THI RD DI VI SI ON DOYLE, P. J.

, REESE 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

Febr uar y 1, 2022



# I n th e Co u r t o f

A p p eals o f

G eo r g ia

A2 1 A1 69 4 . HUGGINS v . THE STATE.

R E E S E
, J u d g e

Fo l l owi n g a b en ch t ri al

, Fran k Hu g g i n s was co n v i c t e d o f s ex u al as s au l t o f a

s t ud en t an d s ex u a l b at t ery

. 1 O n ap p eal

, Hu g g i n s arg ues t hat : (1 ) t h e ev i d en ce was

i n s u ffi ci en t t o s up p o rt h i s co n v i ct i o n fo r s ex u al as s au l t of a s tu d en t , b ecau s e h e d id

n o t wo rk at a “ s ch o ol ” an d was n o t a “ t each er” un d er t h e 2 0 16 v ers i o n of OCGA §

1 6 -6 -5 .1 ; an d ( 2 ) t r i a l co u n s el p ro v id ed i n effect i v e as s i s t an ce b y fai l i n g t o fi l e a

d em u rrer t o t h e in di ct m en t on t h o s e g ro un d s

. F o r t h e reas o ns s et fo rt h i n fra, we

affi rm

.

1 See OCGA § § 1 6 -6 -5 .1 (b ) (1 ) (2 0 1 6 ); 1 6-6 -2 2

. 1 (b ).Co n st ru i n g t h e ev i d en ce i n fav o r o f t h e t ri al j u d ge’ s d e t e r m i n a t i o n o f t h e

d efen d an t ’ s g u i l t

, 2 t he reco rd s h o ws t h e f o l l o wi n g

. In Sep tem

ber 20 1 6

, Bran di

Cam m arat a en ro l l ed h er 1 6 -y ear-o l d d au g h t er, L. S., fo r o n-t h e-ro ad dri v i n g l es s on s

o ffered t h ro u g h Lan i er Tech n i cal Co l leg e. L

. S. was a st u d en t a t Fl o w ery Bran ch

Hi g h Sch o o l an d h ad al read y co m p l et ed 3 0 h o u rs o f on l i n e dri v i n g cl as s es

. On

Sep tem b er 8

, 2 01 6

, L. S. recei v ed h er dri v er’ s l i cen s e in t h e m o rn i n g , an d was

s ch ed u l ed fo r h er o n -t h e-ro ad d ri v i n g l es s o n t h at aft ern o o n

. E v en th o u g h L. S. h ad

al read y o b t ai n ed h er li cen s e, Cam m arat a i n s i s t ed L. S. h av e o n -t he-ro ad l es s on s

b efo re d ri v i n g o n h er o wn

.

Cam m arat a an d L. S. wen t t o t h e Cu m m i ng cam

p u s o f L a n i e r Tech n i cal

Co l leg e. Hu g g in s arri v ed as L. S.’ s d ri vi n g i ns t ru ct o r i n a v eh i cl e m ark ed wi t h Lan i er

Tech n i cal Co l l eg e’ s l o g o. Cam m arat a d ro v e h o m e wh il e L. S. b eg an h er l es s o n wi th

Hu g g i n s

. Th e d ri v in g l es s o n v eh icl e was eq u i p p e d wi t h an i n -car cam era, wh i ch

reco rd ed t h e d ri v i n g l es s o n wi t h b o t h s o u n d an d v i d eo

. Th e v i d eo o f t h e l es s o n was

ad m i t t ed i n t o ev i d en ce, an d t h e t ri al co urt wat ch ed t he v i d eo i n i t s en t i ret y

.

Du ri n g t h e l es s o n, Hu g g i n s rep ea t e d l y t o u ch ed L. S.’ s u p p er t hi g h

. Aft er

wat ch i n g t h e v i deo

, L. S. co un t ed 1 7 t o 2 0 t i m es wh ere Hu g g i n s h ad t o u ch ed h er

2 See Tu r nb u l l

v. S t a t e , 3 1 7 Ga. Ap p . 7 1 9 , 7 2 3 (1 ) (7 3 2 SE2 d 7 8 6 ) (2 0 1 2 ).

2t h i g h

. Th ey d ro v e t o Hu g g i ns ’ s h o u s e, an d L. S. t ex t ed h er m o t her an d h er b o y fri en d

fo r h el p

. L. S. was ab l e t o leav e t h e car an d s p o k e to Cam m arat a o n th e p h o n e wh i l e

i n H u g g i ns ’ s d ri v eway

. L

. S. cri ed wh en t al k i n g to her m o t h er. Aft er t h e cal l, s h e t o ld

Hu g g i n s t h at h er m o t h er was wai t i n g fo r her b ack at t h e co l l eg e, an d t h e t wo d ro v e

b ack to t h e cam

p u s

.

At t ri al , Ti m o t h y

M cDo n al d t es t i fi ed t h at h e was an ex ecu t i v e v i ce p res i d en t

at Lan i er Tech n i cal Co ll eg e an d o v ers aw t h e d ri v in g ed ucat i on p ro g ram

. Fu n d i n g fo r

t h e p ro g ram was p ro v i d ed b y J os h ua’ s Law. 3 Dri v ers m u st b e b et ween 1 5 an d 1 8 to

en ro l l i n t h e co l l eg e’ s d ri v i n g cl as s

. T h e pro g ram co n s is t ed of th i rt y h o u rs o f

cl as s ro o m i n s t ru ct i o n an d s ix h o u rs o f b eh i n d t h e wh eel

, an d d ri v ers co u l d p art i ci p at e

i n ei t h er p art o f t he p ro g ram o r b o t h

.

Th e co l l eg e w as req u i red t o g o t h ro u g h t rai n i n g b y t h e G o v ern o r’ s Offi ce o f

Hi g hway Safet y to b eco m e an au t h o ri zed trai n i ng c e n t er. T he co l l eg e o w n ed an d

m ai n t a i n e d t h e v eh i cl es u s ed fo r t he d ri v i ng p ro g ram

. Fo r t h e cl as s ro o m p o rt i o n o f

t h e p ro g ram , wh i l e t h e co l l eg e s et t h e cu rri cu lu m an d fi n al ex am , t h e i ns t ru ct o rs h ad

d i s cret i o n i n h o w t h ey ran t h e cl as s , i n cl u di n g wh et h er o r n o t t o g i v e i n t er m e d i at e

t es t s an d q u i zzes

. Fo r th e d ri v i ng p o rt i o n o f t h e p ro g ram , t h e co l l eg e p ro v i d ed a l i s t

3 See Ga. L. 2 0 0 5

, p . 1 4 61 , § 2 ; OCGA § 1 5 -2 1 -1 7 0 et s eq

.

3o f m an eu v ers t h at a d ri v er s ho u l d b e ab l e t o co m p l et e, an d t h e i n s t ru ct o r d eci d ed

wh et h er t h e d ri v er m et t h es e cri t eri a. Th e m ajo r d u t i es fo r a d ri vi n g in s t ru ct o r l i s t ed

i n t h e jo b d es cri p ti o n i n cl u d ed “ as s es s [i n g ] t h e s t u d en t ’ s s k il l s , k n o wl ed ge an d/ o r

ab i l i t i es ,” “ p ro v i di n g feed b ack t o s t u d en t s an d ad m i n i s t rat i o n , ” “ i n s tru ct [i n g ]

s t ud en t s ,” “ m an ag [i n g ] s t ud en t b eh av i o r,” an d “ prep ar[i n g ] t each [i n g ] m at eri al s .”

J o an Lee, t h e d i rect or o f co n t i n u i n g ed u cat i o n at L an i er T ech n i cal Co l l eg e,

t es t i fi ed t h at s h e ran t he d ri v er’ s ed u cat i on co u rs e at t h e co l l eg e. Th e in s t ru ct o rs were

em pl o y ee s o f th e co l l eg e, h ad t o g o t h ro u g h a trai n in g cert i fi cat i o n t o b eco m e a

d ri v i ng i n s t ru ct o r, an d h ad acces s t o t h ei r s t u d en t s ’ i n fo rm at i o n i n t h e co l l eg e

d at ab as e. L ee t es ti fi ed t h at Hu g gi n s was o ne o f t h e c ol l eg e’ s m ai n i n s t ru ct o rs ,

t each i n g at l eas t h al f o f th e cl as s es

. Sh e referred to Hu gg i n s as t h e “ l ead i n s t ru ct o r”

an d t es t i fi ed t h at h e h ad h el p ed t rai n t h e o t h er i n s t ru ct ors at t h e co l leg e. In s t ru ct o rs

fo l l o w ed t h e cu rri cu l u m p ro v i ded b y t h e Go v ern o r’ s Offi ce o f Hi g hway Safet y , b ut

t h ey h ad d i s cret i o n t o ad d t o t h e cu rri cu l u m

.

Th e tri al co u rt fo u n d Hu gg i n s g u i l t y o f s ex u al as s au l t of a s tu d en t an d s ex u al

b at t ery

. Th e t ri al co u rt d en i ed H u g g i ns ’ s m o t i o n fo r n ew t ri al

, an d t hi s ap p eal

fo l l o w ed

.

4“ Th e i n t erp ret at i o n o f a s t at u t e i s a q u es t i o n of l aw, wh i ch i s rev iewed d e n o v o

o n ap peal .” 4 “ [U] n l es s cl earl y erro n eo u s , t hi s Co u rt w i l l u p h o l d a t ri al co u rt ’ s fact u al

d et erm i n at i o n s wi t h res p ect t o cl ai m s o f i n effect iv e as s i s t an ce o f co u n s el ; h o wev er,

a t ri al co u rt ’ s leg al co n c l u s i o n s i n t h i s reg ard are rev i ewed d e n o vo .” 5 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 n o w t u rn t o Hu g g i n s’ s cl ai m s o f erro r.

1

. (a) Hu g g in s arg u es t h at Lan i er Tech n i cal Co l leg e i s n o t a “ s ch o o l” u n d er t h e

2 0 1 6 vers i o n o f O CGA § 1 6-6 -5 .1

, an d t h u s t h e ev i d en ce at t ri al was i n s uffi ci en t to

s u s t ai n h i s co n v ict i o n fo r s ex u al as s au lt o f a s t u d en t

.

In 2 0 1 6 , OCGA § 1 6 -6 -5 .1 p ro vi d ed :

A p ers o n wh o h as s up erv i s ory o r d i s ci p l in ary au t h o ri t y o v e r an o t h er

i n d i vi d u al co m

m i t s s ex u al as s au l t wh en t h at p ers on : (1 ) Is a teach er, p ri n ci p al

, as s i s t an t p ri n ci p al , o r o t h er ad m i n is trat o r o f

an y s ch o o l an d en g ag es i n s ex u al co n t act wi t h s u ch o th er i n d iv i d u al wh o

t h e act o r k n ew o r s h o u l d h av e k n o wn i s en ro l l ed at t h e s am e s ch o ol [.] 6

4 S t a t e v. Ri ch

, 34 8 Ga. Ap p

. 4 6 7

, 4 6 8 ( 8 2 3 S E2 d 56 3 ) (2 01 9 ) (ci t at i o n an d

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

5 Jo h n s o n v. S t a t e , 3 6 1 Ga. Ap p. 4 3

, 54 (4 ) (8 6 1 SE2 d 6 6 0) (2 0 2 1 ) (p u n ct u at i o n

an d fo ot n o t e o m i tt ed ).

6 OCGA § 1 6 -6 -5 .1 (b ) (1 ) (2 0 1 6 ).

5“ Sch o o l ” was d efi n ed u n der t h e s tat u t e as “ an y ed u cat io n al p ro gram o r i n s t i t u t i o n

i n s t ru ct i n g ch il d ren a t an y l ev el

, p re-k i n d erg art en t h ro u g h t wel ft h g rad e, o r t h e

eq u iv al en t t h ereo f i f g rad e d iv i s i o n s are n o t u s ed .” 7

In an al y zi n g wh et h er t he co ll eg e an d i t s d ri v er’ s ed u cat i o n c o u r s e was a

“ s ch o o l ” u n d er t h e s t at u t e,

we are m i nd fu l o f th e ap p l i cab l e p ri n ci p l es of s tat u t o ry co n s t ru ct i o n an d

l o o k d i l i g en t ly fo r t h e i n t en t i o n o f t h e Gen eral A s s em b l y

. In s o do i n g ,
t h e o rd i n ary s i g n i f

i c a t i o n s h al l b e ap p l i ed t o al l w o rd s

. W h ere th e

l an g uag e o f a st at u t e is p l ai n an d s u s c e p t i b le t o on l y o n e nat u ral an d

re a s o n ab l e co ns t ru ct i o n, co u rt s m u st co n s t ru e t h e s t at u t e acco rd in g l y

. Cri m i n al s t at u tes are co n s t ru ed s t ri ct l y ag ai n s t t he St at e, t h ey m u s t be

read acco rd i n g t o t h e n at u ral an d o b v i o u s i m p o rt o f t hei r l an g u ag e, an d

t h ei r o p erat i on sh o u ld no t b e li m i ted o r e x t e n d ed b y ap pl i cat io n o f

s u b t l e an d fo rced i n t erp ret at i o n s

. 8

Ap p ly i n g t h e d efi n i t i o n of “ s ch o o l” u n d er OCGA § 1 6 -6 -5 .1 i s an i ss u e o f fi rs t

i m p res s i o n fo r t h i s Co u rt

. Nev ert h el es s , ev en u nd er a s tri ct co n s tru ct i on o f t h e s t at u t e,

7 OCGA § 1 6

- 6-5 .1 (a) (5 ) (2 0 1 6 ). T h e d efi n i t i o n of s ch o o l un d er t h e 2 0 2 1

v ers i on of t h e s t at u t e d oes no t i n cl u d e ed u cat i o n al p ro g ram s , d efi n i n g s ch o o l as : “ an y ed u cat i o n al i n s t i t u t io n, p u b li c o r p ri v at e, p ro v i d i n g el em en tary or s e c o n d ary ed u cat i o n t o ch i l d ren at an y l ev el

, k i n d erg art en t hro u g h t w e l f t h g rad e, o r t h e
eq u iv al en t t h ereo f i f g rad e d i v i s i o n s are n o t u s ed

, in cl u d i n g ex t racu rri cu l ar p ro g ram s

o f s u ch i n s t i t u t i on .” OCGA § 1 6 -6 -5 .1 (a) (7 ).

8 Ri ch , 3 4 8 Ga. Ap p . at 4 7 1

.

6Lan ier Tec h ni cal Co l l eg e an d i t s co rres p o nd i n g d ri ver’ s ed u cat io n co u rs e m et t h e

d efi n i t i o n o f s ch oo l un d er th e 2 0 1 6 v ers i on o f O CGA § 1 6 -6 -5 .1

. Al t h o ug h L. S.

at t en ded a sep arat e h ig h s ch o o l an d was n o t en ro l l ed at t h e co l l eg e, t he d efi n i t i o n o f

s ch o ol i n cl u d ed “ ed ucat i o n a l p ro g ram [s ] ,” 9 wh i ch en co m p as s ed t h e d ri v er’ s

ed u cat i o n co u rs e. Th e co l l eg e’ s d ri v er’ s ed u cat i o n co u rs e was es tab l i s h ed p u rs u an t

t o J o s h u a’ s Law, an d o n e o f t h e p u rp o s es set o u t b y t he Gen eral As s em b l y i n p as s i n g

t h e l aw was th at “ t h e s t at e s h o u l d as s i s t i n g et t i n g m ore y o u n g p eo p le i n t o

. . . d ri v er

ed u cat i o n a n d t rai n i n g p ro g ram s .” 1 0 An d, i n ap pro v i ng t h e cu rri cu l a fo r d ri v er’ s

ed u cat i o n co u rs es , t h e St at e en s u res t h at t he co u rs es “ ed u cat e y o u n g dri v ers ab o ut

s afe dri v i n g pract ices an d t he t raffi c l aws of t h i s st at e an d

. . . t rai n y o u n g d ri v ers in

t h e s afe o p erat i o n o f m o to r v eh i cl es .” 1 1 Fi n al l y , t he 20 1 6 v ers i o n o f OCGA § 1 6 -6

-

5 .1 ’ s defi n i t io n o f s ch o o l i n cl u d ed t h at t he i n s t i t u t i o n o r p ro gram p ro vi de ed u cat i o n

t o ch i l d ren “ at an y l ev el

, pre-k i n d erg art en th ro u gh twel ft h grad e, o r t h e eq u i v al en t

t h ereo f i f g rad e d i v i s i o n s a re n o t u s ed .” 1 2 Th e co l l eg e’ s d ri v er’ s ed u cat io n co u rs e

9 OCGA § 1 6 -6 -5 .1 (a) (5 ) (2 0 1 6 ).

1 0 See Ga. L. 2 0 0 5 , p . 1 46 1 § 2

.

1 1 OCGA § 4 0 -5 -1 0 (a).

1 2 OCGA § 1 6 -6 -5 .1 (a) (5 ) (2 0 1 6 ).

7s at i s fi ed t h i s req u i rem en t b ecau s e t h e co u rs e was l i m i t ed t o d ri v ers b et w een t h e ag es

o f 1 5 an d 1 8

.

Fo r t h es e reas o n s , t h e t r i a l c o u r t d i d n o t err i n fi nd i n g t h at Lan i er Tech n i cal

Co l leg e an d it s co rres p o n di ng d ri v er’ s ed ucat i o n co u rs e m et th e d efi n i t i o n o f s ch o ol

u n d er OCGA § 16 -6 -5

. 1 (2 0 16 ).

(b ) Hu g g in s arg ues t h at h e was n o t a “ t each er” u n d er OCGA § 1 6 -6 -5 .1

.

OCGA § 1 6-6 -5

. 1 ( 2 0 1 6 ) d i d n o t d efi n e “ t each er” an d o n l y s t at ed t h at t h e

o ffen s e ap p l i ed t o “ a t each er, p ri n ci p al

, as s is t an t p ri nci p al

, o r o th er ad m i n is t rat o r o f

an y s ch o o l [.] ” 1 3 Th ere are t wo cas es i n wh i c h o u r Co urt an d th e Su prem e Co u rt o f

Geo rg i a h av e i n terp ret ed t h e t erm “ t each er” as u s ed i n OCGA § 1 6 -6 -5 .1 (2 0 1 6 ). In

t h o s e cas es , t he co u rt s h el d t h at a p arap ro fes s i o n al an d a d ai l y su b s t i t u t e di d n o t m eet

t h e d efi n i t i o n o f t each er u nd er t h e s t at u t e. 1 4

In S ta t e v. Mo rr ow , t h e Su p rem e Co u rt h el d t h at a p arap ro fes s i o n al was n o t a

t each er u n d er t h e st at u t e, n ot in g t h at “ [t ] he d e g r e e o f s p eci fi ci t y i n t h e st at u t o ry

1 3 OCGA § 1 6 -6 -5 .1 (b ) (1 ) (2 0 1 6 ). Un d er t h e 2 02 1 v ers i o n o f t he s tat u t e, t h e
t erm t each er i s n o l o n g er u s ed

, i n s tead ap pl y i n g th e o ffen s e t o “ e m p l o ye e [ s ] ” o f

s ch o ol s . See OCGA § 1 6 -6 -5 .1 (b )-(c).

1 4 See S t a t e v. M

o r r o w , 30 0 Ga. 4 03

, 4 0 6 -4 0 7 (2 ) (7 9 4 SE2 d 37 ) (2 0 16 ); Ri ch

, 3 4 8 Ga. Ap p . at 4 74

.

8i d en t i fi cat i o n of s ch oo l ad m i n i s t rat o rs t o wh o m th e s t at u t e ap p li es s u g g es t s t h at t h e

s t at u t e d o es n o t u s e ‘ t each er’ in a g en eri c o r u nu s ual l y b ro ad sen s e.” 1 5 Th e Co u r t

s u m m ari zed t h e fact s s ho wi n g t h at t h e d efen dan t was n o t a t each er u n d er t h e s t at u t e:

Th e St at e ack n o wl ed ges t h at M o rro w d i d n o t d o t h e s o rt s o f t hi n g s t hat

t each ers t y

p i cal l y d o

. In p art i cu l ar, t h ere i s no ev i d en ce th at M o rro w

as s i g n ed cl as s wo rk

, h om ewo rk o r an y o t h er t as ks

, g av e lect u res , tau g h t

l es s o n s , g rad ed wo rk

, ad m i n i st ered t es ts

, at ten d ed facu l t y m eet i n g s , o r

r e p o r t e d t o s ch o o l o n t each er wo rk d ay s

. N o r d i d M o rro w dev o t e an y

m e an i n g fu l p o rt io n o f h i s t i m e t o th e i n s tru ct i on of s t u d en t s

. At m o s t

,
t h e ev i d en ce sh o ws t hat M o rro w occas i o n al l y an s wered qu es t i ons po s ed

b y s tu d en ts wi t h sp eci al n eed s o r s tu d en t s w i t h l i m i t ed p r o fi ci en cy i n

En g l i s h

, q u es t i on s t h at co ul d h av e b een an s w ered b y al m o s t an y

l ay p ers o n

. [M o reo v er,] it i s u n d i s p u t ed t h at M o rro w h ad n o t each i n g

cert i fi cat e. 1 6

In S t a t e v. Ri ch

, in wh i ch we h el d t h at a d ai l y s ub s ti t u t e w as no t a t each er u n d er

t h e st at u t e, we l o o k ed to t he d i ct i o n ary d efi n i t io n o f teach er t o h e l p i n f o rm o u r

1 5 Mo r ro w , 3 00 Ga. at 4 0 6 (2 ).

1 6 Id

.

9an al y s i s. 1 7 W e d efi n ed t each er as “ o n e t h at t each es o r i n s t ru ct s , es p eci al l y o n e wh o s e

o ccu pat io n i s t o i n s tru ct .” 1 8 W e s u m m ari zed t h e fo l l o wi n g fact s ab o u t t h e d efen d an t :

Al t h ou g h a s u b s t i t ut e m ay i n fact b e h i red t o teach a cl as s , i n t hi s cas e

R i c h was n o t t as k ed wi t h t each i n g cl as ses , i ns t ru ct i n g cl as ses , o r

d ev el o p i n g l es s o ns f

o r t h e s t u d en t s. Rat h er, h er d u ti es co m p ri s ed

m o n i t o ri n g s tu d en t s , as s i s t i n g t h em wi t h co m p l et i n g t h ei r l es s o n p l an s

o r s t u d y g u i d e p ack et s as p rev i o us l y as si gn ed by t h ei r reg u l ar t each er,

an d

, an sweri ng t h e i r q ues t io n s wh i l e t h ey wo rk ed i f h er k n o wl ed g e o f

t h e m at eri al en ab l ed h er t o d o s o

. As t h e p ri n ci p al t es t i fi ed

, a d ai l y

s u b s t i t u t e l i k e Ri ch i s a faci l i t at o r as s is t in g t h o se s t u d en ts as t h at p eri o d

g o es o n

. . . . Sh e was n o t ex p ect ed t o p rep are fo r cl as s , ad m i n i st er an y

s t at e-m an d at ed t es t s , g rad e o r ev al u at e s tu d en t s ’ wo rk

, an s wer s t ud en t s ’

q u es t i o n s aft er cl as s, or p art i ci p at e i n aft er-s ch o o l pro g ram s

. . . . Ri ch

d i d n o t ho l d a t each i n g cert i fi cat e; was n o t o n co n t ract as a t each er; d i d

n o t act u al l y t each o r i n s t ru ct cl as s es ; a n d h a d co n s i derab l y fewer

o b l i gat i o n s t h an t he t each er fo r wh o m s h e s u b st it u t ed [.] ” 1 9

In t h i s cas e, b y co nt ras t

, Hu g g i n s d i d “ th e s o rt s o f th i ng s th at t each ers t y p i cal l y

d o .” 2 0 H e i n s t ru ct ed s t ud en t s i n t h e cl as s ro o m an d o n t h e ro ad

, was ex p ect ed t o k n o w

1 7 Ri ch , 3 4 8 Ga. Ap p. at 4 7 2

.

1 8 Id . (p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed ).

1 9 Id . at 47 2 -4 7 3 (p un ct u at i o n an d fo ot no t e o m i tt ed ).

2 0 Ri ch , 3 4 8 Ga. Ap p. at 4 7 2 (ci t at i o n an d p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed ).

10t h e s u b

j ect m a t e r i a l

, g rad ed t es t s , ev al u at ed h i s s t u den t s ’ d ri v i n g perfo rm an ce, h ad

d i s cret i o n wh en i n s t ru ct i n g t h e s t u d en t s , t rai n ed o t h er i ns t ru ct o rs , an d was a cert i fi ed

d ri v i ng i n s t ru ct or. Acco rd i ng ly

, t h e t ri al co u rt d i d n o t err i n fi n d i n g t h at Hu gg i n s was

a t each er u n d er t h e 2 01 6 v ers i o n o f OCGA § 1 6 -6 -5 .1

.

Hu g gi n s b ri efl y co n t en d s t h at h e had n o s u p erv i s o ry o r d i s ci p l i n ary au t h o ri t y

o v er L. S. an d was “ s i m p l y t h e p as s en ger i n th e v eh i cl e w i t h h e r[.] ” W e are n ot

p ers u ad ed

. As th e p hras e i s u s ed i n OCGA § 1 6-6 -5 .1 (b ) (1 ), “ s u p e r v i s o r y o r

d i s ci pl i n a r y a u t h o ri t y ” m ean s “ t h e p o wer to di rect an d t o en fo rce co m p l i an ce.” 2 1

Here, Hu g g i ns ’ s jo b d es cri p t io n i n cl u d ed m an ag i ng s t ud en t b eh av i o r; h e was i n t h e

car w i t h L. S. i n a s p eci al i zed d ri v i n g i ns t ru ct i o n v eh i cl e; an d h e i n s tru ct ed L. S. o n

d ri v i ng an d co rrect ed h er beh av i o r wh i l e o n t h e ro ad

. Th u s , Hu g g in s h ad s u p erv i s o ry

au t h o ri t y o v er L. S. d

u ri ng t h e d ri v in g l es s o n

. 2 2

2 1 Ra n d o l ph v. S t a t e , 2 6 9 Ga. 1 4 7

, 1 5 0 (2 ) (4 9 6 SE2 d 2 5 8 ) (1 9 98 ).

2 2 See Mo r r o w , 3 00 Ga. at 4 0 5 (1 ) (h o l d i n g t h at th e p arap ro fes si o n al d i d h av e

s u p erv i s o ry o r d i sci p l i nary au t h o ri t y o ver t he v i ct i m becau s e o f occas i o n al l i m i t ed

co n tro l t o d irect t h e v i ct i m t o co m p l y wi t h s ch o o l ru l es an d p r o c ed u res , al t h o u g h

u l t i m at el y co n cl u d i n g th at t h e p arap ro fes s io n al w as n o t a t each er u n d er t h e s t at u t e);

W h i teh ea d v. S t a te

, 2 95 Ga. A p p

. 5 6 2

, 5 65 (1 ) (6 7 2 SE2 d 5 1 7) (2 0 0 9 ) (h o ld i n g t h at

a facu l t y ad v is o r t o a Qu i z Bo wl t eam h ad d i rect s u perv i s o ry

co n t ro l o v er a s t u d en t wh o was a m em

b er o f t h e t eam ), rev ers ed aft er rem an d o n o t her g ro u n d s by

W h i teh ea d v. S t a t e , 3 0 0 Ga. Ap p . 5 0 4 (6 8 5 SE2 d 7 70 ) (2 0 0 9 ).

112

. H u g g i n s arg u es t h at t ri al co u n s el p ro v i d ed i n effect iv e as s i s t an ce b y fai l i n g

t o fi l e a d em

u rrer o r m ot i o n t o qu as h th e i n d ict m en t o n t h e b as es set o u t i n Di v i s i o n

1 ab o v e.

T o ev al u at e [Hu g g i n s ’ s ] cl ai m o f i n effect i v e as s i s t an c e o f

co u n s el

, we ap p l y t he t wo -p ro n g ed t es t es t ab l is hed i n S t r i ckl a n d v.

W a s h i n gt on , 2 3 wh i ch req u i res h i m t o s h o w t h at h is t ri al co u n s el ’ s

p erfo rm an ce was defi ci en t an d t h at t h e d efi ci en t p erf o r m an ce s o

p reju d i ced h i m t h at t h ere i s a reas o n ab l e l ik el i h o o d t h at

, b u t fo r

co u n s el ’ s erro rs , t h e o u t co m e of t h e tri al wo u l d h av e b een di fferen t

. Im p o rt an t l y , s h o u ld a d efen d an t fai l to m eet hi s b u rd en o n o n e pro n g o f

t h i s t wo -p ro n g t es t , we n eed n o t rev i ew t he o t h er p ro n g

. 2 4

“ Fai l u re t o p u rs ue a m eri t l es s m o t i on d oes n ot am o u n t t o i n effect i v e as s i st an ce.” 2 5

Pu t t i ng as i d e t h at t h e t ri al co urt co n s i d ered t h e i s s u es p res en t ed i n Di v i s i o n 1

, g i v en

o u r d i s p o s i t i o n o f t h e i s s u es ab o v e, co u n s el was n o t i n effect i v e fo r fai l i n g t o p u rs u e

a m eri t l es s m o t i o n

.

Ju d g men t a f f i r m ed . Do yl e, P. J., a n d

Br o wn
, J., co n cu r

.

2 3 4 6 6 U. S. 6 6 8 , 6 8 7 (III) (1 0 4 SCt 2 0 5 2 , 8 0 LE2 d 6 7 4 ) (1 9 8 4 ).

2 4 Ha l l v. S t a te

, 3 6 1 Ga. Ap p

. 5 6 8

, 5 7 3 -5 7 4 (3 ) (8 6 5 SE2 d 1 8 3 ) (2 0 2 1 ) (p u n ct u at i o n an d ad d i ti o n al fo o t n o t e o m i tt ed ).

2 5 Mu r ra y v. S t a t e , 3 0 6 Ga. Ap p

. 1 0 6 , 1 0 8 (7 0 1 SE2 d 5 79 ) (2 0 1 0 ).

12