SECOND DI VI SI ON

M I LLER, P. J.

, M ERCI ER and C OOM ER, 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.

https ://w w w

. ga a ppe a ls .us /r ule s

D E A D LIN E S A R E N O LO N G E R TO LLE D IN T

H I S

C O U R T. A LL FILIN G S M U ST B E S U B M I TTE D WITH IN

TH E TIM E S S E T B Y

O U R C O U R T R U LE S

.

October 7, 2020



# I n th e Co u r t o f

A p p eals o f

G eo r g ia

A2 0 A1 49 8 . M CCULLOUCH v . THE STATE.

M I LLE R , Pres i d i n g J u d g e.

Ken n y Ly nn M cCu l l o ch 1 s eek s rev iew aft er a j u ry fo u n d h i m g ui l t y o f t wen t y

co u nt s o f s eco nd -d eg ree b u rg l ary

. On ap peal

, h e arg u es th at (1 ) t h e t ri al co u rt erred

i n fai l i ng t o i n s t ru ct t h e co u rt rep o rt er t o t ran scri b e t h e en t ire v o i r d i re o f t h e ju ry ; (2 )

t h e t ri al co u rt erred i n d en y i n g hi s m o t i o n fo r a d i rect ed v erd i ct b ecau s e t h e ev i d en ce

was i n s u f f i c i en t t o s u s t ai n h i s co n vi ct i o n s ; (3 ) th e tri al co urt erro n eo u s ly ad m i t t ed

v i d eo ev id en ce; an d (4 ) t h e tri al co u rt pl ai n l y erred wh en i t fai l ed t o ren der a s p eci fi c

s en t en ce an d i n st ead d irect e d t h e S t at e t o prep are t h e d et ai l s o f t h e s en t en ce. Up o n

a cl o s e rev iew o f t h e reco rd , we rev ers e M cCu l l o ch ’ s co n v i ct i o n fo r Co u n t 6 o f t h e

1 Th e reco rd i s i n co n s i s t en t as t o w h et h er t h e d efen d an t ’ s l as t n am e i s s p el l ed

“ M cCu l l o u ch ” or “ M cCu l l o ch .” W e wi l l u s e “ M cCu l l o ch ” i n t h is o p i n io n si n ce t h at

i s h o w t he d efen d an t ’ s n am e i s s p el l ed i n h i s ap p el l at e b ri ef.i n d i ct m en t becau se t h e pro of at tri al d i d n o t m at ch t h e v i ct i m al l eg ed i n t h e

i n d i ct m en t

, b u t we d i s cern n o erro r o n an y o f t h e rem ai n in g is s u es an d o t h erwi s e

affi rm McCu l l o ch ’ s co n v i ct i o n s an d s en ten ces

.

Vi ewed i n t h e l i g ht m o s t fav o rab le to t h e ju ry ’ s v erd i ct s

, 2 t h e reco rd ad d u ced

at tri al s h o ws t h at J am es An d ers o n own ed M ack Sm i t h M in i St o rag e, a s el f-s t o rag e

faci li t y i n Ro s s v il l e

, G eo rg i a. On t h e m o rn i ng o f Decem ber 2 6

, 20 1 7

, J am es

An d ers on n o t i ced t h at a d o o r o n o n e o f t h e s to rag e u n it s w as o p en

. He al s o o b s erv ed

a m an w i t h a fem al e p as s en g er d ri v i n g a t ru ck wi th a “ d i n gy red co lo r” an d a d i fferen t

co l o r h o o d

. T h e t ru ck was l oad ed wi t h s o m an y i t em s t h at Jam es An d ers o n “ fi g u red

s o m eb o d y was m o v in g o u t .” W h i l e J am es An d ers o n co nt i n u ed hi s c h e c k o f t h e

p ro p ert y

, h e n o t i ced t h at m ore o f t h e s t orag e u n i t s h ad th ei r l o ck s rem o v ed

. J am es

An d ers o n c h eck ed i n s id e o n e o f t h e u n i t s wi t h a m i s s i n g l o ck an d no t i ced t h at t h e

i t em s were “

ju st s cram

b l ed aro un d i n s i d e.” He cal l ed h i s d au g h t er an d m an ag er o f t h e

b u s i n es s

, Kri st i e A n ders o n

. K r i s t ie An d ers o n an d an ot h er em p l o y ee cam e t o M ack

Sm it h M i n i St o rag e t o a s s e s s t h e d am ag e. Th e t h ree co n t act ed t h e co u n t y s h eri ff’ s

o ffi ce an d al l o f t h e ren t ers t h at h ad m i s s i n g o r b ro k en l o ck s o n t h ei r un i t d o o rs

. Th e

em pl o y ees n o t i ced t h at 2 0 s t o rag e u n i t s h ad t h ei r l o ck s b ro k en

.

2 Ja cks o n v. Vi r

gi n i a , 4 4 3 U. S. 3 07 (9 9 SCt 2 7 8 1 , 6 1 LE2 d 5 6 0 ) (1 9 7 9 ).

2Kri s ti e An d ers o n an d t he r e s p o n di n g o ffi cer rev i ewed t h e s ecu ri t y cam era

fo o t ag e fro m t h e m o r ni ng an d t h e n ig h t befo re. T h e fo o tag e s h o wed a red p i ck u p

t ru ck wi t h a b l ack h o od an d a b l ack t ai l g at e m ak i ng m u l t i p l e t ri p s t o th e s t o rag e

faci li t y o n t h e n ig ht o f Decem b er 2 5

, 2 0 1 7

, an d t h e m o rn in g o f Decem b er 2 6

, 2 0 1 7,

each t i m e ex i ti n g t he p rem i s es wi t h a tru ck b ed l o ad ed wi t h it em s

. 3 A c c o r d i n g to

Kri s t i e An d ers o n

, t h ere was n o s i n g l e s t o rag e u n it o n t h e p rem i s es cap ab le o f h o l d i n g

t h e am o u n t o f p ro p ert y seen t ak en fro m Mack Sm i th M i n i S t o r a g e

, a n d i t was n ot

n o rm al fo r s o m eo n e t o en t er an d ex i t t h e p ro p ert y n u m ero u s t i m es u nl es s t h ey were

m o vi n g i nt o o r o u t o f a u n i t

.

Law en fo rcem en t ’ s i n ves t i g at i o n o f t h e b u rg l ary led t hem t o t h e h o m e o f

M i ck ey Cro ft

. Cro ft co n si d ered M cCu l l o ch t o b e a g o od fri en d

, an d he h ad al l o wed

M cCu l lo ch an d h i s g i rl fri en d

, W h i t n ey Yarb er, t o s t ay i n h is b ack y ard s h ed

.

Acco rd in g t o Cro ft

, M cCu l l o ch o wn ed a red t ru ck an d h ad pai n t ed part s o f i t b l ack

.

On e d ay aft er Ch ri s t m as 20 1 7

, M cCu l l o ch cam e t o Cro ft ’ s h o us e wi t h a t rai l er fu l l

o f i t em s

. W h en Cro ft g av e law en fo rcem en t p erm i s s i on t o s earch t h e p ro p ert y

, t h ey

s aw m an y i tem s o f p ro p e r t y l a yi n g i n t h e y ard an d a t ru ck t hat m at ch ed t h e

d es cri p t io n of t h e v eh i cl e seen i n t h e s urv ei l l an ce fo o t ag e. Law e n f o r c em en t

3 Th e s u rv ei l lan ce fo ot ag e was p l ay ed fo r t h e ju ry

.

3reco v ered m os t o f th e s t o l en p ro p ert y fro m t h e h o us e, an d t h ey o bs erv ed a l an y ard

an d p h o n e recei p t wi t h Yarb er’ s n am e o n i t am o n g t h e s t o l en pro p ert y

. Nei t h er

Yarb er n o r M cCu l l och h ad s ig n e d a n ag reem en t wi t h M ack Sm it h M i n i St o rag e to

s t ore t hei r p ro p ert y

o n t he p rem i s es

.

A g ran d ju ry i n d ict ed M cCu l l o ch o n 2 0 co u n ts o f s eco n d -d eg ree b u rg l ary

(OCGA § 1 6 -7 -1 (c)). At t ri al

, t h e ju ry fo u n d M cCu l l o ch g u i l t y o f al l co un t s

. Th e t ri al

co u rt s en t en ced McCu ll o ch t o a to t al o f 2 0 y ears

, co n s i s t i n g o f ei gh t y ears ’

i m p ri s o n m en t an d 1 2 y ears ’ p ro b at i o n

, an d i t i m p o s ed a t o t al o f $ 2,3 4 0 in res t i t u t i o n

t o o n e o f t h e v ict i m s

. M cCo l l o ch fi l ed a m o t i on fo r n ew t ri al

. Fo l l o w i ng a h eari n g,

t h e t ri al co urt d en ied M cCu l lo u ch ’ s m o t i o n fo r n ew t ri al . Th i s ap p eal fo l l o wed

.

1

. M cCu ll o uch fi rs t arg u es t h a t t h e t ri al co u rt erred i n fai l i n g t o i n s t ru ct t h e

co u rt rep o rt er t o t ran scri b e t h e en ti re v o i r d ire as req u i red b y OCGA § 1 7 -8 -5 . Th i s

arg u m en t i s fo recl o s ed b y p reced en t.

OCGA § 1 7-8 -5 ( a ) pro vi d es t h at “ [o ] n t h e t ri al o f al l fel on i es t h e p res i d i n g

ju d g e s h al l h av e t h e t es t i m o n y tak en d o wn an d

, wh en d i rect ed b y t h e ju d g e, th e co u rt

rep o rt er s h al l ex act ly an d tru l y reco rd o r t ak e s t en o g rap h i c n o t es of t h e t es ti m o n y an d

p ro ceed in g s in t h e cas e, ex cep t t h e arg u m en t of co u n sel .” Ou r Su prem e Co u rt h as

i n t erp ret ed t h i s p ro v i s i o n t o m ean t hat

, al t h o u g h o b ject i on s an d ru l i ng s t h ereo n m ad e

4d u ri n g ju ry sel ect io n are req u i red t o b e rep o rt ed an d m ad e p art o f t h e t ri al reco rd

,

t h ere i s n o req u i rem en t t h at t h e en t i re ju ry sel ect i o n b e rep ort ed an d m ad e p art o f t h e

reco rd i n a n o n d eat h p en al t y fel o n y cas e becau s e t h e ju ry vo i r d i re i s no t p art o f t h e

“ p ro ceed i n g s i n t h e cas e.” S t a te v. Gr a h a m

, 2 4 6 Ga. 3 4 1

, 3 4 2 (2 7 1 SE2 d 6 27 ) (1 9 8 0 ).

Here, t h e t ri al co u rt i n cl u d ed t h e o b ject i o n s m ad e d u ri ng v o i r d i re i n t h e t ri al

t ran s cri p t

, an d i t ap p ears t hat McCu l l o ch d i d n o t m ak e an y s peci al req u es t t o h av e t h e

en t i re v o ir d ire t ran s cri b ed u n d er OCGA § 5 -6 -4 1 (j). U n d er ou r preced en t

, t h ere was

n o req ui rem en t t h at t h e t ri al co u rt t ran scri b e t he rem ai n d er o f v o i r di re. See G r a h a m

,

s u p ra, 2 4 6 Ga. at 3 4 2 ; B r in kl ey v. S t a t e , 3 20 Ga. Ap p

. 2 75

, 2 8 0 (4 ) (7 3 9 SE2 d 7 0 3 )

(2 0 1 3) (reject i n g cl ai m

t h at d efen d an t ’ s co n s t i t u t i o nal ri g h t s were v i o l at ed b ecau s e

t h e en t i re ju ry sel ect i o n p ro ces s was n o t rep ort ed an d t ran s cri b ed as p art o f t h e t ri al

reco rd ). M cCu ll o ch ’ s cl ai m t hat h e co u ld n ot p ro p erl y p rep are fo r t h e ap p eal wi t h o ut

t h e v o i r d i re t ran s cri p t i s al s o wi t h o u t m eri t. See B r i nkl ey

, s u pra, 3 2 0 G a. Ap p

. at 2 8 0

(4 ) (“ M erel y as s ert in g a gen eral u n s p eci fi ed h o p e of rev ers i b l e erro r d uri n g v o i r d i re

i s i n su ffi ci en t to warran t a n ew t ri al o n t h e g ro u n d t h at a t ran s cri p t o f t he pro ceed i n g

s h o u ld h av e b een m ad e s o as t o acco m m o d at e a s earch fo r erro r n o w b u ri ed in

u n r e c o r d ed h i s t ory .”) (ci t at i o n s o m i t t ed ); Pr i ma s v. S t at e

, 2 3 1 G a. A p p

. 8 6 1 (5 0 1

SE2 d 2 8 ) (1 9 98 ) (“ [Th e d efen d a n t ’s ] cl ai m th at h e i s un ab l e to p rep are an ap p eal

5wi t h o u t a co m p l et e t ran s cri p t t h at i n cl u d es t h e v oi r d i re al s o fai l s u nd er Gr ah a m .”). 4

Acco rd in g ly , we reject t h i s en um erat i o n o f erro r.

2

. In th ree rel at ed en u m erat i on s o f erro r

, M c C u l l o ch nex t arg ues t h at t h e

ev i d en ce was i ns u ffi ci en t t o s u p p o rt al l o f h i s co n v i ct io n s an d t h at th e t ri al co u rt erred

i n d e n yi n g h i s m o t i o n fo r a d i rect ed v erd i ct on 1 3 o f t he co un t s b as ed o n ev i d en ce

i n s u ffi ci en cy

. He arg u es t h at

, fo r 1 3 co un t s

, t h e St at e fai l ed t o p ro v e t ha t h e h ad

i l leg al l y en t ered t h e st o rag e u n i t s o r h ad th e i n t en t t o t ak e it em s wi th o u t p erm i s s i o n

b ecau s e t h e v i ct i m s u n d erl y i n g t h es e co u n t s d i d n o t t es t i fy at tri al an d b ecau s e t h ere

was n o ev i d en ce ot h erwi s e s h o wi n g t h at h e d i d n o t h av e p erm i s s io n t o en t er t h o s e

u n i t s

. He fu rt h er arg u es t h at t h e St at e fai l ed t o p ro v i d e su ffi ci en t ev i d en ce t o i d en t i fy

h i m as t h e d ri v er o f t h e tru ck t h at was s h o wn o n t h e v i d eo fo ot ag e an d th at t h e St at e

fai l ed t o ex cl u de th e reas o nab l e h y p o t h es i s th at Cro ft ’ s n ep h ew, Cal v i n Pi t t m an

, was

t h e act u al p erp et rat o r. Fo r t he fo l l o wi n g reas o n s

, we ag ree wi t h M cCu l l och t h at t h e

4 As Gr a h a m i s d i rect an d b i n d i n g p reced en t fro m t h e Su p rem e Co u rt o f

Geo rg i a o n t h i s i s s u e, we can n o t en te r t a i n M c C ul l o ch ’ s arg u m en t th at i t s ho u l d b e

o v erru l ed

. See Et

ki n d v. S u a rez

, 2 3 4 Ga. Ap p . 1 0 8 (5 0 5 SE2 d 8 3 1) (1 9 9 8 ) (“ [T] h i s

co u rt h as n o au t h ori ty t o o v erru l e o r m o d i fy a d eci si o n o f t h e S u p r e m e Co u rt o f

Geo rg i a as t h e d eci s i o n s o f t h e Su prem e Co u rt of Geo rg i a s h al l b i n d al l o th er co u rt s

as p reced en t s.”) (ci tat i o n s an d p u n ct u at i o n o m it t ed ).

6ev i d en ce was i n su ffi ci en t to s u p p o rt Co un t 6 o f t he i n d ict m en t, b u t we co n cl u d e t h at

t h e ev i d en ce was s uffi ci en t t o s u p p o rt al l o f t he 1 9 rem ai ni n g co u nt s o f co n v i ct i o n

.

[T] h e s t an d ard o f rev iew fo r t h e d en ial of a m o t io n fo r a d i rect ed v erd i ct

o f a c q u i t t al i s t h e s am e as fo r d et erm i ni n g t h e s uffi ci en cy o f t h e

ev i d en ce t o s up p o rt a co n v i ct i o n

. W h en rev iewi n g t h e s u ffi ci en cy o f th e

ev i d en ce, t h e p r o p e r s t an d ard fo r rev iew i s wh et h er a rat io n al t ri er o f

fact co ul d h av e fo u nd t h e d efen d an t g u i l t y b ey o n d a reas o n ab le do u bt

.

Th i s Co urt d oes n ot rewei g h ev i d en ce or res o l v e co n fl ict s i n t es t i m o n y ;

i n s t ead

, ev id en ce i s rev i ewed in a l i g h t m o s t f av o rab le t o t h e v erd i ct

,

wi t h d eferen ce t o t h e ju ry ’ s as s es s m en t o f th e wei g ht an d cred i bi l i t y o f

t h e ev id en ce.

(Ci t at i o n o m i t ted .) S

mi t h v. S t a t e

, 3 5 0 Ga. A p p

. 4 9 6

, 4 9 7 (8 29 SE2 d 7 7 6 ) (2 0 1 9 ). In

ad d it i o n

,

[a] co n v i ct i o n m ay be b as ed u p o n ci rcu m s tan t ial ev i d en ce i f t h e p ro v ed

fact s are n o t o n ly co n si s t en t wi t h t h e h y p o t h es is o f g u i l t

, b ut e x cl u de

ev ery o t h er reas o nab l e h y

p o t h es i s b u t t h e g u i l t o f t h e accu s ed

. OCGA

§ 2 4 -4 -6

. W h en t h e ev i d en ce m eet s t h i s t es t

, ci rcu m s t an t i al ev id en ce i s

as p ro b at i v e as di rect ev i d en ce, an d wh et h er t h i s bu rd en h as b een m et

i s a q u es ti o n fo r t h e ju ry

. W h en t h e ju ry i s au t h o ri zed t o f i n d t h at th e

ev i d en ce, t h o u g h ci rcu m s t an t i al

, ex cl u d ed ev ery reas o n ab l e h y po t h es i s

ex cep t t he d efen d an t ’ s g u i l t

, t h e v erd i ct wi l l no t b e d i s t u rb ed u n les s th e

v erd ict i s in s up p o rt ab l e as a m at t er o f l aw. Fu rt h er, w h i l e ci rcu m s tan t i al

ev i d en ce m

us t ex cl ud e ev e r y o th er r ea s o n a b l e h y p o t h es i s b ut th e

7d efen d an t ’ s g ui lt

, th e ev i d en ce n e e d n o t ex cl u d e ev ery i nferen ce o r

h y p o t h es i s

.

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

. ) Jo h ns o n v. St a t e

, 2 91 Ga. Ap p

. 2 5 3

, 2 5 4 (6 61 SE2 d 64 2 ) (2 0 0 8 ).

“ A p ers o n co m

m i t s t h e o ffen s e o f b u rg lary in t h e seco n d d eg ree wh en

, wi t h o ut

au t h o ri t y an d wi t h t h e i n t en t t o co m m i t a fel o n y o r t h eft t h erei n , h e o r s h e en t ers o r

rem ai n s wi th in an o ccu p i ed

, u n o ccu p i ed

, or v acan t b u i l d i ng [o r] st ru ct u re[.] ” OCGA

§ 1 6-7 -1 (c).

Fi rs t

, as to M cCu l l o ch ’ s arg u m en t t h at t he St at e d i d n o t p res en t s u f fi ci en t

ev i d en ce t o i d en t ify

h i m as o n e o f t h e p erp et rat o rs

, we n o t e t hat t h e St at e p res en t ed

ev i d en c e t h at M cCu l l o ch o wn ed a d i s t in ct iv e red t ru ck wi t h a b l ack h o od

, wh i ch

An d ers on i d en t ifi ed as t h e t ru ck h e s aw vi s i t i n g M ack Sm i t h M i n i St o rag e. Th e St at e

al s o p res en t ed ev i d en ce t h at M cCu l l o ch s t ay ed i n a s hed o n Cro ft ’ s p ro p ert y an d t h at

t h e p o l i ce d i s co v ered t h e s t o l en p ro p ert y i n an d aro u n d th e s h ed

. So m e o f t h e v i ct i m s

al s o di s co v ered recei p ts an d i d en ti fi cat i o n b el on g i n g t o M cCu l l o ch o r h i s gi rl fri en d

Yarb er wi t h i n t h ei r reco v ered p ro p ert y

. A l aw en fo rcem en t o f f i c e r t es t i fi ed t h at

, in

h i s o p i n i o n

, t h e t ru ck d ri v er visible on the sur ve illan ce fo o tag e res em

b l ed M cCu l l o ch

.

Fi n al l y

, th e s u rv ei l l an ce fo o tag e was p l ay ed fo r t h e ju ry

, an d so t he ju ry h a d t h e

o p p o rt u ni t y t o v i ew fo r t h em sel v es wh et h er M cCu l l o ch m at ch ed wi t h t h e i m ag es o f

8t h e perp et r at o r d ep i ct ed in t h e v i d eo

. Th e ju ry w as au th o ri zed t o fi n d fro m t h i s

ci rcu m s t an t i al ev id en c e t h at ev ery reas o n ab l e h y p o th es i s w as ex cl u d ed ex cep t t h at

M cCu l lo ch was t h e m al e perp et rat o r. See S mi th v. S t a t e

, 3 09 Ga. Ap p

. 4 6 6

, 4 6 8 -4 6 9

(7 1 0 S E 2 d 6 5 4 ) (2 01 1 ) (ci rcu m s t an ti al ev i d en ce was s u ffi ci en t t o s u p p o rt b u rg l ary

co n vi ct i o n wh ere, i n p art

, defen d an t h ad d ri ven a v an to s t o re an d p ack s o f ci g aret t es

were fo u n d i n

, aro u n d

, an d u nd er van s h o rt l y aft er t h e s t o re was bu rg l ari zed an d

ci g aret tes were s t o l en ).

W e al s o co ncl u d e t h at th e St at e p res en t ed s uffi ci e n t e v i d en ce to s h o w t h at

M cCu l lo ch lack ed au t h o ri t y t o en t er t h e b u rg lari zed s t o rag e u ni t s an d th at h e h ad

en t ered wi t h t h e i n ten t t o co m m i t t h eft

. “ T h e St at e m ay p r o v e l a ck o f au t ho ri t y to

e nte r w ith c ir c um sta

nt i al ev i d en ce.” (Ci t at i o n s o m i t ted .) Ha r r is v. S t at e

, 3 22 Ga. Ap p

.

1 2 2

, 1 2 4 ( 1 ) ( 7 4 4 SE2 d 2 1 1) (2 0 1 3 ). Th e St at e p res en t ed ev i d en ce t h at each o f t h e

2 0 b urg lari zed un i t s h ad t h ei r l o ck s cu t

, b ro k en

, an d / o r rem ov ed an d t h at n ei t h er

Yarb e r n o r M cCu l l o ch h ad s i gn ed an ag reem en t wi t h M ack Sm it h M i n i St o rag e to

s t ore t h ei r p ro p ert y o n t h e p rem is es

. Th es e fact s w ere s u ffi ci en t t o s ho w t h at

M cCu l lo ch l ack ed t h e au t ho ri t y t o en t er t h es e s t o rag e u n i t s

. See id

. (ev i d en ce t h at t h e

d e fen dan t en t ered a s ch oo l b y s m as h i n g a wi n d o w, t h at d efen d an t was n o t an

em pl o y ee o r p aren t o f a s t u d e n t a t t h e sch o o l

, an d t h at t h e d efen d an t fl ed was

9s u ffi ci en t t o s h o w d efen d an t ’ s l ack o f au t h o ri ty t o en t er t h e s ch o o l); Ll o

yd v. S t a t e

,

1 6 8 Ga. Ap p

. 5 (3 08 SE2 d 2 5 ) (1 9 8 3) (ev i d en ce t hat a d o or h ad been p ri ed o p en was

s u ffi ci en t t o s h o w d efen dan t ’ s l ack o f au t h o ri t y t o en ter a b u i l d i n g ). Ad di t i o n al l y

, “ an

i n feren ce o f i n t en t t o s t eal i s rai s ed wh ere ev i den ce s h ows an u n lawfu l en t ry i n t o a

b u i l d i n g w h ere v al u ab l e g o od s are s t o red i n si d e an d n o o t her m o t i v e is ap p aren t ,” an d

a ju ry i s au t h ori zed t o “ i nfer an i n t en t t o s teal b as ed o n t h e ev id en ce o f an u n l awfu l

en t ry i n t o a b u i l d in g h o us i ng an o p erat in g b u s i n es s .” (C i t a t i o n s o m it t ed .) Ha r r i s

,

s u p ra, 3 22 at 1 2 4-1 25 (2 ). Su ch i s t he cas e h ere. 5

W e ag ree w i t h M cCu l l o ch

, h o wev er, t h at t h e St at e fai l ed t o i n t ro du ce ev i d en ce

s u ffi ci en t t o s u s t ai n hi s co n v i ct i o n o n Co u n t 6

— as t h at ch arg e was al l eg ed i n t h e

i n d i ct m en t

. Th e i n d i ct m en t al l eg ed i n Co u nt 6 t h at M cCu l l o ch b ro k e in t o a s t o rag e

u n i t l eas ed t o St ev en W es l ey Sch i l d

. Th e St at e i n s t ead p res en t ed t es t i m o n y an d a

l eas e ag reem en t s h o wi n g t h at t h e u n i t in q u es ti o n b el o n g ed t o Bet h an y Sch i l d . Th e

St at e d i d n o t p r es en t an y ev i d en ce at t ri al s h owi n g t h at St ev en Sch i l d was i n s o m e

w ay rel at ed t o Bet h an y Sch i l d o r t h at St ev en Sch i l d was ev er i n v ol v ed wi t h M a c k

5 M cCu l lo ch al s o ch al len g es h i s co n v ict i o n o n Co u nt 5 o n t h e gro u n d s t h at t h e

v i ct i m

, Bren d a Ru s h

, t es t i fi ed t h at s h e co u l d n o t say fo r cert ai n wh et h er an y t h i n g h ad

b een s t ol en

, b u t “ [b ] u rg lary d o es n ot req u i re a co m p l et ed t heft

, b u t m erel y t h e i n t en t

t o co m m i t a th eft .” (Ci t at i o n o m i t t ed

. ) S er m o n s v. S ta t e

, 2 9 4 Ga. Ap p

. 2 9 3

, 2 9 4 (6 6 9

SE2 d 2 1 0) (2 0 0 8).

10Sm it h M i n i St o r a g e o r l eas ed a u n i t t h at was u n l awfu l l y en t ered

. W i t h o u t an y

ev i d en ce p res en t ed as t o St ev en Sch i ld ’ s po s s i b l e rel at i o n s h i p t o t h e i n ci d en t

, t h e

S t a t e can n o t rel y on t h e ev i d en ce as t o t h e b u rg l ary o f Bet h an y Sch i l d ’ s u n i t t o

s u p p ort t hi s co n v i ct i on becau s e “ [i ] f t h e v i ct i m n am ed i n t h e i n di ct m en t an d p ro v en

at t ri al are two d i fferen t p eo p l e, t h en a fat al v ari an ce h as o ccu rred [.] ” Cl a rk v. S t a t e

,

2 7 8 Ga. Ap p

. 4 1 2

, 4 1 4 (1 ) (6 2 9 SE2 d 1 03 ) (2 0 06 ) (p hy s i cal p reced en t o n l y ); s ee al s o

Ha r ri s o n v. St at e

, 1 92 G a. Ap p

. 6 9 0 (3 8 5 SE2 d 77 4 ) (1 9 89 ) (co n v i ct i o n fo r ro b b ery

re v e r s ed wh ere t he ev id en ce at t ri al sh o wed t h at t h e v i ct i m was a d i fferen t p ers o n

t h an t h e v i ct i m al l eg ed i n t h e i n d i ct m en t). Acco rd in g ly

, w e co n cl ud e t h at t h e St at e

fai l ed t o carry i t s b u rd en t o s u pp o rt Co u n t 6

.

W e t h erefo re rev ers e M cCu ll o ch ’ s co n v ic tion on C oun t 6 o f t h e i n d i ct m en t

, b ut

we co n cl u d e t h at t h e ev i d en ce was s u ffi ci en t t o s u p p o rt each o f t h e 1 9 r em ai n i n g

co u nt s o f co n v i ct i o n

, an d s o t h e t ri al co u rt d i d n o t err i n d en y i n g M cCu l l o ch ’ s m o t i o n

fo r a d i rect ed v erd i ct an d m o ti o n fo r n ew t ri al o n t h es e co u n t s

.

3

. M cCu l l o ch n ex t arg u es t h at t h e t ri al co u rt erro neo u s l y ad m it t ed th e s t o rag e

faci li t y ’ s s u rv ei ll an ce ca m era fo o t ag e as ev i d en ce b ecau s e i t was n o t p ro p erl y

au t h en t i cat ed u n der OCGA § 2 4 -9 -9 2 3 (c). He s peci fi cal l y arg ues t h at th e co p y o f t h e

v i d eo fo o t ag e sh o wn t o th e j u ry d i d n o t h av e an y t i m e an d d at e st am p s as req u i red by

11t h e s t at u te. W e co n cl u d e t h at t h e t ri al co u rt d i d n o t ab u s e i t s di scret io n i n ad m i t t i n g

t h e v i d eo fo o t ag e.

“ W e rev i ew t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s d eci s i o n t o ad m it ev i den ce fo r an ab u s e o f

d i s cret i o n .” (Ci t at i o n om i tt ed .) Mo o re v. S t a t e

, 3 0 5 Ga. 2 5 1

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

3 7 7 ) (2 0 1 9 ).

S ubj e c t t o an y ot h er v al i d o b ject io n

, p h o to g rap h s

, m o ti o n pic tur e s, vide o

reco rd i n g s, an d au di o reco rd i n g s p ro d u ced a t a t i m e wh en th e d ev i ce

p ro d u ci n g t h e it em s w as n o t b ei n g o p erat ed b y an i n d iv i d ual p ers o n o r

was n o t u n d er t h e p ers o nal co n t ro l o r in t h e pres en ce o f an i n di vi d ual

o p erat o r sh al l b e ad m i s s i b l e i n ev i d en c e wh en t h e co u rt d et erm in es

,

b as ed o n co m

p et en t ev id en ce p res en t ed t o t h e co u rt

, t h at s u ch i t em s t en d

t o s ho w rel i ab l y t h e fact o r fact s fo r w h i ch t h e i t em s are o f f e r e d

,

p ro v i d ed t h at

, p ri o r t o t h e ad m i s s i o n of s u ch ev i d en ce, t h e d at e an d t i m e

o f s uch ph o t o g rap h

, m o t i o n p i ct u re, o r v i d e o reco rd i n g s h al l be

co n t ai n ed o n s u ch ev i d en ce, an d s uch dat e an d t i m e s ha l l b e s h o wn t o

h av e b een m ad e co nt em

p o ran eo u s l y wi t h th e ev en ts d ep i ct ed i n s u ch

p h o t o g rap h , m o t i on p ict ure, o r v i d eo reco rd i ng

.

OCGA § 2 4 -9 -9 2 3 (c). “ [W ] h ere a v id eo o r p h o t og rap h l ack s accu rat e d at e an d t i m e

s t am p s

, i t s ad m is s i o n m ay n o n et h el es s b e p ro p er u p o n ad di t i o n al co rro b o rat i o n.”

(Ci t at i o n o m i t t ed .) D i ll o n v. Rei d

, 3 1 2 Ga. Ap p

. 3 4

, 4 2 (6 ) (7 1 7 SE2 d 5 4 2) (2 0 1 1 )

(i nt erp ret i n g an i d en t i cal p recu rs o r s t at ut e).

12Here, Kri s t i e An d ers o n t es t i fi ed t h at s he ru ns M ack Sm i t h M i n i St o rag e’ s

o ffi ce an d t h at t h e cam era s y s tem i n s t al l ed at M ack Sm i th M i n i St o r a g e o p e r at es

co n ti n u o us l y an d was i n g o o d wo rk i n g o rd er o n Decem b er 2 5 a n d 2 6

, 2 01 7

. Sh e

t es t i fi ed t h at l aw en fo rcem en t h el p ed h er t ran sfer t h e v i d e o s f ro m h er p ro p ri et ary

s y s t em o n t o a fl as h dri ve. A l aw en fo rcem en t o ffi cer o bs erv ed th e v i deo s pl ay o n t h e

m ach i n e l o cat ed i n M s

. An d ers o n ’ s o ffi ce an d no t ed t h at t h e vi d eo s s h owed a p ro p er

t i m e an d d at e wh en v i ewed o n t h e p ro pri et ary s y s t em

. T h e o ffi cer t es ti fi ed t h at t h e

v i d eo fo o t ag e s h o wn t o th e ju ry was i d en ti cal t o t he fo o t ag e t h at h e o b s erv ed i n t h e

M ack Sm i th M in i St o rag e o ffi ce. Kri s t i e An d ers o n al s o t es t i f i e d t hat t he v i d eo

ex h ib i t s s h o wn t o t h e ju ry were fai r, u n al t ered v i deo s t h at accu rat el y d i s p l ay ed wh at

s h e o b s e r v e d p l ay o n t h e vi d eo s y s t em l o cat ed i n h er b u s i n es s o ffi ce. Th e St at e

fu rt her rep res en t ed at t ri al t h at t h e defen s e h ad a fu ll o pp o rt un i t y b efo re t ri al t o v i ew

t h e v i d eo s wi t h t he co rrect t i m e a n d d a t e s t a m p s as s h o wn o n M ack Sm i t h M i ni

St o rag e’ s p ro p ri et ary s y s t em

. Gi v en t h i s fo u n d at io n

, we co n cl u d e t hat t h e t ri al co u rt

d i d n o t ab u s e i t s di scret i o n i n al l o wi n g t h e v i d eo ex h i b it s i n t o ev i d e n c e

. See Pa r ks

v. S t a t e

, 2 9 4 Ga. Ap p

. 64 6

, 6 5 2 (1 0 ) (6 6 9 SE2 d 6 8 4) (2 0 0 8 ) (t ri al co u rt d id n o t ab u s e

i t s d i s cret i o n wh en ad m it t i n g s t il l p ho t o grap h s u n d er OCGA § 2 4 -9 -9 2 3 ( c ) ’ s

i d en t i cal p recu rs o r s t at u te, d e s p i t e t h e fact t h at t h e t i m e an d d at e st am p was

13i n accu rat e, wh en a wi t n es s t es t i fi ed t h at th e p ict u res were t ak en fro m th e v id eo t ap es

reco rd ed b y t h e s u rv ei l l an ce cam eras

, an d t h e w i tn es s t es t i fi ed ab ou t h o w t h e cam eras

w e r e s et u p

, t h e reco rd in g p ro ced u re, h o w o ft en t h e t ap es were ch an ged

, t h at t h e

cam eras were w o rk i n g p ro p erl y

, t h e p ro ced u re fo r p ri nt i n g th e s t i l l p i ct ures fro m t h e

v i d eo t ap e, an d t h e a ccu racy o f t h e d at e s t am p o n t h e t ap es ); s ee al s o D il lo n

, s u p ra,

3 1 2 Ga. Ap p

. at 4 3 ( 6 ) (“ Th e ab s en ce o f a co n t em po ran eo u s d at e an d t i m e o n t h e

p h o t o g rap h s th em s el v es wo u l d g o t o t h e wei g h t

, n o t t h e ad m i ss i b i l i t y

, o f t h e

ev i d en ce.”) (ci t at io n an d p u n ct u at i o n o m i tt ed ).

4

. M cCu l l o c h f

i n al l y arg u es t h at t h e t ri al co u rt erred wh en i t fai led t o g i v e a

d et erm i n at e s en t en ce o n each co u n t at t ri al an d i n s t ead d i rect ed t h e St at e to p rep are

t h e d et ai l s o f t h e s en t en ce. W e d i s ag ree.

Fi rs t

, w e n ot e t hat

, al t h o u g h M cCu ll o ch d i d no t o b j ect t o h i s s en t en ce i n t h e

t ri al co u rt o n t h es e g ro u n d s

, t h e i s su e i s n ev ert h el es s p res erv ed fo r o u r rev i ew

b ecau s e “ Geo rg ia l aw reco g n i zes th at a s en t en ce wh i ch i s n ot al l o wed by l aw i s v o id

an d i t s il l eg al i t y m ay n o t be wai v ed

. ” (Ci t at i o n an d p un ct u at io n o m it t ed .) Ph i l mo r e

v. S t a t e , 3 0 0 Ga. 5 5 8 (7 9 6 SE2 d 6 5 2 ) (2 01 7 ).

Un d er OCGA § 1 7-1 0 -1 (a) (1 ) (A),

14Ex cep t i n cas es i n wh i ch l i fe i m p ri s o n m en t

, l i fe wi t h o u t p aro l e, o r th e

d eat h p en al t y m ay b e i m

p o s ed

, u p o n a v erd ict or p l ea o f gu i l t y i n an y

cas e i n v o l v in g a m i s d em ean o r o r fe lony

, an d aft er a p res en t en ce h eari n g

,

t h e ju d g e fi x i n g t h e s en t en ce s h al l pres cri be a det erm in at e s en ten ce fo r

a s p eci fi c n u m

b er o f m o n t h s o r y ears w h i ch s h al l b e w i t hi n t h e m i n im um

an d m a x i m

u m sen t en ces p res cri b ed b y law as t he p u n i s hm en t fo r th e

cri m e.

“ Th e ru l e h as b een l ai d d own by t h e Su prem e Co u rt

, an d ap p l i ed b y t h i s co u rt , t h at

s en t en ces fo r cri m i n al o ffen s es s h o u l d b e cert ai n

, d efi n i t e, an d free fro m am b i g ui t y ;

an d

, wh ere t h e co n t rary i s t h e cas e, t he b en efi t o f t h e d o u b t s h o u l d b e g i v en t o t h e

accu s ed

. ” (Ci t at io n an d p u n ct u at i o n o m it ted .) Di l a s v. S t a t e

, 1 5 9 Ga. Ap p

. 39

, 4 0 (1 )

(2 8 2 SE2 d 6 9 0 ) (1 9 8 1 ).

In t h i s cas e, t h e t ri al co urt an n o u n ced t h e fo l l o wi n g at s en t en ci n g :

THE COURT: Al l ri g h t

. M r. M cCu l lo ch

, i n es s en ce y o u ’ v e b een

co n v i ct e d o f t wen t y co u n t s o f s eco n d d eg ree b urg l ary

. I’ m g o i n g t o

s en t en ce y o u t o s erv e a p eri o d o f t wen t y ye a r s

, h o w ev er aft er ei g h t

s erv ice i n t h e Dep art m en t o f Co rrect io n s I w i l l al lo w y o u t o s erv e th e

rem ai nd er on p ro b at i o n.

. . . An d, [p ro secu t i o n ], I wan t y o u t o d raw

t h es e s en t en ces fo r m e. I’ m n o t g o i ng t o g o t h ro u g h co u n t s

.

THE STATE: Yes , m a’ am . So t h at t h e ag g reg at e co m es o u t t o co m p l y

wi t h t he Co u rt ’ s s en t en ce.

15THE COURT: Ag g reg at e, b u t I w an t t h e – I wan t y o u to l ay o u t t hes e

s en t en ces s p eci fi cal l y o n t h o s e co u n t s wh ere t h e vi ct i m s cam e t o co u rt

i n cas e t h e o th er co u n t s are p ro b l em at i cal

.

THE STATE: An d t h en ru n t h e o t h er o n es co n cu rren t ?

THE COURT: Yes

. In cas e t he o t h er co u n t s are p ro b l em at i cal

.

THE STATE: Yes , m a’ am

.

It i s t ru e t hat we req ui re t ri al co u rt s t o en t er d i s cret e s en t en ces as t o each co u nt

o f a m u l t i -co u n t in d i ct m en t. See Eva n s v. S ta t e

, 3 0 0 Ga. 2 7 1, 2 7 6 ( 7 9 4 S E 2 d 4 0 )

(2 0 1 6) (“ [A] s t o sen t en ci n g

, each co u n t s t an d s al o n e[.] ”). In d eed

, “ [w] h en a t r ia l co u rt

fai l s t o i m

p o s e s ep arat e s en t en ces fo r each co un t o f wh i ch a d efen d an t was fo u n d

g u i l t y

, i t h as n ot en tered a p ro p er ju d g m en t .” S ta t e v. Ri g g s

, 3 0 1 Ga. 6 3

, 65 (1 ) (7 9 9

SE2 d 7 70 ) (2 0 1 7 ); s ee al s o Kel l er v. S ta t e

, 2 7 5 Ga. 68 0

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

(“ [W ] h en m

u l ti p l e co u nt s o f an i n d i ct m en t are tri ed t o get h er an d th e t ri al co u rt d o es

n o t en t er a wri t t en sen ten ce o n o n e o r m o re o f t h e co un t s

, t h e cas e i s s t i l l p en d i n g in

t h e t ri al co urt an d i s n o t a fi n al ju d g m en t u n d er OCGA § 5 -6 -3 4 (a) (1 ).”).

16O u r l aw i s eq ual l y cl ear, h o wev er, t hat “ [t ] h e w ri t t en s en ten ce, no t t h e o r a l

d ecl arat io n o f t h e s en t en ce, i s th e s en t en ce o f t h e co u rt .” (Ci t at i o n o m i t t ed ). Jen ki n s

v. S t a te

, 2 4 6 Ga. A p p. 38 (4 ) (5 3 9 SE2 d 5 4 2 ) (2 0 0 0 ). T h e t r i a l co u rt i n th i s cas e

en t ered a wri tt en s en ten ce an d ju d g m en t t h e s am e d ay as t h e en d o f t h e t ri al wh en i t

an n ou n ced i t s o ral s en t en ce, an d t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s w ri t t en s en t en ce co n t ai n ed a d efi n i t e

an d d et erm i n at e s en t en ce as t o each co u n t

. “ As no ev i den ce s h ows t h at [M cCu l l o ch ]

s t art ed s erv i n g t h e s en t en ce b efo re t h e wri t t en s en t en ce w as en t ered

, t h ere i s n o

erro r.” Id

.

Fi n al l y

, we reject M cCu ll o ch ’ s arg u m en t t h at t h e fact t h at t h e t r i al co u rt h ad

t h e St at e d raft t h e s en t en ci n g s h eet s o m eh o w ren d ered th e s en t en ce im p ro p er. Up o n

a rev i ew o f t he t ri al co u rt ’ s o ral p ro n o u n cem en t

, w e d et erm i n e t h at th e t ri al co u rt d id

n o t g i v e an y d i s cret i o n t o th e S t a t e t o m a k e an y m at eri al d et erm i n at i o ns as t o t h e

l en g t h o f M cCu l l o ch ’ s s en t en ces

. M o reo v er, t h e t ri al co u rt s i g n ed o ff o n t h e wri t t en

s en t en ci n g o rd er, so ev en i f t h e St at e m ay h av e d raft ed t h e ord er, i t s t i l l rep res en t s t h e

o rd er of t h e t ri al co u rt

, no t t h e o rd er o f t he St at e. 6 M cCu l l o ch h as n o t o ffered

6 To t h e ex t e n t t hat t here are d i s crep an ci es b et ween th e tri al co u rt ’ s o ral

p ro n ou n cem en t of s en t en ce an d t h e wri t t en s en t en ci n g o rd er, we ag ai n n ot e t h at “ t h e

wri t ten s en t en ce co nt ro l s ov er t he t ri al co urt ’ s o ral p r o n o u n c e m en t s reg ard i n g

s en t en ci n g .” (Ci t at i o n om it t ed .) Gr a n t v. S t a t e

, 1 9 5 Ga. Ap p

. 4 6 3

, 46 4 (2 ) (3 9 3 SE2 d

7 3 7 ) (1 9 9 0 ).

17an y t h i n g b ey o n d m ere s p ecu l at i o n t o s h o w th at hav i n g t he St at e d raft t h e fi n al

s en t en ce s h eet i n t h is cas e cau s ed h i m h arm o r p reju d i ce. Th u s

, we co ncl u d e t h at t h e

t ri al co u rt d i d n o t err wh en i t s en t en ced M cCu l l o ch

.

Fo r t h es e reas o n s

, we t h erefo re rev ers e M cCu ll o ch ’ s co n v i ct i on an d s en t en ce

o n Co u n t 6 an d affi rm

h i s rem ai n i n g co nv i ct i o ns an d s en t en ces

.

Ju d g men t a f f i r med i n pa r t a n d r ever

s ed i n p ar t

. Mer ci er a n d Co o mer

, JJ.,

co n cu r

.

18