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

, PHI PPS, P. J.

, and BOGGS, 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 ls .us /r ule s /

Jul y 16, 2015



# I n th e Co u r t o f

A p p eals o f

G eo r g ia

A1 5 A0 75 1 . LONDON v . THE STATE.

P H I P P S , Pres i d i n g J u dg e.

Bart ho l o m ew L o n d o n was co n v i ct ed o f c hi l d m o l es t at i o n an d two co u n t s o f

ag g rav at ed ch i l d m o l es t at i o n i n v o l v i n g h i s th en -1 5 -y ear-o l d s t ep d au g h t er, C. S. He

ap p eal s fro m t he d en ial o f h i s m o t i o n fo r n ew t ri al

, co n t en di n g, am o n g o t h er t h i n g s ,

t h at t h e tri al co urt erred wh en i t d en i ed h is m ot i o n t o s u p p res s a reco rd i n g o f a

t el ep ho n e co n v ers at i on b et ween h i m an d t he ch i ld

. Becau s e t he s t at e fai l ed

, p u rs u an t

t o OCGA § 1 6 -1 1 -6 6 (b ), t o o b t ai n co n s en t fo r t h e reco rd in g b y o rd er o f a ju d g e o f

a s u p eri o r co u rt u po n wri t t en ap p l i cat i o n , we rev ers e.

W h i l e t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s fi n d in g s as t o d i s p u t ed fact s in a ru l in g o n

a m o t i o n to s u pp res s wi ll b e rev iewed to det erm i n e wh et her t h e ru l i n g

was cl earl y erro n eo u s , w h ere t h e ev i d en ce i s un co nt ro v ert ed an d n o

q u es t i o n reg ard i n g t h e cred i b i l i ty o f w i tn es s es i s pres en t ed

, t h e t ri alco u rt ’ s ap p l i cat i o n o f t h e l aw t o u nd i s pu t ed fact s i s s u b ject t o d e n o v o

ap p el l at e rev i ew. 1

On M arch 1 6

, 20 1 0

, an i n d i ct m en t was ret urn ed fi l ed ag ai n s t Lo n d o n

. Co u n t s

1 an d 2 o f t he i n d i ct m en t al leg ed t h at L o n d o n co m m i t t e d t he cri m e o f ag g rav at ed

ch i l d m o l es t at i o n “ b y pl aci n g h i s m o u th o n [C. S.’ s ] v ag i na”; Co u n t 3 a l l e g ed t h at

Lo n do n co m

m it t ed t h e cri m e o f ch i l d m o les t at i o n “ b y p laci n g h i s fi n g er i n to [C. S.’ s ]

v ag in a[.] ” Th e o ffen s es were al leg ed t o h a v e b een co m m i t t ed “ o n o r b et ween ” Au g u s t

1 , 2 00 9 an d Oct o ber 1 , 2 0 0 9

.

At t ri al

, C. S. t es t i fi ed t h at Lo n d o n w as m arri ed t o h er m o th er an d t h at t h ey al l

l i ved t og et h er o n th e dat es at i s su e. C. S. t es t i fi ed t h at s o m et im e in l at e Au g u s t 2 0 0 9,

Lo n do n wen t i n to h er b ed r oo m an d p u t h i s m o u t h o n h er “ pri v at es .” Lo nd o n al s o

i n s ert ed h i s fi n g er i n C. S.’ s “ p ri v at e p art

. ” C

. S. t o l d Lo nd o n t h at “ i t h u rt ” an d

Lo n do n s t o p p ed

. C. S. t e s t i f i e d t h at o n an o t h er occas i o n i n earl y Sep tem ber 2 0 0 9,

Lo n do n en t ered h er b ed ro o m an d pu t h is m o u t h on h er “ p ri v at e.” Aro u nd Oct o b er 1,

2 0 0 9

, C. S. d i s cl os ed t h e in ci d en t s t o h er m ot h er, wh o t o o k C. S. to t h e p o l i ce s t at i o n

t h e fo l lo wi n g d ay

.

1 V a n s a n t v. S t a t e , 2 6 4 Ga. 31 9

, 3 2 0 (1 ) (4 4 3 SE2 d 4 7 4 ) (1 9 9 4 ) (ci t a t i o n s

o m it t ed ).

2A det ect i v e i n t erv i ewed C. S. an d v i d eo t ap ed t he i n t erv iew. C. S. t es t i fi ed t h at

t h e d et ect i v e as k ed h er t o cal l Lo n d o n “ [t ] o g et h im to ad m i t wh at h e d i d ,” b u t C. S.

c o u l d n o t reach L o n d o n at th at t i m e. C. S. wen t b ack t o t h e p o l i ce s tat i o n two day s

l at er; h er m o t h er was wi th h er i n i t i al l y , b u t s h e h ad t o l eav e an d was no t p res en t wh en

C. S. cal l ed Lo n d o n fro m t he p o l i ce s t at i o n t h a t d a y

. Th e det ect i v e recal l ed

s p eci fi cal l y

t hat p o li ce h ad “ d eci d ed fo r C. S. t o co m e b ack i n an d [C. S.] ag reed t o

. . . co m e b ack i n . . . Oct o b er t h e 4 t h , an d [C. S.] at t em p t ed t o m ak e an o t her cal l to

[Lo n d o n ] .” Th i s t i m e, Lo nd o n an s wered t h e ph o ne; p o l i ce co nd u ct ed wh at t h e

d et ect i v e referred t o as a “ rev ers e p h o n e cal l ,” reco rd ed t h e co n v ers at i o n wi t h a v i d eo

d ev ice, an d red u ced t h e reco rd i n g t o a DVD fo rm at

. 2

2 In arg u i n g ag ai n s t t he ad m i s s i b i l it y o f t h e DVD o f t h e “ rev ers e p h on e cal l ,”

Lo n do n ’ s co u n s el ex pl ai n ed

, w i th o u t o b ject io n , t he p ro ces s b y wh ich C. S.’ s

t el ep h o n e c o nv ers at i o n wi t h Lo n d o n h ad b een reco rd ed : “ [C. S.] was at t h e p o l i ce d ep art m en t i n t h e pres en ce o f [t h e d et ect i v e]

. No w, t h e reco rd i n g t h a t I ’v e b een

s erv ed n o t i ce wi t h

, is n o t a reco rd i n g f r o m h e r p h o n e, bu t it ’ s act u al ly a v i d eo

reco rd i n g i n wh i ch [t h e d et ect i v e] was reco rd i n g t h e p h on e cal l m ad e b y [C. S.] to

M r. Lo n do n

. ” Th e p ro s ecu t o r d i d no t d i s p u t e d ef e ns e co un s el ’ s s t at em en t s , an d

p ert i nen t l y res p o nd ed t h at “ [ C

. S .] t ran s m it t ed [t h e co n v ers at i o n] o v er h er

s p eak erp h o n e d ev i ce an d it w as s u b s eq u en t l y reco rd ed

, ” an d t h at C. S. h ad co n s en t ed

t o t he reco rd i n g , wh i ch co n s en t OCGA § 1 6 -1 1 -6 6 (a) p erm it ted as an ex cep t i o n t o

o b t ai n i n g a wa r r an t

. Ag ai n , w i t h o u t o b ject i o n , d efen s e co u n s el lat er rei t erat ed t h at

“ t h e co n v ers at i o n t oo k p l ace

. . . o n [C. S.’ s ] cel l p h on e, w h i ch w a s p u t o n s p e a k er

p h o n e an d t h en reco rd ed b y a v i d eo d ev i ce b y

t h e p o li ce d ep art m en t

. ”

3Th e c o u rt al l o wed th e s t at e t o i n t ro d u ce i n t o ev i d en ce t h e DVD, wh i ch was

p l ay ed fo r t h e ju ry

. Th e co urt al s o al l o wed t h e st at e t o i n t ro d u ce a t ran scri p t o f t h e

co n vers at i on t h at h ad been reco rd ed an d p res erv ed o n t h e DVD. C. S. t es t i fi ed t h at

t h e t ran s cri p t was m ad e as s he wat ch ed t h e v i d eo an d t h at t h e t ran s cri p t was t ru e an d

accu rat e t o t h e b es t o f her k n o wl ed g e. Th erei n , at o ne p o i n t C. S. i n fo rm ed Lo n d o n

t h at s he h ad an i m

p e n d i n g d oct o r’ s ap p o i n tm en t

, an d s h e wan t ed to as k Lo n d o n

wh et h er h e t h o u g h t th e do ct o r wo u l d “ fi nd an y t h i n g .” Par t i c u l a rl y i n cri m i n at i n g to

Lo n do n w as t h e fo ll o wi ng ex cerp t

.

[C. S.] : I was ju st t h i n k in g wi t h t h e fi n g eri n g an d s t u ff l i k e t h at t h ey -

LONDON: No

. [C. S.] : -m ay

fi n d s o m et hi n g

. LONDON: No

. [C. S.] : O r i n t h e -

LONDON: No

. W h en ev er I d i d s t i ck m y fi ng er i n s i d e y ou , i t h urt

. Yo u

u n d ers t an d m e?

[C. S.] : or wi t h t h e s al i v a o r wh at ev er.

LONDON: Th ere ai n ’ t g on n a b e no t h i n g , [C. S.]

. Yo u w as h

. Ex cu s e m e.

Yo u was h ev ery d ay

. Ev ery d ay

. So

, i t wo n’ t was h wi t h so ap ev ery d ay ,

an d y o ur fi n g er, fi n ger wen t i n s i d e o f y ou r co och i e, t o o , wh en y o u was h

s o m et i m es

. So , d o n ’ t wo rry ab o u t n o n e o f t h at

. Yo u g o o d

. Ex cu se m e.

I m i ss y o u. I k no w i t , I m i s s y o u

.

4Th ro u g h o u t t h e c o n v ers at i o n , Lo n d o n at t em p t ed t o as su re C. S. t h at a m ed i cal

ex am i n at i o n wo u l d n o t rev eal ev i d en ce o f “ fi n g eri n g ” o r o f h i s s al i v a.

Lo n d o n t o ok th e s t an d

, t es t i fy i n g i n h i s o w n d efen s e. He d e n i e d h av i n g

c o m m i t t e d th e ch arg ed o ffen s es

. He al s o d i sp u t ed t he accu racy o f t h e s t at e’ s

t ran s cri p t o f t h e rev ers e p ho n e cal l reco rd i n g

.

“ OCGA § 1 6 -1 1 -6 2 (4 ) pro h i b i t s an y p ers o n fro m i n t en t i on al l y a n d s ecret l y

i n t ercep ti n g a t el ep h o n e cal l b y u se o f an y d ev ice, in st r u m e n t o r ap p arat u s

. ” 3

Ho wev er, a p art y t o t he co n v ers at i o n i s n o t p ro hi b i t ed fro m reco rd i n g i t

. 4 “ OCGA §

1 6 -1 1-6 6 (a) pro v i d es [an o th er] ex cep t i o n t o OCGA § 16 -1 1 -6 2 t h at al l o w s s u ch an

i n t ercep ti o n wh ere on e o f t h e p art i es t o t h e co m m u n i cat i on h as gi v en p ri or co n s en t

. ” 5

“ OCGA § 1 6 -1 1 -6 6 (b ) req u ires t h a t c o n s en t fo r t h e reco rd i n g or d i v ul gi n g o f t h e

co n vers at i on s o f a ch i l d u n d er t h e ag e of 1 8 y ears co nd u ct ed b y t e l e p h o n e o r

3 S mi t h v. S t a t e , 2 5 4 Ga. Ap p

. 1 0 7, 1 0 8 (2 ) (a) (5 61 SE2 d 2 3 2 ) (2 0 0 2).

4 See Fet t y v. S t a t e , 2 6 8 G a

. 3 6 5

, 3 67 (3 ) (4 8 9 SE2 d 81 3 ) (1 9 9 7 ); Ma l o n e v. S t a t e , 24 6 Ga. Ap p. 8 8 2

, 8 8 3 (5 4 1 SE2 d 43 1 ) (2 0 0 0 ); Bi s h op v. S t a t e , 2 4 1 Ga. Ap p.
5 1 7

, 5 1 9 (1 ) ( 5 2 6 SE2 d 91 7 ) (1 99 9 ) (ack no wl ed g i n g t hat “ OCGA § 1 6 -1 1 -6 6

p ro v id es t wo s p eci f

i c ex cep ti o n s [t o OCGA § 1 6-1 1 -6 2 ] wh i ch al l o w s u ch

i n t ercep ti o n ,” t h e fi rs t ex cep t i o n b ei n g t h at a p e r s o n wh o i s a p art y t o t h e

co m m u n icat io n m ay

i n t ercep t i t ); OCGA § 1 6 -1 1-6 6 (a).

5 S mi t h

, s u pra.; s ee Hi l l v. S t a te

, 30 6 Ga. Ap p

. 6 6 3

, 6 6 5 ( 1 ) (7 0 3 SE2 d 9 8 ) (2 0 1 0); Bi s h o

p , s up ra.

5el ect ro ni c co m m u n icat i o n s h al l b e g i ven o n ly b y o rd er o f a ju d g e o f a s u p eri o r co u rt

u p o n w ri tt en ap p l icat i o n.” 6 M o re s p eci fi cal l y , “ OCGA § 16 -1 1-6 6 (b ) p ro v i d es t h at

t h e t el ep h o n e co n v ers at i o n s o f a ch i l d un d er 1 8 y ears o f ag e m ay be reco rd ed a n d

d i v u l g ed i f, u p o n wri t ten ap p l i cat io n b y a p ri v at e ci t i zen , l aw en fo rcem en t ag en cy ,

o r pro secu t o r’ s offi ce, a ju d g e o f a s u p eri or co urt an d t h e ch il d co n sen t t o s u ch

t ap i n g .” 7

OCGA § 1 6 -1 1 -6 6 (b ) p ert i n en t ly p ro v i d es as fo l l o ws

.

Aft er o b t ai n i n g t h e co n s en t req u i red b y t h i s s u b s ect i o n, t he t el ep h o ni c

co n v ers at io n s o r el ect ro n i c co m m un i cat i o n s to wh i ch a ch i l d u n d er th e

ag e o f 1 8 y ears i s a p ar t y m ay b e reco rd ed an d d i v u l g ed

, an d s u ch

reco rd i n g an d d i s s em i n at i o n m ay b e d o ne b y a p ri v at e ci t i zen , l aw

en fo rcem en t ag en cy , o r p ro s ecu t o r’ s o ffi ce. No t h i n g i n th i s s u b s ect i o n

s h al l b e co ns t ru ed t o req u i re t h at t h e reco rd i n g d ev i ce b e act i v at ed b y

t h e ch i l d

. Co n s en t fo r t h e reco rd i n g o r d i v u l g i n g o f t h e co n vers at i on s o f

a ch i l d u n d er t h e ag e o f 1 8 y ears co n du ct ed b y t el ep h o n e o r el ect ro ni c

co m m u n i cat io n s h al l be g i v en o n l y b y ord er of a ju dg e of a s u p eri o r

6 Hi l l

, s u p r a

. T h e e x c ep t i o n p ro v i ded i n OCGA § 1 6 -1 1 -6 6 (b ) au t h o ri zi n g a

p aren t o r g uard i an t o g i v e co n sen t d o es no t ap pl y h ere, w h ere th e reco rd i n g d i d n ot

t ak e p l ace i n t h e fam il y

h o m e. See OCGA § 1 6 -1 1 -6 6 (d ).

7 Bi s ho p , su p ra (em

p has is o m i t t ed ); s ee Ga vi n v. S t a t e , 2 9 2 Ga. Ap p. 40 2

, 4 0 5 (6 6 4 SE2 d 7 9 7 ) (2 0 08 ) (“ t he l eg i s lat u re o u t li n ed i n OCGA § 16 -1 1-6 6 (b )

ci rcu m s t a n c e s u n d er w h ich a ch i l d ’ s t el ep ho n e co n v ers at i o n o r el ect ro n i c

co m m u n icat io ns m ay

b e reco rd ed .”).

6co u rt u p o n wri t ten ap pl i cat i o n , as p ro v i d ed in s u b s ect i on (c) of t h i s

Co d e s ect i o n , o r b y a p aren t o r g u ard i an o f s ai d ch i l d as p ro v id ed i n

s u b s ect i o n (d ) o f t h i s Co d e s ect i o n

.

Lo n d o n co n t en d s t hat t h ere w as n o ev i d en ce t hat C. S. h ad co n s en t ed t o t h e

co n vers at i on b ei n g reco rd ed ; t h at t h e reco rd i n g cl earl y h ad b een ob t ai n ed at t h e

b eh es t of l aw en fo rcem en t an d n o t C

. S

. ; a n d t h at b ecau s e t h e s t at e h ad fai l ed to

fo l l o w t h e p ro ced u re ou t l i n ed i n OCGA § 1 6 -1 1 -6 6 (b ) (wh i ch req u i red p o l i ce to

o b t ai n t he co n s e n t f

o r t h e reco rd in g b y o rd er o f a ju d g e o f a s up eri o r co u rt u p o n

wri t ten ap p l icat i o n ), t h e t ri al co u rt erred in d en y i ng h is m o ti o n t o su p pres s t h e

reco rd i n g

. A n al o g i zi n g t h i s cas e t o Ma l o n e v. S t a t e , 8 u p on wh ich t h e t ri al co u rt i n t h e

i n s t an t cas e b as ed i ts ru l i n g d en y i n g Lo n d o n ’ s m o t io n fo r n ew t ri al

, t h e s t at e rep li es

t h at becau s e th e t el ep h o n e co n vers at i o n w as reco rd ed wi t h C. S.’ s fu l l k no wl ed g e an d

p art i ci p at i o n , t h ere was n o v i o l at i o n o f OCGA § 1 6 -1 1 -6 6 (b ).

Bu t Ma l o n e i s d i s t i n g ui sh ab l e. In t h at cas e, s ev eral p ers on s were i n v o l v ed i n

t h e reco rd i n g o f a m i no r’ s p h o n e co n v ers at i o n

– t h e al l eg ed ch i l d m o l es t at i o n v i ct i m

(a m in o r), h er m o t h er , a n d h er m o t h er’ s fri en d

. Th ereaft er, cri m in al ch arg es were

8 Su p ra.

7b ro u gh t ag ai n st t h e defen d an t, wh o m ov ed t o s u p p re s s t h e au d i o t ap e reco rd in g

. 9

Ci t i n g Fet t

y v. S t at e , 1 0 t h is co urt i n Ma l on e affi rm ed t he t ri al co u rt ’ s d en i a l o f t h e

m o ti o n , an d hel d t h at t h e reco rd in g was ad m i s s i b l e becau s e t h e ch i l d “ was fu l l y aware

t h at t h e co n vers at io n was b ei n g t ap ed [an d ]

. . . s h e v o l un t ari l y p art i ci p at ed i n t h e

r e c o r d i ng o f h er co n v ers at i o n ; i n fact

, s he en co u rag ed i t .” 1 1 Th is co u rt i n Ma l o n e

cl earl y d i d n o t co n s t ru e t he c i r c u m s t a n ces o f t hat cas e

– n am el y , t h at t h e i d ea to

reco rd th e co n v ers at i o n h ad o ri g i n at ed wi t h t h e ch i l d, t h e ch i ld h ad co n s en t ed t o t h e

t ap i n g , t h e m o th er an d a fri en d h ad part i ci p at ed i n th e reco rd i n g , t h e ch i l d k n ew t h at

h er t el ep h o n e co n v ers at i o n wo u l d b e reco rd e d a n d v o l u n tari l y p art i ci p at ed i n i t s

reco rd i n g , an d t h e reco rd i n g was co n d uct ed i n a h o m e s et t i ng

– as am o u nt i n g t o “ a

t h i rd p art y ’ s i n tercep t i o n” o f t h e t el ep h o ne co n v ers at i o n , wh i ch t y pe o f i n t ercep t i o n

t h e Su p rem e Co urt o f Geo rg i a i n Fet ty h el d was p ro h i b it ed b y OCGA § 1 6-1 1 -6 6

. 1 2

A n d co n t rary t o th e s tat e’ s as s ert i o n , i n Ma l o n e , t h i s co u rt st at ed t h at “ t h ei r

9 Id . at 8 8 3

.

1 0 Su p ra.

1 1 Ma l o n e , s u p ra at 8 8 4.

1 2 Id .; Fet ty , s u p ra at 3 67 (3 ).

8co n vers at i on was reco rd ed ,” 1 3 wi t h ou t s t at in g th at t h e reco rd i n g h ad b een d on e by an y

p art i cu l ar i nd i v i du al

– th e ch i ld

, h er m o t her, o r h er m o t h er’ s fri en d

. 1 4 Leg g s v. S t a t e , 1 5

u p o n wh i ch t h e t ri al co u rt in t h e i ns t an t cas e rel i ed

, i s al s o i n ap po s i t e , a s t h at cas e

was d eci d ed in 1 9 93

, b efo re t h e l eg i sl at ure h ad am en ded OCGA § 1 6

- 1 1 -6 6 to

i n cl u d e s u b s ect i o n s (b ) an d (c), req u i ri n g co urt a p p ro v al fo r reco rd i n g t h e p ri v at e

co n vers at i on s o f a m i n o r. 1 6

In th i s cas e, u n l ik e i n Ma l o ne , t h ere was u n d en i ab l y t hi rd part y in t ercep t i o n o f

t h e co n vers at i on b y l aw en fo rcem en t. Th e i d ea to reco rd t h e co n v ers at i o n o ri g i n at ed

wi t h t h e p o l i ce, C

. S

. w e n t t o t h e p o l ice s t at i o n t w i ce at t he b eh es t o f t h e p o l i ce to

m ak e t h e rev ers e p h o n e cal l

, an d p o l i ce reco rd ed th e co n v ers at i o n o n t h ei r eq u i p m en t

.

M o reo v er, t h ere i s n o ev id en ce t h at p o l i ce h ad i n fo rm ed C. S. of t h ei r i n ten t t o reco rd

t h e co n v ers at i o n , l et al o n e ev i d en ce t h at t h ey had ob t ai n ed C. S.’ s co n s en t t o reco rd

i t

. In ei t h er ev en t

, p ol ic e w o u l d s t i l l h av e b een req u ired t o o b t ai n co n s en t fo r t h e

reco rd i n g b y a co u rt o rd er p u rs u an t t o OCGA § 1 6 -1 1-6 6 (b ). No tab l y , t h e ju d g e

1 3 Ma l o n e , s u p ra at 8 8 3.

1 4 Id

.

1 5 2 0 7 Ga. Ap p . 3 9 9 (4 2 8 SE2 d 8 7 ) (1 9 9 3 ).

1 6 See Bi s h o

p , s u p ra at 5 2 3 (1 ) (i i i ), n . 4 (1 9 9 9 ).

9wo u l d h av e b een au t h o ri zed to i s s u e s u ch an o rd er o n ly u p o n fi n d in g p ro b ab l e cau s e

t h at a cri m e h ad b een co m m i t ted

, d et erm i ni n g t h at t h e ch i l d ’ s part i ci p at i o n i n t h e

reco rd i n g w o u l d n o t b e h ar m fu l to t h e ch il d

, an d fi n di n g t hat th e ch i l d u n d ers t o o d

t h at t h e co nv ers at i o n was t o b e reco rd ed an d t h at t h e ch i l d a g r eed t o p a r t i ci p a t e

. 1 7

Th e DVD r e co rd i n g co n t ai n ed i n cri m i n at i n g s t at em en ts b y Lo n d o n, an d i t s

ad m i s s i o n i n t o ev i d en ce was n o t h arm l es s

. 1 8 Lo n d o n t o o k t h e s t an d an d d en i e d ha v i n g

co m m i t t ed t h e i n d i ct ed o ffen ses , an d t h ere was n o ev i d en ce t h at h e h ad g i v en p o l i ce

an y co n fes s i on o r o t h e r i n cri m i n at i n g s t at em en t (s ). No r w as t h ere an y p h y s i cal

ev i d en ce co n n ect in g Lo n d o n t o t h e cri m es

. A s am p l e o f carp et fro m C. S.’ s b ed ro o m

was t es t ed fo r t h e p res en ce o f s em i n al fl u id a n d t h e r e s u l t s were n eg at i ve; a s ex u al

as s au l t ex am i n at i o n t h at was p erfo rm ed on C. S. on Oct ob er 6

, 2 0 0 9

, rev eal ed n o

ev i d en ce o f i n

ju ry o r o f p e n e t r a t i o n ; an d th e n u rs e wh o h ad co n d u ct ed t h e

ex am i n at i o n m ad e n o “ as s au l t -rel at ed fi n d in g s.” M o reo v er, du ri n g d el i b erat i o n s , t h e

ju ry as k ed t o v i ew t h e DVD o f t h e t el ep h o n e co n vers at i on wi t h t h e t ran s cri p t

.

1 7 See OCGA § 16 -1 1 -6 6 (c).

1 8 See Da i l ey v. S t a t e , 3 1 3 Ga. Ap p

. 8 09

, 8 1 6 (1 ) (7 2 3 SE2 d 4 3 ) (2 0 12 ) (“ t o b e

s u cces s fu l

, a cl ai m o f erro r req u i res a s h o wi n g o f b o t h h a rm an d erro r”) (fo o t n o t e

o m it t ed ).

10Th erefo re, we can n o t co n cl u d e t h e ad m i s s i o n o f t h e D VD t o b e h arm les s b ey o n d a

reas on ab l e d o u b t

. 1 9

Becau s e t h e s t at e fai l ed

, p u rs u an t to OCGA § 1 6 -1 1 -6 6 (b ), t o o b t ai n a co u rt

o rd er g i vi n g co ns en t fo r t h e reco rd i n g, an d th ere i s a reas o n ab l e p ro b ab i li t y t h at t h e

i m p ro p erl y ad m i t t ed ev i den ce co n t ri b u t ed t o t h e ju ry ’ s verd i ct

, we rev ers e. W e n o t e,

1 9 See gen eral l y Ch a

p ma n v. Ca l i

fo r n ia

, 3 8 6 U. S. 1 8

, 2 4 (III), 2 5 (IV) (8 7 SCt

8 2 4

, 1 7 LE2 d 7 05 ) (1 9 6 7) (erro r o f ev en co n s t i t u t i o n al m ag n it u d e m ay b e h arm l es s i f, co n si d eri n g t h e en ti re reco rd o n ap p eal

, t h e rev i ewi n g c o u rt fi nd s b ey o n d a

reas on ab l e d o u b t t h at th e erro r d i d n o t co n t ri b ut e t o t h e v erd i ct ). An d s ee Va u g h n v. S t a t e , 2 4 8 G a

. 1 27

, 1 3 1 -3 2 (2 ) (2 8 1 SE2 d 5 9 4 ) (1 98 1 ) (h o l d in g t h at i m p ro p er ad m i s s i o n of d efen d an t ’ s co n fes s i o n w as no t h arm les s an d, acco rd i n g l y , rev ers i n g );

Cr o wd er v. St a t e , 2 3 7 Ga. 1 41

, 1 5 5 (2 2 7 SE2 d 2 3 ) (1 9 7 6 ) ; Th o mp s o n v. St a t e , 3 1 3

Ga. Ap p

. 8 4 4

, 8 4 8 -8 4 9 (1 ) (7 2 3 SE2 d 8 5 ) (2 0 1 2). Co m p are D a i l e

y , s u p ra (“ ev en

as s u m in g t h at t h e t ri al co u rt erred b y ad m i t t i n g t h e ch al len g ed p ol i c e s t a t e m e n t s

. .

. , t h e erro r was h arm l es s i n l i g h t o f t h e f act t h at t he ci t ed po l i ce st at em en t s were

cu m u l at i v e o f o th er un ch al len g ed co n fes s io n s b y [t h e d efen dan t ] ”); Li n t o v. S t a t e , 2 9 2 Ga. Ap p

. 4 8 2

, 4 8 3 (1 ) (6 6 4 SE2 d 8 5 6 ) (2 00 8 ) (“ ev en if t h e a d m i s s i o n o f [d efe n d a n t ’ s p re-M i ran d a] st at em en t co u l d s o m eh o w b e i n t erp ret ed as erro r, s u ch

ad m i s s i o n was h arm l es s b ecau s e [d efen d an t ’ s ] s t at em en t

. . . was m erel y cu m u l at i v e

o f t h e ad m i s s i b l e s tat em en t h e p ro vi d ed p ol i ce t h e d ay b efo re”) (ci t at i o n s o m i t t ed );

Ba ez v. S t a t e , 2 9 7 Ga

. A p p

. 8 9 3

, 8 9 5-8 9 6 (1 ) (6 7 8 SE2 d 5 8 3 ) (2 0 0 9 ) (“ [a] s s u m i n g

arg u e n d o th at [t h e d efen d an t ’ s ] s t at em en t to [a p o l ice o ffi cer] sh o ul d h av e b een

ex cl u d ed b ecau s e [t he d efen d an t ] was n o t re-M i ran d i zed

, we fi nd t h at t h e ad m i s s i o n

o f t h e s t at em en t w as h arm l es s [b ecau s e]

. . . . [t h e d efen dan t ’ s ] s t at em en t t o [t h at

o ffi cer] was m erel y

cu m u lat i v e o f h i s o ral s t at em en t t o [an o t h er p ol i ce o ffi cer] ”).

11h o wev er, t h at b ecau s e t h e ev i d e n c e w a s s uffi ci en t t o s u s tai n hi s co n v i ct i o n s , 2 0

Lo n do n m ay

b e re-t ri ed

. 2 1

Ju d g men t r ever sed . Do yl e, C. J., co n cu rs . Bo g

g s , J., co n cu r

s s p eci al l y

.

2 0 See Hu t ch i n so n v. S t a t e , 28 7 Ga. Ap p

. 4 1 5, 4 1 7 -4 1 8 (6 5 1 SE2 d 5 2 3 ) (2 0 0 7 ) (p h y s i cal ev id en ce o f t he m ol es t at i o n w as n o t req u i red t o su p po rt co n v i ct i o n s fo r ch i l d m o l es t at io n, ag g rav at ed s ex u al b at t ery , an d ag g rav at ed ch i l d m ol es t at i o n ); Fi ek

v. S t a t e , 2 6 6 Ga. Ap p

. 52 3

, 5 2 7 (4 ) (5 9 7 SE2 d 5 8 5) (2 0 0 4 ) (“ Th e vi ct i m s ’ t es t i m o n y ,

s t an d i n g al o n e, was s u ffi ci en t t o au t h o ri ze [t he defen d an t ’ s] co n v ict i o n s o n t h e ei g h t een co u n t s o f ch i l d m o l es t at i on an d th ree co u n t s o f ag g rav at ed ch i ld m o l es t at i o n b ey o n d a reas o n ab l e d o u b t .”) (ci t at i o n s o m i t ted ); S p r a d l in v. S t a t e , 2 6 2 Ga. Ap p

. 8 9 7,

8 9 8 (1 ) (5 8 7 SE2 d 1 55 ) (2 0 0 3 ).

2 1 See Th o mp s o n , s u p ra at 8 4 9 (p erm i t ti n g ret ri al wh en s u f f i c i e n t ev i d en ce

ex i s t ed , d es p it e rev ers i n g co n v i ct i o n o n o th er g ro u n d s ).

12A1 5 A0 75 1 . LONDON v . THE STATE. BO-0 2 8

B O G G S , J u d g e, co n cu rri n g s p eci al ly

.

I ag ree wi t h th e m ajo ri t y t hat t h e St at e fai l ed t o o bt ai n co n s e n t f o r t h e

r eco r d i n g an d fo r t h e d i vu l g i n g o f t h e reco rd ed co nv ers at i o n “ b y o rd er o f a ju d g e o f

a s u p eri o r co u rt u p o n wri t ten ap p l i cat io n ” as req u i red b y OCGA § 1 6 -1 1 -6 6 (b ). Bu t

I w ri te s ep arat el y t o no t e t h at t h e i n t er cep t i o n o f t h e co nv ers at i o n b y t h e p o l i ce m ay

h av e b een perm i s si b le p u rs u an t t o OCGA § 1 6-1 1 -6 6 (a). T h i s s u b s ect i o n p ro v i d es :

“ No t h i n g i n Co d e Sect i o n 1 6 -1 1 -6 2 s h al l p ro h i b i t a p ers o n fro m i n tercep t i n g a wi re,

o ral

, o r el ect ro ni c co m

m u ni cat i o n wh ere

. . . o n e o f t he p art i es t o t h e co m m u n i cat i o n

h as gi v en p ri o r co n s en t t o s u ch i n t ercep t i o n

. ” Th e reco rd co n tai n s s o m e ev i d en ce t h at

C. S. an d h er m o th er di d

, i n fact

, co n s en t t o p o l i ce l is ten i n g i n o n C. S.’ s co n v ers at i o n

wi t h Lo n d o n , wh i ch to o k p lace wh i le h er ph o n e w as p l aced i n s p eak er p h o n e m o de.Had t h e o ffi cers d es i red t o p ro v i d e t es t i m o n y reg ard i n g wh at th ey o v erh e a r d

, t h ey

wo u l d n o t h av e b een p ro h i b i ted fro m d o i n g s o by OCGA § 1 6 -1 1 -6 6 (b ). Th e co u rt

o rd er req u irem en t ap p l i es o n l y t o t h e reco rd i n g an d t h e di v u l g i n g o f t he reco rd i n g

i t sel f (o r “ reco rd i n g an d d i s s em i n at i o n”) as i s m ad e ev i d en t b y OCGA § 1 6 -1 1 -6 6 (c)

(ju d ge m u s t m ak e fi n d i n g s reg ard i n g t h e ch i l d ’ s u n d ers t an d i n g th at t h e co n v ers at i o n

i s t o b e reco rd ed an d a t ru e an d co rrect co p y o f t h e reco rd i n g sh al l b e ret u rn ed t o t h e

s u p eri o r co u rt j u d g e t o k eep u n d er s eal ). Here, t h e St at e op t ed t o p lay t h e DVD

reco rd i n g of th e cal l an d p ro v id e t h e j u ry wi t h a t r a n s cri b ed v ers i o n o f cal l

, rat h er

t h an el i ct t h e i n v es t ig at o r’ s t es t i m o n y as t o wh at h e o v erh eard Lo n do n s ay d u ri n g t h e

cal l

. Th e i n v es t ig at o r ex p l ai n ed o n ly t h at t h e DVD t ru l y an d accu rat el y d ep i ct ed t h e

co n vers at i on

.

W h i l e I ag ree t h at a co u rt o rd er was req u i red fo r t h e p lay i n g o f t h e reco rd i n g,

I b el i ev e i t i s i m

p ort an t t o n ot e t h at a co u rt o rd er wo ul d n o t b e req u i red h ad t h e St at e

ch o sen i n s t ead t o el i ci t t e s t i m o n y ab ou t wh at t h e in v es ti g at o r o v erh eard du ri n g t h e

i n t ercep ti o n

. Becau s e i t ch o s e t o p l ay t h e reco rd i n g , we are co n s t rai n ed t o rev ers e t h e

co n vi ct i o n

.

2