THI RD DI VI SI ON

ELLI NGTON, P. J.

, BETHEL and GOBEI L, JJ.

N O T IC E : M otions for r e c ons i de r a tion m us t be

p h 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

Septem ber 27, 2018



# I n th e Co u r t o f

A p p eals o f

G eo r g ia

A1 8 A1 13 2 . CHRISTIAN v . THE STATE.

B E T H E L , J u d g e.

Fo l l ow i n g h i s c o n v i ct i o n s fo r t wo co u nt s o f t erro ri s t i c t h reat s, on e co u n t o f

disor de r ly c o n du ct

, ob s tru ct i o n o f a l aw en fo rcem en t o ffi cer, po s s es s i on of m a r ij ua na

,

an d D UI (d ru g s ), G o dfrey An d re Ch ri s t i an ap p eal s fro m t h e d en i al o f h is m o t i o n fo r

a n ew t ri al

. On ap p eal

, Ch ri s t i an arg u es t h at th ere was i n s u ffi ci en t ev i d en ce t o s u s t ai n

h i s DU I (d ru g s) co n v i ct io n, t h at h i s sen t en ce co n s t i t u t es cru el an d u n u s u al

p u n i s h m en t

, an d t h at t h e p ro s ecu t i o n fai l ed t o p ro v e ch ai n o f cu s t o d y

. Ho wev er, we

fi nd th e ev i d en ce t o b e s u ffi ci en t t o s u s t ai n Ch ri st ian ’ s DUI (d ru g s ) co n v i ct i o n

, t h at

h i s s en t en ce d o es n ot “ s h o ck t h e co n s ci en ce” so as to ren d er i t u n co n s t i t u t i o n al cru el

an d u n u s u al pu n i s h m en t

, an d t h at t h ere was n o rev ers i b l e e r r o r w i t h res p ect t o h i sch ai n o f cu st o d y o b j ect i o n

. Th erefo re, we affi rm th e tri al co u rt ’ s d en ial o f Ch ri s t i an ’ s

m o ti o n fo r a n ew t ri al

. 1

“ On ap p eal fro m a cri m i n al co n v i ct i on

, t h e ev i d en ce i s v i ewed i n t h e li g h t m o s t

fav o rab l e t o t he v erd i ct

, an d th e d efen d an t n o l on g er en jo y s t h e p res um

p t i o n o f

i n n o cen ce.” S t a te v. Ro b i n s o n

, 2 75 Ga. Ap p

. 1 1 7

, 1 1 7 (6 1 9 SE2 d 8 06 ) (2 0 0 5 )

(ci t at i o n om i tt ed ). So v i ewed

, t h e reco rd sh o w s t h at Ch ri s ti an an d h is g i rl fri en d h ad

b een ren t i n g a ro o m

i n a m arri ed co u p l e’ s ap art m en t

. On Oct ob er 4, 2 0 1 2

, t h e wi fe

cam e h o m e an d d i s co v ered Ch ri s t i an s m o k in g m ari ju an a o u t s i d e th e h o m e des p i t e t h e

1 Hav i n g b een cal l ed t o as s u m e n ew d u ti es

, i t ap p ears t h i s wi l l b e am o n g t h e

l as t o f m y o p i n i on s to cl u t t er t h e p ag es o f t h i s st o ri ed rep o rt er. Acco rd i n gl y

, I b eg t h e

i n d u l g en ce o f m

y i n terject i n g a wo rd o f t h an k s t o t h os e wh o h av e m ad e m y s erv i ce

o n t h i s Co u rt reward i n g, ch al l en g i n g

, an d d el i g ht fu l

. I b eg in w i t h m y ch am bers t eam

. An y t h in g ap pro ach i n g u s efu l s ch o l arl y l eg al wo rk y o u h av e read here aft er m y n am e

i s l arg el y at t ri b u t ab l e t o th e effo rt s o f Kat e Cel en der

, J e n n i f er M cNeel y

, an d Brad

Vau gh an

. O u r t eam h as b een o rch es t rat ed an d s u p p o rt ed ex cel l e n t l y b y J es s i ca

W at k i n s. Th es e p eo p l e h av e c o n s t i t u t ed a wo rk fam i l y t h at ex ceed ed m y h i g h

ex p ect at i o ns

. Ad d i t i o n al l y

, I t h an k t h e s t aff of th e Co u rt

. Ou r s h ared s t at e i s m o s t

fo rt un at e t o h a v e t h es e d ed icat ed m en an d wo m en s erv i n g u s i n t h i s Co u rt an d

en s u ri n g ca r e a n d p ro fes si o n al at t en t i o n i s affo rd ed ev ery m at ter t h at fi nd s i t s way

h ere. L as t l y

, I t h an k m

y fel lo w J u d ges

. It h as b e e n an h on o r an d pri v i l eg e t o s erv e

am on g y o u

, l earn fro m y ou

, an d en jo y fel l o ws hi p an d fri en d s h i p w i t h y o u

. Al l o f

t h es e I h av e m en t i o n ed em b o d y t h e Geo rg i a s p i ri t d es cri b ed b y o u r fi rs t m o t t o

, n o n

s i bi s ed al i is (n ot fo r t h em sel ves b u t fo r o t h ers ). I p ray m y erro rs h av e b een i n d i s s en t

o r were rev ers ed

.

2wi fe h av i n g p rev io us l y as k ed Ch ri s t i an t o refrai n fro m d o in g so

. Th e wi fe n o t i fi ed

Ch ri s t i an ’ s g i rl fri en d th at t hey h ad t hi rt y d a y s t o fi n d s om ewh ere el s e t o l i ve.

Ch ri s t i an ’ s g irl fri en d t h en s t ep p ed o u ts i d e an d n o t ifi ed Ch ri s ti an

. Ch ri s t i an b ecam e

fu ri ou s

, s t ep ped i n t o t h e h o u s e, cu rs ed at t he w i fe, g av e h er t he key s

, an d pack ed h i s

s t uff t o l eav e. Aft er Ch ri s t i an an d h i s g i rl fri en d h ad l eft , t h e m arri ed co u p le l eft t h e

h o u s e wi t h t h ei r ch i l dren

.

W h i l e t h e f

a m i l y was ou t

, t h e w i fe b eg an recei v i n g t ex t m es s ag es fro m

C h ri s ti an s t at i n g t h at h e p l an n ed t o ret u rn t o t h e h o m e an d t h reat en i n g “ war” i f hi s

ren t m o n ey w as n o t

ret u rn ed

. Th e co u p l e ret u rn ed h o m e an d m et Ch ri s t i an o u t s i de.

As Ch ri st i an em erg ed fro m h i s v eh i cl e o ut s i d e t h e h o m e, h e t h reat en ed t o s t ab t h e

h u s b an d an d b eg an m o v i ng t o w ard h i m

. Ho w ev er, t h e hu s ban d d i s p l ay ed a fi rearm

,

s t op p i n g Ch ri st i an ’ s ap p ro ach

. Ch ri s t i an t h e n s ai d t h at w h en t he h us b an d was at

wo rk

, Ch ri s t i an an d s o m e fri en d s wo ul d ret urn to th e h om e, rap e t h e wi fe, m u rd er t h e

ch i l d ren , an d s h o ot u p t h e h o u s e. Th e wi fe cal l ed p ol i ce as Ch ri s t ian l eft th e h o m e.

Ch ri st i an ret u rn ed to t h e h o m e a seco n d t i m e

, p ark ed b eh i n d t h e h om e, an d

s m o k ed m ari

j u an a

. Ch ri st i an t h en p u l l ed h is v eh i cl e aro u n d t o t he fro n t o f t h e h o m e

an d as ked t h e h u s b an d

, wh o was o u t s i d e, t o fi g h t

. Th e hu s ban d d ecl i n e d

, an d

Ch ri s t i an ag ai n dro v e away fro m t h e h om e. Aft er p o l i ce arri v ed an d b eg an tal k i n g to

3t h e co u p l e, Ch ri s t i an ret u rn ed t o t h e h o m e a th i rd t i m e. Po li ce as k ed Ch ri s ti an t o s t o p

an d t al k

, b u t Ch ri s t i an co n t in u ed d ri v i n g

. Sev eral p o l i ce cars at t em p t ed t o p u l l

Ch ri s t i an o v er an d aft er s ev eral fai l ed at t em p t s , fi n al l y

s u cceed ed

.

Up o n Ch ri s ti an ’ s arres t, p o l i ce n o t i ced a s t ro n g o d o r o f m ari ju an a co m i n g fro m

t h e car an d Ch ri s t i an ’ s g l azed an d d il at ed ey es

. Po l ice al s o d i s co v ered m ari ju an a in

t h e v eh i cl e. Po l i ce o b tai n ed a s earch warran t fo r Ch ri s t i an ’ s b l o o d, wh i ch t es t ed

p o s i t i ve fo r m ari

j u an a. A ju ry u l t i m at el y co n v ict ed Ch r i s t i a n o f t wo co u n t s o f

t erro ri s t ic t h reat s, d i s o rd erl y co n d u ct

, o b s tru ct i o n o f a l aw en fo rcem en t o ffi cer, an d

DUI (d ru g s). Ch ri s t i an fi l ed a m o t i o n fo r a n ew t ri al

, wh i ch was d en i ed fo l lo wi n g a

h eari n g , an d t h i s ap p eal fo l l o wed

.

1

. Ch ri s t i an arg u es t h e ev i d en ce was i n s u ffi ci en t t o s u p p o rt hi s co n v i ct i o n fo r

DUI (d ru g s ) 2 b ecau s e t h e St at e d i d n o t o ffer an y

ev i d en ce t h at t h e t es t i n g was d o n e

i n co m p l ian ce wi th t h e p ro v i s i o n s o f OCGA § 4 0-6 -3 9 2

.

In an ap p eal ch al l en g i n g t h e s u ffi ci en cy o f t h e ev i d en ce, “ i t i s t h e fu nct i o n o f

t h i s co u rt t o ex am i n e t h e ev i d en ce in t h e li g h t m os t fav orab l e t o th e v e r d i c t an d to

d et erm i n e wh et h er an y rat i o n al t ri er o f fact co ul d hav e fo u nd t h e ap pel l an t g ui l t y

2 Ch ri s t ian d oes n ot ch al l en g e t h e s u ffi ci en cy o f t h e ev i den ce o n hi s o t h er

co n vi ct i o n s

.

4b ey o n d a reas o n ab l e d o u b t

. ” B o o ker v. S t a t e

, 2 5 7 Ga

. 3 7

, 3 8 (1 ) (3 5 4 SE2 d 4 2 5 )

(1 9 8 7) (ci t at i on o m i t ted ). “ A s l o n g as t h ere i s s o m e co m pet en t ev i d en ce, ev en t h o u g h

co n trad i ct ed

, t o s u p p o rt each n eces s ary el em en t o f t h e s t at e’ s cas e, t h is Co u rt wi l l

u p h o l d t h e ju ry ’ s v erd i ct .” Lu ca s v. S t a t e

, 2 9 5 Ga. Ap p

. 83 1

, 8 3 2 (1 ) (6 7 3 SE2 d 3 0 9 )

(2 0 0 9) (fo o t n o te o m it t ed ).

Ch ri st i an wa s c o n vi ct ed o f DUI (d ru g s ) u n d er O CGA § 4 0 -6 -3 9 1 (a) (2 ).

OCGA § 4 0 -6 -3 9 1 (a) (2 ) p ro v i d es as fo l l ows : “ A p ers o n s h al l n o t d ri ve o r b e in

act u al p h y s i cal co n t ro l o f an y m o v i n g v eh i cl e wh i l e:

. . . [u ] n d er t h e i n fl u en ce o f an y

d ru g t o t he ex t en t t hat i t is l es s s afe fo r t h e p ers o n t o d ri ve.” A t tri al

, th e ev i d en ce

s h o wed t h at Ch ri s ti an t es t ed p o s it i ve fo r m ari ju an a s h o rt l y aft er h e was fo rci b l y

rem o v e d f

r o m h i s v eh icl e, w h ich s m el l ed st ro n g l y of m ari ju an a, an d was o b s erv ed

wi t h g l azed an d d i l at ed ey es

. Ch ri s t i an ’ s g i rl fri en d

, wh o was al s o i n t h e v eh i cl e at t h e

t i m e of h i s arres t

, in fo rm ed o ffi cers t h at Ch ri s t i an h ad s m o k ed fi v e “ b l u nt s ” t h at d ay

.

Fi n al l y

, t h e ev id en ce s h o wed t h at Ch ri s t i an l ed p ol i ce o n a l o w-s p eed ch as e t h ro u g h

t h e ap art m en t co m

p l ex

, cu l m i n at i n g i n h i m b ei ng fo rci b l y rem o v ed fro m th e v eh i cl e

an d t as ed b efo re h i s arres t

. Th i s ev i d en ce was s u ffi ci en t t o au th o ri ze a rat i o n al t ri er

o f fact t o fi n d t hat Ch ri s t ian was i m p ai red d u e t o t h e m ari

ju an a i n h i s s y s t em s u ch t h at

5h e was l es s s afe t o d ri ve. See Ri ver a v. S t a t e , 3 0 9 Ga. Ap p . 5 4 4 , 5 4 5 (1 ) (7 1 0 SE2 d

6 9 4 ) (2 0 1 1 ); S i s t r u n k v. S t a t e , 2 8 7 Ga. Ap p . 3 9 , 3 9 -4 0 (6 5 1 SE2 d 3 5 0) (2 00 7 ).

In l i gh t o f t h i s ev i d en ce i n t he reco rd

, i t was n o t n eces s ary fo r th e St at e to

d em o n s t rat e co m

p l i an ce wi t h t h e r e q u i r e m en t s o f OCGA § 4 0 -6 -3 9 2 i n o rd er to

s u s t ai n t h e co n v i ct io n fo r DUI l es s s afe u n d e r OCGA § 4 0 -6 -3 9 1 (a) (2 ). Th i s

en u m erat i o n i s wi th o u t m eri t

.

2

. Ch ri st i an n ex t arg u es th at h i s sen t en ce fo r t erro ri s t i c t h reat s co n s t it u t es cru el

an d u n u su al p u n i s h m en t i n v i o l at i o n o f t h e Un i t ed St at es an d Geo rg i a Co n st i t u t i on s

b ecau s e t h e s t at u t e, OCGA § 1 6 -1 1 -3 7 (a), was lat er ch an g ed t o m ak e v i o l at i o n a

m i s d em ean o r. W e d o n o t fi n d t h a t h i s s en t en ce co ns t i t u t es cru el an d u n u s u al

p u n i s h m en t

.

B o t h t h e G eo rg ia an d t he fed eral co n st i tu t i o n s cat eg ori cal l y p ro h ib i t

i n fl i ct i n g c r u el an d u n u s u al p u n is h m en ts

. A p u n i s h m en t i s cru el an d

u n u s u al i f i t (1 ) m ak es n o m eas u rab l e co nt ri b u ti o n t o accep t ed g o al s o f

punis h m en t an d h en ce i s n o t h i n g m o re th an t h e p u rp o s el es s an d need l e s s

i m p o s i t io n o f p ai n a n d su fferi n g; or (2 ) i s g ro s s l y ou t o f p ro p o rt i o n t o

t h e s ev eri ty o f t h e cri m e. W h et h er a p u n i s h m en t is cru el an d un u su al i s

n o t a s t a t i c c o n cep t

, bu t i n s t ead ch an g es i n reco g n i t i o n o f ev o l v i n g

s t an dard s o f d ecen cy t h at m ark t h e p ro g res s o f a m at u ri n g s o ci et y

.

Leg i s l at i v e en act m en t s co n s t i t u t e t h e cl ea r e s t an d m o s t o b ject iv e

ev i d en ce o f h o w co n tem

p o ra r y s o c i et y v i ews a part i cu l ar p u n i s h m en t

.

6As a res ul t

, t h e i s su e o f p u n is h m en t i s g en eral l y o n e fo r t h e l eg i sl at iv e

b ran ch

, an d l eg i s l a t i v e d i s cret i o n i s d eferred t o u n les s t h e s en t en ce

i m p o s ed s h o ck s t he co n sci en ce.

Jo h ns o n v. S t at e

, 27 6 Ga. 5 7

, 6 2 (5 ) (5 7 3 SE2 d 3 6 2 ) (2 0 0 2 ) (ci t at i o n an d pu n ct u at i o n

o m it t ed ).

In 2 01 6

, t h e Gen eral As s em bl y rev i s ed OCGA § 1 6 -1 1 -3 7 t o p ro v i d e fo r

m i s d em ean o r p u n i s h m en t o f t erro ri s t i c t h reat s ex cep t un d er cert ai n ci rcu m s t an ces

,

i n cl u d i n g wh ere t h e t h reat “ su g g es t ed t h e d eat h o f t h e t h reat en ed in d iv i du al .” Ga. L.

2 0 1 6

, p

. 8 1 2

, § 2

. Th es e ch an g es wen t i n t o e f f e ct M ay 3

, 2 0 1 6

. S

ee i d

. Pri o r t o t h e

rev i s io n

, an d at t he t i m e Ch ri s t i an co m m i tt ed an d was t ri ed o n th e offen s es

, t h e

rel ev a n t p o r t i o n o f t he s t at ut e al l o wed fo r “ i m p ri s o n m en t fo r n o t l es s th an o n e n o r

m o re t h an fi v e y ears [.] ” S ee p ri o r OCGA § 1 6 -1 1 -3 7 (c) (ef f e c t i v e J u l y 1, 2 0 1 2 to

J u n e 3 0

, 2 0 1 5 ). Ch ri s t i an recei v ed a s en t en ce o f 5 y ears o n e ach o f t h e t wo co u nt s

,

t o b e s erv ed co n s ecu t iv el y

. Ch ri s t i an w a s t h us g i v en a s en t en ce wi th i n t h e l i m i t s

p ro v id ed b y l aw. S

ee O C G A § 1 7 -1 0 -1 (a) (1 ) (A) (au t ho ri zi n g a t ri al co u rt to

s en t en ce a d efen d an t t o an y am o u n t o f t i m e wi th i n t h e l i m i t s p ro v id ed b y l aw). See

a l s o Ho ls ey v. S ta t e

, 3 1 6 Ga. Ap p

. 8 0 1

, 80 5

- 8 0 6 ( 3 ) (7 2 9 SE2 d 4 6 5 ) (2 0 1 2 )

(reco g n i zi n g t h e ju d g e’ s d i s cret i o n t o i m p o s e co ns ecu t iv e s en t en ces ). Fu rt h er, ev en

7u n d er t h e a m en ded s t at u t e, Ch ri s t i an ’ s t h reat s wo u ld h av e fal len w i th i n t h e s am e

s en t en ci n g ran g e b ecau s e Ch ri s t i an t h reat en e d t o s t a b t h e h u s ban d

, g an g -rap e t h e

w i f e

, a nd s h o o t u p th e co u pl e’ s h o u s e

. S ee OCGA 1 6 -1 1-3 7 (d ) (1 ) (p ro v i d i n g t h a t

“ i f t h e t h reat s u g g es t ed t h e d eat h o f t h e t hreat en ed i n di v i d u al

, t h e p ers o n co n v i ct ed

s h al l be g u il t y o f a fel o ny an d s h al l b e p u n i s h ed b y

. . . i m p ri s o nm en t fo r n o t l es s t h an

o n e n o r m o re t h an fi ve y ears ”). Th u s

, wh i le s o ci et y ’ s s t an d ard s as ex p res s ed i n o u r

co d e m ay h av e t h eo ret i cal l y “ ev o l v ed ” to v iew o t h er t erro ri s t ic t h reat s les s s ev erel y

i n t erm s o f p u n is h m en t (as arg u ab l y ev i den ced b y t h e pro v i s i o n o f m i s d em ean o r

o ffen s es ), t h e Gen eral As s em bl y h as n o t el ect ed t o red uce t h e p u n i sh m en t fo r t h reat s

s u g g es t i n g d eat h

.

Here, we can no t s a y t h at t h e fi v e y ear s en t en ce im po s ed fo r each t h reat

s u g g es t i n g t h e d eat h o f t h e h u s b an d an d wi fe “ s h o ck s t h e co n s ci en ce” s o as t o ren d er

t h e sen t en ce u n co n st i t ut i o n a l

. S ee, e.g

. , Ho l

s ey

, 3 16 G a. A p p

. at 8 0 5 (3 ) (fi v e y ear

co n cu rren t s en t en ce fo r t e r r o ri s t i c t h reat n ot cru el an d u n u s u al ). Th i s en u m erat i o n

t h erefo re fai ls

.

3

. Fi nal l y

, Ch ri s t i an arg u es th at t h e St at e fai l ed t o p ro v e ch ai n o f cu st od y wi th

res p ect t o h i s b l o o d s am

p l e (wh i ch s h o wed t h at Ch ri s t i an h ad co n su m ed m ari ju an a)

8b ecau s e th ere was n o t es t i m o n y reg a r d i n g h o w th e s am p l e was p l aced i n t o t h e

l o ck b o x an d t ran s p ort ed t o t h e cri m e l ab . Th ere i s n o rev ers i b le erro r.

Du ri n g t h e t ri al

, Ch ri s ti an fai l ed t o o b j e ct t o tes t im on y o f t h e fo ren s i c

t o x i co l o g i s t wh o t es t i fi ed reg ard i n g t h e b l oo d t es t

. In h i s am en d ed m o ti o n fo r a n ew

t ri al

, Ch ri s t i an as sert ed fo r t h e f i r s t t i m e t he St at e’ s al l eg ed fai l u re t o p res en t ch ai n

o f cu s t o d y ev i d en ce reg ard i n g h i s b l oo d s am p l e. Un d er o u r p rev i o us Ev i d en ce Co de,

t h i s m at t er wo u l d h av e b een wai v ed fo r ap pel l at e rev i ew. S ee Gl over v. St a t e

, 2 3 0 Ga.

Ap p

. 79 5

, 7 9 7 (1 ) (4 9 8 SE2 d 3 0 0 ) (1 9 9 8 ). Ho wev er, th e n ew E vi d en ce Co de al l o ws

t h i s Co u rt t o rev i ew ru l i n g s ad m i t t i n g o r ex cl u d i n g ev id en ce fo r p l ai n erro r

. S e e

OCGA § 2 4 -1 -1 0 3 (d ); Ga tes v. S t a t e

, 2 9 8 Ga. 3 2 4

, 3 2 8 (3 ) (7 8 1 SE2 d 7 7 2 ) (2 0 1 6 ).

Acco rd in g ly , we rev iew t h i s cl ai m fo r p l ai n erro r.

In d et erm i n i ng wh et h er p l ai n erro r e x i s t s

, we co n s i d er t h e fo l l owi n g fo u rp ro n gs :

Fi rs t , t h ere m

u s t b e an erro r o r defect

— s o m e s ort 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 i s h ed o r ab an d o n ed

,

i .e., affi rm at i v el y wai v ed b y t h e ap p el lan t

. Seco n d

, t he leg al erro r m u s t

b e cl ear an d o bv i o u s

, rat h er t han su b ject t o reas o n ab le d i s p ut e. Th i rd

,

t h 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 st an t i al ri g ht s

, wh i ch i n

t h e ord in ary cas e m ean s h e m u s t dem o ns t rat e t h at i t affect ed th e

o u t co m e o f t h e t ri al co urt p ro ceed i n g s. Fo u rt h an d fi n al l y

, i f t he ab o ve

9t h ree p ro n gs are s at is fi ed

, t h e ap p el l at e co u rt has t h e di s cret io n t o

rem ed y th e erro r

— d i s c r e t i o n wh i ch o ug h t t o b e ex erci s ed o n l y i f th e

erro r s eri o u s l y affect s t h e fai rn es s

, i n t eg ri t y o r p ub l i c rep u ta t i o n o f

ju d i ci al pro ceed i n g s

. Rev ers al i s au t h ori zed on l y i f al l fo u r p ro n g s a r e

s at i s fi ed

—

a d i ffi cu l t s t an d ard i n d eed

.

Ca r t er v. S t a t e , 3 0 2 Ga. 2 0 0 , 2 0 6 (3 ) (8 0 5 SE2 d 8 39 ) (2 0 1 7) (cl ean ed u p ).

Ev en i f we were t o p res u m e th at Ch ri s t i an s at i s fi ed t h e fi rs t an d seco n d p ro ng s

o f t he ab o v e t es t

, t h ere i s n o p l ai n erro r h ere b ecau s e h e h as fai l ed t o m eet h i s b u rd en

u n d er t h e t h i rd p ro n g

. Th at i s

, Ch ri st i an h as fai led t o d em o n st rat e t h at th e al l eg ed

“ erro r” i n ad m i t t i n g t h e bl o o d sam p l e affect ed t h e o u tco m e o f t h e t ri al

. Here

, t h ere

was t es ti m o n ial ev i d en ce fro m t wo o th er wi t n es s es t h at Ch ri s ti an h ad s m o k ed

m ari ju an a s h o rt l y b efo re d ri v i n g

. Fu rt h er, p o l i ce n o ti ced a s t ro n g o d o r o f m ari ju an a

co m i n g fro m Ch ri s t ian ’ s car, i n ad d i ti o n t o h is g l azed an d d i lat ed ey es

. Fi nal l y

, p o l i ce

al s o di s co v ered m ari

ju an a i n Ch r i s t i an ’ s v eh i cl e. Th us

, t h e ev i d en ce reg ard i n g t h e

b l o o d s am

p l e was cu m

u l at iv e, “ an d i t s ad m i s s i o n d i d n o t i n reas on ab le p ro b ab i l i t y

affec t t h e o u t co m e o f t h e t ri al .” La f a vo r v. S t a t e

, 3 3 4 Ga. Ap p

. 1 2 5

, 1 2 8 (2 ) (7 7 8

SE2 d 3 7 7) (2 0 1 5) (fo o t n o t e o m i t t ed ).

Ju d g men t a f f i r m ed . El l i n g t o n , P. J., a n d Go b ei l , J., co ncu r

.

10