THI RD DI VI SI ON

M C FA DDEN, C. J.

, D OYLE, P. J.

, and HODGES, J.

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.

https ://w w w

. 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

.

Septem b er 8, 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 55 4 . STEVENS v . THE STATE.

M C F A D D E N , Ch i ef J u d g e.

Aft er a ju ry t ri al

, Bran d o n St ev en s was co n v ict ed o f two co u n t s o f ag g rav at ed

ch i l d m o l es t at io n

, ch i l d m o les t at i o n

, s tat u t o ry rap e, an d en t i ci ng a ch il d fo r i n d ecen t

p u rp os es

. He ap p eal s hi s c o n v i c t io n s

, arg u i n g t hat t h e t ri al co u rt erred i n g i v i n g a

co erci v e j u ry ch arg e, b ut we h o l d t h at t h e ch arg e was n o t co erci v e. He arg u es t h at t h e

t ri al c o u rt erred b y

ch arg i n g t h e en t i re ag g rav at ed ch i l d m o l es tat i o n s t at ut e, b u t we

h o l d t h at an y erro r i n t h i s reg ard was n o t h arm fu l

. He arg u es t h at t h e tri al co u rt erred

b y p ro h i b i t i n g hi m fro m q u es t i o n i n g o n e of t h e v i c t i m s ab o u t h er al l eg at i o n s o f

m o l e s t at i o n co m

m i t ted b y o t h er p art i es

, b u t we h o l d t hat t he ev i d en ce was n o t

a d m i s s i b l e, s o t h e t ri al co u rt di d n ot err. Fi n al l y

, h e arg u es t h at t ri al co u n s el w a si n effect i v e, b u t w e h o l d t h at h e h a s n o t s h o wn t h at tri al co u n s el p erfo rm ed

d efi ci en tl y

. So we affi rm

.

1

. Fa ct u a l

b a ckg r o u nd

.

Vi ewed i n t h e l i g ht m o s t fav o rab l e to t h e ju ry ’ s v erd i ct

, s ee Ja cks o n v.

Vi r g i n i a

, 4 4 3 U

. S. 3 07

, 3 1 9 (III) (B) (9 9 SCt 2 78 1

, 6 1 LE2 d 5 60 ) (1 97 9 ), t h e

ev i d en ce s ho wed t h a t St ev en s was co n v i ct ed fo r co m m i t ti n g act s ag ai n s t h i s t wo

co u si n s

, D. G. an d C. G., wh o are s i s t ers

. Aft er D. G. an d C. G. rev eal ed t o each o t h er

t h a t S t ev en s h ad co m

m i t t ed s i m i l ar act s ag ai n s t t h em

, D. G. an d C. G. d eci d ed t h at

D. G. wo u l d co n fro n t St ev en s

.

D. G. as k ed St ev en s t o m eet h er o u t s i d e t h ei r g ran d m o t h er’ s h o u s e a n d s h e

co n fro n ted h i m

. St ev en s res p o n d ed th at h i s i nt eract i o ns wi t h D. G. h ad b een

co n sen s ual an d t h at h e was s o rry fo r h i s in t eract i o n s wi t h C. G

. D. G. dem an d ed t h at

St ev en s d i s cl o s e t h e act s t o t h ei r fam i ly

.

St ev en s ’ p aren t s

, h i s wi fe, h i s b ro t h er, an d t h e fat h er an d s tep m o t h er o f C. G.

an d D. G. g at h ered at St ev en s ’ an d D. G.’ s g ran d m o th er’ s h o u s e. St ev en s “ t ol d t h em

wh at h ad g o n e o n

, ” ad m i t t i n g t o h av i n g co m m i t t ed sex u al act s wi t h D. G

. an d C. G.

St ev en s s ai d th at h e was a m o n s t er an d t h at h e w as s o rry

. Th e fat h er o f D. G. an d C.

G. cal l ed t h e p ol i ce. As s o o n as t h e res po n d in g o ffi cer arri v ed at t h e ho u se, St ev en s

2s p o n tan eo u s l y s ai d, “ I d i d it

, I n eed co u n s el i n g an d I accep t res p o n s ib i l i ty fo r m y

act i on s .”

St ev en s t es t i fi ed at t ri al an d ad m i t t ed hav i n g s ex u al in t erco urs e wi t h D. G.

fro m t h e t i m e s h e was 1 3 y ears o l d , b u t h e d en i ed an y s ex u al co n t act wi t h C. G.

2

. Ju r y ch a r g es

.

On ap p eal

, St ev en s ch al l en g es two ju ry i n s t ru ct i o n s

, o n e ab o u t a g g rav at ed

ch i l d m o l es t at io n an d o n e ab o u t t h e ju ry ’ s d el i b erat i o ns

. He co rrect l y arg u es t h at t h e

ch arg es are s u bject t o rev iew o n l y fo r p l ai n erro r, as he fai l ed t o o b ject to th e co urt ’ s

i n s t r u c t i o n s wh en t h ey were g i v en

. See OCGA § 1 7-8 -5 8 (b ). Un d er p lai n erro r

rev i ew, we co n s id er fo u r s t ep s :

Fi rs t , t h ere m

u s t b e an erro r o r d efect

— s om e s o rt o f d ev i at i o n fro m a

l eg al ru le

— t h at h as n o t b een i n t en t io n al l y rel i n q u is hed o r ab an d o n ed

,

i .e., affi rm at i v el y w ai v ed

, b y t h e ap p el l an t

. Seco n d

, th e l eg al erro r m u s t

b e cl ear o r o b v i ou s, rat h er t h an s u b ject t o reas o n ab l e d i sp u te. Th i rd

, th e

erro r m u s t h av e affect ed t h e ap p el l an t’ s s u b s t an t i al ri g h t s

, wh i ch i n th e

o rd i nary cas e m ean s h e m u s t d em o n s t rat e t h at i t affect ed t h e o ut co m e o f

t h e t ri al co u rt p ro ceed i n gs

. Fo u rt h an d fi n al l y

, i f t h e ab ov e t h ree p ro n g s

are s at i s fi ed

, t h e ap p el l at e co u rt h as t h e d i s cret i o n t o r e m ed y t he erro r

— d i s cret i o n wh i ch o u g h t t o b e ex erci s ed on l y i f t h e erro r s eri o us l y

affect s t h e fai rn es s, i n t eg ri t y or p u b li c rep u t at i o n o f ju d i ci al

p ro ceed i n g s

. Sat i s fy i n g al l fo u r p ro n g s o f th i s s t an dard i s d i ffi cu l t

, as i t

s h o u l d b e.

3Ha mp t o n v. St at e

, 30 2 Ga. 16 6

, 1 6 7 -1 68 (2 ) (8 0 5 SE2 d 9 0 2) (2 0 1 7 ) (ci t at i o n s an d

p u n ct u at i o n o m it t ed ).

(a) Ag g r a va t ed ch i l d mo l es t a t i o n

.

S t e v e n s a r g u es t h at th e t ri al co u rt erred i n ch arg i ng t h e en t i ret y o f OCGA §

1 6 -6 -4 (c), t h e ag g rav at ed ch i l d m ol es t at i o n s t at u te, g i v en t h at t he i n d i ct m en t ch arg ed

h i m wi t h ag g rav at ed ch i l d m o l es t at i o n o nl y b y co m m i t t i n g a c t s o f s o d o m

y

, n o t by

cau s i n g p h y s i cal i n

j u ry t o t h e vi ct i m s

. See OCGA § 16 -6 -4 (c) (“ A p ers o n co m m i t s

t h e o ffen se o f ag grav at ed ch i l 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 an o ffen s e o f

ch i l d m o l es t at i o n w hi ch act ph y s i cal l y i n ju res t h e ch i l d o r i n v o l v es an act o f

s o d o m y .”). Sp eci fi cal l y

, h e arg ues t h at b ecau s e t h e s tat e i n t ro d u ced ev i d en ce t h at C.

G. h ad s u ffered a p h y s i cal i n ju ry , t h e t eari n g o f h er h y m en

, ch arg i n g t h e en t i ret y o f

OCGA § 1 6 -6 -4 (c) rai sed t he p o s s i b i li t y t h at t h e j u ry bel i ev ed h e c o m m i t t ed

ag g rav at ed ch i l d m o l es t at i on i n a m an n er n ot ch arg ed i n t h e i n d i ct m en t

.

“ Vi e w i n g t h e c h arg e here as a wh o l e, i t i s h i g h l y u n l i k el y th at t h e ju ry was

m i s l ed b y t h e p o rt i o n o f t h e ch arg e d efi n in g OCGA § 1 6 -6 -4 (c) i n i t s en t i ret y .”

An d er s o n v. S t a t e

, 2 8 2 Ga. Ap p

. 5 8

, 6 1 (2 ) (6 3 7 SE2 d 7 9 0 ) (2 0 06 ), o v erru l ed i n p art

o n o t h er g ro u n d s b y S

ch o f i el d v. Ho l

s ey

, 28 1 Ga. 8 0 9, 8 1 1 (II) n

. 1 (6 42 SE2 d 5 6 )

(2 0 0 7). Th e t ri al co urt s en t o u t t h e i n d i ct m en t wi th t h e ju ry fo r rev i ew d u ri n g

4d el i b erat i o n s

. Th e co u rt i n s t ru ct ed t h e ju ry t h at “ [t ] h e b u rd en o f p ro o f res t s u p o n t h e

s t at e t o p ro ve ev ery m at eri al al l eg at i o n o f t h e in d i ct m en t an d ev ery es s en t i al el em en t

o f th e cri m e bey on d a reas on ab l e d o ub t [; ] ” t h at St ev en s was on t ri al “ fo r t h e o ffen s es

ch arg ed ag ai n st h i m in th i s b i ll o f i n d i ct m en t o n l y an d n o t fo r an y o th er act s

, e v en

t h o u g h s u ch act s m ay i n ci d en t al l y b e cri m i n al [; ] ” an d t h at “ sh o u l d [t he ju ry ] fi n d an d

b el i ev e b ey o n d a reas o n ab l e d o u b t t h at [St ev en s ] d i d

. . . as al l eg ed in th e i n d i ct m en t

co m m i t t he o ffen s e s a s a l l e g ed t h en [i t ] wo ul d b e au th o ri zed t o fi nd [h im ] g u i l t y .”

“ U n d er t h es e ci rcu m s t an ces

, we d i s cern n o reas o n ab l e p os s ib i li t y t h at t h e ju ry was

m i s l ed an d co n v i ct ed [St ev en s ] o f ag g rav at ed ch i ld m o l es t at i o n [fo r cau si n g p h y s i cal

i n j u ry ] n o t al l eg ed i n t h e i n d i ct m en t

. Acco rd in g l y

, t h e erro r of ch arg i n g OC G A §

1 6 -6 -4 (c) i n i t s en ti ret y was h arm les s .” An d er s o n

, 28 2 G a

. A p p

. at 6 1 -6 2 (2 ). So

St ev en s h as n o t s h o wn t h at t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s erro r affect ed t h e o ut co m e o f h is t ri al s u ch

t h at h e is en t i t l ed t o rev ers al un d er t h e p l ai n erro r s t an d ard o f rev i ew. See Ha mp t o n

,

3 0 2 Ga. at 1 6 8 (2 ).

(b ) Al l eg ed l

y co er ci ve ch a r

g e

.

St ev en s arg u es t h at t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s i n s t ru ct i o n s t o t h e ju ry aft er t h ey h ad b eg u n

d el i b erat i n g were c o e r c i v e

, part i cu l arl y i n l i gh t o f t wo ju ro rs ’ m ed i cal i s s u es

. W e

d i s ag ree.

5Th e reco rd s h o ws t h at du ri n g d el i b erat i o ns

, t h e j u ry s en t o u t s ev eral n o t es an d

t h e co u rt ad dres s ed t hem wi t h o u t o b ject i on fro m ei t h er St e v en s o r t h e s t at e. In o n e

n o t e, t he ju ry s t at ed t hat t h e ju ro rs h ad deci d ed s ev en co u n t s b u t were u nd eci d ed o n

fi ve co u n t s an d “ [s ] eem s n o o n e wi l l ch an g e.” Th e ju ry as k ed , “ Are we a h u n g ju ry

o r can we s u b m it w hat we h av e? ” Th e co u rt st at ed t o co u n s el t h at i t was t oo earl y to

g i v e an Al l en ch arg e, s o h e wo ul d u rg e t he ju ry t o co n t i n u e d el i b erat i o ns

. Th e co u rt

ret u rn ed t h e j ury ’ s no t e wi th t h e n o t at i o n

, ”Yo u are n o t a h u n g j u r y

. I u rg e y o u to

co n ti n u e y o u r d el i b erat io ns .” Nei t h er s i d e o b ject ed

.

Nex t t h e ju ry sen t a n o t e i n d i cat i n g t h at two ju ro rs n eed ed t o ad d res s m ed i cal

i s su es an d as k in g wh et h er t h e ju ry co u l d ret u rn t he n ex t d a y. Th e co u rt res p o n d ed

,

“ Pl eas e p ro v id e a l i s t o f i m m e d i a t e n eed s in cl u di n g p h on e nu m b ers

, i f n eces s ary

,

r e que sting tha t y o u co n t i n u e d el i b erat i o n s .” Nei t h er s i d e o b ject ed. T he j u r

y r e sponde d

wi t h n ot es in d i cat i n g t h at a ju ro r n eed ed a cel l p h o n e t o m ak e a p ers o n al cal l an d t h at

t h e ju ry was s t i l l d el i b erat i ng wi t h n o ch an g e.

Th e t ri al co u rt cal l ed t he ju ro rs i nt o th e co u rt ro o m t o ad d res s t he is s ues ab o ut

m ed i cal n eed s an d p h o n e cal l s an d as k ed t h e ju ro rs t o g i v e h i m p h o n e n u m b ers an d

s p eci fy t h ei r o t h er n eed s

. Aft er t h e ju ro rs ex i t ed t h e co u rt ro o m

, t he co urt ad d res s ed

co u ns el

, n o t i n g th at t h e ju ry h ad b een d el ib erat i n g m o re t h an fi v e h o u rs an d s t at i n g:

6Th i s i s wh at I’ d l i k e t o d o s u b ject t o y o u al l a g r e e i n g t o as wel l

, an d

wh at p ro m

p t ed it t h e b ai l i ff t h at t o o k t h e p h on e cal l er t h e wo m an m ad e

a co m m en t t o t h e p ers o n s h e was t al k i n g t o t h at t h ey are s t i ll wh ere t h ey

were i n t h i s cas e t wo h o u rs ag o

. I’ d l i k e t o as k

, s i n ce t hey ’ v e g i v e n u s

n u m b ers b e f o r e

, i s o n t h e co u n t s t hat t h ey are u n deci d ed o n wi t h o u t

t el l i ng u s wh at t h e v erd i ct o f g u i l t y

, n o t g u i l t y

, w h at th e s p l i t is g i v e m e

t h e n u m ber, g i v e m e t h e co u n ts wi t ho u t t el l i n g m e, y o u kn o w

, w h at y o u r

v erd ict i s o r wh at t h e s pl i t i s

, I s h o ul d s ay

, wi t h o ut t el l i n g m e on th e

o n es th at y o u h av e n o t reach ed a v e r d i ct b ecau s e t hey ’ v e reach ed a

v erd ict , y es

, I t h in k s ev en , I s en t t h e n o t e b ack

. Al l ri g ht ? . . . Yeah , s o

t h o s e t h at are —

o n t h o s e co u n ts t h at t hey h av e n o t reach ed a v erd ict I

wan t t h em t o g o an d t o t el l m e, wi t ho u t t el l in g m e wh at t he s pl it i s ju s t

t el l m e wh at t h e d i v is i o n i s b y n u m b er. Is t h ere an y o b

j ect i on t o m

y

as k i ng t h at i n fo rm at i o n o f t h em ?

Th e co u rt an d t h e at t o rn ey s d i scu s s ed h o w t o p ro ceed an d t h ey ag reed t h at t h e co u rt

wo u l d as k t h e ju ry t o l i s t in wri ti n g t h e co u n t s t h at t h e ju ro rs h ad d eci d ed an d t h en t h e

co u rt wo u l d rel eas e t hem fo r t h e ev en i n g

. Th e ju ry ret u rn ed t o t h e co u rt ro o m an d t h e

co u rt i ns t ru ct ed :

Let m e ad d ag ai n

, t h a n k y o u so m u ch fo r y o u r d i l i g en ce an d p at i en ce

an d

, [ad d res s i n g o n e of t h e ju ro rs wi t h m ed i cal n eed s ,] s ir, I’ m g o i ng t o

— we’ re go i n g t o t al k ab o u t y o u i n ju s t a seco n d

. Ok ay ? I’ m — I n eed

y o u t o d o s o m et h i n g fo r m e. T h i s i s in res p o n s e t o a n e a r l i e r n o t e y o u

s en t m e. W i t h o u t

, t h i s i s i m p ort an t

, wi t h o ut t el li n g m e wh at t h e s p l i t i s

o n t ho s e co u nt s as I u n d ers t an d y o u rem ai n t h ere’ s a s p l i t, t h ere’ s n o t

7an y u n an i m i t y o n t h o s e

— o n cert ai n co u n ts

, m i g h t I as k y o u

— I wan t

y o u t o g o back an d d o th is i n wri t i n g, n o t t el l m e h ere, g o b ack an d wri t e

i t

, o n t h os e co un t s i f y o u ’ l l tel l m e t h e n u m b er o f t h e b r e a k d o w n

. I

d o n ’ t n eed t o k n o w wh at t h e s p l i t i s , g u i l t y o r n ot g u il t y d o n o t t el l m e

t h at

, o n t h os e co u n ts t h at y o u h av e n o t reach ed a v erd i ct

, o k ay

, an d fro m

m y u n d ers t an d i n g y o u are wh e r e yo u w ere two h ou rs ag o

, t h e s am e

p l ace? I s ee h ead s n o d d i n g al l o v er t h e p l ace. Al l ri g ht

. I n eed t o kn o w

o n t h o s e co u n ts t h at y o u are

— hav e n o t b een ab le t o reach a u n an i m o u s

v erd ict wh ere y o u are s p l i t w i s e, n um b er wi se, d o n o t ag ai n t el l m e wh at

t h e s p l i t i s b as ed o n g u i l t y o r n o t g ui l t y

. I ju s t need t o k n o w t h e nu m eri c

n u m b er as wel l

. I t h i n k t h a t m ay be en l i g h t en i n g fo r y o u an d fo r th e

Co u rt as wel l

. Ok ay ? If y o u co u l d d o t h at fo r m e an d s en d i t b ack o u t t o

m e as wel l th at wi l l

, I t hi n k

, g i v e u s a l i t t l e b it o f cl ari ty as t o w h ere we

are. Ok ay ?

S i r

, i s i t p o s s i bl e

— i s t h ere an y t h i n g

— we can

— w e’ r e g o i n g t o

res o lv e it o n e way o r t h e o t her. I’ m n ot g oi n g t o k eep y ou h ere al l n i g ht

,

fo l k s, an d I’ m

n o t t ry i n g t o s weat y ou o u t o f a v erd i ct

. I wo u ld l o v e u s

t o reach cl o s u re, i f we p os s i b l y can

, an d i f y o u can ’ t

, y o u can ’ t

, al l ri g ht

,

b u t o b v io u s l y as it rel at es t o t h at an d we can co m e b ack t o m o rro w. I

wan t y o u t o h ear m e s a y t h a t

, i f need be, fo r d o i ng s o, b u t if w e can

res o lv e i t t h at ’ s w h y I’ m as k i n g y o u t o g o b ack an d d o t h at fo r m e fi rs t

b efo re we co m e t o a res o l u t i o n as t o wh at we’ re g o i n g t o d o ab o u t o u r

e v e n i ng

. Ok ay ? Th at s ho u l d n ’ t t ak e y o u lo n g g iv en wh at y o u ’ v e b e e n

t el l i ng m e y o u ’ v e b een d o i n g fo r t he l as t t wo ho u rs

. Ok ay ? If y ou ’ l l g iv e

m e t h at s p l i t

, M r

. o r M ad am e Fo rep ers o n

, I’ m n o t s ure wh o i t i s an d I

d o n ’ t wan t t o k n o w, ju s t wri te i t d o wn o n a p ap er fo r m e an d t el l m e

8wh at t h at s p l i t i s w i th o u t t el l i n g m e g ui l t y o r no t g ui l t y

, g i v e m e th e

s p l i t

, y o u can t el l m e t h e co u n t s to o

, t h at wi l l b e h el pfu l t o kn o w t hat

y o u h av e n ot b een ab l e t o reach a u nan i m o u s v erd i ct o n. Al l ri g h t ?

T h e c o u r t as k ed on e of t h e ju ro rs wi t h m ed i cal n eed s

, “ Is t h ere an y t hi n g I can g i v e

y o u t em p o rari l y fo r t h e n ex t fi v e m i n u t es ‘ t i l we res o l v e t h at

, s ir? Th at we can s en d

t o y o u , an y t h i n g t h at y o u do n ’ t h av e i n t h e ro o m ? ” Th e ju ro r res po n d ed n o , an d t h e

co u rt co n cl u d ed b y s tat i n g

, “ Can y o u d o t h at fo r u s t o m ak e th at fi n e? W e’ re g o i n g

t o m ak e t h i s res ol ut i o n an d g et o u t o f h ere o n e way o r t h e o t her. Ok ay ? Go b ack an d

d o t h a t f o r m e, pl eas e, an d co m e b ack an d s en d it ri g h t o u t t o m e an d I’ l l res p o n d

ap p ro p ri at el y .”

Th e ju r o rs l eft t h e co u rt ro o m

. Th e b ai l i ff ret u rn ed t o t h e co u rt ro o m an d,

s u rp ri s i n g t h e co u rt an d co u n s el

, i nfo rm ed t h em t h at t h e j u ry h ad reach ed a v erd i ct

.

Th e ju ry ret u rn ed t o t h e co u rt ro o m an d read t h e v erd ict o f g u i l t y o n fi ve co u n t s an d

n o t g u i lt y o n s ev en co u n t s

. Th e co u rt p o l l ed t h e ju ro rs

, al l o f wh o m co n fi rm ed t h a t

t h e v erd i ct was t h ei rs

.

“ W h ere a d efen d an t cl ai m s t h at a s u p p l em en t al i n s t ru ct i o n co erced t h e ju ry ’ s

v erd i ct

, we l o o k to t h e t o t al i t y o f t h e ci rcu m s tan ces

, an d we c o n s i d e r w h et h er t h e

c h a r g e was co erci v e s o as t o cau s e a ju ro r t o ab an d o n an h o n es t co n v i ct i o n f o r

9reas on s o t h e r th an t ho s e b as ed u po n t h e t ri al o r t h e arg u m en t s o f o t h er ju ro rs .”

Dr a yt o n v. S t a t e

, 2 9 7 G a. 7 4 3

, 7 4 8 (2 ) (b ) (7 7 8 SE2 d 1 7 9 ) (2 0 1 5) (ci t at i o n an d

p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed ). Here, t h e co u rt s p eci fi cal l y t o l d th e ju ry

, “ I’ m n o t g oi n g t o k eep

y o u h ere al l n i g h t

, fo l k s

, an d I’ m n o t t ry i n g t o s w eat y o u o ut o f a v erd i ct ,” an d t h at

t h ey co ul d ret u rn t h e n ex t d ay

. No t h i n g i n t h e co u rt ’ s l an g uag e wo u l d cau s e “ a ju ro r

t o ab an d o n an h on es t co nv i ct i o n fo r reas o ns o th er t h an t h o s e b as ed u po n t h e t ri al o r

t h e arg u m en t s of o t h er ju ro rs .” Ma yf i el d v. S t a t e

, 2 76 Ga. 3 2 4

, 33 1 (2 ) (b ) (5 7 8 SE2 d

4 3 8 ) (2 0 0 3 ) (ci t at i on an d p u n ct u at i o n o m it ted ). “ Co n s i deri n g t he t o t al i t y o f t h es e

ci rcu m s t an ces

, we co n cl u d e th at t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s act i o ns d id n ot c o e r c e t h e ju ry ’ s

v erd i ct s

. ” S

mi t h v. S t a t e

, 30 2 Ga. 7 1 7

, 72 3 (8 0 8 SE2 d 6 61 ) (2 0 1 7 ). So St ev en s “ h as

fai l ed t o d em o n s t rat e an y erro r, m u ch l es s a p l ai n erro r, o n th e p art o f t h e t ri al co u rt .”

Fl o yd v. S t a t e , 3 0 7 Ga. 7 8 9 , 7 9 9 (3 ) (8 3 7 SE2 d 7 9 0 ) (2 0 2 0 ).

3

. Cr o s s -exa m in a t i o n o

f C. G.

St ev en s arg u e s t h a t t h e t ri al co u rt erred b y refu s i n g to p erm i t h i m t o cro s s

ex am i n e C. G. ab ou t her al l eg at i o n s t h at sh e h ad b een m o l es t ed b y ot h er p eo p l e. W e

d i s ag ree.

St ev en s w a s t ri ed i n M ay 2 0 1 3

. T h e p ert i n en t p ro v i s i o n o f th e Rap e Sh i el d

St at u t e i n effect at t h at t im e s t at ed t h at i n cert ai n p ro s ecu t i o n s

,

10ev i d en ce rel at i n g t o t h e p as t sex u al b eh av i o r o f t h e co m p l ai n i n g wi t n es s

m a y b e i nt ro d uced i f t h e co u rt

. . . fi nd s t h at t h e p as t sex u al b eh av i o r

d i rect l y i n v o l v ed t h e p art i ci p at i o n o f th e accu s ed an d fi n d s t h a t th e

ev i d en ce ex p ect ed t o be i n t ro d u ced s u pp o rt s an i nferen ce t h at th e

accu s ed c o u l d h av e reas o n ab l y b el i ev ed t h at t he co m p l ai n i n g wi t n es s

co n s en t ed t o t h e co n du ct co m p l ai n ed o f i n t h e p ro s ecu t i o n

.

OCGA § 2 4 -4 -4 1 2 (b ) (2 0 1 3 ). (Th e s t at ut e was s u bs t an ti al l y rev i s ed i n 2 0 1 9. See Ga.

L. 2 0 1 9

, p

. 8 1

, § 5 .) Un d er t h e p l ai n l an g uag e o f t hi s v ers i o n o f OCGA § 2 4 -4 -4 1 2,

ev i d en ce o f a co m

p l ai n i n g wi t n es s ’ s p as t s ex u al b eh av i o r was ad m i s si b l e o n l y i f t h e

b eh av i o r d i rect l y i n v o l v ed t h e d efen d an t an d was rel ev an t t o t h e i s s u e o f c o n s e n t

.

W h i te v. S t a t e

, 3 0 5 Ga. 1 1 1, 1 1 8 (2 ) (8 2 3 SE2 d 79 4 ) ( 2 0 1 9 ). Th ere was n o o t h er

ex cep t i o n t o t h e ev i d en t i ary res t ri ct i o n s o f t h e Rap e Sh iel d S t a t u t e

. Id

. St ev en s d id

n o t seek t o q u es ti o n C. G. ab o u t al l eg at i o ns d i rect l y i n v o lv i n g h im o r fo r an y reas o n

rel at ed t o co n sen t . So t h e t ri al co u rt d i d n o t err b y ex cl u d i n g t h is ev i d en ce.

4

. In ef f ect i ve a s s i s t a n ce o

f co u n s el

.

St ev en s arg u es t h a t t r i a l c o u n s el was i n effect i v e fo r fai l i n g t o o b ject t o t h e

al l eg ed l y co erci v e ju ry i n s t ru ct i o n an d fo r fai l i n g t o i n t ro du ce ev i d en ce ab ou t C. G.’ s

s ex u al rel at i o n sh i p wi t h h er b o y fri en d. W e d i sag ree.

11As we h el d i n Di v i s i o n 2 (b ), t h e ju ry i n s t ru ct i o n was n o t co erci v e. “ Becau s e

t h e i n s t ru ct i o n was n o t erro n eo u s

, [St ev en s ’ ] at t o rn ey d i d n o t act u n reas o n ab l y b y

fai l i n g t o o b

ject t o i t.” S imp so n v. S t a t e

, 2 7 7 Ga. 3 5 6

, 3 5 9 (4 ) (a) (5 8 9 SE2 d 9 0 )

(2 0 0 3 )

. A s we h el d i n Di v i s i o n 3

, at t h e t i m e o f t ri al

, ev id en ce o f a co m p l ai n i n g

wi t n es s ’ s p as t s ex u al b eh av i o r was ad m i s si b l e o n l y i f it d i rect l y in v o l v ed t h e accu s ed

an d was rel ev an t t o t h e i s s u e o f co n s en t

. W h i t e , 3 0 5 Ga. at 1 1 8 (2 ). Ev id en ce ab o ut

C. G.’ s s ex u al rel at i o n s hi p w i th h er b o y fri en d was n o t rel at ed t o t h e i s su e o f C. G.

co n sen t i n g t o s ex u al act s wi t h St ev en s

, s o t h e ev i d en ce w as n o t ad m i s s i b le. “ Co u n s el

can n ot b e c h a r g ed w i t h d efi ci en t p erfo rm an ce i n fai li n g t o at tem pt t o in t ro d uce

i n ad m is s i b le ev i d en ce.” S h el n u t t v. S t a t e

, 2 8 9 Ga. Ap p

. 5 2 8

, 5 3 3 (4 ) (6 5 7 SE2 d 6 1 1 )

(2 0 0 8).

So “ [t ] h es e al l eg ed erro rs s im p l y do no t ri s e t o t h e s t an d ard s et fo r a cl ai m o f

i n effect i v e as s i st an ce of co u n s el ,” S i mp s o n

, 27 7 Ga. at 3 5 9 (4 ), an d d o n o t en t i t l e

St ev en s t o rev ers al

.

Ju d g men t a f f i r m ed . Do yl e, P. J., a n d

Ho d g es , J., co n cu r

.

12