FOURTH D I VI SI ON

DI L LA RD, P. J.

, REESE and BETHEL, 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

Febr uar y 1, 2017



# I n th e Co u r t o f

A p p eals o f

G eo r g ia

A1 6 A2 05 8 . J O NES v . THE STATE.

A1 6 A2 06 6 . J O HNSON v . THE STATE.

A1 7 A0 11 0 . LEM ONS v . THE STATE.

D I LLA R D , Pres i d i n g J u d g e.

Fo l l owi n g a t ri al b y ju ry

, Trav i s J o n es

, W i l l i e J o hn s o n

, W i l li am Lem o n s

, an d

Ro b ert Tu rn er w ere co n v i ct ed o f b u r g l ary

. 1 J o n es

, J o h n so n

, an d Lem o n s n o w

ch al l en g e t h ei r c o n v i ct i o n s

. In Cas e Nu m b ers A1 6A2 0 5 8

, A1 6 A 2 0 6 6

, an d

A1 7 A0 11 0

, J o n es

, J o h n s o n

, an d Lem o n s arg u e t h at t h e t ri a l c o u r t e rred i n d en y i n g

t h ei r m o ti o n s fo r a m i s t r i a l a f t er a m ai n wi t n es s o n b eh al f o f t h e St at e u s ed t h e

p ro s ecu to r’ s o wn n o tes t o refres h h i s reco l l ect i o n

. A d d i t io n al l y

, i n Cas e Nu m b ers

A1 6 A2 06 6 a n d A 1 7 A0 1 1 0

, J o h n so n an d Lem o n s ch al l en g e t h e s u ffi ci en cy o f t h e

1 W e h av e co n so l id at ed t h e p art i es ’ cas es fo r co n s id erat i o n o n ap peal

. Tu rn er

i s n o t a p art y

t o t h i s ap p eal

.ev i d en ce as t o t h ei r co n v i ct i on s fo r b u rg l ary

. Fo r t h e reas o ns s et fo rt h i n f ra

, w e affi rm

i n each cas e.

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

, 2 t h e reco rd refl ect s t h at J o n es

,

J o h n so n

, Lem o ns

, an d Tu rn er were i n m at es at t h e J e ffers o n Co u n t y Co rrect i o n al

In s t i t u t i o n

, wh o w ere as si g ned t o a wo rk d et ai l lo cat ed n ear t h e v i ct i m ’ s res i d en ce.

Th e i n m at es were di rect ed t o cl ear b ru s h fro m t h e ro ad s i d e an d were d i v i ded i n t o t wo

g ro u ps : fi v e i n m a t e s to t he n o rt h an d s i x i n m at es t o t h e s o ut h

, wh i l e on e g u ard

m o ni t o red t h ei r w o rk

. T h e v i ct i m ’ s res i den ce w as b es id e th e b o u nd ary o f t h e n o rt h

en d o f t h e wo rk area.

Du ri n g a m i d d ay b reak

, t h e i n m at es as s i g n ed t o t h e s o ut h en d s a t w i t h t h e

g u ard i n t h e cen t er o f t h e wo rk area wh i l e t h e no rt h -en d i n m at es t o o k t h ei r b reak o n

a h i ll n ear th e vi ct i m ’ s res i d en ce. Bu t aft er s o m e t i m e h ad p as sed

, t h e g u ard real i zed

t h at h e w as n o t ab l e t o s ee al l of t h e i n m at es o n t h e hi l l

. Th e gu ard t h en wal k ed u p t h e

h i l l an d, as h e ap pro ach ed

, an i n m at e y el l ed t o warn o t h ers t h at h e was co m i n g

. W h at

t h en en s u ed res em

b l ed a d el et ed s cen e fro m “ O Bro t h er, W h ere Art Th o u ? ” 3

2 S ee, e.g

. , Mu s e v. S ta t e , 3 2 3 Ga. Ap p . 7 79 , 7 80 (7 4 8 SE2 d 1 3 6 ) (2 0 1 3 ).

3 S ee O B R O T H E R

, W H E R E A R T T H O U ? (To u ch s to n e Pi ct u res 2 00 0 ).

2J u s t p ri o r t o t h e g u ard ’ s arri v al

, an i n m at e w h o was u ni n v o l v ed i n th e i n ci d en t

s aw J o n es an d Lem o ns w al k to ward t h e b ack o f t h e ho u s e an d t h en h eard s ou n d s o f

o b ject s b reak i n g

. Th en

, as t h e g u ard ap p ro ach ed

, h e h eard t h e s ou n d s o f feet m o v i n g

acro s s a h ard s u rface. W h en t he g u ard reach ed th e t op o f t h e h i l l

, h e fo u n d J o n es an d

Tu rn er s t an d in g b es i d e a tree n ear t h e ho u s e, an d o b s erv ed Lem on s wal k fro m t h e

rear o f t he h o u s e ba ck t o hi s wo rk p o s t

. Th e g u ard al s o wat ch ed J o h n s o n

, wh o was

as s i g n ed t o t h e op po s i t e en d o f t h e wo rk area, wal k acro s s t h e fi el d

, wh i ch t h e g u ard

t h o u g h t was s u s p i ci o us

. Up o n t h e g u ard ’ s arri v al at t he t o p o f t h e hi ll

, i t was

i m m ed i at el y ap p aren t t h at J o n es was i n t o x i cat ed

, an d t hat Tu rn er an d Lem o n s were

at t em p t i n g t o cal m

h i m

.

Th e g uard m o v ed al l o f t h e i n m at es t o t he b o t t om o f t he h i l l t o fu rt h er as s es s

t h e s i t u at i o n an d

, on ce at t h e b o tt o m

, n ot i ced t h at L em o n s was w eari n g a g o ld

wri s t wat ch

, wh i ch h e s h o u l d n o t h av e h ad o n wh i l e p art i ci p at i ng i n a wo rk d et ai l

. Th e

g u ard t h en cal l ed fo r b ack u p t o rem o v e J o n es fro m t h e d et ai l wh en h e co n t i n u ed t o

ex h ib i t s i g n s o f i nt o x i cat i o n an d errat ic b eh av i o r. P r i o r t o b ei n g t ran s p o rt ed away

fro m t h e wo rk d et ai l, J o n es was s earch ed an d fo u n d to be i n p o s s es s io n o f s ev eral i n k

p en s an d an XM rad i o

.

3Th ereaft er, t h e J effers o n C o u n t y Sh eri ff’ s Offi ce b eg an t o i n v es t i g at e a

p o t en t i al b urg l ary o f t h e v i ct i m ’ s res i d en ce. Aft er l earn i n g t h at h i s h om e m i g h t h av e

b een b u rg l ari zed

, t h e v i ct i m

— wh o was i n th e p ro ces s o f m o v i n g —wen t t o t h e h o u s e

an d d i sco v ered t h at h e co u l d n o t o p en t he fro n t d o o r b e c a u s e a l o u n ge ch ai r, l am p,

an d co m pu t er h ad b een t h ro wn ag ai n s t i t

. Law e n f o r c e m e n t det erm in ed t h at t h e

p erp et rat o rs h ad en tered t h e n o w ran sack ed h o us e t h ro u g h t h e b a ck d o o r, an d t h e

v i ct i m u l t i m at el y i d en t ifi ed t h e wat ch fo u n d i n L em on s ’ s p o ss es s i o n an d t h e p en s an d

r a d i o i n J o n es ’ s p o s s es s i o n as h i s p ro p ert y (al l hav i n g l as t b een l o cat ed i n s i d e t h e

res i den ce).

Du ri n g t he en s u in g in v es t i g at io n

, law en fo rcem en t co l l ect ed fi v e l i q u o r b o t tl es

fro m i n s id e t h e h o u s e. On e b o t t l e res u l t ed i n t h e reco v ery o f a s i n g l e u s ab l e

fi ng erp ri n t

, an d t h o u g h th e p ri nt was ex cl ud ed as b el o n gi n g t o t h e o t her i n m at es

, i t

co u ld n o t b e ex cl u d ed as b el o ng i n g t o J oh n so n . Th e v i ct i m t es t ifi ed t hat t h i s b o t t l e,

wh i ch was fo un d o n a freezer b y t h e b ack d oo r, h ad l as t b een l o cat ed i n a ro o m t o ward

t h e fro n t o f t h e h o u s e. On a seco n d b o t t l e, l aw en fo rcem en t reco vered D NA m at ch i n g

J o h n so n an d Tu rn er. Th e v i ct im t es t i fi ed t hat t h is b o t t l e, w h i ch was fo u n d i n a ro o m

n ear t h e fro n t d o or, h ad l as t b een l o cat ed i n a ro o m acro s s th e hal l

. W h en q u es t i o n ed

b y l aw en fo rcem en t, J oh n s o n i n i t i al l y d en i ed an y in v o l v em en t in t h e b u rg l ary

, b ut

4wh en l at er co n fro n t ed wi th t h e fi n g erp ri n t ev i d en ce, he ad m i t t ed t o to u ch i n g t h e

b o t t l e o u ts i d e o f t h e res i den ce b efo re han d i ng i t b ack t o an o t h er i n m at e. J o h n s o n al s o

i n i t i al l y d en i ed d ri n k i n g fro m a b o t t l e o f al co h o l b efo re ad m i t t i n g t hat he h ad d o n e

s o

, b ut he t h en o n ce ag ai n d en i ed co n s u m i ng al co h o l

— ev en aft er b ei n g co n fro n t ed

wi t h t h e DNA ev i d en ce.

Al l fo u r in m at es wer e s u b s eq u en t l y i nd i ct ed fo r fi rs t -d eg ree b u rg l ary an d,

fo l l o w i n g a t ri al b y ju ry

, co n v i ct ed o f t h at offen s e. Th es e ap p eal s by J o n es

, J o h n s o n,

an d Lem o n s fo l l o w t h e d en ial o f t h ei r m ot i o n s fo r n ew t ri al

.

1

. In Cas e Nu m

b ers A1 6 A2 0 5 8

, A1 6 A2 0 6 6

, an d A1 7 A0 1 1 0

, J o n es

, J o h n s o n,

an d Lem o n s arg u e th at t h e t ri al co urt erred i n d en y i n g t h ei r m o ti on s fo r m i s t ri al aft er

t h e wo rk -d et ai l g u ard u s ed n o t es p rep ared by t h e p ro secu t o r t o r e f res h h i s

reco l l ect i o n

. W h i l e al l ap p el l an t s arg u e t h at t he d o cu m en t was no t t h e t y p e p erm i t t ed

fo r refres h i n g a w i t n es s ’ s reco l l ect i o n, J o n es fu rt her co nt en d s t hat th e St at e’ s

p ro s e c u t o r c o m

m i t t ed m i s co n d u ct

. W e d is ag ree t h at t h e tri al co u rt ab u s ed i t s

d i s cret i o n i n d en y i n g t h e m o t i on s fo r a m is tri al

. 4

4 S ee W i l l i a ms v. S t at e

, 24 8 Ga. Ap p

. 1 1 1

, 1 1 3 (2 ) (5 4 5 SE2 d 66 9 ) (2 0 0 1 ) (“ W e

rev i ew fo r m an i fes t ab u s e o f d i s cret i o n a t ri al co u rt ’ s d en i al o f a m o ti o n fo r a m i s t ri al

,

an d we wi l l rev ers e o n l y i f a m i s t ri al i s es s en t i al t o t h e p res erv at i o n o f t h e d efen d an t ’ s

ri gh t t o a fai r t ri al .” (p un ct u at i o n o m i t t ed )).

5Th e reco rd refl ect s th at d u ri n g t h e St at e’ s d i rect ex am i n at i o n of t h e wo rk -d et ai l

g u ard (wh o h ad s u ffered th ree m i n i -s tro k es s i n ce t h e d at e o f t he i nci d en t i n q u es t i o n ),

t h e w i t nes s at t em

p t ed t o referen ce d o cu m en t s h e b ro u gh t wi t h h i m t o th e s t an d aft er

h e was as k ed t o w h ich s i d e o f t he wo rk d et ai l Lem o n s h ad b een as si gn ed

. Seei n g t hi s

,

t h e St at e as k ed th e g u ard wh at d o cu m en t s h e w as h o ld i n g

, an d t he g u ard rep l i ed

,

“ Th at w as g i v en [t o ] m e b y y o u [,] I t h i n k

. ” T h e St at e’ s p ro secu t o r t h en as k ed t o s ee

t h e d o cu m en ts an d r e s p o n d e d t h at s h e “ d i d n ’ t real i ze I h ad left th i s w i t h y ou .” Th e

g u ard res p o n d ed

, “ Yeah

, y o u l eft t h at wi th m e.” Th e St at e’ s p ro s ecu t o r t h en rep l i ed

,

“ Al l ri gh t

. Yo u can h av e i t b ack t h en ,” b efo re m ov i ng o n t o a n ew li n e o f q u es t i o n i n g.

Di rect ex am i n at i o n co n t i n u ed wi th o u t o b j ect i on fo r q u i t e s o m e t i m e u n t i l t h e

St at e as k ed th e g uard to i n d i cat e o n a d i ag ram t he l o cat i o n o f t h e tree wh ere h e s aw

J o n es an d T u rn er s t an d i n g

. A t t h at p o i n t

, J o hn s o n ’ s co u n s el o b s erv ed t hat t h e g u ard

ap p eared t o b e “ u s i n g s o m et hi ng t o refres h h i s m em o ry ” b ecau s e h e “ [k ep t] l o o k i n g

d o wn at t h e p ap ers .” Th u s

, d efen s e co u n s el req u es t ed t o s ee th e wri t i ng an d to

q u es ti o n t h e g u ard u n d er O CGA § 2 4 -6 -6 1 2 (a). 5 W h en t he co u rt as k ed th e g u ard to

5 S ee OCGA § 2 4 -6 -6 1 2 (a) (“ If a wi t n es s u s es a wri t i ng t o refres h h i s o r h er

m e m o r y w h il e t es t i fy i n g

, an ad v ers e p art y s h al l b e en t i t l ed t o h av e th e wri t i n g

p ro d uced at t h e h eari n g o r t r i a l

, t o i n s p ect i t

, t o cro s s -ex am i n e t h e wi tn es s o n s u ch

wri t in g

, an d t o i n t ro d u ce in ev id en ce t h o s e p o rt i o n s o f s uch wri t i n g wh ich rel at e to

t h e t es ti m o n y

o f t h e wi t n es s .”).

6wh at h e was referri ng

, t h e g u ard res p o n d ed t h at i t was “ a p ho t o t h at t h e DA g av e m e

wh en s h e cam e o ut t o m

y res id en ce.” Th e St at e’ s p ro s ecu t o r t hen v o l u n t eered t h at i t

ap p eared s h e h ad “ in ad v ert en t l y l eft [h er] n o t es wi t h [t he g u ard ] ” an d t hat i t “ was n ot

i n t en t i o n al l y d o n e.” T h e co u rt al l o wed t h e St at e t o re t r i e v e t h e d ocu m en t fro m t h e

g u ard an d o rd ered th at t h e no t es b e s h o wn t o t he d efen d an t s fo r p u rp o s es o f cro ss

ex am i n at i o n

. Th e d o cu m en t was s u b s eq u en t l y m ad e a co u rt ex h i b i t fo r i ncl u s i o n in

t h e reco rd

. 6

6 W e n o te t h at d es p it e i n cl u s i o n o f t h e tran s cri p t o n ap p eal

, no t o n e o f t h e t h ree

ap p el l an t s en s u red t h at an y o f t h e t ri al ex h i b it s were tran sm i t t ed t o t h i s Co u rt fo r

co n si d erat io n wi t h t h e tran s cri p t

. Th e t ab l e o f co n t en t s i n t h e t ran s cri p t i nd i cat es t h at

t h e ex h i b i t s are co n tai n ed o n a s ep arat e CD, wh i ch was n o t i n cl u ded

. Al t h o u g h t h i s

Co u rt to o k i t u p o n i t s el f t o s eek s u p p l em en t at io n o f t h e r e c o r d fro m t he t ri al co u rt

,

we rem i n d t h e p art i es th at “ it is t h e b u rd en o f t h e ap p eal in g p art y t o e n s u re t h at a

co m p l et e reco rd i s t ran s m i t t ed t o t h i s Co urt o n ap p eal

, ” an d “ [t ] h e ap pel l an t ’ s fai l u re

t o co m p l e t e t h e reco rd m ay al s o res u l t i n t h i s Co u rt d ecl in i ng t o co n s i d er

en u m erat i o n s of erro r rel at ed to t h e m i s s i n g ev i d en ce.” Co u rt o f Ap p eal s Ru l e 1 8 (b );

s ee Ch er no ws ki v. S t a t e

, 3 3 0 G a. Ap p

. 7 0 2, 7 0 6 (1 ) n .8 (7 6 9 SE2 d 1 26 ) (2 01 5 ) (“ Th e

t ran s cri p t

. . . d efi n i t i vel y n o t es t h at t h e t ri al ex hi b it s are n o t at t ach ed

, an d

acco rd i n g l y

, n o ex h i b i t s w ere fo rward ed to t h i s Co u rt

. [Th e Ap p el lan t ]

, o f co u rs e,

b o re t h e res p o n s i b i li t y

o f co m p i l i n g a co m

p l et e reco rd of wh at t ran s pi red b el o w.”).

In d eed

, wh en th e r e c o r d i s n o t s u p p l em en t ed wi t h t h e m i s s i n g ex h i b it s

, we m u s t

as s u m e t hat t h e ex h ib i t s s u p p ort t h e ju d g m en t bel o w. See Ci t y o f Byr o n v. Bet a n co ur t

, 2 4 2 G a. A p p

. 71

, 7 2 (2 ) (5 2 8 SE2 d 8 41 ) (2 0 0 0) (“ In t h e ab s e n c e o f a t r an s cri p t

, i n cl u d i n g t h e ex hi b i t s t en d ered i n t o ev i d en ce, we m u s t as s u m e t h e ju d g m en t

co m p l ai n ed of was s u p p o rt ed b y co m p et en t ev i d en ce an d are d u t y -b o u nd t o affi rm .”).

7Th e d efen d an t s m o v ed fo r a m i s t ri al d u e t o “ p ro s e c u t o r i a l m i s co n d u ct by

al l o wi n g [t he] w i t nes s t o co n t i nu e t o h o l d o n t o t h es e n o t es

, ev en t ho u gh [t h e St at e’ s

p r o s ecu t or] k n ew t h at t h ey were i n ap p ro p ri at e fo r h i m t o h av e.” Bu t t he t ri al co u rt

d e n i ed t h o s e m o t i o ns aft er co n cl u d i ng th at t h ere was n o p ro s ecu t o ri al m i sco n d u ct

.

Th en

, th e co u rt perm it ted t h e St at e t o co nt i n ue q u es t i o n i n g th e g u ard aft er al l o wi n g

h i m t o refres h h is reco l l ect i o n wi t h an i n c i d e n t r ep ort t h at h e h ad p rep ared t h e d ay

aft er t h e wo rk -d et ai l i nci d en t. An d wh en t h e d efen d an t s l at er cro s s -ex am i n ed t h e

g u ard an d as k ed ab o u t th e p ro s ecu t o r’ s n o t es

, t h e g u ard t es t i fi ed t hat h e “ was n ’ t

act u al l y u s in g [t he n o t e s ]” a n d t h a t h e w as “ g oi n g t o l o o k d o wn at i t t o s ee [i f h e]

co u ld . . . refres h [h i s ] m em o ry o f t h e i n m at es t hat were wo rk i n g at t h e h o u s e.” 7

In co n s i d eri n g t h e defen d an t s’ arg um en t

, we n eces sari l y b e g i n o u r an al y s i s

wi t h t h e t ex t o f OCGA § 2 4

- 6

- 6 1 2

, wh ich perm it s a wi t n es s t o “ us e a wri t i n g to

refres h h i s o r h er m em o ry wh i le t es t i fy in g ,” bu t al s o p ro v i des t h at “ an ad v ers e p art y

[i s] en t i t l ed t o h av e t h e wri ti n g p ro d u ced at th e h eari n g o r t ri al

, t o i n s p e c t i t

, to

cro s s -ex am i n e th e wi t n es s o n s u ch wri ti ng

, an d t o i n tro d u c e i n ev i d en ce t h o s e

7 (Em p h as i s s u p pl i ed ).

8p o rt i on s o f s u ch wri ti n g wh i ch rel at e t o t he tes t im o n y o f t h e w it nes s .” 8 Here, t h e

a ppe lla nts c onten d t h at

, n o t wi t h s t an d i n g t hei r ab i l i t y t o c r oss- e x a m ine the w or

k- de ta i l

g u ard as t o t h e n o t es t h at were i n h i s p o s ses s i o n du ri n g s o m e p o rt io n o f h i s d i rect

ex am i n at i o n

, t h e g u ard was i m p ro p erl y perm it t ed t o u se t he n o t e s t o refres h h i s

reco l l ect i o n b ecau s e t h e d o cu m en t was p rep ared by th e St at e’ s pro s ecu t or ou t s i d e o f

t h e g u ard ’ s p res en ce. An d

, at l eas t i n cas es d eci d ed u n d er o u r p ri o r Ev i d en ce Co d e, 9

8 O C G A § 2 4 -6 -6 1 2 (a); s ee g en er a l l y Ro n al d L. Carl so n & M i ch ael Sco t t

Carl s o n

, C A R LS O N O N E V I D E N C E 3 2 6 (5 t h ed

. 2 0 1 6 ) (“ Co u rt s h av e o u t l i n e d

p ro ced ures fo r refres hi n g wi t n es s reco l l ect i o n. Up on es t ab l i s h i n g th e p ro p er

fo u n dat i o n

, co un s el w i l l t y pi c a l l y o ffer t h e wi tn es s t he wri ti n g t o i n s p ect

, an d wi l l

s h o w a co p y o f t h e wri t i ng t o t h e o p p o s i n g p art i es : ‘ Th e b es t pract i ce i s fo r t h e t ri al

c o u r t t o h av e t h e wi t n es s s i len t l y read t h e wri t i n g an d t h en t o s t at e w h et h e r t h e

wri t in g has refres h ed hi s o r h er reco l l ect i on .’ W it h t h e recal l o f m em o ry s ti m u l at ed

,

t h e p ro ces s o f refres h i n g i s co m p l et e, an d t h e wri ti n g m ay b e l ai d as i de. On d i rect

, i t

i s g en eral l y

n o t read t o t h e ju ry .” (fo o t n ot es o m i t t ed )).

9 Th e p ri o r Ev i d en ce Co d e s p eci fi ed t hat “ [a] w i tn es s m ay refres h an d as s i s t h i s

m em o ry b y t h e u se o f an y wri t t en i n s t ru m e n t or m em o ran d u m

, p ro v i d ed h e s h al l

fi nal ly s p eak fro m hi s reco l l ect i o n t h u s refres h ed o r s h al l b e wi l l i n g t o s wear

p o s i t i vel y fro m t he p ap er.” Fo rm er OCGA § 2 4 -9 -6 9 (2 0 1 2 ); see a l s o Jer ki n s v.

Jer ki n s

, 30 0 Ga. A p p

. 7 0 3

, 7 0 5 (1 ) (6 8 6 S E 2 d 3 2 4 ) (2 0 0 9 ) (“ If t he wi t n es s s wears

p o s i t i vel y fro m th e p ap er, th e p ap er tak es th e p l ace o f p res en t reco l l ect i o n an d can b e

read t o t h e j u ry b y

t h e wi t n es s at t ri al .”); S

wea t v. S t a t e

, 2 03 Ga. Ap p

. 2 9 0, 2 9 1 (3 )

(4 1 6 SE2 d 8 4 5 ) (1 9 9 2 ) (“ [I] n o rd er t o s wear p o s i t i v el y fro m t h e p ap er, i t i s es s en t i al

t h at t h e w i tn es s s h o u l d at s o m e t i m e h av e h ad p ers o n al k no wl ed g e o f t h e co rrect n es s

o f th e m em o ran d u m .” (p u n ct u at i o n o m i tt ed )). Becau s e t h i s cas e was t ri ed a f t er

J an u ary 1

, 20 1 3

, o u r n ew Ev i d en ce Co d e ap p li es

. See Ga. L. 2 0 1 1, p p

. 9 9

, 21 4

, § 1 0 1

(p ro v i d i n g t h at Geo rg i a’ s n ew Ev i d en ce Co d e ap p li es “ t o an y m ot i o n m ad e o r h eari n g

o r t ri al co m

m en ced o n o r aft er” J an u ary 1 , 2 0 1 3 ).

9wh en a d o cu m en t was “ p rep ared b y a t h i rd p ers o n n o t i n t h e p res en ce o f [t h e] wi t n es s

,

t h e [wi t n es s ’ s ] m em o ry [was ] n o t refres hed by s u ch m em o ran d u m an d s u ch t es t i m o ny

[was ] i n ad m i s si b l e.” 1 0 Th i s was s o ev en t h o u gh “ a wi t n es s [was al l o wed t o ] refres h

h i s m em o ry

fro m a wri t i n g p rep ared b y an o th er.” 1 1

Bu t h ere, at t h e m o t i o n -fo r-n ew-t ri al h ear i n g

, t h e tri al j u d ge— wh o h ad t h e

b en efi t o f o b s erv i ng t h e wi t n es s ’ s d em ean o r an d ju d g i n g h is cred i b i l i t y b efo re ru l i n g

u p o n t h e m o t i o n s fo r m i s t ri al 1 2 —n o t ed h is p ri o r d et erm i n at i o n th at th e g u ard d i d n ot

1 0 Zi l i nmo n v. S t a t e

, 2 3 4 Ga. 5 3 5

, 5 3 7 (3 ) (2 1 6 SE2 d 8 3 0 ) (1 9 7 5 ); a cco r d

McEn t yr e v. McRa e

, 2 4 0 Ga. Ap p

. 1 4 8

, 14 9 (2 ) (5 2 2 SE2 d 7 3 1 ) (1 9 9 9 ); At l a n t a Fi r e

S ys

., In c. v. Al exa n der Un d er wr i t er s Gen

. Ag en cy, In c.

, 1 8 5 G a. Ap p

. 8 73

, 8 7 5 (4 )

(3 6 6 SE2 d 1 9 7 ) (1 98 8 ); s ee a l s o K el l v. S t a t e

, 28 0 Ga. 6 6 9

, 6 7 4 (2 ) n .5 (6 3 1 SE2 d

6 7 9 ) (2 0 0 6 ) (n o ti n g t hat “ i t is n o t p ro p er t o u s e a rep o rt p rep ared b y an o t her t o refres h

a wi tn es s’ s reco l l ect i o n [wh en ] t h e wi t n es s h as n o p ers on al k n owl ed g e o f t h e

co rrect nes s o f t h e rep o rt ”).

1 1 Zi l i n mo n

, 2 3 4 Ga. at 5 3 7 (3 ); s ee al s o Mi l l er v. S t at e

, 2 7 5 Ga. 3 2, 3 6 (3 ) (5 6 1

SE2 d 81 0 ) (2 0 0 2 ) (“ [A] n y d o cu m en t m ay b e u s ed t o refres h t h e reco l lect i o n o f a

wi t n es s

, an d t he d o cu m en t n eed n o t h av e b een p rep ared b y th e wi t n e s s

. ” ) ; s ee

g en er a l l y Un i t ed S ta tes v. Ma r r er o

, 6 5 1 F 3 d 4 5 3

, 4 72 (IV) (6 t h Ci r. 2 01 1 ) (“ [T] h e

p ro p ri et y o f p erm i t t i ng a w i t n es s t o refres h h i s m em o ry fro m a wri t i n g prep ared by

an o t h e r l a rg el y l i es wi t h i n t h e s o u n d d i s cret i o n o f t he t ri al co u rt .” (p u n ct u at i o n

o m it t ed ); Un i t ed

S t a tes v. Ma d

d i x , 9 6 F3 d 3 11 , 3 1 5 (8 t h Ci r. 1 9 9 6 ) (s am e).

1 2 S ee, e.g

. , S t a te v. El l is o n

, 2 7 1 Ga. Ap p

. 8 9 8

, 9 0 4 (6 ) (6 1 1 SE2 d 1 29 ) (2 0 0 5 )

(“ [T]h e cred i b i l i ty o f wi tn es s es an d t h e wei g h t t o b e g i v en t h ei r t es t i m o n y i s a

d eci s i o n -m ak i n g po wer t h at li es s o l el y wi t h th e t ri er o f fa c t

. Th e t ri er o f fact i s n ot

o b l i g at ed t o b el i ev e a wi t n es s ev en i f t h e t es t i m o n y is u nco n t rad i ct ed an d m ay accep t

o r reject an y p ort io n o f t h e t es ti m o n y

. W e can n o t, an d wi l l n ot

, u su rp t h e au t h o ri t y

10act u al l y u s e th e rel ev an t d o cu m en t t o refres h h i s reco l l ect i o n

. An d i n d eed

, t h e reco rd

s u p p ort s t h i s co n cl us i o n w h e n

, o n d irect ex am i n at i o n

, t h e g u ard t es t i fi ed t h at h e

“ was n ’ t act u al l y u s i n g [t h e n ot es ] ” an d t h at he was “ g oi n g t o l o o k d o wn at i t t o s ee

[i f h e] co u l d

. . . refres h [h i s ] m e m o r y o f t he i n m at es t h at w ere w o rk i n g at t h e

h o u s e.” 1 3 Fu rt h erm o re, t h e reco rd refl ect s t h at t h e wi t n es s’ s reco l l ect i o n was o n l y

refre s h e d a ft er h e was p erm i tt ed t o rev i ew t he i n ci d en t rep o rt th at h e creat ed i n t h e

i m m ed i at e wak e of t h e d a y i n q u es t i o n

, aft er rev i ew o f wh i ch h e p ro v i d ed m o re

d et ai led an d s u b s t an t i al an s wers t o t h e St at e’ s q u es t i o ns

. As o t h er co u rt s h av e ri g h t l y

d et erm i n ed

, “ [e] v en [wh en ] a wi t n es s rev i ewed a wri t i n g b efo re o r w h i l e t es t i fy i n g,

i f t he wi t n es s d i d n o t rel y o n t h e w ri t in g to refres h m em o ry

, Ru l e 6 1 2 co n fers n o

ri gh t s o n t he ad v ers e part y .” 1 4 Th u s

, b ecau s e t he w i t nes s d i d n o t act u al l y u s e t h e

o f t h e t r i a l ju d g e t o co ns i d er s u ch fact ors as d em ean o r an d o t h er cred i b i l it y -rel at ed

ev i d en c e i n reach i n g i t s d eci s i o n .” (em p h as is

, p u n ct u at i on

, an d fo o t n o te o m i t t ed ));

Va r na d o e v. S ta t e

, 2 27 G a. Ap p

. 6 6 3, 6 6 5 (4 ) (4 9 0 SE2 d 5 1 7 ) (1 9 9 7 ) ( “ T h i s Co u rt

wi l l n o t s eco n d g u es s t h e t ri al co u rt wh i ch h eard t es t i m o ny fro m t h i s w i t nes s b o t h at

t r i a l a n d at t h e m ot i o n fo r n ew t ri al h eari n g an d was i n a po s i t i on t o ev al u at e t h e

d em ean o r o f t h e wi t nes s an d t h e cred i b i l it y o f h is t es ti m o n y .”).

1 3 (Em p has is s u pp l i ed ).

1 4 Un i t ed S t a t es v. S

h ef f i el d

, 5 5 F3 d 3 4 1

, 3 4 3 (8 t h Ci r. 19 9 5 ) (p u n ct u at i o n

o m it t ed ); a cco r d Fr az i er v. Fo rd Mo t o r Co

. , Cas e. No

. 4 : 05 CV0 4 0 7 7 J LH, 2 0 0 8 W L

4 8 0 9 1 3 0

, at * 1 (W .D. Ark

. 2 0 0 8 ); S a u er v. Bu r l i n g t o n N. ¶. Co

. , 1 69 FRD 1 2 0

, 1 2 3

(III) (A) n .3 (D. M i n n

. 1 99 6 ); s ee a l s o S p o r ck v. Pei l

, 7 5 9 F2 d 3 1 2

, 3 1 8 (III) (3 rd Ci r.

11o b

ject ed -t o do cu m en t t o refres h h i s r e co l l ect i o n

, t h e t ri al co u rt d i d n o t ab u s e i t s

d i s cret i o n i n d en y i n g t h e ap p el l an t s ’ m ot i o ns fo r m is tri al

.

As fo r J o n es ’s a d d i t i o n al arg u m en t t h at t h e St at e en g ag ed in p ro secu t o ri al

m i s co n du ct b y al l owi n g t h e g u ard t o m ai n t ai n p os s es si o n o f t h e pro s ecu ti o n’ s n o t es

,

ev en aft er l earn i n g t hat t h ey w ere i n ad v ert en t l y l eft wi t h t h e wi t n es s at a p ri o r t i m e,

we n o t e t h at “ [a] ch arg e o f p ro s ecu t o ri al m i sco n d u ct i s a seri o u s ch arg e an d i s n o t to

b e l i gh t ly m ad e[.] ” 1 5 A n d h av in g rai s ed i t

, J on es h as t h e d u t y t o “ pro v e i t b y t h e

reco rd an d b y

l eg al au t h o ri t y .” 1 6

1 9 8 5 ) (h ol d i n g t hat d ep os i n g co u n s el fai l ed t o l ay p ro per fo u n d at i o n u n der Ru l e 6 1 2

t o i n vo k e ri g h t t o p ro d u ct i o n o f d o c u m e n t s wh en co u n s el fai l ed t o es t ab li s h ei t h er

t h at d ep o n en t rel i ed o n an y d ocu m en t s i n g i v in g h i s t es t i m o n y o r t h at an y d o cu m en t s

i n fl u en ced h is t es t i m o n y ); Gu a ra n t ee A b s t r a ct & Ti t l e Co

., In c. v. U.S

. , 69 6 F2 d 7 9 3,

7 9 6 (1 0 t h Ci r. 1 9 8 3 ) (h o l d i n g t h at t ri al co u rt d id n o t err i n refu s i n g t o o rd er wi t n es s

t o p ro d uce d o cu m en t h e g l an ced at w h i l e t es t i fy in g ; t h ere was n o sh o wi n g t he wi t n es s

rel i ed o n t h e d o cu m en t t o refres h m em ory b ecau se, ju s t b efo re h e p u ll ed s l ip o f p ap er

fro m h i s p o ck et

, h e an s wered h e d i d n o t k n o w t h e an s wer t o co u n s el ’ s q u es t i o n an d

g av e t h e s am e an s wer aft erward s ); S u s s v. MS X In t er n

. E

n g

. Ser vs

., In c.

, 2 1 2 FRD

1 5 9

, 1 6 5 (II) (B) (S.D. N .Y. 2 0 02 ) (“ Ru l e 6 1 2 req ui res th at

, fo r an ad v ers ary to o b t ai n

p ro d uct i o n o f a wri t i ng

, t h e wi t n es s m u s t h av e act u al l y rel ied on th e w ri t i n g t o refres h

h i s o r her m em o ry

. Th us

, ev en i f t h e wi tn es s co ns u lt s a wri t i n g wh i le tes t i fy i n g

, t h e

a d v e rs e p art y i s n o t en t i t l ed t o s ee i t u n l es s t h e w ri t i n g i n fl u en ced t h e wi t n es s ’s

t es t i m o ny .” (p un ct u at i o n o m it t ed )).

1 5 Mer ed i t h v. S t a t e , 2 1 1 Ga. Ap p. 2 1 3, 2 1 5 (4 ) (4 3 8 SE2 d 6 4 4 ) (1 9 9 3 ).

1 6 Id

.

12H e r e

, t h e t ri al co urt d en i ed t h e m ot i on fo r m i s t ri al o n th e g ro u n d s o f

p ro s ecu to ri al m isc onduc t a ft er d eci d i n g

, bas ed o n i t s “ o b serv at i o n s an d co n cl u s i o n s ,”

t h at t h ere was n o s u ch m i sco nd u ct . M o re s p eci fi cal ly , t h e co u rt d et erm i ned t h at t h e

St at e’ s pro secu t o r “ m ad e a m is t ak e an d l eft her n o t es [wi t h t h e wi t n es s ] b y acci d en t ,”

an d t h at wh en s h e s aw t hat s h e h ad d o n e s o

, s h e “ m o st l i k el y d i d w h a t m a n y o f u s

wo u l d d o

, [‘ W ] el l w h at d o I d o [ ? ’]

, an d ju s t d i dn ’ t m ak e t h e ri g h t d eci s i o n

, wh i ch

wo u l d h av e b een t o s ay

, [‘ W ] el l l et m e t ak e t h o se b ack .[’ ] ” On ce ag ai n

, g i v en t h e t ri al

co u rt ’ s b e n e fi t o f o b s erv i ng d em ean o r an d as s es s i n g cred i b i l i t y wh en m ak i n g t h i s

d et erm i n at i o n

, an d g i v en t h e ad d i t i o n al co n cl u s i on t h at t h e wi t n es s d id n o t act u al l y

refres h h is reco l l ect i o n fro m th e p ro s ecu t i o n ’ s n o t es

, as d i s cu s s ed i n d et ai l s u p r a

, we

s i m p l y can n o t s ay t hat t h e t ri al co u rt ab u s ed i t s d i s cret i o n b y d en y i n g t h e m o t i o n fo r

m i s t ri al o n t h i s g ro u n d

. 1 7

1 7 S ee S mi th v. S t a t e

, 2 7 6 Ga. 2 6 3

, 2 6 5 (3 ) (5 7 7 SE2 d 54 8 ) (2 0 0 3 ) (h o l d i n g t h at

t ri al co u rt di d n o t ab u se i t s d is cret i o n i n d en y i n g m i s t r i a l b a s ed u p on al l eg at i o n o f

p ro s ecu to ri al m i s co n d u ct wh en u n d erl y i n g ci rcu m s t an ces were m ad e k n o wn t o t h e

ju ry an d were fu l l y p ro b ed o n cro s s ex am i nat i on

, su ch t h at i t co u l d no t b e sai d “ t h at

t h e pro s ecu t i o n had en gag ed i n m i s co n du ct wh i ch wo u l d h av e affect ed t h e o u t co m e

o f t h e ju ry ’ s d el ib erat i o n s ”); Di xo n v. St a t e

, 3 0 3 G a

. A p p

. 5 1 7

, 5 2 2 (3 ) (6 9 3 SE2 d

9 0 0 ) (2 0 1 0 ) (h o l d i n g t hat t ri al co u rt d i d n o t ab u s e i t s d i s cret i o n i n d en y i n g m i s t ri al

b as ed u p o n al l eg at i o n o f p ro s ecu t o ri al m is co n du ct w hen ap p el l an t fai l ed to “ p o i n t to

ev i d en ce t h at t h e p ro s ecu t o r i n t en t i on al l y s o l i ci t ed t he i m

p ro p er co m

m en t fro m t h e

wi t n es s ”).

132

. Nex t

, i n Cas e Nu m b ers A 16 A2 06 6 an d A 1 7 A0 1 1 0, J o hn s o n an d Lem on s

ch al l en g e th e s u ffi ci en cy o f t h e ev i d en ce as t o t h ei r co n v i ct i o n s fo r fi rs t -d eg ree

b u rg lary

. 1 8 W e d i sag ree as t o b o t h d efen d an ts ’ co n t en ti on s

.

At t h e ou t s et

, w e n ot e t h at wh en a cri m i n al co n v i ct io n i s ap p eal ed

, t h e

ap p el l an t n o l o n g er en

jo y s a p res um

p t i on o f in no cen ce. 1 9 A n d t he rel ev an t q u es t i o n

i s w h et h er, “ aft er rev i ewi n g t h e ev i d en ce i n th e l i g h t m os t fav o rab l e t o t h e

p ro s ecu ti o n

, a n

y rat i o n al t ri er o f fact co u ld h av e fo u nd t he es s en t ial el em en t s o f t h e

cri m e bey o n d a reas o nab l e d o u b t .” 2 0 W e do n o t w ei g h t h e ev i d en c e o r d et erm i n e

wi t n es s cred i b i l it y

, an d t he ju ry ’ s v erd i ct wi l l b e u p h el d s o l o n g a s th ere i s s o m e

co m p et en t ev i d en ce, ev en th o u g h co n t rad i ct ed, to suppor t e a c h f a c t neces s ary t o m ak e

o u t t h e St at e’ s cas e. 2 1

1 8 J o n es do es n ot ch al l en g e t h e s u ffi ci en cy o f t he ev i d en ce as t o hi s co n v i ct i o n

b u t , n ev ert hel es s , t here was s u ffi ci en t ev i den ce t o s u s t ai n s am e.

1 9 Ar b eg a s t v. S t a t e

, 3 3 2 Ga. Ap p. 4 1 4

, 4 1 5 (1 ) (7 7 3 SE2 d 2 83 ) ( 2 0 1 5 ) ;

W es t b r oo ks v. S ta t e , 3 0 9 Ga. Ap p . 3 9 8 , 3 9 9 (1 ) (7 1 0 SE2 d 5 9 4 ) (2 0 1 1 ).

2 0 Ja cks on v. Vi r

g in ia

, 4 4 3 U. S. 3 0 7

, 3 1 9 (III) (B) (9 9 SCt 2 7 8 1

, 6 1 LE2 d 5 6 0 )

(1 9 7 9).

2 1 Mi l l er v. S t a te , 2 7 3 Ga. 8 3 1 , 8 3 2 (5 4 6 SE2 d 5 2 4) (2 0 0 1 ); W es t b r o o ks , 3 0 9

Ga. Ap p . at 3 9 9 -4 0 0 (1 ).

14A pers o n co m m i t s t h e o ffen s e o f b u rg l ary i n t h e fi rs t deg ree wh en h e o r s he,

“ wi t h o u t au t h ori t y an d wi t h t h e i n t en t t o co m m i t a fel o ny o r t h eft t h erei n

, . . . en t ers

o r rem ai n s wi t hi n an o ccu p i ed , u n o ccu p ied , o r v acan t d wel l i n g h o us e o f an o t h er o r

an y b u i ld i n g

. . . or o t h er s u ch s t ru ct u re d es i g ned fo r us e as t he d wel l i n g o f an o t h er.” 2 2

A co n v ict i o n fo r b u rg l ary m ay b e b as ed u p o n ci rcu m s t an t i al ev i d en ce i f “ th e p ro v ed

fact s are n o t o n l y co ns i st en t wi t h t h e h y p o t h es i s o f g ui l t

, b u t ex cl u d e ev e r y o t h er

reas on ab l e h y

p o t h es i s bu t t he gu i l t o f t h e accu sed .” 2 3 Th u s

, wh en t h e ev i d en ce m eet s

t h i s t es t

, “ ci rcu m s t an t i al ev i d en ce i s as p ro bat i v e as d i rect ev i d en ce, an d wh et h er t h i s

b u rd en h as b een m et i s a q u es t i o n fo r th e ju ry .” 2 4 A n d wh en t h e ju ry is au t h o ri zed to

fi nd t h at t h e ev i d en ce, t h o u g h ci rcu m s t an ti al

, ex cl ud ed ev ery reas o n ab l e h y p o t h es i s

ex cep t th e d efen d an t ’ s g u i l t, “ th e v erd i ct w i l l n o t b e d i s tu rb ed u n les s th e v erd i ct i s

i n s u p p o rt ab l e as a m at t er o f l aw.” 2 5 Fi n al l y

, al t h ou g h ci rc u m s t a n t ial ev i d en ce m u s t

2 2 OCGA § 1 6 -7 -1 (b ).

2 3 Jo h n s o n v. S ta t e

, 2 91 Ga. Ap p

. 2 5 3

, 2 5 4 (6 61 SE2 d 6 4 2) (2 0 0 8 ) (p u n ct u at i o n

o m it t ed ); s ee a l

s o OCGA § 2 4 -1 4 -6 (“ To warran t a co n v i ct i on o n ci rcu m s t an t i al

ev i d en ce, t h e p ro v ed fact s s h al l n o t o n l y b e co n s is ten t wi th th e h yp o th es i s o f g u i l t

, b u t s h al l ex cl u de ev ery o t h er reas o n ab l e h y p ot h es i s s av e t h a t o f t h e g ui l t o f t h e

accu s ed

. ”).

2 4 Jo h n s o n , 2 9 1 Ga. Ap p . at 2 5 4 (p un ct u at i o n o m it t ed ).

2 5 Id

. (p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed ).

15“ ex cl u d e ev ery o t h er r ea s o na b l e h y p o t h es i s b ut t h e d e f

e n d an t ’ s g ui l t

, t h e ev i d en ce

n eed no t ex cl u d e ev ery

i n feren ce o r h y

p o t h es i s .” 2 6 W i t h t h es e g u i d i n g p ri n ci p l es i n

m i n d

, we wi l l n o w co ns i der Lem o n s an d J o h n s o n ’ s ch al len g es t o t h e ev i d en ce ag ai n s t

t h em

.

(a) As t o Lem o n s , t h e St at e p res en t ed s u ffi ci en t ev i d en ce o f h i s g u i lt wh en i t

s h o wed t h at h e w as wo rk i n g i n t h e v i ci n i t y o f t h e bu rg l ari zed re s i d e n c e ; was s een

wal k i n g near t h e b ack o f t h e h o u s e j u s t p ri or t o t h e g u ard ’ s arri v al t o i n v es t i gat e; an d

was i n p o s s e s s i o n o f a g o l d wri s t wat ch l at er i d en ti fi ed as b el o n g i ng t o t h e

h o m eo wn er. It i s wel l es t ab l i s h ed th at ev i den ce o f “ recen t

, u nex p l ai n ed (o r

u n s at i s fact o ri l y ex p l ai n ed ) po s ses s i o n o f s to l en go o d s m ay b e s u ffi ci en t t o g i v e ri s e

t o an i n feren ce t h at t he d efen d an t co m m i t t ed t h e b u rg l ary [.] ” 2 7 An d w h et h er a

d efen d an t ’ s “ ex p l an at i o n of p o s s es s i o n i s s at i s fact o ry i s a q u es t i o n fo r t he ju ry ,” 2 8 as

i s t h e l ack o f an ex p l an at i o n

. 2 9 H e r e

, t h e j u ry was en t i t l ed to reject

, an d d i d reject

,

2 6 Id

. (p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed ).

2 7 S ee, e.g

. , Ma r ti n v. S t a t e

, 2 5 4 G a. Ap p

. 4 0

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

(p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed ).

2 8 Id

. (p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed ).

2 9 Id

.

16Lem o n s ’ s ex p l an at i o n o f h av i n g fo u n d t h e wat ch o ut s i d e o f t he h o m e w h en t h ere was

al s o t es t i m o n y t h at Lem on s cl ai m ed t h a t t h e w at ch w as a g ift fro m h i s fam i l y

.

Acco rd in g ly , h i s ch al l en g e t o t h e s u ffi ci en cy o f t h e ev i den ce i s wi t h o u t m eri t

. 3 0

(b ) As t o J o h n s o n

, t h e St at e p res en t ed s u ffi ci en t ev i d en ce o f h i s g u i l t wh en i t

s h o wed t h at h e was s e e n su s p i ci o u s l y wal k i ng acro s s a fi el d n ear t h e res i d en ce,

n o t wi t h s t an d i n g h i s a s s i g n m en t t o wo rk i n an o t her area; h e pro v i d ed i n co n s i s t en t

s t at em en t s t o l aw en fo rcem en t reg ard i n g h i s in v o l v em en t (o r l ack t hereo f); an d t wo

s ep arat e b o t t l es o f al co h o l w ere fo u n d i n s i d e t h e res i d en ce an d l i nk ed t o h i m

, wi th

o n e co n t ai n i n g a p ri n t t h at c o u l d n o t b e ex cl u d ed as bel o n gi n g t o h i m an d o n e

co n tai n i n g h i s DNA. In l i g ht o f t h e i n co n s i s t en t st at em en ts J oh n s o n p ro v i d ed t o l aw

en fo rcem en t

, t h e ju ry was en t it l ed t o reject as un reas o n ab l e h i s ex pl an at i o n o f h av i n g

t o u ch ed a b o t t l e o u t s i d e o f t h e res i d en ce b efo re an o t h er in m at e t o o k th e em p t y b o t t l e

b ack i n si d e, an d hi s den i al o f hav i n g co n s u m ed an y al co ho l wh en h i s D NA was fo u n d

3 0 S ee Ha r r is v. S t a t e

, 3 2 8 Ga. Ap p

. 8 5 2

, 85 4 (1 ) (7 6 3 SE2 d 13 3 ) (2 0 1 4 ) (“ Th e

ev i d en ce, t ak en t o g et h er, p l aced [t h e d efen dan t] at [t he l o cat i o n of t h e b urg l ary ] an d

i n po s s es s i o n o f s to l en pro p ert y

. [W h en ] a d efen d an t i s i n recen t p o s s es s i o n o f s t o l en

g o o d s

, h i s g u i l t m ay b e in ferred [wh e n ] t h e e v i d en ce i nd ep en d en t l y es tab l i s h es an

u n au t h o r i zed en t ry

. ”); M a r t in

, 2 5 4 Ga. Ap p

. at 4 1 (1 ) (h o l d i n g t h at

, i n t er a l i a

, d efen d an t ’ s recen t

, al m o s t co n t em p o ran eo u s

, po s s es s i o n of t h e s t o l en g o o d s

, h i s

co n fl i ct i n g s t at em en t s t o t h e p o l i ce, an d o t h er ci rcu m s t an ces p res en t ed su ffi ci en t

ev i d en ce t o s u s t ai n co n v i ct i o n fo r b u rg l ary ).

17o n a b o tt l e. 3 1 Acco rd in gl y

, h i s ch al l en g e t o t h e su ffi ci en cy o f t h e ev i d en ce i s s i m i larl y

wi t h o u t m eri t

. 3 2

Fo r al l o f t h e fo reg o i n g reas o n s

, we affi rm t h e co n v i ct i on s i n Cas e Nu m b ers

A1 6 A2 05 8 , A1 6 A2 0 6 6

, an d A1 7 A0 1 1 0

.

Ju d g men t s a f f ir med . Rees e a n d Bet h el

, JJ., co n cu r

.

3 1 S ee Ru d i s o n v. S t a t e

, 3 2 2 Ga. A p p

. 2 4 8

, 24 9 -5 0 (1 ) (7 4 4 SE2 d 4 4 4 ) (2 0 1 3 )

(h o l d i n g t h at ju ry was en t i t l e d t o reject as u n reas on ab le t h e ex p l an at i o n t h at

d efen d an t was fram ed wh en h i s DNA was fo u n d o n an i tem at t h e cri m e s cen e); Ga nt

v. St a t e

, 2 9 1 G a. A p p. 8 2 3, 8 2 4 -2 5 (1 ) (6 6 2 SE2 d 8 9 5 ) (2 0 0 8 ) (“ Ev en t h o u g h [t h e

d efen d an t ] at t em

p t ed t o p r o v i d e i n n o cen t ex p l an at i o n s fo r h i s act s

, t h e ju ry was

au t h o ri zed t o reject hi s vers i o n o f ev en t s

, p art icu l arl y i n v iew o f h i s co n fl i ct i n g

s t at em en t s t o p o l i ce.”).

3 2 S ee S t o kes v. S t a t e

, 3 2 7 Ga. Ap p

. 5 1 1

, 5 13 (7 5 9 SE2 d 5 8 5 ) (2 0 1 4 ) (h o l d i n g

t h at ev i d en ce was s u ffi ci en t t o s u s t ai n b u rg l ary co n vi ct io n w h en d efen d an t was i n t h e

area of t h e b u rg l ary d u ri n g rel ev an t t i m e p eri o d an d wh en h i s DNA was fo u n d o n a

ci g aret te b u t t i n si d e th e res i d en ce wi t h n o o t her ex p l an at io n); s ee a ls o In t h e In t er es t

o f D

. J. E.

, 26 6 Ga. A p p. 8 07

, 8 1 0 (1 ) (5 9 8 SE2 d 10 8 ) (2 0 0 4 ) (h o l di n g t h at ju v en i l e’ s

f i n g e r p r i n t s at th e cri m e scen e, wi t h t h e lack o f an ex p l an at i o n fo r t h ei r p res en ce,

p ro v id ed n eces s ary ci rcu m s t an ti al ev i d en ce t o in fer h is p art i ci pat i o n in t h e cri m e); cf

. An t h on y v. S t a te

, 85 Ga. A p p. 1 1 9

, 1 2 1 (6 8 SE2 d 1 5 0 ) (1 9 5 1 ) (h o ld i n g t h at ev i d en ce

co n si s t i n g s o l el y o f fi n g erp ri n t o n a p i n b al l m ach i n e’ s m o n ey b o x was i n s u ffi ci en t to

s u s t a i n co n v i ct i o n wh en m ach i n e was lo cat ed in a p u b l i c p l ace an d was g en eral l y

acces s i b l e, an d i t was no t s h own wh ere o n t h e m ach in e t h e m o n ey b o x was l o cat ed

,

s u ch t h at t h e p ri nt co u l d h av e b een l eft on t h e m ach i n e a t s o m e t i m e o t her t h an t h e

co m m i s s io n o f t h e cri m e, i .e. , t h e p ri n t co u ld h av e b een l eft d u ri n g i n n o cen t p l ay ).

18