SECOND DI VI SI ON

M I LLER, P. J.

, BROWN and GOSS, JJ.

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

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

Januar y 24, 2019



# I n th e Co u r t o f

A p p eals o f

G eo r g ia

A1 8 A1 98 6 . THE STATE v . RICH.

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

A f t e r a Ch ero kee Co u n t y g ran d ju ry i n d i ct ed Lau ra Ri ch o n t h ree co u n t s o f

s ex u al as s au l t o f a s t u d en t u n der OCGA § 1 6-6 -5 .1 (b ) (1 ), Ri ch m o v ed t o d i s m i s s o r

q u as h t h e i n d i ct m en t

, co n t en d i n g th at s he was no t a “ t each er” fo r p u rp o ses o f t h e

s t at u te. Th e t ri al co u rt gran t ed Ri ch ’ s m o t i o n , fi nd i n g t h at ev en i f OCGA § 1 6 -6 -5

. 1

(b ) (1 ) ap p l i ed to Ri ch

, i t d i d n o t ap p l y t o h er co n d u ct b ey o n d s ch oo l h o urs

. Th e St at e

ap p eal s fro m t he tri al co u rt ’ s o rd er gran t i n g Ri ch ’ s m o t i o n t o di s m i s s o r q u as h t h e

i n d i ct m en t

. W e affi rm t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s d eci s i o n t o g ran t t h e m o t i o n b ecau s e inacco rd an ce wi t h t h e rel ev an t p ri n ci p les o f s t at u t o ry co n s tru ct i o n , Ri ch w a s n o t a

“ t each er” fo r p u rp o s es o f OCGA § 1 6 -6 -5 .1 (b ) (1 ). 1

“ [ T ]h e i n t erp ret at i o n o f a st at u t e i s a q u es ti o n o f law, wh i ch i s rev i ewed d e

n o v o on ap p eal

. Becau s e t h e t ri al co urt ’ s ru l i ng o n a l eg al q ues t i o n is no t d u e an y

d eferen ce, we ap p l y t h e ‘ pl ai n l eg al erro r’ s t an d ard o f rev iew.” (Ci t at i o n o m i t t ed .)

S t a t e v. Ha mmo nd

s , 32 5 Ga. Ap p

. 8 1 5 (7 5 5 SE2 d 2 1 4 ) (2 0 1 4 ). “ W e al s o b ear i n m i n d

t h at t h e ap p l icat i o n o f a st at ut e’ s s t an d ard s s o m et i m es req u i res an as s es s m en t o f t h e

s u rro u n d i n g ci rcu m s t an ces t o d et erm i n e i f t h e s t at u t e i s v i ol at ed .” (Ci t at i o n an d

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

mi t h v. S t a t e , 3 1 1 Ga. Ap p. 7 5 7

, 7 5 8 (7 1 7 SE2 d 28 0 ) (2 0 1 1 ).

So v i ewed

, t h e r e c o r d s h o ws th at i n 2 0 1 7

, a Ch ero kee Co u n t y g ran d ju ry

i n d i c t e d R i c h o n t h ree co un t s o f s ex u al as sau l t o f a s t u d en t

, i n vi ol at i o n o f OCGA

§ 16

- 6

- 5

. 1 ( b ) (1 ). Th e i nd i ct m en t al l eg ed t h at Ri ch

, “ b ei n g a t each er” “ wi th

s u p erv i s o ry an d d i s ci p l i n ary au t h o ri t y ” o v er t w o p ers on s , en g ag ed i n s ex ual co n t act

1 Th e tri al co u rt d et erm i ned t h at i f th e s t at u t e ap p l i ed t o Ri ch

, i t d id n o t ap p l y

t o her co n d u ct aft er s ch o o l ho u rs

. W e, h o wev er, affi rm t he t ri al co u rt ’ s o rd er o n t h e b as i s th at Ri ch d i d n o t fal l wi t h i n t h e am b it o f t h e s t at u t e at al l

. See S ta te v. La n e , 2 7 5

Ga. Ap p

. 7 8 1

, 78 3 (6 2 1 SE2 d 8 6 2 ) (2 0 0 5 ) (“ [W ] e wi l l affi rm an o rd er u n der t h e ‘ ri g ht

fo r an y reas o n ru l e,’

. . . w h en t h e ju d gm en t m ay be s u s tai n ed u p o n a l eg al b as i s

ap p aren t fro m t h e reco rd wh i ch was fai rl y p res en t ed i n t h e co u rt b el ow.”) (ci t at i o n

o m it t ed ); Vo n s l ep v. S t a te , 2 5 3 Ga. Ap p . 8 8 1 , 8 8 3 (2 ) (5 6 0 SE2 d 7 5 2 ) (2 0 0 2 ).

2wi t h t h em in 20 1 5

, an d t h at s h e k n ew o r s h o u ld h av e k n o wn th at t h ey were s t u d en t s

en ro l l ed at t h e s ch o o l wh ere s h e was em p l o y ed

.

Aft er Ri ch was arrai g ned

, s h e fi l ed a m o t i o n t o di s m i s s o r q u as h t he i n d i ct m en t

.

Ri ch arg u ed t h at (1 ) s h e w as n o t a “ t each er” wi t h i n th e m ean i ng o f t h e s t at u t e b ecau s e

s h e was a s ub s t i t u t e w i t ho u t a t each i n g cert i fi cat e; an d (2 ) h er s u p erv i s o ry an d

d i s ci pl i n ary au th o ri t y o v er t h e s t u d en t s ceas ed at t h e en d of each s ch o o l d ay t h at s h e

wo rk ed as a d ai l y s u b st i t ut e, an d th e al l eg ed s ex act s d i d n o t o ccu r d u ri ng s ch o ol

h o u rs

. 2

At a h eari n g o n t h e m o t io n , t h e t ri al co u rt h eard tes t im on y fro m t h e p ri n ci p al

o f th e p ub l ic sch o ol at i s su e, as wel l as o n e o f t h e Hu m an Res o u rces D i rect o rs fo r t h e

Ch ero k ee Co u n ty Sch o o l Di s tri ct wh ere t h e s ch o ol i s l ocat ed

. Pu b l i c s ch o o l t each ers

i n t h e Ch ero k ee Co u n ty Sch o ol Di s t ri ct h av e ei t h er a t each i n g cert i fi cat e or p erm i t

fro m t h e Geo rg i a Pro fes s i o n al St an d ard s Co m m i s s i o n (“ PSC”), w hic h is th e l i cen s i n g

2 Ri ch al s o ch al l en g ed t h e co n s t i t u ti o n al i t y o f t h e st at u t e, b u t t h e t ri al co u rt d id

n o t reach t h i s arg um en t becau s e i t co n cl u d ed t h at th e s t at ut e d id n o t ap p l y t o Ri ch ’ s

co n du ct

. Th u s , th is i s s u e i s n o t b efo re t h e C o u rt

, an d w e d o n o t ad d res s i t

. Ci t y of

Deca t u r v. DeKa l b Co u n ty

, 2 8 4 Ga. 4 34

, 4 38 (2 ) (6 6 8 SE2 d 2 4 7 ) ( 2 0 0 8 ). W e al s o

n o t e th at Ri ch ’ s co u n s el rep res en t ed t o t h e t ri al co u rt th at t h e s t ud en t s were ab o v e t h e

ag e o f 1 6

.

3b o d y fo r ed u cat i on in t he St at e o f Geo rg i a. 3 Gen eral l y , a t each er b eco m es cert i fi ed by

at t en di n g a t each i ng ed u cat i o n p ro g ram ap p ro v ed b y t h e PSC. St u d en t t each ers “ g o []

t h ro u g h a p re-ap p ro v ed p ro g ram wi t h t h e St at e o f Geo rg i a” an d h o ld a “ p re-s erv i ce

cert ifi cat e.”

Su b s t i t u t es , o n th e ot h er h an d, n eed no t b e cert i fi ed b y th e PSC. An d

, u n l i k e

p u b l i c s ch o o l t each ers i n t he Ch ero k ee Co un t y Sch o o l Di s t ri ct

, s u b s t i t u tes d o n ot

wo rk u n d er co n tract s wi t h s ch o o l s

. In s t ead

, s u bs t i t u tes recei v e a d ai l y p er d i em fo r

t h ei r wo rk

, an d d o n o t qu al i fy fo r h eal t h b en efi t s , u n em p lo y m en t b en efi t s , o r l eav e.

A c co rd i n g t o t h e t es t im o ny , t h e PSC d efi nes a su b s t i tu t e as ei t h er “ an i n d i v i d u a l

e m p l o y ed t o s erv e in t h e ab s en ce o f th e reg u l arl y em p l o y ed t each er” o r “ a p e r s o n

t em p o rari l y em pl oy ed t o t each a cl as s t h at d o es n o t h av e a reg ul ar t each er.”

In o rd er t o b e a p art o f t h e “ p o ol ” of s u b s t i t u t es fo r t h e Ch ero k ee Co u n t y

S c h o o l Di s t ri ct

, p ro s p ect i ve s u b s t i t u tes co m p let e an o n -l i ne ap p l i cat i o n , u n d erg o a

b ack gro un d ch eck

, an d t h en p art i ci p at e i n a t h ree-an d -a-h al f t o fo u r-h o u r wo rk s h o p

o n “ cu rs o ry i t em s t h at t h ey m ay o r m ay n o t fac e i n t h e cl as s ro o m .” A l t h o u g h

3 Fo r ex am

p l e, “ s o m eo n e wh o t each es a career t ech n i cal c our s e s u ch as wel d i n g

. . . m i g h t n o t h av e a t rad i ti o n al t each i n g cert i fi cat e” b u t m ay h av e a p erm i t fro m t h e PSC.

4s u b s t i t u t es m u s t ab i de b y t h e Co d e o f Et h i cs fo r Ed ucat o rs , p arap ro fes s i o n al s an d

ai d es al s o ad here t o t h i s Co de.

A s u b s t i t u t e m a y w o r k o n ei t h er a “ l on g -t erm ” o r “ dai l y ” b as is

. Ri ch was a

d ai l y s ub s t i t u t e at t h e s ch o o l

, h ol d s a h i g h s ch oo l d i p l o m a, an d i s n o t cert i fi ed b y t h e

PSC. Becau s e Ri ch d i d n o t p o s s es s a t each i ng cert i fi cat e, s h e was a “ cl as s i fi ed

em pl o y ee,” l i k e cafet eri a wo rk ers an d m ai nt en an ce s t aff. A d ai ly s u bs t i t u t e wo rk s o n

a t em p o rary , as -n eed ed bas is

, an d fi l l s i n fo r a t each er wh o wi ll b e ab s en t fo r ei t h er

a s i n g l e d a y o r a few d ay s

. A d ai l y s u b s t i t u t e i s n o t ex pect ed to p rep are fo r cl as s ,

p rep are an y h o m ewo rk as s i g nm en t s , ad m i n i s ter an y s t at e-m an d at ed t es t s , g rad e o r

ev al u at e s t u d en t s’ wo rk

, an swer s t u d en t s ’ q ues t i o n s aft er cl as s , o r p art i ci p at e i n aft ers ch o ol p ro g ram s. Al t h ou g h d ai l y s u bs t it u tes h av e an o n g o i n g d u t y o f co n fi den t i al i t y

p ert ai n i n g t o t h e s t u d en t s , t h ei r res p o n s i bi l i t i es t o th e st u d en t s ceas e at t h e en d o f t h e

s ch o ol d ay an d d o no t ex ten d b ey o n d “ t h at ei g h t -h ou r t h res h o l d .” U p o n t h e en d o f t h e

s ch o ol d ay , t h e d ai l y

s u b s t i t u t e ret u rn s t o t h e “ po o l ” o f av ai l ab l e s u b st i tu t es

.

In o rd er t o beg i n wo rk i n g , a d ai l y s u b s t i t u t e can sel ect an av ai l a b l e jo b fro m

an o n l i n e s y s t em , o r cal l t he p ri n ci p al ’ s s ecret ary an d as k wh et h er t h e s ch o o l h as an

av ai l ab l e jo b

. Al t ern at iv el y , h e o r s h e can awai t an “ earl y m o rn i ng cal l ” i n fo rm i n g o f

an o p en i n g

. O n ce i n t h e cl as s ro o m , t h e su b s t i t u t e en su res t h at th e s t u d en t s h av e b een

5p ro v id ed wi t h t hei r i nd i v i d ual l es s o n p l an s o r “ s t u d y g u id e p ack et s.” Th e s t u d en t s

w o u l d ei t h er al read y h av e t hei r p ack et s i n t h ei r p o s s es si o n , o r wo u l d al read y k n o w

t h e w o rk t h at t hey h av e b een as s i g n ed b y t h ei r reg u l ar t each er. As th e s tu d en t s wo rk

o n t hei r p ack et s , t h e s ub s t i t u t e “ m i g h t be ab l e t o as s i s t” i n co m p l et i n g t h em

. If a

s t ud en t has q u es t i o n s wh il e wo rk i n g , th e s u b s t i t u t e wo u l d an s wer t h es e q u es t i o n s i f

h e o r s h e i s cap ab l e o f d o i n g s o , d ep en d i n g o n t h e s u b s ti t ut e’ s u n d ers t an d i n g o f t h e

m at eri al

. Es s e n t i al l y , d ai ly s u b s t i t u t es as s is t “ [w] h en t h ey co u ld an d wh ere t h ey

co u ld .” W h en a s t u d en t h as co m p l et ed h is o r h er pack et

, t h e s u bs t i t u te “ m ay t ak e i t

,

b u t t h en h o l d it f

o r t h e ret u rn o f t h e reg u l ar t each er.” In t h e ev en t t h at t h e reg u l ar

t each er h as n o t l eft i n s t ru ct i o n s fo r t h e cl as s , t h e s u b s t i t u t e ei t h er l o o k s fo r an

em erg en cy l es so n p l an o r “ g o [es ] t o t h e o t h er t each ers i n t h at p art i cu l ar s u b ject to

fi gu re o u t wh at t o d o .”

W h en a t each er i s ab s en t fo r m o re t h an 1 0 co ns ecu t i v e day s , an d a lo n g -t erm

s u b s t i t u t e is n eed ed

, p referen ce fo r fi l li n g t h e sl o t i s gi v en t o s ub s ti t u t e s w h o a re

cert ifi ed wi t h th e PSC. Li k e t each ers , t h es e l o n g-t e r m s u b s t i t u tes are “ ex p ect ed to

as s u m e res p o n s ib il i t i es fo r l es s o n p lan n i n g an d ev al u at in g an d g rad i ng t h e s t u d en t s ’

wo rk .”

6Fo l l owi n g t h e heari n g , t h e t ri al co urt g ran t ed Ri ch ’ s m o t i o n , fi n d i n g t h at as a

d ai l y s u bs t i t u t e Ri ch b o re n o o b l i g a t i o n t o t h e s ch o ol d i s tri ct wh en s h e l eft s ch o ol

aft er s u b s t i t u ti ng

. Th e t ri al co u rt t h erefo re co n cl u d ed t h at i f OCGA § 1 6 -6 -5 .1 (b ) (1 )

ap p li ed to Ri ch

, i t d i d s o o n l y wh i l e s h e p erfo rm ed h er d u t i es d u ri n g t h e s ch o o l d ay

.

Becau s e t h ere was no al l eg at i o n t h at t h e s ex act s occu rred d u ri n g s ch o o l h o u rs o r at

t h e s ch o o l , t h e t ri al co urt fo u n d t hat t h e s t at u t e was i n ap p l i cab l e t o Ri ch ’ s co n d u ct

.

Th e St at e n o w ap p eal s

.

In i t s s ol e en u m erat i o n o f erro r, t h e St at e co n t en d s t h at t he t ri al co u rt erred in

g ran t i n g Ri ch ’ s m o t i o n t o d i s m i s s o r q u as h t he i n d ict m en t b ecau s e Ri ch q ual i fi ed as

a “ t each er” un der OCGA § 1 6 -6 -5 .1 (b ) (1 ). T he St at e p o s i t s t h at Ri ch freq u e n t l y

accep t ed “ t each in g as s i g nm en t s ” at t he s ch oo l

, was heav i l y rel i ed u p o n b y t h e s ch o o l

,

h ad wo r k e d freq u en t l y d uri n g t h e rel ev an t ti m es i den t i fi ed i n t h e i n d i ct m en t

, an d

e s s e n t i a l l y b ecam e a fam i l i ar fi g u re i n t h e s ch o o l co m m u n i t y “ as a teach er.” W e

d i s cern n o rev ers i b l e erro r.

OCGA § 1 6 -6 -5 .1 (b ) (1 ) 4 p ro v i d es ,

4 Th e l an g u ag e o f O CGA § 1 6 -6 -5 .1 (b ) (1 ) h as rem ai n ed t h e sam e si nce b efo re al l th e al leg ed act s i n t h i s cas e o ccu rred

. See Ga. L. 2 0 1 1, p

. 2 2 7

, § 5 ; Ga. L. 2 0 1 5,

p . 4 22 , § 5 -2 0 ; Ga. L. 2 0 1 6 , p . 8 6 4 , § 1 6

.

7A p e r s o n wh o h as s up erv i s o ry or di s ci p l i n ary au t h ori t y o v er an o t h er

i n d i vi d u al co m

m i t s s e x u a l as s au l t wh en t h at pers o n : (1 ) Is a t each er,

p ri n ci p al

, as s i st an t p ri n ci p al

, o r o t h e r ad m i n i s t rat or o f an y s ch o ol an d

en g ag es i n s ex u al co n t act wi t h s u ch o t her i n d i v id u al wh o t h e act o r k new

o r s h o u l d h av e k n own i s en ro l l ed at t he s am e s ch o o l

. . . .

In an al y zi n g th e St at e’ s cl ai m t h at Ri ch was in d eed a “ t each er” fo r p u rp o s es o f

t h e st at u t e, we are m i n d fu l o f t h e ap p l i cab l e p ri n ci pl es o f s tat u t o ry co n s t ru ct i o n an d

“ l o ok d il i g en t l y fo r t he i n t en ti o n o f t h e Gen eral As s em b l y

. In s o d o i n g , t h e o rd i n ary

s i gn i fi cat i o n s h al l b e ap pl i ed t o al l wo rd s

. W h ere t h e lan g u ag e o f a st at ut e i s p l ai n

an d su s cep ti b l e to o n l y o n e nat u ral an d reas o n ab l e co n s t ru ct i on , co u rt s m us t co n s t ru e

t h e s t at u t e acco rd i n gl y .” (Ci t at i o n o m i t t ed

. ) Ha mmo n d s , s u p ra, 32 5 G a. Ap p

. at 8 1 7.

“ Cri m i n al st at u t es are co ns t ru ed s t ri ct l y ag ai n st t h e St at e, t h ey m u st b e read acco rd i n g

t o th e n at u ral an d o b v i o u s im p o rt o f t h ei r l an g u ag e, an d t h ei r o p erat i o n s h o u l d n o t b e

l i m i ted o r ex ten d ed b y ap p l i cat i o n o f s u b tl e an d fo rced i n t erp ret at io n s

. ” (Ci t at i o n

o m it t ed .) Per ki n s v. S t a te

, 2 7 7 Ga. 3 23

, 3 2 5 -3 2 6 (2 ) (5 8 8 SE2 d 7 19 ) (2 0 03 ). Al s o , i f

a cri m i n a l s t a t u t e “ i s s u scep t ib l e t o m o re t h an o n e reas on ab l e i n t erp ret at i o n , t h e

i n t erp ret at io n m o s t fav o rab le t o t h e p art y faci n g cri m i n al l i ab i l i t y m u s t b e ad o p t ed .”

S mi th , s up ra, 3 1 1 Ga. Ap p. at 7 6 1 (2 ) (b ).

8At t h e ou t s et

, w e n ot e t h at OCGA § 1 6 -6 -5 .1 d o es n o t d efi n e th e t erm

“ t each er,” an d p reced en t fro m t h e Su p rem e Co u rt o f Geo rg i a h a s l e f t o p en t h e

q u es ti o n o f wh et h er t h e s t at u t e ap p l i es t o a s u b s t i t u t e w ho l ack s a t each in g cert i fi cat e.

S t a t e v. Mo r r o w , 30 0 G a. 4 0 3

, 40 6 (2 ), n .8 (7 9 4 SE2 d 3 7 ) (2 0 1 6). U n d e r o u r

Ed u cat io n Co d e, “ t each er” m ean s “ an y p ro fes s i o n al s ch o ol em p l o y ee cert i fi cat ed by

t h e Pro fes s i o n al St a n d ard s Co m m i s s i o n , b u t n o t i n cl u d i n g sch o o l ad m i ni s t rat o rs .”

OCGA § 2 0 -2 -9 4 2 (a) (4 ). See al s o M or r o w , s u p ra, 3 0 0 Ga. at 4 0 6 (2 ). An d i t i s

u n d i s p u t ed t h at Ri ch d i d n o t h o l d a t each i n g cert i fi cat e o r p erm i t fro m t he PSC, as i s

g en eral l y req ui red o f p u b l ic s ch o o l t each ers i n t h e Ch ero kee Co u n t y Sch o ol Di s t ri ct

.

In t h e ab s en ce o f a s t at u t o ry d efi n i t i o n o f t h e t erm “ t each er,” we t u rn t o t h e

d i ct i o n ary defi n i t i o n. W eb s t er’ s Di ct i on ary d efi n es a teach er as “ on e t h at t each es o r

i n s t ru c t s ,” es p eci al l y “ o n e wh o s e o ccu p at i o n i s t o in s t ru ct .” W eb s t er’ s Th i rd New

I n t e rn at i o n al Di ct i o n ary at 2 3 4 6 (1 9 8 1 ). Al t h ou g h a s u b s ti t u t e m ay in fact b e h i red

t o t each a c l a s s , i n t h i s cas e Ri ch was n ot t as ked wi t h t each i n g cl as s es , i n st ru ct i n g 5

5 W e d o n o t i n t erp ret t he wo rd “ i n s tru c t ” s o bro ad l y as t o m ean t h at Ri ch

p ro v id ed “ i n s t ru ct i o n s ” t o th e s t u d en t s

. Co n cei v ab l y , a m y ri ad o f em

p l o y ees a t t h e

s ch o ol wo u l d hav e b een ab l e o r ex p ect ed to p ro v i de i n s tru ct i o n s t o t h e s t u d en t s , an d

wo u l d n o t b e d eem ed “ teach ers ” fo r p u rp o s es of th e s t at u t e. In d eed

, acco rd i n g t o t h e

t es t i m o ny , p arap ro fes s io n al s an d ai d es al s o p ro v i d e i n s t ru ct io n s t o s tu d en ts

, an d t h e Su p rem e Co u rt has m ad e cl ear th at a p arap ro fes si o n al i s n o t a “ t each er” fo r p u rp o s es

o f t h e s t at u t e. M

o r r o w , s u p r a, 3 0 0 Ga. at 40 6

, n.7

. See al s o Ha mmo n d s , s up ra, 3 2 5

9cl as s es , o r dev el op i n g l es s o n s fo r t h e s t u d en ts

. Rat her, h er d u t ies co m p ri s ed

m o ni t o ri n g s t u d en t s , as s i s ti n g t h em wi t h co m p let i n g t h ei r l es s o n p lan s o r s t u d y g u i d e

pa ck et s as p rev i o u s ly as s ig n ed by t h ei r reg u l ar t each er, an d, an s w eri ng the ir que stions

wh i le t h ey wo rk ed i f h er k no wl ed g e o f t he m at eri al en ab l ed h er t o d o so

. As t h e

p ri n ci p al t es ti fi ed

, a d ai l y s u b s t i t u t e l i k e Ri ch “ is a faci l i t at o r as si st i ng t h o s e s t u d en t s

. . . as t h at p e r i o d g oes o n.” Al s o , as a dai l y su b s t i tu t e Ri ch h ad ev en fewer

o b l i g at i o ns t h an a l o n g -t erm s u b s t i tu t e, w h o h as t h e “ s am e j o b du t i es an d

res p o n s i b i l i t ies o f a cert i fi ed teach er.” In fact

, b ecau s e Ri ch h el d o n l y a h ig h s ch o ol

d i p l o m a, s h e co u l d n o t ev en q u al i fy t o b e a l o n g -t erm s u bs t i t u t e u n d er t h e reg u l at i on s

p ro m u l gat ed b y

t h e PSC. See Ga. Co m

p . R. & Reg s . 5 0 5 -2 -.2 0 (2 ) (f).

Th e fact t h at Ri ch o ft en wo rk ed at t h e s ch o o l d o es n o t d em an d t h e co n cl u s i o n

t h at h er d u t i es an d res p on s i b i l i t i es were t h os e of a “ t each er.” Th e cru ci al in q u i ry h ere

i s wh et h er h er jo b was eq u i val en t t o t hat o f a “ t each er,” n o t t h e n u m b er o f d ay s s h e

was p res en t i n s ch o o l. To a g reat ex t en t

, Ri ch s i m pl y “ d i d n o t d o t h e s o rt s o f t h i ng s

t h at t each ers t y

p ical l y d o .” M

o r r o w , s u p ra, 30 0 Ga. at 40 6

. Sh e was n o t ex p ect ed to

p rep are fo r cl as s, ad m i n i s t er an y s t at e-m an d at ed t es ts

, g rad e o r ev al u at e s t u d e n t s ’

Ga. Ap p

. at 8 16

, n .1 (“ If [t h e d efen dan t ] was co ns i d ered an ad m in i s t rat o r s i m p l y b ecau s e s h e co u l d i n i t iat e a d i s ci p l i n ary referral

, t h en lo g i cal l y an arg u m en t can b e

m ad e t h at t h e s am e wo u l d ap p ly t o jan i t o rs o r fo o d s erv i ce wo rk ers

. ”).

10wo rk

, an s wer s t ud en t s ’ q u es t i o n s aft er cl as s , o r p art i ci p at e i n aft er-s ch oo l p ro g ram s

.

No r d i d s h e i n d ep en d en t l y as s i g n cl as s w o rk or h o m ewo rk

. 6 See i d

. (n o ev i den ce t h at

d efen d an t as s i gn ed cl as s wo rk

, h o m ewo rk

, o r an y o th er t as k s , t au g h t l es s o n s , g rad ed

wo rk

, ad m i n i s t ered t es t s , at t en d ed facu l t y m eet i n g s , rep o rt ed t o sch o o l o n t each er

wo rk d ay s o r “ d ev o t e[ d ] a n y m ean i n g fu l p o rt i o n o f h i s t i m e t o th e in s t ru ct i o n o f

s t ud en t s ”).

In t h i s ap p eal

, “ th e d et erm i nat i v e fact o r i s wh et h er, wh en OCGA § [1 6 -6 -5

. 1

(b ) (1 )] is g i v en t h e req u i si t e s t ri ct co n s t ru ct i o n , i t i s u n r eas o n ab l e t o i n terp ret ” t h e

t erm “ t each er” s u ch t h a t i t d oes n o t ap pl y t o Ri ch

. V

i n es v. S t a te

, 2 6 9 G a. 4 3 8

, 4 3 9

(4 9 9 SE2 d 6 30 ) (1 9 9 8 ). Gi v en t h at Ri ch di d n ot h o l d a t each i n g cert i fi cat e; was n ot

o n co nt ract as a t each er; d i d n o t act u a l l y t each o r i n s t ru ct cl as s es ; an d h ad

co n si d erab l y fewer o b l i g at i o n s t h an t h e t each er fo r wh o m s h e su b st i tu t ed (an d ev en

a l o n g -t erm s ub s t i t u t e), it i s reas o n ab le t o co ncl u d e th at

, wh en OCGA § 1 6 -6 -5 .1 (b )

(1 ) i s s t ri ct ly co n s t ru ed ag ai n s t t h e St at e, Ri ch w as no t i n fact a “ t each er” fo r p u rp o s es

o f t h e st at u t e. “ Th u s , ev en i f t h e St at e’ s b ro ad co n s t ru ct i o n w ere reas o n ab l e d es p i t e

6 Acco rd i n g t o t he t e s t im o n y , t he cl as s es i n t h i s s p eci fi c s ch o o l are “ s t u d en t

d i rect ed i n st ead o f t e a c h e r

- d i rect ed ” an d t h e t each er d o es n o t cu s t om ari ly l ect u re

t h ro u g h ou t th e en t i re cl as s s es s i o n

. No t wi t h s t an d i n g t h i s fact

, dai l y s u b s t i t u t es

g en eral l y d i d no t en g ag e i n t h e ran g e o f t as ks ex p ect ed o f t each ers o r lo n g -t erm

s u b s t i t u t es

.

11t h e l ack o f an y s up p o rt i n g au t h o ri t y , t h e co nt rary s t ri ct co n s t ru ct i on o f OCGA § [1 6

-

6 -5 .1 (b ) (1 )] n ev ert h el es s m u s t b e accep t ed b ecau se i t i s at l eas t eq u al l y reas o n ab l e.”

Id

. As o ur Su p rem e Co u rt h as m ad e cl ear, wh ere a cri m in al s t at u te “ i s s u scep t i b l e to

m o re t h an o n e reas o n ab l e in terp ret at i o n , t h e i n t erp ret at i o n m o s t fav o rab l e t o t h e p art y

faci ng cri m i n al l i ab il i t y mu s t b e ad o p t ed

. ” (Em p h as i s s up p li ed .) Id

. at 4 3 8 -4 3 9

. See

Fr i x v. S t a t e , 2 9 8 G a

. A p p. 5 3 8

, 5 4 2 (6 8 0 SE2 d 5 82 ) (2 0 0 9 ) (“ [T] o t h e ex t en t an y

u n cert ai nt y o r am

b i g u i t y ex is t s i n t h e m ean i n g o f [t h e st at ut e]

, t h e ru l e o f s t ri ct

co n st ru ct i o n wo u ld req u i re u s t o co n s t ru e t h at a m b i g ui t y i n [t h e d efen d an t ’ s ] fav o r.”).

F ina ll y , we ob s erv e t h at t h e Leg i s l at u re u s es bo t h t h e t erm s “ s u b s ti t ut e t ea c he r ”

an d “ s u b st i t ut es fo r teach ers ” el s ewh ere in t h e Geo rg i a Co d e , 7 an d i t o p t ed n o t to

i n cl u d e ei t h er of t hes e two t erm s wh en d el i n eat i n g t he p ers o n s w ho fal l u n d er OCGA

§ 1 6 -6 -5 .1 (b ) (1 ). 8 See Mo r r ow , s u p ra, 3 0 0 Ga. at 4 0 6 (“ Th e d eg ree o f s p eci fi ci t y in

t h e s t at u to ry i d en t i fi cat i o n o f s ch o o l a d m i n i s t rat o rs t o wh om t h e s t at u t e ap p li es

7 See OCGA § 2 0 -2 -2 1 6

.

8 It ap p ears t hat i n March 2 0 1 8

, t h e Geo rg ia H o u se o f Rep res en t at i v es p as s ed

Sen at e Bi l l No

. 1 5 4 b y s u bs t it u te l eg i s l at i o n , bro ad en i ng t he reach o f OCGA § 1 6 -6

- 5 .1 (b ) (1 ) t o an y “ em

p l oy ee o r ag en t ” of t h e s ch o o l an d m ak i n g t h e o ffen s e s ex u al

as s au l t i n t h e s eco n d d eg ree. See Sen at e Bi l l N o

. 1 54 (Su b s t i tu t e) (LC 29 8 1 0 2 ERS),

2 0 1 7 -2 0 1 8 Reg u l ar Ses s i o n o f t h e Gen eral As s em b l y

. Ho w ev er, t h e Leg i s l at u re t o o k

n o fu rt h er act i o n o n t h i s m at ter.

12s u g g es t s t h a t t h e s t at u t e d oes n o t u s e “ t each er” i n a g en eri c o r u nu s ual l y b ro ad

s en s e.”). To b e s u re, o u r d eci s i o n i s n o t a co n do n at i o n o f t h e act s al l eg ed

. Rat h er, we

ar e m i n dfu l t h at w e “ m

u s t g en eral l y refrai n fro m ex p an d i n g t h e s co p e o f p en al

s t at u tes by i m

p l i cat io n .” (Ci t at i o n an d p u nct u at i o n o m i t t ed .) Ha mmo n d s , su p ra, 3 2 5

Ga. Ap p

. at 8 1 7. See Ro d r ig u ez v. S t a t e , 3 4 3 Ga. Ap p

. 5 2 6

, 5 3 0 (8 0 6 SE2 d 9 1 6 )

(2 0 1 7) (“ [U] n d er t h e u n i fo rm ru l e o f s t r i c t c o n s tru ct i o n , a pen al s tat u t e can n o t b e

ex p an d ed b y im

p l i cat i o n t o i n cl u d e co n d u ct o r pers o n s n o t ex p l i ci t l y i den t i fi ed i n t h e

s t at u te.”) (ci t at i on an d p u nct u at i o n o m i t t ed ).

In acco rd an ce w i t h t h e rel ev an t ru l es o f s t at u t o ry co n s tru ct i on , we d et erm i n e

t h at Ri ch was n o t a “ t each er” fo r p u rp o s es of OCGA § 1 6 -6 -5 .1 (b ) (1 ). Th erefo re, t h e

t ri al co u rt p ro p erl y

g ran t ed Ri ch ’ s m o t i o n t o q u as h o r d i s m i s s t h e i n d i ct m en t

.

Ju d g men t a f f i r m ed . Br o wn a n d

Go s s, JJ., co n cu r

.

13