FI RST DI VI SI ON

BA RNES, P. J.

, M CM I LLI A N and R EESE, 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

M ar ch 12, 2019



# I n th e Co u r t o f

A p p eals o f

G eo r g ia

A1 8 A2 12 2 . GIDDENS v . THE STATE.

M C M ILLI A N , J u dg e.

M cGraw Co l b y Gi d d en s was i n d ict ed o n o n e co u n t of ag g rav at ed s ex u al

b at t ery

, o n e co u n t of ag g rav a t e d c h i l d m o l es tat i o n

, an d fo u r co u nt s o f ch i ld

m o les t at i o n . Pu rs u an t t o a n eg ot i at ed p l ea, h e p l ead ed g ui l t y t o o n e co un t o f s ex u al

b at t ery an d fo u r co u nt s o f ch i l d m o l es t at i o n

. 1 Sh o rt l y aft er he was s en t en ced

, Gi d d en s

fi led a m o t i o n t o wi t h d raw h i s p l ea, an d fo l lo wi n g an ev id en t i ary h e a ri n g, t h e t ri al

co u rt d en i ed Gi d d en s’ m o t io n. He ap p eal s

, arg u i n g i n rel at ed en u m erat i o n s t h at t h e

wi t h d rawal o f hi s p l ea was n eces s ary t o co rre c t a m an i fes t i n ju s t i ce; t h e t ri al co u rt

erred i n fi n d i n g a fact u al b as i s fo r h i s p l e a ; an d t h e su p eri o r co urt i m p erm i s s i b l y

1 Th e ag g rav at ed s ex u al b at t ery ch arg e was red u ced t o fel o n y s ex u al b at t ery

,

t h e ag g rav at ed ch il d m o les t at i o n co u n t w as red u ced t o ch i l d m o l es t at i o n

, an d o n e o f

t h e rem ai n i n g fo u r co u n t s o f ch i l d m o l es t at i o n was n o l l e p ro s s ed

.p art i ci p at ed i n t h e p l ea neg o t iat i o n s

. 2 A s m ore fu l ly set fo rt h bel o w, we fi n d t h es e

co n ten t i o n s t o b e wi t h o ut m eri t an d affi rm

.

1

. In t h ree rel at ed en u m erat i o n s o f erro r, Gi d d en s arg u es t h at th e t ri al co u rt

s h o u ld h av e al l o wed t h e wi t h drawal o f h i s p l ea t o co rrect a m an i fes t i n ju s ti ce b ecau s e

t h e St at e fai l ed t o m eet i t s b u rd e n o f p r o o f t o sh o w t h at hi s p l ea was k no wi n g l y

,

v o l u n t ari l y

, an d in t el l i g en t l y en t ered

. “ Aft er s en t en ci n g

, th e d eci s io n on a m o t i o n to

wi t h d raw a g u i l t y pl ea i s wi t h i n t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s d i s cret i o n

, an d wi t h d rawal o f t h e p l ea

i s al l owed on l y wh en n eces sary t o co rrect a m an i fes t in ju s ti ce.” (Ci t at i o ns o m i t t ed .)

W r ig h t v. S t a t e

, 29 2 G a. 8 25

, 8 2 6 (1 ) (7 4 2 SE2 d 4 6 8) (2 0 1 3). “ Th e tes t fo r m an i fes t

i n ju s ti ce w i l l b y n eces s i ty v ary fro m cas e t o cas e, b ut i t has b een s ai d t h at wi th d rawal

i s n eces s ary t o co rrect a m an i fes t i n ju st i ce i f, fo r i n s tan ce, a d e f e n d a n t i s d en i ed

effect i v e as s i s t an ce o f co u n s el

, o r t h e g u i l t y p l ea was en tered i n v o lu n t ari l y o r wi t h o ut

an u n ders t an d i ng o f t he nat u re o f t h e ch arg es .” (Ci t at i o n o m it t ed .) A l l en v. S t a t e

, 3 3 3

Ga. Ap p

. 8 5 3

, 8 55 (2 ) (7 7 7 SE2 d 69 9 ) (2 0 1 5 ). “ A d eci s i o n o n a m o t i o n to wi t h d raw

a g ui l t y p l ea i s a m at ter fo r t h e s o u n d d i scret i o n o f t h e tri al co urt an d w i l l n o t b e

2 Gi d d en s h as fi l ed a m o t io n t o st ri k e t h e St at e’ s b ri ef b ecau s e it was n o t t i m el y

fi led

. Th e St at e ack n o w l ed g es t h at i t s b ri ef was n o t ti m el y fi led

, bu t req u es t s t h at we

ex erci s e o u r d i s cret i o n an d co n s i d er t h e u n ti m el y fi l ed b ri ef. In t he ex erci s e o f o u r

d i s cret i o n , we d ecl in e t o s t ri k e t h e St at e’ s b ri ef.

2d i s t u rb ed ab s en t a m an i fes t ab u s e.” (Ci t at i on o m it ted .) MyGu yt o n v. S ta t e

, 2 9 8 Ga.

3 5 1 , 3 5 3 (1 ) (a) (7 8 2 SE2 d 2 1) (2 0 1 6 ).

(a) Gi d d en s arg u es t h at h i s p l ea was no t k no wi ng l y m ad e b e c a u s e h e was

“ u n aware o f t h e ch arg es t o wh i ch h e en t ered th e p l ea” an d b ecau se t h e fact u al b as es

fo r th e cri m es t o wh ich h e was p l ead i n g g ui l t y wer e n o t s u ffi ci en t l y s et o ut o n t h e

reco rd . Ho wev er, at t h e heari n g o n t h e m o t i o n t o wi t h d raw, Gi d d en s ’ p lea co u n s el 3

t es t i fi ed th at h e “ ab so l ut el y ” d i s cu s s ed wi th Gi dd en s t h e co u n ts h e was p lead i n g t o,

an d t h e p l ea h eari n g t ran s cri p t s h o ws t h at Gi d d en s ack n o w l ed ged t h at h e u n d ers t o o d

t h e ch arg es ag ai n st hi m a nd t h e ch arg es t o wh i ch h e was p l ead in g gu i l t y

, wh i ch were

rev i ewed wi t h h i m o n th e r e c ord

. Fu rt h er, Gi d den s ’ at t o rn ey t es t i fi ed at t h e p l ea

wi t h d rawal h eari n g t h at h e wan t ed t o m ak e s u re t h at Gi d d en s u n d e r s t o o d t h e

d i ffere n c e s b e t w e en t h e ch arg es s et o u t i n t h e i n d ict m en t an d t h e red u ced ch arg es

o ffered i n t h e p l ea s o h e co u l d u n d ers t an d t h e co n s eq u en ces wh en m ak i n g h i s ch o i ce

wh et h er t o accep t t h e o f f e r o r g o t o t ri al

. An d al t ho u g h h e h ad n o t s i gn ed t h e

i n d i ct m en t p ri o r t o en t eri n g h i s p l ea, at th e p lea h eari n g h e ack n o wl ed g ed t h at h e h ad

3 Fo r eas e o f referen ce, we wi l l refer t o t h e at t o rn ey s t h at rep res en t ed h i m at t h e

p l ea s t ag e o f th e p ro ceed i n g s as h i s at t o rn ey o r at t o rn ey s w i t h t h e u n d ers t an di n g t h at

t h es e lawy ers rep res en t ed h im at t h e p lea s t ag e of t h e h eari n g n ot t h e pl ea wi th d rawal

s t ag e.

3“ rev i ewed an d v i ewed ” t h e i n d i ct m en t wi t h co u n s el , an d h e s i g n ed b o t h t h e wai v er

o f i n d i ct m en t an d p l ea ag reem en t at t h e t i m e h e en t ered h i s p l ea, b ot h o f wh i ch s et o ut

t h e ch arg es t o wh i ch h e was p l ead i n g g u i lt y

. Fu rt h er, h i s at t orn ey al s o t es t i fi ed at t h e

wi t h d rawal h eari n g t h at h e h ad s ev eral d i s cu s si on s i n d i f f e r e n t co nt ex t s ab o u t t h e

co n seq u en ces o f t h e ch arg es

.

In fu rt h er su p p o rt o f h i s arg u m en t t h at h e en t ered t h e p l ea wi t h o u t k n owi n g t h e

fact s, Gi d d en s as s ert s t h at n ei t h er h e n o r h i s at t o rn ey s t at ed an y fact s on t h e reco rd

t h a t w o u l d co n s t i tu t e a cri m e n o r d i d t h ey s t i p u l at e to a fact u al b as i s fo r t h e g ui l t y

p l ea cri m es

. Bu t i t i s no t req u i red t h at t h e accu s ed o r h i s co u n s el s t at e a fact u al b as i s

fo r t h e cri m e o n t h e reco rd

. W h at i s req u i red i s t h at t h e tri al co u rt m ak e i ts el f aware

o f t h e fact u al b as i s fo r t he pl ea. S e e U n i f o r m Su p eri o r Co u rt Ru l e 33 .9

. 4 Here, t h e

p ro s ecu ti n g at t o rn ey ad eq u at el y s et o ut th e fact u al b as es fo r th e cri m es by

s u m m ari zi n g t h e u n d erl y i n g fact s o n t h e reco rd

– t h e v i ct im was u n d er th e ag e o f 1 6

4 Gi d d en s arg ues i n a s ep arat e en u m erat i o n t hat t h e t r i al co u rt ab u s ed i t s

d i s cret i o n b y fi n d in g t hat h e wai v ed th e ri g h t t o arg u e l ack o f a fact u al bas i s b ecau s e

h e d i d n o t rai s e i t i n hi s m o t i o n t o wi t h d raw an d d i d n ot o t h erwi s e p ro vi d e t h e St at e

wi t h n o t i ce o f h i s i n t en t t o rai s e t h i s i s s ue p ri o r t o t h e p l e a wi t h drawal h eari n g.

Al t h o u g h t h e t ri al co u rt d i d s t at e i n i t s o rd er t h at t h e i s s u e was wai v ed

, it al t ern at i v el y

fo u n d t h at t h e St at e p res en t ed

, an d t h e t ri al co u rt w as m ad e aware o f, t h e fact u al b as i s

fo r t h e p l ea. Si n ce t h e t ri al co urt co n s i d ered t h i s i s s u e o n t h e m e r i t s

, w e n eed n ot

co n si d er wh et h er t h e t ri al co u rt i m p ro p erl y fo u n d wai v er.

4an d wo rk i n g at a b u s i n es s own e d b y Gi d d en s ’ fam i l y at th e ti m e s h e s ai d Gi d d en s

en g ag ed i n s ex u al co n t a c t w i t h h er

– an d t h en referri n g t o th e in d i ct m en t fo r t h e

d et ai ls o f t h e s ex u al co n t act

, wh i ch were ex p li ci t l y s et o u t as t o each co u n t an d

ad eq uat el y s h o w e d t h e el em en t s o f t he ch arg es t o wh i ch Gi d d en s p l ead ed g u i l t y

,

wh i ch were ei t h er t h e s am e as t h o s e s et o u t i n t h e i n d i ct m en t o r l es s er cri m es

. Aft er

t h i s reci t at i o n

, t h e tri al c o u rt as k ed Gi d d en s w h et her t hi s i s w h at h ap p en ed as i t

rel at ed t o t h e red u ced ch arg es t o wh i ch Gi d d en s was p l ead i n g an d Gi d d en s an s wered

i n th e affi rm at i v e. Becau s e th e reco rd s u p p o rt s t h at t h e t ri al co u rt was m ad e aware o f

t h e fact u al b as i s o f t h e p l ea an d t h at Gi d d en s was aware o f th e fact s un d erl y i n g t h e

ch arg es

, t h i s co nt en t i o n i s w i t ho u t m eri t. Ad ams v. S t a te

, 2 8 5 Ga. 7 44

, 7 48 (4 ) (b )

(6 8 3 SE2 d 5 8 6 ) (2 00 9) (“ W e h av e reco g n i zed t h at an i n d ict m en t al o n e m ay co n t ai n

en o ug h in fo rm at i on t o es t ab li s h t h at t h e fact s al leg ed b y th e St at e ‘ act u al ly s at i s fi ed

t h e el em en t s o f t h e ch arg es t o wh ich a d efen d an t was p l ead i n g g u i l t y

. ’”) (ci t at i o n

o m it t ed ); Gr een v. St a t e

, 2 6 5 Ga. 2 6 3

, 2 6 5 (2 ) (4 5 4 SE2 d 4 6 6 ) (1 9 9 5 ) (fi n d i n g “ t h at

t h e i n di ct m en t p ro v i d ed am p le i n fo rm at i o n fro m wh i ch t h e t ri al co u rt co ul d d i s cern

t h e fact s al l eg ed b y

t h e s t at e act u al l y

s at i s fi ed th e el em en t s o f t h e ch arg es t o wh i ch

[d efen d an t ] was p lead i n g g ui l t y ”); s ee al so Ro ma no v. S t a t e

, 2 7 2 G a. 2 38 (5 2 7 SE2 d

51 8 4 ) (2 00 0 ) (al t h o u g h i n d i ct m en t n o t read in t o reco rd

, s u ffi ci en t fact u al b as i s wh ere

d efen d an t s t at ed h e read t he i n di ct m en t an d u nd ers t o od t h e ch arg es ).

Al t h ou g h Gi d d en s al so fi n d s i t s i g ni fi can t t h at h i s at to rn ey co ul d n o t rem em b er

t h e p reci s e co n v ers at io n h e h ad wi t h Gi d d en s ab o u t t h e m a n d at o ry m i n i m u m

s en t en ci n g g u i d el i n es fo r each co u n t, t he at t orn ey d i d t es t i fy th at h e tal k ed t o Gi d d en s

ab o ut t h e “ m i n im

u m s ” an d t hat t h ere was n o t a do u b t i n hi s m in d t h at t h e m ax i m u m

s en t en ces were al s o d i s cu s sed wi t h Gi d d en s

. Fu rt h er, t h e reco rd u n eq ui v o cal l y s h o ws

t h at Gi d d en s h ad b een th o ro u g h l y i n fo rm ed o f t h e p o s s ib l e ran g e o f sen t en ci n g,

i n cl u d i n g th e m an d at o ry m i n i m u m s

, earl i er in t h e d ay at a p l ea s t at u s heari n g

, a s

refl ect ed b y t h e t ran s cri pt fro m t h at i n -ch am b ers p ro ceed i ng d u ri n g w h i ch t h e t ri al

co u r t e x p l a i n e d t o Gi dd en s t h at s h e wo u l d n o t h av e an y d i s cret i o n t o t h e ex t en t h e

was co n v i ct ed o f an y o ffen s e wi t h a m an d at o ry m i n i m u m s en t en ce. Th us

, we fi n d n o

m eri t t o t h i s as s ert i o n

.

(b ) Gi d d en s n e x t arg u es t h at t h e t ri al co u rt i m pro p erl y s h ift ed t h e bu rd en o f

p ro o f t o s h o w t h at h i s p l ea was kn o wi n g l y

, vo l un t ari ly

, an d i nt el l i g en tl y en t ered

. Ou r

l aw i s wel l es t ab l i s h ed t h at

W h ere t he val i d i ty o f a g u i l ty p l ea i s ch al l e n g e d

, t h e St at e b ears th e

b u rd en o f s ho wi n g t hat t h e p l ea was v o lu n tari l y

, k n o wi n gl y

, an d

6i n t el l i g en tl y m ad e. Th e St at e m ay d o th i s b y sh o wi n g t h ro u g h t h e reco rd

o f t h e g u i lt y p l ea h eari n g t hat (1 ) t h e d e f e n d a n t h as freel y an d

v o l u n t ari l y

en t ered t h e p l ea wi th (2 ) an u n d ers t an di n g o f t h e n at u r e o f

t h e ch arg es ag ai n st h i m an d (3 ) an u n d ers t an d i n g o f t h e co n s eq u e n c e s

o f h i s p l ea.

(Ci t at i o n o m i t t ed .) Jo n es v. S t a t e

, 2 6 8 Ga. Ap p

. 7 2 3

, 72 4 (1 ) (6 0 3 SE2 d 7 3 ) (2 0 0 4 ).

Th e t ri al co u rt s p eci fi cal l y ci t ed t h i s s t an d ard i n i t s o rd er d en y i n g Gi d d en s ’ m o t i o n

t o wi t h d raw an d cl earl y an d ap p ro p ri at el y ap pl i ed i t i n d en y i n g t he m o t i o n to

wi t h d raw. Fu rt h er, al t h o ug h Gi d d en s p o i n t s t o v ari o u s fact ors t h at h e co nt en d s cas t

d o u b t o r s u s p i ci o n o n h i s p l ea, t h e t ri al co u rt ad d res s ed t h es e co n t en ti o n s an d

, b as ed

o n t h e reco rd b efo re u s , p ro p erl y reject ed t h em

as m eri t l es s

.

Sp eci fi cal l y , as to t h e i s s u e o f wh et h er Gi d d en s an d h i s at t o rn ey s were g i v en

s u ffi ci en t t i m e t o co n s id er th e p l ea reco m m en d at i o n befo re a c c e p t i n g i t

, Gi d d en s ’

at t o rn ey t es t ifi ed t h at al t h o ug h t h e p eri o d o f t i m e i n wh i ch t o co ns i d er t h e pl ea was

“ co n fi ned ,” d u e t o t h e fact t hat t h e p l ea n eg o t i at i on s were t ak i n g pl ace i n t h e m i d d l e

o f t ri a l a f

t e r t h e ju ry h ad b een s el ect ed

, he al so bel i ev ed t h at t h e co u rt d i d n ot

p res s u re t h em t o reach a d eci s i o n an d t h at t h e co u rt g av e t hem an ad eq u at e am o u nt

o f t i m e t o d i s cu s s t h e p l ea o ffer. Th e reco rd al s o refl ect s th at t he fi n al p l ea o ffer was

m ad e b efo re l u n ch

, an d up o n req u es t b y Gi d d en s

, t h e t ri al co u rt p erm it t ed Gi d d en s

7t o co n fer wi t h co u n s el ab o u t th e o ffer o ver t h e lu n ch break

. Th us

, we fi n d Gi d d en s ’

co n ten t i o n t h at h i s p l ea was n o t freel y

, v o l u n t ari l y

, an d kn o wi n g l y m ad e d ue t o t i m e

p res s u re t o b e wi t h o u t m eri t

.

(c) Gi d d en s al s o arg u es th at t h e St at e fai l ed t o p ro v e t h at hi s p l ea w as n o t t h e

p ro d uct o f d u res s o r u n d u e in fl u en ce. Gi dd en s h ad p rev i o u sl y reject ed t wo p l ea

o ffers , an d h e as s ert s t h at h i s p l ea res u l t ed fro m d u res s b y

o ne o f h i s at t o rn ey s wh o

d i d n o t t es t i fy a t t h e m o t i o n h eari n g an d t h e i n fl u en ce o f h i s fat h er. Al t h o u g h t h e

reco rd s h o ws t h at Gi d d en s ’ pl ea wi t h d rawal co u n sel at t em p t ed t o el ici t t es t i m o n y t h at

t h ere was t en s io n b et ween Gi d d en s an d t h e p lea at t o rn ey wh o d id n o t t es t i fy

, t h e

reco rd refl ect s at m o st t h at t h e o t h er p l ea co u n s el i n t erv en ed i n t h e d is cu s s i o n ab o ut

t h e p l ea o ffer t o g et ev ery o n e b a c k o n t r ack

. Fu rt h er, o ne o f h i s p l ea at t o rn ey s

t es t i fi ed at t h e h eari n g o n t h e m o t i o n t o w i t hd raw t h at h e h ad n o co n cern s ab o u t t h e

v o l un t ari n es s o f Gi d d en s ’ p l ea an d t h at t h e p i v ot al d i fferen ce b et ween t h e p l ea

reco m m en d at i o n t h at Gi dd en s u l t i m at el y accep t ed an d t h e p r ev i o u s o ffers was t h at

t h e St at e l o wered t he am o u nt o f i n carcerat i o n t i m e. 5

5 Th e i n i t i al p l ea of

f e r w as fo r a s en t en ce o f 1 5 y ears

, s erv e 8 wi t h t h e

rem ai n d er o n p r o b a t i o n. O n t h e m o rn i n g o f t ri al

, t h e St at e m ad e an o ffer o f 1 5 to

s er v e 5

. S h o r t l y t h ereaft er, t h e St at e d ro pp ed an ot h er y ear of t h e t i m e s erv ed

, an d

o ffered 1 5 to s erv e 4

. Th i s was t h e o ffer t h at was accep t ed an d u p o n wh i ch s en t en ce

was i m p o s ed

.

8As fo r t h e co n t en t i o n t h at G i d d en s ’ fat h er u nd u l y i n fl u en ced h i m t o t ak e t h e

p l ea, o u r Su p rem e Co u r t h a s reco g n i zed t h at en teri n g a g u il t y p l ea as a res u l t o f

ad v ice o f co u n s el o r p res s u re fro m fam i l y m em b ers d o e s n o t am o u n t t o co erci o n.

DeTo ma v. S ta t e

, 2 9 6 G a. 9 0

, 9 2 ( 1 ) (7 6 5 SE2 d 59 6 ) (2 0 1 4 ). “ [T] h e St at e’ s b u rd en

i s t o s h ow t h at a g u i l t y p l ea was en t ered i n tel l i g en t l y an d v o l un t ari l y

, . . . t here i s n ot

b u rd en o n t h e St at e t o s ho w t h at

, b ef o r e en t eri n g a p l ea, a d efen d an t res o l v ed t o d o

s o wi t h o u t wav eri n g o r ag o n izi n g o v er t h e d eci s i on

, or t h at a f t er h is p l ea, h e h ad n o

s eco n d t ho u g ht s as to en t eri n g i t .” (Ci t at i o n o m i t t ed

. ) Id

. at 9 2 -9 3 (1 ). Gi d den s ’ fat h er

t es t i fi ed t h at G i d d en s w as at fi rs t ad am an t h e wo u ld n o t tak e t h e in i t i al p l ea offer an d

h e en co u rag ed h i s s o n t o t ak e t h e p lea, b u t t h e fat her u l t i m at el y ack n o wl ed g ed t h at

wh en i t cam e d o wn t o i t

, i t w as Gi d d en s’ deci s i o n t o m ak e. 6 Bas ed o n t he fo reg o i n g,

t h e t ri al co u rt d i d no t m an i fes t l y ab u s e 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 to

wi t h d raw o n t hi s b as is . Id

.

2

. L as t ly

, ci t in g W

i nf r ey v. S t a t e

, 3 04 Ga. 9 4 (8 1 6 SE2 d 6 1 3 ) (2 0 1 8 ), Gi d d en s

arg u es fo r t h e fi rs t t i m e o n ap p eal t h at t h e t ri al c o u r t i m p ro p erl y p art ici p at ed i n t h e

p l ea n eg o t i at i o n s i n v i o l a t i o n o f USCR 3 3

. 5 (A) wh en i t fai l ed t o co rrect t h e

6 Th e reco rd s h o ws t hat at t h e t i m e h e en t e r e d h i s pl ea, Gi d d en s was t wen t y

t wo y ears o l d , m arri ed an d l i ved o n h i s o w n

.

9i m

p res s i o n l eft b y t h e St at e’ s rem ark s t h at he w o u l d recei v e a l i fe s en t en ce i f h e wen t

t o t ri al an d l o s t

, wh i ch h e co n t en d s res u l t ed i n an i n v o lu n t ary p l ea. Pret erm i t t i n g t h e

t i m el i n es s o f t h i s as s ert i on

, 7 w e fi n d i t t o b e wi t h ou t m eri t

.

Th e reco rd s ho ws t h a t t h e m o r n in g t h at ju ry s el ect i o n was t o b eg i n,

p ro ceed in g s were h el d i n ch am b ers at d efen s e co u n s el ’ s req u es t to m ak e a reco rd o f

t h e s t at u s o f t h e p l ea n eg o ti at i o n s

, s peci fi cal l y

, th e St at e’ s pl ea reco m m en d at i o n an d

Gi d den s ’ reject i on o f th a t o f f e r

. At t hat t i m e, t h e St at e set o ut t h e ch arg es ag ai n s t

Gi d den s an d s t at ed t h e m i ni m u m an d m ax im

u m s en t en c e s f

o r each o ffen s e. Th e

p ro s ecu ti n g at t o rn ey t h en co n cl u d ed

, “ So al l i n al l

, t h e Co urt co ul d g i ve u p t o t wo l i fe

s en t en ces an d up t o 8 0 y ears in p ri s o n

, al l o f t h os e t o ru n co ns ecu t i v e t o each o t h er.”

(Em p h as i s s u p p li ed .)

Co n trary t o G i d d en s ’ as s e r t i o n o n ap p eal

, t he St at e d i d n o t ex p l i ci t l y o r

i mp li ci t l y i nfo rm Gi d d en s t h at he wo u l d recei v e th e m ax i m u m s en t en ce i f h e wen t to

t ri al an d l o s t

. In s t ead

, th i s cas e i s ak i n t o S ta t e v. Ha yes

, 3 0 1 Ga. 3 42 (8 0 1 SE2 d 5 0 )

(2 0 1 7), w h ere t h e S u p r e m e Co u rt co n cl u d ed t h at “ t el l i ng a d efen d an t t h at h e co u ld

b e s en t en ced u

p t o [t h e m ax i m

um sen t en ce fo r t h e o ffen s e] i s no t t h e s am e as t el l i n g

7 Al t h o u g h Gi d d en s d o es n o t d i rect ly ack n o wl ed g e th at t h i s arg u m en t was

rai s ed fo r t h e fi rs t t im e o n ap p eal

, h e d o es p oi n t o u t in hi s b ri ef o n ap p eal t h at W i n f r ey

was n ot d eci d ed u n t i l aft er t h e t ri al co u rt d en i ed h is m ot io n t o wi t hd raw.

10a d efen d an t th at h e wo ul d b e s en t en ced t o [t h e m ax i m u m s en ten ce] .” Id a t 3 4 5 (1 ).

Th at i s wh at t h e p ro s ecu t i n g at t o rn ey s ai d i n t h i s cas e –

t h at “ t h e Co u rt co u l d g i ve .

. . u p t o ” t h e m ax i m

u m s en t en ce, n o t t h at i t wo u l d g i v e s u ch a s en ten ce. W e al s o n o t e

t h at t h e t ri al co u rt ex p li ci t l y t o l d Gi d d en s :

I d on ’ t g et i n t h e m i d d l e o f p l ea n eg o ti at i o n s

. I’ m p ro h i b i ted fro m d o i n g

t h at ; b u t wh at I d o l ik e t o m ak e s u re t h at d efen dan t s u n d ers t an d i n a cas e

l i ke t h is wi t h t h o s e p art i c u l a r t yp e ch arg es

, a l o t o f p eo pl e s ay

, wel l

m ay b e we’ ll co m e b ack i n s en t en ci n g an d th ey l i k e to u se t h e p h ras e

t h ro w m y s el f on t h e m ercy o f t h e co u rt

, o k ay ? In t h es e p art icu l ar cas es

,

I d o n o t h av e an y d i s cret i o n . It i s a m i ni m u m 2 5 y ears , o k ay ?

Gi d den s res p o n d ed affi rm at i v el y

. In t h es e ci rcu m st an c e s

, we reject Gi d d en s ’

arg u m en t th at t h e t ri al co u rt i m p erm i s si bl y part i ci p at ed i n t he p l ea d i s cu s s i o n s

.

Acco rd in g ly , we fi n d t h i s en um erat i o n t o b e wi t h ou t m eri t.

Ju d g men t a f f i r m ed . Ba r nes , P. J., a n d

Rees e, J., co n cu r

.

11