THI RD DI VI SI ON

DI L LA RD, P. J.

, GOBEI L and HODGES, 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

October 17, 2019



# I n th e Co u r t o f

A p p eals o f

G eo r g ia

A1 9 A1 35 9 . THE STATE v . DEAN.

D I LLA R D , Pres i d i n g J u d g e.

Th e St at e ap p eal s t h e Su p eri o r Co u rt o f Fu l t o n Co u nt y ’ s dec i s i o n t o t ran s fer

t h i s cas e ag ai n s t Gh o h au n Dean t o ju v en i l e co urt

. Sp eci fi cal l y

, t h e St at e arg u es t h at

t h e s u p eri o r co u rt erred i n (1 ) i ts ap p l i cat io n of OCGA § 1 5 -1 1 -5 6 0 an d OCGA § 1 5

-

1 1 -5 62 b y m ak i n g cl earl y erro n eo u s fact u al fi n d i n gs

, an d (2 ) fai l i ng t o p ro p e r l y

wei g h al l o f t h e fact ors i t was req u i red t o co ns i d er u n d er OCGA § 15 -1 1 -5 6 2.

Becau s e we ag ree wi t h t he St at e t h at t h e s u p eri o r co urt m ad e an u n su p po rt ed fact u al

fi nd i ng as t o o n e o f t h e t ran s fer fact o rs o r f a i l e d t o f u l l y co n si d er t hat fact o r, we

v acat e an d rem an d fo r ad di ti o n al p ro ceed i ng s co n s is ten t wi t h t h i s o p i n i o n

.Th e reco rd sh o ws t h at o n Feb ru ary 2 8

, 2 0 1 8

, Dean was in d i ct ed 1 o n o n e co u nt

o f ag grav at ed s o d o m

y 2 an d o ne co u n t o f s ex u al b at t ery o f a ch i l d u n d er t h e ag e o f 1 6

. 3

Th e i n d i ct m en t al l eg ed t h at De a n co m m i t t ed ag g rav at ed s o d om y b y p erfo rm i n g a

“ s ex u al act i n v o l v i n g [h i s ] s ex u al o rg an an d t h e an u s o f [t h e al leg ed v i ct i m ]

, a ch i ld

u n d er t en (1 0 ) y ears o f ag e, b y p en et rat i n g h er an u s wi t h h is m al e sex o rg an [,] ” an d

s ex u al b at tery b y m a k i n g “ p h y s i cal co n t act wi t h t h e b u t t o ck s o f t h e b o d y o f [t h e

al l eg ed v i ct i m ]

, a ch il d un d er t h e ag e o f 1 6 y ears

, wi th o u t h e r c o n s en t .” Th es e act s

were al l eg ed l y

co m m i t t ed i n Au g u s t an d Sep t em b er o f 2 0 17 , res p ect i v el y

.

Acco rd i ng t o t h e arres t affi d av i t

, t h e ab ov e i n ci d en t s occu rred wh en Dean was

1 4 y ears o l d an d t h e al leg ed v i ct i m

, A

. D., was t wo y ears ol d

. At t h e t im e, Dean was

s t ay in g ov ern i g h t at hi s g ran dm o t h er’ s h o us e wi t h h i s t wo b ro t h ers

. A. D. is a s i s t er

t o Dean ’ s t wo b ro th ers

, b ut s h e an d Dean h av e n o b i ol o g i cal co n n e c t i o n

. Dean

al l eg ed l y co m

m i t t ed ag g rav at ed s o d o m y wh en A. D

. was s l eep i n g al o n e w h i l e h er

fat h er w as at wo rk . Th e n ex t m o rn i n g

, w hen A. D.’ s fat h er ch an g ed h er d i ap er, s h e

1 Dean was p rev io us l y in d i ct ed on t h es e s am e ch arg es i n Oct ob er 2 0 1 7

, b u t was

rei n d i ct ed in F e b r u a ry 2 0 1 8 to refl ect t h e p referred sp el l i n g o f h i s n am e. Th e p ri o r

i n d i ct m en t was n o l l e p r o s s ed

.

2 OCGA § 1 6 -6 -2 (A) (2 ).

3 OCGA § 1 6 -6 -2 2

. 1 (D).

2wh i m

p ered

, an d h e f

o u n d wh at ap p eared t o b e b l oo d an d s em en i n t h e d i ap er. A

s u b s eq u en t m ed i cal ex am i n at i o n co n fi rm ed t h a t A

. D.’ s an u s s u s t ai n ed t eari n g an d

l acerat i o n s

, i n di cat i n g t h a t s h e h ad b een s o d o m i zed b y s o m eo n e. Aft er recei v i n g

s t it ch es an d sp en d in g s ev eral d ay s i n t h e h o s p i t al

, A. D. wen t t o st ay wi t h h er m o t h er,

t o wh om s h e co n fi d ed t h at Dean h u rt h er.

Fo l l owi n g t h e i n d ict m en t

, Dean m o ved to tran s fer h i s cas e fro m s u p eri o r co u rt

t o ju v en i l e co u rt

. Dean arg u ed t h at

— d u e t o a h i s t o ry o f m en t al h eal t h an d em o t i o n al

p ro b lem s

, i n c l u d i n g a l earn i ng d is ab i l i t y an d h av i n g l ower co g ni t i v e fu nct i o n

— h e

“ s h o u l d no t b e h el d t o t h e acco u n tab i l i t y t h a t i s i nh eren t i n t he pro s ecu t i o n o f

ju v en i l es i n [s ] up eri o r [c] ou rt .” An d p ri o r t o ru l i n g o n t h e m o t i o n

, t h e s u p eri o r co u rt

o rd ered p ret ri al s erv i ces t o p rep are a t ran s fer rep o rt

, wh i ch was t o co n t ai n ad d i t i o n al

i n fo rm at i o n i t co u l d u s e t o deci d e wh et h er t o g ran t Dean ’ s m o ti o n

. Th en

, fo l l o wi n g

a s eri es o f heari n g s o n t h e m at t er, o n J u n e 1 6

, 2 01 8

, t h e su p eri o r co u rt t ran s ferred t h e

act i on t o ju v en i le co urt . Th is ap p eal b y t h e St at e fo l l o ws

. 4

1

. Th e St at e arg u es t h at t h e s u p eri o r co u rt erred i n i t s ap pl i cat io n o f OCGA §

1 5 -1 1-5 60 an d OCGA § 1 5 -1 1 -5 6 2 b y m ak in g cl earl y erro n eo us fact ual fi n d i n g s

.

4 Th e St at e i s en t i t l ed to d i rect l y ap peal i n cas es s u ch as t h i s o n e. S ee OCGA

§ 15 -1 1 -5 6 0 (e) (“ An y s u ch t ran s fer s h al l b e ap peal ab l e b y t h e St at e o f Geo rg i a

p u rs u an t t o Co d e Sect i o n 5 -7 -1 .”).

3Ou r J u v en i le Co d e p ro v id es t h at ju ven i l e co u rt s , wi t h l i m i t ed ex cep t i o n

,

h av e co ncu rren t ju ri sd i ct i o n wi th t h e s up eri or co u rt o v er a ch il d wh o i s

al l eg ed t o h av e co m

m i t t ed a d el i n q uen t act wh ich wo u l d b e co n s id ered

a cri m e i f tri ed i n a s u p eri o r c o u rt an d fo r wh i ch an ad u l t m ay be

p u n i s h ed by l o s s o f l i fe, i m p ri s o nm en t fo r l i fe w i t ho u t p o s s i b i l i t y o f

p aro le, o r co n fi n em en t fo r l i fe i n a p en al i n s t i t u ti o n

. 5

Th e ex cep ti o n to t h i s co n cu rren t ju ri s d i ct io n p ro v i d es th at s u p eri o r co u r t s h a v e

“ ex cl u s i v e o ri g i n al ju ri s di ct i o n o v er t h e tri al o f an y ch il d 1 3 t o 1 7 y ears of ag e wh o

i s a l l e g e d t o hav e co m

m i t t ed ” m

u rd er, m u rd er i n t h e s eco n d d eg ree, v o l u n t ary

m an s l au g h t er, rap e, ag g rav at ed s o do m y

, ag g rav at ed ch i ld m o l es t a t i o n

, ag g rav at ed

s ex u al b at t ery

, arm ed ro b b ery wi t h a fi rearm

, ag grav at ed as s au l t u p o n a p ub l i c s afet y

o ffi cer t h at i s co m

m i tt ed u si n g a fi rearm

, an d ag g rav at ed b at t ery u p o n a p ub l i c s afet y

o ffi cer. 6

No t wi t h s t an d i n g t h e ex cl u si v e o ri g i n al ju ri s d ict i o n o f s u p eri o r co u rt s o v e r

t h es e t y p es o f ju v en i l e cas es

, a s u p eri o r co urt i s au t h o ri zed t o t ran s fer s o m e o f t h em

5 OCGA § 1 5 -1 1-5 60 (a).

6 OCGA § 1 5 -1 1-5 60 (b ).

4t o ju v en i l e co u rt 7

— i .e.

, t ho s e i n v o l v i n g v o lu n t ary m an sl au g h t er, ag grav at ed s o d o m y

,

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

, ag g rav at ed s ex u al b at t ery

, an d ag grav at ed as s au l t an d

b at t ery o n a p u b l i c s afet y o ffi cer. 8 Bu t b efo re o rd eri n g s u ch a t ran sfer, t h e s u p eri o r

co u rt mu st fi rs t co n s id er— bu t i s n ot l i m it ed t o co n s i d eri n g

— t h e fo l l o wi n g cri t eri a:

(1 ) [t ] h e ag e o f s u ch ch i l d ; (2 ) [t ] h e s eri o u sn es s of t he al leg ed o ffen s e,

es p eci al l y i f p ers o nal i nju ry res u lt ed ; (3 ) [w] het h er t h e p ro t ect i o n o f th e

co m m u n i t y req u i res t ran s fer o f ju ri s d ict i o n ; (4 ) [w] h et h er th e al l eg ed

o ffen s e i n v o l v ed v i o l en ce o r was co m m i t t ed i n an ag g res s i ve o r

p rem ed i tat ed m an n er; (5 ) [t ] h e i m p a c t o f t h e al l eg ed o ffen s e o n th e

al l eg ed v ict i m

, i n cl ud i n g t h e p erm an en ce o f an y p h y s i cal or em o t i o nal

i n ju ry s u st ai ned

, h eal t h care ex pen s es in cu rred

, a n d l o s t earn i n g s

s u ffered ; (6 ) [t ] h e cu l p ab i l i t y o f s uch ch i l d i n cl u d i n g s u ch ch i l d ’ s l ev el

o f p lan n i n g an d p art i ci p at i o n i n t h e al l eg ed o ffen s e; (7 ) [w] h et h er th e

al l eg ed o ffen s e i s a p art o f a rep et i t iv e pat t ern o f o f f e n s es wh ich

i n d i cat es t h at s u ch ch i l d m a y b e b ey o n d reh ab i l i t at io n i n t h e ju v en i l e

j u s t i ce s y s t em ; (8 ) [t ] h e reco rd an d h i s t o ry o f su ch ch i l d

, i n cl u d i n g

7 OCGA § 1 5 -1 1 -5 6 0 (e) (“ Aft er i n d ic t m e n t

, t h e s u p eri o r co u rt m ay aft er

i n v es t i g at i o n t ran s fer t o t he ju ven i l e co u rt an y cas e i n v o l v i n g a ch il d 1 3 t o 1 7 y ears

o f ag e al l eg ed t o h av e co m m i t t ed an y act d es cri b ed i n p arag rap h (3 ), (5 ), (6 ), (7 ), (9 ),

o r (1 0 ) of s u b s ect i o n (b ) o f t h is Co d e s ect i o n

. In co ns i d eri n g t he t ran s fer o f s uch cas e,

t h e co u rt s hal l co n s i d er t h e cri t e r i a s e t fo rt h i n Co d e Sect i o n 1 5 -1 1 -5 6 2

. A n y s u ch

t ran s fer s h al l b e ap peal ab l e b y t h e St at e o f Geo rg i a p u rs u an t to Co d e Sect io n 5 -7 -1

. Up o n s u ch a t ran s fer by t h e su p eri o r co u rt

, ju ri s d ict i o n sh al l v es t i n t he ju v en i l e co u rt

an d ju ri s d i ct i o n o f t h e s u p eri or co u rt s h al l t erm i n at e.”).

8 S ee OCGA § 1 5 -1 1 -5 6 0 (e); OCGA § 1 5 -1 1-5 6 2 (a).

5ex p eri en ce wi th t h e ju v en i l e ju s t ice sy st em

, o t h er co u rt s

, s u per v i s i o n

,

co m m i t m en t s t o j u v e n i l e i n s t i t u t i o n s

, an d o t h er p l acem en t s ; (9 ) [t ] he

s o p h i s t i cat i o n an d m at uri t y o f s u ch ch il d as d et erm i n ed b y co n s i d erat i o n

o f h i s o r h er h o m e an d en v i ro n m en t al s i t uat i o n

, em o t i o nal co n d i t i o n

,

an d p at t ern o f l i v i n g ; (1 0) [t ] h e p ro g ram an d faci l i t i es av ai l ab l e t o t he

j u v en i l e co urt i n co n s id eri n g d is p o s i t i o n ; an d (1 1 ) [w] h et h er o r n o t a

ch i l d can b en efi t fro m t h e t reat m en t or reh ab i l i t at i v e p ro g ram s av ai l ab l e

t o t h e ju v en i l e co u rt

. 9

Th e St at e arg u es t h at t h e s u p eri o r co u rt erred i n i t s ap p l i cat i o n o f th e fo reg o i n g

s t at u tes b y m ak i n g erro n eo u s fact u al fi n d i n g s i n s up p o rt o f it s deci s io n t o t ran s fer

Dean ’ s cas e fro m s u p eri o r co u rt t o ju v en il e co u rt

. In rev i ewi ng a s u p e r i o r c o urt ’ s

d eci s i o n t o t ran s fer ju ri s di ct i o n

, “ t h e fu n ct i o n o f t h i s Co u rt is l i m i t ed t o as cert ai n i n g

wh et h er t h ere was s o m e ev i d en ce t o su p p o rt t h e [s u p eri o r] co u rt ’ s det erm i n at i o n

, an d

ab s en t an ab u se o f d i s cret io n , we wi l l affi rm t h e o rd er t ran s ferri n g ju ri sd i ct i o n .” 1 0

Th e St at e s p eci fi cal l y t ak es i s s u e wi t h t he s up eri o r co u rt ’ s co n cl u s i on s t h at (1 )

t h e al l eg ed v i ct i m h ad m ad e a fu l l rec o v ery

, an d (2 ) Dean w ou l d b en efi t fro m

9 OCGA § 1 5 -1 1-5 62 (a) (1 )-(1 1 ).

1 0 I n t h e In t er es t o

f K. S

. , 3 4 8 Ga. Ap p

. 4 4 0

, 4 4 1 (8 23 SE2 d 5 3 6) (2 0 1 9 )

(p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed ); a cco r d In t h e In t er es t o f T. S.

, 3 3 6 Ga. Ap p. 3 5 2, 3 5 2 -5 3 (7 8 5

SE2 d 3 2) (2 0 1 6 ); In t h e In t er es t D. C.

, 3 0 3 Ga. Ap p

. 3 95

, 3 9 5 (1 ) (6 9 3 SE2 d 5 9 6 )

(2 0 1 0).

6p ro ceed in g i n t h e ju v en i le ju s t i ce s y s t em

. W e wi l l co n s i d er b o t h of t h es e fi n d i n g s in

t u rn

.

(a) Th e Vi ct i m’s Reco ver y

. Th e St at e co n t en d s t h at n o fact s were p res en t ed

d u ri n g t h e s up eri or co u rt ’ s co n s i d erat i on o f t h e m o t i o n t o t ran s fer t o su p p o rt i t s

fi nd i ng t h at A. D. “ h as ap p aren t l y reco v ered .” Th e St a t e a c k n o w l ed g es t h at i t s

rep res en t at i v e at o n e o f t h e h eari n g s o n t h e m o t i o n ch aract eri zed A. D. as h av i n g n o

p erm an en t p h y s i cal i nju ri es , b u t arg u es t hat t h e t es t i m o n y p res en t ed b y a p h y s i ci an

wh o ex am i n e d A

. D

. d i d n o t s u p p o rt a fi n d i n g t h at t h e ch il d h ad fu l l y reco v ered

.

Sp eci fi cal l y

, t h e p h y s i ci an t es t i fi ed t h at A. D.’ s in i t i al i n ju ri es were am on g t h e m o s t

s ev ere he h ad ev er o b s erv ed

. An d at t h e ti m e o f a reex am in at i o n a few week s aft er t h e

i n c i d e n t

, t h e p h y s i ci an n o t ed t h at A. D. h ad “ i m p ro v ed ,” b ut h er m o t h er an d

g ran d m o t h er rep o rt ed t h at t h e ch i l d was s t i l l hav i n g d i ffi c u l t i e s wi t h an d ex ert i n g

res i st an ce t o b ei n g bat h ed o r ch an g ed

. A. D. al s o res i s t ed t h e fo ll o w-u p ex am i n at i o n.

Th e St at e l at er arg u ed th at t he ch i l d ’ s res i st an ce t o b ei n g b at h ed o r ch an g ed was

ev i d en ce o f an o n g o i ng em ot i o n al i n ju ry

.

On ap p eal

, t h e St at e m ai n t ai n s t h at t he s up eri or co u rt en t irel y d i s reg ard ed t h e

p o t en t i al p sy ch o l o g i cal in ju ry i n fl i ct ed u p o n A. D. wh en i t o n l y as k ed t h e as s i s t an t

d i s t ri ct at t orn ey i f t h e ch i l d h ad an y perm an en t p h ys i cal i n ju ri es

, an d s peci fi cal l y

7n o t ed t h at i t w a s “ n o t t al k i n g ab o u t p s y ch o l o g i cal in ju ri es .” 1 1 In d eed

, i n i t s o rd er

g ran t i n g t h e m ot i o n t o tran s fer, t h e s u peri o r co u rt co n cl u d ed t h at A. D. “ s u ffered n o

p erm an en t p hy s i cal i n

j u ri es .” Th e co u rt al so n o ted t h at A. D

. “ recei v ed a few week s

o f c o u n s el i n g i m

m ed i at el y fo l l o wi n g th e i n ci d en t ” b ut h er “ m o th er el ect ed t o

d i s co n t i n u e t he co u n s el i n g .” An d i n t h e t ran s fer rep o rt creat ed b y p ret ri al s erv i ces at

t h e s u p eri o r co u rt ’ s req u es t

, t h e p ret ri al o ffi cer i n di cat ed th at s h e h ad s p ok en t o A.

D.’ s m o t h er, wh o i n fo rm ed h er t h at t h e ch i l d “ s t i l l ran d o m l y m en t i o n s t h e i n ci d en t

an d t hat co u n s el i n g h ad o ccu rred fo r a few week s i n i t ial l y

, b u t [s h e] d i s co n t i n u ed d u e

t o [A. D.] n o t p art i ci p at in g at a l ev el t h at s eem ed h el p fu l at t h at t i m e.”

It ap p ears , t h en , t h at A. D. has s u s tai n ed o ng o i n g p s y ch o l og i cal i n ju ri es , an d

t h e su p eri o r co u rt ’ s fi n di n g s o f fact an d co m m en t s o n t h e reco rd s ug g es t t h at i t o n l y

co n si d ered t h e p erm an en ce o f p h y s i cal i n ju ri es wh en m ak in g it s d eci s i o n. Su ffi ce i t

t o say

, to t h e ex t en t th at t h e co urt co n cl u d ed t h at A. D. h ad “ ap p aren t l y reco v ered ,”

t h e reco rd ev i d en ce o f p s y ch o l og i cal reco v ery ap p ears t o b e far m o re n u an ced

. An d

as a res u l t o f t h e co u rt ’ s fai l u re t o reach a co n cl u s i o n o n t h i s p art i cu l ar as p ect o f t h e

q u es ti o n o f p erm an en t i n j u ri es

, we v acat e t h i s p o rt io n o f i t s o r d e r a n d rem an d fo r

1 1 To t hi s s p eci fi c qu es t i o n

, t h e St at e res p o nd ed t h at t h ere were n o “ p erm an en t

p h y s i cal in

ju r[i es ] ,” an d t h e i nju ri es t h at rem ai n ed aft er t h e i n ci d en t h ad b een t reat ed

wi t h n o o t h er p hy s ical i nju ri es “ t o t h i s d ay .”

8ad d it i o n al fi n d i n g s o f fact as t o t h e p ot en t i al ev i d en ce o f on g oi n g p s y ch o l o g i cal o r

e m o t i o n a l i n

j u ry t o A. D. In d o i n g s o

, t h e co urt i s to co n si der th e “ i m p act o f t h e

al l eg ed o ffen s e on th e al l e ged vi ct i m

, i n cl u d i n g t h e p er ma n en ce o f a n y p h y s i cal o r

emo ti o na l i nj u r

y s u s t a i n ed

, h eal t h care ex p en ses in cu rred

, an d l o s t earn i ng s

s u ffered .” 1 2

(b ) Ben ef i t o f P r o ceed i n g i n Ju ven i l e Ju s t i ce S ys t em. Th e St at e fu rt h er arg u es

t h at t h e s u p eri o r co u rt m ad e un s u p p o rt ed fi n d in g s o f fact t h at Dean wo u l d be b et t er

s erv ed b y t he s erv i ces av ai l ab l e i n t h e ju v en i l e ju s t i ce s y s t em

. In p art i cu l ar, t h e St at e

t ak es i ss u e wi t h t he p o rt i o n o f t h e s u p eri or co urt ’ s o rd er t h at co n cl u d es as fo l l o ws :

[T] h e Defen d an t wi l l h av e acces s t o s erv i ces an d p ro g ram s t h at are ag e

a p p ro pri at e an d p ro v i d ed i n an en v iro n m en t wi t h s i m i l arl y s it u at ed

p eers

. . . Hi s l ack o f b eh av i o ral i s s u es i n cu s t o d y a n d p o s i t i v e v i ew o f

s ch o o l s u g ges t t o t h e Co u rt t h at t h e Defen d an t co ul d d eri ve s o m e b en efi t

fro m t h e o p t i o ns av ai l ab l e i n t h e ju v en i l e s et ti n g

.

Bu t as Dean p o i n t s o u t, th ere i s so me ev i d e n t i ary s u pp o rt fo r t h is fi n d i n g i n t h e

p ret ri al s erv i ces t ran s fer rep o rt

, wh i ch n o t ed t h at D ean w as p ro g res s i ng i n s ch o o l an d

ex h ib i t i n g n o b eh av i o ral i s s u es

. Th i s s am e rep ort al s o co n t em p l at ed t h e p o s s i b l e

o u t co m es an d treat m en t op t i o n s t h at wo u l d b e av ai l ab le if th e cas e p ro ceed ed i n t h e

1 2 OCGA § 1 5 -1 1 -5 6 2 (a) (5 ) (em p h as i s s u p p l i ed ).

9ju v en i l e co u rt as op p o s ed t o t h e s u p eri o r co u rt

. A cco rd i n g l y

, co n t rary t o t he St at e’ s

co n ten t i o n s

, t h i s fi n d i n g b y t h e s u p eri or co urt i s n ot wh o l l y w i t ho u t ev i d en ti ary

s u p p ort i n t h e reco rd

. 1 3

2

. Nex t

, t h e St at e m ai n tai n s t h at t h e s u p eri o r co u rt erred b y fai l i n g t o p ro p erl y

wei g h al l o f t h e fact o rs i t was req u i red t o co n si der u n d er OCGA § 1 5

- 1 1

- 5 6 2 p ri o r

t o d e c id i n g t o t ran s fer t h e cas e t o ju v en i le co u rt

. T h e St at e arg u es t h at t he co urt ’ s

o rd er co n t ai n s n o co n s id erat i o n o f t h ree fact o rs

, sp eci fi cal ly : (1 ) wh et h er p ro t ect i o n

o f t h e co m

m u n i t y req ui res t ran sfer, (2 ) wh et her t h e al l eg ed offen se i n v o l v ed v i o l en ce

o r was co m

m i t t ed i n an ag gres s i v e o r p rem ed i tat ed m a n n e r

, a n d (3 ) t h e ch i ld

d efen d an t ’ s cu l p ab i l it y

, i n c l u d i n g t h e l ev el o f pl an n in g an d p art ici p at i o n i n t h e

al l eg ed o ffen s e. W e wi l l ad d res s each o f t h es e fact o rs i n t urn

.

1 3 S ee In t h e In t er es t o

f J. M. S

. , 3 3 4 Ga. Ap p

. 1 4 2

, 1 4 3 (1 ) (7 7 8 SE2 d 3 9 1 )

(2 0 1 5) (“ [T] h e fu n ct io n o f t h i s C o u r t i s l i m i t ed t o as cert ai n i ng wh et h er t here was

s o m e ev i den ce t o su p p ort t h e ju v en i l e co u rt ’ s d et erm i n at i o n [t o t ran s fer]

, an d ab s en t

an ab us e o f d i s cret i o n

, we wi ll affi rm t h e o rd er t ran s ferri n g ju ri s d i ct i o n.”

(p u n ct u at i o n o m i t ted )), o ver r u l ed o n o t her g r o u n d s b y In th e In t er es t o

f J. H

. , 3 4 0 Ga.

Ap p

. 7 3 3 (7 9 7 SE2 d 1 8 5 ) (2 0 1 7 ); In t h e In t er es t o f D. M.

, 2 9 9 Ga. A p p

. 5 8 6

, 5 8 6 -8 7

(6 8 3 SE2 d 1 3 0 ) (2 00 9 ) (“ On ap peal

, th e fu n ct i o n o f th i s co u rt i s l i m i t e d to

as cert ai n i n g wh et h er t h ere w as so m e ev i d en ce t o s u p p o rt th e j u v e n i l e co urt ’ s

d et erm i n at i o n

, an d ab s en t an ab u s e o f d is cret i o n

, w e wi l l affi rm t he o rd er t ran s ferri n g

ju ri s d i ct i o n .” (p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed )).

10(a) Pr o t ect i o n o f t h e Co mmu n i t

y

. Th e St at e as s ert s t h at t he su p eri o r co urt ’ s

o n l y r e f e ren ce t o t h e p ro t ect i o n o f t h e co m m u ni t y i s “ an o ffh an d n o te” t h at Dean ’s

i n carcerat i on i s “ u n l i k el y to l ead t o a p o si t i v e o u tco m e fo r t h e co m m u ni t y ,” an d t h at

t h e co u rt o n ly co n si d ered th i s i n t erm s o f Dean ’ s reh a b i l i t a t i o n. Bu t th e s u p eri o r

co u rt ’ s fu l l fi n d i n g i s as fo l l o ws :

If t h e Defen d an t is co n v i ct ed an d s e n t en ced t o t h e m i n im u m s en t en ce

au t h ori zed i n t h e s up eri or co u rt [,] h e wi l l b e al m o s t 4 0 y ears o l d wh en

h e i s rel eas ed

. Gi v en h i s p ers o n al h i s t o ry

, s u s cep t ib i l i t y t o p eer

i n fl u en ces an d l o w i n t el lect u al fu n ct i o n i n g, t h e Co urt fi nd s t h at s u ch an

o u t co m e i s u n l i k e l y t o res u l t i n reh ab i l i tat i o n o f t h e Defen dan t an d i s

u n l i kel y t o l ead t o a p o s it i v e o u t co m e fo r t h e co m m u n i t y o r s o ci et y

.

As m ad e cl ear b y t h e co n t e x t o f t h e s u p eri o r co u rt ’ s fi n d i n g

, t h e co u rt was

co n si d eri n g t h e p ro t ect i o n o f t h e co m m u n i t y i n t he fu t u re s h o u ld Dean b e t ri ed in

s u p eri o r co u rt

, i n carcerat ed wi t h ad u l t s

, an d rel eas ed at nearl y 4 0 y ears o l d

. An d t h e

reco rd refl ect s t h at Dean h as b o r d erl i n e in t el l ect u al fu n ct io n i n g

, a t ro u bl ed h i s t o ry

ex p eri en ci ng an d wi t n es s in g v i o l e n c e an d n eg l ect as a y o un g ch il d

, g rew u p wi th

l i tt l e t o n o po s i t i v e i n fl u en ces i n h i s i m m ed i at e fam i ly

, an d i s s u s cep t i b le t o n eg at i v e

p eer i n fl u en ce. Th u s

, i n co ns i d eri n g wh et h er th e “ p ro t ect i o n o f t h e co m m u n i t y

11req u i re[d ] t ran s fer o f ju ri s di ct i o n ,” 1 4 t h e co u rt co n cl u ded t h at t h e f u t u r e pro t ect i o n o f

t h e co m m u n i t y req u ired t ran s fer o f t h e cas e. A c c o rd in g l y

, we can n o t s ay t h at t h e

co u rt wh o l l y fai l ed t o co ns i der t h e p ro t ect i o n o f t h e co m m u ni t y

, es p eci al l y w h en t h e

co u rt n o t ed t h at i t h ad co n s i d ered

, i n t er a l i a

, t h e “ rel ev an t cri teri a s et fo rt h in OCGA

§ 1 5-1 1-5 6 2 [.] ” 1 5

(b ) Vi o l en ce a n d Ag

g r es s i o n o

f t h e Al l eg ed O

f f en s e

. On ce ag ai n

, th e s u p eri o r

co u rt n o t ed t h at i t co n s i d ered t h e cri t eri a s et fo rt h i n OCGA § 1 5 -1 1 -5 6 2 , an d t h ere

was t es t i m o n y as to t h e ex t en t o f t h e i nju ri es A. D. su ffered in t h e al l eg ed ag g rav at ed

s o d o m y

. In d eed

, at t h e h eari n g o n t h e m o t i o n

, t h e St at e arg ued t h at th e seri o u s n es s

o f A. D.’ s i n

ju ri es ev i n ced t h at t h e act was b o t h v i o l en t an d ag g res s i v e.

1 4 OCGA § 1 5 -1 1 -5 6 2 (a) (3 ).

1 5 S ee In th e In t er es t o

f K. S

. , 3 4 8 G a

. A p p

. at 4 5 0 (3 ) (h ol d i n g t h at ju v en i l e

co u rt d i d n o t err i n i t s co n s i d erat i o n o f O CGA § 1 5 -1 1 -5 6 2 fact o rs in o rd eri n g

t ran s fer t o s u p eri or co u rt wh en “ t h e ju v en i l e co u rt s t at ed i n it s t ran s fer o rd er t h at i t

h ad co n s i d ered al l o f t h e s tat u t o ry cri t eri a in d et erm i n i n g th at t ran s fer o f

. . . cas e was

ap p ro p ri at e” an d t h e co u rt ’ s fi n d i n g s o f fact were s u p p o rt ed b y at l eas t s om e ev i d en ce

i n t h e reco rd ); In t h e In t e r e s t o f T. S

. , 33 6 Ga. Ap p

. at 3 5 7-5 8 (2 ) (h o l d i n g t h at t h e

“ reco rd

, as a wh o l e, refl ect s t h at t h e co u rt en g ag ed i n t h e ap p ro p ri at e b al an ci n g tes t

i n fi n d i ng t h at a t ran s fer was warran t ed i n t hi s cas e,” wh en co u rt h eard ev i d en ce as

t o each req u i red fact o r, i n cl u di n g t h at g an g act i v i t y “ i n creas ed th e d an g er t o t h e

co m m u n it y ”).

12In t h e t ran s fer o rd er, t h e s u p eri o r co u rt no t ed t h at t h ere was “ no q u es t i o n t h at

t h e act s t he Defen d an t i s al l eg ed t o h av e co m m it t ed were s eri o us an d cau sed g rav e

h arm t o t h e ch il d v i ct i m at t h e t i m e t h ey were co m m it t ed .” An d gi v en t h e ev i d en ce

p r e s e n t ed as t o t h e ex t en t o f A. D.’ s i nju ri es

, t he St at e’ s arg u m en t reg ard i ng s a m e

,

a n d t h e s u p eri o r co u rt ’ s fi n d i n g s as t o t he h arm cau s ed an d t h e s eri o u s n es s o f t h e

o ffen s e, t h e reco rd d em o n s t rat es t h at t h e co u rt co n s i d er e d the viole nc e a n d ag g res s i o n

o f t h e al l eg ed offen s e. 1 6

(c) Th e Al l eg ed Def

en d a n t ’s Cu l p a b i l i t y. Fi n al l y

, t h e St at e arg u es t h at t h e

s u p eri o r co u rt fai l ed t o co n s i d er Dean ’ s l ev el o f p lan n i n g an d part i c i p a t i o n i n t h e

al l eg ed o ffen s e, b u t co n ced es t h at “ n o ev i den ce was pres en t ed as t o [Dean ’ s ] l ev el o f

p l an n i n g [.] ” Nev ert h el es s

, t h e St at e as sert s t h at

, “ t h ere can b e l i t t l e d o u b t t h at [Dean ]

al o n e ch o s e t o co m

m i t th e cri m e” b ecau s e “ n o ev i den ce p res en t ed s u g g es t s o t h ers ’

i n v o l v em en t .” Bu t o n ce ag ai n

, t h e s u p eri o r co u rt as s ert ed t hat i t co n si dered each o f

t h e rel ev an t fact o rs i n OCGA § 1 5 -1 1 -5 6 2 i n i t s t ran s fer o rd er. Sp eci fi cal l y

, t h e co u rt

reco g n ized t h at t h ere “ were n o w i t n es s es ” an d th at

, d es p i t e al s o l i vi n g wi t h t wo o t h er

1 6 S ee In t he In ter es t of T. S

. , 33 6 Ga. Ap p

. at 3 5 8 (2 ) (“ At th e t ran s fer h eari n g s

,

ev i d en ce was ad d u ced as t o each s t at u t o ry fact o r, an d t h e co urt h eard arg u m en t as to

each fact o r.”). Th ere w as no ev i d en ce p res en t ed as to p rem ed i tat i o n

, wh ich t h e St at e

ack n owl ed ges i n i t s b ri ef.

13m al e si b l i n g s

, i t was Dean wh o al l eg ed l y “ an al l y p en et rat ed [A. D.] wh i l e t hey were

b o t h a t t h ei r g ran d m o th er’ s h o u s e.” Th e co u rt al s o fo u n d t h at t h ere “ were m u l t i p l e

m al es i n t h e h o m e wi t h t h e c h i l d w h en t h e o ffen s e o ccu rred ,” bu t t h at Dean “ was

i d en t i fi ed as t h e al l eg ed p erp et rat o r b as ed u po n an au d i o reco rd i n g cap t u red b y t h e

v i ct i m ’ s m o t h er in wh i ch t h e ch i l d ” s t at ed t h at Dean h u r t h e r. Th u s, t h e co u rt

co n si d ered t h at o n l y D ean h ad b een i m pl i cat ed i n t h e al l eg ed o ffen s e, i.e.

, t h at Dean

act ed al o n e. 1 7

In s u m

, a lthoug h t h e m ajo ri t y o f t h e St at e’ s co n t en t i o ns are u nav ai l i n g

, b ecau s e

t h e s up eri o r co u rt d i d n ot m ak e co m p l et e fi n d i n g s of fact as t o on e fact or ( i .e.

, t h e

p erm an en ce of an y p s y ch o l og i cal i n ju ry ), we v aca t e an d rem an d fo r ad d i t i o n al

p ro ceed in g s co n s is t en t wi t h t h i s o p in i o n.

Ju d g men t va ca t ed a n d ca s e r ema n d ed wi t h d i r ect i o n. Go bei l a n d Ho d g es

, JJ.,

co n cu r

.

1 7 S ee In t he In ter es t of T. S

. , 33 6 Ga. A p p

. at 3 5 7 (2 ) (“ At th e t ran s fer h eari n g s

,

ev i d en ce was ad d u ced as t o each s t at u t o ry fact or, an d t h e co urt h eard arg u m en t as to

each fact or.”).

14