FOURTH D I VI SI ON

DOYLE, P. J.

, M I LLER and DI LLA RD, 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 ls .us /r ule s /

Nov em ber 17, 2014



# I n th e Co u r t o f

A p p eals o f

G eo r g ia

A1 4 A0 89 6 . W E TZEL v

. THE STATE. DO-0 3 3 C

D O Y LE , Pres i d i n g J u d g e.

J erem y M ich ael W et zel w as co n v i ct ed o f v io l at i n g t h e Co m p u ter o r El ect ro n i c

Po rn og rap hy an d Ch i l d E x p l o i tat i o n Prev en ti o n A ct o f 2 0 07 1 fo r u s in g a cel l p h o n e

t o s o l i ci t a ch i l d u nd er 1 6 t o s en d an d recei ve n u d e p h o t o g rap h s (Co u n t 1 ), an d

el ect ro ni cal l y fu rn i s hi ng o bs cen e m at eri al t o a m i n or ( C o u n t 3 ). 2 W et zel ap p eal s

,

arg u i n g t h a t t he t ri al co u rt erred b y (1 ) o v erru l i n g hi s d em u rrer t o Co u n t 1 ; (2 )

d en y i n g h i s m ot i o n fo r d i rect ed v erd i ct as t o Co u nt 1 ; (3 ) i n co rrect l y c h a r g i n g t h e

1 OCGA § 1 6 -1 2-1 00 .2 (d ).

2 OCGA § 1 6 -1 2-1 00 .1 (b ). W et zel was al s o ch arg ed wi t h o n e co u n t o f ch i ld

m o les t at i o n i n v i o l at i o n o f O CGA § 1 6 -6 -4 (a) f o r s e nd i ng a ph o t o g rap h o f h i s

g en it al s t o t h e v i ct i m , b u t h e was acq u i t t ed o f t h at ch arg e.ju ry as t o Co u n t 1; (4 ) d en y i n g hi s m o t i o n fo r a d irect ed v erd i ct as t o Co u n t 3 ; an d (5 )

i n co rrect l y

ch arg i n g t h e ju ry

as t o Co u n t 3

.

Vi ewed in t h e li g h t m os t fav o rab l e to th e verd i ct

, 3 t h e ev i d en ce ad du ced at t ri al

s h o wed th at i n t h e fal l o f 2 0 1 1

, S. B. J

. w as a 1 5-y ear-o l d s o ph o m o re at a h ig h s ch o o l

,

wh ere W et zel w as em

p l o y ed as a p arap ro fes s i o n al i n t h e s p eci al n eed s cl as sro o m an d

as a m em b er o f t h e b a s e b a l l c o ach i n g s t aff. T h e v i ct i m h ad p rev i ou s ly m et W et zel

wh en s he was i n e i g h t h g r a d e an d h e was as s i s ti n g t he b o y s ’ b as eb al l team fo r t h e

h i g h s ch o o l

, an d du ri n g t h e fal l o f 2 01 1

, t h e v i ct im s t art i ng wo rk i n g wi t h a s t u d en t

o rg an i zat i o n wi t h wh i ch W et zel as s i s t ed

. T h e t wo m ad e co n t act o ut s i d e s ch o o l v i a

t h e Faceb o ok s o ci al n et wo rk

, wh ere S. B. J

. o b tai n ed W et zel ’ s p h on e n u m b er l ead i n g

t o co m m u n i cat i on b et ween t he t w o v i a t e x t m es s ag es o n h er cel l p h o n e in ad d i t i o n

t o m es s ag es t h ro u g h an ap p l i cat i o n o n h er si s t er’ s i Po d To u ch t o an d fro m h i s cel l

p h o n e b eg i n n i ng i n m i d -No v em b er 2 0 1 1

.

Al t h ou g h th e v i ct im ch aract eri zed t h ei r i n t eract i o n s as “ n o r m a l

, cas u al

co n vers at i on s ” at fi rs t

, at so m e p o i n t i n No v em b er 2 0 11

, W et zel s en t a tex t m es s ag e

t o S. B. J

. as k i n g ab ou t s i zes o f p en i ses s h e h ad s een

, an d h i s m es s ag es b eco m e m o re

s ex u al i n n at u re. On a l at er n ig h t , W et zel s en t a pi ct ure o f h i m s el f t o S. B. J. as k i n g

3 See S h o rt v. S t a t e , 2 3 4 Ga. Ap p

. 6 3 3

, 6 34 (1 ) (5 0 7 SE2 d 5 14 ) (1 9 9 8 ).

2wh at h e wo u l d g et i n ret u rn

. S. B. J

. s en t p i ct u res of h ers el f u ncl o t h ed fro m t h e wai s t

u p t o W et zel th at s am e ev en i n g

. On o r ab o u t t he ev en i ng o f No v em ber 1 6

, 2 0 1 1,

W et zel at t em

p ted to s en d p ho to g rap h s t o t h e v i ct i m v i a h is cel l p h o n e, h o wev er, aft er

en co un t eri n g d i ffi cu lt y

, h e s en t t wo em ai l s t o her fro m hi s o wn em ai l acco un t

— o n e

em ai l co n t ai n ed a ph o t o grap h o f an erect pen i s

, an d t h e o t h er co n t ai n ed a ph o t o g rap h

o f a n ud e m al e wi t h an erect p en i s st an d in g i n fro n t o f a b at h ro o m m i rro r. A l t h o u g h

t h e m al e’ s face was cro p p ed fro m v iew, t h e b at h ro o m i n wh i ch t h e m al e was s t an d i n g

h ad d eco r m at ch i ng W et zel ’ s b at h ro o m

.

On ap pro x i m at el y Decem b er 7

, 2011, h i gh sc hool a dm inistr a tor s b ecam e aware

o f th e n at u re o f t h e co n t act an d p h o t o g rap h s s en t bet ween W et zel an d t h e vi ct i m

, an d

an i n tern al i n v es t i g at i o n en s u ed

, aft er wh i ch sch o o l ad m i n i s trat i o n co n t act ed t h e

s h eri ff’ s d ep art m en t an d t he Dep art m en t o f Fam i l y an d Ch i l d ren Serv i ces

.

1

. W et zel arg u es t h at t h e t ri al co u rt erred b y ov erru l i n g hi s g en eral d em u rrer

as t o Co u n t 1, vi o l at i n g t h e Co m p u t er o r El ect ro n i c Po rn o g rap h y an d Ch i ld

Ex p lo i t at i o n Prev en t io n Act o f 2 0 0 7

. 4

(a) W et zel fi rs t co n t en ds t h at h is d em u rrer s h o u ld h av e b een g ran t ed b ecau s e

t h e i n d ict m en t fai l ed t o p ro p erl y ch arg e t he es s en t i al el em en t s o f OCGA § 1 6

- 1 2

-

4 OCGA § 1 6 -1 2-1 00 .2 (d ) (2 0 11 ).

31 0 0 .2 (d ) (1 ), wh i ch W et zel cl ai m s i n cl u d e an al l eg at i o n t h at t h e s o l i ci tat i o n was fo r

v i o l at i o n o f o ne o f fo u r u n d erl y i n g p ro h i b i t ed act s d efi n ed i n OCGA § § 1 6 -6 -2

, 1 6 -6

-

4 , 1 6-6 -5 , o r 1 6 -6 -8 . W e d i s ag ree.

Pu rs uan t t o fo rm er OCGA § 1 6 -1 2 -1 0 0 .2 (d ) (1 ),

[i ] t s h al l b e u n lawfu l fo r an y p ers o n i n t en t i o n al l y o r wi l l fu l l y t o ut i l i ze

a co m p u t er o n-l in e s erv i ce o r In t ern et s erv i ce, i n cl u d i n g b u t n o t li m i ted

t o a l o c a l b u l l et i n b o ard s erv i ce, In t ern et ch at ro o m

, e-m ai l

, o n -l in e

m es s ag i n g s erv i ce, or o t h er el ect ro n i c d ev i ce, t o sed u ce, s o li ci t

, l u re, o r

e n t i ce, o r at t em

pt t o s ed u ce, s o li ci t

, l u re, o r en ti ce a ch i ld o r an o t h e r

p ers on b el i ev ed b y s u ch p ers o n t o b e a ch i l d to co m m i t an y i l leg al act

d es cri b ed i n Co d e Sect i o n 1 6 -6 -2

, rel at i ng to t h e o ffen s e o f so d o m y o r

ag g r a v a te d s o d o m

y ; Co d e Sect i o n 1 6-6 -4

, rel at i ng t o t h e o ffen s e o f ch i l d

m o l es t at i o n o r ag g rav at ed ch i l d m o les t at io n; Co d e Sect io n 1 6-6 -5

,

rel at in g t o t h e offen s e o f en t i ci n g a ch i l d fo r i n decen t p urp o s es ; o r Co de

Sect io n 1 6 -6 -8

, rel at i n g to t h e o ffen s e o f p ub l i c i n d ecen cy o r t o en g ag e

i n an y co n d u ct t h at b y it s n at u re i s an u n l awfu l s ex u al offen s e ag ai n s t a

ch i l d

.

Bas ed o n t he l an g u ag e o f t h e s t at u t e, W et zel co n t en ds t h at t h ere are fo u r un d erl y i n g

cri m es t h at m ak e u p t h e b as es o f t h e o v erarch in g cri m e of co m p u ter s o l i ci t at i o n

, o n e

o f wh ich m

u s t b e al l eg ed b y

t h e St at e. In t hi s cas e, t he St at e i n d i ct ed W et zel

wi t h t he o ffen s e o f COM PU T E R PORNOGRAPHY fo r t h at

. . .

[ We t zel ] o n an d bet ween [Au gu s t 1

, 2 0 1 1 ,] an d [Decem b er 7

, 2 0 1 1,]

.

4. . di d i nt en t i on al l y ut i l i ze an el ect ro n i c dev ice, t o wi t : a cel l u l ar p h o n e,

t o s ed u ce, s o li ci t

, an d en t i ce [S. B. J .]

, a ch i l d u n d er 1 6 y ears o f ag e, t o

en g ag e i n t h e s en di n g an d recei v i n g o f nu d e p ho t o g rap h s

, co n du ct t hat

i s

, b y i t s n at u re, an u n l awfu l s ex u al o ffen s e ag ai n st a ch il d ; in vi o l at i o n

o f OCGA § 1 6 -1 2-1 0 0

. 2 (d ); co n t rary t o t h e l aws o f s ai d St at e.

W et zel co n t en ds t h at t h i s i n d i ct m en t fai l ed t o ch arg e al l th e n eces s ary el em en t s o f

co m p u t er s o l ici t at i o n b ecau s e i t fai l ed t o al leg e o n e o f t h e fo ur neces s ary un d erl y i n g

cri m es an d i n s t ead ch arg ed t h at t h e act o f s o l i ci t at io n was “ co n d u ct b y i ts v ery n at u re

an u n l awfu l s ex u al o ffen s e ag ai n s t a ch i l d .” W et zel co nt en d s th i s i s a fat al erro r i n t h e

i n d i ct m en t

.

In co n s t ru i ng a s t a t u t e

, o u r go al i s t o det erm in e i t s l eg i sl at iv e

p u rp o s e. In t h i s reg ard , a co u rt m u s t fi rs t fo cu s o n t he s t at u t e’ s t ex t . In

o rd er to d i s cern t h e m ean i n g o f t h e wo rd s o f a s tat u t e, t h e read er m u s t

l o o k at t h e co n t ex t i n wh i ch t h e s t at ut e was wri tt en

, rem em b eri ng at al l

t i m es t h at t h e m ean in g o f a s en t en ce m ay b e m o re t h an t h at o f th e

s e p arat e wo rd s

, as a m el o d y i s m ore t h an th e n o t es

. If t he wo rd s o f a

s t at u t e, h o wev er, are p l ai n an d cap ab l e o f h av i n g b u t o n e m ean i n g, an d

d o n o t p ro d u ce an y ab s u rd

, i m pract i cal

, o r co n trad i ct o ry res ul t s

, t h e n

t h i s Co u rt i s b o u n d t o fo l l o w t h e m ean i n g o f t h os e w o rd s

. . . . b ecau s e

[OCGA § 1 6 -1 2 -1 0 0

. 1 ] is a cri m i n al st at u t e, i t m u s t b e s t ri ct l y co n s t ru ed

ag ai ns t t h e St at e. 5

5 (Pu n ct u at i o n o m i tt ed .) Fr i x v. St a t e

, 2 9 8 Ga. A p p

. 5 3 8

, 5 4 0 (1 ) (6 8 0 SE2 d

5 8 2 ) (2 0 0 9 ), q uo t i n g S t a te v. Br o wn

, 2 5 0 Ga. Ap p. 3 7 6, 3 7 8 -3 7 9 (1 ) (5 5 1 SE2 d 7 7 3 )

5Fi rs t

, we d i sag ree wi t h W et zel ’ s read i n g o f t h e s t at u t e t h at a vi o l at i o n o f o n e

o f t h e fo u r o th er s t at u t es n am ed i n OCGA § 1 6 -1 2 -1 0 0 .2 (d ) (1 ) i s req ui red i n o rd er

t o effect iv el y ch arg e a cri m e u n d er t h e s t at u t e. W e ag ree wi t h t h e St at e t h at t h e p h ras e

“ o r to en g ag e i n an y co n d u ct t hat b y i t s n at u re i s an u n lawfu l s ex u al offen s e ag ai n s t

a ch i l d” i s no t a m o d ifi er o f t h e p h ras e “ rel at i n g t o th e o ffen s e o f p u b li c i n d ecen cy ”

— O CGA § 16 -6 -8

. In ad d i t i on t o t h e fact t h at t he p l ai n m ean in g o f t h e l an g u ag e “ o r

en g ag e in an

y co n du ct ” es t ab l i s h es t h at th e l eg i s l at u re m e a n t t o i n cl ud e t h e fi n al

p h as e as s ep arat e av en u e t o es t ab l i s h a p red icat e o ffen s e, W et zel ’ s p referred read i n g

wo u l d ren d er t h e s t at u te n on s en s i cal b ecau s e p u b l i c i n decen cy i s n ot a cri m e res erv ed

fo r sex ual v i o l at i o ns ag ai n s t ch i l d ren an d in s t e ad can b e co m m i t t ed ag ai n s t an y

i n d i v i d u al

.

Th e fact t h at t h e l eg i s l at u re fai l ed t o i n cl u de p u n ct u at i o n b efo re t h e fi n al

p h ras e, rat h er t h an th e co m m a t h at was ad d ed d u ri n g t h e s tat u t o ry rev i s i o n effect i v e

o n J u ly 1

, 20 1 3

— o r ev e n b e t t e r

, a s em i co l o n

— d o es n o t co n v i n ce u s o t h erwi s e

b ecau se in obse r

v i n g th e p rev io u s p u n ct u at i o n u s ag e, t h e l eg i s l at u re u s ed pu n ct u at i o n

t o o ffs et t h e co d e s ect i o n s

, wh i ch was n o t n eces s ary fo r t h i s p hras e. Al t h o u g h i t m ay

h av e b een cl earer t o pu t t h e p h ras e “ t o en g ag e i n an y co nd u ct t h at b y i t s n at u re i s an

(2 0 0 1).

6u n l awfu l s ex u al o ffen s e ag ai n s t a ch i l d ” p ri o r t o t h e ph ras e “ t o co m m i t an y i l l eg al act

b y

, wi t h

, o r ag ai n st a ch i l d as d es cri b ed i n [t h e fo u r en u m erat ed co d e sect io n s ] ,” t h e

l eg i s lat u re’ s d eci s i o n no t to d o s o d o es n ot ren d er t h e fi nal p h ras e i nt o a d ep en d en t

m o di fi er o f t h e p red i cat e o ffen se o f p u b l ic i n d ecen cy

.

(b ) W et zel al s o as s ert s t h at h is dem urrer sh o ul d h av e b een g ran t ed becau s e t h e

t ri al co urt ’ s read i n g o f t h e s t at u t e

— t h at t h e fi ft h m et h od b y wh i ch a defen d an t m ay

b e co nv i ct ed u n d er t he s t at u t e i s b y u t i l izi n g an el ect ro ni c s erv i ce t o s ol i ci t a m i n o r

“ t o en g ag e i n an y

co n d u ct th at b y i t s nat u re is an u n l awfu l s ex u al o ffen s e ag ai n s t a

ch i l d ” — ren d ers t h e s t at u t e v oi d fo r v ag u en es s.

Nev ert h el es s

, i n o rd e r t o p res erv e a co n s t i t u t i on al ch al l en g e to a s t at u t e fo r

rev i ew, W et zel s h o u l d h a v e s o u g h t a d i s ti nct ru li n g o n t h e i s s ue b y t h e t ri al co u rt

. 6

He fai l ed t o d o s o

. Acco rd i ng l y

, t h i s i s su e was n o t p res erv ed

, an d th i s Co u rt can n ot

rev i ew t h i s arg u m en t.

6 See McAl li s t er v. S t a t e

, 3 2 5 Ga. Ap p. 5 8 3, 5 8 6 (2 ) (7 54 SE 2 d 3 7 6 ) ( 2 0 1 4 )

(fai l u re t o o b t ai n a d i s ti n ct ru l in g o n a co n s t i t u t i o nal is s u e p res en t s n o t h i n g fo r t h i s

C o u rt t o rev iew wh en en u m erat ed as erro r o n ap peal ); B ai n v. S t a t e

, 2 58 G a

. A p p

. 4 4 0

, 4 4 5 -4 4 6 (3 ) (5 7 4 SE2 d 5 90 ) ( 2 0 0 2 ) (s am e). Co m p are wi t h Ro u s e v. Dep t

. of

Na t ur a l Res o u r ces

, 2 7 1 Ga. 7 2 6

, 7 2 7-7 2 8 (1 ) (5 2 4 SE2 d 4 5 5) (1 9 9 9 ). See al s o Fel i x

v. S t at e

, 2 7 1 Ga. 5 3 4, 5 3 9 (5 2 3 SE2 d 1 ) (1 9 9 9 ) (ap p el l at e co urt s are fo r co rrect i o n o f

erro rs of law m ad e by t h e t ri al co u rt s ; an erro r of l aw h as as i t s b as i s a s p eci fi c ru l i n g

m ad e b y th e t ri al co u rt ; an ap peal i n g p art y m us t set fo rt h i n t h e en u m erat i o n o f erro rs

t h e al l eg ed l y erro neo u s ru l i n g ).

72

. W et zel al s o a r g u es t h at t h e t ri al co u rt erred b y d en y i n g h i s m o t i o n fo r a

d i rect ed v erd i ct as t o Co u nt 1

.

(a) W et zel fi rs t arg u es t h at t h e St at e fai l ed to es t ab l i s h t h at h e s o l i ci t ed t h e

v i ct i m t o v i o l at e an y

o f t h e u n derl y i n g p ro h i b i t ed act s d es cri b ed i n t h e s tat u t e.

Al t h ou g h W et zel st ren u ou s l y arg u es t h at t h ere i s n o ev i den ce t h at h e an d S. B.

J

. h ad t ex t m es s ag e co n v ers at i o n s ab o u t p en is s i zes o r ab o u t ex ch an g i n g n u d e

p h o t o g rap h s

, S. B. J

. t es t i fi ed t o t h es e fact s

, wh i ch i s s u ffi ci en t fo r a j u r y t o fi n d

W et zel g u i l t y o f Co u nt 1

. 7 M o reo v er, her t es t im o n y i s s u p p o rt ed b y em ai l s i n h er

em ai l acco u n t b eari ng W et zel ’ s em ai l ad d res s ; t o p l es s p ict u res of hers el f i n h er i Po d

d ev ice; t ex t m es s ag es b et ween t h e t wo o n h er i Po d i n a m es s ag i n g ap p l i cat i o n

refe r e n ci ng : (1 ) W et zel ’ s n ud e p h o t o g rap h s, (2 ) hi s del et io n o f ph o t o g rap h s o f h er

d o n e at h er i ns i s t en ce, an d (3 ) h er wan t i n g t o h av e s ex u al i n t erco u rs e wi t h h i m as a

res u l t o f h av i n g vi ewed t h e p h o t o g rap h of t h e erect p en i s s en t fro m h i s em ai l acco u nt

t o h ers an d t ak en i n a b at h ro om co n tai n i n g d eco r m at ch i n g t h at o f h i s b at h ro o m

.

7 See Newt o n v. S t a t e

, 2 9 6 Ga. Ap p

. 3 3 2, 3 3 5 (1 ) (a) (6 7 4 SE2 d 37 9 ) (2 0 0 9 ) (a

s i ng l e v i ct i m ’ s t es t i m o n y i s s uffi ci en t t o s u s t ai n a co n v i ct i o n an d an y i n co n s i s t en ci es

i n t h e t es t i m o n y o r bet ween t h e t es t i m o n y an d p ri o r s t at e m e n t s were fo r t h e ju ry to

res o l ve).

8(b ) W et zel al s o arg u es t hat t h e St at e fai l ed t o p ro v e t hat W et zel k n ew t h at t h e

v i ct i m was u n d er 1 6 y ears o l d

, wh i ch W et zel arg u es i s a req u irem en t u n d er t h e

s t at u te. W e d is ag ree.

OCGA § 1 6 -1 2 -1 0 0 .2 (d ) m ak es i t i l l eg al

fo r an y p ers o n i n t en t i o n al l y o r wi l l fu l l y t o u t i l ize a co m p u t er wi rel es s

s erv ice

. . . t o s ed u ce, s ol i ci t

, l u re, o r en ti ce, o r at t em p t t o s ed u ce, s o l i ci t

,

l u re, o r en t ice a ch i l d, 8 an o t h er p ers o n b el i ev ed b y s u ch pers o n t o b e a

ch i l d

, an y p ers on h av i n g cu s t o d y o r co nt ro l o f a ch i l d

, o r an o t h er p ers o n

b el i ev ed b y s u ch p ers o n t o h av e cu st od y o r co n t ro l o f a ch i l d t o co m m i t

an y i l l eg al act [d el i neat ed i n t he s t at u t e.]

As wi th OCGA §§ 1 6-6 -3 an d 1 6

- 6

- 4

, wh i ch p ro h i bi t s tat u to ry rap e an d ch i ld

m o les t at i o n res p ect i v el y

, “ [t ] h e l eg is l at u re h as carefu l l y wo rd ed [ O CGA § 1 6 -1 2

-

1 0 0 .2 ] s o t h at t h e d efen d an t ’ s k n o w l ed g e o f t h e ag e o f t h e v i ct i m i s n o t an el em en t

o f t h e cri m e.” 9

8 OCGA § 1 6 -1 2 -1 0 0 .2 (b ) (1 ) d efi nes “ ch i ld ” as “ an y p ers o n u nd er t he ag e o f

1 6 y ears .”

9 Cf. Ha ywo o d v. S ta t e

, 2 8 3 Ga. Ap p

. 5 6 8

, 5 6 9 (6 42 SE2 d 2 0 3 ) (2 0 0 7 ). See

al s o OCGA § 1 6 -6 -3 (“ [a] p ers o n co m m i t s th e offen se o f s t at u to ry rap e wh en h e o r

s h e en g ag es i n s ex u al i n t erco u rs e wi t h an y pers o n un d er t h e ag e o f 1 6 y ears an d n ot

h i s or h er s p o u s e.”); OCGA § 1 6 -6 -4 (a) (“ [a] p ers o n co m m i t s th e o ff

e n se o f ch i ld

m o les t at i o n wh en s u ch p ers o n : (1 ) Do e s an y im m o ral o r i nd ecen t act t o o r i n t h e

p res en ce o f o r wi t h an y

ch il d u n d er t h e ag e o f 1 6 y ears . . . .”).

9W et zel ci tes P h a g a n v. S t a t e

, 1 0 fo r t he pro p o s i t i o n t h at OCGA § 1 6-1 2 -1 0 0

. 2

co n tai n s a req u i rem en t fo r th e St at e t o p ro ve k n o wl ed ge o f t h e ch i ld ’ s s tat u s as s u ch

.

In t h at cas e, th e G eo rg ia Su p rem e Co u rt d et erm i n ed th at OCGA § 1 6-1 2 -1 00

, wh i ch

i s no t at is s u e h ere, co n t a i n ed s u ch a req ui rem en t b ecau s e t h e l eg i sl at u re u s ed t h e

wo rd “ k no wi ng l y ” t o d es cri b e th e p ro h ib i t ed co n d uct

. Fo r i n s t an ce, OCGA § 1 6 -1 2

-

1 0 0 (b ) (1 ) st at es t h at “ [i ]t i s u n l awfu l fo r an y p ers o n kn o wi n g ly t o em p l o y

, u s e,

p ers u ad e, i n d u ce, en ti ce, or co erce an y m i n o r to en g ag e i n o r as s i s t an y o t h er p ers o n

t o en g ag e in an y sex ual l y ex p li ci t co n du ct fo r t h e p u rp os e o f p ro d u ci ng an y v i s u al

m ed i u m dep ict i n g s u ch co n d u ct .” 1 1 In t h e p res en t cas e, t h e l eg i s l at u re d i d n o t i n cl u d e

t h e w o rd “ k n o w i n g l y

. ” 1 2 I n d eed

, t h e Su p rem e Co u rt co m p ared th e u s e of t h e wo rd

k n o wi n g l y i n OCGA § 16 -1 2 -1 0 0 t o t h e ch i l d m o l es t at i o n s t at u t e an d t h e st at u t o ry

rap e s t a t u t e as an i ll u s t rat i o n o f wh en t h e St at e i s req u i red t o pro v e t h e d efen d an t

k n ew th e v i ct i m ’ s s t at u s v ers es t h o s e s t at ut es i n wh i ch n o s u c h p ro o f is req u i red

.

Acco rd in g ly

, t h e St at e was no t req u i red t o p res en t p ro o f t h at W et zel k n ew t h e v i ct i m

1 0 2 6 8 Ga. 2 7 2

, 2 7 6 -2 7 8 (3 ) (b ) (4 8 6 SE2 d 8 7 6 ) (1 9 9 7).

1 1 (Em p has is s u pp l i ed .)

1 2 See OCGA § 16 -1 2 -1 0 0 .2 (d ) (1 ).

10was a ch i l d at t h e t i m e o f t h e act , an d t h e t ri al co u rt co rrect l y den i ed h is m o t i o n fo r

d i rect ed v erd i ct o n t h i s b as i s

.

3

. W et zel arg u es t h at t he t ri al co u rt erred b y fai l i ng t o ch arg e th e ju ry as t o t h e

e s s e n t ial el em en t s of Co u n t 1. Nev ert hel es s

, b as ed on o u r co n cl u si o n s i n t h e

fo reg o i n g d i vi si o ns

— t hat t h e d efen d an t ’ s k n o w led g e o f t h e v i ct i m ’ s ag e was n o t a

m at eri al el em en t of Co u nt 1

, an d t h at t h e St at e was n o t req ui red t o al l eg e an d p ro v e

t h at t h e d efen d an t v i o l at ed o ne o f t h e fo ur en u m erat ed s t at ut es co n t ai n ed i n OCGA

§ 1 6 -1 2 -1 0 0 .2 (d ) (1 )

— t h i s en u m erat i on i s wi t h o u t m eri t

. Th e t ri al co u rt i n s t ru ct ed

t h e ju ry t h at “ [a] p ers on co m m i t s t h e o ffen s e of co m

p u t er p o r n o g rap h y

, wh en h e

i n t en t i o n al l y u t i li zes an e l e c t r o n i c d ev i ce t o s ed u ce, s o li ci t

, o r en ti ce a ch i l d

. . . to

en g ag e i n an y co n du ct t h at by i t s n at u re i s an u n l awfu l s ex u al o ffen s e ag ai n s t a

ch i l d

. ” A c c o rd i n g l y

, t h e ju ry ch arg e was co rrect acco rd i n g t o t h e l aw an d t h e

i n d i ct m en t

, an d t h ere was n o erro r. 1 3

1 3 See Ha mmo n d

s v. S t a t e

, 2 6 3 G a. Ap p

. 5

, 7 (2 ) (5 8 7 SE2 d 1 61 ) ( 2 0 0 3 )

(al t h ou g h t ri al co u rt i n s t ru ct ed t h e ju ry as t o t he en t i re s t at u t e, it su ffi ci en tl y l i m i t ed

t h e ju ry ’ s d el i b erat i o ns t o th e m an n er as ch arg ed i n t h e i n di ct m en t th erefo re av o i d i n g

an erro n eo u s i ns t ru ct i o n ). Co m p are wi t h Lyma n v. S t a t e

, 18 8 Ga. Ap p

. 7 9 0, 7 9 2 (2 )

(3 7 4 SE2 d 5 63 ) (1 9 88 ) (“ It i s rev ers i b l e erro r t o i n s tru ct t h e ju ry t hat an o ffen s e m ay

b e co m m i t t ed in m o re t h an on e m an ner wh ere o n ly on e m an n er i s a l leg ed i n t h e

i n d i ct m en t an d n o rem ed i al i n s tru ct i o n s are g i v en t o l i m i t t h e ju ry ’ s co n s i d erat i o n to

t h at p art i cu l ar m an n er.”).

114

. N ex t, W et zel co n t en ds t h at t he tri al co u rt erred b y d en y i n g h i s m o t i o n fo r a

d i rect ed v erd i ct as t o Co u nt 3 , v i o l at i n g OCGA § 1 6 -1 2 -1 0 0 .1 (b ).

Un d er OCGA § 1 6-1 2 -1 0 0 .1 (b ),

[a] pers o n co m

m i t s t h e cri m e o f el ect ro n i cal l y fu rn i s h i n g o b scen e

m at eri al s t o m i n o rs i f: (1 ) Kn o wi n g o r h av in g g o o d reas o n t o k n o w th e

ch aract er of th e m at eri al fu rn i s hed

, t h e p er s o n el ect r o ni ca l l

y f u r ni s h es

t o a n i n d ivi d

u a l wh o m t h e per

s o n kn o ws or s ho u l d h a ve kn o wn i s a

mi n o r 1 4 : (A) An y p i ct u re, p h o t o g rap h

, d rawi ng

, o r s i m i l ar v is ual

rep res en t at i o n o r i m ag e of a p ers o n o r p ort i o n o f a h u m an b o d y wh ich

d ep i ct s s ex u al l y ex p l i ci t n u d i t y

, s ex u al co n d uct

, o r s ad o m as o c h i s t i c

ab u s e an d wh i ch i s h arm fu l t o m in o rs

. . . .

(a) W et zel fi rs t arg u es t h at t h e St at e fai l ed t o es t ab li s h t h at h e “ el ect ro n i cal l y

fu rn i sh ed ” t he i m ag es t o t h e v i ct i m

.

Pu rs uan t t o OCGA § 1 6 -1 2 -1 0 0 .1 (a) (3 ), “ ‘ [e] l ect ro n i cal l y fu rn i sh es ’ m ean s :

(A) [t ] o m ak e av ai l ab l e b y el ect ro n i c s t o rag e d ev i ce, i n cl u d i n g fl op p y d i s k s an d o t h er

m ag n et i c s t o rag e d ev i ces

, o r b y CD-ROM ; o r (B) [t ] o m ak e av a i l a b l e b y al l o wi n g

acces s t o i n fo rm at i o n s t o red i n a co m p u t er, i ncl u d in g m ak i n g m at eri al av ai l ab l e by

o p erat i n g a co m

p ut er b u l let i n b o ard s y st em .”

1 4 (Em p h a s i s s u p p l ied .) OCGA § 1 6 -1 2 -1 0 0

. 1 (a) (5 ) d efi n es a m i n o r as an

u n m arri ed p ers o n u n der 1 8 y ears o l d

.

12W et zel co n t en d s t h at t h e p h ras e “ i n cl u di n g m ak i n g m at eri al av ai l ab l e by

o p erat i n g a co m

p u ter b u ll et i n b o ard s y st em [(“ BBS”)] ” is a l i m i t i n g p h r a s e t h at

req u i res t h e St at e t o p ro ve h e o p erat ed a BBS. W e d i s ag ree. T he p h ras e at i s s u e ad d s

an ad di t i o n al av en u e t h ro u g h wh i ch t he St at e m ay es t ab l i s h t h at a d efen dan t al l o wed

acces s t o i n fo rm at i on

, an d i t d o es n o t ad d a l i m i t i n g req ui rem en t t h at t h e St at e m u s t

p ro v e i n ev ery ci rcu m s t an ce. W et zel ’ s rel i an ce o n F r ix v. S t a t e 1 5 i s m i sp l a c e d

. Th e

wo rd “ i n cl ud in g ” in t h at cas e i s fo l l o wed b y a li s t o f s p eci fi c ex am p les

, o n e of wh i ch

i s t h e v ery b ro ad cat eg o ry o f “ o t h er m ag n et i c s t orag e d ev i ces ,” wh i ch l ed t h i s Co u rt

t o co n cl u d e th at t h e l eg i s l at u re d i d n o t i n ten d t o i n cl u d e cel l p h on es i n t he d efi n i t i o n

o f “ el ect ro ni c s t orag e d ev i ce” b ecau s e cel l ph o n e di d n o t ap p ear i n t h at l i s t

. Here, t h e

p l ai n l an g u ag e o f t h e s u b s ect i o n s h o ws t hat t h e l eg i s l at u re i n t en d ed to ad d th e l i m i t ed

cat eg o ry o f BBSs wi t h i n t h e d efi n it i o n o f “ i n fo rm at i o n s t o red i n a co m pu t er” rat h er

t h an l i m i ti n g t h e d efi n i t io n t heret o i n al l ci rcu m st an ces

. 1 6

1 5 Co m p are wi t h Fr i

x

, 2 9 8 Ga. Ap p

. at 5 41 -5 4 2 (1 ) (i n t erp ret i n g O CGA § 1 6

-

1 2 -1 00 .1 (a) (3 ) (A), wh i ch s t at es t h at “ t o m ak e av ai l a b l e b y el ect ro n i c s t o rag e

d ev ice, i n cl u d i n g fl o pp y d i s k s an d o t h er m ag n et i c s t o rag e d ev i ces

, o r b y CD-ROM ,”

an d co ncl u d i n g t h at t h e l eg i s l at u re l i m i t ed “ el ect ro n i c s t o rag e dev i ce” wi t h t h e p h ras e

“ i n cl u d in g fl o p py

d i sk s an d o th er m ag net i c s to rag e d ev i ces , o r b y CD-ROM ”).

1 6 See i d

. See al s o McMu l l en v. S t a t e

, 3 1 6 Ga. Ap p

. 6 8 4

, 6 93 -6 9 4 (3 ) (a) n

. 4 3

(7 3 0 SE2 d 1 5 1 ) (2 0 1 2), ci t i n g R eeves v. Up s o n Reg i o n a l Med

. Cen t er

, 3 1 5 Ga. Ap p.

5 8 2

, 5 86 (2 ) (7 2 6 SE2 d 5 4 4 ) (2 0 1 2 ) (“ [W ] hen we co n s i d er t h e m ean i ng o f a s t at u t e,

13(b ) W et zel al s o arg ues t hat t h e St at e fai led t o es t ab li s h t h at h e k new t h e v i ct i m

was u n d er 1 8 y ears o l d

. In su p p o rt o f t h i s arg u m en t

, W et ze l p o i n t s t o t h e fact t h at

s t ud en t s are al lo wed to at t en d h i g h s ch o o l un t i l t hey are 21 y ears o l d if n eces s ary to

co m p l et e t h ei r deg ree, an d at t h e t i m e o f t h e in ci d en t

, s t u den t s u p t o 1 9 y ears o l d were

en ro l l ed i n t h e vi ct i m ’ s s ch o o l

. Bu t t h i s qu es t io n w a s f o r t h e ju ry

, an d t he ju ry ’ s

v erd i ct t h at W et zel k new o r s ho u l d h av e k n o wn t h e v i ct i m was u n d er 1 8 i s s u p p o rt ed

b y t h e v i ct i m ’ s t es t im o n y t h at sh e w o rk ed wi t h W et zel in an ex t racu rri cu l ar s t u d en t

o rg an i zat i o n wh en s h e was a 1 5-y ear-o ld s o ph o m o re an d h e was a p arap ro fes s i o n al

an d t hat s h e h ad m et hi m wh i l e s h e w as in ei g h t h g rad e t wo y ears earl i er an d n o t y et

at t en di n g t h e h i g h s ch o o l

. 1 7

( c) W et zel co n t en ds t h at OCGA § 1 6 -1 2 -1 00 .1 (a) (3 ) (B) i s v o i d f o r

v ag uen es s

. As we co n cl u ded i n Di v i s i o n (1 ) (a), h o w ev er, W et zel fai l ed t o s ecu re a

we al way s m

u s t pres um e t h at t h e Gen eral As s em b l y m ean s wh at i t say s an d say s wh at

i t m ean s

, an d an u n am

bi gu o u s s t at u t e m

u st b e affo rd ed i t s p l ai n m ean in g.”) (ci t at i o n

an d p un ct u at i o n o m i tt ed ); In t h e In t er es t o f L. J.

, 2 7 9 Ga. Ap p

. 2 3 7, 2 3 8 (6 3 0 SE2 d

7 7 1 ) (2 0 0 6 ) (“ [W h en ] th e l an g u ag e o f a st at ut e is p l ai n an d s u s cep t i b le t o o n l y o n e

n at u ral an d reas on ab l e co ns t ru ct i o n

, co u rt s m u s t co n s t ru e t he s t at ut e acco rd i n g l y .”).

1 7 See Ph ag a n v. S t at e , 2 6 8 Ga. 2 7 2, 2 7 8 (3 ) (c) (4 8 6 SE2 d 8 7 6 ) (1 9 9 7 ).

14ru l i n g b y t h e t ri al co u rt o n t h i s i s s u e an d h as t h erefo re fai l ed t o p res erv e t h e i s s u e fo r

rev i ew. 1 8

5

. Fi n al l y

, W et zel arg u es t h at t h e t ri al co u rt erred b y in co rrect l y ch arg i n g t h e

ju ry on Co un t 3 b ecau se t h e co u rt fai l ed to req u i re t h e j u r y t o fi n d t hat h e o p erat ed

a BBS as a m at eri al el em en t o f t h e cri m e. 1 9 Bas ed o n o u r d et erm in at io n i n Di v i s i o n

(4 ) ( a ) t h at t h e p h ras e to wh i ch W et zel refers i s n o t a m at eri al el em en t o f t h e cri m e

i n ev ery ci rcu m s t an ce, t h is en u m erat i o n i s wi t h o u t m eri t

.

Ju d g men t a f f i r m ed . Mi l l er

a n d Di l l ar d , JJ., co n cu r

.

1 8 See McAl li s ter

, 3 2 5 Ga. Ap p

. at 5 8 6 (2 ); Ba in

, 2 5 8 Ga. Ap p

. at 4 4 5 -4 4 6 (3 ).

1 9 To t h e ex t en t t h at W et zel at t em p t s t o a r g u e t h at t h e i n d i ct m en t fai l ed to

ch arg e h i m wi th t h e s p eci fi c m an n er u n d er OCGA § 1 6 -1 2 -1 0 0 .1 (b ) (1 ) b ecau s e t h e

St at e di d n o t en um erat e wi t h i n t h e i n d i ct m en t ho w W et zel al l eg ed l y “ el ect ro n i cal l y

fu rn i sh ed ” t h e i m ag es t o t he v i ct i m

, we d o n o t rev i ew th at arg u m en t

. See Fel i x

, 2 7 1

Ga. at 5 3 9

, n

. 6 (“ [A] n ap p eal in g p art y m ay n o t u se i t s b ri ef t o ex p an d i t s en u m erat i o n

o f erro rs b y arg u i n g t h e in co rrect n es s o f a t ri al co urt r u l i n g n o t m en t i o ned i n t h e

en u m erat i o n o f t h e erro rs

. ”).

15