FI RST DI VI SI ON

BA RNES, P. J.

, M ERCI ER 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.

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

M ay 8, 2019



# I n th e Co u r t o f

A p p eals o f

G eo r g ia

A1 9 A1 18 2 . BARBER v . THE STATE.

B A R N E S , Pres i d i n g J ud g e.

J arv is Barb er w a s co n v i ct ed o f ag g rav at ed as s au l t

, p o s s es s i o n o f a fi rearm

d u ri n g th e co m

m i s s i o n o f a fel o n y

, an d p o s s es s i o n o f a fi rearm b y a co n vi ct ed fel o n,

an d t h e t ri al co u rt s en t en ced h i m as a reci d i v i s t u n d er OCGA § 1 7 -1 0 -7 (a) an d (c).

Th e t ri al co u rt t h ereaft er g ran t ed t h e St at e’ s m o t i o n t o p erfect th e reco rd wi t h cert i fi ed

co p ies o f Barb er’ s p ri o r fel o n y co n v i ct i o ns an d d en i ed Barb er’ s am en d ed m o t i o n fo r

n ew t ri al

. On ap p eal

, Barb er co n t en d s t hat t h e t ri al co u rt erred i n g ran t i n g t h e St at e’ s

m o ti o n t o perfect th e reco rd

, i n s en t en ci ng h im as a reci d i v is t, an d i n am en d i n g h i s

wri t ten s en t en ce wi th o u t co n d u ct i n g a h eari n g wh ere h e was al lo wed t o b e p res en t

.

Fo r t h e reas o n s s et fo rt h m o re fu l l y b el o w, we affi rm

.Fo l l o w i n g a c ri m i n al co n v i ct i o n

, we rev i ew t he ev id en ce i n t h e l i g h t m o s t

fav o rab l e t o t h e v erd i ct

. An t h o n y v. S t at e

, 3 1 7 Ga

. A pp

. 8 0 7

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

( 2 0 1 2 )

. S o v i ewed

, t he ev i den ce s h owed th at o n t h e aft ern o o n o f M ay 8, 2 0 1 0

, t h e

v i ct i m was s i t t i n g o n a p o rch wi t h a fri en d i n Fu l t o n Co un t y w h en t w o v eh i cl es

s t op p ed i n t h e m i d d l e o f t h e st reet

. On e o f t h e car o ccu p an ts wh o h ad a “ b eef” wi th

t h e v i ct im ju m

ped ou t an d b eg an t o arg u e wi t h h im

. Th e m an wh o h ad ju m p ed o ut o f

t h e car t h en s t r uck t he v ict i m

, an d t h e t w o m en b eg an t o fi gh t

. Th e fi g ht b ri efl y

s t op p ed

, b ut s t art ed ag ai n

. W h en t h e fi g h t re s t a r t e d

, an o t her m an

, wh o h ad a g u n,

ju m p ed ou t o f o n e o f t h e cars

, fi red t h ree sh o t s i n t he ai r, s t ru ck t h e vi ct im i n t h e h ead

an d k n eed h i m

, an d t h en fi red ab o u t t h ree sh o ts at t h e v i c t i m

. Th e s h oo t er an d t h e

o t h er m an wh o h ad fo u g h t t h e v i ct i m g o t b ack i n to t h e cars a n d d r o v e a way

. Th e

v i ct i m d i ed fro m

a g u n s ho t wo u n d i n h i s t o rs o

.

Sev eral wi tn es s es i d en t i fi ed Barb er as t h e s ho o t er i n p h o t o g rap hi c l i n eu p s an d

i n t h ei r t es t i m o n y at t ri al

. In a v i d eo -reco rd ed i n t erv i ew wi t h a d et ect i v e p l a yed at

t ri al

, Barb er ad m i tt ed t h at h e s h o t t h e v ict i m b u t cl ai m ed t h at an o t he r car o ccu p an t

al s o h ad fi red a g u n. A cco rd i n g t o a G eo rg i a Bu reau o f In v es t i gat i on fi rearm s

ex am i n er

, s h el l cas i n g s an d b ul l et p ro ject i l es co l l ect ed fro m t he cri m e scen e were

fro m t wo d i fferen t fi rearm s

.

2Fo l l owi n g t h e sh o o t i n g

, Barb er was arres t ed an d i n d i ct ed fo r m u rd er, fel o ny

m u rd er (t w o c o u n t s ), ag grav at ed as s au l t

, p o s ses s i o n o f a fi rearm d uri n g t h e

co m m i s s io n o f a fel o ny

, an d po s s es s i o n of a fi rearm b y a co n vi ct ed fel o n

. 1 Th e St at e

fi led a n o t i ce o f i ts i n t en t to s eek reci d i v i s t p u n i sh m en t u n d er OCGA § 17 -1 0 -7 (a)

an d (c) b as ed o n Barb er’ s p ri o r fel o n y co n v i ct i on s fo r fi n an ci al t ran s act i on cred i t card

frau d, t h eft b y

recei v i n g

, po s s es s i o n o f co cai n e (Fu l t on Co u n ty ), an d p o s s es s i o n o f

co cai n e (DeKal b Co un t y ). 2

At t ri al

, i n ad d i t io n t o t he ev id en ce d i scu s s ed ab o v e, wh en t h e St at e p res en t ed

a cert i fi ed co p y o f Barb er’ s pri o r fel o n y co n v ict i o n fo r co cai n e p o s ses s i o n (Fu l t o n

Co u n t y ), Barb er s t i p u l at ed t h at h e was a co n v ict ed fel o n fo r p u rp o s es o f th e p ert i n en t

fi rearm p o s s es s i o n co u n t. Barb er el ect ed n o t t o t es t i fy an d d i d n o t cal l an y wi t n es s es

.

Aft er t he cl o s e o f ev i d en ce, t h e ju ry fo u n d Barb er g u i lt y o f ag g r a v a t e d as s au l t

,

p o s s es s i o n o f a fi rearm d u ri n g t h e co m m is s i o n o f a fel o n y

, an d p o s s e s s i o n o f a

1 Th e m an wh o fo u g h t w i t h t h e vi ct im an d a t h i rd car o ccu p an t al s o were

ch arg ed w i t h cert ai n cri m es b u t were n o t t ri ed wi t h Barb er.

2 OC GA § 1 7 -1 0 -7 was am en d ed i n 2 0 12 t o m ak e s u bs ect i o n (c) n o l o n g e r

ap p li cab l e t o a s en t en ce i m p o s ed fo r s i m

p l e p o s s es s io n o f a co nt ro l l ed s u b s t an ce in

v i o l at i o n o f OCGA § 1 6 -1 3 -3 0 (a). See OCGA § 1 7 -1 0- 7 (b .1 ) (2 0 12 ); Ga. L. 2 0 1 2,

p

. 8 9 9

, § 4 -4

. vo n Th o ma s v. S t a t e

, 2 9 3 Ga. 5 6 9

, 5 6 9 -5 7 0 (1 ), n

. 1 (7 4 8 SE2 d 4 4 6 )

(2 0 1 3). Th at am en d m en t , h o wev er, u n d i s p u ted l y d i d n ot ap p l y

i n t h e cu rren t cas e.

3fi rearm b y a co n v i ct ed fel o n

. On t h e rem ai n i ng co u n t s o f t h e i nd i ct m en t

, t h e ju ry

d ead lo ck ed , l ead in g t h e t ri al co u rt t o d ecl are a m i s t ri al o n t h o s e co u n t s

. 3

Fo l l o wi n g t h e g u i l t -i n n ocen ce p has e o f t he t ri al

, t h e t ri al co u rt co n d u ct ed a

s en t en ci n g h eari n g i n wh i ch th e p ro s ecu t o r no t ed th at Barb er h ad a cri m i n al h i s t o ry

an d t h at th e St at e h ad fi l ed a n ot i ce t h at i t wo u l d b e s eek i ng reci d i vi s t p u n i s h m en t

.

Th e p ro s ecu to r th en p res en t ed cert i fi ed co p i es o f Barb er’ s pri o r fel o n y co n v i ct i on s

fo r fi n an ci al t ran s act i o n cred i t card frau d

, t h eft b y recei v in g

, an d co cai n e p o s s es s i o n

(DeKal b Co u n t y ), an d th e p ro s ecu to r fu rt h er n o t ed t h at Barb er h ad s t i p ul at ed at t ri al

t h at h e was a co n v i ct ed fel o n b as ed o n hi s fel o ny co n v i ct i o n fo r co cai n e p o s s es s i o n

(Fu l t on Co u n t y ). Aft er n o ti n g t h at Barb er was a fo u r-t i m e o f f e n d er an d p o i n t i n g to

“ t h e g rav i t y o f t h e ag g rav at ed as s au l t ” t h at h ad o ccu rred

, t h e t ri a l c o u r t an n o u n ced

a m ax i m u m s en ten ce o f t wen t y y ea r s i n p r i s on fo r ag grav at ed as s au l t, fi ve y ears in

p ri s o n fo r p o s s es s io n o f a fi rearm du ri n g t h e co m m i s s i o n o f a fel o ny

, an d fi v e y ears

i n pri so n fo r po s s es s i o n o f a fi rearm b y a co n v ict ed fel o n , wi th t he s en t en ces t o ru n

co n secu ti v el y

. 4 W h il e t h e fi n al d i sp o s i t i on o rd er e n t ered t h e fo ll o wi n g d ay o m i t t ed

3 Th e m u rd er an d fel o n y m

u rd er co u n ts were l at er pl aced o n t h e d ead d o ck et

.

4 Th e m ax i m

u m s en ten ce fo r ag g rav at ed as s au l t was 2 0 y ears

. OCGA § 16- 5- 21

(b ). A co n v i ct i o n fo r po s s es s io n o f a f i r earm d u ri n g t h e co m

m i s si o n of a fel o ny

carri ed a m an d at o ry fi v e-y ear s en t en ce t h at had to ru n co ns ecu t i ve t o an y o t h er

4an y ex pres s referen ce t o reci d iv i s t p u n i s hm en t

, t h e t ri al co u rt en t ered a co rrect ed fi n al

d i s p o s i t i on o rd er ei g h t d ay s l at er d en o t i n g t h at Barb er was s en t en ced as a reci d i v i s t

u n d er OCGA § 17 -1 0 -7 (a) an d (c).

Barb er fi l ed a t i m el y m o t i o n fo r n ew t ri al

, as t wi ce am en d ed

, i n wh ich h e al s o

ch al l en g ed t he s en t en ce i m p os ed b y t h e tri al co u rt

. Mo re s p eci fi cal ly

, Barb er

co n ten d ed t h at t h e t ri al co urt erred i n s en t en ci n g hi m as a reci d i v is t b ecau s e cert i fi ed

co p ies of h is p ri o r fel o n y co n v ict i o n s were n ev er ad m i t t ed i n t o ev i d en ce ei th er at t ri al

o r at t h e s en t en ci n g h eari ng

. Barb er al s o as sert ed t h at t h e t ri al co urt erred by

m o di fy i n g h is wri t t en s en t en c e t o in cl u d e reci d i v is t pu n is h m en t w i th o u t fi rs t

co n du ct in g a h eari n g i n h i s p r e s e n c e. Th e St at e op p os ed Barb er’ s m o t i o n an d fi l ed

a m o t i o n t o p erfect t h e reco rd u n d er OCGA § 5 -6 -4 1 (f) w i t h cert i fi ed co p i es o f

Barb er’ s p ri o r fel o n y co nv i ct i o n s th at th e St at e as s ert ed h ad b e e n a d m i t t ed i n to

ev i d en ce. Th e St at e al s o arg u ed t h at t h e t ri al co u rt h ad m erel y co rrect ed t he wri t t en

s en t en c e t o c o n fo rm i t t o t h e s en t en ce an n o u n ced at t h e s en t en ci n g h eari n g

, s o t h e

co u rt d i d n o t h av e t o co nd u ct a n ew h eari n g or p ro v i d e n o ti ce t o B a r b e r b efo re

s e n t en ce. OCGA § 1 6-1 1 -1 0 6 (b ). Las t l y

, at th e ti m e t h at Barb er co m m i t t ed t h e

o ffen s e, t h e m ax i m

u m s en t en ce fo r p o s s es s i on o f a fi rearm b y a co n vi ct ed fel o n was

fi ve y ears

. OCGA § 1 6 -1 1 -1 3 1 (b ) (2 0 1 0). Th u s

, t he ag greg at e s en t en ce o f 3 0 y ears

i n p ri s on was au t h o ri zed b y t h e rel ev an t s t at u t es

.

5m ak i n g t h e co rrect io n

. Th e t ri al co u rt

, aft er co n d u c t i n g a h eari n g o n th e p art i es ’

m o ti o n s, d en i ed Barb er’ s m o t i o n an d g ran t ed t h e St at e’ s m o t i o n t o p erfect t h e reco rd

.

1

. Th e ev id en ce d i s cu s s ed ab ov e

– in cl u d i n g t h e ey ewi t n es s es ’ i d en ti fi cat i on s

o f B a r b e r a s t h e s ho o t er i n p h o t o g rap h i c l i n eu p s an d i n t h ei r t es t i m o n y at t ri al

,

Barb er’ s ad m i s s i o n t o s h o o t i n g t h e v i ct i m

, an d Barb er’ s s t i p u l at i o n th at he was a

co n vi ct ed fel on

– was s u ffi ci en t t o en ab l e a rat io n al ju ry t o fi nd Barb er g u i l t y b ey o n d

a reas o n ab l e d o u b t o f aggr a va te d as s au l t an d t h e fi rearm p o s s es s i o n o ffen s es

. Ja cks o n

v. Vi r g i 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 97 9 ).

2

. Barb er c o n t en d s t hat t h e t ri al co u rt erred i n g ran ti n g t h e St at e’ s m o t i o n to

p erfect t h e r e c o r d p u rs u an t t o OCGA § 5 -6 -4 1 (f) w i t h cert i fi ed co pi es o f h i s p ri o r

fel o n y co n v i ct io n s fo r fi n an ci al t ran s act i on cred i t card frau d, th eft b y recei vi n g

, an d

p o s s es s i o n o f co cai n e (DeKal b Co u nt y ). Acco rd i n g t o Barb er, t h e t ri al co u rt n ev er

a d m i t t ed t h o s e t h ree p ri o r co n v i ct i o n s i n t o ev id en ce at t h e s en t en ci n g h eari n g

, an d

t h u s it was i m

p ro p er fo r t h e c o u rt t o al l o w t h e St at e t o s u p p l em en t t h e reco rd wi th

s u b s t i t u t e cert i fi ed co p i es o f t h o s e co n v ict i o n s . W e d i s ag ree.

OCGA § 5-6 -4 1 (f) es tab l i s h es a p ro ced ure wh ereb y a p art y wh o

co n t en d s th at t h e t ra n s cri p t o r reco rd d oes n o t t ru l y o r fu l ly d i s cl o s e

wh at t ran s p i red at t ri al m ay h av e t h e reco rd co m p l et ed ei t h er b y

s t ip u l at i o n o f th e p art i es as t o wh at o ccu rred o r t h e i n d e p e n d en t

6reco ll ect i o n o f t h e t ri al ju d ge. If an yt h i n g m at eri al t o ei t h er p art y i s

o m i t t ed fro m t h e reco rd

, t h e o m i s s i o n m ay b e c o r r ect ed an d

, i f

n eces s ary

, a s u p pl em en t al reco rd f ile d. E vide n c e ne v e r a c tu al l y ad m i t ted

at t ri al can n o t pro perl y b eco m e p art o f t h e reco rd o n ap peal pu rs u an t t o

OCGA § 5 -6 -4 1 (f). Th at s ect i o n i s so l el y fo r t h e pu rp o s e o f m ak i n g th e

reco rd s p eak th e t ru t h

, n o t fo r ad d in g ev i d en ce t o t h e reco rd o r

s u p p l y i n g fat al d efi ci en ci es aft er t h e fact

.

(Ci t at i o n s an d p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed .) Ca r r v. S t a t e , 2 67 Ga. 5 4 7 , 5 5 0 (2 ) (4 8 0 SE2 d

5 8 3 ) (1 9 9 7 ). Gu i d ed b y

t h es e p ri n ci p les , we t urn t o t h e reco rd i n t h e p res en t cas e.

Th e s en t en ci n g heari n g t ran s cri p t refl ect s t h e fo l lo wi n g :

COURT: An y th i n g b y

t he St at e o n ag g rav at i o n ?

PROSE C U T O R : Y e s, y our Ho n o r. Yo u r Ho n o r, t h e defen d an t d o es h av e

a cri m i n al h i s t o ry an d w e d id fi l e a n o t i ce o f reci d i v i s t. A t t h i s t im e th e

St at e wo u l d i n t r o d u ce t o t h e co u rt cert ifi ed co n v i ct io n s fo r Fu l t o n

Co u nt y Cas e Nu m

b er 2 0 0 1 SC0 2 92 2

, wh ich i s a co n v i ct i o n fo r t h eft b y

recei v i n g ; Fu l t o n Co u n t y Su p eri or Co u rt Cas e N u m b er 0 2 SC0 1 9 4 0

, fi nan ci al tran s act i o n card frau d an d D eKal b Co un t y Su peri o r Co u rt

co n v i ct i o n 0 5 CR3 6 8 2

, wh i ch i s a co n v i ct i o n fo r v i o l at i o n o f t h e Geo rg i a

Co n tro l l ed Su bs t an ces Act

. COURT: Hav e y ou s ho wn t ho s e t o [d efen s e co u n s el ] ?

PROSECUTOR: Y es

, y ou r Ho n or. T hey we r e s erv ed in d i s co v ery as

wel l

. COURT: Al l ri g h t.

PROSECUTOR: Yo ur Ho n o r, al s o l i st ed i n o u r n o t i ce was t h e ‘ 08 cas e

n u m b er, wh i ch was i n t h e i n d i ct m en t an d s t i pu l at ed t o at t ri al

. COU R T : A l l ri g ht

. If y o u ’ l l p res en t t h o s e i n d i ct m en t s t o m e wh en

[d efen s e co u n s el ] i s fi ni sh ed l o o k in g at t h em

.

7Lat er i n t h e h eari n g

, b efo re an n o u n ci n g an ag g reg at e s en t en ce o f 3 0 y ears i n p ri s o n,

t h e t ri al co urt fo u n d t h at Barb er was a fo u r-t i m e o ffen d er.

Cert ifi ed co p i es o f t h e t h ree p ri o r fel o n y co n v i ct i o n s fo r fi n an ci al t ran s act i o n

cred i t card frau d

, t h eft by recei v i n g

, an d po s ses s i o n o f co cai n e (DeKal b Co u n t y ) were

n o t i n cl u d ed i n th e ex h i b it l i st creat ed b y t h e co u rt rep o rt er an d were no t ap p en d ed

t o t h e sen t en ci ng h eari n g t ran s cri p t

. In t h e s u b s eq uen t d is pu t e b et ween th e p art i es

o v er wh et h er t h e co n v i ct i o n s s h o u l d b e m ad e p art o f th e reco rd

, Barb er d i d n ot

d i s p u t e t h at th e p ro s ecu t o r h ad i n tr o du ced cert i fi ed co p i es o f t h e t h ree co nv i ct i o n s

at th e s en t en ci ng h eari n g

, b ut h e arg u ed t h at t h e cert i fi ed co p i es were n ev er a d mi t t ed

i n t o ev i d en ce b y t h e t ri al co u rt

. In co n t ras t

, th e St at e arg u ed t h at t h e cert i fi ed co p i es

h ad b een i n t ro d uced by th e pro s ecu t o r an d ad m i t t ed i nt o ev i d en ce b y t h e t ri al co u rt

,

an d t h at t h e reco rd s h o u l d b e m ad e t o co n fo rm t o t h e t ru th o f wh at t ran sp i red u n d er

OCGA § 5 -6 -4 1 (f). A ft er h eari n g fro m t h e p art i es

, th e t ri al co u rt fo u n d t h at cert i fi ed

co p ies o f t he t h ree p ri o r fel o ny co n v i ct i o ns h ad b een ad m i t t ed i nt o ev i d en ce at t h e

s en t en ci n g h eari n g an d t h at t o m ak e th e reco rd co n fo rm t o t h e t ru t h

, t h e co u rt wo u ld

s u p p lem en t t h e reco rd p u rs u an t t o OCGA § 5 -6 -4 1 (f) wi t h cert i fi ed co p i es o f t h o s e

co n vi ct i o n s as “ ap p ro p ri at e s u b s t i t u t es fo r t h e m i s s i ng ev i d en ce.”

8“ An y i s s u e as t o t h e co rrect n es s o f t h e reco rd i s t o be res ol v ed by t h e t r i a l

co u rt

, fo r t h at co u rt

. . . i s

. . . t h e fi n al arb it er o f an y d ifferen ce i n t h e p rep arat i o n o f

t h e reco rd .” (Ci tat i o n s an d p u n ct u at i o n om i t t ed .) Ha r p v. S t a te

, 2 0 4 Ga. Ap p

. 5 2 7,

5 2 8 (1 ) (4 2 0 SE2 d 6 ) (1 9 9 2 ). In d eed

, a t ri al co u rt ’ s fi n di ng s reg ard i n g t he co rrect n es s

o f th e reco rd are fi n al an d n ot s u b ject t o ap p el lat e rev i ew. See S t a t e v. Nej ad

, 2 8 6 Ga.

6 9 5 , 6 9 6 -6 9 8 (1 ) (6 9 0 SE2 d 8 4 6 ) (2 0 1 0); Pa t t er s on v. S t at e

, 2 33 Ga. 7 2 4 , 7 3 0 -7 3 1

(7 ) (2 1 3 SE2 d 61 2) (1 97 5 ). A cco rd i n g l y

, we d efer t o t h e t r i al co u rt ’ s fi nd i n g t h at

cert ifi ed co p i es o f t h e th ree p ri or fel o n y co n v i ct i o n s were ad m i t t ed i n t o ev i d en ce at

t h e s en t en ci n g h eari n g an d t h at t h e reco rd s h o u l d b e s u p p l em en t ed wi t h su b s t i t u t e

cert ifi ed co p i es o f t h o s e co n v i ct i o n s . See Ca n cel v. Med i ca l Cen ter o f Cen t r a l Ga

. ,

3 4 5 Ga. Ap p

. 2 1 5

, 2 2 7 -2 2 8 (3 ) (8 1 2 SE2 d 5 92 ) (2 0 1 8); Ha r p , 2 0 4 Ga. Ap p . at 5 2 8

(1 ). Acco rd La n ier v. S ta t e

, 23 7 Ga. Ap p

. 8 7 5, 8 7 5 (1 ) (5 1 7 SE2 d 1 0 6 ) (1 9 9 9 ) (n o t i n g

t h at ex h i bi t i n t ro d u ced b u t n o t ex p res s l y ad m i t t ed was “ taci t l y ad m i t t ed ” b y t ri al

co u rt ).

3

. Barb er fu rt h er co n t en ds t h at

, i rres p ect i v e o f w h et h er t h e t ri al co u rt erred in

g ran t i n g t h e St at e’ s m o t i o n t o p erfect th e reco rd wi t h t h e afo rem en ti o n ed t h ree p ri o r

fel o n y co n vi ct i o n s

, t he t ri al co u rt erred i n s e n t e n ci ng hi m as a fo u r-t im e reci d i v i s t

u n d er OCGA § 1 7 -1 0 -7 (a) an d (c). In th i s reg ard

, Barb er d o es n o t ch al l en g e t h e

9v al i d i t y

o f h i s t w o p ri o r fel on y

co n vi ct i on s fo r t h eft b y

recei v in g an d p o s s es s i o n o f

co cai n e (DeKal b Co un t y)

. Rat h er, Barb er co n t en d s th at h is pri o r fel o n y co n v i ct i o n

fo r fi n an ci al t ran s act i o n cred it card frau d was i n val i d an d t hu s co u l d n o t b e u s ed as

t h e t h ird p red i cat e fel o ny fo r sen t en ci n g h i m as a reci d i v is t. W e co n cl u d e t h at Barb er

wai v ed an y

ch al l en g e t o t h e v al i d i t y

o f t h at p ri or co nv i ct i o n

.

W h en a d efen d an t wi t h t h ree p ri or fel o n y co n v ict i on s i s co n v ict ed o f a fo u rt h

fel o n y

, h i s s en t en ce i s go v ern ed b y OCGA § 1 7 -1 0 -7 (a) an d (c). Ba r n ey v. St a t e

, 3 3 3

Ga. A p p. 8 0 7

, 8 13 (4 ) (7 7 7 SE2 d 4 90 ) (2 0 1 5 ). S e e Pr i t ch et t v. S t a t e

, 2 6 7 Ga. Ap p.

3 0 3

, 3 0 4 (1 ) (5 9 9 SE2 d 2 9 1 ) (2 0 0 4 ) (OCGA § 1 7 -1 0 -7 ( a ) a n d ( c) m u st b e read

t o g et h er wh en s en t en ci n g a f our

- tim e reci di v i s t ). Su b s ect i o n (a) o f t h e s t at u t e req u i res

t h e sen t en ci n g co u rt t o i m p o s e t h e m ax i m

u m s en t en ce au t h o ri zed b y s t at ut e, b u t t h e

co u rt m ay pro b at e o r su s p en d p art o f t h at s en t en ce. Ba n ks v. S t a t e

, 2 25 G a. Ap p

. 7 5 4,

7 5 7 (5 ) (4 8 4 SE2 d 7 8 6 ) (1 9 97 ). Su b s ect io n (c) fu rt h er req u ires t h e d efen d an t t o s erv e

t h e s en t en ced t h at i s i m

p o sed wi t h o u t p aro l e. Ba r ber v. S t a t e

, 31 6 Ga. Ap p

. 7 0 1

, 7 0 2

(7 3 0 SE2 d 1 7 6 ) (2 0 1 2 ).

“ Th e ex i st en ce an d v a l i d i t y o f t h ree p ri or fel o n y co nv i ct i o n s are n eces s ary

p red i cat es t o t h e i m

p os i t io n o f a reci d i v i s t sen t en ce u n d er OCGA § 1 7 -1 0 -7 (c).” vo n

Th o ma s v. S t at e

, 2 93 Ga. at 5 72 ( 2 )

. Th e reco rd es t ab l i s h es

, h o wev er, t h at Barb er

10n ev er ch al len g ed t h e v al i d i t y o f h i s p ri o r fel o n y co n v i ct i o n fo r fi nan ci al t ran s act i o n

cred i t card frau d at t h e s en t en ci n g h eari n g

, i n h i s m o ti o n fo r n ew tri al as t wi ce

am en d ed

, o r i n t h e h eari n g o n h i s m o t i o n fo r n ew t ri a l

. “ B e cau se [Barb er] d i d n ot

o b ject b el o w o n t h e g ro u n d s he n o w at t em p t s t o r a i s e o n ap p eal

, h e h as wai v ed

ap p el l at e rev i ew o f th es e i s s u es .” Fr ey v. S t at e

, 3 3 8 Ga. Ap p

. 5 8 3, 5 8 7 (3 ) (7 9 0 SE2 d

8 3 5 ) (2 0 1 6 ) (n o t i n g t h at “ an o b ject i o n reg ard in g t h e ex is t en ce o r val i d i t y o f p ri o r

co n vi ct i o n s as a b as i s fo r reci d iv i s t p u n is hm en t can b e w ai v ed i n t h e t ri al co u rt ”). See

vo n Th o m a s v. S ta t e

, 2 9 3 Ga. at 5 7 5 (2 ) (“ [O] b ject i o n s t o t h e val i d i t y o f p ri o r

co n vi ct i o n s u s ed i n ag g rav at i o n o f s en t en ce

. . . can b e wai v ed

. ”); G ra n t v. S t a t e

, 3 2 6

Ga. Ap p

. 1 2 1

, 1 3 0 (5 ) (7 5 6 SE2 d 2 5 5 ) (2 0 1 4 ) (ch al l en g e to v al i d it y o f p ri o r fel o ny

co n vi ct i o n wai v ed b y

fai l i n g t o o b

ject i n s en ten ci n g co urt ).

Barb er m ai n t ai ns t h at h i s fai l u re t o o b j ect t o t h e v al i d i ty o f h i s p ri o r co n v i ct i o n

fo r fi n an ci al t ran s act i o n cred i t card frau d d o es n o t wai v e h i s c h a l l e n g e on ap p eal

b ecau s e a ch al l en ge to a v o i d reci d i v i s t s en t en c e c a n b e r a i s ed at an y t i m e. Bu t

, in

ch al l en g i n g t h e v al i d it y o f h i s p r i o r co n v ict i o n

, Barb er i s co n t es t i ng t h e v al i d i t y o f

an un d erl y i n g p red icat e o ffen s e u s ed fo r reci di v i s t s en ten ci n g

, a n d a s o u r Su p rem e

Co u rt h as ex p lai n ed

, wh et h er a reci d i v i s t s en t en ce i s v o i d “ d ep en d s n o t up o n t h e

ex i s t en ce o r v al i d i t y o f th e fact u al or ad ju d i cat i v e p red i cat es f

o r t h e s en t en ce, b ut

11wh et h er t h e s en t en ce i m p o sed i s o n e t h a t l eg al l y fo l l o ws fro m a fi n d in g o f s u ch

fact ual o r ad

ju d i cat i v e p red i cat es .” vo n Th o ma s

, 2 9 3 Ga. at 57 1 (2 ). Hen ce, i n t h e

co n tex t o f a ch al l en g e t o a reci d i v i st s en t en ce i m p o sed p u rs u an t t o O CGA § 1 7 -1 0 -7

(a) an d (c), a c l a i m t h at o n e o f t he p red icat e fel o ni es u s ed i n ag grav at i o n o f

p u n i s h m en t is i n v a l i d d o e s n o t rai se a co g n i zab l e cl ai m t hat th e reci d i v is t s en t en ce

i s v o i d

, an d i t fo l l o ws t h at s u ch a cl ai m can b e wai v ed

, as i t was i n t h is cas e. See vo n

Th o ma s

, 2 9 3 Ga. a t 5 7 1

- 5 7 5 (2 ). 5 See al s o Ki mb r o ug h v. S t a te

, 3 2 5 Ga. Ap p

. 5 1 9,

5 2 2 (1 ) ( 7 5 4 S E 2 d 1 0 9 ) (2 0 1 4 ) (cl ai m ch al l en gi n g ex i s t en ce o r v al i d it y o f fo rm er

5 In vo n Th oma s , t h e Su p rem e Co u rt o f Geo rg i a n ot ed :

Th ere are a few cas es i n wh i ch o u r Co u rt o f Ap p eal s h as h el d t hat

cert ai n o b ject i o n s co ncern i n g p ri o r co n v i ct i o n s u s ed as p red i cat es fo r

reci d i v i s t s en t en ci n g co u l d n o t b e wai v ed b ecau s e t h e o b ject i on s wen t

t o wh et her t h e s en t en ci n g co u rt h ad i m p o s ed a s en t en ce t h at t h e l aw wi l l

n o t al l o w, an d a ch al len g e t o s u ch a v o i d s en t en ce can n o t b e wai v ed b y

t h e fai l u re t o o b

ject

. B u t n o n e o

f t h o s e ca s es i nvo l ved a cl a i m a b o ut th e

exi s t en ce o r va l i d i t

y o f t h e p r i o r co n vi ct i o n s. In st ead

, t h ey i n v o l v ed

cl ai m s ab o u t t h e e f

f ect o r u s e o f t h e p ri o r co n v ict i o n s

– as s u mi ng th e

exi s t en ce a n d va l i d i t

y o f t h e co n vi ct i o n s

– i n t h e i m p o s i t i o n o f a

reci d i v i s t s en t en ce, s uch as cl ai m s t h at a p ri o r co n v i ct i on un d er t h e Fi rs t

Offen d er A ct co u l d n o t b e u s ed i n ag g rav at i o n o f s en t en ce, cl ai m s t hat

a p ri o r co n v i ct i o n fo r wh i ch th e s en ten ce h ad been s u s p en d ed co u l d n o t

b e u s ed

, a n d c l a im s t h at a p ri o r co n v i ct i o n co ul d n o t b e u s ed i n

ag g rav at i o n of sen ten ce b ecau se i t h ad b een “ u sed u p ” t o p ro v e an

el em en t o f a cri m e fo r wh i ch t h e s en ten ce was t o b e i m p o sed

. (Ci t at i o n s an d pu n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed ; em p h as i s s u p p l i ed .) vo n Th o ma s

, 29 3 Ga. at 5 7 3

-

5 7 4 (2 ).

12co n vi ct i o n u s ed fo r reci d i v i s t pu n i s h m en t d o es n ot rai s e co g n i zab l e v oi d s e n t e nce

cl ai m ). 6

4

. Las t l y

, Barb er co n t en d s t h at th e t ri al co u rt erred i n en teri n g t h e co rrect ed

fi nal d i sp o si t io n o rd er d en o t i n g t h at h e was s en t en ced as a reci d iv i s t un d er OCGA §

1 7 -1 0-7 (a) an d (c) wi t h ou t fi rs t co n d u ct i n g a h eari ng i n h i s p res en ce. W e are

u n p ers u ad ed

.

“ A cri m i n al d ef

e n d a n t h as t h e ri g h t t o b e p res en t at al l cri t i cal st ag es o f t h e

p ro ceed in g s ag ai n s t h i m .” Her n a n d ez v. S t a t e

, 2 9 2 G a. Ap p

. 1 29

, 1 3 1 (6 6 3 SE2 d 8 0 2 )

(2 0 0 8). “ Th u s

, wh ere a d e f e n d a n t i s res en t en ced

, o r

. . . a s en t en ce is am en d ed

, t h e

d efen d an t s h o u l d b e al lo wed t o b e pres en t

. Th at i s b ecau s e a res en t en ci n g pro ceed i n g

i s a cri t i cal s t ag e i n wh i ch a defen d an t ’ s ri g h t s m ay b e lo s t

, p ri vi l eg es m ay b e cl ai m ed

6 In ad d i t i on t o h i s o t her cl ai m s o f erro r, Barb er arg ues t h at t h e t ri al co u rt erred

i n p erm i tt i n g t h e St at e t o s up p l em en t t h e reco rd wi t h a cert i fi ed co p y o f h i s p ri o r

fel o n y co n v i ct i o n fo r po s s es s i o n o f co cai n e (Fu lt o n Co u nt y ) an d i n i m p o s i n g

reci di v i s t p u n i s h m en t b as ed o n tha t c onvic t i o n. W e n eed n o t ad d res s t h es e arg u m en t s

. Gi v en t h at Barb er h ad t h ree o t h er p ri o r fel o n y co n v i ct io n s t h at m an d at ed reci d i v i s t

p u n i s h m en t u n d er OCGA § 1 7 -1 0 -7 (a) an d (c), an y al l eg ed erro r b y t h e t ri al co u rt

p ert ai n i n g t o h i s p ri o r fel o n y co n v i ct i o n fo r p o ss es s i o n o f co cai n e (Fu lt o n Co u n t y )

was harm l es s

. See W

i l l i a ms v. S t a t e

, 3 2 6 Ga. Ap p

. 4 1 8

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

( 2 0 1 4 ) (an y erro r i n co n s id erat i o n of ad di t i o n al pri o r co n v i ct i on was h arm l e s s

b ecau s e d efen d an t h ad s u ffi ci en t o t h er pri o r fel o n y co n v i ct i on s t o req u i re reci d i v i s t

p u n i s h m en t ); S t a r Mf

g. v. E d en f i el d

, 1 9 1 G a

. Ap p

. 6 6 5

, 6 6 8 (3 ) (3 8 2 SE2 d 7 0 6 )

(1 9 8 9) (an y

erro r i n s u p pl em en t at i o n o f reco rd was h arm l es s ).

13o r w ai v ed

, o r i n wh i ch t h e o ut co m e o f th e cas e can b e s u b s t an t i al ly affect ed .”

(Ci t at i o n o m i t t ed .) Sh a h eed v. S t a te , 2 7 4 Ga. 7 1 6 , 7 17 (5 5 9 SE2 d 4 6 6 ) (2 0 0 2 ).

Ho wev er, “ a s u p eri o r co u rt i n t he ex erci se o f i t s i n heren t p o wer t o co rrect i t s

reco rd s t o refl ect th e t r u t h

, m a y c o rrect a wri t t en s en t en ce wh ich do es n o t co n fo rm

t o t h e s en t en ce p ro n o u n ced o ral l y

, an d

. . . su ch act i o n d o es n ot co n s t i t u te a

m o di fi cat i o n o f t h e s en t en ce.” Ta yl o r v. S t a t e

, 15 7 Ga. A p p

. 2 1 2

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

6 9 1 ) (1 9 81 ). See Ho

p p er v. W i ll i a ms

, 2 3 8 Ga. 61 2

, 6 1 3 (2 3 4 SE2 d 5 2 5 ) (1 9 7 7 ). An d,

s u ch a co rrect i o n d oes n ot req u i re t h at n ot i c e a n d a h eari n g fi rs t b e p ro v i d ed t o t h e

d efen d an t

. Ho

p p er , 2 3 8 Ga. at 6 1 3

.

Here, t h e t ri al co ur t f

o u n d th at it s co rrect io n o f t h e w ri t t en s en ten ce was to

ex p li ci t l y refl ect t h at Barb er h ad b een s en t en ced as a fo u r-t im e reci d i v i s t an d t h u s d id

n o t req u i re n o t i ce t o Barb er an d a h eari n g. W e d i s cern n o erro r b y t h e t ri al co u rt

. As

t h e t ri al co u rt an n o u n ced at s en t en ci n g t h at Barb er was a fo u r-t i m e offen d er an d

i m p o s ed t h e m ax i m

u m s en t en ce fo l l o wi n g a di s cu ss i o n o f t h e St at e’ s reci d i v i s t n o t i ce

an d t h e ad m i s s i o n o f Barb er’ s m u l t i pl e p ri o r fel o n y co n v i ct i o n s

, t he en t ry o f t h e fi n al

d i s p o s i t i on o rd er m erel y co rrect ed t h e wri t t en s en t en ce t o co n fo rm to t h e s en t en ce

p r o n o u n c ed oral l y

. Co n s eq u en t l y

, t h e t ri al co u rt co m m i t t ed n o erro r i n en t eri n g a

14co rrect ed fi n al d i s p o si t i o n o rd er wi t ho u t fi rs t co n d u ct i n g a h eari n g i n th e p res en ce o f

Barb er. See Ho

p p er , 2 38 Ga. at 6 1 3

.

Ju d g men t a f f i r m ed . Mer ci er

a n d Br o wn , JJ., co n cu r

.

15