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

.

D ecem ber 4, 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 83 7 . BECTON v

. THE STATE.

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

A j u ry fo un d Ray m o n t Bect o n gu i l t y o f ei g h t co un t s o f ch i l d m ol es t at i o n

, fo u r

co u nt s o f ag g rav at ed ch i l d m o l es t at io n

, t wo co u n t s o f ag g rav at ed s ex u al b at t ery

, an d

o n e co u n t each o f cru el t y t o ch i l d ren i n t h e fi rs t d eg ree, ag g rav at ed s o d o m y

, an d

s t at u to ry rap e fo r act s i n v o lv i n g h i s g i rl fri en d ’ s t wo d au g h t ers an d t wo ot h er v i ct i m s

. 1

Bect o n ap p eal s fro m

h i s co n v i ct i o n s an d t h e d en i al o f h i s am en d ed m o t i o n fo r n ew

t ri al

, co n t en d i n g t h at th e t ri al co u rt erred i n d en y i n g h i s m o ti o n fo r a m is t ri al aft er t h e

St at e i nt ro d u ced i m

p ro p er ch aract er ev i d en ce, an d t h at t h e ev id en ce was in su ffi ci en t

t o s u p p o rt t h ree o f t h e co n v i ct i o n s . Fo r t h e reas o n s t h at fo l l o w, we affi rm

.

1 Th e t r i a l co u rt di rect ed a verd i ct o n o n e co u n t of rap e an d o ne co u n t o f

t erro ri s t ic t h reat s

.“ On ap p eal fro m h i s cri m i n al co n v i ct i o n, [Bect o n ] i s n o l o n g er p res u m ed

i n n o cen t an d al l o f t he ev i d en ce i s v i ewed i n th e l i gh t m o s t fav o rab l e t o th e ju ry ’ s

v erd i ct .” Med

d i n g s v. S t a t e

, 3 4 6 Ga. Ap p

. 2 9 4 (8 1 6 SE2 d 1 40 ) (2 0 1 8). So v iewed

, t h e

ev i d en ce s h ows t h a t B ect o n l i v ed wi th h i s gi rl fri en d

, an d t h e g i rl fri en d ’ s t wo

d au gh t ers

, T. R. an d M

. J

., wh o were res p ect i v el y 1 1 an d 1 6 y ears o l d at t he t i m e o f

t ri al

. T

. R

. e x p l ai n ed at t ri al t hat i t was “ v ery un co m fo rt ab l e, an d

. . . d an g ero u s ”

l i vi n g w i th Bect o n b ecau s e h e wo u l d g et h er o u t o f h er b ed ev ery ni g h t

, carry h er i n to

t h e l i v i ng ro om

, p u t h er o n t he co u ch

, an d t o u c h a n d ru b h er “ p ri v at e p art ” an d h er

“ t i d d i es .” T. R. t es t i fi ed t hat Bect o n p u t h is fi n g ers i ns i d e h er p ri v at e p art s an d t h at

i t hu rt an d m ad e her wan t t o cry

. He al s o p u t h i s pen i s i n h er p an t i es an d “ i t re a l l y

h u rt [ ] ,” an d wh i t e s t u ff cam e o u t

. An o t her t i m e, Bect o n t oo k T. R. o u t o f b ed

, p u t h er

o n t h e co u ch

, u nzi p p ed h i s zi p p e r

, t o o k h i s p en i s o u t

, an d “ s t art ed t o wi g g l e [i t ]

aro u n d ” i n h er p ri v at e p art . T. R. ex pl ai n ed t h at d u ri ng t h i s i n ci d en t Bect o n’ s p en i s

d i d n o t g o “ i n bet ween [h er] fl ap s ”; rat h er, t h e t o p of hi s p en i s t o u ch ed t h e t o p o f h er

v ag in a. T. R. t es t i fi ed t hat o ne t i m e, Bect on cal l ed h er i n t o a ro o m t o ru b h i s b ack an d

h e h ad h i s p en i s o u t

. T. R. grab b ed a b ro o m

, h i t Bect o n w i t h i t

, an d ran o ut o f t h e

ro o m

. Bes i d es t he s ex u al act s

, T. R. d es cri b ed t h at Bect o n p u n i s h ed h er b y h it t i n g h er

wi t h a wo o d en p ad d le an d a b el t an d l o ck in g h er i n h er ro o m

. On e t im e, Bect o n h i t

2T. R. in t h e ey e wi t h a m et al b el t b u ck l e. Acco rd i ng t o T. R., Bect on fo rced h er s i s t er,

M

. J

., t o “ s uck [Bect o n ’ s] p en i s ” wh i l e t h ei r m o t her was o u t

. T. R. al s o t es t i fi ed t h at

Bect o n wo ul d ch o k e h er m o t h er, h o l d h er do wn o n t h e co u ch

, an d h it h er wi t h a l am p.

Bect o n t o l d T

. R. t hat if s h e e v e r t o l d an y o n e ab o u t wh at h e di d

, h e wo u l d h u rt h er

an d “ p u t a k n i fe o ver [h er] m o m ’ s n eck .”

T. R.’ s s i s t er, M

. J., t es t i fi ed at t ri al t h at Bect o n p u l led o u t hi s p en i s an d fo rced

h er t o su ck i t; t h at he t o u c h e d h e r c h e s t ; an d th at h e p u t h is h an d s i n h er p an t s an d

s t uck h i s fi n g er in s id e h er p ri v at e p art s. M

. J. al s o t es ti fi ed t h at Bect o n “ b eat [h er] ,”

“ wh o o p ed ” h er s i s t er wi t h a b el t , an d s l ap p ed h er m ot h er.

Th e s i s t ers rep o rt ed t h e ab u s e t o t h ei r co u s i n

, au nt

, an d great -g ran d m o t h er at

a Su p e r Bo wl p art y

. T. R. t o l d h er au n t t h at s h e an d M. J

. d i d n o t d i s cl o s e t h e

m o les t at i o n becau se Bect on h ad t h rea t e n ed t o h u rt t h ei r m ot h er. T h e g reat

g r a n d m o t h er rep o rt ed t h e ab us e t o DFACS. Bo t h g i rl s were i n terv iewed s ep arat el y

b y a fo ren s i c i n t erv i ewe r a t t h e Co as t al Ch i ld ren ’ s Ad v o cacy Cen t er, an d t h ei r

i n t erv i ews were p l ay ed fo r t he ju ry

.

Th e si s t ers ’ co u si n

, T

. J

., wh o was 1 8 y ears o l d at t he t i m e o f t ri al

, t es t i fi ed t h at

wh en s h e was 1 5 y ears o ld

, s h e was l i v i ng wi t h T. R. an d T. R.’ s m ot h er w h en Bect o n

3b ru s h ed up fro m b eh i n d her an d i n t en t i on al l y t o u ch ed her bo t t o m an d ch es t

. Sh e t o ld

h i m t o s t o p an d rep o rt ed t h e i n ci d en t t o h er fat h er, h er s i s t er, an d T. R.’ s m o t h er.

Th e fo u rt h v i ct i m

, K. C., t es t i fi ed t h at s h e m et Bect on i n 2 01 5 wh en s h e was

1 3 y ears o l d

, t h at s h e b eg an wo rk i n g fo r hi s co ns t ru ct i o n bu s in es s

, an d th at s h e t o ld

h i m s h e was 1 7 o r 1 8 y ears o l d. A sh o rt t i m e l at er

, t he rel at io n sh i p b ecam e s ex u al

,

an d K. C. p erfo r m e d o r a l s e x o n Bect on t w i ce an d al s o had v ag i n al s ex wi t h h i m

t wi ce. At t h e t i m e K

. C. p erfo rm ed o ral s ex o n Bect on

, h e k n ew t h at s h e was 1 3 y ears

o l d

. K. C. al s o t es t i fi ed t h at sh e an d Bect o n ex ch an g ed m es s ag es an d h ad v i d eo ch at s

t h ro u g h Faceb o o k. Acco rd i n g to K. C., s h e an d Bect o n di d n ot “ ch at ab o u t an y t h i n g

. . . of a sex u al n at u re” o v e r F a c e b o o k becau s e Bect o n fel t as t h o ug h p eo p l e were

l i st en i n g o r wat ch i n g ; i n o n e m es s ag e, Bect o n wri t es th at he d o es no t wan t to g et t o o

ex p li ci t ov er m es s ag es becau s e s o m eo n e m ig h t b e read i ng / wat ch i ng

. Bu t

, t h e

m es s ag es

— wh i ch were ad m i t t ed at t ri al

— s h o w t hat K. C. sen t Bect o n a p i ct u re o f

h er n ak ed b reas t s

, an d Bect o n s en t K. C

. a p i ct u re o f h i s p en i s

, t o w h i ch K. C.

res p o n d ed

, “ u n o t o n h ard l o l ” an d Bect on rep l i ed

, “ N o [.

. . ] No t y et l o l .” In an o t h er

ex ch an g e, K. C. as k ed Bect on “ wh at y o u wan t m e t o g i v e y o u

. . . tel l m e d ad d y ,” an d

Bect o n rep l i es “ Real l y ” wi t h a s u rp ri s ed em o ji an d t h en res p o nd ed

, “ Yo u can ’ t m ak e

i t h ap pen n o w.” An o t h er t i m e, Bect o n as k ed

, “ Tel l m e w h at y o u wan t m e t o d o ? ” an d

4K. C. res p o n d ed , “ wh at ev er y o u wan t t o d o i n y o u r co n [t ] ro l .” Th ere are referen ces

t o “ t am [i n g ] a b eas t

, ” an d Bect o n s t at ed t h at h e’ s “ g o n n a t am e [K. C.] ” In an o t h e r

m es s ag e, K. C. as k ed , “ b u t h o w l o n g we g o ne g o o n wi t h o u r s ecret .”

1 . Bect o n co n t en d s t h at t h e t ri al co u rt erred i n fai l i n g t o g ran t a m i s tri al aft er

t h e St at e, i n v i ol at i o n o f OCGA § § 24 -4 -4 0 4 (b ), 2 4-4 -4 1 3, an d 2 4 -4 -4 1 4, i n t ro d u ced

i m p ro p er ch aract er ev i den ce d uri n g t h e v id eo rep l ay o f T. R.’ s fo ren s i c i n t erv i ew. W e

d i s ag ree.

Pri o r t o tri al

, Bect o n m o v ed i n l i m in e t o ex cl ud e an y st at em en ts m ad e b y T. R.

d u ri n g h er fo ren s i c i n t erv i ew th at s h e h ad s een p ap erwo rk i n di cat in g t h at Bect o n h ad

m o les t ed h i s d au g h t ers i n At l an t a, arg ui n g t h at he h ad n ot recei v ed “ an y p ri o r n o t i ce

o r an y t h i n g t h at ’ s req u ired .” Th e St at e co nfi rm ed th at it h ad red act ed fro m t h e v i d eo

“ al l o f t hat ,” an d t he t ri al co u rt ad v i s ed t h e St at e t o be s u re t hat “ i t d o es n ’ t g et i n .” At

t ri al

, t h e St at e p l ay ed a t hree-h ou r v i deo t ap e wh i ch i n cl u d ed t w o fo ren s ic i n t erv iews

o f T. R. an d o n e fo ren s i c i n t erv i ew o f M

. J

. Du ri n g T. R.’ s fi rs t in t erv i ew, s h e t o l d t h e

fo ren s i c in t erv iewer t h at Bect o n t wi ce t ri ed t o m ak e h er k i s s h i m o n t h e l i p s

, an d t h at

s h e as k ed h i m “ wh y d o y o u d o th i s

, wh at do es it g et y o u ? ” T. R. t h en reco u n t ed t o t h e

i n t erv i ewer t h at s h e as k ed Bect o n

, “ [d ] o y o u d o t hi s t o y o u r dau g h t ers ,” an d Bect o n

res p o n d ed

, “ [h ] o w d o y o u k n o w a b o u t t h at ? ” Th e fo ren si c i n t erv i ewer t h en s t at ed

,

5“ an d y o u as k ed a b o u t h i s d au g h ters an d h e di d n’ t k n o w h ow y o u k new ab o u t h i s

d au gh t ers .” Sev eral m i n u tes aft er t h es e s t at em en t s were p l ay ed fo r t h e ju ry , Bect o n

m o ved fo r a m is t ri al

. Th e t ri al co u rt den i ed t h e m o ti o n

, b u t g av e t h e fo l l o wi n g

cu rat i v e i n s t ru ct io n : “ I’ m i n s t ru ct i ng y o u t o d i s reg ard t h e res p o n s e o f [T. R.] t h at was

m ad e d u ri n g th e v i d eo as to wh at o ccu rred aft er t he k i s s i n g

. Yo u are t o di sreg ard h er

res p o n s e i n t h at reg ard en ti rel y .” Th e t ri al co u rt t h en co n fi rm ed t h at th e ju ro rs wo u ld

d i s reg ard T. R.’ s s t at em en t b y el i ci t i n g fro m t h em a co l l ect i ve “ Y es

, s i r.” Th ereaft er,

Bect o n ren ewed h i s m ot i o n fo r a m i s t ri al , wh i ch t h e t ri al co u rt d en ied

.

As a g en eral ru l e, a t ri al co u rt ’ s den i a l o f a m o t i on fo r m i s t ri al

b as ed o n th e i m

p ro p er ad m i s s i o n o f b ad ch aract er ev i d en ce is rev i ewed

fo r ab us e o f d i s cret i on b y ex am i n i n g fact o rs an d ci rcu m st an ces

,

i n cl u d i n g t h e n at u re o f t he s tat em en t

, t h e o t h er ev i d en ce i n t h e cas e, an d

t h e act i o n t ak en b y

t he co u rt an d co u n s el co n cern i n g t h e i m p ro pri et y

.

(Ci t at i o n an d p u nct u at i o n om i t t ed .) W o ma c v. S t a t e

, 30 2 G a. 68 1

, 6 8 3 (2 ) (8 0 8 SE2 d

7 0 9 ) (2 0 1 7 ). See al s o Ea r wo o d v. S t a t e

, 3 5 0 Ga. Ap p. 2 6

, 3 1 (1 ) (8 2 7 SE2 d 7 1 9 )

(2 0 1 9) (d eci s i o n t o den y a m i s t ri al i s wi t hi n t h e d i s cret i o n of t h e t ri al co u rt

, an d wi l l

n o t b e d i s t u rb ed o n ap p eal u nl es s it i s ap p aren t t h at a m i s t ri al i s e s s en t i al t o t h e

p res erv at i o n o f t he ri g h t t o a fai r t ri al ). “ W e al so co n s i d er ad d i t i o n al f a c t s l i k e

wh et h er t h e referen ce t o t h e i m p ro p er ch aract er ev i d en ce is i s o l at ed an d b ri ef

,

6wh et h er t h e ju ry ’ s ex po s ure was rep eat ed o r ex t en s i v e, an d w h et h er th e i n t ro d u ct i o n

o f t h e ob ject i o nab l e ev i d en ce was i n ad v ert en t o r wh et h er i t w as d el ib erat el y el i ci t ed

b y th e St at e.” (Ci t at i o n an d p u n ct u at i o n o m i t ted .) Sma l l wo o d v. S t a t e

, 3 3 4 Ga. Ap p.

2 2 4

, 2 2 5 -2 2 6 (1 ) (7 7 9 SE2 d 1 ) (2 0 1 5 )

. M o reo ver, “ a t ri al co u rt g en eral l y h as t h e

d i s cret i o n to d eci d e wh et h er a m i s t ri al i s t h e o n l y co rrect iv e m eas u re t o t ak e o r

wh et h er p ro p er in st ru ct i on s wi t h d rawi n g th e t es t i m o n y fro m t h e ju ry ’ s co n s i d erat i o n

can co rrect t h e p reju d i ci al effect .” (Ci t at i o n an d p un ct u at i o n om i t t ed .) To rr es v. S t a t e

,

3 5 3 Ga. Ap p . 4 7 0 , 4 8 4 (5 ) (8 38 SE2 d 1 3 7 ) (2 0 2 0).

Tak i n g i n t o co n s i d erat i on t h e ab ov e fact o rs

, th e t ri al co u r t d i d n o t ab u s e i t s

d i s cret i o n i n d en y i n g Bect on ’ s m o t io n fo r m i s t ri al

. T

. R.’ s d es cri pt i o n t o t h e

i n t erv i ewer o f he r c o n ve rs at i o n wi t h Bect o n an d t h e i nt erv i ewer’ s res po n s e were b ri ef

an d o ccu rred i n t h e m i d st o f a t h ree-h o u r-l o n g v i d eo t ap e. See Ja cks o n v. S t a t e , 3 2 1

Ga. Ap p. 6 0 7

, 61 2 (1 ) (7 39 SE2 d 8 6 ) (2 0 1 3 ) (n o reas o n ab l e p ro bab i l i t y t h at s t at em en t

i n v i d eo t ap e p l ay ed fo r ju ry

, referen ci n g d efen d an t’ s cri m i n al h i s t o ry

, co n tri b u t ed to

t h e g u i l t y v erd i ct as t h e s t at em en t was “ l i k el y h eard b y t he j u ry on l y o n ce” an d “ was

a bri ef, si n g l e co m

m en t m a d e t oward th e en d o f an ap p ro x i m at el y 3 0 m i n u t e

reco rd i n g ”). M o reo v er, t h e ex ch an g e was n o t rep eat ed

, an d t h e St at e’ s fai l u r e t o

red act i t was i n ad vert en t

. Ad d i t i o n al l y

, t h e t ri al co u rt g av e t h e ju ry a t h o ro u g h

7cu rat i v e in s t ru ct i o n to d i s reg ard t h e s t at em en t

. “ W e o rd i n ari l y p res u m e t h at a ju ry

fo l l o w s s u ch i n st ru ct i o n s.” Co l ema n v. S t a t e

, 3 0 1 G a

. 7 2 0, 7 2 2 (3 ) (8 04 SE2 d 2 4 )

(2 0 1 7 ). An d

, as we co n cl u d ed i n Ea r wo o d

, w e need no t rel y o n t h at p res u m p t i o n

wh ere, as h ere, t h e t ri al co u rt co n fi rm ed t h e ju ro rs ’ co m pl i an ce b y

o b t ai ni n g v erb al

v eri fi cat i o n. Ea rwo o d

, 3 50 Ga. Ap p

. at 3 2 (1 ) (co n fi rm i n g by s h o w o f h an d s t h at

ju ro rs fo l l o wed t ri al co u rt ’ s cu rat i v e i n s tru ct i on t o di s reg ard i n v es t i gat o r’ s s t at em en t

t h at d efen d an t h a d o t h er s ex u al rel at i o n s wi th i n h i s p o l i ce v eh i cl e b es id es t h o s e

i n v o l v i ng t h e v i ct i m s). Fi nal l y

, i n l i gh t o f t h e o v erwh el m i n g ev id en ce i n t h i s cas e,

“ we can n o t s ay th at [t h e] s t at em en t i s s o h i g h l y p reju d i ci al as t o b e i ncu rab l e b y t h e

t ri al co u rt ’ s ad m o ni t i o n .” W o m a c

, 3 0 2 Ga. at 6 8 3 -6 8 4 (2 ). Co ns eq u en t l y

, Bect o n h as

fai l ed t o s h o w th at a m is t ri al was es s en t i al t o p res erv e h i s ri g h t t o a fai r t ri al

, an d t h e

t ri al co u rt d i d n o t ab u s e i t s d i s cret i o n i n d en y in g h i s m ot i o n

.

2

. Bect o n co n t en d s t h ere was i n s u f f i c i e n t ev i d en ce t o s u pp o rt h i s co n v i ct i o n

o n th e c h i l d m ol es t at i o n ch arg e as al l eg ed in Co u nt 17 o f th e in d i ct m en t

. Co u n t 1 7

al l eg ed t hat Bect o n “ d i d co m m i t an i m m o ral an d i n d ecen t act t o [T. J .] , a g i rl u n d er

t h e ag e o f 1 6 y ears

, wi t h t he i n t en t t o aro u s e h i s s ex u al des i res

, by to u ch in g h er b reas t

an d b u t t o ck s wi t h h i s h an d[.] ”

8“ 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 ). Bect on arg u e s t h at th ere was n o ev i d en ce h e

t o u ch ed T. J .’ s b reas t o r b ut t o ck s wi t h h i s h an d wh ere T. J. t es t i fi ed at t ri al on l y t h at

wh i le s h e “ was i n t h e k i t ch en i n t h e refri g erat o r d o i ng so m et h in g [,] [Bect o n ] b ru s h ed

u p ag ai n s t [h er] fro m b eh in d

, t o uch i n g [h er] bo t t o m an d t o uch i n g [h er] ch es t .”

M o reo v er, wh i l e T

. J .’ s fat h er tes t i fi ed t h at T. J

. t o l d h i m Bect o n t o u ch ed h er t wi ce,

h e d i d no t t es t ify

as t o wh ere Bect o n t o uch ed h er.

“ [T] h ere i s n o req u i rem en t t hat t h e St at e p res en t tes t im o n y t hat p reci s el y t rack s

t h e l an g u ag e fo u n d i n t h e i nd i ct m en t .” (Ci t at io n an d p u n c t u a t i o n o m i t t ed .) Dew v.

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

. 6 3 1 , 6 3 2 -6 3 3 (1 ) (a) (6 6 5 SE2 d 7 1 5 ) (2 0 08 ).

Th e g e n e r a l ru l e t h at al l eg at i o n s an d p ro o f m us t co rres p on d i s b as ed

u p o n t he ob v i o u s req u i rem en t s (1 ) t h at t he accu s ed s h al l b e d efi n i t el y

i n fo rm ed as t o th e ch arg es ag ai n s t h im

, so t ha t h e m ay b e en ab l ed t o

p res en t h i s d efen s e an d n o t b e t ak en b y s u rp ri s e b y th e ev i d en ce o ffered

at t h e t ri al ; an d (2 ) t h at h e m ay b e p ro t ect ed ag ai n s t an o t h er p ro s ecu t i o n

fo r t h e s am e o ff

e n s e

. O u r co u rt s d o n o t em p l o y an o v erl y t ech n i cal

ap p l icat i o n o f t h e fat al v ari an ce ru l e, fo cu s i n g i n s t ead o n m at eri al i t y

.

9(Ci t at i o n a n d p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed

. ) Ka y v. S t a te

, 3 0 6 Ga. Ap p

. 66 6

, 6 6 9 (3 ) (7 0 3

S E2 d 1 0 8 ) (2 0 1 0 ). Th e d is crep an cy i n t h e ev i den ce i n th i s cas e d o es n o t co n s t i t u t e

a fat al v ari an ce. Th e ev i den ce s h o wed t h at Bect o n i n t en t i o n al l y t o u ch ed T

. J

. o n h er

b reas t an d b o t t o m

, an d her fai lu re t o s p eci fy t h at Bec t o n u s ed h i s h an d was n o t s o

m at eri al as t o b e fat al o r t o m an d at e a co n cl us i o n t h at t h e ev i d en ce was i n su ffi ci en t

t o s u p p o r t h i s co n v i ct i o n o n th i s ch arg e. See, e.g

., Bu i ce v. S t a t e

, 2 3 9 Ga. Ap p

. 5 2,

5 8 -5 9 (4 ) (5 2 0 SE2 d 25 8 ) (1 9 9 9 ) (ev i d en ce s u ffi ci en t to s u p p o rt co n v i ct io n fo r ch i ld

m o les t at i o n ev en t h o u g h i n d i ct m en t ch arg ed d efen d an t wi t h p u t t in g h i s fi n g er in

v i ct i m ’ s v ag i n a, b u t v i c t i m t e s t i fi ed at t ri al t h at d efen d an t ru b bed h i s h an d o n h er

v ag in a). In deed

, t he ju ry was au t h o ri zed t o in fer th at Bect o n u s ed h i s h an d t o t o u ch

T. J

. g i v en t h at h e b ru s h ed up b eh i n d h er at t he s am e t i m e h e t o uch ed h er ch es t

. Cf.

La t t a v. S t a t e

, 34 1 Ga. Ap p

. 69 6

, 6 99 (1 ) (8 0 2 SE2 d 2 6 4 ) (2 0 1 7 ) (ju ry au t ho ri zed to

i n fer fro m t es t i m o n y t h at d efen d an t t o u ch ed v i ct i m ’ s vag i n a d el i b erat el y rat h er t h an

acci den t al l y ). “ Mo reo v er, t h e i s s u e of wh et h er t h e t o uch i n g was s ex u al i n n at u re i s

fo r t h e ju ry

t o d eci d e.” Ka

y , 3 0 6 Ga. Ap p

. at 6 6 9 (3 ).

Bect o n rel i es o n Bu tl er v. S t a t e

, 3 5 2 G a. Ap p

. 5 7 9 (8 3 5 SE2 d 38 9 ) (2 0 1 9 ), fo r

t h e p ro p o s i t io n t h at “ av erm en t s i n an i n d i ct m en t as t o t h e s p eci fi c m an n er i n wh i ch

a cri m e was co m

m i t t ed are n o t m ere s u rp l u s ag e, an d s u ch av erm en t s m u s t be p ro v ed

10as lai d

, o r t h e fai lu re t o p ro v e t h e s am e wi l l am o u n t t o a fat al v ari an ce an d a vi o l at i o n

o f t h e d efen d an t ’ s ri gh t to d u e p ro ces s o f l aw.” Id

. at 5 8 3

. Bu t Bu t l er i s i n ap p o s i t e.

In t h at cas e, we fo u nd t h e ev i d en ce i n s u ffi ci en t t o s u p p o rt t h e d efen d an t ’ s co n v i ct i o n

fo r ch i l d m o l es t at io n fo r u s in g hi s h an d s t o g rab t h e v i ct i m ’ s b u t t o ck s an d to ru b t h e

v i ct i m ’ s v ag i n a an d b u t to ck s

, wh ere th e vi ct i m s p eci fi c a l l y i n d i cat ed t h at h er

en co un t er wi t h th e d e fen d an t wh i ch fo rm ed th e b as is o f t h e ch al l en g ed co n v i ct i o n

i n v o l v ed t h e d efen d an t i ns ert i n g h i s p en i s i n t o her v ag i n a, an d i n n o way i n v o l v ed t h e

d efen d an t ’ s u s e o f h i s h an d s

. Id

. at 5 80 -5 8 3

. In th i s cas e, t h ere was n o fat al v ari an ce

i n Co u n t 1 7 of t h e i n d i ct m en t

, an d t h e t o t al i ty o f t he ev i d en ce p res en t ed was

s u ffi ci en t fo r a ju ry t o fi n d Bect o n g u i l t y bey o n d a reas on ab le d o u b t o f m o l es t i n g T.

J

. wh en h e to uch ed h er b reas t an d b u t t o ck s

. Cf. Es pi n o s a v. S t a t e

, 3 5 2 Ga. Ap p

. 6 9 8,

6 9 9 -7 0 1 (1 ) (8 3 4 SE2 d 5 5 8 ) (2 0 1 9 ) (rev ers i n g ch i l d m o les t at io n co u nt th at al l eg ed

t h at t h e defen d an t t o u ch ed v ag i n al area o f t h e v i ct im wi th h i s h an d

, wh ere t h e v i ct i m

t es t i fi ed t h at t h e defen d an t n ev er act u al l y di d s o

, an d w h ere t h e tran scri p t d i d n ot

o t h erwi s e s h o w th at t h e d efen d an t t o u ch ed t h e ch i l d ’ s v ag i n al area); W o o d s v. S t a t e

,

2 4 4 Ga. Ap p

. 3 59

, 3 6 0- 3 6 1 (2 ) (5 3 5 SE2 d 52 4 ) (2 0 0 0 ) (ev id en ce i n s uffi ci en t to

s u p p ort co n v i ct io n fo r ch i l d m o l es t at i o n wh ere v i ct im n ev er t es t i fi ed t h at d efen d an t

fo n d led o r ev en t o u ch ed h er g en i t al i a).

113

. In h i s fi na l e n u m erat i o n o f erro r, Bect o n co n t en ds t h ere was in su ffi ci en t

e v i d en ce t o s u p po rt h i s co n v i ct i o n s fo r ag g rav at ed ch i l d m o l es t at i o n an d s t at u t o r y

rap e o f K. C. W e d i s ag ree.

“ A p ers on co m

m i t s t h e o ffen s e o f ag g rav at ed ch i l d m ol es t at i o n w h en s u ch

p ers o n co m

m i t s an o ffen s e of ch i l d m o l es t at i o n wh i ch act p h y s ical l y i nju res t h e ch i ld

o r i n v o l v es an act o f s o d o m y

. ” OCGA § 1 6 -6 -4 (c). “ A p ers on co m m i t s t he o ffen s e

o f s t at u t o ry rap e wh en h e o r s h e en g ag es in s ex u al i n t erco urs e wi t h an y p ers o n u n d er

t h e ag e o f 1 6 y ears an d no t h i s o r h er s p o u s e, p ro v i d ed t h at n o co n vi ct i o n s h al l b e h ad

fo r t h is o ffen s e o n t h e u n s u p p o rt ed t es t i m o ny o f t h e vi ct i m .” OCGA § 1 6 -6 -3 (a).

Here, Co u n t 1 8 o f t h e in di ct m en t ch arg ed Bect o n wi t h ag g rav at ed ch i l d m o l es t at i o n

fo r “ co m m i t [i n g ] an im

m oral an d i n d e c e n t a c t t o [K. C.]

, a g i rl u n d er t h e ag e o f 1 6

y ears

, i n vo l v i n g h er m ou t h an d h i s s ex u al o rg an s

, t o w i t : o ral s ex

, wi t h th e i n t en t to

aro u s e an d s at i s fy

h i s s ex ual d es i res , s ai d act i n v o l v in g an act of s o d o m y [.] ” Co u nt

1 9 ch arg ed Bect on wi t h s t at u t o ry rap e fo r “ en gag [i n g ] in s ex u al i nt erco u rs e wi t h [K.

C.] , a p ers o n u n d er t he ag e of 1 6 y ears o f ag e an d n o t t h e s p o u se o f t he accu s ed [.] ”

W i th reg ard t o th e st at u t o ry rap e co n v ict i o n, Bect o n arg u es t hat K. C.’ s t es t i m o n y t h at

s h e h ad “ v ag i n al s ex ” wi t h Bect o n

, wi t h o u t an y fu rt h er d es cri p t i o n

, i s i n su ffi ci en t to

p ro v e p en et rat i o n o f K. C.’ s v ag i n a b y Bect o n ’ s s ex o rg an

. In th i s s am e v ei n

, h e

12co n ten d s t h at K. C.’ s t es t i m o ny t h at s h e p erfo rm ed “ o ral s ex ” o n Bect o n

, wi t h o u t an y

fu rt her d es cri pt io n o f a “ sp eci fi c s ex u al ac t

, ” i s i n s u ffi ci en t t o p ro v e t h at h e

co m m i t t ed ag g rav at ed ch il d m o l es t at i on

.

(a) As t o t h e co nv i ct i o n o f ag g rav at ed ch i l d m o l e s t at i o n, we fi n d n o m eri t to

Bect o n ’ s arg u m en t

.

W i t n es s es are n o t req u i red t o d es cri b e th e act s co n s t i t u ti n g th e

co m m i s s i o n o f cri m es i n s t at u t o ry o r tech n i cal l an g uag e in o rd er t o

p ro v e t h e co m

m is s i o n o f s u ch act s. Rat h er, t h e t erm s u sed b y wi t n es ses

t o d es cri b e cri m i n al act s m ay b e co n s i d ered i n co n t ex t t o p ro v id e

m ean i n g

, an d ju ro rs can b e p res u m ed to h av e s o m e k n o w l ed g e o f s l an g

ex p res s i o n s i n co m

m o n p arl an ce i n t he v ern acu l ar.

(Ci t at i o n s an d p un ct u at i o n o m i t t ed .) Fl ewel l i ng v. S ta t e

, 30 0 Ga. Ap p

. 5 05 , 5 0 8 (1 )

(6 8 5 SE2 d 7 58 ) (2 0 0 9 ) (“ ‘ o ral s ex ’ ” i s defi n ed as “ ‘ oral s t im u l at i o n of t h e g en i t al s ’ ”

an d v i ct i m ’ s t es t i m o n y u s i n g t h e t erm au t h o ri zed t he ju ry t o i n fer co n tact b et ween

m o ut h an d g en it al s s u ffi ci en t t o s u s t ai n co n v i ct io n fo r ag g rav at ed ch i l d m o l es t at i o n ).

K. C.’ s t es t i m o n y t h at s h e h ad “ o ral s ex ” w i t h Bect o n an d h er cl ari fi cat i o n t h at s h e

p erfo rm ed “ oral s ex ” o n h im au t h o ri zed t h e ju ry t o i n fer th at “ so me deg ree o f co n t act

o ccu rred b et ween [K. C.’s ] m o u t h an d [Bect o n ’ s ] pen i s

. ” (Em p h as i s i n o ri g i n al .)

Mi r an d a v. St at e

, 35 4 Ga. Ap p

. 7 7 7

, 7 8 1 (1 ) (8 41 SE2 d 4 40 ) (2 0 2 0 ) (ju ro rs are

13p res u m ed t o h av e s o m e k no wl ed g e o f c o ll o q u i al ex pres s i on s s u ch t h at d efen d an t ’ s

ad m i s s i o n t o h av i n g t h e v ict i m “ ‘ g o d o wn o n ’ [h i m ] i s g en eral l y u n ders t o o d t o m ean

t h e s t i m u l at io n o f on e’ s g en i t al s b y th e m o u t h o f an o th er, an d o ur d eci s i o n s h av e

affo rd ed t he ju ry s o m e l at i t u d e i n d et erm i n i n g w h a t t h e wo rd s o f t h e s p eci fi c

s o l i ci t at i on m ean ”) (p u n ct uat i o n o m i t t ed)

. T he e vid en ce h ere was s u ffi ci en t t o s u s t ai n

Bect o n ’ s co n v i ct i on o f ag g rav at ed ch il d m o l es t at i o n o f K. C.

(b ) W e al s o fi n d s uffi ci en t ev i d en ce t o s u s t ai n Bect o n ’ s co n v i ct i o n o f st at u t o ry

rap e o f K. C. an d fi n d n o m eri t t o h is cl ai m t h at t he cri m e o f s t at u t o ry rap e req u i res

p ro o f o f carn al k n o w l ed g e, i .e., p en et rat i o n of th e fem al e s ex org an b y t h e m al e s ex

o rg an

. W h i l e t h e o ffen s e o f rap e req u ires p ro o f o f carn al kn o wl ed g e, t h e cri m e o f

s t a t u t o ry rap e d oes n o t

. Co m p are OCGA § 1 6 -6 -1 t o OCGA § 1 6 -6 -3

. As s et o u t

ab o ve, s t at u t o ry

rap e req u i res p ro o f o f s ex u al i n t erco u rs e, a n d c a r n al k n o w l ed g e i s

n o t an el em en t o f t h e cri m e o f s t at u t o ry rap e. See OCGA § 1 6 -6 -3 (a). Cf. Li t t l e v.

S t a t e

, 2 6 2 Ga

. A p p. 3 7 7, 3 78 (b ) (5 8 5 SE2 d 6 7 7) (2 0 03 ) (reject in g d efen d an t ’ s

rel i an ce o n rap e cas es t o arg u e t h at St at e fai l ed t o p ro v e p en et rat i o n s u f f i ci en t to

affi rm co n v i ct i o n o f i n ces t : “ [s ] p eci fi c p ro of o f ‘ p en et rat i o n [ ] ’

. . . i s p ecu l i ar t o t h e

rap e s t at u t e an d ari s es p u rs u a n t t o t h at st at ut e’ s d efi ni t i o n of ‘ carn al k n o wl ed g e,’

[wh ereas ] i n ces t s t at u t e

. . . d em an d s p ro o f o f ‘ s ex u al i n t erco u rs e’ o n l y ”). In th i s cas e,

14K. C. t o ld an i n ves ti g at o r d u ri n g a n i n t erv i ew t h at Bect o n h ad s ex wi t h h er, an d K.

C. t es ti fi ed at t ri al t h at Bect o n h ad v ag i n al s ex wi t h h er. Th i s t es t i m o n y w as su ffi ci en t

t o p ro v e t h at Bect o n h ad s e x u a l i n t e r co u rs e wi th K. C., as req u i red to s u s t ai n h i s

co n vi ct i o n o f s t at u to ry rap e.

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

.

15