FI FTH DI VI SI ON

M CFA DDEN, P. J.

, RA Y and RI CKM 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

October 23, 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 19 6 . ALLEN v . THE STATE.

M C F A D D E N , Pres id i n g J u d g e.

Aft er a ju ry t ri al

, M i ch ael An t h on y Al l en was co n v i ct ed o f m i s d em ean o r t h eft

o f s erv i ces an d m is d em ean o r fo u rt h -d eg ree fo rg ery

. Al l en ap p eal s th e den i al o f h i s

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

. He arg u es t h at t h e ev i d en ce d o es n o t s u p p o rt h is co nv i ct i o n s ,

b u t we fi nd t h e ev i d en ce s u ffi ci en t ; t h at t ri al co un s el w as i n effect i v e, b u t h e h as n ot

s h o wn b o t h d efi ci en t perfo rm an ce an d p reju d i ce; t hat t h e tri al co u rt erred b y al l o wi n g

wi t n es s es t o g i v e h ears ay tes t i m o n y , b u t th e t es ti m o n y fel l w i t h i n a h ears ay

ex cep t i o n ; t h at t h e t ri al co u rt er r e d b y a l l o wi ng t h e s t at e to u s e a p i ece o f

d em o n s t rat i v e ev id en ce, b u t t h e s t at e p ro p erl y au th en t i cat ed t h e ev i d en ce; an d t h at

t h e t ri al co u rt erred b y refu si n g t o co n t i n ue t h e tri al

, b u t Al l en d i d n o t as k fo r a

co n ti n u an ce. So we affi rm

.1

. S

u f f ici en cy o f t h e evi d en ce.

Al l en arg u es t h at t h e ev i den ce was i n su ffi ci en t t o p ro v e th e el em en t of i n t en t

.

W h en a d efen d an t ch al len g es t he s u ffi ci en cy of t h e ev id en ce s u p p o rt i n g h i s cri m i n al

co n vi ct i o n , “ t h e rel ev an t q u es t i o n i s wh et h er, aft er v i ewi n g t he ev i d en ce i n t h e l i g ht

m o s t fav o rab l e t o t h e p ro s ecu t i o n , a n y rat io n al t ri er o f fact co u l d hav e fo u n d t h e

es s en t i al el em en ts o f t h e cri m e b ey o n d a reas o n ab l e d o u bt .” Ja cks o n v. Vi r g i n i a , 4 4 3

U. S. 3 0 7

, 3 1 9 (III) ( B ) ( 9 9 S Ct 2 7 8 1

, 6 1 LE2 d 5 60 ) (1 9 7 9 ) (ci tat i o n o m i t t ed ;

em ph as i s i n o ri g i n al ). It is t h e fu n ct i o n o f t he ju ry , n o t t he rev i ewi n g co urt

, t o res o l v e

co n fl i ct s i n t h e t es t im o ny , t o wei g h t h e ev i d en ce, an d t o d raw reas on ab le i n feren ces

f r o m t h e ev i d en ce. Id

. “ As l o n g as t h ere i s s o m e co m p et 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 ort each fact n eces sary t o m ak e o u t th e [s ] t at e’ s cas e, t h e ju ry ’ s

v erd i ct wi l l b e u p h el d .” Mi l l er v. S t a t e , 2 7 3 Ga. 8 31

, 8 32 (5 4 6 S E 2 d 5 2 4) (2 0 0 1 )

(ci t at i o n s an d p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed ).

So v i ewed

, t h e reco rd s h o ws t h at Al l en t o o k a ri d i n g lawn m o w e r t o an Ace

Hard ware s t o re t o b e rep ai red

. Al l en p ai d fo r th e s erv i ce wi th a ch eck fo r $ 2 5 7

. Th e

b an k d i d n o t h o n o r t h e ch eck

.

Th e ch eck was ri d d led wi t h in d i ci a o f fo rg ery

. Th e nam e pri n t ed o n t h e ch eck

was “ M i ch al Al l an ,” wh i l e t h e d efen d an t ’ s n am e i s Mi ch ael Al l en

. Th e ch eck l i s t ed

2a L i v e Oak

, Fl ori d a ad d res s , b u t t h e zi p co d e fo r t h e ad d res s p ri n ted o n t h e ch eck was

o ff b y o n e d i g i t

. T h e a d d res s p ri n t ed o n t h e ch eck fo r t h e b an k

, BB&T, was t h e

ad d res s o f a ret ai l b u s i nes s, n o t a b an k

. Th e ch eck n u m bers p ri n ted in th e t o p co rn er

an d b o tt o m co rn er o f t he ch eck d i d n o t m at ch

. T he p ri nt ed ro u t i n g an d acco u nt

n u m b ers were cen tere d o n t h e ch eck

, wh i ch i s rare fo r p ers o n al ch eck s , an d m o s t

i m p o rt an t l y , t h e ro u t i n g n u m b er was i n v al id

.

Ace n ev er recei ved m o n ey fo r Al l en ’ s s erv i ce, an d Al l en n ev er cam e b ack t o

t h e s t o re t o t ry

t o p ay

.

A p ers o n co m

m i t s t h e o ffen s e o f fo u rt h -d eg ree fo rg ery

wh en w i t h t h e i n t en t to d efrau d h e o r s he k n o wi n gl y

. . . [m ] ak es , al t ers ,

p o s s e s s es , ut t ers , o r d el i v ers an y ch eck wri t t en i n th e am ou n t o f l es s

t h an $ 1 ,5 0 0 .0 0 i n a fi ct i t i o us n am e or i n s u ch m an n er t h at th e ch eck as

m ad e o r al t ered p u rp o rt s t o h av e b een m ad e b y a n o th er p ers o n, at

an o t her t im e, wi t h d i fferen t p ro v i s io n s , o r b y au t h o ri t y o f o n e wh o d i d

n o t g i v e s uch au t h o ri t y

. . . .

OCGA § 1 6 -9 -1 (e) ( 1 ) (p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed ). “ [K] n o wi n g l y p as s i n g as g en u i n e a

fo rg ed i ns t ru m en t i s co n cl u s i v e o f th e i n t en t t o d ef r a u d

. ” Co l l i n s v. St a t e , 2 5 8 Ga.

Ap p . 4 0 0 , 4 0 1 -4 0 2 (1 ) (5 7 4 SE2 d 4 2 3 ) (2 0 02 ) (ci t at i o n s an d p u n ct uat i on o m i t t ed ).

3“ A p ers o n co m m i t s t h e o ffen s e o f t h eft o f s erv i ces wh en b y d ecep t io n an d wi th

t h e i n ten t t o av o i d p ay m en t h e k n o wi n g l y o bt ai n s s erv i ces

. . . wh i ch [are] av ai l ab l e

o n l y fo r co m

p en s at i o n .” O C G A § 1 6 -8 -5

. “ Decep t i o n , i n tu rn , i n v o l v es p ro v i d i n g,

ei t h er i m pl i ci t l y o r ex pl i ci t l y , k no wi n g l y fal s e i nfo rm at i on t o an o t h er.” Jo n es v. S t a t e ,

2 8 5 Ga. A p p

. 8 2 2

, 8 2 5 (2 ) (6 4 8 SE2 d 1 3 3 ) (2 0 0 7 ) (ci t at i o n o m it t ed ). “ Th e es s en t i al

i n g red i en t o f t h e o ffen se i s t h e i n t en t i o n t o av o i d pay m en t

. A s i s u su al in cas es o f t h i s

t y p e, th ere i s n o d i r e ct ev i d en ce t h at ap pel l an t o b t ai n ed s erv i ces b y d ecep t i o n an d

wi t h th e i n t en t i on o f av o i d i ng p ay m en t

. T h e q u es ti o n t h en b eco m e s w h e t h er t h e

ci rcu m s t an t i al ev i d en ce warran t ed th e co n v i ct i o n.” W i l l ia ms o n v. S t a t e , 1 9 1 Ga. Ap p.

3 8 8 , 3 8 9 (3 8 1 SE2 d 76 6 ) (1 9 8 9 ) (ci tat i o ns an d p u n ct u at io n o m i t t ed ).

Gi v en t h e ap p aren t

, ob v i o u s d efi ci en ci es wi t h t h e ch eck

, th e ju ry h ad b efo re

i t s u ffi ci en t ev i d en ce t o “ h av e fo u nd t h e es s en t i al el em en ts o f th e cri m e[s ] b ey o n d a

reas on ab l e d o u b t .” Ja cks o n , 4 43 U. S. at 3 1 9 (III) (B). See Ta yl or v. S t a t e , 2 9 3 Ga.

Ap p

. 55 1

, 5 5 3 (1 ) (6 6 7 SE2 d 4 0 5 ) (2 0 0 8) (ci t at i o n o m it t ed ) (ev en i f j u r y a c c e p t e d

d efen d an t ’ s cl ai m t h at s h e d i d n o t k no w ch eck s were frau d u l en t

, “ t h e k n o wl ed g e

el em en t o f a v i o l at io n o f a cri m i n al s t at u t e can be p ro v ed b y d em o n s t rat i ng ei t h er

act u al kn o wl ed g e o r del i b erat e i g n o ran ce,” an d h ad d efen d an t q u es t i o n ed t h e p ers o n

wh o g av e h er t h e ch eck s o r ex am i n ed t h e ch eck s , s h e wo u l d hav e n o t ed

4d i s crep an ci es , s uch t h at a reas o n ab l e ju ry co u l d h av e d et erm i ned “ at t h e very l eas t

,

[d efen d an t ] rem ai n ed d el i b erat el y i g n o ran t o f t he frau d ul e n t n at u re o f t h e ch eck s ”)

(ci t at i o n s an d p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed ).

2

. Ef f ect i ve a s s i s t a n ce o

f co u n s el

.

Al l en arg u es t h at t ri al co u n s el was i n effect i v e b e c a u s e h e fai l ed t o p res en t

ev i d en ce t h at Al l en h ad o bt ai n ed t h e ch eck fro m a l eg i t i m at e, t h i rd -p art y s o u rce an d

h ad s u cces s fu l l y us ed ch eck s fro m t h i s ch eck b o ok b efo re. Sp eci fi cal l y , Al l en arg u es

t h at co u n s el s h o u l d h av e co n t act ed t h e l eg al t eam o r s u b p oen aed a rep res en t at i v e

fro m Del u x e Co rp ., t h e co m p an y f r o m wh i ch Al l en cl ai m ed t o h av e p urch as ed t h e

ch eck s , an d s h o u ld h av e s u b p o en aed Al l en ’ s b an k reco rd s o r a rep res en tat i v e f ro m

Al l en ’ s ban k t o t es t i fy at t ri al

. Al l en h as n ot p ro v en t h at co u n s el ’ s p erfo rm an ce was

p ro fes s i on al l y

d efi ci en t

.

To p ro v e s u ch an in effect i v e as s i s t an ce cl ai m , an ap p el l an t m u s t

p ro v e b o t h t h at h i s co u n s el ’ s p erfo rm an ce was p ro fes s i o n al l y d efi ci en t

an d t h at

, b u t fo r t h e u n p ro fes si o n al p erfo rm an ce, th ere i s a reas o n ab l e

p ro b ab i l i t y th at t h e o u t co m e o f t h e p ro ceed in g wo u l d h av e b een

d i fferen t

. See S t r i ckl a nd v. W a s h in g t o n , 4 6 6 U

. S

. 6 6 8

, 6 8 7

, 6 9 4 (1 0 4

SCt 2 0 5 2 , 8 0 LE2 d 6 7 4 ) (1 9 8 4 ). W e n eed n o t rev i ew b o t h el em en t s o f

t h i s t es t i f t h e ap p el l an t fai l s t o p ro ve o n e o f t h em

.

5It i s w el l es t ab l i s h ed t h at t h e d eci s i o n as t o wh i c h defen s e

wi t n es s es t o cal l i s a m at t er o f tri al s t rat eg y an d t act i cs

. An d t act i cal

erro rs i n t h at reg ard wi ll n o t co n s t i t u t e i n effect i ve as s i s t an ce o f co u n s el

u n l es s t ho s e erro rs are u n reas o n ab l e o n es n o co m p et en t at t orn ey w o u l d

h av e m ad e u n der s i m i l ar ci rcu m s t an ces

. M o reo ver, a fai r as s es s m en t o f

at t o rn ey p erfo rm an ce req u i res t h at ev ery effo rt b e m ad e t o el i m i n at e th e

d i s t o rt i n g effect s o f h i nd s i gh t

, to reco n s t ru ct t h e ci r c u m s t an ces o f

co u n s el ’ s ch al l en g ed co n d u ct

, an d t o ev al u at e t h e co n d u c t fro m

co u n s el ’ s p ers pect iv e at t h e t i m e.

S t r i p l in g v. St a t e ,

_

_ Ga.

__ (3 ) (b ) (_

_ SE2 d

_ _ ), 2 01 8 Ga. LEXIS 4 5 4, at * 1 3 -1 4

(Cas e No s

. S1 8 A0 1 7 6

, S1 8 A 0 27 7 d eci d ed J u n e 29

, 2 0 1 8 ) (ci tat i o n an d pu n ct u at i o n

o m it t ed ).

Tri al co un s el t es t i fi ed a t t h e m o t i o n fo r n ew t ri al h eari n g t h at Al l en t o l d h i m

h e h ad o b t ai n ed th e ch eck fro m Del u x e Co rp ., wh i ch p ri n t s cu s t o m ch eck s , an d t h at

h e h ad wri t t en s ev eral ch eck s fro m t h at ch eck b o o k t h a t h a d cl eared wi t h o u t a

p r o b l em

. Tri al co u n s el t es t i fi ed t h at h e as k ed Al l en fo r d o cu m en t at i o n o n D e l u x e

Co rp ., b ut A l len on l y p ro v id ed a p ri n ted ad v ert i s em en t

. Tri al co u n s el t es t i fi ed t h at h e

s earch ed t h e i n tern et fo r in fo rm at io n ab o ut Del u x e Co rp

. an d t ri ed t o cal l t h e

co m p an y , b u t h e reach ed o n l y an au t o m at ed an sweri n g s y s t em

.

6Tri al co un s el as k ed A l l en fo r co p i e s o f t h e ch eck s fro m t hat ch eck bo o k t h at

h ad cl eared

, b u t Al l en nev er p ro v i d ed an y

. Fu rt h er, acco rd i ng t o co u n s el

, Al l en t o ld

h i m t h at he b an k ed wi t h Ch as e an d h e s h o wed co u n s el Ch as e b an k reco rd s. Bu t t h e

ch eck w ri t ten t o t h e A c e H ard ware was d rawn o n a BB&T acco un t ; Al l en t o ld

co u ns el t h at h e h ad n ev er h ad a BB&T acco u nt

. Th at was wh y co u n s el p u rs u ed t h e

d efen s e th at he d i d

— t hat th e ch eck g i v en to Ace was th e res u l t o f a p ri n t i n g m i s t ak e.

In s u p p o rt o f t h at d efen s e, o n cro s s -ex am i nat i o n , t ri al co u ns el g o t an i n ves t i g at o r to

ad m i t t h at cu st o m ers can b u y ch eck s fro m t hi rd -p art y ven d o rs , th at t h ey can

cu s t o m ize t h ei r o wn ch eck s , an d t h at s o m et i m es ch eck s co n t ai n p ri n t i n g erro rs

.

At t h e h eari n g o n t he m o t i o n f o r n ew t ri al

, Al l en d i d n o t i n t ro d u ce an y

d o cu m en t s fro m Del u x e Co rp

. s h o wi ng th at h e h ad o rd ered t h e c h e c k s

. No r d i d h e

i n t ro du ce h i s b an k i n g rec o r d s o r a n y can cel l ed ch eck s d rawn fro m t h e s am e

ch eck b o o k

. Al len d i d no t i n t ro d u ce t h e t es t i m on y o f an y rep res en t at iv e o f Ch as e t h at

s i m i l ar ch eck s h ad cl eared h i s acco u n t

. He i n tro d u ced n o ev i d en ce th at he co n t en d s

t ri al co u n s el s h o u l d h av e fo u n d an d i n t ro d u ced

.

“ Un d er t h es e ci rcu m s tan ces , co n s i d e red wi th o ut t h e d i s t o rt i n g effect s o f

h i n d s i g h t, t ri al co u n s el ’ s dec i s i o n [s were] n ot p at en t l y u nreas on ab l e, an d [Al l en ’ s ]

i n effect i v e as s is t an ce cl ai m t herefo re fai l s .” S t r i

p l i n g , _ _ Ga. at

_

_ (3 ) (b ).

73

. Hea r s a y

.

Al l en arg u es t h a t t h e tri al co u rt erred b y fi nd i n g t h at cert ai n t es t i m o n y fel l

w ithin the m ark et -rep ort s-an d -co m m erci al -p u b l i cat i o n s ex ce p tion to the he a r sa y r ule

.

Un d er t h at ex cep t i on , “ [m ] ark et q u o t at i o n s , t ab u lat i o n s , l i s t s , d i rect o ri es , o r o t h er

p u b l i s h ed co m

p i l at i o n s g en eral l y u s ed an d rel i ed up o n b y t h e p u b l i c o r by p ers o n s in

t h e wi tn es s ’ s p art i cu l ar o ccu pat i o n” are n o t ex cl u ded b y t h e h ea r s ay ru l e. OCGA §

2 4 -8 -8 0 3 (1 7).

Sp eci fi cal l y , Al l en ob

ject s t o an i n ves t i g at o r’ s tes t i m on y t h at h e ran t h e ro u t i n g

n u m b er p ri n ted on t h e ch eck t h ro u g h an Am eri can Ban k ers As s o ci at i o n w eb s i t e to

v eri fy t he ro u t i n g n u m

b er’ s v al i d i t y

. A l l en arg u es t h at t h e h ears ay ex cep t io n d o es n ot

ap p ly b ecau s e th e i n v es t i g at o r n ev er t es t i fi ed t h at th e w eb s i t e was rel i ed u p o n b y t h e

b an ki n g in d u s t ry or t he p o l i ce. See Un it ed S t a t es v. Ma s fer r er , 5 1 4 F3 d 1 1 5 8

, 1 1 6 2

(II) (C) (i ) (1 1 t h Ci r. 2 0 0 8 ) (d at a fro m Bl o o m b erg Fi n an ci al Serv i ce was ad m i s s i b l e

u n d er Fed

. Ru l e Ev id

. 8 03 (1 7) b ecau s e g o v ern m en t p res en ted ev i d en ce es t ab l i s h i n g

t h at s u ch in fo rm at i o n i s u ni v ers al l y rel ied u p o n b y i n d i v i d u al s an d i n st i t u t i on s

i n v o l v ed i n fi n an ci al m ark et s ). Bu t an o t her i n v es t i g at o r, wh o al so h ap p en ed to

fo rm erl y b e a b an k t e l l e r, di d g i v e s u ch fo u n dat i o n al ev i den ce, t es t i fy i n g t h at l aw

en fo rcem en t an d t h o se i n t h e b an k i n g i n d u s t ry co m m o nl y u s e t h e Am eri can Ban k ers

8As s oci at i o n w eb s it e to v eri fy ro u t i n g n u m b ers

. Th e t ri al co u rt d i d n o t err i n al l o wi n g

t h e t es t i m o n y

. See U.S

. Ba n k v. UBS R e a l Es t a t e S ecu r i t i es

. , 20 5 FSu p p 3 d 3 8 6,

4 4 1 -4 4 2 (E) (7 ) (d ) (S.D.N.Y. 20 1 6 ) (t es t i m o n y s u ffi ci en t fo r co u rt t o co n cl u d e t h at

o n l i n e d at a v eri fi cat i o n an d frau d p rev en ti o n d at ab as e w a s r e l i a b l e so as t o ad m i t

ev i d en ce fro m t he d at ab as e u nd er Fed

. Ru l e Ev i d

. 80 3 (1 7 )); El l io t t As so cs ., L.P. v.

Ba n co de l a Na ci on , 1 9 4 F.R.D. 1 1 6

, 12 1 (S.D.N.Y. 2 0 0 0 ) (fi n d i n g th at p l ai n t i ff’ s

ex p ert rep o rt p ro p erl y rel i ed o n p ri m e rat es of i n t eres t o b t ai n ed fro m Fed eral Res erv e

Bo ard web s i t e b ecau s e th ey w ere rel i ab l e u n d er Fed

. Ru l e E v i d

. 8 0 3 (1 7 )); Peo p l e v.

Mo o r i n g , 1 5 Cal

. A p p. 5 t h 9 2 8

, 9 4 1 (II) (A) (2 01 7 ) (h ol d i n g t h at o ffi cer’ s t es t i m o ny

i d en t i fy i n g cert ai n p i l l s , b as ed o n co n s u l t i n g t h e “ i d en t -a-d ru g ” web si t e, fel l wi t h in

t h e p u b l is h ed co m

p i l at i on ex cep t i o n t o t he h ears ay ru l e); S t a te v. Er i cks t a d

, 6 2 0

NW 2 d 1 3 6

, 1 4 5 (IV) (N. D

. 2 0 0 0 ) (h o l d i n g t h at p o l i ce o ffi cer’ s t es t i m o n y ab o u t t h e

v al u e o f a p i ck up t ru ck

, a fi g u re h e o b t ai n ed fro m t he Kel l ey Bl u e Bo o k web s i t e, fel l

wi t h i n t h e p u b l i sh ed co m p i lat i o n h ears ay ex cep t i o n ).

4

. Demo n s t r a t i ve evi d

en ce

.

Al l en arg u es t h at t h e t ri al co u r t e r r e d b y al l o wi n g th e s tat e t o p res en t

d em o n s t rat i v e ev i d en ce: val i d BB&T ch eck s t o co m p are wi t h t h e ap paren t BB&T

ch eck Al len g av e Ace Hard ware. W e fi n d n o rev ers i b l e erro r.

9Al l en arg u es t h at t h e ev i d e n c e was i m p erm i s s i b l y p res en t ed t o s h o w

d i fferen ces i n s t ead o f s i m i l ari t i es

. Bu t h e fai l ed t o m ak e t h i s o bject i o n at t ri al

. So t h i s

arg u m en t i s “ rev i ewab l e o n l y fo r p l ai n erro r. See OCGA § 24 -1 -1 0 3 (d ).” Ri ckma n

v. S t a t e ,

_

_ Ga.

_ _ (2 ) ( 8 1 6 S E2 d 4 ), 2 0 1 8 Ga. LEXIS 4 36

, at * 5 (Cas e No

.

S1 8 A0 8 4 1

, J u n e 1 8

, 2 0 18 ) (ci t at i o n an d p u n ct u at i o n om i t t ed ). A l len ci t es n o

au t h o ri t y fo r t h e p ro p o s i t i o n t h at a wi t n es s can n o t t es t i fy ab o u t d i fferen ces b et ween

an it em o f d em o ns t rat iv e ev i d en ce an d t he i tem act u al ly u sed i n a cri m e, s o l o n g as

t h e i t em s are s u b st an t i al l y s i m i l ar. See i d

. See al s o F au s t v. S ta t e , 3 0 2 Ga. 2 1 1 , 2 1 7

( 4 ) (a) (8 0 5 SE2 d 8 2 6 ) (2 0 1 7 ) (o b ject i o n t o s tat e’ s u s e o f dem o n s t rat i v e ev i d e n c e

wo u l d h av e b een wi th o u t m eri t b ecau se i t was m ad e cl ear t o t h e ju ry th at t h e w eap on s

d i s p l ay ed as d em o ns t rat i ve ev i d en ce were n o t us ed i n t he cri m e s a n d “ wi t n es s es

t es t i fi ed t o t h e s i m il ari t i es an d d i f f eren ces b et ween t h e ex h i b i t s an d th e w eap on s

act u al l y i n v o lv ed ”) (ci t at i o n o m i t t ed ). Fu rt her, t h e s im il ari t i es b et ween t h e ch eck s

u s ed as d em o n s t rat i v e ev i den ce an d t h e ch eck Al len p as s ed at t h e Ace Hard ware s t o re

are cl ear: al l are ch eck s t hat p urp o rt t o b e co n n ect ed t o a b an k acco u n t at BB&T. Th e

i n v es t i g at o r co m

p ared t h e d em o n s t r at i ve ex h i bi t s ’ ro u t in g nu m b er wi th t h e ch eck

p as s ed b y Al l en , wh i ch al s o h ad a ro u t i n g n u m b er; h e co m

p ared t h e ex h i b i t s ’ u s e o f

t h e s am e ch eck n u m

b er at t wo p l a c e s o n t h e ch eck s wi t h Al l en ’ s ch eck ’ s u s e o f

10d i fferen t ch eck nu m b ers at th o s e t w o p l aces o n t h e ch eck

, wh i ch m ean t t h at b o th

ch eck s h ad p ri n t ed ch eck n u m bers i n t wo p laces

.

A lle n al s o arg u es t h at t h e s t at e fai led t o p ro p erl y au t h en ti cat e t h e BB&T ch ec ks

u s ed as d em o n s t rat i v e ev i d en ce b ecau s e n o BB&T rep re se ntat i v e t es t i fi ed at t ri al

. See

OCGA § 2 4 -9 -9 0 1 (a) (“ T h e req u i rem en t o f au t h en t i cat i o n o r i d en t i fi cat i o n as a

co n di t i o n preced en t t o ad m i s s i b i l i t y s h al l b e s at i s fi ed by ev id e n ce s u ffi ci en t to

s u p p ort a fi n d i ng th at th e m at t er i n q u es t i o n i s wh at it s p ro p o n en t cl ai m s

. ”) W e fi n d

t h at t h e t ri al co urt d i d no t err i n co n cl ud i n g t h at t h e s t a t e m et i t s b u rd en o f

au t h en t i cat i o n

.

[T] h e req u irem en t o f au t h en t i ci t y o r i d en t i fi cat io n , as o pp o s ed t o

ad m i s s i b i l i t y , is m et b y ev i d en ce s u ffi ci en t t o s u pp o rt a fi n d i n g th at th e

m at t er i n q ues t i o n i s wh at i t s p ro p o n en t cl ai m s

. Th e d eci s io n o f wh et h er

o r n o t a p a r t i c u l ar p i ece o f ev i d en ce h as b een ap p ro p ri at el y i d en t i fi ed

fal l s wi th i n t h e d i s cret i o n ary fu nct i o n o f t h e [ t r i a l ] c o u rt

, an d t hat

d et erm i nat i o n wi l l n ot be d i s t u rb ed on ap p eal ab s en t a s ho wi ng t hat

t h ere i s no co m

p e t e n t ev i d en ce i n t h e reco rd t o su p po rt i t

. Au t h en t i cat i on o r i d en t ifi cat i o n u n d er ru l e 9 0 1 m erel y in v o l v e s th e

p ro ces s of p res en t i n g s u ffi ci en t ev i d en ce t o m ak e o ut a pri m a faci e cas e

t h at t h e p ro ffered ev i d en ce i s w h a t i t p urp o rt s t o b e. On ce t h at p ri m a

faci e s h o wi ng h as b een m ad e, t h e ev i den ce s ho u l d be ad m it t ed

, al t ho u g h

i t rem ai ns fo r t he t ri er o f fact t o ap p rai se wh et her t h e p ro ffered ev i d en ce

i s i n fact wh at i t p u rp o rt s t o b e.

11Un i ted St a t es v. Ca ld wel l

, 7 7 6 F2 d 9 8 9

, 1 0 0 1 -1 0 0 2 (IV) (B) (1 1 t h Ci r. 1 9 8 5 )

(ci t at i o n s an d pu n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed ). ([OCGA § 2 4 -9 -9 0 1 ]

. Th e p ro p o n en t ’ s b u rd en

o f au t h en t i cat i on i s li g h t

. Un i t ed S t a t es v. Bu t l er , 6 3 5 F. Ap p x

. 5 8 5

, 5 9 1 n .3 (III) (A)

(1 1 t h Ci r. 2 0 1 5 )

. “ Th ere n eed b e o n l y so m e co m p et en t ev id en ce in t h e reco rd to

s u p p ort au th en t i cat i o n , wh i ch can co n s is t o f m erel y ci rcu m s t an t ial ev i d en ce.” Un i t ed

S t a t es v. Ha wki n s , 9 0 5 F2 d 1 48 9

, 1 4 9 3 (II) (A) (1 ) (1 1 t h Ci r. 1 9 9 0 ) ( c i t a t i o n an d

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

OCGA § 2 4 -9 -9 0 1 (b ) p ro v i d es a n o n -ex h au st i ve l i s t o f ex am p l es of m et h od s

t h at can b e us ed to au t h en t i cat e ev id en ce. A m o n g t h es e is “ ap p earan ce, co n t en t s ,

s u b s t an ce, i n t ern al p at t ern s , o r o t h er d is t i n ct i v e ch aract eri s t i cs o f th e i t em , t a k en

t o g et h er wi t h al l t he ci rcu m s t an ces .” OCGA § 2 4 -9 -9 0 1 (b ) (4 ).

Al l en h as n o t s h o wn t h at “ n o co m p et en t ev i den ce,” Ca l d

wel l

, s u p ra, s u p p o rt s

t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s d eci s i o n th at th e ch eck s were p ro perl y a u t h en t i cat ed

. Th e in v es t i g at o r

wh o t es t i fi ed ab o u t t h e ch eck s t es t i fi ed t h at he h ad b een a t el l er an d cu st om er s erv i ce

rep res e n t at i v e at a b an k

. H e h ad h an d l ed as m an y as t en s o f t h o u s an d s o f ch eck s

.

Si n ce beco m in g a l aw e n f o rcem en t o ffi cer, h e h ad recei v ed b et ween 1 50 an d 1 7 5

h o u rs o f t rai n i n g in t h e sp eci fi c areas o f frau d

, fo rg eri es , w i r e t ran sfers

, an d wh i t e

co l l ar cri m e. As fo r t h e d em o n s t rat i v e ev i d en ce, t he i n v es ti g at o r t es t i fi ed ab o u t t h e

12s t an d ard

, ro u t i n e ap pearan ce o f t h e ch eck s , i n cl u d i n g t he l o cat i o n o f t h e ro u t i n g

n u m b er an d th e p res en ce o f t h e BB&T lo g o w i t h a t rad em ark s y m b o l. Gi v en t h e

i n v es t i g at o r’ s tes ti m o n y an d h i s t rai n i n g an d ex p eri en ce, Al l en h as no t s h o wn t h at t h e

t ri al co u rt ab u s ed h is d i s cret io n i n d et erm i n i n g t h at th e ch eck s h ad b een s u ffi ci en t l y

a u th en t i cat ed

. See Un i t ed S ta tes v. Tu r n er , 7 1 8 F3 d 2 2 6

, 2 3 2 (II) (B) (1 ) (3 d Ci r.

2 0 1 3 ).

5

. Co n t i n u a n ce

.

Al l en arg u es t h at t h e tri al co u rt erred b y n ot co n t i n u i n g t h e t ri al w h en t h e s t at e

i d en t i fi ed t w o w i t nes ses ju s t b efo re t ri al

. Al l en o bject ed t o t h ei r t es ti fy i n g , g i v en t h e

l at e n o t i ce, an d t h e t ri al co u rt rem ed i ed t h e i s s u e by gi v i n g co u ns el t i m e t o s p eak wi th

t h e wi t n es s es b efo re t h ey tes ti fi ed

. Al l en arg u es o n ap p eal t hat i n s t ead

, t h e t ri al co u rt

s h o u ld h av e co n ti n u ed t h e t ri al

.

Up o n l earn i ng o f a d i sco v ery v i o l at i o n , t h e t ri a l c o u r t

, i n i t s

d i s cret i o n , m ay o rd er t h e s t at e t o p erm i t an i n terv i ew o f t h e wi t n es s ,

g ran t a co n t i n u an ce, o r, u p o n a s h o wi n g o f p reju d i ce an d b ad fai th

,

p ro h i b it t h e s t at e fro m pres en t i n g t h e w i t nes s n o t d is cl os ed

, o r m ay en t er

s u ch o t h er o rd er as i t d eem s ju s t u n d er t h e ci rcu m st an ces

. Th i s p ro v i s i o n

d o es “ n o t i m

p o s e a r ig i d fo rm

u l at i o n o r g ran t an ex cl u s i v e rem ed y fo r

a d efen d an t or a f

a t al co n s eq u en ce t o t h e [s ] t at e fo r fai l ure t o co m p l y

wi t h t he d i s co v ery m an d at es

. Rat her, i t v e s t s t h e t ri al co u rt w i t h

d i s cret i o n t o fas hi o n an ap p ro p ri at e rem ed y f o r t h e vi o l at i o n. W e wi l l

13n o t rev ers e t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s d eci s i o n [reg ard i n g t h e ap p ro p ri at e rem ed y ]

u n l es s i t ab u sed t h at d i s cret i o n

.

Ar n ol d v. St a t e , 2 5 3 Ga. Ap p

. 3 0 7

, 3 1 0 ( 2 ) ( 5 6 0 SE2 d 3 3 ) (2 0 0 2 ) (ci t at i o n s an d

p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed ). Al l en h as n o t s h o wn t h at t h e t ri al co urt erred

. Th e co u rt ch o s e

t o p erm i t Al l en t o i nt erv iew t h e t wo wi t n es s es , an d Al l en nev er as k e d fo r a

co n ti n u an ce.

Ju d g men t a f f i r m ed . Ri ckma n , J., co n cu r s

. Ra y, J., co n cu r

s f ul l y i n Di vi s i on s

1 , 2

, 3 a n d

5 , a n d i n t h e j u d

g men t o n ly a s t o Di vi s i o n 4

. *

* THI S OPI NI ON I S PHYSI CAL PRECEDENT ONLY AS TO

DI VI SI ON 4 . COURT OF APPEALS RULE 3 3 .2

.

14