FI FTH DI VI SI ON

M CFA DDEN, P. J.

, RA Y and RI CKM A N, 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

A pr i l 24, 2018



# I n th e Co u r t o f

A p p eals o f

G eo r g ia

A1 8 A0 36 1 . COLBERT v . THE STATE.

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

Aft er a ju ry tri al

, L ad ari u s Co lb ert w as co n v ict ed of t w o co u n t s o f a r m e d

ro b b ery , t wo co un t s o f ag g rav at ed as s au l t

, t w o c o u n t s o f p o ss es s i o n of a fi rearm

d u ri n g th e co m

m i s si o n o f a fel o n y , on e co un t o f ag g rav at ed b at t ery , an d o n e co u nt

o f h i j ack i n g a m o to r veh i cl e. Co l b ert ap p eal s , cl ai m i n g th at t h e s t at e fai l ed t o rev eal

d eal s wi t h t wo wi t n es s es i n ex ch an g e fo r t h ei r t es t i m o ny , t h at h i s t r i a l co u n s el was

i n effect i v e, an d t h at th e two ag g rav at ed as s au lt co un t s sh o ul d h av e m erg ed wi t h o n e

o f t h e arm ed ro bb ery co u n t s

. Co l b ert h as no t s h o w n t hat t h e s t at e fai led t o rev e a l

d eal s wi t h wi t n es s es o r th at h i s t ri a l co u n s el ’ s p erfo rm an ce was b o t h d efi ci en t an d

p reju d i ci al

. H o wev er, th e st at e co n ced es t h at Co l b ert i s co rrect i n as s ert i ng t h at o n e

o f t h e ag grav at ed as s au l t co u n t s s ho u l d h av e m erg ed wi t h th e arm ed ro bb ery co u n t

.Acco rd in g ly

, we affi rm i n p art

, v acat e t h e s en t en ce i n p art

, an d rem an d fo r

res en t en ci n g

.

Vi ewed i n t h e l i g h t m o s t fav o rab l e t o t h e v erd i ct s , s ee Ja cks o n v. Vi r g i n i a , 4 4 3

U. S. 30 7 (9 9 SCt 2 7 81

, 6 1 LE2 d 5 6 0 ) (1 9 7 9 ), t h e ev i d en ce s h o ws t h at Co l b ert an d

an acco m p l i c e e n t ered a pi zza res t au ran t wi t h p is to l s ; t o o k m o n ey fro m a cas h

reg i s ter; p u n ch ed an e m

p l o y ee, b reak i ng her jaw; an d fl ed wi t h th e m o ney

. Ov er a

week l at er, Co l b ert an d acco m p l i ces u s ed g u ns to fo rce a m an o ut o f h i s car, b eat h i m

an d k i ck ed h im , t oo k h i s cel l p h o n e, fi red a g u n s h o t at h i m , an d s t o l e h is car.

Co l b ert an d t w o co -d efen d an t s were t ri ed t o g et h er b efo re a ju ry , wh ich fo u n d

t h e m en g u i l t y o f m

u lt i p l e o ffen s es ari s i n g ou t of t h e in ci den t s

. Co l b ert m ov ed fo r a

n ew t ri al

, wh ich t he t ri al co u rt d en i ed . Th i s ap p eal fo l lo wed

.

1

. Al l eg ed d ea l s wi th wi tn es s es

.

Co l b ert co n t en d s t h at t h e s t at e fai led t o rev eal ag reem en t s th at i t h ad wi t h t wo

wi t n es s es wh o h ad p en d in g cri m i n al ch arg es , J as m i n e A rri n g to n an d Dem arco J o n es ,

i n ex ch an g e fo r t h ei r t es t i m o n y . W e d i sag ree.

Un d er Br a d

y v. Ma r yl a n d

, [3 7 3 U. S. 8 3 (8 3 SCt 11 9 4, 1 0 LE2 d

2 1 5 ) (1 9 6 3)] an d Gi

g l i o v. Un i t ed S t a tes

, [4 0 5 U. S. 1 50 (9 2 SCt 76 3

, 3 1

LE2 d 1 0 4 ) (1 9 7 2 )

, ] th e s t at e i s un d er a d ut y t o rev eal an y ag reem en t

,

ev en an in fo rm al o n e, wi t h a wi t nes s co n cern i ng cri m i n al ch arg es

p en d i n g ag ai n s t t h at wi tn es s , an d a fai l u re t o d is cl o s e s u ch an ag reem en t

2co n s t i t ut es a v i o l at i on of t h e du e p ro ces s req u i rem en t s o f Br a dy

, su p ra.

Gi g l io

, s u p ra. In o rd er to s h o w t h at t he s t at e v i o l at ed Br a d y [an d Gi g l i o ]

b y fai l i n g to rev eal a d eal wi t h o n e o f i t s wi t n es s es , a d e f e n d an t m u s t

s h o w t h at t h e s t at e p o s s es s ed ev i d en ce o f t h e d eal ; t h at t h e d efen dan t d i d

n o t p os s es s th e ev i d en ce n o r c o u l d h e o b t ai n it h i m s el f wi t h an y

reas o n ab l e d il i gen ce; t h at t h e s t at e su p pres s ed ev i d en ce of t h e deal ; an d

t h at

, h ad t h e ev i den ce o f t h e d eal b een d i s cl o s ed t o th e d efen d an t, t h ere

ex i s ted a reas o n ab l e p ro b ab i l i t y t h at th e res u l t at t ri al wo u l d h av e b een d i f f e r e n t

. Th e b u rd en i s o n t h e d efen d an t t o p ro v e each o f t h e s e el em en t s

.

Al f o r d v. S t a t e , 2 9 3 Ga. A p p. 5 1 2

, 5 1 4 -5 1 5 (2 ) (6 6 7 SE2 d 6 8 0 ) (2 0 0 8 ) (ci tat i o n s an d

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

a) Ja s m i n e Ar r i n g t o n.

Co l b ert co n ten d s t h at t h ere was at l eas t an i n fo rm al ag reem en t b et ween

A r r i n g t o n an d t h e s t at e fo r t h e d i s t ri ct at t o rn ey t o “ l et i t b e k no wn t h at s h e

co o pera ted .” In d eed

, th e t ri al t ran s cri p t sh o ws t h at t hi s i n fo rm al ag reem en t was

rev eal ed at t h e s t art o f t h e t ri al wh en t h e d i s tri ct at t o rn ey i n fo rm ed th e co u rt t h at h e

h ad o ffered “ fo r [Arri n g t on ’ s ] co o p e r a t i o n t o b e t ak en i n t o acco u nt ” reg ard i n g h er

p en di n g ch arg es , b u t h ad no t m ad e an y s p eci fi c p ro m i s es co n cern i n g a r e d u ced

s en t en ce. Th u s , Co lb ert kn ew o f t h e i n fo rm al d eal p ri o r t o t he wi t n es s ’ t es t i m o n y an d

“ [e] v en as s u m i n g , arg u en d o , th at [h e] was n o t aware o f al l cir cu m s t an ces su rro u n d i n g

3t h e d eal b efo re t ri al , h e h as n o t s h o wn t h at earl i er d i scl o s u re wo u l d hav e b en efi t t ed

h i m [.] ” Al f o r d

, s u p ra at 5 15 (2 ).

C o l b ert fu rt h er n o tes t h at t h e ch arg es ag ai ns t Arri ng t o n w ere u l t i m at e l y

t ran s ferred t o ju v en i l e co u rt wh ere s h e was g iv en p ro b a t i o n

. “ H o w ev er, t h ere i s n o

ev i d en ce t h at [an y ] ag reem en t [fo r s u ch a d is p o s i t i o n o f h er ch arg es ] was i n p l ace

p ri o r t o [Arri n g to n] t es t ify i ng .” S er r a t e v. S t a t e , 2 6 8 Ga. Ap p

. 2 7 6, 2 8 0 (3 ) (a) (6 0 1

SE2 d 7 66 ) (2 0 04 ). On t h e co n t rary , Arri ng t o n , h er at t o rn ey , an d t h e d i st ri ct at t o rn ey

al l t es t i fi ed t h at n o s u ch d eal was i n p l ace. “ [M ] ere s p ecu l at i o n t h at [s uch a] d eal []

ex i s t ed i s i n s u ffi ci en t t o s u b s t an t i at e [Co l b ert ’ s] cl ai m t h at t h e [ s ] tat e wi t h h el d

ex cu lp at o ry ev i d en ce w h i ch p reju d i ced h i s d efen s e.” Rh o d es v. S t a t e , 29 9 Ga. 3 6 7,

3 6 9 (2 ) (7 8 8 SE2 d 3 59 ) (2 0 1 6 ) (ci t at io n o m i t t ed ).

b ) Dema r co Jo n es

.

As fo r J o nes , C o l b e r t arg u es t h at t h e ou t co m e o f t h e t ri al wo ul d h av e b een

d i fferen t i f t h e s t at e had “ d i s cl o s ed t h at i t was g o in g t o reward J o n es i n so m e way

aft er h i s tes t im o n y [.] ” H o w ev er, Co l b ert has fai l ed t o po i n t t o ev i den ce o f an y d eal

,

an d J on es h i m sel f t es t ifi ed t h at n o d eal s h ad b een m ad e w i t h h im fo r h is t es t i m o n y

.

On ce ag ai n , m ere s p ecu l at io n i s i n s u ffi ci en t t o s u b s t an t i at e Co l b ert ’ s cl ai m t h at a d eal

4ex i s t ed

. Rh o d es , s u p ra. See al s o Pi h l m a n v. S t a te

, 2 9 2 Ga. Ap p

. 6 1 2, 6 1 5 ( 1 ) (6 6 4

SE2 d 9 0 4) (2 0 0 8) (“ i n cred u l it y i s n o t ev i d en ce o f a d eal ”).

2

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

f co u n s el

.

Co l b ert cl ai m s t h at hi s t ri al co u n s el was i n effect i ve i n fai l i n g t o i n v es t i g at e t h e

cas e ad eq u at el y an d fai l i n g t o m o v e t o s ev er h i s cas e fro m t h at o f h i s acco m p l i ces

.

In o rd er t o p rev ai l o n t h es e cl ai m s o f in effect i v e as s is tan ce o f co u n s el

, Co l b ert m u s t

s h o w t h at h i s “ co u n s el ’ s p erfo rm an ce was d e f i c i en t an d t h at t he d efi ci en t

p erfo rm an ce p reju d i ced hi m t o t h e p o i n t t hat a reas o n ab l e p ro b ab i l it y ex i s t s t h at

, b ut

fo r co u n s el ’ s erro rs , t h e o u t c o m e o f th e t ri al wo u l d h av e b een d i fferen t

. A s t ro n g

p res u m p t i o n ex i s t s t h at co u ns el ’ s co n d u ct fal l s wi th i n th e b ro ad ran g e o f p ro fes s i o n al

co n du ct

. ” Pr ui t t v. S t a t e , 2 8 2 Ga. 3 0

, 3 4 (4 ) (6 4 4 SE2 d 8 3 7) (2 0 0 7 ) (ci t at i o n an d

p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed ). Ev en as s u m i n g, wi t h ou t d eci d i ng , t h at co u n s el ’ s p erfo rm an ce

was d efi ci en t

, Co l b ert h as fai led t o s h o w t h at s uch d efi ci en cy p reju d i ced t he d efen s e.

W i t h r e g a r d t o t h e cl ai m o f i n ad eq u at e i n ves t i g at i o n , Co l b ert h as “ fai l ed to

s h o w wh at fu rt h er i n v es t i gat i o n wo u l d h av e rev eal ed o r t o o ffer a n y ad d i t i o n al

wi t n es s es t o dem o n s t ra t e t hat t h ei r t es t i m o ny wo u l d h av e b een rel ev an t an d

fav o rab l e.” Fa i r cl o u g h v. St a t e , 2 7 6 Ga. 6 0 2

, 6 0 6 (4 ) (5 8 1 SE2 d 3 ) (2 0 0 3 ) (ci t at i on s

o m it t ed ). Th e o n l y s p eci fi c c l ai m o f p reju d i ce m ad e b y Co l b ert i s t h at fu rt h er

5i n v es t i g at i o n wo u l d h av e rev eal ed t h e p u rp ort ed d eal s t h e s t at e h ad wi t h i t s wi t n es s es

Arri ng t o n an d J on es

. Bu t as di s cu s s ed ab o ve, o t h e r t h a n an in fo rm al ag reem en t to

m ak e wi t n es s co o p erat i o n k n o w n , t h ere was no ev i d en ce o f an y s p eci fi c d eal s fo r

red u ct i o n o f s en t en ces on p en di n g ch arg es

. Th u s , Co l b ert h as fai l ed to s h o w t h at wi th

fu rt her i n v es t i g at io n “ t h e res u lt s of hi s t ri al wo u l d h a v e been di fferen t.” Fa n n v.

S t a t e , 2 7 5 Ga. 7 56 , 7 5 7 (2 ) (5 7 1 SE2 d 7 7 4 ) (2 0 0 2 ) (ci t at i on s o m i t t ed ).

As fo r t h e l ack o f a m o t i o n fo r s ev eran ce, Co l b ert h as n o t m ad e a s h owi n g o f

h arm

.

W h en s ev eral defen d an t s are i n d i ct ed to g et h er fo r a cap i t al cri m e, b u t

t h e [s ] t at e d o es n ot s eek t h e d eat h p en al ty

, wh et h e r t h e d efen d an t s are

t o b e t ri ed t o g et h er o r s ep ar a t e l y i s a m at ter co m m i t t ed t o t h e s o u n d

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

. In ru l i n g o n a s ev eran ce m ot i on , t h e co u rt

s h o u l d co ns i der: (1 ) t he l ik el i ho o d o f co n fu s io n o f t h e ev i d en ce an d l aw; (2 ) th e p o s si b i l i t y t h at ev i d en ce ag ai n s t o n e d efen d an t m ay be

co n s i d ered ag ai n s t t h e o t h er d efen d an t ; an d (3 ) t h e p res en ce o r ab sen ce

o f an t ag o ni s ti c defen s e s

. A n d t o req ui re a s ev eran ce, t h e b u rd en i s o n

t h e d efen d an t r e q u e s t i n g t h e s ev eran ce t o d o m o re th an rai s e th e

p o s s i b i l i t y t hat a s ep arat e t ri al wo ul d g iv e hi m a b et t er ch an ce o f

acq u i t t al

. He m

u s t m ak e a cl ear s h o w i n g th at a jo in t t ri al w o u ld l ead t o

p reju d i ce an d a co n s eq u en t d en i al o f d u e p ro ces s.

Bl a ckl ed g e v. St a t e , 2 9 9 Ga. 3 8 5

, 3 8 7 -3 8 8 (2 ) (7 8 8 SE2 d 3 5 3 ) (2 0 16 ) (ci t at i o n s an d

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

6Here, Co l bert h as no t s h own t h at i f co u n sel had fi l ed a m o t i o n t o s ev er, t h e t ri al

co u rt wo u l d h a v e a bu sed i t s di s cret i on i n d en y i n g su ch a m o t i o n b as ed o n t h es e

co n si d erat io n s

. See Lu

p o e v. S t a t e , 3 0 0 Ga. 2 33

, 2 41 (2 ) (c) (7 9 4 SE2 d 6 7 ) (2 0 1 6 ) (n o

i n effect i v e as s i s t an ce i n fai l i ng t o fi l e m o t i on t o s ev er wh ere t ri al co u rt wo u l d n ot

h av e ab u s ed i t s d i s cret i o n i n d en y i n g s u ch a m ot io n ). “ A s u c c e ss fu l m o t i o n fo r

s ev eran ce req u i res a s h o wi n g t h at a jo i n t t ri al wi ll p reju d i ce t h e accu s ed

. B e c a u s e

[Co lb ert has n o t s ho wn ] t h at th e jo i n t t ri al cau s ed h i m an y harm

, d efen s 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 m o v e fo r s ev eran ce.” Gl en n v. S ta t e , 2 7 9 Ga. 2 7 7

, 2 7 9

(2 ) (c) (6 1 2 SE2 d 4 7 8 ) (2 0 0 5 ) (ci t at i o n o m i t t ed ). Co l b ert ’ s “ i n effect i v e as s is t an ce o f

co u ns el cl ai m o n t h is g ro u n d t h erefo re fai l s .” Gr een v. S ta t e ,

_ _ _ Ga.

_ _ _ (2 ) (b )

(Cas e No . S1 7 A1 8 72 , d eci d ed J an u ary 2 9, 2 0 1 8 ).

3

. Mer g er o f a gg r a va t ed

a s s a u lt a n d a r med r ob b er

y co u n t s

.

Co l b ert co n t en d s t h at h is co n v i ct i o n s o n co u n ts 1 6 an d 1 7 fo r ag g rav at ed

as s au l t s of t h e s am e v i ct i m s h o u l d h av e m erg ed w i t h hi s co nv i ct i o n o n co un t 1 4 fo r

t h e arm ed ro b b ery o f t h at vi ct i m

. Co l b ert i s co rrec t t h a t t h e ag g rav at ed as s au l t in

co u nt 1 6 s h o u l d h av e m erg ed wi t h th e arm ed ro b bery co u n t

, b u t i s i n co rrect as t o t h e

ag g rav at ed as s au l t i n co u n t 1 7

.

7“ Th e d o ct ri n e o f m erg er p recl u d es t h e i m p os i t i o n o f m

u l t i p le p un i s h m en t [s ]

wh en t h e s am e co n du ct es tab l i s h es t he co m m i s s i o n of m ore t h an o ne cri m e. W h i l e a

de f e nda nt’ s co n d u ct m ay co n s t i t u t e m o re th an o n e cri m e, Geo rg i a l aw b ars co n v i ct i o n

an d pu n i s h m en t o f m o re t h an o n e cri m e i f o n e c r i m e i s i n cl u d ed i n t h e o t h er.”

W i mb u s h v. S t at e ,

_

__ G a. Ap p

.

_

_ _ (4 ) (Cas e No

. A1 7 A2 0 5 6, d eci d ed M arch 8,

2 0 1 8 ) (ci t at i o n s an d p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed ). See OCGA § 1 6-1 -7 (a).

To d et erm i n e wh et h er t wo c r i m es m erg e, we m u s t ap pl y t h e “ req u i red

ev i d en ce” t es t em

braced i n Dr i n ka r d v. W

a lker

, 2 8 1 Ga. 2 11 (6 3 6 SE2 d

5 3 0 ) (2 00 6 )

, w hi ch i n s t ru ct s t h at wh ere t h e s am e act o r t ran s act i o n

co n s t i t ut es th e v i o l at i o n o f t wo d i s t i n ct s t at u t o ry p ro v i s i o n s , t h e tes t t o b e ap p l i ed t o d et erm i n e wh et h er t h e r e are t wo o ffen s es o r on l y o ne i s wh et h er each p ro vi si o n req u i res p ro o f o f a fact w h i ch t h e o t h er d o es n ot

. If s o , t hen t wo o ffen s es ex i s t, an d o n e i s n o t i n cl u ded i n t h e o t h er.

W o ma c v. S t a t e , 3 0 2 Ga. 6 8 1

, 68 4 (3 ) (8 0 8 S E 2 d 70 9 ) (2 0 1 7) (ci t at i o n s an d

p u n ct u a t i o n o m it t ed ). “ Ho wev er, i f t he sam e fact s are u s ed t o p ro v e t h e d i fferen t

o ffen s es , t h e d ifferen t cri m es m erg e.” W i mb u s h

, s u p ra (ci t at io n an d p u n ct u at i o n

o m it t ed ).

Here, t he s t at e co n ced es t h at t h e co n v ict i o n o n co u n t 1 6, fo r ag grav at ed as s au l t

wi t h in t en t t o ro b th e v i ct i m , s h o u l d h av e m erg ed wi t h t h e co n vi ct io n o n co u n t 1 4

, fo r

arm ed ro b b ery o f t h e s am e v i ct i m , becau se t h e o ffen s es were p red i cat ed o n th e s am e

8act s o f v i o l en ce an d each d i d n o t req u i re p ro o f o f a f a c t wh i ch t h e o t her d i d n o t

.

Un d er t h es e ci rcu m s t an ces ,

t h ere h av i n g b een n o ad d i t i o n al v i ol en ce us ed ag ai n s t t h e v i ct im

, i t
fo l l o ws t h at t h e ev i den t i ary b as i s fo r t h e ag g rav at ed as s au l t co nv i ct i o n [i n co un t 1 6 ] was ‘ u s ed u p ’ i n p ro v in g t h e arm ed ro b b ery . M erg er was

req u ired

. Acco rd i n g l y , we v acat e t h e s e n t en ce i m p os ed u nd er th e

ag g rav at ed as s au l t [i n ] co u n t [1 6 ] an d rem an d th e cas e fo r res en t en ci n g , wi t h d i rect i o n s t o m erg e t h e ag g rav at ed as s au lt i nt o t h e arm ed ro b b ery

co u n t

.

Ho wa r d v. S t a t e , 2 98 Ga. Ap p . 9 8 , 1 0 0 (2 ) (6 7 9 SE2 d 1 04 ) (2 0 0 9 ).

Ho wev er, Co l bert ’ s co n v i ct i o n fo r ag g rav at ed as s au l t o f t h e s am e v i ct i m in

co u nt 1 7 w a s n o t p red i cat ed o n t h e s am e fact s as t h e arm ed ro bb ery

. Rat h er, t h e

ev i d en ce s ho wed t h at t h e ag g rav at ed as s au lt i n co u n t 1 7 was b as ed o n a g un s h o t fi red

at t h e v ict i m aft er t he arm ed ro b b ery h ad b een co m p l et ed an d t h e v i ct i m was fl eei n g

fro m t h e s c e n e. “ [I] f on e cri m e i s co m p l et e b efo re t h e o t h er tak es p l ace, t h e t wo

cri m es d o n o t m erg e.” W

i mb u s h

, s u p ra at

_

_ _ (4 ). Becau s e t he “ t es t i m o n y s h o ws t h at

t h e arm ed ro b b ery an d ag grav at ed as s au l t were s ep ara t e ev en t s, t h e arm ed ro b b ery

b ei n g co m

p l et e befo re t h e co m

m i s s i o n o f t h e ag g rav at ed as sau l t [,] t h e co u rt b el o w

d i d n o t err wh en i t refu s ed t o m erg e t h es e co nv i ct i o ns .” Br o wn v. S t a t e , 3 14 Ga. Ap p.

1 9 8

, 2 0 6 (6 ) (7 2 3 SE2 d 5 2 0 ) (2 0 1 2 ) (ci t at i o n s o m i t t ed ). See al so Ca rp en t er v. S t a t e ,

3 4 3 Ga. Ap p

. 3 5 5

, 3 5 9 ( 3 ) (8 0 8 SE2 d 22 9 ) (2 0 1 7) (b ecau s e each cri m e was

9es t ab l i s h ed b y pro o f o f an ad d i t i o n al fact n o t at is su e i n t h e o t h er cri m e, t hey d i d n ot

m erg e).

Ju d g men t a f f ir med i n p a r t

, s en t en ce va ca t ed i n p a rt

, a n d ca se r ema nd

ed wi th

d i r ect i o n. Ra

y a n d Ri ckma n, JJ., co n cu r

.

10