In th e S u p re m e Co u rt o f Ge o rg ia

De c id e d : F e b ru a ry 2 , 2 0 1 5

S 14 A1 27 8 . ROS S v . THE S TATE.

MELTON, Ju stic e

.

F o ll o w i n g a ju ry tria l, Ly n itra Ro ss wa s fo un d gu ilty o f m a lic e m u rd e r

b a se d o n h e r ro le in a m

u rd e r-fo r-h ire p lo t th a t re su lte d in th e sh oo tin g d e a th o f

Ric h a rd S c h o e c k

. 1 On a

p p e a l, Ro ss c o n te n ds th a t th e tria l c o u rt e rre d b y fa ilin g

to su p pre ss c e rta in c e ll p h o n e re c o rd s e v id e n c e a t tria l a n d th a t he r tria l c o u n se l

wa s in e ffe c tiv e . F o r th e re a so n s th a t fo llo w, we a ffirm

.

1

. Vie we d i n t h e lig ht m o st fa v o ra b le to th e ju ry ’s v e rd ic t, th e re c o rd

re v e a ls th e fo llo win g fa c ts. Ro ss wo rk e d a s a m e d ic a l a ssista n t a n d b illin g c o d e r

a t Ge o rg ia Sp in e a n d N e u ro su rg e r y C e n t er, a n d h e r frie n d

, S ta c e y S c h o e c k

,

1 On Ju n e 1 0

, 2 0 1 0

, Ro ss wa s in dic te d fo r m a l ic e m urd e r. F o llo win g a

M a y 9 -2 2

, 2 0 1 2 ju ry tria l, Ro ss wa s fo u n d g u ilty of m u rd e r. On Au gu st 1 0

, 2 0 1 2, th e tria l c o u rt se nte n c e d Ro ss to life im p riso n m e n t

. Ro s s file d a m o tio n

fo r n e w tria l o n Au g u st 2 0

, 2 0 1 2

, wh ic h sh e a m e n d e d with n e w c o u n se l on Ap ril

2 6

, 2 0 1 3

. Th e tria l c o u rt d e nie d th e m o tio n o n Ju ly 1 5

, 2 0 1 3

. F o llo win g th e

p a yme n t o f c o sts, Ro ss’ tim e ly a p p e a l wa s d o c k e te d in th is Co u rt fo r th e

S e p te m b e r 2 0 1 4 Te rm

a nd o ra lly a rg ue d

.wo rk e d th e re a s th e offic e a d m in istra to r. I n J a n ua ry 2 0 1 0

, Ro ss a n d S c h o e c k

h a d lu n c h to g e th e r, a n d S c h o e c k to ld Ro ss th a t sh e w a n te d to h a v e he r h u sb a n d

,

Ric h a r d S ch o e c k

, k ille d b e c a u se sh e th o ug h t th a t h e wa s m o le stin g he r so n s. 2

Ro ss in fo rm e d S c ho e c k th a t h e r b o y frie n d

, Re g in a ld Co l em a n

, c o u ld k ill Mr.

S c h oe c k b e c a

u se Co le m a

n did su c h wo rk “ o n th e sid e ” fo r e x tra m o n e y

. Ro ss

to ld S c h o e c k

th a t sh e wo uld ta lkto Co le m a n a b o u t k illin g Mr. S c h o e c k

.

S c h o e c k fo llo we d u p with Ro ss via te x t m e ssa g e o n th e we e k e n d a fte r

th e ir lu n c h c o n v e rsa tio n to se e if Ro ss h a d sp o k e n with C o le m a n

. Ro ss in d ic a te d

th a t sh e h a d

, a n d sh e s et u p a tim e fo r h e r a n d S c h o e c k to m e e t with Co le m a n

a t h is a p a rtm e n t th e fo llo win g we e k to d isc u ss th e d e ta ils of th e ir a rra n g e m e n t.

S c h oe c k a n d Ro ss m e t with Co le m a n a t h is a p a rtm e n t o n Ja n u a ry 1 8, 2 0 1 0

, a n d

th e y disc u sse d th e ir p la n s f o r t h e m u rd e r a n d th e te rm s fo r p a y m e nt. Ro ss

su g g e ste d t h a t th e k illin g sh o u ld ta k e p la c e in a se c lu d e d a re a n e ar S c h o e c k ’s

g ra n dp a re n ts’ h o m e

, a n d S c h o e c k sa id th a t Be lto n B rid g e P ark

, wh ic h wa s su c h

a lo c a tio n

, wo u ld b e a g oo d p la c e

. Fo r th e k illin g

, S c h oe c k a g re e d to p a y

Co le m an $ 1 0 ,0 0 0 in c a sh , g iv e h im h e r g ra n d

p a re n ts’ 2 00 9 Ch e v ro le t Im p a la

,

2 S c h o e c k la te r a dm itte d to p o lic e th a t h e r hu sb a n d ha d n o t, in fa c t, b e e n

m o le stin g th e c h ild re n

.

2a n d g iv e h im a h o u se th a t h is g irlfrie n d

, Ro ss, h a d c u rre n tly b e e n re n tin g fro m

S c h oe c k

. T h e p a r t i e s a g r e e d th a t t h e m u r d e r w o u l d t a k e p l a c e o n V a l e n t in e ’ s D a y

a n d t h a t C o l e m a n w o u l d k i l l t h e v i c t im i n a m a n n e r t h a t w o u l d m a k e i t a p p e a r t o

h a v e b e e n a r o b b e r y a f

t e r S c h o e c k l u r e d t h e v i c t i m t o B e l t o n B r i d g e P a r k

. B e c a u s e

C o l e m a n n e e d e d a g u n t o c o m m i t t h e m u r d e r

, S c h o e c k t o o k o u t $ 6 0 0 f r o m a n e a r b y

A T M to p a y C o l e m a n ’ s e x p e n s e s f o r p u r c h a s i n g a g u n

.

Afte r sc o p in g o u t th e p ro p o se d m urd e r lo c a tio n with Ro ss a n d Co le m a n

,

S c h oe c k g a v e Co le m a n th e Im p a l a a s pa rtia l p a y m e n t, 3 a n d sh e tra nsfe rre d

$ 8 ,9 0 0 to Ro ss’ b a n k a c c o u n t to c o v e r p a rt o f th e $ 1 0 ,0 0 0 f o r t h e m u rd e r.

S c h oe c k t r a n sfe rre d th e re m a in in g $ 1 ,1 0 0 b a la n c e to Ro ss’ b a n k a c c o u n t th e

F rid a y b e fo re Va le n tin e ’s D a y , a s Ro ss h a d p re v io u sly in fo rm e d S c h o e c k th a t

th e m u rd e r wo u ld n o t ta ke p la c e u n til th e e n tire $ 1 0 ,0 0 0 h a d b e e n p a id

.

On F e bru a ry 14

, 2 0 1 0

, S c h oe c k s p o k e with Ro ss a t wo rk a b o u t

tra n sfe rrin g th e $1 0 ,0 0 0 to Co le m an

. S c h o e c k le ft th e o ffic e a nd dro ve to h e r

g r an d p a re nts’ ho m e

, wh e re sh e h a d to ld h e r hu sb a n d to m e e t h e r by d ri v i n g

th e re se p a ra te ly

. Mr. Sc h o e c k a rriv e d a t th e g ra n dp are n ts’ h om e

, an d

, a f t e r

3 S c h o e c k g a v e a b ill o f sa le to Ro ss in o rd e r to m a k e it a p p e a r a s th o u g h

th e c a r h a d b e e n so ld to Ro ss.

3d in n e r, he wa s to d riv e to Be lto n Brid g e P ark se p a ra te ly fro m S c h oe c k

. S c h o e c k

wo u ld a lle g e d ly m e e t h im a t th e p a rk la te r th a t e v e n in g to e x c h a n g e Va le n tin e ’s

g ifts. Wh ile S c h o e c k wa s a t h e r g ra n dp are n ts’ h ou se

, Ro ss c a lle d S c h o e c k

,

te llin g he r t h a t Co le m a n n e e d e d to k n o w th e c o lo r o f Mr. S c h o e c k ’s tru c k

,

wh ic h S c h o e c k to ld h e r. S c h o e c k la te r re c e iv e d a te x t m e ssa ge fro m Ro ss

wish in g h e r a “ Ha

pp y Va le ntin e ’s Da y ,” a fte r th e m urd e r h a d b e e n c om

p le te d

.

S c h o e c k c o n firm e d th e lik e lih o o d th a t Mr. S c h o e c k wa s d e a d w h e n sh e

c a lle d h is c e ll p h o n e an d h e d id n o t a n swe r. S c h o e c k th e n d ro v e to Be lto n

Brid ge P a rk

, w h e re sh e fo un d Mr. S c h o e c k ’s tru c k a n d h is d e a d b o d y o n th e

g ro u n d . Mr. S c ho e c k h a d b e e n sh o t six tim e s a t c lo se ra n ge : th re e tim e s in th e

c h e st, twic e in th e h e a d

, a n d o n c e in th e h a nd

. Ho we v e r, th e sc e n e h a d no t b e e n

m a d e to l o ok lik e a ro bb e ry

, a s Mr. S c h o e c k ’s m o n e y

, wa lle t, wa tc h

, a n d

we d d in g rin g h a d no t b e e n ta k e n fro m h im

. S c h o e c k c a lle d 9 1 1 a n d p o rtra y e d

h e rse lf a s d istra u g h t to p o lic e

.

P o lic e in v e stig a to rs we re a b le to d i s c o v e r tire tre a d m a rk s a t th e c rim e

sc e n e

, in d ic a tin g th a t a no th e r c a r h a d b e e n p re se n t a t th e tim e o f th e m u rd e r. Th e

p o lic e we re e v e n tu a lly a

b le to m a tc h th e tire tre a d m a rk s to th e ty p e o f tire s th a t

we re on th e 2 0 0 9 Im

p a la th a t S c h o e c k ha d g iv e n to C o le m a n

. In fo rm a tio n ta k e n

4fro m S c h o e c k ’s c e ll ph on e with h e r c o n se n t sh owe d th a t Ro ss a n d Co le m a n

we re o n h e r list o f c o n ta c ts, a n d th a t Sc ho e c k h a d b e e n in c o nta c t with Ro ss

a ro u nd th e tim e th a t Mr. S c h o e c k wa s k ille d

. P o lic e th e n so u gh t c e ll p h o n e

r e c o rd s re la tin g to a ll c a lls m a d e with in fo ur h o u rs o f th e m u rd e r th a t w e r e

c o n n e c te d to two c e l l p h o n e t o we rs th a t we re o wn e d b y S p rin t 4 a nd th a t we re

lo c a te d in c lo se p r o x i m ity to th e sc e n e o f th e sh o o tin g

. P u rsu a n t to 1 8 US C §

2 7 0 3, 5 p o lic e o b ta in e d th is c e ll p h o n e “ to we r d u m p ” in fo rm a tio n b y c ou rt o rd e r,

4 Alth o u g h Ro ss’ c e ll p h o n e p ro v id e r wa s Ve riz on

, c e ll ph o n e c a lls m a d e

in th e a re a o f M r. Sc h oe c k ’s m urd e r h a d to b e re la y e d t h r o u g h o n e o f th e se

S p rin t c e ll p h on e to we rs.

5 As a p a rt of 1 8 US C § 2 7 0 1 e t se q

., 1 8 U S C § 2 7 0 3 a llo ws g o v e rn m e n ta l

e n titie s to “ re q u ire a p ro v id e r of re m ote c o m p u tin g se rv ic e to d isc lo se th e

c o n te n ts o f a n y wire or e le c tro n ic c o m mu n ic a tio n ” c o v e re d u n d e r th e sta tu te

,

a n d to “ re q uire a p ro v id e r o f e le c tro n ic c o m m u n ic a t i o n s e r v ic e o r re m o te

c o m p u tin g se rv i ce t o d i sc lo se a re c ord o r oth e r in fo rm a tio n p e rta in in g to a

su b sc rib e r to o r c usto m e r of su c h se rv ic e (n o t in c lu d in g t h e c o n te n ts o f

c o m m u nic a t i o n s) o n ly wh e n th e g o v e rn m e n ta l e n tity o b ta in s a c o u rt ord e r fo r

su c h disc lo su re u n d e r su b se c tio n (d ) of th is se c tio n .” 18 U S C § 2 7 03 (b ) a n d (c ).

A c o u rt o rd e r fo r d isc lo su re u n d e r su b se c tio n (b ) o r (c ) m a y be issu e d b y

a n y c o u rt th a t is a c o u rt o f c o m p e te n t ju risd ic tio n a n d sh a ll issu e o n ly if

th e g o v e rn m e n ta l e n tity o ffe rs sp e c ific a n d a rtic u la b le fa c ts sh o win g th a t

th e re a re re a so na

b le g ro un d s to b e lie ve th a t th e c on te n ts o f a wire o r

e le c tro nic c o m m

u n ic a tio n

, o r th e re c o rd s o r o th e r in fo rm a tio n so u g h t, a re

re le v a n t a n d m a te ria l to a n o n g o in g c rim in a l in v e stig a tio n

. In th e c a se o f

a S ta te g o v e rn m e n ta l a u t h o rity

, su c h a c o urt o rd e r sh a ll no t issu e if

p ro h ib ite d b y th e la w o f su c h S ta te

. A c o u rt issu in g a n o rd e r pu rsu a n t to

5wh ic h sh o w e d a c a ll a ro u n d th e tim e o f th e m u rd e r fro m Co le m an

, wh ose p h o n e

wa s n e a r o n e o f th o se to we rs, to Ro ss. F ro m th is in fo rm a tio n

, p olic e o b t a i n e d

c e ll p h o n e re c o rd s o f Co le m a n a n d R o ss b y c o u rt o rd e r. F u rth e r in v e stig a tio n

e v e n tu a lly le d to S c h o e c k ’s a rre st, a n d S c ho e c k te stifie d in sig n if i c a n t d e ta il

a b o u t th e e n tire m

u rd e r-fo r-h ire p lo t a t Ro ss’ tria l.

Th is e v id e n c e wa s su ffic ie n t to e na b le a ra tio na l trie r of fa c t to fin d Ro ss

g u ilty o f m

u rd e r be y o n d a re a so n a

b le do ub t. Ja c k so n v

. Virg in ia

, 4 43 U. S

. 3 0 7

(9 9 S Ct 2 7 8 1

, 6 1 LE2 d 5 6 0 ) (1 9 7 9 ); se e a lso OCGA § 1 6 -2 -2 0 (p a rt i e s to a

c rim e ).

1

. Ro ss c o nte n d s th a t t h e tria l c o u rt e rre d b y a d m ittin g in to e v id e n c e a t

tria l th e S p rin t c e ll ph o n e “ to we r d u m p” re c o r d s t h a t p o lic e o b ta in e d b y c o urt

o rd e r pu rsu a

n t to fe d e ra l l a w

, 1 8 US C § 2 7 0 3 (d ). Ho we v e r, wh ile R o ss d id

m o v e to su p p re ss th is e v id e nc e p rio r to tria l b a se d o n th e id e a th a t th e e v id e n c e

h a d b e e n o b ta in e d in v io la tio n o f a p p l i c a b le fe de ra l la ws, h e r m o tio n wa s

th i s se c tio n

, o n a m o tio n m a d e p ro m p tly by th e se rv ic e p ro v id e r, m a y

q u a sh o r m o d ify su c h o rd e r, if th e in fo rm a tio n o r re c o rd s re qu e ste d a re

u n u su a lly v o lu m in o u s in n a tu re o r c o m p lia n c e with su c h o rd e r o th e rwise

wo u ld c a u se a n u nd u e bu rd e n o n su c h p ro vid e r.

1 8 US C § 2 7 0 3 (d ).

6d e n ie d

, a n d wh e n th e e v id e n c e wa s p re se n te d fo r a d m issio n d u rin g th e tria l, sh e

a ffirm a tiv e ly sta te d th a t sh e h a d n o o b je c tio n to its a d m issio n

. S h e h a s th e re fo re

wa iv e d re v ie w o f th is issu e o n a p p e a l. 6 Mo nro e v . S ta te , 2 7 2 Ga . 2 0 1 (6 ) (5 2 8

S E2 d 5 04 ) (2 0 0 0 )

In a n y e v e n t, e v e n if th e issu e h a d b e e n p ro p e rly p re se rv e d

, Ro ss wo u ld

n o t b e e ntitle d to re li e f

. A s a n in itia l m a tte r, a s Ro ss pro p e rly c o n c e d e s, sh e

la c k s sta n d in g to c h a lle n g e th e a d m issio n in to e v id e n c e of th e c e ll ph o n e “ to we r

d u m p” re c o rd s a t issu e o n F o u rth Am e n d m e n t g ro u n d s, b e c a u se

, a s to Ro ss, th e

“ to w e r du m

p ” re c o rd s w e re o n ly u se d to sh o w te le p h o n e c o n ta c t b e twe e n Ro ss

a n d Co le m a n a n d we re o wn e d b y S p rin t. Ro ss d id n ot o wn th e “ t o we r d u m p ”

re c o rd s, a n d th e re c o rd s we re n o t u se d to sh ow th e lo c a tio n f r o m w h ic h Ro ss

6 To th e e x te n t th a t Ro ss a rg u e s th a t th e d e n ia l o f h e r m o tio n to su p p re ss

sh o u ld b e su b

je c t to p la in e rro r re v ie w, sh e is m ista k e n

, a s, a t le a st fo r c a se s lik e

h e rs th a t we re trie d b e fo re J a n u ar y 1

, 20 1 3

, p la in e rro r re v ie w is “lim ite d to

a lle g e d e rro r in th re e c irc um sta n c e s: th e se n te n c in g ph a se o f a tria l re su ltin g in

th e de a th p e n a lty

, a tria l ju d g e ' s e x p re ssio n o f o pin io n in v io la tio n o f O CGA §

1 7 -8 -5 7

, a nd a ju ry c h a rg e a ffe c tin g su b sta n tia l rig h ts o f th e p artie s a s p ro v id e d

u n d e r OCGA § 1 7-8 -5 8 (b ).” (Cita tio n om itte d .) Du rh a m v

. S ta te

, 2 9 2 G a

. 2 3 9

, 2 4 0 (2 ) (7 3 4 S E2 d 37 7 ) (2 0 1 2 ). F o r c a se s trie d a fte r Ja n ua ry 1

, 2 0 1 3

, with

re g a rd to “ [r] ulin gs o n e v id e n c e ,” a c o u rt is a llo we d “ to c o n sid e r p la in e rro rs

‘a ffe c tin g su bsta n tia l rig h ts a lth o u g h su c h e rro rs we re n o t b ro u g h t to th e

a tte n tio n o f th e c o urt.’ OCGA § 2 4-1 -1 03 (d ).” (Cita tio n o m itte d .) Id

.

7re c e iv e d Co le m a n’s c a ll wh e n th e y we re in c o n ta c t with e a c h oth e r a ro u n d th e

tim e o f th e m

u rd e r. T h u s, a t le a st a s to Ro ss, th e “ to we r d u m p ” c e ll p h o n e

re c o rd s a t issu e h e re a re n o d iffe re n t th a n te le ph on e b illin g re c o rd s, wh ic h

a re bu sin e ss re c o rd s o wn e d b y th e te le p h o n e c om p a ny

, n o t th e

d e fe n da n t. As a re su lt, d e f e nd an ts [lik e Ro ss] g e ne ra lly la c k

sta n din g to c h a lle n g e th e re le a se o f su c h re c o rd s u n d e r th e Fo u rth

Am e n d m e n t b e c a

u se th e y d o n ot h a v e a

re a so n a b le e x pe c ta tio n o f

p riv a c y in re c o rd s b e lo n g in g to so m e o n e e lse

. Ke sle r v

. S ta te

, 2 4 9

Ga

. 4 6 2

, 4 6 9 (5 ) (2 9 1 S E2 d 4 9 7 ) (1 9 8 2 ). Ac c ord in g ly

, [Ro ss] is n o t

e n title d to c ha lle n g e th e re le a se o f [th e to we r d u m p ] p h o n e re c o rd s

in th is c a se o n F ou rth Am e n d m e n t g ro u nd s.

Re g iste v . S ta te , 2 9 2 Ga

. 1 5 4 , 1 5 6 (7 3 4 S E2 d 1 9 ) (2 0 1 2 ).

In th is re ga rd

, Ro ss a lso w o u ld n o t h a v e sta nd in g to c ha lle n g e th e

a d m issio n o f th e “ to we r du m p ” re c o rd s th e m se lv e s (a s o p p o se d to th e c o n te n ts

o f h e r p h o n e c a lls) u n d e r S t a t e l a w, a s a d e fe n d a n t w h o la c k s sta n d in g to

c h a lle ng e th e a d m issio n in to e v id e n c e of sto re d e le c tro n ic re c o r d s u n d e r th e

F o u rth Am e n d m e n t sim ila rly la c k s sta n d in g to c h a lle n g e th e a d m issio n o f su c h

re c o rd s u n d e r OCGA § 1 6 -1 1-6 7

. S e e Ha m p to n v

. Sta te

, 29 5 Ga

. 6 6 5 (2 ) (7 6 3

S E2 d 4 67 ) (2 0 1 4 ).

F u rth e rm o re

, th e re m e d y s o u g h t by Ro ss, n a m e ly su p p re ssio n o f th e

e v id e n c e

, is n o t a n a v a ilab le re m e d y un de r fe d e ra l l aw

, a s 1 8 US C § 2 7 0 7

8p ro v id e s t h a t a c i v il a c tio n

, n o t su p p re ssio n

, is th e a v a ilab le re m e d y wh e n a

p a rty im p ro p e rly re le a se s c o v e re d re c o rd s o r in fo rm a tio n u n d e r 1 8 US C § 2 7 0 1

e t se q. S e e a lso Ha m

pto n

, su p ra

, 29 5 Ga

. a t 6 6 9 (2 ); Re g iste

, su p ra

, 2 9 2 Ga

. a t

1 5 6 -1 5 7 a nd n .2 (“ [T] h e re m e d y so u g h t b y [th e de fe n d a n t]

, n a m e ly su pp re ssio n

o f e v id e n c e

, is n ot a

n a v a ilab le re m e d y u n d e r

. . . . 1 8 US C § 27 02 (c ) (4 )

. . .

[a s] 1 8 US C § 2 7 0 7 a llo ws a su b sc rib e r to file a c iv il a c tio n a g a in st a n y p a rty

wh o im p ro p e rly re le a se s c ov e re d re c ord s o r in fo rm a tio n ” ).

Th u s, th e tria l c o u rt did n o t e rr in a d m ittin g in to e v id e n c e th e c e ll p h o n e

“ to w e r d u m

p ” re c o rd s a t issu e h e re

.

2 . In lig h t o f o u r h o ld in g in Div isio n 1 , su p ra , th a t th e tria l c o u rt d id n o t

e rr in a d m ittin g in to e v id e n c e th e S prin t c e ll p ho n e to w e r re c o rd s, Ro ss’ c la im

th a t h e r c o u n se l wa s in e ffe c tiv e fo r a lle g e d ly h a v in g fa ile d to e ffe c tiv e ly a rg u e

a g a in st th e a d m issio n o f th e se re c o rd s is with o u t m e rit. Se e Ha m p to n, su p ra

, 2 9 5

Ga

. a t 6 7 0 (2 ); Ha y e s v

. S ta te

, 2 6 2 Ga

. 8 8 1

, 8 8 4 (3 ) (c ) (4 2 6 SE2 d 88 6 ) (1 9 9 3 )

(“ F a ilu re to m a k e a m e ritle ss o b je c tio n c an n o t b e e v id e n c e of in e ffe c tiv e

a ssista n c e ” ).

Ju d g m e n t a ffirm e d . All th e Ju stic e s c o n c u r.

9