FOURTH D I VI SI ON

BA RNES, P. J.

, RA Y and M CM I LLI A N, JJ.

N O T IC E : M otions for r e c ons i de r a tion m us t be ph y sic a l ly r e ce iv ed i n our c le r k ’s offic e w ithin te n da y s of the da te of de c is ion to be de e m ed tim e ly file d.

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

Nov em ber 20, 2015



# I n th e Co u r t o f

A p p eals o f

G eo r g ia

A1 5 A0 47 2 . GASKIN v . THE STATE.

M C M ILLI A N , J u dg e.

Larry G as k i n , J r. ap p eal s t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s d en i al o f h i s m o t i o n fo r n ew t ri al aft er

a j u ry co n v i ct ed h i m o f t w o co u n t s o f ch il d m ol es t at i on

. Becau s e we fi n d t h at t h e t ri al

co u rt co m

m i t t ed h arm fu l erro r i n ad m it t in g ev i d en ce o f Gas k i n ’ s p ri o r arres t s , we

rev ers e.

Vi ewed i n t he l i g h t m o s t fav o rab le t o s u p p o rt th e v erd i ct

, 1 t he ev i d en ce at t ri al

s h o wed t hat i n Feb ru ary 2 0 1 1, t h e v i ct i m , K

. C., wh o was 15 y ears o l d

, l i v ed wi t h h er

1 “ [W ] h en we co n s i d er t h e l eg al s u ffi ci en cy o f t h e ev i den ce, we m us t v i ew t h e

ev i d en ce i n t h e l i g h t m o s t fav o rab le t o t h e verd i ct an d l eav e q u es t i o n s of cred i b i l i t y

an d t h e res o l u t i o n o f co n fl i ct s i n t h e ev i d en ce to t he ju ry .” (Ci tat i o n an d pu n ct u at i o n

o m it t ed .) Br

ya nt v. S t a te , 2 9 6 Ga. 4 56 , 4 5 7 (1 ) (7 69 SE2 d 5 7 ) (2 0 1 5 ).m o th er, y o u n g er s i s t er, 2 an d G as k in

. On e n i g h t t h at m o nt h

, K

. C. was l ay i n g i n t h e

b ed wi t h h er s i s t er, wh o m s he was b ab y s i tt i ng w h i l e Gas k i n an d h er m o t h er were o ut

o f t h e h o u s e. Th at ev en i n g , K

. C. t ex t ed her m o t h er, wh o was s ti l l o u t

, an d as k ed h er

t o m ak e Gas ki n l eav e t h e ho u s e. W h en K. C. an d h er m o t h er s u b seq u en t l y s p o k e o n

t h e p h on e, K. C. t o l d her m o t h er t h at wh en Gas k i n c a m e t o get her s i s t er o u t o f t h e

b ed

, h e t o u ch ed K. C.’ s b reas t s

. K. C.’ s m o t h er t h en co n fro n t ed Gas k i n, b u t he d en i ed

an y w ro n g d o i n g , say in g t h at K. C.’ s as s ert i o n was “ crazy .” Th e n ex t d ay , K. C., h er

m o th er, an d Gas k i n di s cu s sed t h e s i t u at i o n

. K. C. re p e a t ed t h at Gas k i n h ad b een

d ri n k i n g a n d h ad t o u ch ed h er b reas t s , bu t sh e d i d n o t k no w i f h e h ad d on e i t o n

p u rp os e o r n o t

. Acco rd i n g t o K. C.’ s m o th er, K. C. d i d n ot s ay t h at s h e wan ted Gas k in

t o l eav e t h e h o u s e, an d h e co n t i n u ed t o l iv e wi th t h e fam il y

.

Ap p ro x im at el y n i n e m on t h s l at er, in Sep t em b er 2 0 1 1, wh en K

. C. was v i s i t i n g

C h a r l e s Th i g p en , 3 t h e fat h er o f K. C.’ s o t h er s i s t er, s he t o l d h i m t h at Gas k i n cam e

h o m e d ru n k on e n i g h t

, wen t i n to h er b ed ro o m , an d at tem pt ed t o h av e s ex w i t h h er by

“ reach [i n g ] d own i n t o her p an t i es .” K. C. t o l d Ch arl es t h at aft erward s s h e was g i v en

2 Th e y o u n ger s is t er i s t he ch i l d o f Gas k in an d K. C.’ s m o t her.

3 To av o id co n fu s i o n , we wi l l refer t o t h e Th i g p en s , i n d i v i d ual l y , by t h ei r fi rs t

n am es

.

2a cel l p ho n e an d $ 1 0 0

. Ch arl es s p o k e wi t h Gas ki n an d K. C.’ s m o t h er an d was t o ld

t h at i t w as al l a m i s u n d ers t an d in g an d t hat t h ey had d eal t wi t h th e m at t er. H o wev er,

C h a r l e s t o l d h is wi fe, Qu i n ei sh a, wh at K

. C. h ad s ai d

. W h en Qu i nei s h a s p ok e wi t h

K. C., K. C. t o l d h er th at Gas k i n t ri ed t o h av e s ex w i t h h er, th at s he k i ck ed h i m o ff

o f h er, an d t h at h e h ad ex p o s ed h i m s el f t o h er. T h e n ex t d ay , Q u i n e i s h a c a l l ed a

c o u n s el o r at K. C.’ s s ch o o l t o rep o rt t h e i n ci d en t

. T h e co un s el o r s p o ke wi t h K

. C

. ,

wh o ad m it t ed s h e had t o l d Qu i n ei s h a ab o u t t h e in ci d en t i n v ol v i n g Gas k i n

. Th e s ch o ol

t h en n ot i fi ed t h e p o l i ce an d t h e Dep art m en t o f Fam i l y an d Ch i l d ren Serv i ces ab o ut

t h e m at t er.

Det ect i v e Dav id Rem ec o f t h e At l an t a Po l i ce Dep art m en t s p o k e b ri efl y wi th

K. C. at t h e s ch o o l th at d ay , an d s h e t o l d h i m t h at Gas k in h ad t o u ch ed h er i n a s ex u al

m an n er s o m et i m e i n o r aro u n d Feb ru ary 2 0 1 1

. Sh e al s o t o l d Rem ec t h at Gas k i n h ad

g i v en h er a cel l p h o n e an d s om e m o n ey t o t ry t o k eep h er q ui et

. Rem ec t h en arran g ed

fo r a fo ren s i c i n t erv i ewer t o q u es t i o n K. C.

K. C. t o l d th e fo ren s i c in t erv i ewer t h at i n F e b r u a ry 2 0 11

, Gas k in h ad co m e

h o m e i nt o x i cat ed

, en t ered t h e ro o m wh ere s h e was i n b ed wi t h h er si s t er, an d as k ed

K. C. i f an y o n e was h o m e. W h en K. C. t o l d Gas k i n n o o n e el s e was t h er e, h e wen t

i n t o t h e b at h ro o m an d t h en cam e b ack an d s t art ed t o u ch i n g h er b reas t s an d t h e o u t s i d e

3o f h er v ag i na. Sh e s ai d t hat

, aft erward

, h e offered h er m o n ey n o t t o t el l an y o n e wh at

h ad h ap p en ed

. K. C. s ai d t h at Gas k i n g av e h er $ 1 00 an d b o ug h t h er a ph o n e two day s

aft er t h e in ci d en t

. A reco rd i n g o f K. C.’ s fo ren s i c i n t erv iew was p lay ed fo r t h e ju ry

.

Ho wev er, d u ri n g h er d i r e c t ex am i n at io n at t ri al

, K. C. ei t h er d en i ed t h at

a n y t h i n g h ap p en ed i n 2 01 1 o r s t at ed t h at sh e di d n o t rem em b er. K. C. s ai d t h at s h e

d i d n o t w an t t o t al k a b ou t wh at h ad h ap p en ed b ecau se s h e fel t t hat s h e was

res p o n s i b l e fo r h er y o un g er s is t er n o t get t i n g t o s ee Ga s k i n , wh o w as her s i s t er’ s

fat h er, an d th at u p s et K. C. Ho wev er, K. C. t es t i fi ed t h at s h e recal l ed h av i n g a

co n vers at i on w i t h Gas k i n an d h er m o t h er ab o u t Gas ki n t o u ch i n g her. Sh e al s o

t es t i fi ed t h at s h e recei v e d m o n ey an d a cel l p ho n e fro m G as k i n

. Ad d i t io n al l y , s h e

recal l ed t al k i n g wi th p ol i ce, th e co u n s el or at h er sch o o l

, an d s o m e o n e el se, b u t s h e

s ai d t hat s h e d i d n ot rem em b er or d id n o t k n o w wh at t ho s e co n v ers at i o n s were ab o u t

.

Bu t o n cro s s -ex am i n at i o n , K

. C. ad m i tt ed t el l in g h er m o th er t h at Gas k i n h ad

acci den t al l y t o u ch ed h er b reas ts

, t el l i n g t h e Th i g p en s t h at Gas k in h ad t ri ed t o h av e

s ex wi t h h er, an d t el l i n g t h e fo ren s i c i n t erv i ewer t h at Gas k i n h ad to u ch ed h er b reas t s

an d v ag i n a.

Aft er t h e St at e res ted

, Gas k i n cal led K. C.’ s m o t h er as a wi tn es s fo r th e d efen s e

t o t e s t i f y as t o h i s rep u t at i o n fo r t ru t h fu l n es s

. Gas k in al s o t es t i fi ed an d d en i ed ev er

4i m

p ro p erl y t o u ch i n g K. C. M o reo v er, bo t h Gas k i n an d K. C.’ s m o t h er tes t ifi ed t h at

K. C. h ad recei v ed t h e cel l p h o n e an d t h e $ 1 0 0 fo r h er b i rt hd ay

. 4

1

. Gas k in arg u es o n ap p eal t h at th e t ri al co u rt erred wh en i t al l o wed th e St at e

t o q u es t i o n K. C.’ s m o t h er ab o u t h i s p ri o r arres t s

.

Du ri n g Gas k in ’ s t ri al

, h i s co u n s el as k ed K. C.’ s m o t h er i f s he was aware o f

Gas ki n ’ s rep u tat i o n in t h e c o m m u n i t y fo r tru t h fu l n es s, an d s h e rep l i ed

, “ Yes .” Bu t

wh en d efen s e c o u n s e l b e g a n to as k a fo l l o w-u p qu es t io n , th e St at e ob ject ed t o an y

t es t i m o ny reg ard i n g s peci fi c ex am p l es o f hi s g o o d rep u t at i o n. Gas k i n ’ s co u n s el

rep l i ed t h at h e d id n o t wan t t o as k ab o u t sp eci fi cs , an d aft er t h e t ri al co u rt rev i ewed

t h e q u es t i o ns t hat co u n s el p l an ned t o as k

, i t al l owed h i m t o p ro ceed

. G as k i n ’ s co u n s el

as k ed on l y o n e m o re fo l l o w-u p q u es t i o n : wh et h er k n o wi n g Gas k i n ’ s rep ut at i o n fo r

t ru t h fu l n es s i n t h e co m

m u n i t y , K. C.’ s m o t h er wo u l d bel i ev e t es t i m o n y t h at Gas k in

g av e u n d er o at h

. 5 K. C.’ s m o t h er ag ai n rep l i ed i n t h e affi rm at i v e.

4 W e fi n d t hat t he ev i d en ce at t ri al was s u ffi ci en t t o s up p o rt h i s co n v i ct i on s b e yo n d a reas o n ab l e d ou b t u nd er t h e s t an d ard s et fo rt h i n Ja cks o n v. Vi r g in i a , 4 4 3

U.S. 3 0 7 (9 9 SCt 2 7 8 1 , 6 1 LE2 d 5 6 0) (1 9 7 9 ).

5 Al t h ou gh fo rm er OCGA § 2 4 -9 -8 4 (4 ) perm it t ed co u n s el to as k t h i s q u es t i o n, Geo rg i a’ s n e w Ev id en ce Co d e d o es n o t co nt ai n a s i m i l ar p ro v i s i o n , an d o n e

co m m en t at o r h as o p in ed t h at t h i s o m i s s i o n “ s u gg es t s leg i s l at iv e reje c t i o n ” o f t h e

q u es ti o n

. See Ro n al d L. Carl s o n & M i ch ael Sco t t Carl s o n , Carl s o n o n E v i d en ce 2 9 0

- 9 1 (3 d ed . 2 0 1 5 ).

5On cro s s -ex am i n at io n, t he p ro s ecu t o r as k ed K. C.’ s m o t h er i f h er o p i n i o n o f

Gas ki n ’ s rep u t at i o n fo r t ru t hfu ln es s wo u l d ch an g e i f s h e were aware t h at h e h ad b een

arres t ed “ o n a co up l e o f o ccas i o n s .” K. C.’ s m o th er rep l ied t h at h er o p i n i o n wo u l d n ot

ch an ge an d t h at s h e was a w a r e o f h i s p ri o r arres ts

. A t t h at p o i n t

, G as k i n ’ s co u n s el

o b ject ed t o an y q u es t i o n s ab o u t t h e s p eci fi c arres ts

, b u t aft er a b en ch co n feren ce, t h e

t ri al co u rt s t at ed t h at t he p ro s ecu t o r co u ld as k ab o u t “ t h e t h ree arres t s t h at y o u k n o w

ab o ut o v er t h e d efen dan t ’ s ob ject i o n.” Th e p ro s ecu t i o n t h en as k ed K. C.’ s m o t h er i f

s h e was aware of fo u r pri o r arres t s : fo r p o s s es s io n , m an u fact u ri n g , o r d is t ri b u t i o n o f

m ari ju an a; s i m

p le b at t ery ; cri m i n al d am ag e t o p ro p ert y ; an d o b s t ru ct i o n o f a p ers o n

m ak i n g a 9 1 1 cal l

.

In hi s m ot i o n fo r n ew t ri al

, Gas k i n as s ert ed t h at th e ad m i s s i on o f t h is ev i d en ce

was erro r, an d t h e t ri al co u rt a g r e e d

. H o wev er, t h e tri al co u rt co n cl u d ed

, wi t h o ut

ex p lan at i o n , t hat “ th i s erro r was h arm l es s as t h e Co urt fu rt her fi nd s i t i s h i g h l y

p ro b ab l e t h at th e ev i d en ce d i d n o t co n t ri bu t e t o th e ju ry ’ s v erd i ct .” T h u s , t h e t ri al

co u rt d en i ed Gas k i n ’ s m o ti o n fo r n ew t ri al

.

W h i l e we ag ree t h e t ri al co u rt co m m i tt ed erro r i n ad m i t t i n g ev i d en ce o f

Gas ki n ’ s p ri o r arres t s , we d i s ag ree wi t h t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s co n cl u s io n t h at th e erro r was

h arm l es s

.

6(a) Th is cas e was t ri ed i n J an u ary 20 1 3, t h e m o n t h t h at Geo rg i a’ s n ew Ev i d en ce

Co d e b ecam e effect i v e. See Ga. L. 2 0 1 1

, p

. 99

, § 1 0 1

. Un der t he n ew Co d e, OCGA

§ 2 4 -6 -6 0 8 6 p ro vi d es v ery “ s peci fi c, l i m i t ed m et h o ds fo r at t ack in g o r s u p p o rt i n g t h e

cred i b i l i t y o f a wi tn es s b y ev i d en ce i n t h e fo rm o f o p i n i o n o r rep u tat i on .” W i l l i a ms

v. S t a t e , 3 3 2 Ga. Ap p . 5 4 6, 5 48 (1 ) (b ) (7 7 4 SE2 d 1 2 6 ) (2 0 15 ). Un d er t h at s t at u te,

[t ] h e cred i b i l it y of a wi t n es s m ay be at t ack ed o r s u pp o rt ed b y ev i d en ce

i n t h e fo rm of o p i n i o n o r rep u t at i o n , s u b ject to t h e fo l l o wi ng l i m i t at i o n s :

(1 ) Th e ev i d en ce m ay refer o n l y t o ch aract er fo r t ru t h fu l n e s s o r

u nt ru t hfu ln es s ; an d

(2 ) Ev i d en ce o f tr u t h f

u l ch aract er s h al l b e ad m i s s i b le o n ly aft er

t h e ch aract er o f t h e wi t n es s fo r t ru t h fu l n es s h as b een at tack ed b y

o pi ni o n o r rep u t at i o n ev i den ce o r o t h erwi s e. 7

6 W e ap p l y OCGA § 2 4 -6 -6 0 8 i n t h i s cas e becau s e t h e ev i d en ce at is s u e was i n t ro du ced t h ro u gh cro s s -ex am i n at i o n i n res po n se t o t es t i m o n y ab ou t Gas k i n ’ s

rep u t at i o n fo r tru th fu l n es s a n d n o t u n d er t h e p ro ced u res fo r ad m i t t i n g ev i d en ce o f

o t h e r act s fo r t h e p urp os es al l o wed u n der OCGA § 2 4 -4 -4 0 4 (b ). See, e.g ., U. S

. v. To mb l i n , 4 6 F3 d 1 3 6 9 , 1 3 8 9 (II) (2 ) (5 th Ci r. 19 9 5 ) (p ro ced ure u n d er Fed

. R. Ev i d.

4 0 4 (b ) t hat req u ires pro s ecu t o r t o g i v e n o t i ce o f i n t en t i o n t o u s e ev i d en ce o f o t h er

act s d o es n o t ap p l y t o ev i d en ce i n t ro d u ced t h ro u g h cro s s -ex am i n at i o n u n d er Fed

. R.

Ev i d

. 6 08 (b )).

7 W e n o t e t h at t h e i s s u e o f wh et h er Gas k i n ’ s i n i t ial ch aract er ev i d en ce was ad m i s s i b l e u n d er t h i s p ro v i s i o n i s n o t b efo re u s i n t h is ap p eal

.

7OCGA § 2 4 -6 -6 0 8 (a). Th e s t at u t e al s o ad d res s es t h e u s e o f s p eci fi c i n s t an ces o f

co n du ct t o at t a c k (o r s up p o rt ) a wi t n es s ’ s ch aract er fo r t ru t hfu l n es s , p ro v i d i n g t h at

“ o t her t h an a co n v i ct i o n o f a cri m e as p ro v i d ed i n [OCGA § ] 2 4 -6 -6 0 9, 8 o r co n d u ct

i n d i cat i v e o f t he wi tn es s ’ s b ias t o ward a p art y ” s u ch s p eci fi c i n s t an ces “ m ay n o t b e

p ro v ed b y

ex t ri n s i c ev i d en ce.” OCGA § 2 4 -6 -6 0 8 (b ). Ho wev er, i n th e t ri al co urt ’ s

d i s cret i o n , ev i d en ce o f s p eci fi c i n s t an ces o f co nd u ct

i f p r o b a t i ve o

f tr u th f u l n es s o r u n t r ut h

f u l nes s , [m ay ] b e i n q u ired i n t o o n

cro s s-ex am in at i o n o f t h e wi t n es s :

(1 ) Co n cern in g t h e wi t n es s’ s ch aract er fo r t ru t h fu ln es s o r

u nt ru t hfu ln es s ; o r

(2 ) Co ncern i n g t h e ch aract er fo r tru t h fu l n es s o r un t ru t h fu l n es s o f

an o t h er wi t n es s a s t o wh i ch ch aract er t h e wi t n es s b ei n g cro s s

ex am i n ed h as t es t i fi ed

.

(Em p h as i s s u p p li ed .) Id

.

Becau s e OCGA § 2 4 -6 -6 0 8 (b ) p laces th e d eci s i o n wh et h er t o ad m i t s p eci fi c

i n s t an ces o f co n du ct wi t h i n t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s d i s cret i o n , we wi l l rev ers e t h e t ri al

8 Fo r ex am

p l e, OCGA § 2 4 -6 -6 0 9 (a) (2 ) p erm i ts t h e ad m i ss i o n o f “ [e] v i d en ce

t h at an y wi t n es s h as b een co n vi ct ed o f a cri m e

. . . i f i t read il y can b e d et erm i n ed t h at

es t ab l i s h in g t h e el em en t s o f s uch cri m e r e q u i r e d p ro o f o r ad m i ss i o n o f an act o f

d i s h o n es ty o r m ak i n g a fal s e s t at em en t .”

8co u rt ’ s ru l i n g o n l y o n a cl ear ab u s e o f t h at d i s cret i on

. See Br a d s h a w v. S t at e , 2 9 6 Ga.

6 5 0

, 6 5 6 (3 ) (7 6 9 SE2 d 8 9 2 ) (2 0 1 5 ) (ad o p t i ng f e d e r a l “ cl ear ab u s e o f d is cret i o n ”

s t an d ard fo r i n tro du ct i o n of ev i d en ce u n d er Fed

. R. Ev i d

. 4 0 3 an d 4 0 4 (b )).

Ad d i t i o n al l y , b ecau s e t h e pro vi s i o n s o f OCGA § 24 -6 -6 08 were “ b o rro wed fro m t h e

Fed eral Ru l es o f Ev id en ce,” 9 we “ l o ok t o d eci si o n s o f t h e fed eral ap peal s co u rt s

co n st ru i n g an d ap p l y i n g t h e Fed eral Ru l es , es peci al l y t h e d eci s i o n s o f t he El ev en th

Ci rcu i t .” S t a t e v. Fr os t

, 29 7 Ga. 2 9 6

, 29 9 (7 73 SE2 d 7 0 0 ) (2 01 5 ). See al s o Pa r ker v.

S t a t e , 2 9 6 Ga. 5 86 , 5 9 2 (3 ) (7 6 9 SE2 d 3 2 9 ) (2 0 1 5 ).

In i n t erp ret i n g Fed

. R. Ev i d

. 6 0 8

, th e fed eral pro v i si o n co m p arab le t o OCGA

§ 2 4-6 -6 0 8

, t he fed eral co u rt s h av e fo u n d t hat t he ev i d en ce m u s t i n v o l v e o ffen s es o r

“ [a]c t s p r o b at i v e o f u n tru t h fu l n es s ” i n cl u d i n g “ su ch act s as fo rg ery , p erju ry , an d

frau d.” (Ci t at i on an d p u n ct u at i o n om i t ted .) Un it ed S t a t es v. No va to n , 2 7 1 F3 d 9 6 8,

1 0 0 6 (II) (F) (1 1 t h Ci r. 2 0 0 1 ). See al s o Un i t ed S t a t es v. Mo r g an , 5 0 5 F3 d 3 3 2 , 3 4 0

(II) (C) (2 ) (5 t h Ci r. 2 0 0 7) (“ t h e ru l e au t h o ri zes i nq u i ry o n l y i n t o i n s t a n c e s o f

m i s co n du ct s u ch as p erju ry , frau d

, s wi n d li n g , fo rg ery , b ri bery

, an d em b ezzl em en t ”).

Ho wev er, “ [t ] h e g o v ern m en t m ay n o t u s e i m

p each m en t as a g u i s e fo r s u bm i t t i n g t o

t h e j u ry s u b s t an t i v e ev id en ce th at i s o th erwi se u nav ai l ab le.” (Ci tat i o n s an d

9 See Carl s o n , s up r a at 2 6 9 , 2 9 4

.

9p u n ct u at i o n om i t t ed

. ) Mo r g an , 5 0 5 F 3 d at 3 40 (II) (C) (2 ). Cf. Un i ted St a t es v.

Go s set t

, 8 7 7 F2 d 90 1

, 9 07 (D) (1 1 t h Ci r.1 9 8 9 ) (“ i m peach m en t b y pri o r i n co n s i s t en t

s t at em en t m ay n ot b e p erm it t ed wh ere i t i s u s ed as a s t rat ag em t o g et befo re t h e ju ry

o t h erwi s e i n ad m i s s ib l e ev i d en ce”) (ci t at io n s o m i t t ed ). T h e r efo re, fo r ex am p l e, t h e

El ev en th Ci rcu i t h as fo un d t h at Fed

. R. Ev i d

. 6 0 8 (b ) d o es no t al lo w t h e ad m i s s i o n

o f ev i d en ce o f p ri o r co nv i ct i o n s o r p ri o r i n s tan ces o f dru g u s e. U n i t e d S t a t es v.

S el l er s , 9 0 6 F2 d 5 9 7

, 6 0 2 (II) (A) (1 ) (i ) (1 1t h Ci r. 1 9 90 ) ; Un i t ed S t a tes v. Ru b i n , 7 3 3

F2 d 8 3 7 , 8 4 2 (II) (1 1 t h Ci r. 1 9 8 4 ).

Ap p ly i n g t h i s au t h o ri t y , we ag ree wi t h t he t ri al co u rt t h a t i t w a s an ab u s e o f

d i s cret i o n t o al l o w t h e pr o s e c u t i o n t o q ues t i o n K. C.’ s m o t h er reg ard i ng Gas k i n ’ s

p ri o r arres t s fo r m ari

ju an a p os s es s i on , s i m

p l e b at t ery , cri m i n al d am ag e t o p ro p ert y ,

an d o b st ru ct i o n o f a p ers o n m ak i n g a 9 1 1 cal l

, as n on e o f t h es e arres t s rel at ed to

o ffen s es i n v o l v i n g t ru t h fu l n es s

. M o reo v er, K

. C.’ s m o t h er h ad al read y tes t ifi ed t h at

s h e was aware o f Gas k i n ’ s p ri or arres t s an d t h at t h ey d id n o t ch an g e her o p i n i o n o f

h i s ch aract er. Th u s , w e co ncl u d e t h at t h e St at e’ s q u es t i o n s reg ard i n g t h e s p eci fi c

cri m es i n v o l v ed i n t h e arres t s co n st i t u t ed an i m p r o p e r at t em

p t t o u se i m

p each m en t

as a g u i s e fo r p res en t i n g o t h erwi s e i n ad m i s s i b l e ev i d en ce t o t he ju ry

. See Mo r g a n ,

5 0 5 F3 d at 3 4 0 (II) (C) (2 ).

10(b ) Ho wev er, in o rd er t o s erv e as a b as is fo r rev ers i n g Gas k in ’ s co n v i c t i o n s ,

t h e t ri al co urt ’ s ev i d en t i ary erro r m u s t h av e affect ed h i s s u bs t an ti al ri g h ts

, i .e., i t was

n o t h arm l es s

. See OCGA § 2 4 -1 -1 0 3 (a) (“ Erro r s h al l n o t be p red i cat ed u p on a ru l i n g

wh i ch ad m i t s o r ex cl u d es ev i d en ce u n l es s a s u bs t an ti al ri g ht o f t h e p art y i s affect ed ”).

See Carl s o n , s u

p ra at 1 9 (OCGA § 2 4 -1 -1 0 3 cl o s el y t rac k s Fed

. R. Ev i d

. 1 0 3 ); 1

M cCo rm i ck On Ev id en ce § 5 2 (Ken n et h S. Bro un , ed

., 7 th ed

. 2 0 13 ) (“ Fed eral Ru l e

Ev i d en ce 1 0 3 (a) co d i fi es t h e h arm l es s erro r co n cep t [.] ”). In Geo rg i a,

t h e s t an d ard fo r wei gh i n g n o nco n s ti t ut i on al erro r i n cri m i n al cas es i s

k n o wn as t he “ h ig h l y

p ro b ab le t es t ,” i .e., t h at i t i s h i g hl y p ro b ab l e t hat

t h e erro r d id n o t co n t ri b u t e t o t h e ju d g m en t

. Un d er th at t es t

, a rev ers al

i s n o t req u i red i f th e ev i d en ce o f g u i l t i s o verwh el m i n g in t h at t h ere i s

n o reas o n ab l e p ro b ab i l i t y t h at t h e v erd i ct wo u l d h av e b een d i fferen t i n

t h e ab sen ce o f t hi s erro r.

(Ci t at i o n o m i t t ed

. ) Lever et t e v. S t a t e , 3 0 3 Ga. Ap p

. 8 4 9

, 85 2 (2 ) (6 9 6 SE2 d 6 2 )

(2 0 1 0). See al s o Co wa r t v. St a t e , 2 9 4 Ga. 3 33

, 3 4 1 (4 ) (b ) (7 51 SE2 d 3 9 9 ) (2 0 1 3 ). 1 0

1 0 Th e fed eral an al y si s i s s i m i l ar. Th e El e v e n t h Ci rcu i t h as h el d t h at “ [a] n

erro neo u s ev i d en ti ary ru l i n g wi l l res ul t in rev ers al o nl y i f t h e res u l t i n g erro r was n ot
h arm l es s .” Un i t ed S t a t es v. Ha n d s , 1 8 4 F3 d 1 3 22

, 1 32 9 (II) (C) (1 1 t h Ci r.), co rrect ed

, 1 9 4 F3 d 1 1 8 6 (1 1 th Ci r.1 9 9 9 ). “ Ev i d en ti ary an d o t h er n on co n s t i t u t io n al erro rs d o n ot

co n st i t u t e g ro un d s fo r rev ers al u n l es s t h ere i s a reas o nab l e l i k el i h o o d t h at t h ey affect ed th e d efen d an t ’ s su b s t an t i al rights; w he r e a n e r r or ha d no s u b st an t i al i n fl u en ce

o n t h e o u t co m e, an d s u ffi ci en t ev id en ce u n i n fect ed b y erro r s up p o rt s t h e v erd i ct

,

11Here, t he ev i den ce at t ri al p res en ted t h e ju ry wi t h a cl as s i c “ he s ai d

, s h e s ai d ”

s cen ari o

. K. C. t o l d h er m o t h er, t h e Th i g p en s, th e p o l i ce o f f i c er, an d t h e fo ren s i c

i n t erv i ewer t h at Gas k i n h ad t o uch ed h er breas t s an d/ o r vag i n a , w h i l e Gas k in

co n si s t en t l y d en i ed t h at h e h ad ev er t o u ch ed K

. C. i n ap p ro p ri at el y

. T h e St at e

p res en t ed n o m ed i cal ev i d en ce to s u p p o rt th e ch arg es , i n s t ead rel y i n g p ri m ari l y u p o n

K. C.’ s s tat em en ts t o o t h ers

. Al t h o u g h K. C.’ s m u l t i p l e s t at em en ts were co n s i s t en t in

s o m e res p ect s , e.g ., reg ard i n g G as k i n’ s i n t o x icat ed co n d it i o n an d t h e ci rcu m s t an ces

s u r r o u n di n g t h e in ci d en t

, h er des cri p t i o n o f t h e ex t en t of Gas k i n ’ s co n d u ct v ari ed

o v er t i m e. M o reo v er, K. C. refu s ed t o t es t i fy ab o u t t h e i nci d en t at t ri al

, al t h o u g h s h e

ad m i t t ed h er p ri o r co n vers at io ns co n cern i n g i t

.

Un d er t h es e ci rcu m s t an ces , we can n o t s ay t he ev i den ce was o v erwh el m i n g.

An d we can n o t say t h at th e fact t h at Gas k i n h ad b een arres ted fo r fo u r pri o r o ffen s es

d i d n o t en t er i n t o th e ju ry ’ s ev al u at i o n o f h i s t es t im o n y an d h i s cred i b i l i t y , an d t hu s

w e can n o t s ay t hat i t i s hi g h l y p ro b ab l e t h at t hi s ev i d en ce d i d n ot co n t r i b u t e t o t h e

ju ry ’ s v erd ict

. See Gea r i n v. S t a t e , 2 0 8 G a. A p p

. 8 7 8, 8 8 2 (2 ) (4 32 SE2 d 8 1 8 ) (1 9 9 3 )

(t ri al co u rt erred i n d en y i n g m o t i o n fo r m i s t ri al aft er wro n gfu l ad m i s s i o n of ev i d en ce

rev ers al i s n o t w arran t ed

. ” (Ci t at i o n an d p un ct u at i o n o m it t ed .) Un i t ed S t a t es v. Kh a n , 7 9 4 F3 d 1 2 8 8

, 1 2 99 (IV) (A) (2 ) (1 1 t h Ci r. 2 01 5 ). See al s o Un i t ed St a t es v. Ha wki n s , 9 0 5 F2 d 1 4 8 9 , 1 4 9 3 (II) (A) (1 1 t h Ci r.1 9 90 ).

12o f o t her c r i m e s )

. Cf. Co wa r t v. S t a t e , 2 9 4 Ga. at 34 2 (5 ) (ad m i s s i o n o f i m p ro p er

ev i d en ce b o l s t eri n g wi t n es s ’ s t es t i m o n y h arm fu l erro r wh en w i t nes s ’ s t es t i m o n y was

t h e o n ly ev i d en ce ag ai n s t d efen d an t ); Bea s l ey v. St a t e , 2 0 4 Ga. Ap p

. 2 1 4, 2 1 8 (3 )

(4 1 9 SE2 d 9 2 ) (1 9 9 2 ) (ad m i s s i on o f s i m i l ar t ran s act i o n s wi t h o u t l im it in g i n s t ru ct i on s

was h arm fu l erro r wh ere St at e’ s cas e res t ed s o lel y o n t h e cred i b i l it y o f St at e’ s m ai n

wi t n es s ); An d

er s o n v

. S t a t e , 2 5 2 Ga. 1 0 3 (3 1 2 SE2 d 1 1 3 ) (1 9 8 4 ) (ad m i s s i o n o f

i m p ro p er ch aract er ev i d en ce req u i red rev ers al ).

Acc o r d i n g l y, we rev ers e t h e tri al co u rt ’ s d en i al o f Gas k i n ’ s m o ti o n fo r n ew

t ri al o n t h i s g ro u n d

.

2

. Becau s e we h av e fo u n d t h at Gas k i n is en t i t l ed t o a n e w t r i al

, w e n eed n ot

reach h i s as s ert i on s t h at h e recei v ed i n effect i v e as s i s t an ce o f co u n sel

.

Ju d g men t r ever sed . Ba r n es , P. J., a n d

Ra y, J., co n cu r

.

13