FOURTH D I VI SI ON

DI L LA RD, P. J.

, RI C KM A N and BROWN, 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

.

Septem b er 4, 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 50 2 . SOLIS-M ACIAS v . THE STATE.

D I LLA R D , Pres i d i n g J u d g e.

Fo l l owi n g t ri al

, a ju ry co nv i ct ed Ro s al in o So l i s-M aci as o n o n e co u n t o f s ex u al

b at t ery an d fi v e co u n t s o f ch i l d m o l es t at i o n

. On ap p eal

, So l i s -M aci as co n t en d s t h at

the tr ia l c our

t e rred i n ad m i t t i n g v i d eo fro m a l aw-en fo rcem en t o ffi cer’ s b o dy -cam era,

d en y i n g h i s m ot i o n t o s u p p res s h i s cu st o d i al s t at em en t, an d refu s i n g t o g i v e a ju ry

i n s t ru ct i o n o n s ex u al b at t ery as a l es s er-i ncl u d ed o ffen s e o f ch i l d m ol es t at i o n

. Fo r t h e

reas on s s et fo rt h i nf

r a , we affi rm

So l is -M aci as ’ s co n v i ct i o ns

.

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

, 1 t h e ev i den ce s h o ws

t h at i n 2 0 1 8, So l i s -M aci as w as m arri ed t o In g ri d So li s

, an d th e t wo o f t hem l i v ed in

a d up l ex wi t h t h ei r fi v e-y ear-o l d s o n

, as w el l as In gri d ’ s t w o o t h er ch i l d r e n f r o m a

1 S ee, e.g

. , Po wel l

v. S t a te , 3 1 0 Ga. Ap p . 1 4 4 , 1 4 4 (7 1 2 SE2 d 1 3 9 ) (2 0 1 1 ).p rev i o u s m arri ag e— th i rt een -y ear-o l d s o n

, D. B., an d ei gh t -y ear-o l d d au g h t er, Y. B.

On M ay 1 0 , 2 0 1 8

, In g ri d d i s ci p l i n ed Y. B. fo r u s i ng a cel l p h o n e wh en s h e was n ot

al l o wed t o d o s o

. Th i s d ec i s i o n u p s et Y. B., an d s h e co m p l ai n ed t o h er m o t h er t h at

s h e wan t ed t o go li v e wi th h er b i o l o g i cal fat h er. An d wh en p res s ed b y h er m o t h er as

t o w h y s h e was so u p set

, Y

. B. di s cl o s ed t h at So l i s -M aci as i n ap p ro p ri at el y k is s ed h er

an d m ad e h er t o uch h i s pe n is. S o lis- M a c ias in i t i al ly d en i ed act i n g i n ap p ro p ri at el y

, b ut

t h e n ex t m o rn i n g

, aft er h e wen t t o wo rk

, In g ri d s en t h i m a tex t m es s ag e, ag ai n as k i n g

i f Y. B.’ s d i s cl o s u re was t ru e. Th i s t i m e, h e ad m i t t ed t h at Y. B. w as t el l i n g t h e t ru th

an d ap o l o g i zed fo r h i s act io n s

.

Im m ed i a t e l y t h ereaft er, In g ri d cal l ed t h e p ol i ce, an d At h en s -Cl ark e Co u n t y

p o l i c e offi cer Ro b ert Bri t t arri v ed at t h ei r ap art m en t a s ho rt t i m e l at er. Offi cer

Bri t t —wh o w a s weari n g a b od y -cam era— b eg an q u es t i o n in g So l i s -M aci as

, an d

al t h o u g h En g l i s h w as seem i n gl y n o t So l i s -M aci as ’ s n at i v e l an g u ag e, h e u n d ers t o o d

t h e offi cer’ s q ues t i o n s an d ad m i t t ed t h at h e t o u ch ed Y

. B.’ s p ri v at es on s ev eral

o ccas i o n s

. Offi cer Bri t t t h en t ran s p o rt ed So l i s -M aci as t o t h e p ol i ce s tat i o n

, at wh i ch

p o i n t O ffi cer Lai la Sch u ler co n du ct ed a c u s t o di al in t erv i ew. A t t h e s tart o f t h e

i n t erv i ew, O ffi cer Sch u l er— wh o was b o rn i n M ex i co an d is fl u en t i n Sp an i s h

— read

2So l i s -M aci as hi s Mi r a n d a ri g h t s 2 i n En gl i s h fro m a card an d t h en s u m m ari zed t h o s e

ri gh t s i n Sp an i s h. So li s -M aci as i n d i cat ed t h at h e u n ders t o o d t ho s e ri g h t s an d ag reed

t o s p eak w i t h Offi cer Sch u l er wi t h o u t an at t o rn ey p res en t

. An d d u ri ng t he co u rs e o f

t h i s i n t erv i ew, So l i s -M aci as ad m i t t ed t h at h e t ou ch ed Y. B.’ s v ag i n a o n fo u r s ep arat e

o ccas i o n s an d m ad e h er t o u ch h i s p e n i s o n on e o ccas i o n

. In ad d i ti o n

, So l i s -M aci as

i n fo rm ed Offi cer Sch u l er t h at h e t o l d Y. B. n o t t o tel l h er m ot h er ab o u t h is act i o n s

.

Th at s am e d ay

, May 1 1

, 2 0 1 8

, a fo r e n s i c i n t erv iewer wi t h a l o cal ch i ld

ad v ocacy cen t er m et w it h Y. B. An d d u ri n g t h e i n t erv i ew, wh i ch was reco rd ed

, Y. B.

was i n it i al l y rel u ct an t t o d i s cl o s e wh at So l is -M aci as h ad d o n e t o h er. Bu t s h e

ev en tu al l y ex p l ai n ed

— v i a a wri t t en n o t e— t hat at s o m e p o i n t aft er s he t u rn ed s ev en

y ears -o l d

, So l i s -M aci as beg an s ex u al ly ab u s i n g h er. Sp eci fi cal l y

, So l i s -M aci as t o ld

Y. B. th at h e wan t ed to b e her b oy fri en d an d wo u ld s ti ck h i s to n g u e i n h er m o u t h an d

t o u ch her p ri vat es

. Ad d i t i o n a l l y

, o n t h e s am e d ay as th e in t erv i ew, a s ex u al -as s au l t

n u rs e ex am i n er p erfo rm ed a p h y s i cal ex am i n at i o n o n Y. B., d u ri n g wh i ch Y. B. ag ai n

d i s cl os ed t h e d et ai l s o f So l i s -M aci as ’ s act i o n s

.

Th ereaft er, t he St at e ch arg ed So l i s -M aci as

, v ia i nd i ct m en t, wi t h o n e co u n t o f

ag g rav at ed s ex ual b at t ery an d fi v e co u n t s o f ch i l d m o l es t at i o n

. T h e c as e t h en

2 S ee Mi r a n d

a v. Ar i z o n a

, 3 8 4 U.S. 4 3 6 (8 6 SCt

. 1 6 0 2, 1 6 LE2 d 6 9 4 ) (1 9 6 6 ).

3p ro ceed ed t o tri al

, d u ri ng wh i c h t h e St at e p res en t ed t h e fo reg o i n g ev id en ce. In

ad d it i o n

, Y. B. t es t i fi ed

, an d t h e S t a t e p l a y ed t h e v i d eo fro m Offi cer Bri t t ’ s b od y

cam era, as wel l as t h e v i deo o f Y. B.’ s fo ren si c i n terv i ew. Th en

, at t h e co n cl u s i o n o f

t h e tri al

, t h e ju ry fo u n d So li s -M aci as g u i l t y o f s ex ual b at t ery as a l es s er-i n cl u d ed

o ffen s e o f t h e ag g rav at ed sex u al b at t ery ch arg e i n Co u nt 1 an d g u i l t y o f t h e s ep arat e

ch i l d -m o l es t at i o n ch arg es i n Co u n t s 2 t h ro u g h 6

. Su bs eq u en t l y

, S o l i s

- M aci as fi l ed

a m ot i o n fo r n ew t ri al , wh i ch t h e t ri al co u rt d en i ed . Th i s ap peal fo l l o ws

.

1 . So l i s -M aci as fi rs t co nt en d s t h at t he t ri al co u rt erred i n ad m i t t i n g t h e v i d eo

fro m Offi cer Bri t t ’ s b o d y -cam e r a i n t o ev i d en ce, arg u in g t hat d o i n g s o v i o l at ed t h e

p ro h ib i t i on ag ai ns t reco rd i n g a p ers o n wi t h o u t t hei r co n s en t as p ro v i d ed fo r i n OCGA

§ 1 6-1 1-6 2 (2 ). 3 W e d i s ag ree.

3 Al t h o u g h So li s -M aci as h as n ot ch al len g ed t h e s u f f i ci en cy o f th e ev i d en ce

s u p p ort i n g h i s co n v i ct i on s

, we h av e rev i ewed t h e reco rd an d fi n d t h e ev i d en ce

s u ffi ci en t t o en ab l e a ju ry t o co n cl u d e b ey o n d a reas o n ab l e d o u bt t h at he was g ui l t y

o f al l t h e cri m es o f wh i ch h e was co n v i ct ed

. S ee Ja cks o n v. Vi r

gi n ia

, 44 3 U.S. 3 0 7,

3 1 9 (III) (B) (9 9 SCt 2 7 8 1

, 6 1 LE2 d 5 6 0 ) (1 9 7 9 ) (“ On ce a d efen d an t h as b een fo u n d

g u i l t y o f t h e cri m e ch arg ed

, t h e fact fi n d er’ s ro l e as w ei g h er o f t h e e v i d en ce i s

p res erv ed t h ro u gh a l eg al co n cl u s i o n t h at u p o n ju di ci al rev i ew al l o f t h e ev i d en ce i s

t o b e co ns i d ered i n t h e l i g h t m o s t fav o rab le t o t h e p ro s ecu ti o n

. ”).

4As a g en eral ru l e, ad m is s i o n o f ev id en ce is “ a m at t er res t i n g wi t h in t h e s o u n d

d i s cret i o n o f t h e t ri al co u rt

, an d ap p el l at e co urt s wi l l n o t d i s t u rb t h e ex erci s e o f t h at

d i s cret i o n ab s en t ev i d en ce o f i t s ab u s e.” 4 W e fi nd n o ab u se o f t h at d i scret io n h ere.

Tu rn i n g t o t h e s p eci fi c cl ai m at i s su e, wh en h e arri v ed at t h e fam i l y ’ s ap art m en t

t o i n v es t i g at e Y. B.’ s d i s cl o s u re

, Of f i c e r Bri t t was weari n g a b o d y -cam era, wh i ch

reco rd ed h i s en co u n t er wi t h So l i s -M aci as an d h i s w i fe. An d wh en as k ed i f h e s o u g ht

So l i s -M aci as o r h is wi fe’ s co n s en t t o reco rd t h i s i n t eract i o n, O ffi cer Bri t t res p o n d ed

t h at h e d id n o t

. So l i s -M aci as t h en o b ject ed t o t h e reco rd i n g ’ s ad m is si o n

, bu t t h e t ri al

co u rt o v erru led h i s o b

ject i o n , an d t h e St at e t h en p lay ed t h e reco rd i n g fo r t h e ju ry

.

On ap p eal

, So l i s -M aci as arg ues t h at Offi cer Bri t t ’ s bo d y -cam era reco rd i n g o f

h i s i n ves t i g at i o n an d t h e ad m is s i o n of t h at reco rd i n g i n t o ev i den ce was pro h i b i t ed by

OCGA § 1 6 -1 1 -6 2 (2 ), wh i ch p ro v i d es t h at “ [i ] t sh al l b e u n l awfu l f o r

. . . [ a ] ny

p e r s o n

, t h ro u g h t h e u s e o f an y d ev i ce, wi t h o u t t h e co n s en t of al l p ers o n s o b s erv ed

,

t o ob s erv e, p h o t o g rap h

, or reco rd t h e act iv i t i es o f an o t h er wh i ch o ccu r i n an y p ri v at e

p l ace an d o u t o f p u bl i c v i ew

. . . .” Bu t s u b s ect io n (D) o f t h is s am e s tat u te p ro v i d es

“ t h a t i t s h al l n ot b e u n l awfu l

. . . [f] o r a l aw en fo rcem en t o ffi cer o r h is o r h er ag en t

4 A d ams v. St a t e

, 3 1 6 G a. Ap p

. 1

, 3 (1 ) (7 2 8 SE2 d 2 6 0 ) (2 0 1 2 ) ( p u n c t u at i o n

o m it t ed ); a cco r d S

mi t h v. S t a t e , 3 0 2 Ga. Ap p . 1 2 8 , 1 3 0 (1 ) (6 9 0 SE2 d 4 4 9 (2 0 1 0).

5t o u se a d ev i ce i n t h e l awfu l p er f o rm an ce of hi s o r h er o ffi ci al d ut i es t o o b s erv e,

p h o t o g rap h

, v i d eo t ap e, or reco rd t h e act i vi t ies o f p ers o n s t h at o ccu r i n t h e pres en ce

o f s uch offi cer o r h i s o r h er ag en t

. . . .” 5 An d wi t h s p eci fi c reg ard to s ub s ect i o n (D),

t h e Su prem e Co u rt o f Geo rg ia h as n ot ed t h at

t o t h e ex t en t t h at OCGA § 1 6 -1 1 -6 2 (2 ) co ul d h av e b een co n s t ru ed t o

ap p l y t o t he act i o n s o f po l i ce o ffi cers m ak i n g vi d eo reco rd i n gs of o t hers

wi t h ou t t h ei r co n s en t aft er b ei n g i n v i t ed i nt o s o m eo n e’ s h o m e, th e

l eg i s l at u re m ad e cl ear t h ro u g h a 2 0 1 5 am en d m en t t o OCGA § 1 6-1 1 -6 2

(2 ) t h at p o l i ce d o no t h av e t o o b t ai n t h e co n s en t of al l p art i es b ei n g

v i d eo reco rd ed i n a p ri v at e p l ac e a n d o u t s i d e o f t h e p u bl i c v i ew wh en

t h ey reco rd s u ch p ers o ns i n co n n ect i o n wi t h t h ei r du t i es as p o l i ce

o ffi cers

. 6

An d i n th i s cas e, g iv en t h at i t is u n d i s p u t ed Offi cer Bri t t was reco rd i n g h i s i n t eract i o n

wi t h So li s -M aci as an d h i s wi fe as p art o f h is o f fi ci al d u t i es

, t h e reco rd i n g was n ot

p ro h ib i t ed b y OCGA § 1 6 -1 1 -6 2 (2 ). 7 Acco rd i n g l y

, t h e tri al co u rt d i d n o t ab u s e i t s

d i s cret i o n i n ad m i t t i n g t h e reco rd i n g i n to ev i d en ce.

5 OCGA § 1 6 -1 1-6 2 (2 ) (D).

6 S t a t e v. Co h en

, 3 0 2 G a. 6 1 6

, 6 30 (2 ) (b ) n.1 3 (8 0 7 SE2 d 8 6 1 ) (2 01 7 ); s ee Ga.

L. 2 01 5 , § 2

.

7 S ee Co h en , 3 0 2 Ga. at 6 3 0 (2 ) (b ) n .1 3

.

62

. So l i s -M aci as al so m ai n t ai n s t h at th e t ri al co urt erred in d en y i n g h i s m o t i o n

t o s u p p res s h is cu s t o d i al s t at em en t . Ag ai n , we d i s ag ree.

Wh en a t ri al co u rt ru l es u p on th e ad m i s si b i l i t y o f a cu st o d i al s t at em e n t

fo l l o w i n g a Ja c k

s o n -Den no 8 h eari n g

, i t m u s t d et erm i n e wh et h er, “ b as ed u p o n t h e

t o t al i t y o f t h e ci rcu m s t an ces

, a p rep o nd eran ce o f t h e ev i d en ce d em o ns t rat es t h at t h e

s t at em en t was m ad e freel y an d v o l u n t ari ly .” 9 An d wh en t h e fact s m at eri al t o a m o t i o n

t o s u p p res s are d i s p u t ed

, i t “ g en eral l y i s fo r t h e t ri al ju d g e t o res o l v e t ho s e d i s p u t es

a n d d et erm i n e t h e m at eri al fact s .” 1 0 In fact

, o u r Su p rem e Co u rt h as i d en t i fi ed t h ree

co ro l l ari es o f t hi s p ri nci p l e, wh i ch “ l i m i t t h e s co p e o f rev i ew i n ap p eal s fro m a g ran t

o r d en ial o f a m o t io n t o s u p p res s i n wh i ch t h e t ri al co u rt h as m ad e ex p res s fi n d i ng s

o f d i s p u t ed fact s.” 1 1 Fi rs t

, ap p el l at e co u rt s g en eral ly m u s t “ accep t t ho s e fi n d i ng s

8 S ee Ja cks o n v. Den no , 3 7 8 U.S. 3 6 8 (8 4 SCt . 1 7 74 , 1 2 LE2 d 9 08 ) (1 9 6 4 ).

9 B el l v. S t a t e

, 28 4 Ga. 7 9 0

, 7 9 4 (2 ) (6 7 1 SE2 d 8 1 5) (2 0 0 9 ) (p u n ct u at i o n

o m it t ed ); a cco r d Gu n n v. S t a t e , 3 42 Ga. Ap p . 6 15 , 6 22 (2 ) (8 0 4 SE2 d 1 1 8 ) (2 0 1 7 );

s ee Ver g a r a v. S t a t e

, 2 8 3 G a. 1 7 5

, 1 7 6 (6 5 7 SE2 d 8 6 3 ) ( 2 0 0 8 ) (ex p l ai n i n g t h at t h e

t ri al co u rt d et erm in es t h e ad m i s s i b i l it y o f a d efen dan t ’ s s t a t e m e nt u n d er t h e

pr e p onde r a nc e of t

he e vi den ce s t an d ard co n s i d eri n g t he t o t al i t y o f t h e ci rcu m s t an ces)

.

1 0 H u g h es v. S t at e

, 29 6 Ga. 7 4 4

, 7 4 6 (1 ) (7 7 0 SE2 d 6 3 6 ) (2 0 1 5 ); acco r d Pen a

v. S t a t e , 2 9 7 Ga. 4 1 8 , 4 2 1 (3 ) (7 7 4 SE2 d 6 5 2 (2 0 1 7 ).

1 1 Hu g h es

, 2 9 6 Ga. at 7 4 6 (1 ) (p u n ct uat i o n o m i t t ed ); a cco r d Pen a

, 2 9 7 Ga. at

4 2 1 (3 ).

7u n l es s t h ey are cl earl y erro n eo u s .” 1 2 Seco n d

, we m u s t co ns t ru e t h e ev i d en t i ary reco rd

“ i n t h e l i g h t m o s t fav o rab le t o t h e fact u al fi n d i n g s an d ju d g m en t o f t he tri al co u rt .” 1 3

An d t h i rd , we g en eral l y m u s t l i m i t o u r co n s i d erat i o n o f t h e d i s p u t ed fact s t o “ t h o s e

ex p res s l y fo u n d b y t h e t ri al co u rt .” 1 4

In t h i s m at t er, ju s t p ri o r t o Offi cer Sch u l e r ’s tes t im o n y

, t h e t ri al co u rt

co n du ct ed a Ja cks on -Den n o h eari n g

. An d d u ri n g t h at h eari n g

, Offi cer Sch u l er— wh o

was b o rn i n M ex i c o a nd co n s i d ers Sp an i s h h er n at i v e l an g uag e— t es t i fi ed t h at s h e

fi rs t read So l i s -M aci as h i s Mi r a n d a ri gh t s i n En gl i sh

, v erb at im

, fro m a card an d t h en

s u m m ari zed t h o s e ri g h t s fo r h i m i n Sp an i s h . Offi cer Sch u ler al s o ex pl ai n ed t h at

, as

p art of t h at s u m

m ary

, s h e e x p l a i n e d t o So l i s -M aci as t h at h e di d n o t h av e t o s p eak

wi t h h er an d h e co u l d h av e a l awy er i f h e wan t ed o ne. Sh e fu rt h er t es t i fi ed t h at s h e

b el i ev ed So l is -M aci as co m pl et el y u n d ers t o o d h er, s he m ad e n o p ro m i s es t o h i m

, an d

h e ag reed t o s p eak t o h er wi t h o u t an at t o rn ey

. Th ereaft er, So l i s -M aci as t es ti fi ed an d

1 2 Hu g h es

, 2 9 6 Ga. at 7 4 6 (1 ) (p u n ct uat i o n o m i t t ed ); a cco r d Pen a

, 2 9 7 Ga. at

4 2 1 (3 ).

1 3 Hu g h es

, 2 9 6 Ga. at 7 4 6 (1 ) (p u n ct uat i o n o m i t t ed ); a cco r d Pen a

, 2 9 7 Ga. at

4 2 1 (3 ).

1 4 Hu g h es

, 2 9 6 Ga. at 7 4 6 (1 ) (p u n ct uat i o n o m i t t ed ); a cco r d Pen a

, 2 9 7 Ga. at

4 2 1 (3 ).

8cl ai m ed t h at h e w as t o o o verwh el m ed wi t h em ot i o n at t h e t i m e t o u n d ers t an d Offi cer

Sch ul er an d d i d no t recal l bei n g i n fo rm ed t h at he co u l d hav e an at t o rn ey pres en t

. Bu t

h e d i d ad m i t t o tel l i n g Offi ce r S c h u l e r t h at h e wo u l d sp eak wi th h er. At t h e

co n cl u s i o n o f th e h eari n g

, t h e tri al co u rt d en i ed So l i s -M aci as ’ s m o ti o n t o s u p p res s

h i s s t at em en t

, fi n d i n g t h at he k n o wi n g l y an d i n tel l i g en t l y wai v ed h i s Mi r a nd a ri g ht s

,

an d t h at h i s s t at em en t was freel y an d v o l u n t ari l y gi v en

, wi t h n o h o p e of b e n e f i t o r

fear o f i n ju ry

.

So l i s-M aci as n ow c o n te nds tha t b e c a u se his na t i ve l an g u ag e i s Sp an i s h

, Offi cer

Sch ul e r di d n o t pro p erl y ad vi s e h i m o f h i s Mi r a n d a ri g ht s wh en s h e m erel y

s u m m ari zed t h o s e ri g h t s i n Sp an i s h rat h er t h an read i ng th em v erb at i m as s h e d i d in

En g li s h

. Th i s arg u m en t i s a no n s t art er. In d eed

, ev en i f t h ere were s o m e i n co n s i s t en cy

i n t h e ex act fo rm o f t h e v ari o u s w a r n i n g s s u m m ari zed b y Offi cer Sch u l er, t h i s fact

“ d o es n o t es t ab l i s h t h at t h e s t at em en t was i n v o lu n t ary .” 1 5 A n d co n s id eri n g th e t o t al i t y

o f t h e ci rcu m s t an ces

, i n cl u d i n g t h e rat h er i m p o rt an t fact t hat t h e i n t erro g at i n g o ffi cer

wh o i s a n at i v e Sp an i s h s p eak er t es t i fi ed t h at So l i s -M aci as u nd ers t o od her an d ch o s e

t o sp eak wi t h o u t an at t o rn ey

, t h e t ri al co urt d i d no t err i n co n cl u di ng t h at (1 ) t h e St at e

1 5 Del a cr u z v. S t a t e

, 2 8 0 Ga. 3 9 2

, 3 94 (2 ) (6 27 SE2 d 57 9 ) (2 0 0 6 ) (p u n ct u at i o n

o m it t ed ).

9d em o n s t rat ed b y a prep o n d eran ce of t h e ev i d en ce t h at So l i s -M aci as k n o w i n g l y an d

v o l u n t ari l y wai v ed h i s Mi r a n d a ri g h t s

, an d (2 ) h i s cu s t o di al s t at em en t was

v o l u n t ary

. 1 6

3

. Fi n al l y

, So l i s -M aci as cl ai m s t h a t t h e t ri al co u rt erred i n refu s i n g t o g i v e a

ju ry i n s t ru ct i o n o n s ex u al bat t ery as a l es ser-i n cl u ded o ffen se o f ch i l d m o l es t at i o n as

al l eg ed i n Co u n t s 3 t h ro u g h 6 o f t h e i n d i ct m en t . On ce ag ai n , we d i s ag ree.

In t h i s m at t er, Co u n t s 3 th ro ug h 6 o f t h e i n d i ct m en t ch arg ed So li s -M aci as wi th

fo u r s ep a r a t e a c t s o f ch i l d m o l es t at i o n

, al l eg i n g i n each t h at h e “ d id co m m i t an

i n d ecen t act t o Y. B., a ch il d u n d er t h e ag e o f 1 6 y ears

, wi t h t h e i n t en t t o aro u s e t h e

s e x u a l d es i res o f hi m sel f by to u ch i n g s ai d vi ct i m ’ s g en i t al area, s ai d act b e i n g

s ep arat e an d d i s t i n ct fro m t he act s al l eg ed [i n t h e o t h er ch i l d m o l es t at i o n co u n t s ]

. .

. .” A n d d u ri n g t h e ch arg e co n feren ce, So l is -M aci as ’ s co u n s el req u es ted t h at t h e t ri al

c o u r t i n s tru ct t h e ju ry on s ex u al b at t ery as a l es s er-i n cl ud ed offen s e o f t h o se ch i l d

1 6 S ee Pen a

, 2 9 7 Ga. at 4 2 2 (3 ) (h o ld i n g t h at Sp a n i s h -s p eak i n g d efen d an t ’ s

wai v er o f h i s M

i r a n d a ri g ht s was k n owi n g a n d vo l u n t ary

, b ecau s e ev en t h o u g h

Sp an i s h -s p eak i n g d et ect i ve wh o g av e warn in g s m i s pro n o u n ced so m e Sp an is h wo rd s

an d u s ed s o m e u n i n t e l l i g i b l e wo rd s

, to t al i t y o f ci rcu m s t an ces s h owed d efen d an t

u n d ers t o o d ); Del a cr u z

, 2 8 0 Ga. at 3 9 4 -9 5 (2 ) (h o l d i n g t h at wh et h er an acc u s ed

u n d ers t o o d t h e Mi r a n d

a warn i n g s d ep en d s o n t h e t o t al i t y o f t h e ci rcu m s t an ces , n ot

s o l el y o n t h e i n t erp ret er’ s s k i l l

, an d t h at an i m p erfect t ran s l at i o n o f th e ri g h t s d o es n ot

ru l e o u t a v al i d wai v er as l o n g as t h e accu s ed u n d ers to o d t he warn i n g s).

10m o les t at i o n co u n ts

. Bu t t h e St at e o b ject ed

, an d t he t ri al ag reed

, ru li n g t h at s ex u al

b at t ery was n o t a l es s er-i n cl u d ed o ffen s e o f ch i l d m o l es t at i o n i n t hi s cas e. Ev en s o,

So l i s -M a c i a s a r g u es t h at t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s refu s al t o g i v e t he i n s t ru ct i o n co ns t i t u t ed

erro r.

Need l es s t o s ay

, t h i s Co u rt rev i ews t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s “ refu s al to gi v e a req u es t ed

ch arg e fo r an ab u s e o f d i scret i o n .” 1 7 An d wh en t he ev i d e n c e s h o ws “ ei t h er t h e

co m p l et ed o ffen s e as ch arg ed o r n o o ffen s e, s uch ev i d en ce w i ll n o t s u p p o rt a v erd i ct

fo r o n e o f t h e l es s er g rad es of t h e o ffen s e

, an d t h e co u rt s h o u l d n ot ch arg e o n t h e

l es s er g rad es o f t h e o ffen se.” 1 8 Bu t wh en a cas e co n t ai n s s o m e ev i d en ce, n o m at t er

h o w s l i g ht

, t h at s ho ws t h e d efen d an t “ co m m i tt ed a l es s er o ffen s e, th en t h e c o u rt

s h o u ld ch arg e t h e ju ry o n t h at o ffen s e.” 1 9

Rel ev an t h ere, OCGA § 1 6 -6 -4 (a) (1 ) pro v i des t h at “ [a] p ers o n co m m i t s t h e

o ffen s e of ch i l d m o l es t at io n wh en s u ch p ers o n

. . . [d ] o es an y i m m o ral o r in d ecen t act

t o o r i n t h e p res en ce o f o r wi t h an y ch i l d u n der t h e ag e o f 1 6 y ears w it h t h e i n t en t to

1 7 Jo n es v. S t a t e

, 3 5 2 Ga. Ap p

. 3 8 0

, 3 86 (2 ) (a) (8 3 4 SE2 d 8 8 1 ) (2 0 1 9 )

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

1 8 Wa l ker v. S t a t e

, 2 7 9 Ga. Ap p

. 7 4 9

, 7 5 1 (3 ) (a) (6 3 2 SE2 d 4 8 2) (2 0 0 6 )

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

1 9 Id

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

11aro u s e o r s at i s fy t h e sex u al d es i res o f ei t her t h e c h i l d o r t he pers o n .” An d u n d er

OCGA § 1 6 -6 -2 2 .1 (b ), “ [a] p ers o n co m m i t s t he o ffen s e of s ex ual b at t ery wh en h e o r

s h e i n t en t i o n al l y m ak es p h y si cal co n tact wi t h th e i n t im at e part s o f t h e bo d y o f an o t h er

p ers o n wi t h o u t t h e co n s en t o f t h at pers on .” So

, So l i s -M aci as is co rrect t hat i f t h e

ev i d en ce s h o wed “ a t o uch i n g wi t h o u t t he i nt en t n eces s ary fo r ch il d m o l es t at i o n , h e

wo u l d h av e b een en t it l ed t o a ju ry i n st ru ct io n o n s ex u al b at tery as a l es s er i n cl u d ed

o ffen s e.” 2 0

Bu t here, So li s -M aci as h as p o i n t ed to n o ev i d en ce d em o n s t rat i n g t hat a t o u ch

o ccu rred wi t ho u t t h e n eces s ary i n t en t

. In fact

, t h e St at e p re se nte d e viden ce s u g g es t i n g

o t h e r wi s e, i n cl u d i n g t h at So l i s -M aci a as k ed Y. B. t o b e h i s g i rl fri en d

, w o u l d

s o m et i m es t o uch her aft er s h e g o t o u t o f th e s h ower, en g ag ed in t on g u e-k is s i n g wi th

h er, an d h ad her t o u ch h is p en i s

. Fu rt h erm o re, So l i s -M aci as d i d no t defen d t h e cas e

o n t h e g ro u n d t h at h e to u ch ed Y. B. wi t h o u t i n t en t

. Rat h er, h i s cu st o d ial s t at em en t

2 0 S mi t h v. S t a t e

, 3 1 0 Ga. Ap p

. 3 9 2

, 3 9 6 (3 ) (7 1 3 SE 2 d 4 5 2 ) ( 2 01 1 ); s ee

W a l ker

, 2 7 9 G a. Ap p

. at 7 5 1 (3 ) (a) ( e x p l a i n i n g t h at i f an i nd i ct m en t al leg ed ch i ld

m o les t at i o n

, an d if t h e ev i d en c e p r e s en t ed at t ri al was s u ffi ci en t t o s h o w an

i n t en t i o n al t o u ch i ng o f t h e ch i ld ’ s i n t i m at e part s

, b u t wi th o u t t h e i n t en t n eces s ary to

p ro v e ch i l d m o l es t at i o n, a ch arg e o n sex u al b at tery as a l es s er i n cl u d ed -o ffen s e wo u ld

b e req u i red ); St r i ckl a n d v. S t a t e

, 2 2 3 G a. Ap p

. 7 7 2

, 7 76 ( 1 ) (b ) (4 79 SE2 d 1 2 5 )

(1 9 9 6), over r u l ed o n ot h er g r o u n d s b y W at s o n v. S t a t e

, 29 7 G a. 71 8 (7 7 7 SE2 d 6 7 7 )

(2 0 1 5) (s am e).

12n o t wi t h s t an d i n g

, h e s eem i n g l y p u rs u ed t he “ al l o r n ot h in g ” d efen s e t hat Y. B. m ad e

u p h er s t o ry

. Fo r i n s t an ce, o n cro s s

- ex am in at i o n o f In g ri d an d d uri n g cl o s i n g

arg u m en t

, So l i s -M aci as fo cu s ed o n Y

. B

. ex pres s i n g a d es i re t o l i v e wi t h h er

b i o l o g i cal fat h er an d i m

p l i ed t h at s he h ad a h is to ry o f fab ri cat i n g al l eg at i o n s i n o rd er

t o ch an g e h e r c u s t o d y si t u at io n

. A d d i t i on al l y

, t h e o nl y d efen se wi t n es s was a

Dep art m en t o f Fa m i l y a n d Ch i l d Serv i ces wo rk er wh o i n ves t i g at ed al leg at i o n s o f

ab u se b y t h e bi o l o g i cal fat h er an d t es t i fi ed t h at Y. B. co m p l ai n ed ab o u t b o t h p aren t s

i n t h e p as t as a m ean s o f ch an g i n g h er cu s t o d y s i t u at io n as i t s u i t ed h er. M o reo v er,

So l i s -M aci as al s o q u es t i o n ed t h e DFCS w o rk er o n t he ap p ro p ri at en es s o f Y. B.

s h ari ng a b ed ro o m w i t h h er s ev en t een -y ear-o ld b r o t h er, i m p l y i n g t h at Y. B.’ s

k n o wl ed g e o f m al e g en i t al i a was a res u l t o f s eei ng h er bro t h er n ak ed as o p p o s ed t o

an y i n ap pro p ri at e co n d u ct o n h i s p art

. Gi v en t h es e ci rcu m s t an ces

, t h e ev i d en ce d id

n o t s u p p o rt a ch arg e on s ex u al bat t e r y a s a l es s er-i ncl u d ed o ffen s e o f ch i ld

m o les t at i o n ; b u t o n t h e co n t rary

, dem o ns t rat ed ei t h er t h e i n d ict ed cri m e o r n o cri m e

at al l

. 2 1 Acco rd i n g l y, t h e tri al co u rt di d n o t err i n refu si ng t o g i ve a ju ry i ns t ru ct i o n

2 1 S ee Smi t h

, 3 1 0 Ga. A p p

. at 3 9 6 (3 ) (h o l d i n g t h at t h e d efen d an t was n ot

e n t it l ed t o ju ry ch arg e on s ex u al b at t ery as a l es s er i n cl ud ed o ffen s e o f ch i l d

m o les t at i o n becau s e d efen d an t d i d no t d efen d t he cas e o n g r o un d t h at he t o u ch ed

v i ct i m w i t h o u t i n t en t an d i n s t ead p u rs u ed “ al l or n o t hi n g ” d efen s e th at v ict i m m ad e

u p h er en t i re s t o r y) ; McGr ud er v. S t a t e

, 27 9 G a. Ap p. 85 1

, 8 5 5 (2 ) (b ) (6 3 2 SE2 d

13o n s ex u al b a t t e r y as a les ser-i n cl u d ed o ffen s e o f ch i l d m o les t at i o n fo r Co u n t s 3

t h ro u g h 6 o f t h e i n d i ct m en t

.

Fo r al l t h es e reas o n s , t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s ju d gm en t i s affi rm ed

.

Ju d g men t a f f i r m ed . Ri ckma n a n d

Br o wn , JJ., co n cu r

.

7 3 0 ) (2 0 06 ) (h o l di n g t h at ch arg e on s ex u al b at t ery n o t r e q u i red wh en ev i d en ce

s h o wed t h e in t en t neces sary fo r ch i l d m o l es t at i on an d d efen dan t as s ert ed t h at

t o u ch i n g n ev er o ccu rred ); W a l ker , 2 7 9 Ga. Ap p

. at 7 5 2 (3 ) (a) (s am e).

14