FOURTH D I VI SI ON

DI L LA RD, P. J.

, RI C KM A N and BROWN, 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.

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

D E A D LIN E S A R E N O LO N G E R TO LLE D IN T

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

.

A u gust 6, 2020



# I n th e Co u r t o f

A p p eals o f

G eo r g ia

A2 0 A1 44 5 . REYES v . THE STATE.

B R O W N , J u d g e.

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

, 1 Jo s ep h Rey es was co n v i ct ed o f t h re e c o u n t s o f ch i ld

m o les t at i o n an d o n e co u n t o f s ex u al b at t ery ag ai n st a ch i l d u n d er th e ag e o f 1 6

. 2

Rey es ap peal s

, arg ui ng t h at t h e ev i d en ce was i n su ffi ci en t t o s u pp o rt h i s co nv i ct i o n s

.

He al s o co n t en d s t h at t h e t ri al co u rt erred b y p ro h i b i t i n g hi m fro m q u es t i o ni n g fam i l y

m em b ers ab o u t al leg at i o ns o f m o l es t at i o n an d ad m it t in g cert ai n ex p e r t tes t i m o n y

. Fo r

t h e reas o n s t h at fo l l o w, we affi rm Rey es ’ co n v i ct i o ns

.

1 Rey es ’ t ri al t oo k p l ace i n Oct ob er 20 1 3, aft er Geo rg i a’ s n ew E v i d en ce Co d e

t o o k effect

.

2 Th e t ri al co u rt m erg ed t h e s ex u al b at tery co nv i ct i o n i n t o t h e ch i ld m o l es t at i o n

co n vi ct i o n s fo r p u rp o s es o f s en t en ci n g

.“ 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 on g er en t i t l ed t o

a p res u m pt i o n o f in no cen ce an d we t h erefo re co n s t ru e t h e ev i d en ce i n th e l i g h t m o s t

fav o rab l e t o t h e ju ry ’ s g u i l ty v erd i ct .” (Ci t at i o n an d p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed .) Ma d d o x

v. S ta t e

, 3 4 6 G a

. A p p

. 6 7 4

, 6 7 5 (8 1 6 SE2 d 7 9 6 ) (2 0 1 8 ). So v i ewed

, th e ev i d en ce

s h o ws t h at t h e t en -y ear-o l d v ict i m was s p en d i n g t h e n i g ht at t h e res i den ce o f Rey es ’

g i rl fri en d

. Th e v i ct i m fel l as l eep o n t h e co u ch wat ch i ng a m o v i e, an d awo k e t o Rey es

t o u ch i n g h er. R e ye s rai s ed t h e v i ct i m ’ s s h i rt an d p u t h i s m o u t h an d h an d o n h er

b reas t s

. Rey es al s o t ou ch ed t h e v i ct i m o n t o p o f h e r c l o t h es o n her v ag in al area. A

few week s l at er, t he vi ct i m t o l d h er ol d er b ro t h er wh at ha p p e n ed

, an d a fam i l y

m em b er rep ort ed t h e i n ci d e n t to l aw en fo rcem en t

. Th e v i ct im l at er t o l d a fo ren s i c

i n t erv i ewer ab o ut t h e i n ci d en t

, an d t h e reco rd i n g o f t h at in t erv i ew was p l ay ed fo r t h e

ju ry

.

Rey es w a s c o n v i ct ed of t h ree co u n ts o f ch i l d m ol es t at i o n an d o n e co u n t o f

s ex u al b at t ery o f a ch i l d

. 3 Rey es fi l ed a m o t i o n fo r n ew t ri al

. Fo l l o wi n g a heari n g

, t h e

t ri al co urt d en ied t h e m o t i on

. Fo l l o wi ng Rey es ’ in i t i a l a p p eal

, wi t h d rawal o f t ri al

3 Th e St at e al s o ch arg ed Rey es wi t h a fo urt h co u n t o f ch i ld m o l es t at i o n an d a

s eco n d co u n t o f s ex ual b at tery o f a ch i l d f o r act s al l eg ed t o h av e b een co m m i t t ed

ag ai n s t t h e v i ct i m ’ s s i st er. Th e ju ry fo u nd Rey es n o t g u i lt y

o f t h os e t wo co u n t s

.

2co u ns el

, an d di s m is s al fo r fai l u r e t o f i l e a b ri ef, t h e t ri al co u rt g ran t ed cu rren t

co u ns el ’ s m o t i o n fo r an o u t -o f-t i m e ap p eal

.

1

. R e ye s c h al l en g es t h e s u ffi ci en cy o f t he ev i d en ce, arg u i n g t h at n o rat i o n al

t r i e r o f fact co u l d h av e fo u n d h i m g u i l t y b ecau s e t he vi ct i m ’ s s t o ry w as t h e o n l y

ev i d en ce ag ai n s t h i m . W e d i s ag ree.

“ [I] n ev al u at i n g th e s u ffi ci en cy o f th e ev i d en ce o n ap p eal

, we d o n o t wei g h t h e

ev i d en ce o r det erm i n e wi t n es s cred i b il i t y

, b ut o n l y d et erm i n e wh et h er a rat i on al t ri er

o f fact co u l d h av e f

o u n d t h e d efen d an t g u i l ty o f t h e ch arg ed o ffen s es b ey o nd a

reas on ab l e d ou b t .” (Ci t at i o n s an d p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed

. ) Ga r n er v. S t a t e

, 3 4 6 Ga.

Ap p

. 3 5 1, 35 3 -3 5 4 (1 ) (8 1 6 SE2 d 3 6 8 ) (2 0 1 8). A n d

, we wi l l “ u p ho l d a j u ry ’ s v erd i ct

s o l on g as th ere i s s o m e co m pet en t ev i den ce, ev en t h o u g h co n t rad i ct ed

, t o s u p p o rt

each fact n eces s ary t o m ak e o u t t h e St at e’ s cas e.” (Ci t at i o n an d p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed .)

Id

. at 3 5 4 (1 ). M o reo v er, “ t he ev i d en ce o f t h e v i ct im al o n e [i ] s s uffi ci en t t o au t h o ri ze

t h e ju ry t o fi n d [a d efen d an t ] g u i l t y o f . . . ch i l d m o l es t at i o n

. No req u i rem en t ex i s t s

t h at t h i s t es t i m o n y b e co rro bo rat ed .” (Ci t at i o n an d p un ct u at io n o m i t ted .) S p r a d l i n v.

S t a t e

, 26 2 Ga. Ap p

. 8 9 7

, 8 9 8 (1 ) (5 8 7 SE2 d 15 5 ) (2 0 03 ). See al so OCGA § 2 4 -1 4 -8

(“ Th e t es t i m o n y

o f a s in g l e wi tn es s i s g en eral l y s u ffi ci en t t o es t ab l i s h a fact .”).

3“ A p ers on co m m i t s t he o ffen s e o f ch i l d m ol es t at i o n w h en [h e]

. . . [d ] o es an y

i m m o ral o r i n d ecen t act t o or i n t h e p res en ce o f or wi t h an y ch i l d u n d er th e ag e o f 1 6

y ears wi t h t h e i n t en t t o aro us e o r s at i s fy t he s ex u al d es i res o f ei t h er t h e ch i l d o r t h e

p ers o n .” OCGA § 1 6 -6 -4 (a) (1 ). “ A p ers o n co m m i t s t h e o ffen s e o f s ex u al b at t ery

w h e n h e o r s h e i n t en t i o n al l y m ak es p h y s i cal co n tact wi t h t h e i n t im at e p art s o f t h e

b o d y o f an o t h er p ers o n w i t ho u t t h e co n s en t o f th at p ers o n .” OCGA § 1 6-6 -2 2 .1 (b ).

Here, Rey es w as co n v i ct ed o f h av i n g co m m i t t ed ch i l d m o l es tat i o n ag ai n s t t h e

v i ct i m by t ou ch i n g h er b reas t wi t h h i s h an d (Co u n t 1 ), by to u ch in g h er breas t wi t h h i s

m o ut h (Co u nt 2 ), an d b y to u ch i n g h er v ag in a l a r e a w it h h is h an d (Co u n t 3 ). Rey es

al s o was co n vi ct ed of h av i n g co m m i t t ed s ex u al b at t ery ag ai n st t h e v i ct im by t o u ch i n g

h er i n t i m at e b o dy p art s wi t h ou t h er co n sen t (Co u n t 4 ). Th e v i ct i m rep eat ed l y t es t i fi ed

t h at Rey es t o u ch ed her, t hat h e t o u ch ed h er ch es t

, an d t h at h e u s e d h i s h an d an d

m o ut h

. A d d i t i o nal l y, e v i d e n ce i n t h e fo rm o f t h e v i ct i m ’ s fo ren s i c i nt erv i ew was

p res en t e d t h at Rey es t o u ch ed t h e v i ct i m ’ s v ag i nal area wi t h h i s h an d

. Th e v i ct i m ’ s

t es t i m o ny al o n e was s u ffi ci en t ev i d en ce fo r a rat io n al t ri er o f fact t o fi n d Rey es g ui l t y

o f ch i l d m o l es t at i o n an d s ex u al b at t ery . See S pr a d l i n

, 2 6 2 Ga. Ap p

. at 8 9 8 (1 ). See

al s o To r r es v. S t a t e

, 3 5 3 Ga. Ap p

. 4 7 0 , 4 7 6-4 7 7 (1 ) (8 3 8 SE2 d 1 3 7 ) (2 0 2 0).

42

. Rey es co n ten d s t h at th e t ri al co urt erred by precl ud i n g h i m fro m q u es t i o n i n g

wi t n es s es ab o u t th e v i ct i m ’ s fam i l y m em b ers ’ s ex u al ab us e h i st o ry i n o rd er t o s h o w

b i as . W e d i s ag ree.

Rey es s o u g h t t o cro s s -ex am i n e t h e v i ct i m an d h er s i s t er al o ng w i t h o t h er fam i l y

m em b ers ab ou t p ri o r al l eg ed m o l es t at i o n s o f an d b y m em b ers o f t h e g i r l s ’ f

am i l y

.

Rey es pro ffered t h at th ere h ad b een al l eg at io n s o f ch i l d m o l es t at i o n ag ai ns t t h e fat h er

o f t h e v i ct i m ’ s s i s t er, an d t h at t h e v i ct i m ’ s g ran d m o t h er an d m o t h er h ad p rev i o u s l y

rep o rt ed t h ei r own s ex u al ab u s e. Rey es arg u ed t h at t h e v i ct i m ’ s s i st er was

“ h y p ers en s i t i v e” to sex u al ab u s e i s s u es an d t h e p ri o r ab u s e s h o wed p reju d i ce ag ai n s t

h i m

. T h e t ri al co u rt d en i ed Rey es ’ req u es t

, fi n d i n g t h at t h e ev i den ce was n ot rel ev an t

.

“ Al t h ou g h a d efen d an t i s en t i tle d to a ‘ thor ough a nd sif t in g ’ cro s s -ex am i n at i o n,

. . . a t ri al co u rt h as b ro ad d is cret i o n i n d et erm i n i n g t h e s co p e an d rel ev an cy o f t h at

ex am i n at i o n .” (Ci t at i o n o m i t t ed .) Go n z al es v. S t a t e

, 3 4 5 Ga. Ap p

. 3 3 4

, 3 3 6 (2 ) (8 1 2

SE2 d 6 3 8 ) (2 0 1 8) (p h y s i cal p reced en t o n l y ). See al s o Pi ckl es imer v. S t a t e , 3 5 3 Ga.

Ap p

. 71 8

, 72 3 (3 ) (8 3 9 SE2 d 21 4 ) (2 0 2 0 ). “ An d OC G A § 2 4 -6 -6 0 8 pro v i d es v ery

s p eci fi c, l i m i t ed m et h o d s fo r at t ack i n g or s u p p o rt i n g t h e cred ib i li t y o f a wi t n es s by

ev i d en ce i n t he fo r m o f o pi n i o n o r rep u t at i o n.” (Ci tat i o n an d p u nct u at i o n o m i t t ed .)

Do u g l a s v. S t a t e , 3 4 0 Ga. Ap p . 1 6 8 , 1 7 1 (2 ) (7 9 6 SE2 d 8 9 3 ) (2 0 17 ).

5Sp eci fi c i ns t an ces o f t h e co n d u ct o f a wi t n es s

, fo r t h e p u rp o s e o f

at t ack i n g o r s u p p o rt i n g t h e w i t n es s ’ s ch aract er fo r t ru t h fu l n es s

, o t h er

t h an a co n v i ct i o n o f a cri m e as p ro v i d ed i n Co d e Sect i o n 2 4

- 6 -6 0 9

, o r

co n d u c t i n d i cat i v e o f t h e wi t n es s’ s b i as t o ward a p art y m ay no t be

p ro v ed b y ex t ri n s i c ev i d en ce. Su ch i n s t an ces m ay h o wev er, i n t h e

d i s cret i o n o f t h e co u rt

, i f p ro b at i ve o f t ru t h fu l n es s o r u n tru t h fu l n es s, be

i n q u i red i n to o n cro s s-ex am i n at i o n o f t h e wi t n es s:

(1 ) Co n cern i ng t h e w i t n es s ’ s ch aract er fo r t ru t h fu l n es s o r

u n t ru t h fu ln es s ; o r

(2 ) C o n cern i n g th e ch aract er fo r t ru t h fu l n es s o r u n t ru t h fu l n es s o f

an o t her wi t n es s as t o w h ich ch aract er t h e wi t n es s b ei n g cro s s -ex am i n ed

h as t es t i fi ed

.

OCGA § 2 4 -6 -6 0 8 (b ).

Rel y i n g o n Let l o w v. S t a t e

, 2 2 2 Ga. Ap p . 3 3 9 (4 7 4 SE2 d 2 1 1 ) (1 9 9 6 ), Rey es

co n ten d s t h a t e v i d en ce o f t h e v i ct i m ’ s fam i l y m em b ers ’ o wn al l eg at i o ns o f ch i ld

m o les t at i o n wo u l d h av e s u p p o rt ed h i s d efen se t h eo ry t h at th e v i ct i m was

“ h y p ers ex u al i zed ” an d fab ri cat ed t h e al l eg at i o n s ag ai n s t h im

. In Let l o w

, t h i s Co u rt

h el d t h at p u rs u an t t o OCGA § 2 4 -9 -6 8

, “ a p ri o r act of m o l es t at i o n co m m i tt ed ag ai n s t

t h e ch i l d o f a wi t n es s i s rel ev an t t o s h o w an y po s si b l e b ias ag ai n s t an accu sed ch i ld

m o les t er th at t h e wi tne ss m a y e nte r tai n

, u nco n sci o u sl y o r d el ib erat el y .” Id

. at 3 4 2 -3 4 3

6(2 ). OCGA § 2 4 -9 -6 8

, a p ro v is i o n o f th e o l d Ev i d en ce Co d e, p ro v i d ed t h at “ [t ] h e s t at e

o f a wi t n es s ’ s feel i n g s t o ward s t h e p art ies an d h i s rel at i o n s h i p t o t hem m ay al way s

b e pro ved fo r t h e co n s i d erat i o n o f t h e j u ry

. ” Th i s p ro v i s i o n w a s carri ed o v er t o t h e

n ew Ev i d en ce Co d e as OCGA § 2 4 -6 -6 2 2 (“ [t ] h e s tat e o f a wi t n es s ’ s feel i n gs t o ward s

t h e p art i es an d t h e wi t n es s ’ s rel at i o n s h i p t o t h e p art i es m ay al w ay s b e p ro v ed fo r t h e

co n si d erat io n o f t h e ju ry ”). See Ch r ys l er Gr p

. , LLC v. W

a ld en

, 3 03 Ga. 3 5 8, 3 6 2 (8 1 2

SE2 d 2 4 4) (2 0 1 8).

Here, Rey es d i d n o t s eek t o q u es t i on t h e wi tn es s es reg ard i n g t h es e al l eg at i on s

i n an effo rt to s h ow b i as o r p reju d i ce o n t h e part o f th e wi t n es ses

, i n c o n t ras t to

Let l o w

, s u p r a

. Rat h er, Rey es s o u g h t t o cas t d o u b t o n t h e cred ib i l i t y o f th e v i ct i m s

t h ro u g h t h e t es ti m o n y o f t h es e wi t n es s es

. Acco rd i n gl y

, Le tlow an d OCGA § 2 4 -6 -6 2 2

d o n o t g o v ern t h e i ss u e b efo re u s

.

Recen t l y

, t h i s Co u rt h el d t h at it w a s n o t an ab u s e o f d i scret i o n t o p recl u d e

q u es ti o n i n g o f t h e vi ct i m ’ s m o t h er as t o h er o wn “ fal s e” al l eg at i o ns o f m o l es t at i o n,

wh i ch t h e d efen d an t arg ued were ev i d en ce t hat t h e m o t h er h ad co ach ed t he v i ct i m to

m ak e fal se accu sat i on s ag ai n s t h i m

. Do ug l as

, 3 4 0 Ga. Ap p

. at 1 7 1

, 1 74 (2 ). Beari n g

i n m i n d t h at OCGA § 2 4 -6 -6 0 8 (b ) “ p l aces t he d eci s i o n w h et h er t o ad m i t s p e c i fi c

i n s t an ces o f co nd u ct wi t h i n t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s d i s cret i o n ,” G a s ki n v. St a te

, 3 3 4 Ga. Ap p.

77 5 8

, 7 6 2 (1 ) (a) (7 8 0 SE2 d 4 2 6 ) (2 0 1 5 ), we can n o t s ay u nd er th es e ci rcu m s t an ces t h at

i t was an ab u s e o f d i s cret i o n t o p recl u d e q u es t io n i n g as t o t h es e al l eg at i o n s

. S ee

Do u g l a s , 3 4 0 Ga. Ap p . at 1 73 -1 7 4 (2 ).

3

. Rey es l as t l y co n t en d s t hat t h e t ri al co urt e rred i n ad m i t t i n g t h e fo ren s i c

i n t erv i ewer as an ex p ert b ecau se s h e h ad no co l l eg e d eg ree in fo ren s ic in t erv i ewi n g

an d h ad o n l y t es ti fi ed as an ex p ert i n fo ren s i c i n t erv i ewi n g o n fo u r p ri o r o ccas i o n s

.

He al s o arg u es t h at t h e t es t i m o n y ex ceed ed t h e sco p e o f t h e wi t n es s ’ ex p ert i s e. Ag ai n,

we d i sag ree.

“ Accep t an ce o r reject i o n o f t h e q u al i fi cat i o n s o f a p ro po s ed ex pert wi t n es s i s

wi t h i n th e s o u n d d i s cret i o n of t h e t ri al ju d g e an d wi ll n o t b e d i s t u rb ed o n ap p eal

ab s en t m an i fes t ab u se.” Br i d g es v. S t a t e

, 2 7 9 Ga. 3 51

, 3 5 4 (3 ) (6 1 3 SE2 d 6 2 1 )

(2 0 0 5).

An ex p ert wi t n es s i s an y o n e wh o

, t h ro u g h t rai n in g

, ed u cat i o n

, sk i l l

, o r

ex p eri en ce, h as p art icu l ar k n o wl ed g e t h at t he av erag e ju ro r wo u l d n o t

p o s s es s co n cern i n g qu es t i o n s o f sci en ce, s k i l l

, t rad e, o r t h e l i k e. An

ex p ert wi tn es s m ay ren d er an o p i n i o n wi t h i n h i s area o f ex p ert i s e aft er

t h e p ro p er q u al i fi cat i o ns h av e b een p ro ven t o t h e t ri al co u rt

.

(Ci t at i o n o m i t t ed

. ) Fi el d i n g v. S t a te

, 2 7 8 Ga. 3 0 9

, 3 11 (3 ) (6 0 2 SE2 d 5 9 7 ) (2 0 0 4 ).

“ G e n e r a l l y, n o t h i n g m o re i s req ui red t o q u al i fy an ex p ert t han th at s h e has b een

8ed u cat ed i n a p art i cu l ar t rad e o r p ro fes s i on

. Th is s p eci al kn o w l ed g e m ay b e d eri v ed

fro m ex peri en ce as we l l a s s t u d y .” (Ci t at io n an d p un ct u at i o n o m i t ted .) At t a wa y v.

S t a t e , 2 7 9 Ga. Ap p

. 7 8 1 , 7 8 2 (1 ) (6 3 2 SE2 d 3 9 7 ) (2 0 06 ).

Here, t h e fo ren s i c i n t erv i ewer was a fo rm er p o l i ce o ffi cer, t rai ned i n fo ren s i c

i n t erv i ewi n g at t h e Nat i o n al Ch i l d ren ’ s Ad v o cacy Cen t er, h ad co n d u ct ed o v er 1 ,2 0 0

fo ren s i c i n terv i ews wi t h ch i ld ren

, an d h a d b een q u al i fi ed as an ex p ert i n fo u r p ri o r

t ri al s

. Th e co u rt al l o wed t h e w i t n es s t o t es ti fy as an ex p ert i n fo ren s i c in t erv i ewi n g

o f c h i l d r e n o v er Rey es ’ o b ject i o n

. Gi v en t h e fo ren s i c in t erv i ewer’ s ex peri en ce an d

t rai n in g

, t h e t ri al co u rt d i d n o t ab u se i t s d is cret i o n b y al l o wi n g t h e wi tn es s to t es t i fy

as an ex p ert

. See Ca r t er v. St a t e

, 3 2 0 Ga. A p p

. 45 4

, 4 5 8 (3 ) (7 4 0 SE2 d 1 9 5 ) (2 0 1 3 )

(u p h ol d in g t h e t ri al co urt ’ s q u al i fi cat i o n o f fo ren s i c i n terv i ewer wh o h ad ex t en s i v e

t rai n in g i n fo ren s i c i nt erv i ewi n g

, b u t n o co ll eg e d eg ree, had co n d u ct ed al m o s t 3 5 0

f o r e n s i c i n t erv iews

, an d h ad b een q u al i fi ed as ex p ert i n fi v e pri o r t ri al s ), o v err u l e d

o n o t h er g ro u n d s

, W

at so n v. S t a t e , 2 9 7 Ga. 7 1 8

, 7 2 0 (2 ) (7 7 7 SE2 d 6 7 7 ) (2 0 1 5 ).

Rey es al s o arg u es t h at cert ai n o p i n i o ns g iv e n b y t h e fo ren s i c i n t erv i ewer

“ s t ray ed far o u t s id e o f t h e ran ge o f accep t ab l e tes t i m o n y fo r th i s wi t n es s

, b as ed o n h er

l i m i ted area o f ex p ert i s e an d t h e fact t h at i t was b as ed s o l el y o n h er ex p eri en ces wi th

ch i l d ren

, rat h er t h an an y

fo rm al t rai n i n g o r ed u cat i o n .” Du ri n g t he d efen s e’ s cro s s

9ex am i n at i o n o f t h e fo ren s i c i n t erv i ewer, sh e o p in ed t hat “ [j] u s t b ecau s e a ch i l d d o es

n o t di s cl o s e s o m et h i n g d oes n o t m ean i t di d n ’ t h ap p en .” In res p o n s e to d efen s e

co u ns el as k in g “ [a] n d act u al ly y o u d i d s ay a l i t t l e w h i l e earl i er t h at s o m et i m es

ch i l d ren d o n ’ t di s cl os e an y t h i n g[,] ” t h e fo ren s i c i n t erv iewer res p o n d ed : “ Th at i s t ru e.

Di s cl o s u re i s act u al l y a p ro ces s

, an d wh ere t h ey m ay t el l o n e p ers o n s om et h i n g

, t h ey

m ay n o t tel l an o t h er pers o n t h e s am e t h i n g es p eci al l y i f t hey d o n ’ t k n o w t h e p ers o n.

Bu t ju s t b ecau s e a ch i l d d oes n ot d i s cl o s e ab o u t s o m et h i n g d o es n o t m ean i t d i d n ot

h ap pen .”

W e fi rs t n o t e th at Rey es n o w co m pl ai ns o f t es t i m o n y wh ich h e e l i c i t ed o n

cro s s -ex am i n at i o n. See Ha g a n v. S t a te

, 3 53 Ga. A p p

. 5 3 4, 5 35 (2 ) (b ) (8 3 9 SE2 d 1 )

(2 0 2 0). Reg ard l es s

, t h i s t es t i m o n y was wel l wi th i n t h e fo ren s i c i n terv i ewer’ s s co p e

o f ex pert i s e as i t rel at ed t o fo re n s i c i n terv i ews o f ch i l d ren an d d i d n o t b o l s t er t h e

v i ct i m ’ s t es t i m o n y

. See, e.g

., W es t b r o o k s v

. St a t e

, 30 9 Ga. A p p

. 3 9 8

, 4 0 1 -4 0 2 (2 )

(7 1 0 SE2 d 5 9 4 ) (2 0 1 1 ). To t h e ex ten t t h at Rey es re-arg u es th at th e fo ren s i c

i n t erv i ewer was n o t qu al i fi ed t o g i v e ex p ert t es t i m o n y i n t h i s reg ard d u e t o h er l ack

o f t rai n in g an d ed ucat i o n, we al read y h av e h el d, su p ra, t h at th e t ri al co u rt di d n o t err

10i n q u al i fy i n g t h e i n t erv iewer as an ex p ert

. Acco rd i n g l y

, t h i s arg u m en t i s w i t h o ut

m eri t

. 4

Ju d g men t a f f i r m ed . Di l l ar d

, P. J., a n d

Ri ckma n , J., co n cu r

.

4 Rey es al s o co m

p l ai n s o f cert ai n t es t i m o ny rel at ed t o t h e vi ct im ’ s s i s t er. Th e

fo ren s i c i n t erv i ewer al s o i n t erv i ewed t h e v i ct i m ’ s s i s t er, an d t h e reco rd i n g o f t h e

i n t erv i ew was pl ay ed fo r t he j u ry

. Du ri n g t ri al

, t h e fo ren s i c i n t erv i ewer t es t i fi ed t h at

s h e was aware o f t he v i ct im ’ s s i s t er’ s at t en t io n d efi ci t d i s o rd er (“ ADD”) d i ag n o s i s

,

t h at s h e had p rev i o u s l y i n t erv i ewed ch i l d ren wi t h ADD, t h at in t erv i ews wi t h ch i l d ren

wi t h ADD t en d ed t o b e l o ng er, an d t h at i t wo u l d n ot b e u n co m m o n fo r a ch i l d wi th

ADD t o h av e a d ifferen t p ercep t i o n o f ti m e. Defen s e co un s el ob ject ed

, arg u i n g t h at

t h e fo ren s i c i n t erv i ewer was n o t q u al i fi ed t o g i v e o p i ni o n s as t o p sy ch o l o gy

. Th e t ri al

co u rt su s t ai n ed t he o b

ject i o n

, i n s t ru ct i n g th e fo ren s i c i nt erv i ewer to o n l y t es t i fy as to

h er s p eci fi c ex peri en ces

. Acco rd i n g l y

, we fi n d n o m eri t i n Rey es ’ co n t en t i on t h at t h e

t ri al co u rt erred i n a l l o wi n g t h i s l i n e o f t es t i m o n y

. Mo reo v er, we n o t e t h a t t h i s

t e s t i m o n y rel at ed o n l y

t o t h e v i ct i m ’ s s i s t er, an d t h e ju ry fo u n d Rey es n o t g u i l t y o f

al l co u n t s rel at i n g t o t he al leg ed m o l es t at i on o f t h e s i s ter.

11