

, 1 53 (2 ) (5 7 5 S E2 d 4 7 8 ) (2 0 0 3 )

(ci t at i o n s o m i t t ed ). See al s o Al exa nd er v. S t a t e , 3 4 8 Ga. Ap p . 8 5 9, 8 6 9 (3 ) (d ) (8 2 5

SE2 d 4 0 5) (2 01 9 ) (co u n s el no t i n effect i v e in at tem pt i ng t o b ri n g o u t i n co n s i s t en ci es

i n v i ct im ’ s acco u nt o f t h e ev en t s ).

(b ) Cr i mi n a l

r eco r d

.

As fo r co u n s el i nt ro d u ci n g Fo s si er’ s cri m i nal reco rd d u ri n g t h e o p en i n g

s t at em en t an d Fo s s i er’ s d i rect t es t i m o n y

, co un s el t es ti fi ed at t h e m o t i o n fo r n ew t ri al

h eari n g t h at h e d i d s o a s a m a t t e r o f t ri al s t rat eg y

. Co u n s el ex p l ai n ed t h at b ecau s e

Fo s si er h ad d eci d ed t o t es t i fy

, co u n s el “ b el i ev ed u s g et t in g o u t ah ead of t h e [s ] t at e’ s

i n t ro du ct i o n of al l o f t h at i n i m p each m en t cro s s-ex am in at i o n w ou l d b e h el p fu l in

b u i l d i n g u p [Fo s s ier’ s] cred i b i li t y in fro n t of t h e ju ry .” Co un s el t es t i fi ed t h at h e an d

Fo s si er h ad d i s cu s s e d hi s d eci s i o n t o t es t i fy o n m u l t i p l e occas i o n s

, t hat h e h ad

ex p lai n ed t o Fo s s i er t h e p o ss ib i l i t y o f h i s tes t im o n y o p en in g t h e d o o r t o ev i d en ce o f

h i s p ri o r co n v i ct i o n s

, a n d t h at t h ey h ad d eci d ed t o i n tro d u ce hi s cri m in al reco rd

b efo re t h e s t at e h ad a ch an ce t o d o s o i n o rd er “ t o wi n s o m e can do r po i n t s ” wi t h t h e

ju ry

.

12“ It i s reas o n ab l e s t rat eg y fo r d efen s e co u ns el t o p l ace d i s ag reeab l e i n fo rm at i o n

b efo re t h e ju ry i n a m an n er wh i ch h e can co n t ro l rat h er t h an al l o w th e s u b ject m at t er

t o b e p res en t ed i n a m o re d am ag i n g fas h i on .” W a l la ce v. S ta t e

, 2 9 6 Ga. 38 8

, 3 9 2 (4 )

(c) (7 6 8 SE2 d 4 8 0 ) (2 0 1 5 ) (ci t at i o n an d p u n ct uat i on o m i t ted ). Here, “ [c] o un s el

, i n an

at t em p t t o p o rt ray [Fo s s i er] as a tru t h fu l m an wi t h n o t h i n g t o h id e

, p u rs u ed t h e

reas on ab l e s t rat eg y of p l aci ng [h i s cri m i n al reco rd ] b efo re t h e ju ry t h ro u g h [ F ossie r ’ s ]

d i rect t es t i m o n y, r a t h er th an ri s k h av i n g t h e i n fo rm at i o n ex tract ed fro m h i m o n

cro s s -ex a m i n a t i o n.” Co l l i n s v. S t a t e

, 2 76 G a. 7 2 6

, 7 2 8 (2 ) (5 8 3 SE2 d 2 6 ) (2 0 0 3 ).

“ Th e fact t h at [Fo s s ier] n o w d i s ag rees w i t h h i s l awy er’ s t act i cal ch o ices d u ri n g

o p en in g s t at em en t [an d Fo s s i er’ s d i rect ex am i n at i o n ] d o es n o t r e q u ire a fi n d i n g o f

i n effect i v e as s i s t an ce of co u ns el .” W a l l a ce

, s u pra. See al s o Da vi s v

. S t a t e

, 3 2 6 Ga.

Ap p

. 7 7 8, 7 8 2-7 8 3 (2 ) (c) (7 57 SE2 d 4 4 3) (2 0 1 4) (co u n sel n o t i neffect i v e i n m ak i n g

s t rat eg i c d eci s i o n t o as k d efen d an t ab o u t h i s p ri o r co n v i ct i o n s o n d i rect ex am i n at i o n ).

5

. Mer g er

.

Ci t i n g S co t t v. S t a t e

, 35 6 Ga. Ap p

. 1 5 2 (8 4 6 SE2 d 24 1 ) (2 02 0 ), Fo s s i er arg u es

t h at h i s fo u r ag g rav at ed ch il d m o l es t at i o n co n v i ct i o n s s h ou l d hav e m erg ed i n t o a

s i ng l e offen s e. Bu t t h e i n s t an t cas e i s m at eri al l y d i fferen t fro m S co t t

, wh i ch i n v o l v ed

a s i n g l e u n i n t erru pt ed co u rs e o f co n d uct co ns t i t u t i n g o n e o ffen s e o f ch i l d m o l es t at i o n

13u n d er OCGA § 16 -6 -4 (a) (1 ). Id

. at 1 6 0-1 6 3

. Here, ho wev er, Fo s s i er was ch arg ed

wi t h fo ur co u n t s o f ag g rav at ed ch i l d m ol es t at i o n i nv o l v i n g act s o f o ral s o d o m y u n d er

OCGA § 1 6 -6 -4 (c). Th at c o de s ect i o n p ro v i d es : “ A pers o n co m m i t s t h e o ffen s e o f

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

m o les t at i o n wh i ch act p h y s i cal l y i n j u r es t h e ch i l d o r i n vo l ves an a ct of s o d o my .”

OCGA § 1 6 -6 -4 (c) (em

ph as i s s u p p li ed ). A s reco u n t ed ab o ve

, t h e ev i d en ce p l ai n l y

s h o wed t h at Fo s s i e r m ol es t ed t h e ch i l d b y co m m i t t i n g fo u r d i s t i n ct act s o f o ral

s o d o m y

. C o m p a r e Sco t t

, su p ra at 1 6 0 (n o ev i d en ce t o es t ab l i s h t h at t h e d efen d an t

m o les t ed t h e v ict i m i n sep arat e act s ). “ Th u s

, u n d er t h e fact s o f t h is cas e, each act [o f

s o d o m y ] fo rm [ed ] a [s ep arat e o ffen s e] u n d er [OCGA § 1 6-6 -4 (c).] ” B u sb y v. S t a t e

,

3 3 2 Ga. Ap p

. 6 4 6

, 6 5 1 (2 ) (b ) (7 7 4 SE2 d 7 1 7) (2 0 1 5) (i n v o l v i n g act s o f ag g rav at ed

b at t ery u n d er OCGA § 16 -5 -2 4 (a)). Becau s e t h e fo u r di s t i n ct act s o f oral s od o m y d id

n o t m erg e in t o a s i n g le o ffen s e, “ we affi rm t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s ru l i n g .” Ra y v. S ta t e

, 3 5 9

Ga. Ap p

. 6 3 7

, 6 4 3 (3 ) (8 5 9 SE2 d 7 9 3 ) (2 0 21 ) (reject in g cl ai m t h at cru el t y t o ch i l d ren

co u nt s s h o u l d h av e m erg ed ).

Ju d g men t a f f i rmed

. R i ckma n

, C. J., a n d S en i or Ap p el l a t e Ju d

g e H er b er t E.

Ph i p ps co n cu r

.

14