FI RST DI VI SI ON

BA RNES, P. J.

, M ERCI ER 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.

http://w w w .ga a ppe a l s .us /r ule s

Nov em ber 14, 2019



# I n th e Co u r t o f

A p p eals o f

G eo r g ia

A1 9 A2 18 6 . SHEPHERD v . THE STATE.

M E R C I E R , J u dg e.

Fo l l owi n g a ju ry t ri al

, M ich ael Lee Sh ep h erd was co n v i ct ed of m u lt i pl e co u n t s

o f ag g rav at ed ch i l d m o l es t at i on , ch i l d m o l es t at i o n , at t em p t ed ch i l d m o l es t at i o n , an d

cru el t y t o ch i l d ren

. Th e t ri al co u rt d en i ed Sh ep h erd ’ s m o t i o n fo r n ew t ri al

, a n d h e

ap p eal s , ch al l en g in g t h e su ffi ci en cy o f t he ev i d en ce. F o r r e a s o n s t h at fo l l o w, we

affi rm in p art an d rev ers e i n p art

.

On ap p eal fro m a cri m i n al co n v i ct i o n , w e co n s tru e t he ev i d e n c e i n t h e l i g ht

m o s t fav o rab l e t o t h e verd i ct

, an d th e d efen d an t n o l on g er en jo y s a p res u m

p t i o n o f

i n n o cen ce. See Ter ry v. St a t e , 2 9 3 Ga. A p p

. 4 5 5 (6 6 7 SE2 d 1 0 9 ) (2 0 0 8 ). W e d o n ot

wei g h t h e ev i d en ce o r res o l v e i s s u es o f wi t n es s c r e d i b i l i t y , b u t m erel y d et erm i n ewh et h er t h e ev i d e n c e wa s s u ffi ci en t fo r t h e ju ry t o fi n d t h e d efen d an t g u il t y o f t h e

ch arg ed offen s es b ey on d a reas o n ab l e d o u b t

. See i d

.

So v i ewed

, t h e e v i d e n c e s h o ws t h at Sh ep h erd h as t wo so n s , D. S. an d A. S.,

an d o ne d au g h t er, E. S. In 20 1 4

, t h e Dep art m en t o f Fam il y an d C h i l d ren Serv i ces

(“ DFCS”) recei ved in fo rm at i o n reg ard i n g al l eg at i o n s o f d o m es t i c vi o l en ce an d

s u b s t an ce ab u s e i n Sh ep h erd ’ s h o m e. DFCS rem o v ed t he ch i l d ren fro m t h e h o m e an d

p l aced th em i n fo s t er care, wh ere t h ey d i s cl o s ed t o th ei r fo s t er m o t h er th at Sh ep h erd

h ad beat en t h em o n n u m ero u s o ccas i o ns

. D. S. an d E. S. al s o rep ort ed th at Sh ep h erd

h ad s e x u a l l y ab u s ed t hem

. Th e fo s t er m o t h er rep o rt ed t h e o ut cri es to DFCS

p ers o n n el , wh o co n t act ed t h e p o l i ce.

Th e ch i l dren s u b s eq u en t ly d es cri b ed p hy sic a l b e a tings a n d s ex u al ab us e d u ri n g

fo ren s i c i n t erv i ews t h at w ere v i d eo -reco rd ed an d p lay ed fo r t he ju ry

. Th ey al s o

rep o rt ed t h e ab u s e t o a m ed i cal p ro v i d er, reco u n t i n g v ari o u s i n ci d en t s o f s ex u al an d

p h y s i cal ab u s e, in cl u d i n g t h at Sh ep h erd h i t t h em , t h reat en ed t h em wi t h weap o n s , an d

s l am m ed D. S. ag ai n s t a s i n k

. Th e p o l i ce o b t ai n ed a s earch warran t fo r Sh ep h erd ’ s

h o m e an d d i s co v ered s p eci fi c it em s m en ti o n e d b y t h e ch i l d ren , i n cl u d i n g a s wo rd

,

d ru g parap h ern al i a, a b ack s crat ch er, an d p o rn o g rap h i c v i deo s

.

2Th e t h ree ch i l d ren , wh o ran g ed i n ag e fro m t en t o t wel v e y ears o l d at t h e t i m e

o f t ri al

, t es ti fi ed ab o u t t h e p h y s i cal ab u s e i n fl i ct ed b y t h ei r fat h er. Th ey as sert ed t h at

S h e p h e rd b eat A. S. wi th h i s h an ds an d a wo o d en b ack scrat ch er, cau s i n g A. S. t o

b l eed

. Sh ep h erd al s o t hreat en ed A

. S

. w i t h an ax an d k ick ed h i m d o wn a fl i g h t o f

s t ai rs

. Sh ep h erd h i t D. S. an d E. S. wi t h t h e b ack s crat ch er, hel d a k n i f e t o D

. S

. ’ s

t h ro at wh i l e ch o k i n g h i m , cu t D

. S.’ s h an d wi t h a k n i fe, an d p l aced a g u n t o D. S.’ s

h ead

. Sh ep h erd s i m il arl y t h reat en ed E. S. wi t h weap o n s , p u t ti n g a g u n t o h er head an d

a s wo rd t o h er t h ro at

.

D. S. an d E. S. fu rt h er d es cri bed t he s ex u al ab u s e. Bo t h tes t i fi ed t h at Sh ep h erd

m ad e t h em wat ch p o rn o g rap h i c v i deo s

. Aft er wat ch i n g t h e v i d eo s an d at Sh ep h erd ’ s

i n s i s ten ce, D. S. m as t u rb at ed

, an d E. S. p l aced h er m o u th o n D

. S.’ s p en i s

. Sh ep h erd

al s o fo rced E. S. t o p l ace h er m o u t h o n h i s p en i s m o re t h an o n e t i m e, an d Sh ep h erd

m ad e D. S. p l ace h i s m ou t h o n Sh ep h erd ’ s p en i s

. Sh ep h erd at t em p t ed t o t o u ch E. S.’ s

g en it al area wi t h h i s m o u t h an d h an d . An d h e m ad e D. S. an d E. S. s m o k e d ru g s

.

Th e ju ry fo u n d t h at Sh ep h erd co m m i tt ed m u l t i p l e o ffen ses : fi v e co u n t s o f

ag g rav at ed ch i l d m ol es t at i o n b y fo rci n g E. S. t o p l ace h er m o u th on h i s p en is o n t wo

o ccas i o n s (Co u n t s 1 an d 2 ), p l aci n g h i s m ou t h o n E. S.’ s g en i t al area (Co u n t 3 ),

h av in g E. S. p l ace h er m o u t h o n D. S.’ s p en i s (Co u n t 4 ), an d h av i n g D. S. p l ace h i s

3m o ut h o n Sh ep h erd ’ s p en i s (Co u n t 1 2 ); two co u n t s o f ch i l d m o l es t at i o n b y s h o wi n g

p o r n o g rap hi c m at eri al t o D. S. an d E. S. (Co u n t 5 ) an d h av i n g D. S. p l ace h i s h a n d

o n h i s own p e n i s ( Co u n t 1 3 ); o n e co u nt o f cri m i n al at t em p t t o co m

m i t ch i ld

m o les t at i o n b y t ry i n g t o p l ace h i s h an d o n E. S.’ s g en i t al area (Co u n t 6 ); an d fi ft een

co u nt s o f cru el t y t o ch i l d ren b y h i t t i n g E. S. wi t h h i s h an d (Co un t 7), pu t t i n g a s wo rd

t o E. S.’ s t hro at (Co u n t 8 ), p laci n g a fi rearm t o t he h ead s o f D. S. an d E. S. (Co u n t s

9 an d 1 4 ), fo rci n g D. S. an d E

. S. t o s m o k e a s u b st an ce t h at h ad t h e effect o f a d ru g

(Co un t s 1 1 an d 2 0), p l aci n g a k n i fe t o D. S.’ s head (Co u n t 1 5 ), cu t t i n g D. S. wi t h a

k n i fe (Co u n t 1 6 ), ch o k in g D

. S. (Co u n t 1 7), hi tt i ng D

. S. wi t h a b ack s crat ch er (Co u nt

1 8 ), s lam m i n g D. S. ag ai n st a s i n k (Co u n t 1 9 ), t h ro wi n g A. S. d o w n a fl i g h t o f s t ai rs

(Co u n t 2 1 )

, t h r eat en i n g A. S. wi t h an ax (Co u n t 22 ), h i t t i n g A. S. (Co u n t 2 3 ), an d

h i t t i n g A. S. wi t h a b ack s crat ch er (Co u n t 2 4 ). 1 Sh ep h erd ch al len g es t he s u ffi ci en cy

o f t h e ev i d en ce as t o each co u nt

.

1

. W i t h res p ect t o Co u n t 3

, wh ich al l eg ed th at Sh ep h erd co m m i t t ed ag g rav at ed

ch i l d m o l es t at i o n b y pl aci n g h i s m o u t h o n E. S.’ s g en i t al area, we are co n s trai n ed to

ag ree t h at t h e ev i d en ce was i n s u ffi ci en t

. A l t ho u gh E. S. tes t ifi ed t h at Sh ep h erd t r i ed

1 Th e j u ry fo un d Sh ep h erd n o t g u i l t y o f o n e co un t o f cru el t y to ch i l dren (Co u nt

1 0 ).

4t o t ou ch h er gen i t al area wi t h h i s m o u t h

, n o t h in g i n h er t es t i m o n y o r fo ren s i c

i n t erv i ew rev eal s t h at he a ct u a l l y p l aced h i s m o u t h th ere, an d t he St at e h as p o i n t ed

t o no ev i d en ce s u p p o rt i n g t h e ju ry ’ s v erd i ct o n t h i s ch arg e. Acco rd i n g l y , b ecau s e t h e

St at e fai l ed t o pres en t su ffi ci en t ev id en ce t h at Sh ep h erd co m m i t t ed ag g rav at ed ch i ld

m o les t at i o n as al l eg ed i n Co u n t 3

, we m us t rev ers e h i s co n vi ct io n o n t h at ch arg e. See

OCGA § 1 6 -6 -4 (c) (“ A p ers o n co m m it s t h e o ffen s e of ag g rav at ed ch il d m o l es t at i o n

wh en s u ch p ers o n co m m i t s a n o ffen s e o f ch i l d m o l es t at i o n wh i ch act p h y s i cal l y

i n ju res t h e ch i l d o r i n v o lv es an act o f s o d o m y .”); W i l l ia ms v. S t at e , 3 0 2 Ga. 4 0 4

, 4 0 7

-

4 0 8 (2 ) (b ) (8 0 7 SE2 d 4 1 8 ) (2 0 1 7 ) (rev ers i n g arm ed r o b b e ry co nv i ct i o n wh ere

ev i d en ce fai l ed t o s h ow th at d efen d an t s u cceed ed i n t ak i n g p ro pert y fro m t h e v i ct i m ).

2

. As t o t h e rem ai n i ng co n v i ct i o n s , t h e ev id en ce was su ffi ci en t

. Th e ex t en s i v e

p ro o f o ffered by t h e St at e, i n cl u d i n g t h e v i d eo -reco rd i ng s o f t h e fo ren si c in t erv i ews ,

t es t i m o ny ab o u t t h e ch i l d ren ’ s v ari o u s d i s cl o su res , an d t es t i m o n y fro m th e ch i l d ren

t h em s el v es , au t h o ri zed t h e ju ry t o co n cl u de t h at Sh ep h erd co m m i tt ed ag g rav at ed

ch i l d m o l es t at io n , c h i l d m o les t at i o n , at t em p t ed ch i l d m o l es tat i o n , an d cru el t y to

ch i l d ren as al leg ed i n Co u n t s 1-2

, 4 -9

, an d 1 1 -2 4 o f t h e i n di ct m en t

. See OCGA § 1 6

-

6 -4 (c) (d efi ni ng ag g rav at ed ch i l d m o l es t at i on ); OCGA § 1 6-6 -4 (a) (d efi n i n g ch i ld

5m ole s ta tion) ; O C G A § 16- 4

- 1 (d efi n i n g cri m in al at t em p t); O CGA § 1 6 -5 -7 0 ( de f ining

cru el t y t o ch i l dren ).

On ap p eal

, Sh ep h erd arg u es t h at t h e s t at em en t s an d tes t i m on y o f th e ch i l d ren

were n o t b el i ev ab l e, t h at t h e ch i l d ren h ad b een d i s h on e s t i n t h e p as t

, an d t h at n o

p h y s i cal ev i d en ce co rro b o rat ed t h ei r al l eg at i o n s

. Two n ei gh b ors an d a fri en d o f E. S.,

h o wev er, t es t i fi ed t hat t hey o b s erv ed b ru i s es an d o t h er i n ju ri es o n t h e ch i l d ren , an d

t h e n ei g h b o rs s aw Sh ep h erd k i ck A. S. M oreo v er, t h e ju ry

– n o t t h i s Co u rt

– res o l v es

ev i d en t i ary co n fl i ct s an d d et erm i n es t h e c r e d i b i l i t y o f wi t n es s es

. See Pa tt er s o n v.

S t a t e , 3 5 0 G a. Ap p. 5 4 0

, 54 3 (1 ) (8 2 9 SE2 d 7 9 6) (2 0 1 9 ). “ [T] he res o l u t i o n o f s u ch

co n fl i ct s ad v ers el y t o th e d efen d an t d o es n o t r e n d e r t h e ev i d en ce i ns u ffi ci en t .” Id

.

(ci t at i o n an d p un ct u at i on o m i t t ed ). Th e ju ry d eem ed t h e ch i l d ren cred ib l e, as i t was

au t h o ri zed t o d o

. Acco rd i n gl y , we affi rm t h e ju d g m en t s o f co n vi ct i o n en t ered o n

Co u n t s 1 -2 , 4 -9 , an d 1 1-2 4. See i d .; s ee al s o Ter r y , s u pra at 4 57 (1 ).

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

s ed i n p a r t

. Ba rn es

, P. J., an d Br o wn

, J.,

co n cu r

.

6