FI FTH DI VI SI ON

M C FA DDEN, C. J.

, M CM ILLI A N, P. J.

, and SENI OR A PPELLA TE JUDGE PHI PPS

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

M ar ch 13, 2020



# I n th e Co u r t o f

A p p eals o f

G eo r g ia

A1 9 A2 22 4 . J O NES v . THE STATE.

M C M ILLI A N , Pres i d i n g J u d g e.

Aft er a ju ry co n vi ct ed An d rew M o n t ez J o nes o f t h ree co u n t s each of s o d o m y

an d s ex u al b at t ery , t wo co u n ts o f ag g rav at ed s o d om y , an d o n e co u n t o f b at t e ry 1

a ri s i n g fro m fi v e s ep arat e i n ci den t s i n v ol v i n g co l leg e-ag ed m en an d th e t ri al c o u r t

d en ied h i s m o t i o n fo r n ew t ri al

, J o n es ap p eal s

. Becau s e we f i n d th at t h e ev i d en ce

s u p p ort ed t h es e co n v i ct io n s , J o n e s ’ a s s ert i o n s o f erro r b y t h e t ri al co u rt l ack m eri t

,

an d J o nes d i d n o t recei v e in effect i v e as s i s t an ce o f t ri al co u n s el

, we affi rm

. H o wev er,

we v acat e t h e s en t en ces o n J o n es ’ co n v i ct i o n s f o r s ex u al b at t ery an d s o d om y an d

rem an d fo r res en t en ci n g i n acco rd an ce wi t h t h is o p i n i on

.

1 A s ep arat e co u nt o f cri m i n al d am ag e t o p ro pert y i n t h e s eco n d d eg ree was n ol

p ro s s ed

.Vi ewed i n t h e l i g h t m o s t fav o rab l e t o t h e verd i ct

, 2 th e ev id en ce s h o wed t h at o n

Decem b er 1 5 , 2 0 15 , O. Y., a fres h m an at t h e Un iv ers i ty o f Geo rg ia (“ UGA”), wen t

wi t h Jo n es t o a b ar i n d own t own At h en s wh ere J o nes b ou g ht th e d ri n k s an d p res s u red

h i m i n t o d ri n ki n g o n e las t d ri n k

. Aft erward s , O. Y. b eg an feel i n g s i ck an d d i zzy , an d

h e wen t t o t h e b at hro o m an d v o m i t ed

. Th e t wo m en t h en wen t t o an o th er b ar, an d t h e

n ex t t h i n g O

. Y. rem em

b ered was w ak i n g u p , nak ed

, i n J o n es ’ b ed

, wi t h J o n es o n t o p

o f h i m p erfo rm i ng o ral s ex

. O

. Y

. d i d n o t co n s en t t o J o n es ’ act i o ns

. He p u s h ed J o n es

o ff an d wen t i n t o t h e b at hro om t o cl ean h i m se l f

. A f t er O

. Y. g o t d res sed

, t h e m en

arg u ed

, an d J o n es go t “ real ly an g ry ” an d pu n ch ed O. Y

. i n t h e face, h i t ti n g h i m

rep eat ed l y

.

As O. Y. t ri ed t o l eav e J o n es ’ ap art m en t

, J on es b eg an h i tt i ng h im ag ai n

. O. Y.

was ab l e t o es cap e an d s o ug h t hel p at a d own st ai rs ap art m en t, b u t J o n es t o ld h i m to

g et b ack in t h e ap art m en t

, o r “ I’ m g o n n a k i l l y o u .” Afrai d fo r h i s l i fe, O. Y. wen t b ack

u p s t ai r s , wh ere J o nes l o ck ed t h e d o o r an d t ri ed t o t ak e O. Y.’ s cl o t h es o ff. O. Y.

res i st ed

, an d wh en J o n e s “ l e t h i s g u ard d o wn ,” h e “ m ad e a ru n fo r i t .” O. Y. t h en

rep o rt ed J o n es ’ act i o n s t o p o l i ce.

2 Ja cks o n v. Vi r

gi n 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 ).

2Th e m orn in g aft er th e in ci d en t

, O. Y. u n d erwen t an ex am i n a t i o n b y a s ex u al

as s au l t n urs e ex am in er (“ SANE”), wh o to o k s w ab s an d a u ri n e s am p l e f o r t es t i n g.

Du ri n g t h e ex am , t h e SANE o b s erv ed b l oo d aro un d O. Y.’ s no s e an d o t h er ev i d en ce

t h at s u p p o rt ed O. Y.’ s s t at em en t t h at h e h ad been i n s om e s o rt o f fi g h t

. Tes t i ng b y t h e

GBI cri m e l ab l at er s h o w ed t hat O. Y.’ s u ri n e was p o s i t i v e fo r t ram ad o l

, a Sch ed u l e

IV co n tro l led s u b st an ce an d s y n t h et i c o p iu m d eri v at i v e u s ed t o treat pai n

. A s p eci al

ag en t fo r t h e Geo rg i a Dru g s an d Narco t i cs Ag en cy t es t i fi ed t h at t h e co n su m p t i o n o f

al co h o l wi t h t ram ad o l m ay res ul t i n i n creas ed s ed at i o n , d ro ws i n es s , an d s l eep i n es s ,

as wel l as red u ced p ai n s en s at i o n , an d at h i gh er d o s es , t h i s co m b i n at i o n co u l d cau s e

an i n d iv i d u al t o b lack o u t

.

K. V. t es t ifi ed t h at h e m et J o n es wh i l e p l ay i ng u l t i m at e fri s bee as a s tu d en t at

UGA. On J u l y 13

, 2 0 1 3, K. V. wen t wi t h J o n es , an d t wo o t h er u l t i m a t e f ri s bee

t eam m at es t o a b ar i n d own t o wn At h en s

. K. V. wa s “ g o a d e d ” b y h i s fri en d s i n to

h av in g a d ri n k cal l ed an “ i n cep t i o n b om b ,” wh i ch J o n es arran g ed t o b e g i v en t o K.

V

. f o r free. Aft erward s , K. V

. recal l ed t ex t i n g a fri en d

, an d t h e n ex t t h i n g h e

rem em b ered w as wak i ng u p n ak ed in J o n es ’ b ed wi t h J o n es ru b b i n g h i s p en i s an d

p erfo rm i n g o ral s ex

. K. V. s ai d h e “ fro ze” d u ri n g t h is en co u nt er an d tes t i fi ed t h at h e

h ad n o d es i re t o en gag e i n s ex u al co n d u ct wi t h J o n es

. He lat er fel t s o m eo n e p u l l i n g

3b o x er s h o rt s u p aro u nd h i m

. W h en K. V. awo k e, h e was weari n g b o x er s h ort s t h at d id

n o t bel on g t o h i m

. He t h en g o t u p , wen t d o w n s t ai rs , an d as ke d J o n e s wh at h ad

h ap pen ed

. J o n es t o l d K. V. t h at h e was i n to xi cat ed

, h ad b eco m e il l

, an d v o m i t ed o n

h i m s el f, s o J o n es h ad was hed h i s cl o t h es

.

UGA st u den t C. B. al s o m et J o n es wh i le p l ay in g u l t i m at e fri s b ee. On o r ab o ut

No v em b er 1 9

, 2 0 1 3 , C. B. ran i n t o J o n es at an At hen s b ar w h ere Jo n es kep t b u y i n g

h i m d ri n k s

. Th e t w o t h e n wen t t o an o t her b ar wh ere t hey co nt in u ed t o d ri n k

. C. B.

t es t i fi ed t h at “ t h i n g s g ot b l u rry ” an d h e fel t “ n u m b ” an d “ l i m

p ” aft er l eav in g t h e b ar,

wh i ch h ad n ev er hap p en ed t o h i m b efo re. J o n es d ro v e C. B. t o h i s a p a r t m en t an d

o ffered h i m t h e bed

. J o n es t h en g o t i n to b ed wi th C. B., w h o was “ feel i n g real l y b ad ,”

an d h e s tart ed m ak i n g s ex u al ad v an ces , w h i l e C. B. “ [h ad ] t o co n ti n uo u s l y g o t o t h e

b at h ro o m t o v o m i t .” J o n es t ri ed t o t ak e o ff C. B.’ s cl o t h es an d t o d o t hi n g s t h at h e

“ was n o t wan t i n g

. . . o r an y t h i n g l i k e t h at .” W h en J o nes p l aced h i s m o u t h o n C. B.’ s

p en is

, C. B. t ri ed t o p u s h Jo n es o ff, b u t h e was u n s u cces s fu l b ecau s e “ I co u l d n ’ t

c o nt ro l m y b od y , I co ul dn ’ t fi g h t b ack

. I co u l d t ry t o p u t m y h an ds u p , t h a t k i n d o f

t h i n g , bu t

, u m , fo r t h e m o s t part ev ery t h i n g was ju s t t o o h ard to fo cu s o n , u m , b ecau s e

I

– m y m i n d ju s t was n ’ t wo rk i n g .” W h en C. B. co n fro n t ed J on es t h e n ex t m o rn i n g,

J o n es s ai d n o t h i n g had h ap p en ed an d th at C. B. was wro ng if h e t h o u g ht i t h ad

. Aft er

4t h i s i n ci d en t

, C

. B

. i m m e di at el y q u i t t h e u l t i m at e fri s b ee t eam an d t ol d h i s co ach es

t h at J o n es h ad “ rap ed ” h i m

. 3

J . H., wh o was a s t ud en t at t h e Un i v ers i t y o f No rt h Geo rg i a-Oco n ee, b ecam e

fri en ds wi t h J o n es wh en t h ey wo r k e d t o g et her at an A t hen s res t au ran t

. On Oct o b er

1 1

, 2 0 14

, J

. H

. wen t t o J on es ’ ap art m en t wh ere h e p lan n ed t o s p en d t h e n i g h t b efo re

at t en di n g an earl y

m orn i n g wo rk m eet i n g . Th e t wo m en wen t t o a bar i n d o wn t o wn

At h en s wh ere Jo n es cl ai m ed h e k n ew t h e b art en d er an d t h ey co ul d g et free d ri n k s

. As

t h ey l eft t h e bar i n a cab

, J

. H

. was feel i n g wo o zy “ l i k e al m o s t, k i n d o f fad i n g i n an d

o u t ki n d o f feel i n gs .” Hi s nex t m em o ry w as wak i n g u p wi t h J on es o n t o p o f h i s l eg s

.

Al t h o u g h J

. H. was aware o f wh at was g o i n g on , h e fel t li k e he co u l d n o t m o v e. J

. H.

fad ed back o u t of co n s ci o u s n es s , an d wh en h e wo ke ag ai n , J o n e s w a s h o l d i n g h i m

d o wn wi th o n e h an d an d t o u c h i n g J

. H.’ s g en i t al s wi t h h i s m o u t h

. J

. H. d i d n ot

co n sen t t o J o n es ’ a c t i o n s

. Wh en J

. H. t ri ed t o s i t up an d t el l J o nes “ n o ,” J o n es

“ fo rci b l y s ho v ed [h i m ] b ack d o wn

. . . an d t o l d [h i m ] t o s t o p .” W h en J . H. wo k e u p

t h e n ex t m o rn i ng , h e was w eari n g a d i fferen t p ai r o f u n d erwear, an d b o t h o f h i s l eg s

were t h ro u g h o n e o p en i n g

.

3 C. B., J

. H., an d W

. W

. each t es t i fi ed t hat t h ey d id n ot i m m ed i at el y rep o rt t h e i n ci d en t s i n v o l v i ng J on es t o p o l i ce.

5On N o v em b er 7

, 2 0 1 5

, UGA s t u d e n t W. W. ran i n to J o n es , wh o m h e h ad

recen t l y m et

, at a b ar i n d o wn t o w n At h en s

. W

. W

. an d J o n es l at er wen t t o an o t h er b ar

an d h ad a d ri n k cal l ed a “ V eg as Bo m b ” o r “ Bo m

b .” Al th o u g h W

. W

. was a “ p ret t y

ex p eri en ced ” d ri n k er, t h e n ex t t h i n g h e rem em b ered was wak in g u p a t J o n es ’

ap art m en t

, b u t h e d id n o t rem em b er h o w h e g o t th ere. W

. W

. recal l ed t h ro wi n g u p,

t ex t i n g h i s g i rl fri en d, an d wal k i n g aro u n d ou t s i d e an d t h en l at er wak i n g u p t wo t i m es

wi t h J o n es p erfo rm in g o ral s ex o n h i m

. W h en h e n ex t awo k e, J o n es was t el l i n g h i m

t o p u l l h i s p an ts u p . W . W . t es t i fi ed t h at h e d i d n o t co n s en t t o J o n es ’ act io n s

.

W

. W

. “ ran as fas t as [h e] co u l d ,” an d cal l ed h i s g i rl fri en d t o co m e g et h i m

.

W h en s h e arri v ed

, W

. W

. to l d her t h at h e h ad been “ rap ed .” W

. W

. l at er s ub m i t t ed to

an ex am i n at i o n by a SANE, t o wh o m h e rep o rt ed wh at h ad h ap p en ed

. Th e ev i d en ce

s h o wed th at swab b in g s f r o m W

. W. ’ s p en i s an d s cro t um were p o s i t i v e fo r s al i va,

wh i ch DNA tes t i n g m at ch ed t o J o n es

. W

. W

. l at er t ex t ed J o n es , wh o d en i ed t h ere was

an y s ex u al co n t act b et ween t h em

. 4

1

. Co n t rary t o J o n es ’ arg um en t o n ap p eal

, we fi n d t h at t h e ev i d en ce at t ri al was

s u ffi ci en t t o s u pp o rt h i s co n v i ct i o n s bey o n d a reas on ab le d o u bt

. “ W h en we co n s i d er

4 Th e pro s ecu ti o n al s o p res en t ed ex t ri ns i c act s ev i d en ce o f t w o a dd i t i o n al

i n ci d en t s , wh i ch wi l l b e d i s cu s s ed fu rt h er i n Di v is i o n 5 b el o w.

6t h e l eg al s u ffi ci en cy o f t h e ev i d en ce, we v i ew t h e ev i den ce i n t h e l ig h t m o s t fav o rab l e

t o t h e v erd i ct an d i n q u i re o n ly wh et h er an y rat io n al t ri er o f fact m i g h t fi n d b ey o n d a

reas on ab l e d o u b t t h at t h e d efen d an t i s g u il t y o f t he cri m e s o f wh i ch h e was

co n v i c t ed .” Do r

s ey v. S ta t e , 3 03 Ga. 5 9 7

, 6 0 0 (1 ) (8 1 4 SE2 d 3 7 8 ) (2 0 1 8 ). See al s o

Ja cks o n v. Vi r

g in ia , 4 4 3 U.S. 3 0 7 (9 9 SCt 2 7 8 1 , 6 1 LE2 d 5 6 0 ) (1 9 79 ). “ Un d er t h i s

rev i ew, we m

u s t p u t as i d e an y q u es t i o ns ab o u t co nfl i ct in g ev i d en ce, t h e cre d i b i l i t y

o f wi t n es s es , o r t h e wei g h t o f t h e ev i d en ce, leav i ng t h e res o l u ti o n o f s u ch t h i n g s t o

t h e d i s cret i o n of t he t ri er o f fact .” (Ci t a t i o n a n d pu n ct u at i o n o m i t ted .) Do r s ey , 3 0 3

Ga. at 6 00 (1 ).

a. S o d o m y

. Al t h o u g h J o n es was ch arg ed wi t h fi ve co un t s o f ag g rav a t ed

s o d o m y , each co u n t i n v o l vi ng o n e o f t h e v i ct i m s , t h e ju ry co n v ict ed h i m o f th e l es s er

i n cl u d e d o f

f e n s e o f s o d om

y o n t h e ch arg es rel at i n g t o K. V., C. B., an d W

. W

. See

Mel to n v. S t a t e , 2 8 2 Ga. Ap p

. 6 8 5

, 6 9 3 (2 ) (c) (6 3 9 SE2 d 41 1 ) (2 0 0 6 ) (s od o m y l es s er

i n cl u d ed o ffen se o f ag g rav at ed s o d o m y ); OCGA § 1 6 -1 -6

.

(i ) Un d e r Ge org ia l aw, “ [a] s o do m y co n v i ct i o n req ui res ev i d en ce o f a

n o n co n s en s u al

, p u bl ic, or c o m m erci al act i n v o l vi n g co n tact b et ween on e p art y ’ s

s ex u al o rg an s an d t h e o th er’ s m o u t h o r an u s. OCGA § 1 6 -6 -2 (a) (1 ).” Mel t o n , 2 8 2

Ga. Ap p

. at 6 92 -9 3 (2 ) (c). See al s o Po wel l v. S t a t e , 2 70 Ga. 3 2 7

, 3 3 6 (3 ) (5 1 0 SE2 d

71 8 ) (1 9 9 8 ) (h ol d i n g t h at co n s en s u al

, p ri v at e, n o n-co m m erci al act o f s o d o m

y i s

co n st i t u t io n a l l y p r o t e ct ed ). K. V., C. B., an d W

. W

. each t es t i fi ed th at J o n es

p e r f o r m e d at l eas t o ne n o n co n s en s u al act i n wh i ch h i s m ou t h t o u ch ed th e v i ct i m ’s

p en is

, as al l eg ed i n t he i n d i ct m en t

. 5 Th at t es ti m o n y an d o t h er ev i d en ce at tri al w as

s u ffi ci en t t o s u p p o rt J o n es ’ s od o m y co nv i ct i o n s b ey o nd a reas o n ab l e d o u bt

.

(i i) Ho w ev er, t h e St at e, t o i t s cred it

, has b ro u g ht t o t h i s Co urt ’ s at ten t i o n t h at

t h e t ri al co u rt fai l ed t o i m p o s e a s p l i t s en t en ce on each of t h e s od o m y co u nt s (Co u n t s

1

, 2

, & 5 ) i n a c co rd an ce wi t h th e v ers i on of OCGA § 1 7 -1 0 -6 .2 (b ) i n effect at t h e

t i m e o f J o n es ’ s en t en ci n g i n M ay 2 0 1 7

.

Th e tri al co u rt s en t en ced J o n es t o 2 0 y ears o n each s o d o m y co n v i ct i on t o ru n

co n secu ti v el y t o h i s li fe s en t en ce, wi t h a 2 5-y ear m an d at o ry m i n i m u m , o n t h e

ag g rav at ed s o d o m

y co n vi ct i o n u n d er Co un t 3

. 6 At t h e t i m e t hat J o n es ’ s en t en ce was

i m p o s ed i n M ay

2 0 1 7 , OCGA § 1 7 -1 0 -6 .2 (b ) p ro v id ed , i n p ert i n en t p art , t h at

5 Th e ag g rav at ed s o d o m

y co u n t s ch arg ed J o n es wi t h co m m i t t i n g a s ex u al act
i n v o l v i n g h i s m o u t h an d t h e s ex o rg an s o f each o f t h e v i ct i m s

.

6 Th e tri al co urt al so im

p o s ed a co n s ecu t i v e s en ten ce of l i fe, t o s erv e 2 5 y ears ,

o n t h e s eco n d ag grav at ed s o do m y co n v i ct i o n u n d er Co u nt 2 an d co ncu rren t s en t en ces

o n t h e co n v i ct i on s fo r s ex u al b at tery a n d b a t tery u n d er Co u n t s 4

, 6

, 8

, an d 1 0,

res u l ti n g i n an o v eral l s en t en ce o f l i fe, wi th 7 0 y ears co n fi n em en t

.

8a n y p e r s o n co nv i ct ed o f a sex u al o ffen s e s h al l b e s en ten ced t o a s p l i t

s en t en ce w h ich sh al l i n cl u d e t h e m i ni m u m t erm o f i m

p ri so n m en t

s p eci fi ed in t he Co d e s ect i o n ap p l i cab le t o t h e o ffen s e. No p o rt i o n of th e

m an d at o ry m in im

u m s en t en ce i m

p o s ed s h al l b e s u sp en d ed

, s t ay ed

,

p r o b at ed

, d eferred

, or w i t h h el d b y t h e sen t en ci n g co u rt an d s u c h

s en t en ce s h al l i n cl u d e, i n ad d i t i on t o t h e m an d at o ry i m p ri s on m en t

, an

ad d i ti o n al p ro b at ed s en t en ce o f at l eas t o n e y ear.

See Ga. L. 2 00 6, p

. 3 9 5

, § 2 1

. Th e s tat u t e d efi n ed t h e cri m e of s od o m y un d er OCGA

§ 1 6 -6 -2 as a “ s ex u al offen s e” s u b ject to t h i s s en ten ci n g req u i rem en t

. I d

. See al s o

OCGA § 1 7-1 0 -6 .2 (a) (3 ) (2 0 1 9 ). Ou r Su p rem e Co u rt h as i n t erp ret ed t hi s p ro v i s i o n

as m an d at i n g t h at t h e t ri al co u rt i m po s e a s pl i t s en t en ce, i n cl u di n g at l eas t o n e y ear

o f p ro b at i o n , o n each o f t h e s o d o m y co un t s

. S ta t e v. Ri

g g s , 3 0 1 Ga. 6 3, 6 6 (1 ) (7 9 9

SE2 d 7 7 0 ) (2 0 1 7). T h e Su p rem e C o u r t f u r t h er no t ed t h at “ th e tri al co u rt m ay ru n a

s p l i t sen ten ce p art ial l y co n s ecu t i v e an d p art i al l y co n cu rren t t o an o t h er s en t en ce, s u ch

t h at t h e pro b at i o n ary co m p o n en t o f a s p li t s en t en ce m ay b e s erv ed co n cu rren t l y wi th

a p eri od o f co n fi n em en t i m p os ed b y t h e s en ten ce o n an ot h er co u nt .” Id

. at 7 4 (2 ).

Th e l eg i s l at u re l at er am en d ed OCGA § 1 7 -1 0 -6 .2 (b ), effect i v e J ul y 1

, 2 0 1 7,

t o pro v i d e t h at i n th e cas e o f co ns ecu t i v e s en t en ces fo r m u l t i p l e s ex u al o ffen s es , “ t h e

req u i rem en t t h at t he co u rt i m p os e a p ro b at ed s en t en ce o f at l eas t o ne y ear s hal l o n l y

ap p ly t o th e fi n al co ns ecu t i v e s en t en ce i m p o s ed .” Des pi t e t h i s am en d m en t

, h o wev er,

9t h e t ri al co u rt was o b l i g at ed t o s en t en ce J on es “ p u rs u an t t o t h e s tat u t e i n effect at t h e

t i m e h e co m

m i t ted h is cri m e.” Ma rt i n ez -Ch a vez v. S t a t e , 3 5 2 Ga. Ap p

. 1 4 2

, 1 4 3 (1 )

(8 3 4 SE2 d 1 3 9) (2 0 1 9 ). Se e a l s o Wi dn er v. S t a t e , 2 8 0 Ga. 6 7 5

, 6 7 7 (2 ) (6 3 1 SE2 d

6 7 5 ) (2 0 0 6 ) (“ [I] t h as l o n g b een t h e l aw i n t h i s St at e t h at

, in g en eral

, a cri m e i s t o b e

co n st ru ed an d pu n i s h ed acco rd i n g t o t h e p ro vi s i o n s o f t h e l aw ex i s t i ng at t h e t i m e o f

i t s co m m i s s i o n .”) (ci t at i o n a n d p u n ct u at i o n o m i t ted ); Ri ch a r d s o n v. S ta te

, 3 3 4 Ga.

A p p

. 3 4 4

, 3 47 (1 ) (7 7 9 SE2 d 4 0 6 ) (2 0 1 5) (OCGA § 1 7 -1 0 -6 .2 d i d n o t ap p l y i n

res en t en ci n g d efen d an t co n vi ct ed b efo re th e s t a t u t e wen t in t o effect ). Th erefo re,

u n d er R i g g s , each o f J o n es ’ s o d o m y co n vi ct i o n s req u i res i m p o s i t i o n of a s p l i t

s en t en ce.

Acco rd i ng l y , w e v acat e t h e sen t e n ces fo r J on es ’ s o d o m y co n v i ct i o n s u n d er

Co u n t s 1 , 2 an d 5

, an d we rem an d t he cas e fo r res en t en ci n g i n acco rd an ce wi t h t h i s

o p i n i o n

.

b

. Ag g r a va t ed so d

o my

. Th e ju ry co n v ict ed J on es o f t wo co u n t s o f ag g rav at ed

s o d o m y as ch arg ed o n th e co u n t s i nv o l v i n g O. Y

. an d J. H

. . “ [T] h e o n l y d i st i n ct i o n

b et ween th e [cri m es o f s od o m y an d ag g rav at ed s o d om

y i n v ol v i ng an ad u l t v i ct i m ] i s

t h e el em en t of fo rce.” Mel t o n , 2 8 2 Ga. Ap p

. at 6 9 3 (2 ) (c); O CGA § 1 6 -6 -2 (a) (2 )

(“ A pers o n co m

m i t s t h e o ffen s e o f ag g rav at ed so d o m y wh en h e o r s h e co m

m i t s

10s o d o m

y w i t h fo rce an d ag ai n s t t h e wi l l o f t h e o t he r p e r s o n [.] ”) Th erefo re, t h e

“ es sen t ial el em en t s of ag grav at ed s o d o m y are an act o f i l l eg al s o d o m y t h at i s

acco m pan i ed b y fo rce.” Mel t on , 28 2 Ga. Ap p

. at 6 9 2 (2 ) (c)

. O u r c o u rt s h av e

i n t erp ret ed t h e l at t er el em en t as req u i ri n g ev i d en ce o f act u al fo rce; co n s t ru ct i v e fo rce

b as ed o n l y o n t h e v i c t i m ’s l ack o f cap aci t y t o co ns en t i s i n s u ffi ci en t t o s u p p o rt an

ag g rav at ed s o d o m

y co n v i ct i o n

. Br ewer v. St a te

, 2 71 G a. 6 05 (5 2 3 SE2 d 1 8 ) (1 9 9 9 )

(h o l d i n g p ri o r t o 2 0 0 0 am en d m en t t o OCGA § 1 6 -6 -2 (a) (2 )

– p ro v i d i ng t hat an act

o f s o d o m y perfo rm ed o n a ch i l d u n der 1 0 co n s ti t u t es ag g rav at ed s o d o m y – t hat p ro o f

o f act u al fo rce req u i red t o es t ab l i s h cri m e o f ag g rav at ed s o d o m y i nv o l v i n g an y ch i ld

v i ct i m ); Mel t o n , 2 8 2 G a. Ap p

. at 6 9 2 (2 ) (c) (p r o o f o f act u al fo rce req u i red to

es t ab l i s h cri m e o f ag g rav at ed s o d o m y i nv o l v i n g a m en t al l y i n cap aci t at ed ad u l t ).

J

. H

. an d O. Y. each t es t i fi ed t h at J o n e s p erfo rm ed a no n co n s en s u al act o f

s o d o m y u p o n h i m as al l eg ed i n t h e i n d i ct m en t, an d t h at t es ti m o n y al o n g wi t h o t h er

ev i d en ce at t ri al was s u ffi ci en t t o es t ab l i s h t h e i ll eg al act o f so d om y

. J o n es arg u es ,

h o wev er, th at t h e St at e fai l ed t o pro v e t h e el em en t o f act u al fo rce req u i r e d to

es t ab l i s h ag g rav at ed s o do m y. Th e i n d i ct m en t al l eg ed th at t h e act o f s o do m y was

c o m m i tt ed b y fo rce an d ag ai n st t h e w i l l o f t h e vi ct im b y “ pro v i d i n g [h i m ] w i t h a

s u b s t an ce wh i ch i m

p ai red h i s ab i l i t y t o co m

p reh en d an d u nd ers t an d t h e n at u re o f h i s

11co n du ct [,]” a n d J o n es arg u es th at ev id en ce s u pp o rt in g t h at al l eg at i o n wo u l d o n l y

s h o w co n s t ru ct i v e fo rce b as ed o n t h e v i ct i m ’ s l ack o f cap ab i l i t y t o co n sen t

.

W e recen t l y deci d ed t h i s i s s u e ag ai n s t J o n es ’ p o s i t i o n i n Ha n dl ey v. S t a t e , 3 5 2

Ga. A p p. 1 06 (8 3 4 SE2 d 1 1 4 ) (2 0 1 9 ). Th ere, we fo un d t h at t h e St at e h ad es t ab l i s h ed

t h e req u i s i t e el em en t o f fo rce bas ed o n t h e d efen d an t ’ s act i o n i n pro v i di n g t h e v i ct i m

a dru g an d al co h o l

, ren d eri n g h i m u n ab le t o res i st t h e d efen d an t ’ s s ex u al as s au l t

. Th e

ev i d en ce at J o n es ’ t ri al al so s u pp o rt s a fi n d i n g t h at

[J o n es ] d i d n o t m erel y p erfo rm act s o f so d om y u p o n a v i ct i m

wh o w as

i n cap ab l e o f co n s en t i n g [as i n Br ewer an d Mel to n ]

. In s t e a d

, h e t o o k

affi rm at iv e act i on ag ai ns t [h i s v i ct i m s, O. Y

. an d J

. H.]

, s u pp l y i n g
[t hem ] w i t h a d r u g an d al co h o l t h at ren d ered [t hem ] i ncap ab le o f

co n s en t i n g an d ov ercam e [t h ei r] ab i li t y to res i s t

. [J o n es ’ ] act i o n s h ad th e

s am e effect as o t h er t y

p es o f act ual fo rce reco g n i zed i n Geo rg i a[.]

Ha n d l ey , 3 5 2 Ga. Ap p

. at 1 0 9

.

Bo t h O. Y. an d J . H. t es t i fi ed t o feel i ng “ d i zzy , ” “ w o o zy ,” an d g en eral l y o ut

o f i t aft er co n s u m i n g d ri n k s p r o v i d e d b y Jo n es

. J

. H. fu rt h er t es t i fi ed t h at wh en h e

a w o k e wi t h J o n es on t o p o f h i m , h e was u n ab l e to m o v e h i s b o d y t o r e s i s t J o n e s ’

s ex u al act s

. Lat er t e s t i n g s h o wed t h at O. Y.’ s u ri ne co n t ai n ed t ram ad o l

, t h e

co n su m p t i o n o f wh i ch

, al o n g wi t h al co h o l

, can l ead t o s ed at i o n an d b l ack ou t s

. Th i s

12an d o t h er ev i d en ce at t ri al was s u ffi ci en t t o su p po rt a ju ry fi n d i n g t h at J o n es h ad

d ru g ged b o t h O. Y. an d J

. H

. t o o v er c o m e th ei r ab i l i t y t o res i s t h i s s ex ual act s an d

t h u s was s uffi ci en t t o s h ow act u al fo rce. Acco rd i n g l y , we affi rm J o n es ’ ag g rav at ed

s o d o m y co nv i ct i o n s.

c. S exu a l Ba t t er

y

. J o nes was ch arg ed wi t h s ex u al bat t ery wi t h reg ard t o J

. H.,

W

. W

., an d O. Y. b y in t en t i on al l y m ak i n g p h y s i cal co n t act wi t h each o f t he v i ct i m ’ s

i n t i m at e p art s , i . e., t o u ch i n g t h e v ict i m ’ s p en i s , wi t h o u t h i s co ns en t

.

(i ) “ Th e p l ai n l an g u ag e o f [t h e s ex u al b at t ery s t at u t e] p res cri b es th ree el em en t s

t h at are req u i red t o es t ab l i s h t he o ffen s e o f s ex u al bat t ery : (1 ) p h y s i cal co n tact wi th

t h e v i ct i m ’ s i n t im at e bo d y p art s ; (2 ) i n t en t t o h av e s uch c o n t a c t ; an d (3 ) l ack o f

co n sen t o n t he p art of t h e v i ct im .” W a t s o n v. S t a t e , 2 9 7 Ga. 7 1 8

, 7 1 9 (2 ) (7 7 7 SE2 d

6 7 7 ) (2 0 1 5 ); OCGA § 16 -6 -2 2.1 (b ). J

. H., W

. W

., an d O. Y. each t es t i fi ed th at J o n es

h ad p h y si cal co n t act wi t h hi s p en i s wi t h ou t hi s co ns en t

, an d t he ev i d en ce s u p p o rt ed

a fi n d in g t h at J o n es act ed w i t h i n t en t i n d o i n g so

. Th is an d o t h er ev i d en ce at t ri al was

s u ffi ci en t t o affi rm

h i s co n vi ct i o n s fo r s ex u al b at t ery

.

(i i) Nev ert h el es s, we fi n d t h at t h e s ex u al b at t ery co n v ict i o n i n v o l v in g W

. W

.

u n d er Co u nt 6 m erg ed fo r s en t en ci n g wi t h t h e s o do m y co nv i ct i o n u n d e r Co u n t 5

i n v o l v i n g t h e s am e v ict i m

. Li k ewi s e, t he s ex u al b at tery co n v i ct i o ns u n d er Co u n t s 4

13an d 8

, i n v o l v i n g J

. H

. an d O. Y., res p ect iv el y , m e r g e d f o r s e n ten ci n g wi t h t h e

ag g rav at ed s o d o m y co n v i ct i on s u nd er Co u n ts 3 an d 7

, i n v o l v i n g J

. H. an d O. Y.,

res p ect i vel y

.

[U] n d er Geo rg i a l a w , s ee OCGA § 1 6 -1 -7 (a), a d efen d an t m ay

n o t b e l eg al l y co n v ict ed o f a cri m e t h at i s i n cl u d ed as a m at t er o f l aw o r

fact i n an ot h er cri m e fo r wh i ch t h e d efen d an t al s o s t an d s co n v i ct ed

. A

co n v i ct i o n th at m erg es wi t h an o t h er co n v i ct i on i s v o id

– [a] n u l l i t y

–

an d a s en t en ce i m

p o s ed on s uch a v o i d co nv i ct i o n i s i l leg al an d wi l l be

v acat ed i f n o t iced b y

t h is Co u rt , ev en i f n o m erg er cl ai m was rai s ed i n

t h e t ri al co u rt an d ev en i f t h e d efen d an t d o es n o t en u m erat e t h e erro r o n

ap p eal

.

Na z a r i o v. S t a t e , 2 9 3 G a. 48 0 , 4 8 0 (7 4 6 SE2 d 1 0 9 ) (2 0 13 ). See al so Di xo n v. S t a t e ,

3 0 2 Ga. 6 9 1

, 6 9 7 (4 ) (8 0 8 SE2 d 6 9 6 ) (2 0 1 7 ) (W h ere “ a m erg er erro r i s s o cl ear an d

o b v i o u s t h at i t co m es t o o u r at ten t i o n ev en wi t h o u t th e h el p o f an y p art y ,” ap p el l at e

co u rt s “ hav e t h e d i s cret i o n t o co rrect t h e erro r u p o n [i ts ] o wn i n i ti at i v e[.] ”).

Th e co un t s ch arg i ng s ex u al b at t ery each al l eg e t h at J o nes t o u ch ed t h e v i ct i m ’ s

p en is

, an d t h e co u nt s ch arg i n g (ag g rav at ed ) s o d o m y al l eg e sex u al co n d u ct i nv o l v i n g

J o n es ’ m o u t h an d each vi ct i m ’ s p en i s

. Th erefo re, t he co u n ts ch arg i n g th es e cri m es

are b as ed o n t h e s am e act : co n t act wi t h t h e v i ct i m ’s p en i s

. In d et erm i n in g wh et h er

m erg er i s req u ired “ wh ere t h e s am e act o r t ran s act i o n co n s t i t u t es a v i o l at i o n o f t wo

14d i s t i n ct s t a t u t o ry p ro v i s i o n s,” we ap pl y t he “ req u i red ev i den ce” t es t s et o u t in

Dr i n ka r d v. W

al ker

, 2 8 1 Ga. 21 1

, 2 1 7 (6 3 6 SE2 d 5 3 0) (2 0 06 ). See al s o S co t t v. S t a t e ,

3 0 6 Ga. 50 7

, 5 09 (2 ) (8 32 SE2 d 4 26 ) (2 0 19 ). Un d er t h a t t e s t

, w e m u s t d et erm i n e

“ wh et h er each pro v i s i o n req u i res p ro o f o f a fact wh i ch t h e o t h er d o es n o t.” (Ci t at i o n

an d p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed .) Dr i n ka r d

, 2 8 1 G a. at 2 1 5

. See al s o Jo h n s o n v. W i l l i a ms ,

3 0 4 Ga. 7 7 1

, 7 7 2 (8 2 2 SE2 d 2 64 ) (2 0 1 8). If s o, t he cri m es d o n o t m erg e.

Th e cri m es o f s o d o m

y an d ag g rav at ed s o d om

y req u i re p ro o f o f fact s t h at t h e

cri m e o f s ex u al b at t ery d o es n o t i n t h at t h ey each req u i re p ro o f t h at t h e co n t act o ccu r

b et ween t h e s ex o rg an s o f o n e p e r s o n a n d t he m o ut h o r an u s o f an ot h er. Sex u al

b at t ery , o n t h e o t h er h an d, d o es n o t req u i re t h at p h y s i cal c o n t a c t wi t h a p ers o n ’ s

i n t i m at e p art s b e m ad e wi t h an y s p eci fi c b o d y p art

. Ad d i t i o n a l l y , t h e cri m e o f

ag g rav a t e d s o do m

y req ui res p ro o f o f fo rce, w h i ch t he cri m e o f s ex u al b at t ery d o es

n o t

.

Ho wev er, as ch arg ed i n t h i s cas e, th e cri m e o f s ex u al b at tery d o es n o t req u i re

p ro o f o f a n y f

a c t th at t h e cri m es o f s o d o m y an d ag grav at ed s o d o m

y d o n o t

. Sex u al

b at t ery req ui res th e St at e t o p ro v e i nt en t i o n al p h y s i cal co n t act wi th t h e i n t im at e p art s

o f an o t her p ers o n wi t h o ut h i s o r h er co n sen t

, an d “ i n t im at e p art s ” i ncl u d es “ t h e

p ri m ary g en i tal area.” See OCGA § 1 6

- 6

- 2 2

. 1 ( a ) & (b ). So d o m y an d ag g rav at ed

15s o d o m

y l i k ewi s e req u i re p ro o f o f co n tact b et ween t h e s ex o rg an s o f o n e p ers o n an d,

as ch arg ed h ere, t h e m o u t h o f an o t h er. Th u s , i t i s cl ear t h at in t h i s cas e, th e cri m e o f

s ex u al b at t ery d o es n o t req u i re p ro o f o f an y fact t h a t t h e cri m es o f s o d o m y o r

ag g rav at ed s o d o m

y d o n o t.

Acco rd i ng l y , b ecau s e t h e ch arg es o f s ex u al b at tery i n vo l v i n g O. Y., K. J

., an d

W

. W

. s h o u ld h av e been m erg ed fo r s en ten ci ng , we vacat e J o n e s’ sen t en ce as to

Co u n t s 4

, 6

, an d 8 o f th e i n d i ct m en t an d rem an d fo r res en ten ci n g

. Cf., e. g., Pa r f en u k

v. S ta t e , 3 3 8 Ga. Ap p

. 9 5, 1 0 1 (3 ) 7 89 SE2 d 3 3 2, 3 3 6 (2 0 1 6) (“ [C] hi ld m o l es t at i o n

[i nv o l v i n g fo n dl i n g t h e p ri m ary g en i t al area] was s i m p l y a g reat er offen s e i nt o wh i ch

t h e ch arg e o f s ex ual bat t e r y [ f o r th e s am e t o uch i n g ] w as p ro p erl y m erg ed

. ”); Gu n n

v. S t a te

, 3 0 0 Ga. Ap p

. 2 29

, 2 3 0 (2 ) (6 8 4 SE2 d 3 8 0 ) (2 0 0 9 ) ( c o n v i ct io n s fo r s ex u al

b at t ery b y t o u ch i n g ch i ld vi ct i m ’ s g en i tal area m erg ed wi t h co nv i ct i o n s fo r ch i ld

m o les t at i o n b y

t o uch i n g v i ct i m ’ s v ag i n a).

d

. Ba t t er y

. J o nes was ch arg ed wi t h o n e co u n t of b at t ery in t ha t h e c a u s e d

v i s i b l e b o d i l y

h arm t o t h e face an d b o d y of O. Y. b y s t ri k i n g h i m

wi t h h i s fi s t s . See

OCGA § 1 6 -5 -2 3 .1 (a) ( “ A p e r s o n co m m i t s t h e o ffen s e o f b at t ery wh en h e o r s h e

i n t en t i o n al l y cau s es su b st an t i a l p h ys i cal h arm o r v i s i b l e b o d i l y harm t o an o t h er.”).

O. Y.’ s t es t i m o n y t h at Jo n es h ad p u n ch ed h i m i n t h e n o s e an d rep eat ed l y s t ru ck h i m ,

16al o n g wi t h p h y s i cal ev i d en ce o f b lo o d an d o t h er i n ju ri es to O. Y.’ s b o dy

, p ro v i d ed

s u ffi ci en t ev i d en ce t o s u p p ort J o n es ’ b at t ery co n vi ct io n b ey o n d a reas o n ab l e d o u b t

.

2

. Jo n es n ex t as s ert s th at t h e t ri al co u rt erred by fai l i n g t o ex erci s e i t s d i s cret i o n

i n co n si d eri n g t h e g en eral gro un d s an d i n s t ead rel i ed o n l y o n t h e s u ffi ci en cy o f t h e

ev i d en ce s t an d ard i n d en y i n g t h e m o t i o n fo r n ew t ri al . J o n es i s co rrect t h at

[w] h en faced wi th a m o t i o n f o r n ew t ri al b as ed o n t h es e gen eral

g ro u n d s , th e t ri al co u rt h as t h e d u t y t o ex erci se it s d i s cret i o n an d wei g h

t h e ev i d en ce. Th e t ri al co u rt d o es n o t ex erci s e it s d i s cret i o n wh e n i t

ev al ua t e s t h e g en eral g ro u n d s by ap p ly i n g th e s t an d ard o f Ja cks o n v.

Vi r g in ia

, s u p ra, t o a m o t i o n fo r n ew t ri al b as ed on t h e g en eral g ro un d s

em b o di ed i n OCGA § § 5 -5 -2 0 an d 5 -5 -2 1

.

(Ci t at i o n an d p u n c t u at i o n o m i t t ed .) Go mi ll i on v. S ta t e , 2 96 Ga. 6 78

, 6 8 0 (2 ) (7 6 9

SE2 d 9 1 4) (2 0 1 5 ). Ho w e v e r , i t i s ap p aren t fro m t h e face o f t h e o rd er den y i n g t h e

m o ti o n fo r n ew t ri al t h at t h e t ri al co u rt co n s i d ered an d ap p l i ed t h e p ro p er s t an d ard in

co n si d eri n g J o n es ’ m o t i o n on t h e g en eral g ro u nd s . Th e o rd er s t at es :

In t h e ex erci s e o f i ts d is cret io n , t h e Co urt d o es no t fi n d th at t h e j u r y’ s

v erd ict was co n t rary t o th e ev i d en ce an d t h e p ri n ci pl es o f ju st i ce, OCGA

§ 5

- 5 -2 0, o r w as d eci d ed l y an d st ro n g l y ag ai n s t th e wei g h t of t h e

ev i d en ce s o as t o w a r r a n t t h e g ran t o f a n ew tri al

, § 5 -5 -2 1 ; an d th e

Co u rt d o es n o t fi n d t h at m at eri al ev i d e n ce was ad m i t t ed o r wi th h el d

fro m t h e j u ry o v er o b

ject i o n s o as to warran t a n ew t ri al

, § 5 -5 -2 2. T he

17Co u rt d ecl i n es t o ex erci s e i t au th o ri t y a s “ t h i rt een t h ” ju ro r t o g ran t a

n ew t ri al

.

W e fi n d n o erro r.

3

. J o n es fu rt h er a s s ert s t h at t h e tri al co urt erred i n al l o w i n g a s erv ice d o g to

acco m pan y O. Y. wh i l e he tes t ifi ed b ecau s e t h e d o g ’ s p res en ce gen erat ed s y m p at hy

i n t he ju ry , wh i ch p reju d i ced h i s d efen s e.

Du ri n g t h e tri al

, th e p ro s ecu t o r ex p res s ed co n cern t h at O. Y. wo u l d n o t b e ab l e

t o t es t i fy wi t h o u t hi s s erv i ce do g an d as k ed t h e tri al co u rt t o al l o w O. Y. t o h av e t h e

d o g wi th h i m o n t h e s t an d

. Th e t ri al co urt h eard t es t i m o ny o n th e i s s u e fro m O. Y.’ s

m o th er, wh o s t at ed t h at h er so n h ad b een d i ag n o s ed wi t h p o s t -t rau m at i c s t res s

d i s o rd er (“ PTSD”) fo l lo w in g t h e as s au l t b y J o nes an d t h at he h ad m ed i cal l y

wi t h d rawn fro m UGA o n t hat b as i s. Sh e s ai d t h at O. Y. was “ ex t rem el y an x i o u s ,

d ep res s ed

, [wi t h ] fi t s o f rag e an d irri t ab i l i t y .” O. Y. h ad u n d erg o ne co u n s el i n g , b ut

h e res i s t ed t ak in g m ed i cat i on t o t reat t h e d i s o rd er b ec a u s e h e was d ru nk wh en t h e

as s au l t o ccu rred

, an d h e d i d n o t wan t t o be i n cap aci t at ed ag ai n

. In l i eu of an i n

t reat m en t p ro g ram , O

. Y.’ s fam i l y h ad o pt ed t o p ay a “ t rem en d o u s am o u n t o f m o n ey

fo r a serv i ce d og .” Th e d o g , wh i ch w as fo u r-an d-o n e-h al f t o f i v e

- m o n t hs o l d

, h ad

g o n e t h ro u g h t rai n i n g t o a s s i s t O. Y

. wi th h i s PTSD an d h ad b een l i cen s ed an d

18reg i s tered

. Sh e s ai d t h at al th o u g h t h e d o g was s t i l l a p up p y , i t h ad “ an u n can n y ab i l i t y

t o d i s arm [O. Y.’ s ] sy m

p t o m s [.] ” Th e m o t her s ai d th at t h e d o g wen t wi t h O. Y.

wh erev er h e g o es , i n cl u d i n g du ri n g a recen t h o s p it al izat i o n, w here t h e d og s t ay ed in

t h e b ed wi th h im

. Fu rt h er, wh en O

. Y

. w as at h i s jo b as a ch ef, t he d o g rem ai n ed

acces s i b l e t o h i m

. Fo l l o wi ng t h i s t es t i m o n y , J o n es ’ co u n s el o b ject ed t o t h e d o g ’ s

p res en ce i n co u rt

, wh i ch o b j ect i o n was o v erru l ed

. Defen s e co un s el th en ag reed t o a

p ro ced ure wh ereb y t h e t ri al ju d g e i n fo rm ed t h e ju ry t h at O. Y. w as acco m p an i ed by

a s erv i ce an i m al wi t ho ut fu rt h er s t at em en t o r l i m i t in g i n s t ru ct i o n

.

Th e reco rd refl ect s t h at O. Y. an d t h e do g en t ered an d to o k t h ei r po s it i on o n t h e

wi t n es s s t an d b efo re t h e ju ry was b ro u g h t i n t o t h e co u rt ro o m

. Th ey ex i t e d t h e

co u rt r o o m aft er t h e ju ry was rem o v ed

. T h e t ran s cri p t al s o refl ect s t h at o n fo u r

o ccas i o n s , t h e d o g ’ s rep o s i t i on in g it s el f was au di b l e, an d o n o n e o ccas i o n , i t em i t t ed

a s o u nd

. Ho w ev er, t h e o rd er cl ari fi ed t h at t h e d o g n ev er l eft t h e area at O. Y.’ s feet

“ i n t h e p art i al l y en cl o s ed wi tn es s s t an d an d rem ai n ed o b s cu red ex cep t t o a few ju ro rs

s eat ed at t h e en d o f t he ju ry b o x .”

Th e u s e o f s erv i ce an i m al s fo r wi t n es s es w i t h m en t al

, p s y ch ol o g i cal

, o r

em ot i o n a l c o n d i t i o n s ap p ears to b e a m at ter o f fi rs t im pres s i o n i n Geo rg i a, b u t we

19s t art w i t h t h e p ro p os i ti o n t h at a t ri al co u rt h as t h e res p o n s i b il i t y u n d er OCGA § 2 4 -6

-

6 1 1 (a)

[t o] ex erci s e reas o n ab l e co n t ro l o v er t h e m o d e an d o rd er o f i n t erro gat i n g

wi t n es s es an d p res en t i n g ev i den ce s o as t o : (1 ) M ak e t he i n t erro gat i o n

an d p res en t at i o n effect i v e fo r t h e as cert ai n m en t o f t h e t ru th ; (2 ) A v o i d

n eed l es s co ns u m

p ti o n o f t i m e; an d (3 ) Pro t ect wi tn es s e s f r om

h aras s m en t o r u n d u e em

b arras s m en t

.

“ Th e d i s ch arg e o f [t h i s res p o n s i b i li t y ] n eces s ari l y en tai l s t h e ex erci s e o f d i s cret i o n.”

Un i ted S t a t es v. Hi l l

, 6 43 F.3 d 80 7

, 8 4 5 (IV) (a) (1 1 t h Ci r. 2 0 11 ). 7 Geo rg i a h as l o n g

reco g n ized t h at “ a t ri al co urt i s v es t ed wi t h co n s i derab l e d i s cret i o n i n i t s co n d u ct o f

c o u rt p ro ceed in g s

. Th is co n s i d erab l e d i scret i o n in cl ud es d is cret i o n t o m a k e

reas on ab l e acco m

m o d at i on s fo r t h e co m fo rt an d care o f wi tn es s es wi t h s p eci al

n eed 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 .) Ez eb ui r o v. S t a te

, 3 0 8 Ga. Ap p

. 2 8 2

, 2 8 4

( 1 ) (7 07 SE2 d 1 82 ) (2 0 1 1 ). See al s o Lo n er g an v. St a t e , 2 8 1 Ga. 6 3 7

, 6 4 0 ( 4 ) ( 6 4 1

SE2 d 7 9 2 ) (2 0 0 7 ) (“ Th e t r i a l c o u rt i s v es t ed wi t h co n si d erab l e d i scret i o n i n i t s

co n du ct o f co urt p ro ceed i n g s .”). Al t h o ug h Geo rg i a co u rt s h av e n o t ad d res s ed t h i s

7 Becau se OCGA § 2 4 -6 -6 1 1 (a) cl o s el y t rack s t h e fed eral ru le, we referen ce fed eral p reced en t in i n t erp ret i n g t h i s p ro v i s i o n. See Ol d s v. S t a te

, 2 9 9 Ga. 6 5

, 6 9 (2 ) (7 8 6 SE2 d 6 3 3 ) (2 0 1 6 ); Ro nal d L. Carl s o n an d M i ch ael Sco t t C a r l s o n , Ca r l s o n o n Evi d en ce , p . 3 11 (5 t h Ed . 2 0 1 6 ).

20i s su e, o t h e r s t a t e s h av e hel d t h at i t is i n wi th i n a t ri al co u rt ’ s di s cret i o n t o p erm i t a

wi t n es s t o u s e a s erv i ce an i m al

. See

, e

. g

. , S m i t h v. S t a t e , 49 1 SW 3 d 8 6 4

, 8 7 7 (III)

(Tex

. Ap p. 2 0 1 6 ) (d eci s i on o f wh et h er t o al l o w s erv i ce an im al t o acco m p an y wi t n es s

fel l wi th i n t ri al co urt ’ s d i s cret i o n ); S t at e v. D ye , 1 7 8 W as h 2 d 5 4 1

, 55 7 (III) (3 0 9 P3 d

1 1 9 2 ) (2 0 1 3 ) (s am e); Peo

p l e v. To h o m , 1 0 9 AD3 d 2 5 3

, 2 6 7 (9 6 9 NYS2 d 1 2 3 ) (2 0 1 3 )

(“ ju d g e co n d u ct i n g a p u b l i c t ri al i s em p o wered t o co n t ro l t h e p ro ceed i ng s i n wh at ev er

m an n er m ay b e co n s i s t en t wi t h t h e d em an d s o f d eco ru m an d d u e p ro ces s ”).

Here, t h e tri al co u rt i n v es t i g at ed t h e m at t er o u t s i d e t h e ju ry ’ s p res en ce an d t o o k

ev i d en ce o n t h e w i t nes s’ s co nd i t i o n , t h e need fo r t h e s erv i ce an i m al

, an d t h e s erv i ce

an i m al ’ s t rai n in g

. Th e co u rt al s o co n s u lt ed wi t h co u n s el t o em p l oy p ro ced u res

d es i g n e d t o m i n i m i ze t h e d o g’ s p res en ce an d v i s ib i l i ty to t h e ju ry

. Un d er t h es e

ci rcu m s t an ces , we fi n d th at t h e t ri al co u rt act ed wi t hi n i t s d i s cret i o n i n al l o wi n g O.

Y.’ s d o g to acco m

p an y h i m d u ri n g h i s t es ti m o n y

. See Ez eb u ir o , 3 0 8 Ga. Ap p

. at 2 8 4

(1 ) (n o ab u s e o f d i s cret i on wh ere t ri al co u rt al l o wed p ro s ecu ti o n t o p res en t reb u t t al

t es t i m o ny fro m w i t n e s s s eat ed o n a h o s p i t al g u rn ey ); W il l i a ms o n v. St a t e , 2 3 4 Ga.

Ap p

. 6 5 8

, 6 5 8 -5 9 (2 ) (5 07 SE2 d 7 6 5 ) (1 99 8 ) (t ri al co u rt d id n o t ab u s e i ts d i s cret i o n

b y al lo wi n g g ran d m o t h er t o s t an d n ear ni n e-y ear-o l d ch i l d m o l es t at i o n v i ct i m d u ri n g

h i s t es ti m o n y ).

21M o reo v er, J o n es has fai l ed t o sh o w th at he was h arm ed b y t h e t ri al co urt ’ s

d eci s i o n

. Gi v en t h e pro ced u res t he t r i a l co u rt fo l l o w ed t o m i n im i ze t h e d o g ’ s

p res en ce, we can n o t as s u m e t h at t h e d o g h ad an y i m p act o n t h e ju ro rs , m

u ch l es s t h at

i t en g en d ered s y m

p at h y i n t hem fo r O. Y. 8 A l t ho u g h J o n es po i n t s t o s t at em en t s m ad e

b y a n a l t ern at e ju ro r wh o was ex cu s ed fro m s erv i ce aft er s he real i zed th at s h e h ad

p rev i o u s l y i n t eract ed wi t h O. Y. an d was s y m p at h et i c t oward hi m , h er im p res s i on s

were fo rm ed befo re t ri al an d w ere n o t bas ed o n t h e d o g ’ s p res en ce i n t h e co u rt ro o m

. 9

Acco rd i ng l y , we fi n d t h at J on es ’ arg um en t o n t hi s g ro un d i s wi t ho u t m eri t

.

4

. J o n es al s o co n t en ds t h at t h e t r i a l co u rt creat ed s t ru ct u ral erro r wh en t h e

St at e’ s v i ct i m ’ s ad v ocat e p r e v e n t ed m em b ers o f t h e p u b l i c fro m en t eri n g t h e

co u rt ro o m

d u ri n g C. B.’ s t es t i m o n y

.

Du ri n g C. B.’ s t es t im o n y , J o n es ’ at t o rn ey in fo rm ed t h e t ri al co u r t t h at s o m e

p eo pl e h ad b een ex cl u d ed fro m t h e co u rt ro o m , an d t he t ri al co u rt co n d u ct ed an

8 J o n es as s u m es t h a t t h e d o g g en erat ed sy m p at h y wi t h o u t an y ev i d en ce in

s u p p ort an d co n t rary t o t h e fact t h at s o m e p eo p l e fear o r d i s l i ke an i m al s

.

9 Th e ju ro r sai d s h e h ad s p o k e n wi t h O. Y. o n s ev eral occas i o n s w h en he,

a c c o m p a n i ed b y h i s d o g, cam e i n to t h e s t o re w h ere s h e w as wo rk i n g

. T he ju ro r ’s

o b s erv at i o n s o f O

. Y

. ’s b e h av i o r i n t h e s t o re an d h i s s t at em en t t o h er t hat h e h ad a l earn i n g d i s ab i l i t y l ed t h e ju ro r t o co n cl u d e t h at O. Y. was i ll

, wh i ch cau s ed h er t o b e

s y m p at h et i c t o ward s h i m

.

22i n q u i r y

i n t o t h e m at t er. Th e reco rd refl ect s t h at th ree i n tern s fro m t h e p u b l i c d efen d er’ s o ffi ce

h ad en t ered t h e co u rt ro o m d u ri n g C. B.’ s t es t i m o ny w h en a v i c t i m ’ s ad v o cat e

em pl o y ed b y th e d i s t ri ct at t o rn e y ’ s o ffi ce t ap ped t h em o n t h e s h o u ld er an d as k ed

t h em t o s t ep ou t s i de, w h ich t h ey ap p aren tl y d i d

. Th e ad v o cat e t o l d t h e i n t ern s t h at C.

B. h ad ex p res s ed co ncern ab o u t h av in g t o o m an y p eo p l e i n t h e co u rt ro o m wh i l e h e

t es t i fi ed

. W h en o n e of t he i nt ern s as k ed wh et h er i t was a n o p e n c o u rt ro o m , t h e

ad v ocat e ag reed t hat it was an d t o ld t hem th at i t was t h ei r ch o i ce wh et h er to g o b ack

i n t o t h e co u rt ro o m

. Th e in ter n s l a t er ch o s e t o ret u rn t o t h e co urt ro om

. Aft er

q u es ti o n i n g t h e ad v o cat e, t h e tri al co u rt ad m o n i s h ed h er t h at it i s i n ap p ro p ri at e to

res t ri ct acces s t o t h e c o u rt ro o m wi th o ut fi rs t b ri ng i n g th e i ss u e up b efo re t h e t ri al

co u rt an d co u ns el

.

W e s t art o u r an al y s i s wi t h t h e wel l -es t ab l is h ed p ri n ci p l e t h at “ [t ] h e i m p ro p er

cl o s u re o f a co u rt ro o m

i s a s t ru ct u ral erro r t h at m u s t b e rem ed i ed ev en wi t h o u t an y

s h o wi n g o f d irect h arm

. [Ci t .] ” Ja cks o n v. S t a t e , 3 39 Ga. Ap p. 3 13

, 31 9 (2 ) (b ) (7 9 3

SE2 d 2 0 1 ) (2 0 1 6). See al s o Rei d v. S t a te

, 2 8 6 G a. 4 8 4

, 4 8 8 (3 ) (c) (6 9 0 SE2 d 1 7 7 )

(2 0 1 0). Here, h owev er, t h e co u rt ro o m was n ev er cl o s ed t o an y o n e; r a t h e r , t h ree

i n t ern s ex i t ed t h e co u rt ro o m v o l u n t ari l y

at t h e ad v o cat e’ s req u es t

. In s p eak i n g wi th

23t h e i n tern s , t h e ad vo cat e ack n owl ed g ed t h at i t was an o p en co u rt ro o m an d t h at t h ey

co u ld re-en t er i t at w i l l, w h ich t h ey d i d

. Un d er t h es e ci rcu m st an ces , we fi n d t h at t h e

co u rt ro o m was n o t i m

p ro p erl y cl o sed an d t h u s n o co n s t i t u t i o nal v i ol at i o n o ccu rred

.

5

. Jo n es fu rt h er arg u es t hat t h e tri al co u rt erred in al l o wi ng t h e pro s ecu t i o n to

p res en t ev i d en ce o f t w o ex tri n s i c act s

.

On ap peal

, a tri al co u rt ’ s d eci s io n t o ad m i t ev i d en ce p u rs u an t t o

OCGA § 2 4 -4 -4 0 4 (b ) is rev i ewed fo r a cl ear ab u s e o f d i scret i o n, a

rev i ew req u iri n g th e ap p el l at e co urt t o m ak e a co m m on s en s e

as s es s m en t o f al l th e ci rcu m s tan ce s s urro u n d i n g t h e ex t ri n s i c o ffen s e,

i n cl u d i n g p ro s ecu t o ri al n eed

, o v eral l s i m i l ari t y b et ween th e ex tri n si c act

an d t h e ch arg ed o ffen s e, as wel l as t em p o ral rem o t en es s

.

(Ci t at i o n s o m i t t ed .) Pa r

ks v. S t a t e , 3 0 0 G a. 30 3

, 3 0 5 -3 0 6 (2 ) (7 94 SE2 d 6 2 3 ) (2 0 1 6 ).

Th e St at e p res en t ed t h e t es t i m o n y o f M

. G. an d J

. C., wh o d es cri b ed i n ci d en t s ,

i n w h ich t h ey dran k al co h ol p ro v i d ed b y J o nes , t h en fel t “ d i s o ri en t ed ” an d “ fu zzy ,”

res p ect i vel y , an d l at er wo k e u p i n J o nes ’ s b ed

, i n t h e cas e o f M

. G., t o fi n d h i m s el f

p art i al l y un cl o t h ed an d

, i n t h e cas e o f J

. C., t o fi n d J o n es perfo rm i n g oral s ex o n h i m

.

Th es e i n ci d en t s o ccu rred i n 2 0 14

, du ri n g t he s am e t i m e p eri o d as t h e cri m es ch arg ed

i n t h i s cas e. Th e t ri al co u rt g av e a l i m i t i n g i ns t ru ct i o n befo re M

. G. an d h i s p aren t s

t es t i fi ed an d g av e an ot her l i m i t i n g i n s t ru ct io n b efo re J. C. gav e h i s t es ti m o n y

. Th o s e

24i n s t ru ct i o n s l i m it ed t he j u ry ’ s co n s i d erat io n o f t hi s ev id en ce t o t h e i s s u e o f wh et h er

t h e St at e h ad es t ab l i s hed i n t en t

, p l an , prep arat i o n , an d o p p o rt u n i ty

, “ an d n ot fo r an y

o t h er p u rp o s e.”

J o n es fi rs t as s ert s i t was erro r t o i n t ro d u ce t h e ev i d en ce u n d er OCGA § 2 4 -4

-

4 0 4 (b ) (“ Ru l e 4 0 4 (b )”) t o s h ow o p p o rt u n i t y b ecau s e h e n ev er d i sp u ted t h at h e h ad

t h e o p p o rt u n i t y t o b e wi t h t he v i ct i m s

. Ho wev er, t h i s Co u rt p rev io u s ly has accep t ed

a d efi n i t i o n o f “ o p p o rt u n i t y ” in t h i s co n t ex t t h at i n cl u d es n o t o n l y “ ev i d en ce t en d i n g

t o es tab li s h o p p o rt u n i t y , i n t h e s en s e o f a c c e s s t o o r p res en ce at t h e s cen e o f t h e

cri m e[,] ” b u t al s o “ i n t h e s en s e o f p o s s es si n g d i s t i n ct i v e or un u s u al s k i ll s or ab i l i ti es

em pl o y ed i n t h e co m

m i ss io n o f t h e cri m e ch arg ed

. ” (Ci t at i o n an d pu n ct u at i o n

o m it t ed .) S l o a n v. S t a t e , 3 5 1 Ga. Ap p

. 1 99

, 2 07 (8 30 SE2 d 5 71 ) (2 0 1 9 ). A l t h o u g h

J o n es d i d n o t di sp u te k no wi n g o r b ei n g w i t h t h e vi ct i m s i n th i s cas e, h e d i s p u t ed t h e

S t a t e ’s a l l eg at i o n s t h at h e laced t h e v i ct i m s’ d ri nk s wi t h a d ru g t o o v erco m e t h ei r

res i st a n c e t o h i s s ex u al ad v an ces

. Th u s , th e j u ry was req u i red t o co n s id er wh et h er

J o n es h ad t h e ab i l i t y t o i n t ro d uce a s u b s t an ce i nt o a vi ct i m ’ s d ri n k t h at was cap ab l e

o f i n cap aci t at i ng hi m wi t h o u t b ei n g d et ect ed

. T h e o t her act s e vi den ce was rel ev an t

t o s h o w t h at J o n es p o s ses s ed s u ch a d i s t in ct i v e ab i l i t y

. M

. G

. t es t i fi ed th at aft er

s i pp i n g a d ri nk J o n es h an d ed h i m , h e d i d n o t rem em ber an y t hi n g u n t il h e wo k e u p in

25J o n es ’ b ed

. Th e n ex t m orn in g , h e d i d n o t h av e th e u su al feel i n g s o f a h an g o v er;

i n s t ead

, h e fel t “ co m

p l et el y d i s o ri en t ed ” l i k e h e had been h i t b y a t orn ad o

. J

. C

.

t es t i fi ed t h at aft er d ri n ki ng wi t h J o nes , he fel t “ fu zzy ” an d g o t “ a wei rd s en s at i o n [,] ”

b efo re “ ev ery t h i n g wen t b l ack .” Th u s , th e ev i d en ce was pro p erl y ad m i t t ed t o s h o w

o p p o rt u ni t y

. In an y ev en t

, J o n es d o e s n o t d i s p u t e t h at t he ev i den ce was o t h erwi s e

ad m i s s i b l e t o s h ow in t en t

, p lan

, o r p rep arat i o n

. Co m p are Br own v. S t a t e , 3 0 3 Ga. 1 5 8

(2 ) (8 1 0 SE2 d 1 4 5 ) ( 2 0 1 8 ) (erro r t o ad m i t o t h er act s ev i d en ce w h ere no n e o f t h e

p u rp os es fo r wh i ch i t was ad m i t t ed was an i s su e i n t h e cas e).

J o n es al so as sert s t h at t he ad m i s s i on o f s u ch ev i d en ce was unne c e ssary b ecau s e

each v i ct i m ’ s t es t i m on y s erv ed as ex t ri n s ic act ev i d en ce fo r t h e o th er v ict i m s , an d

t h u s h e ap p ears t o b e arg u in g t h at t h e ad m i ss i o n o f t h e ev i d en ce was u n d u l y

p reju d i ci al as p ro h i b i t ed u n der O CGA § 2 4 -4 -4 0 3 (“ Ru l e 4 0 3”). 1 0 Th e an al y s i s u n d er

t h i s s t at u t e “ m

u s t b e d on e o n a cas e-b y -cas e b as i s an d req u ire s a co m m o n s en s e

as s es s m en t o f al l t h e ci rcu m st an ces su rro u nd i n g t h e ex t ri n s i c act an d t h e ch arg ed

o ffen s e.” (Ci t at i o n an d pu n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed .) Ca s t i l l o -Vel a s qu ez v. S t a t e , 3 0 5 Ga.

1 0 “ Rel ev an t ev i den ce m ay b e ex cl u ded i f i t s pro b at i v e v al u e i s su b s t an t i al l y

o u t wei gh ed b y t h e dan g er o f u nfai r p reju d i ce, co nfu s i on o f t h e i s su es , o r m i s l ead i n g

t h e ju ry o r b y co n s i d erat i o n s of u n d u e d el ay , was t e of t i m e, or n eed l es s p res en t at i o n

o f cu m u l at i v e ev i den ce.” OCGA § 2 4 -4 -4 03

.

266 4 4

, 64 8 (2 ), 8 27 SE2 d 2 5 7 (2 0 1 9 ). “ Ru le 4 0 4 (b ) i s a ru l e o f i n cl us i o n an d Ru l e 4 0 3

i s an ex t rao rd i n ary ex cep t i o n t o t h at i n cl us i v it y [.] ” (Ci tat i o n an d pu n ct u at i o n

o m it t ed .) W

es t v. S t a te

, 3 0 5 Ga. 4 6 7

, 4 7 4 (2 ) (8 2 6 SE2 d 6 4 ) (2 0 1 9 ). Th erefo re, “ in

rev i ewi n g i s s u es u n d er Ru l e 4 03

, we l o o k at t h e ev i d en c e i n a l i g ht m os t fav o rab l e

t o i t s ad m i s s i o n, m ax i m i zi n g i t s p ro b at i v e val u e an d m i n i m i zi n g i ts u n d u e p reju d i ci al

i m p act .” (Ci tat i o n an d p u n ct uat i o n o m i t t ed .) S t r o t h er v. S ta t e , 3 0 5 Ga. 8 3 8, 8 4 7 (4 )

(d ) (8 2 8 SE2 d 3 2 7 ) (2 0 1 9 ). Th e p ro b at i ve val u e o f ev i d en ce ari s es (1 ) “ i n larg e p art

fro m t h e ex t en t t o wh i ch t he ev i d en ce t en d s t o m ak e t he ex i s t en ce o f a fact m o re o r

l es s p ro b ab l e[; ] ” (2 ) fro m “ t h e m arg i n al wo rt h o f t h e ev i d en ce

– h o w m u ch i t ad d s ,

i n o t h er wo rd s , t o t he o t her p ro o f av ai l ab l e t o es t ab li s h t h e f a c t fo r wh i ch it i s

o ffered [; ] ” an d (3 ) fro m “ t h e n eed fo r th e ev i d en ce.” Ol d s v. St a te

, 2 9 9 G a. 65

, 7 5 -7 6

(2 ) (7 86 SE2 d 6 33 ) (2 0 1 6 ).

Here, J o n es ’ defen s e was t o at t ack t h e cred ib i l i ty o f t h e fi v e n am ed v i ct i m s an d

t o as sert t h at h i s sex ual e n c o u n t ers wi t h t h em res u l ted aft er t h e v i ct i m s, w h o were

fri en ds an d acq u ai n t a n c e s , d ran k t o o m uch al co ho l

, ret urn ed t o hi s ap art m en t

, an d

en g ag ed i n co n s en su al

, d ru n k en s ex

. Th e St at e was e n t i t l ed t o p res en t ev i d en ce to

co u nt er th at d efen s e an d t o co rro b o rat e t h e v i ct i m s ’ t es t i m o n y

. M

. G. t es t ifi ed t h at h i s

fri en ds an d h e were l eav in g a b ar t o g o t o an ag reed -u p o n l o cat i o n t o m eet h i s m o t h er

27fo r a ri d e h o m e. H e was tex t i n g wi t h hi s m o t h er ab o u t t h es e p lan s w h en J o n es h an d ed

h i m a d ri n k fro m wh ich h e t o o k a co u pl e o f s i p s an d t h en rem em b ered n o t h i n g u n t i l

h e wo k e u p i n J o n es ’ b ed

. Aft er M

. G. awo k e, h e fo u n d h i s p h o n e an d d ro pp ed a p in

s o t hat h i s p aren t s , wh o h ad been s earch i n g fo r h i m al l n i g h t

, co u l d fi nd hi m

. J

. C.

t es t i fi ed t h at h e d ev el o p ed a wei r d s e n s a t i o n an d b l ack ed o u t aft er d ri n ki n g wi th

J o n es an d th at h e at t em

pt ed t o res i s t Jo n es s ex u al ad v an c e s w h en h e wo k e u p b ut

b l ack ed ou t ag ai n

.

Th i s ev i den ce i s p ro b at i v e o f J o n es ’ i nt en t t o pl y th e v i ct i m s wi t h al co h o l t h at

was l aced wi t h o t h er s u bs t an ces s o t h at h e co u l d t ak e ad v an tag e o f t h em wh en t h ey

were un ab l e t o res i s t an d o f t he v i ct i m s ’ l ack o f co n s en t. Un der th es e ci rcu m s t an ces ,

we can n o t s ay t h at t h e tri al co u rt cl earl y ab u sed i ts d i s cret i on i n det erm in in g t h at t h e

p ro b at i v e v al u e o f t h i s ev id en ce was n ot o u twei g h ed b y an y u n d u e p reju d i ce. 1 1

1 1 W e n o t e t h at M

. G. t es ti fi ed aft er f o u r o f t h e v i ct i m s pres en t ed t h ei r

t es t i m o ny an d J

. C. tes ti fi ed aft er al l fi v e o f t h e v i ct im s h ad tes t i fi ed

, t hu s d i s t i n gu i sh i n g t h i s cas e fro m Gi l s t r a p v. S t a t e , 26 1 Ga. 7 98

, 7 9 9 (2 ) (4 1 0 SE2 d 4 2 3 ) (1 9 9 1). In t h at cas e, t h e Su p rem e Co u rt fo un d t h at t h e t ri al co u rt erred i n al l owi n g t h e St at e t o p res en t ev i d en ce o f ni n e s i m i lar t ran s act i o ns befo re i nt ro d uci n g an y ev i d en ce ab o ut t h e ch arg es o n tri al

, wh i ch co u l d hav e p reju d i ced t h e ju ry t o fi n d t h e d efen d an t

g u i l t y b efo re an y

ev id en ce o f t h e i n d i ct ed o ffen s e was p res en t ed

.

286

. J o n es fu rt h er as s ert s th at h e recei v ed i neffect i v e a s s i s t an ce of co u n s el in

fai l i n g to cro s s -ex am in e O. Y. o n an i n co n s is t en t s t at em en t O. Y. m ad e ab ou t wh et h er

h e h ad p l an n ed t o sp en d th e n ig h t wi t h J o n es o n t h e n i g h t th e cri m es were co m m i t t ed

.

“ To es t ab l i sh h i s cl ai m o f i n effect i v e as si s t an ce o f co u n s el

, [J o n es ] m u s t s h o w

b o t h t h at h i s at to rn ey ’ s p erfo rm an ce was d efi ci en t an d t h at he was p reju di ced as a

res u l t o f h i s co u n sel ’ s p erfo rm an ce.” S a r a t -Va s q u ez v. S ta te

, 3 50 Ga. Ap p

. 3 2 2

, 3 2 6

(2 ) (8 2 9 SE2 d 3 9 4 ) (2 0 1 9). See al s o St r ickl a n d v. W a s h i n g to n , 46 6 U.S. 6 6 8, 6 8 7 (III)

(1 0 4 SCt 2 0 5 2

, 80 LE2 d 6 7 4 ) (1 9 8 4). In o rd er t o s h ow defi ci en t p erfo rm an ce, J o n es

m u st s h o w t h at h i s tri al co u n s el “ act ed o r fai l ed t o act i n an o b ject i v el y u n reas o n ab l e

way , co n s i d eri n g al l o f t h e ci rcu m s t an ces an d i n li g h t o f p rev ai l i n g p ro fes s i o n al

n o rm s

. ” (Ci t at i o n an d p u n ct u at io n o m i t ted .) Ha n ey v. S ta t e , 3 0 5 G a. 7 8 5, 7 9 0 (2 ) (8 2 7

SE2 d 8 43 ) (2 0 1 9 ). To es t ab l i sh p reju d i ce, J o nes m u s t “ s h o w t h at t h ere i s a reas o n ab l e

p ro b ab i l i t y t h at

, b ut fo r co u n s el ’ s u n p ro fes si o n al erro rs , t h e res u l t o f t h e pro ceed i n g

wo u l d h av e b een d i fferen t

. A reas o n ab l e p ro b ab il i t y is a pro b ab i l i ty s u ffi ci en t to

u n d erm i n e co n fi d en ce i n t h e o u t co m e

. ” St r i ckl a n d

, 4 6 6 U.S. at 6 94 (III) (B). “ Th i s

b u rd en i s a h eav y o n e.” Y o u n g v. S t a t e , 3 0 5 Ga. 9 2

, 9 7 ( 5 ) ( 8 23 SE2 d 7 7 4 ) (2 0 1 9 ).

“ A d efen d an t ’ s fai l u re t o s at i s fy ei t h er p ro n g o f t he S t ri ck l a n d t e s t i s s u ffi ci en t to

d efeat a cl ai m o f in effect i v e as s i s t an ce, an d i t i s n o t i n c u m b en t u p on t h i s Co u rt to

29ex am i n e t h e o t h er p ro n g .” (Ci t at i o n an d p u n ct u at io n o m i t ted .) S a r at -Va s q u ez , 3 5 0

Ga. Ap p . at 3 2 6 (2 ).

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

, t ri al co u n s el t es t i fi ed t h at h e h ad

b een a m em

ber o f t h e Geo rg i a b ar s i n ce J u l y 2 0 0 0

, an d h e h ad ex peri en ce as an

as s i s tan t d i s t ri ct at t o rn ey an d i n p ri v at e p ract i ce b efo re jo i n i ng t h e p u b li c defen d er’ s

o ffi ce i n J u n e 2 0 0 5

. In t h at t im e, h e h ad t ri ed o v er 6 0 fel on y cas es , ap p ro x i m at el y

o n e-t h i rd o f wh i ch were s ex cri m es

.

Pret erm it t i n g wh et h er t ri al co u n s el was d efi ci en t i n fai l i n g t o i m p each O. Y.’ s

t es t i m o ny as arg ued by Jo n es , we fi n d t hat J o n es fai l ed t o s ho w t hat h e was

p r e j u d i ced b y t h i s o m is s i o n

. Ev i d en ce o f t h e al l eg ed d i s crep an cy b et ween O. Y

. ’s

t es t i m o ny t h at he di d n ot h av e p l an s t o “ h an g o u t” wi t h J o nes an d h i s pri o r st at em en t s

was ad m it t ed t h ro u g h th e tes ti m o n y o f t h e p o l i ce s erg ean t wh o res p o n d ed t o O. Y.’ s

rep o rt o f t h e cri m e. Th e s erg ean t t es t i fi ed o n d irect t h a t O. Y

. t o l d h i m t h at h e h ad

m ad e arran g em en ts t o s t ay at Jo n es ’ h o u s e t h at n i g ht

. On cro s s -ex am i n a t i o n , t ri al

co u ns e l e l i c i t e d t es t i m on y t h at O. Y

. t o ld p o li ce he h ad p l an n ed t o go to J o n es ’

ap art m en t an d was p l an n in g t o s p en d t h e n i gh t t h ere. Becau s e an y s u ch ev i d en ce

el i ci t ed t o i m

p each O. Y. o n h is t es t i m o n y wo u l d h av e been m erel y cu m u l at i v e o f t h e

s erg ean t ’ s t es t i m o n y , we fi n d t h at J o n es h as fai l ed t o s h o w t h at h e was p reju d i ced by

30an y d efi ci en t p erfo rm an ce b y t ri al co u ns el

. See, e.g

. , Hen r y v. S t a t e ,

_

_ Ga.

_ _ (2 ) (b )

(8 3 5 SE2 d 6 0 2 ) (2 01 9 ) (i n l i g h t o f o t h er ev i d e n c e e l i ci t ed o n cro s s -ex am i n at i o n,

d efen d an t fai l ed t o d em o n s t r a t e a reas o n ab le p ro b ab i l i t y t h at im peach m en t wo u ld

h av e res u l t ed i n a di fferen t o u t co m e at t ri al ); Co ch r an v. S ta t e , 3 0 5 Ga. 8 2 7

, 8 3 1 (2 )

(a) (8 2 8 SE2 d 3 3 8 ) (2 0 1 9) (fi n d i n g t h at t ri al co u n s el ’ s fai l u re to p res en t cu m u l at i v e

ev i d en ce t h ro u g h ad d i t i o nal tes t i m o n y d i d no t am o u n t t o i n effect i ve as si s t an ce);

W es l ey v. S t a t e , 2 8 6 Ga. 3 5 5 , 3 5 8 (3 ) (h ) (6 8 9 SE2 d 2 8 0 ) (2 0 1 0 ) (s am e).

Acco rd i ng l y , we fi nd t h at J o n es f a i l e d t o es t ab l i s h h i s cl ai m o f i n effect i v e

as s i s tan ce o f t ri al co un s el

.

Ju d g men t a f f i r m ed

, s en t en ce va ca ted i n p a rt

, a n d ca s e rema n ded

. M

cFa d d en

,

C. J., a n d S en i o r Ap p el l a te Ju dg e Her b er t E. Ph i p p s co n cu r

.

31