THI RD DI VI SI ON

ELLI NGTON, P. J.

, DI LLA RD and M C FA DDEN, 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 ls .us /r ule s /

June 3, 2015



# I n th e Co u r t o f

A p p eals o f

G eo r g ia

A1 5 A0 21 2 . ARBEGAST v . THE STATE.

M C F A D D E N , J u d g e.

Aft er a ju ry t ri al

, St ev en J es s e Arb eg as t was co n v i ct ed o f t wo co u n t s o f ch i ld

m o les t at i o n

. He ap p eal s, arg u i n g th at t h e t ri al co u rt erred in ad m i tt i ng s i m i l ar

t ran s act io n ev i den ce, b u t we fi n d t h at h e h as n o t s h o wn t h at t h e t ri al co u rt ab u s ed h i s

d i s cret i o n in ad m it t i n g th e ev id en ce. A rb eg as t arg ues t h at t h e t ri al co u rt erred by

fai l i n g t o g i v e an ad di t i o n al i n s t ru ct i o n t o t he ju ry o n t h e l im it e d p u rp o s e o f s u ch

ev i d e n c e

, b u t h e d i d n o t as k fo r an ad di t io n al i n s t ru ct i o n

. Arb eg as t arg u es t h at t h e

t ri al co u rt erred by d en y i n g h i s req u es t fo r a co n ti n u an ce d u e t o t h e s t at e’ s fai l u re to

d i s cl os e th e co n t act i n fo rm at i o n fo r o n e o f t he s im il ar tran sact i on v i ct i m s

, bu t h e was

g i v en t h e rem ed y t o w h ich h e was en t i t l ed

, t h e o p p o rt un i t y t o in t erv i ew t h e wi t n es s

b efo re s he t es t i fi ed

. Arb eg as t arg u es t h at t h e tri al co urt erred by d en y i n g h i s m o t i o nfo r fu n d s t o h i re an ex p ert wi t n es s

, b u t h e d id n o t m ak e th e req u i red s h o wi n g.

A r b e g a s t arg u es t h at t h e i n tro d u ct i o n o f ch i l d h ears ay vi o l at ed h i s co n s t i t u t i o n a l

co n fro n tat io n ri g h t s, b ut h e d i d n o t o b ject o n t h i s gro u n d at t ri al an d h e ch o s e n o t to

h av e t h e d ecl aran t s t es t i fy

. Arb eg as t rai s es ei g h t cl ai m s o f i n effect i v e as s i s t an ce o f

co u ns el

, bu t h e h as no t s ho wn b o t h d efi ci en t p erfo rm an ce b y t ri al co un s el an d act u al

p reju d i ce. W e t h erefo re affi rm Arb eg as t ’ s co nv i ct i o n s

.

1

. Fa ct s

.

On ap p eal fro m a cri m i nal co n v i ct i o n

,

t h e ev id en ce m

u s t b e v i ewed i n t h e l i g h t m os t fav orab l e t o t he v erd i ct

,

an d t h e d efen d an t n o l on g er en j o y s t h e pres u m

p ti o n of i n n ocen ce;

m o reo v er, an ap pel l at e co u rt d oes n o t wei g h t h e ev i d en ce o r d et erm in e

wi t n es s cred i bi li t y bu t o n ly d et erm i n e s w h et h er t h e ev i d en ce i s

s u ffi ci en t u nd er t h e s t an d ard o f 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 9 7 9 ).

Mo r r i s v. S t a t e , 3 22 Ga. Ap p . 6 8 2 (1 ) (7 4 6 SE2 d 1 6 2 ) (2 0 1 3) (ci t at i o n o m i t t ed ).

V i ewed i n t h i s l i g h t

, t h e ev i d en ce s h ows t h at Arb eg as t w as co nv i ct ed o f

m o les t i ng t wo v i ct i m s

, K. Q., wh o was t en y ears o l d

, an d h er s i s ter, K. B., wh o was

n i n e y ears ol d

. Arb eg as t was fo rm erl y m arri ed t o t h ei r st ep fat h er’ s s i s ter. In Au g u s t

2 0 0 3

, Arb eg as t cal l ed t he v i ct i m s ’ m o th er t o as k i f t h e v i ct i m s an d t h e i r yo u n g er

2s i st er co u l d go t o a m o v i e wi t h h im an d h is s ev en -y ear-o l d s o n . Arb eg as t ’ s car was

t o o s m al l to fi t t h em a l l an d t h e m ot h er was i ll an d co u l d n o t d ri v e t h em

, s o t h e

v i ct i m s ’ g ran d m o th er d ro p p ed th em off an d t h ei r m o t h er’ s fri en d ag reed t o p i ck t h em

u p

.

Th e m o t h er acco m p an i ed h er fri en d t o p i ck u p t h e g i rl s

, wh o were wai t i n g

o u t s i d e t h e m al l wi t h Ar b e g a s t an d h i s s o n

. W h en s h e g o t i n t h e car, K. Q. b eg an

cry in g

. H er m o th er a s k e d h e r w h at was wro n g an d s h e b l u rt ed ou t

, “ Un cl e St ev e

t o u ch ed m e

. ” K

. B. s ai d t h at h e h ad t o u ch ed h er, t o o. Th ey arri v ed h o m e, an d t h e

m o th er t o l d h er hu s b an d

. Th ey s ep arat ed t h e g i rl s an d cal l ed t h e po l i ce. At t he p o l i ce

s t at i o n

, a d et ect i v e s p o k e wi t h K. Q. an d K. B. s ep arat el y a n d t h e i n t erv i ews were

reco rd ed . Th e v id eo reco rd in g was p l ay ed fo r t h e ju ry

.

Th e r eco rd in g s h o ws t h at K. Q. t o ld t h e d et ect iv e th at wh il e t h ey were at t h e

m o vi es

, Arb eg as t “ t o u ch ed [h er] i n areas [s h e d i d n ’ t ] l i k e.” He fi rs t h u g ged h er, t h en

t o u ch ed h er “ i n t h e m i dd l e a n d t h e t o p ” un d er h er p an ts wi t h h i s h an d

. Sh e t ri ed to

s l id e away fro m h i m o n h er m o v i e s eat

, b u t h e p u l l ed h er b ack an d t h en pu t h i s h an d

u n d er h er s h i rt

, t o uch i n g her ch es t

. Aft er t h e m o v i e, A rb eg as t t o o k th e ch i l d ren t o a

v i d eo arcad e, wh ere h e as ked K. Q., “ Are we co o l ? ” As t h ey were l eav i n g t h e m al l

,

Arb eg as t s ai d, “ D o n’ t t el l an y b o d y .”

3K. B. t o l d t h e d et ect i v e t h at Arb eg a s t p u t h i s fi n g er i n h er “ p ee p ee.” Sh e

ex p lai n ed t h at sh e h ad been s i t t i n g o n h i s l eg

, b o u nci n g

, wh en “ h e to o k h i s h an d an d

p u t i t i n [h er] ,’ u n d er h er p an ti es

.

We co n cl ud e t h at t h e ev i d en ce ad d u ced at t ri al was s u ffi ci en t t o au t h o ri ze a

rat i o nal t ri er o f fact t o fi n d b ey o n d a reas o n ab l e d o u b t t h at Arb eg as t was g u i lt y o f t h e

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

. Ja cks o n , s u p ra, 4 4 3 U. S. at 3 1 9 (III) (B).

2

. S i m i l ar t ra n sa ct i o n evi d

en ce

.

(a) Ad mi s s i b i l i t y

.

Arb eg as t arg ues t h at t h e tri al co u rt erred i n ad m it t i n g two s i m i l ar t ran s act i o n s

.

He arg u es t h at b o t h were t o o rem o te i n t i m e fro m t h e i ns t an t cri m es to b e ad m i s s i b l e;

t h at h i s y o u n g ag e at th e t i m e o f t h e fi rs t s i m i l ar t ran s act io n ren d ered i t i nad m i s s i b l e;

an d th at t h e ev i d en ce was i n s u ffi ci en t t o p ro ve t h at h e co m m i tt ed t h e s eco n d s i m i l ar

t ran s act io n

. (“ Becau s e t hi s cas e was t ri ed p ri o r t o J an u ary 1

, 2 0 1 3

, Geo rg i a’ s o ld

Ev i d en ce Co d e ap p li es h ere.” B r a g g v. S t a te

, 29 5 Ga. 6 7 6

, 6 77 n

. 3 (7 6 3 SE2 d 4 7 6 )

(2 0 1 4).) A rb eg as t h as n o t s h o wn t h at t h e t ri al co u rt ab u s ed h i s di s cret i o n in ad m i t t i n g

t h e s i m i l ar t ran s act i o n ev id en ce.

At t ri al

, th e m o t h er o f t he v i ct i m o f t h e fi rs t s i m i l ar t ran s act io n tes t ifi ed t h at in

1 9 8 8

, wh en h er s o n was fi v e y ears o l d

, h i s fat h er n o ti ced so res o n t h e b o y ’ s p en i s

.

4A ped i at ri ci an d i ag no s ed t he b o y wi t h h erp es an d ref erred h i m t o a s p eci al i s t at a

l o cal h o s pi t al

, wh o det erm i n ed t h e h e h ad b een s ex u al ly as s au l t ed

. Th e s tat e p l ay ed

a v i d eo reco rd i n g o f t h e v i ct i m

, m ad e i n Oct ob er 1 9 9 1 wh en t h e v i ct i m was ei g ht

y ears o l d

, d es cri b i ng th e s o d o m y a n d i d en t ify i n g Arb eg as t as t he perp et rat o r. He

t es t i fi ed t h at “ St ev e” t o l d h im no t t o t el l an y o n e. Th e m o t h er t es t i fi ed at Arb eg as t ’ s

t ri al th at s h e d eci d ed n ot t o p res s ch arg es b ecau s e h er s o n was t erri fi ed o f Arb eg as t

,

wh o wo u l d h av e h ad t h e ri g h t t o co n fro n t t h e b o y at t ri al

.

Th e v i ct im o f t h e s eco n d s i m i l ar t ran s act i o n t es t i fi ed t h at i n 1 9 9 2

, w h e n s h e

was 1 7 y ears o l d

, s h e wo rk ed as a cas hi er at a g ro cery s t o re. On J u n e 5

, 1 9 9 2

, wh en

t h ei r s h ift s en d ed

, s h e an d a co -wo rk er, an o t h er 1 7 -y ear-o l d g i rl

, wen t t o th e fri en d ’ s

h o u s e t o wat ch a m o v ie. A rb eg as t

, wh o s u p erv is ed t h e g i rl s at w o rk an d was 2 1 y ears

o l d

, s h o wed u p u n i n v i t ed

. At o n e p o i n t

, t h e v i ct i m wen t t o t h e b at h ro o m an d cl o s ed

,

b u t d i d n o t l o ck

, t h e d o o r. As sh e was p u l l i n g u p her s h o rt s

, A rb eg as t w al k ed i n t o t h e

b at h ro o m an d l o ck ed t h e do o r. He p u s h ed t h e v i ct i m ag ai n s t th e wal l

, p u t h i s h an d

o v er h er m o u t h

, fo n d l e d h er b reas t s

, an d i n s ert ed h is fi n g er i nt o h er v ag i n a. Th e

fri en d b eg an k n ock i n g o n t h e d o o r, an d Arb eg as t ran fro m t h e b at h ro o m an d l eft t h e

h o u s e. Th e v i ct i m cal l ed h er m o t h er, an d h er m o t h er o r h er fri en d cal l ed t h e p o l i ce,

t o wh om t h e v i ct i m

g av e a s t at em en t

.

5Th e t ri al co u rt h el d t h at t h e s im i l ar tran s act i on s were a d m i s s i b l e t o s h o w

Arb eg as t ’ s co u rs e o f co n d u ct an d b en t o f m i n d

. 1

(i ) Remo t en es s

.

Arb eg as t arg u es t h at t h e s i m i l ar t ran sact io ns were t o o rem o t e i n t i m e fro m t h e

i n s t an t cri m es t o b e ad m i t t ed

. Th e i n s t an t cri m es o ccu rred i n A u g u s t 2 00 3

. Th e fi rs t

s i m i l ar t ran s act i o n o ccu rred n o l at er th a n 1 9 8 8

, a l ap s e o f 1 5 y ears

, an d t h e s eco n d

s i m i l ar t ran s act i on o ccu rred i n 1 9 9 2 , a l ap se o f 1 1 y ears

.

Befo re ad m i t t i n g s i m i l ar t ran s act i on ev i d en ce,

t h e t ri al co u rt m

u st d et erm i n e t h at th e [s ] t at e h as affi rm at i v el y s ho wn

t h at : (1 ) t h e [s ] t at e seek s t o ad m i t ev i d en ce o f t h e i n d ep en d en t o ffen ses

o r ac t s f o r an ap p ro p ri at e p u rp o s e; (2 ) t h ere i s s u ffi ci en t ev i d en ce t hat

t h e accu sed c o m m i t t ed t h e i n d ep en d en t o ffen s es o r act s ; an d (3 ) t h ere

i s s u ffi ci en t co n nect i o n or s i m i l ari t y b et w een t h e i n d ep en d en t o ffen ses

o r act s an d t h e cri m es ch arg ed s o t hat p ro o f o f t h e fo rm er t en d s to p ro ve

t h e l at t er.

1 As n o ted

, t h e o l d Ev i d en ce Co d e ap p l i es h ere. W e o b s erv e t h at

, i n g en eral

, t h e

n ew E v i d en ce Co d e el i m in at es b en t o f m in d an d co u rs e o f co nd u ct as p erm i s s i b l e

p u rp os es fo r t h e ad m i s s i o n o f si m i l ar t ran s act i o n ev i d en ce. Al g r en v. S t a t e

, 3 3 0 Ga.

Ap p

. 1

, 4 (1 ) n. 1 3 (7 6 4 SE2 d 6 1 1 ) (2 0 1 4 ). Bu t “ i n cri m i n al p ro ceed in g s i n wh i ch t h e

d efen d an t i s accu s ed o f a s ex u al as s au l t[ o r ch i l d m o l es t at i o n ]

, t h e n ew Co de i n cl u d es

[] p ro vi s io n [s ] fo r t h e ad m i s s i o n o f cert ai n p ri o r s ex u al as s au l ts or ch i l d-m o l es t at i o n

o ffen s es fo r b eari n g o n an y m at t ers to wh i ch t h ey a re rel ev an t

. See OCGA § §

2 4 -4 -4 1 3; 2 4 -4 -4 1 4 .” Id

.

6Pa r ej a v. S t a t e

, 2 8 6 Ga. 1 17

, 1 1 9 (6 8 6 SE2 d 2 32 ) (2 0 0 9 ) (ci t at i o n s o m i t t ed ). 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 i t s i m i l ar tran s act i o n ev id en ce fo r an ab u s e o f

d i s cret i o n . Id . at 1 2 1

.

Gen eral ly

, th e l ap se o f t i m e bet ween a s im i l ar t ran s act i o n an d t h e cri m e b ei n g

t ri ed g o es t o t h e wei g h t an d cred i b i l it y o f t h e ev i d en ce, n o t t o it s ad m is s i b i l i t y

. Id

. at

1 1 9

. Bu t

, as Arb eg as t co rrect l y as s ert s

, wh en s i m i l ar t ran s act i o n s t h at d id n o t res u l t

i n co n v ict i on s “ are pa r ti cu l a rl y r emo te becau s e t h ey were co m m i t t ed d eca d es i n t h e

p a s t ,” id

. (em

p has is s u p p li ed ), t h e tri al co u rt al s o m u st co n s i d er wh et h er “ t h e

p reju d i ce t o t h e d efen d an t cau s ed b y d efen d i n g ag ai n s t al l eg ed cri m es o ccu rri n g in

t h e f a r di s t an t p a s t o u t wei g h [s ] an y p ro b at i v e v al u e th e al l eg ed cri m es m ay h av e in

a p ro s ecu t io n fo r a cu rren t cri m e.” Id

. at 1 2 1 (em p h as i s s u p pl i ed ). H o wev er,

“ [p ] art i cu l arl y i n th e area o f s ex u al o ffen ses

, t h e ad m i s s i b i l i t y o f s im i l ar t ran s act i o n

ev i d en ce i s l i b eral l y

co n s t ru ed

. ” La kes v. S t a t e , 3 1 4 Ga. Ap p

. 1 0 , 1 2 (1 ) (7 2 2 SE2 d

8 5 9 ) (2 0 12 ) (ci t at io n an d p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed ). T h i s i s s o “ b ecau s e s uch ev i d en ce

t en d s t o es t ab l i s h t h at a d efen d an t h as s u ch b en t o f m i n d as t o i n i t i at e o r co n t i n u e a

s ex u al en co un t er wi th o u t a p e r s o n ’s co n s en t .” Pa r ej a

, 2 8 6 Ga. at 1 2 1 (ci t at i o n

o m it t ed ). An d “ we m

us t b e m i nd fu l t h at [t h e] d eci s i o n [t o ad m i t s i m i lar t ran s act i o n

ev i d en ce] s h o u l d be u p h el d u n l es s it i s an ab u s e o f di s cret i on .” Id

. (ci t at i o n o m i t t ed ).

7As s u m i ng wi th o u t d eci d i n g t h a t 1 1 -y ear-o ld an d 1 5 -y ear-o l d s i m i l ar

t ran s act io n s are “ p art i cu l arl y rem o t e” s o as t o req ui re at t en t i o n t o ad d i t i o n al

co n si d erat io n s fo r ad m i s s i b i li t y

, rat h er t h an wei g h t an d cred i b i l i t y , we fi n d t h at t h e

t ri al co u rt d i d n o t ab u s e hi s di s c r e t i o n i n ad m i t t i n g t h e ev i d en ce. Bo t h s i m i l ar

t ran s act io n s an d t h e i ns t an t cri m es in v o lv ed Arb eg as t co m m i tt i n g s ex u al act s ag ai n s t

ch i l d r e n

. In t h e fi rs t s i m i l ar tran s act i o n an d t h e i n s t an t cri m es

, Arb eg as t ’ s v i ct i m s

were y o u n g ch i l d ren

. In t he s eco n d s i m i l ar t ran s act io n a n d t h e i n s tan t cri m es

,

Arb eg as t

, wh o was i n a p o s i t i o n o f au t h ori t y o v er t h e vi ct i m s

, reach ed h i s h an d u n d er

t h e v i ct i m s’ cl ot h i n g an d t ou ch ed t hei r b reas t s an d v ag i n as

. “ Un d er [t h e] g u i d i n g

p ri n ci p l es [ an d ] co n s id erat i o n s d i s cu s s ed ab o v e, we fi n d t h at

, b as ed o n th e reco rd in

t h i s cas e, t h e t ri al co urt d id n o t ab u s e [h i s ] d i s cret i o n i n [h i s ] d et erm i n at i on t h at t h e

al l eg at i o n [s ] o f ch i ld ab u s e t h at o ccu rred [1 1 an d 1 5 ] y ears i n t h e p as t

, d u e to [t h ei r]

s i m i l ari t y t o t h e p res en t c r i m e an d [t h ei r] p ro b at i v e val u e to s h o w [Arb eg as t ’ s ] u n i q u e

b en t o f m i n d

, [were] ad m i s s i bl e as s i m i lar t ran s act i o n ev i d en ce.” Id

. (t ri al co u rt d id

n o t ab u s e d i s cret i o n i n ad m i t t i n g ev i d en ce o f 2 6

- ye ar-o l d ch i l d m o l es t at i o n

al l eg at i o n ). See al s o Ro ber so n v. S t at e

, 3 2 7 Ga. Ap p

. 8 0 4

, 8 0 7 -8 0 8 (2 ) (7 6 1 SE2 d

3 6 1 ) (2 01 4) (act s th at o ccu rred m o re th an 2 0 y ears b efo re were ad m i s s i b l e in

p ro s ecu ti o n fo r ch i l d m o l es t at i on an d s ex u al b at tery ); Pen d l ey v. S t a t e

, 3 0 8 Ga. Ap p.

88 2 1

, 8 2 4 (2 ) (7 0 9 SE2 d 1 8 ) (2 0 1 1 ) (s i m i l ar act o f ch i l d m o l es t at i o n 3 0 y ears i n p as t

ad m i s s i b l e).

(i i) Ar b eg a st ’s a g e a t

t he t i me o

f t h e f i r s t s i mi l a r t r an s act i o n

.

Arb eg as t arg ues t h at t h e t ri al co u rt ab u s ed h i s d i scret i o n i n ad m i t t i ng ev i d en ce

o f th e fi rs t s i m i l ar t ran s act i o n b ecau se h e was on l y 1 6 y ears o l d at t he t i m e i t

o ccu rred . W e d i sag ree.

A t r i al co u rt s h o u l d co n s i d er a d efen d an t ’ s y o ut h at t h e ti m e o f a s i m i l a r

t ran s act i o n w h e n d eci di n g wh et h er t o ad m i t s u ch ev id en ce. Dea n v. St a t e

, 3 2 1 Ga.

Ap p . 7 3 1 , 7 3 4 (1 ) (b ) (7 4 2 SE2 d 7 5 8) (2 01 3 ). Bu t Arb eg as t was 1 6 y ears o l d at t h e

t i m e; h e “ wo u l d h av e b e e n o ld en o u g h t o b e h el d cri m in al l y res p o n si b l e fo r h i s

co n du c t i n t h i s [s ] t at e. See OCGA § 1 6 -3 -1 (ag e 1 3 ).” Id

. at 7 3 5 (1 ) (b ) (o t h er

ci t at i o n s o m i t t ed ). See al s o Led f o r d v. S t a t e

, 3 13 Ga. Ap p. 3 8 9

, 3 9 0 -3 9 1 (1 ) (7 2 1

SE2 d 5 8 5 ) (2 0 1 1 ) (u p h ol d i n g ad m i s s i o n of ev i d en ce o f si m i lar tr an s act i o n co m m i t t ed

wh en d efen d an t was 1 1 o r 1 2 y ears o ld ).

(i ii ) S uf f i ci en cy o f t h e evi d

en ce th a t Ar b eg a s t co m mi t t ed t h e s eco n d s i mi l a r

t r an s a ct i on

.

Arb eg as t arg u es t h at t h e ev i den ce was i ns u ffi ci en t t o p ro ve t h at h e co m m i t t ed

t h e s eco n d s i m i l ar t ran s act i o n . W e d i s ag ree b ecau s e

9[a] b s o l u t e p ro o f i s n o t req u i red t h at a d efen d an t co m m i t t ed t h e offen s e

i n a s i m i l ar tran s act io n

. In s t ead

, t h e [s ] t at e i s req u ired to p ro v e t hat

[Arb eg as t ] co m

m it t ed t h e p ri o r act b y a p rep o n d eran ce o f t h e ev id en ce.

A co n vi ct i o n fo r th e pri or act i s n o t r e q u i red

, an d i t m ay b e p ro v en b y

ci rcu m s t an ti al ev id en ce. In t h i s cas e, t h e [s ] t at e m et it s bu rd en b y

p res en t in g [t h e t es t im o n y o f t h e v ict i m ]

.

Dea n, 3 21 Ga

. A p p

. a t 73 3 -7 3 4 (1 ) (a) (7 4 2 SE2 d 7 5 8 ) (2 0 1 3 ). See al s o Ro b er s o n

,

s u p ra, 3 2 7 Ga. Ap p

. at 8 07 (2 ) (s i m i l ar tran s act i on v i ct i m s ’ t es ti m o n y al o n e was

s u ffi ci en t t o p ro v e t h at d efen d an t co m m it t ed t h e s i m i l ar t ran s act i o ns ).

(b ) Ju ry i n s t r u ct io n s

.

Arb eg as t arg u es t h at t h e t ri al co u rt erred b y fai l i n g t o i n s t ru ct t h e ju ry ab o u t t h e

l i m i ted p u rp o s e o f t h e s eco n d si m i l ar t ran s act i o n

. W e di s ag ree b ecau se Arb eg as t d id

n o t req u es t s u ch an i n s t ru ct i o n

.

A t t h e s t at e’ s req u es t

, th e t ri al co u rt i n s t ru ct ed t h e ju ry ab ou t th e l i m i t ed

p u rp os e o f t h e si m i l ar t ran s act io n ev i d en ce b efo re t h e s t at e p res en t ed ev i d en ce o f t h e

fi rs t si m i l ar t ran s act i on

. (Arb eg as t d i d n o t req u es t a l i m i t i n g i n s tru ct i o n b e f o r e t h e

ad m i s s i o n o f ei t h er s i m i l ar t ran s act i o n .) Th e t ri al co urt ag ai n i n s t ru ct ed t he ju ry ab o ut

t h e l i m i t ed p u rp o s e of si m i l ar t ran s act io n ev i den ce i n t h e f i nal ju ry i ns t ru ct i o n s

.

10Arb eg as t d i d n o t req ues t s u ch an i n s t ru ct i o n b efo re t h e s t at e p res en t ed ev i d en ce o f

t h e s eco n d s i m i l ar t ran s act i o n , an d

[i ] n t h e ab s en ce o f a req u es t

, a t ri al ju d g e i s n o t req u ir e d t o g i v e a

co n t em p o ran eo u s l i m i t in g i n s t ru ct i o n reg ard i ng s i m i l ar tran sac t i o n

ev i d en ce. Reg ard l es s o f wh en t h e d efen d an t wi sh es t h e ju ry i n st ru ct ed

o n t h e l i m i t ed ad m is s i b i l i t y o f s i m i l ar t ran s act io n ev i d en ce, i t i s

i n cu m b en t u p o n hi m

t o m ak e a t i m el y

req u es t fo r s u ch a ch arg e. Here,

al t h o u g h t h ere i s n o i n d i cat i o n i n t h e t ran s cri p t t h at [Arb eg as t ] req u es ted

an y l i m i t i n g i n s t ru ct i o n wh at s o ev er, t h e tri al co u rt g av e a l i m i t i n g

i n s t ru ct i o n b efo re t h e fi rs t s i m i l ar t ran s act i o n wi t n es s t es t i fi ed

. An d

, th e

t ri al co u rt r e i t e r a t ed t he l i m i t ed ap pl i cat i o n of t h e s im il ar t ran s act i o n

ev i d en ce i n it s fi n al ch arg e t o t h e ju ry

. If [Arb eg as t ] wan t ed t h e t ri al

co u rt t o i n s t r u c t t h e j ury o n t he p ro p er u s e o f t he ev i den ce [an ]

ad d i ti o n al t i m e[]

, i t was h i s d u t y t o m ak e t h at req u es t

. Th e t ri al co u rt d i d

n o t err i n fai l in g t o g i ve, s ua s p o n t e, li m i t i n g i n s t ru ct i o n s

co n t em p o ran eo u s ly

wi t h each wi t n es s ’ t es ti m o n y

.

Ha r dema n v. S t a t e

, 2 4 7 G a. Ap p

. 5 0 3

, 5 0 7 (4 ) (b ) (5 4 4 SE2 d 4 8 1 ) (2 0 0 1 ) (ci t at i on s

o m it t ed ).

3

. St a te’s f

a i l u re t o d i s cl o s e s i mi l a r t r a n s a ct i on vi ct i m’s co nt a ct i n f o r ma t i o n.

Arb eg as t arg u es t hat t h e t ri al co u rt erre d b y d en y i ng h i s req u es t fo r a

co n ti n u an ce wh en t h e co u rt d et erm i n ed t h at t h e s eco n d s i m i l ar t ran s act i o n was

ad m i s s i b l e. H e arg u es t h at t h e s t at e v i o l at ed OCGA § 1 7 -1 6-8 (a) by fai l i n g to

11d i s cl os e t h e v i ct i m ’ s co n t act i n fo rm at i o n

. Th at st at ut e req u ires t h e s t at e, n o t l at er t h an

t en d ay s b efo re t ri al , t o

fu rn is h t o t h e o p p o s i n g co u n s el as an o ffi cer o f t h e co u rt

, in co nfi d en ce,

t h e n am es

, cu rren t l o cat i o n s, d at es o f b i rt h, an d t el ep h o n e nu m b ers o f

t h at p art y ’ s wi t n es s e s

, u n l es s fo r g o o d cau s e t h e ju d g e al l o ws an

ex cep t i on to th is req u i rem en t

, i n wh i ch ev en t t h e co u n s el s h al l be

affo rd ed an o p po rt u n i t y t o i n t erv i e w s u c h wi t n es s es p ri o r t o th e

wi t n es s es b ei n g cal led t o t es t i fy

.

Th e reco rd d i s cl o s es th at

, m o n t h s b efo re t ri al

, t h e s t at e fi l ed n o t i ce o f i t s i n t en t

t o in t ro d u ce t h i s s im i l ar t ran s act i o n, l is t i n g t h e p ri o r o ffen s e’ s cas e n u m b er, d at e o f

o ffen s e, co u nt y of o ffen s e, d i s p o s i t i o n

, an d v i ct i m ’ s n am e. Day s b efo re t ri al

, t h e s t at e

m o ved t o wi t h h o ld an y o t h e r i d en t i fy i n g i nfo rm at i on t o p ro t ect t h e v i ct i m ’ s

an o ny m i t y p u rs uan t t o h er req u es t

. Th e s t at e d i scl o s ed t h a t i t h ad ch eck ed t h e

v i ct i m ’ s cri m i n al hi s to ry an d had d et erm i n ed t hat t h e v ict i m h ad n ev er b een arres t ed

fo r o r co n v i ct ed of an y cri m e. At t h e b eg i n n in g o f t h e t ri al

, th e co u rt g ran t ed t h e

s t at e’ s m o t io n b u t d i rect ed t h e s t at e t o m ak e t h e v i ct i m av ai l ab l e t o d efen s e co u n s el

b efo re s h e t es t ifi ed

. Th e st at e g av e d efen s e co un s el a p ri n t ou t s h o w i ng t h at th e v i ct i m

h ad n o cri m i n al reco rd

. D efen s e co u n s el m et wi t h t h e vi ct im pri o r t o h er t es t i m o n y

,

b u t s h e refu s ed t o t al k t o h i m

.

12Arb eg as t arg u es t h at t h i s v i o l at ed t h e s t at u t e an d t h e t r i a l co urt sh o u l d h av e

g ran t ed h i m a co n t i n u an ce as a res u l t

. W e d i s ag ree b ecau s e t h e p u rp o s e of t h e s t at u t e

was s at i s fi ed . Th at p u rp o s e i s

t o p rev en t a d efen d an t fro m b ei n g s u rp ri s ed at t ri al b y a wi t n es s th at th e

d efen d an t h as n o t h ad an o p p o rt un i t y t o i n t erv i ew. Th e t ri al co u rt m ay

al l o w an ex cep t i o n t o th e ru l e wh ere g o o d cau s e i s s h o wn an d co u n s el

i s affo rd ed an o p po rt u n i t y t o i n terv i ew t h e w i t nes s

. H ere,

. . . th e defen s e

was n o t s u rp ri s ed b ecau s e t h e i d en t i t y an d i n v o l v em en t o f t h e [ v i ct i m

was ] m ad e k no wn i n d i s co v ery

.

Ro s e v. S t a te

, 2 7 5 Ga. 2 1 4

, 2 1 7 (3 ) (5 6 3 SE2 d 8 6 5) (2 0 02 ) (ci t at i o n s an d pu n ct u at i o n

o m it t ed ). An d Ar b e g as t h as n o t s h own th at th e t ri al co u rt ab u s ed h i s d is cret i o n in

d et erm i n i n g t h at t h e s t at e had s h o wn g o o d cau s e t o wi t h h o l d t he v i ct i m ’ s co n t act

i n fo rm at i o n

.

Ev en h ad t h e co u rt ab u s e d h i s d is cret i o n in fi n d i n g g o o d cau se, Arb eg as t

recei v ed t h e rem ed y t o wh i ch h e was en t i t l ed

. “ [A] b s en t a s h o wi ng o f p reju d i ce a n d

b ad fai t h

, an i n t erv i ew o f t h e wi t n es s i s t h e rem ed y fo r fai l u re t o co m p l y wi t h t h e

req u i rem en t t h at a wi tn es s m u s t b e id en t i fi ed p ri o r to t ri al .” Ca rt er v. St a t e

, 2 5 3 Ga.

Ap p

. 7 9 5, 7 9 7 (1 ) (5 6 0 SE2 d 6 9 7 ) (2 0 0 2 ) (ci t at io n an d p u n ct ua ti o n o m i t t ed ; em p h as i s

13i n ori gi n al ). Here, Arb eg as t h as n o t s h o wn p reju d i ce o r b ad fai t h , an d h e was g i v en

t h e o p po rt u n i t y

t o i n terv i ew t h e wi t n es s

.

4

. Den i a l o f mo t i o n f or f u n d s t o h i r e a n exp er t wi t n es s

.

Arb eg as t arg u es t hat t h e t ri al co u rt erred b y d e n y i n g h i s m o t i o n fo r fu n d s to

h i re an ex p ert w i t nes s t o t es t i fy ab o u t t ech n i q u es i n i n t erv i ewi n g ch i l d ren

. Bu t h e d id

n o t m ak e t h e req ui red s h owi n g i n t h e t r i al co urt o f “ wh y t h e ex p ert ’ s serv i ces are

req u i red

, wh at s erv i ces are t o b e p erfo rm ed b y s uch ex p ert

, t h e i d en t i t y o f t h e ex p ert

,

an d t h e co s t t o pro v id e th e n eed ed s erv i ces

, ” Co a l s o n v. S t a t e

, 2 5 1 Ga. Ap p

. 7 6 1

, 7 6 6

(3 ) (5 55 SE2 d 1 28 ) (2 0 0 1 ), a fact h e co n ced es i n h i s ap p el l at e b ri ef. Co n s eq u en t l y

,

Arb eg as t h as n ot s h own t h at t he t ri al co u rt ab u sed hi s d i s cret i o n

. Id

. at 7 6 7 (t ri al co u rt

d i d no t ab u s e d i s cret i o n i n d en y i n g m o t i o n fo r fu n d s w h ere d efen d an t s t at ed t h e n am e

o f t h e p ro p o s ed ex p ert

, h i s ho url y rat e an d m ax i m u m fee, an d t h at t he ex p ert was

n eed ed t o d et erm i n e wh et her p ro p er i n t erv i ewi n g t ech ni q u es were p erfo rm ed

, g i v en

t h e s t at e’ s i n t en t t o rel y o n ch i l d h ears ay

, bu t d i d n o t ex pl ai n wh at ev i d en ce t h e ex p ert

wo u l d rev i ew or h o w he wo u l d rev i ew i t

, wh y s uch ev i d en c e wa s r e q u i red b y t h e

d efen d an t

, an d h o w h i s t ri al wo u l d b e ren d ered fu n d am en t al l y u n fai r wi t h o u t t h e

ex p ert ’ s t es t im o n y ).

5

. Ch i l d h ea r s a y.

14Arb eg as t arg ues t h at t h e i n t ro d u ct i o n o f t h e o ut -o f-co u rt s t at em en t s o f K. Q.,

K. B., an d t h e v i ct i m o f t h e fi rs t s i m il ar t ran s act i o n p u rs u an t t o t h e ap p l i cab l e ch i ld

h ears ay s tat u t e v io l at ed h i s Si x th A m en d m en t ri g h t t o co nfro n t wi tn es s es ag ai n s t h i m

.

(As Arb eg as t was t ri ed b efo re J a n u a r y 1

, 2 0 1 3

, t he fo rm er ch i l d h ears ay s t at u t e,

fo rm er OCGA § 2 4 -3 -1 6

, ap p l i es t o h i s cas e. S ta t e v. Da g u e

, 32 5 Ga. Ap p. 2 0 2

, 2 0 5

(2 ) n . 6 (7 5 0 SE2 d 4 7 6 ) (2 0 1 3 ).) W e co n cl u d e t h at Arb eg as t wai v ed t h i s i s s u e.

Arb eg as t d id n o t o b

ject to t h e ad m i s s io n of t h e ch i l d h ears ay on an y g ro u n d (a

fai l u re h e n o w cl ai m s i s an i n s t an ce o f i neffect i v e as s is t an ce o f t ri al co u n sel ). An d at

t ri al

, h e affi rm at iv el y d ecl i n ed t h e o p p o rt u n i t y t o q u es t i o n t h e v i ct im s b efo re t h e ju ry

.

Co u n s el e x p l ai n ed at t h e m o t i o n fo r n ew t ri al h eari n g t h at i t was a m at ter o f t ri al

s t rat eg y ; h e d i d n ot wan t t o co nfro n t K. B. o r K. C. b eca u s e h e d i d n ot k no w wh at

t h ey wo u l d s ay

. Had he cal l ed t h em

– o r cau s ed t h e t ri al co u rt t o cal l t h em

– h e

“ w o u l d h a v e b een ro l l i n g t h e di ce o n wh at cam e o u t

. ” As fo r t h e v ict i m o f t h e fi rs t

s i m i l ar t ran sact i o n, h e ex p lai ned t h at h e d i d n ot k n o w wh at w o u ld h av e b e e n

acco m pl i s h ed b y h av i n g h i m t es t i fy

, g i v en t h at

, at t h e t i m e o f t ri al h e n o l o n g er

rem em b ered an y t h in g, a fact t h at was p res en ted t o t h e ju ry

. “ No t o n l y d i d [Arb eg as t ]

fai l t o ob ject on Si x th Am en d m en t g ro u n d s at t ri al

, b u t h e affi rm at i v el y d ecl i n ed t h e

o p p o rt u ni t y t o qu es t io n t h e v i ct i m [s ] b efo r e t h e ju ry

, t h ereb y wai v i n g h i s ri g h t to

15co n fro n t [t h em ]

. ” W a l ker v. S t a t e

, 32 2 G a. Ap p

. 1 5 8, 16 1 (1 ) (7 44 SE2 d 3 4 9 ) (2 0 1 3 )

(ci t at i o n s an d p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed ).

6

. In ef f ect i ve a s s i s t a n ce o

f co u n s el

.

Arb eg as t rai s es ei gh t cl ai m s o f i n effect i v e as s i s t an ce o f co u n s el

. To p rev ai l o n

t h es e cl ai m s

, Arb eg as t i s req u i red t o s h o w b o t h d efi ci en t p erfo rm an ce b y t ri al co u n s el

an d act u al p reju d i ce. S t r i ckl a n d v. W a s h i ng t o n

, 4 6 6 U. S. 6 6 8

, 6 8 7 (III) (1 0 4 SCt

2 0 5 2

, 80 LE2 d 6 7 4 ) (1 9 8 4); S mi t h v. Fr a n ci s

, 2 5 3 Ga. 7 8 2

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

(1 9 8 5). If Arb eg as t “ fai l s t o m eet h i s b u rd en o f p ro v i n g ei t h er p ro n g, th en we d o n ot

n eed t o ex am i n e t h e o t h er p ro n g .” W o r ks v. S t a t e

, 3 0 1 G a. A pp

. 1 0 8

, 11 4 (7 ) (6 8 6

SE2 d 8 6 3) (2 0 0 9) (ci t at i o n o m i t t ed ).

(a) Fa i l u r e t o r a i s e a co nf r o n t a t i o n cl a u s e o b

j ect i o n t o ch i l d h ea r

s a y.

Arb eg as t arg u es t h at t ri al co u n s el was i n e ffect i v e fo r fai l in g t o o b ject t o t h e

ad m i s s i o n o f ch i l d h ears ay as v i o l at i v e o f h i s Si x t h Am en d m en t ri g ht t o co n fro n t t h e

wi t n es s es ag ai n st h i m

. Th is cl ai m fai l s b ecau s e A rb eg as t can n o t s h o w preju d i ce. As

Arb eg as t co n ced es

, t h e t h ree wi t n es s es wh o s e t e s t i m o n y was ad m i tt ed t h ro u g h

h ears ay

– K. Q., K. B., an d th e v i ct i m o f t h e fi rs t s i m i l ar t ran s act i o n

– were al l at t h e

co u rt h o u s e. Had Arb eg as t o b ject ed

, t h e s tat e s i m

p ly co u l d hav e cal l ed t h e wi t n es s es

t o tes t i fy

. See Ha t l ey v. S t a t e

, 2 9 0 G a

. 4 8 0, 4 84 (I) (7 2 2 SE2 d 6 7 ) (2 0 1 2 ) (i f

16d efen d an t o bject s t o ad m is s i o n o f ch i l d h ears ay as v i o lat i v e o f h i s co n fro n t at i o n

ri gh t s, t h e s t at e can s ti l l i n t ro du ce t h e h ears ay

, as l o ng as i t p res en t s ch i l d wi t n es s at

t ri al ).

(b ) Fa i l u r e t o o b

j ect t o t h e ch i l d h ea r

s a y o n t h e g r o u n d t h at it wa s n ot r el i a b l e.

Arb eg as t arg u es t h at t ri al co u n s el was in effect i v e fo r fai l in g t o o b ject t o t h e

ch i l d h ears ay o n t h e g ro u n d t h at it was n o t rel i ab l e. At t h e m o t i o n f o r n ew t ri al

h eari n g

, t ri al co u ns el t es t i fi ed t h at h e d i d n o t o b ject t o th e rel i ab i l i t y of t h e h ears ay

t es t i m o n y o f K. Q. an d K. B. b ecau s e h e was co n vi n ced t h at t h e tri al co u rt wo u ld

h av e d en i ed t h e o b

ject i o n, s i nce K. Q. an d K. B. m ad e t h ei r s tat em en t s i m m ed i at el y

u p o n ex it i n g th e m o v i e t h eat er. An d

, h e t es ti fi ed

, h e was co n v i n ced t h at t h e t ri al co u rt

wo u l d h av e b een co rrect i n h i s ru l i n g

.

As fo r t h e rel i ab i l i ty o f t h e h ears ay t es ti m o n y o f t h e fi rs t s i m i l ar t ran s act i o n

v i ct i m

, Arb eg as t fai l ed t o qu es t i o n t ri al co u n s el at t h e h eari n g o n h i s m o t i o n fo r n ew

t ri al

ab o u t h is d eci s i on -m ak i n g wi t h reg ard t o t h i s i s s u e. In ev al uat i n g an

at t o rn ey’s p e r fo rm an ce, t h ere is a s tro n g p res um p t i on t h at co u n s el ’ s

co n d u ct fal l s wi t h i n t h e w i d e ran g e o f reas o n ab l e p ro fes s i o nal

as s i s t an ce. W h ere t ri al co u n s el d o es n o t tes t ify a t t h e m ot i on fo r new

t ri al h eari n g ab o u t t h e s u b ject

, i t i s ex trem el y d iffi cu l t t o o verco m e t h i s

p res um p t i o n.

17Hi

g gi n b o t h a m v. S ta te

, 28 7 Ga. 1 8 7

, 1 9 0 -1 9 1 (5 ) (a) (6 9 5 SE2 d 2 1 0 ) (2 0 1 0 ) (ci t at i o n

an d p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed ). “ Becau s e ap p el l an t fai l ed t o q ue s ti on t ri al co u ns el ab o ut

t h i s i s s u e at th e h eari n g o n h i s m o t i on fo r n ew tri al

, an y d e c i s i o n no t t o o b ject i s

p res u m ed t o b e a s t rat eg i c o n e th at d o es n o t am o u n t to i n effect i ve as s i s t an ce.” Jo h n

v. S t a t e

, 2 8 2 Ga. 7 9 2, 7 9 6 (7 ) (c) (6 5 3 SE2 d 43 5 ) (2 00 7 ) (ci t at i o n o m i t t ed ). St rat eg i c

d eci s i o n s are “ i n s uffi ci en t t o s u p p o rt an i n effect i v e as s i st an ce o f co u n s el cl ai m

. Th e

d eci s i o n n o t t o o b

j ect t o cert ai n h e a r s a y

. . . i s o ft en th e res u l t o f reas o nab l e t ri al

s t rat eg y

. Becau s e [Arb eg as t ] h as n o t m ad e a co n trary sh o wi n g

, h e h as fai l ed t o s h o w

d efi ci en t p erfo rm an ce.” Mi t ch e l l v

. S t a t e

, 2 90 Ga. 4 90

, 4 9 2 (4 ) (a) (7 2 2 SE2 d 7 0 5 )

(2 0 1 2) (ci t at i o n s an d p u nct u at i o n o m i t t ed ).

In an y ev en t

, as t o al l t h ree hears ay d ecl aran t s, “ i t was a reas o n ab l e t ri al

s t rat eg y n o t t o o bject [t o th e h ears ay ] b ecau s e i f t h e o b ject i on h ad b een s u s t ai n ed

, t h e

[s ] t at e co u l d hav e cal l ed t h e d ecl aran t s t o t es t i fy .” Ha r t s f i el d v. S t a t e

, 29 4 Ga. 8 8 3,

8 8 9 (3 ) (b ) (7 5 7 SE2 d 9 0 ) (2 0 14 ) (ci t at i o n s o m i t t ed ).

(c) Fa i l u re t o o b

j ect to t es t i mo n

y a b o u t s i mi l a r t r a n s a c t i o n v i c t i m ’s med i ca l

d i a g n o s es

.

Arb eg as t arg u es t h at t ri al co u n s el was i neffect i v e fo r fai l i n g t o t i m e l y o b ject

t o t es t i m o n y o f t h e m o t her o f t h e fi rs t s i m i l ar t ran s act i o n v ict i m t h at a d o ct o r b el i ev ed

18h i s an u s h ad b een p en et rat ed a n d t h at an o t her d o ct o r d iag n o sed h i m wi t h h erp es

.

Co u n s el d i d o b

ject t h e n ex t d ay , aft er t h e m o t h er h ad co m p let ed h er t es t i m o n y

.

Th e t es t im o n y reg ard i n g an al p en et rat i on was cu m u l at i v e o f t h e v i ct i m ’ s o wn

d es cri p t io n o n th e v id eo reco rd i n g o f t h e act s Arb eg as t p erp et rat ed o n h im

. Th erefo re,

“ t h ere i s n o reas o n ab l e p ro b ab i l i t y t h at t h e fai l u re o f [Arb eg as t ’ s ] lawy er t o o b ject to

[t hi s ] t es ti m o n y

affect ed t h e o u t co m e o f t he t ri al .” M i l l er v. S t a t e

, 2 9 6 Ga. 9

, 1 3 (4 )

(b ) (7 64 SE2 d 8 23 ) (2 0 1 4 ) (ci t at i o n s o m i t t ed ).

As fo r t h e h erp es t es t i m o n y

, b efo re real i zi n g t h at h e, i n fact

, h ad o b ject ed t h e

n ex t d ay

, t ri al co u n sel t es t i fi ed at t h e m o t i o n fo r n ew t ri al h e a r i ng th at h e fai l ed to

o b ject b ecau s e Arb eg as t wan t ed t h e ju ry t o k no w t h at t he ch il d had h erp es

. Co u n s el

ex p l a i n e d t h at “ p art o f [t h ei r] s t rat eg y [was t hat t h e s t at e] co u l d n o t p ro v e t h at

[Arb eg as t ] ev er h ad g en i t al h erp es

, an d s o t h at ch i l d g o t i t fro m s o m eb o d y o t h er t h an

[Arb eg as t ]

, an d t h at ’ s wh y [co u n s el ] d id n o t o b ject .” In fu rt h eran ce o f t h i s s t rat eg y

,

Arb eg as t t es t i fi ed at t ri al t h at h e d i d n o t h av e h erp es

, d efen s e co u n s el cal l ed

Arb eg as t ’ s fat h er as a wi t n es s

, an d h e tes t i fi ed t h at h e n ev er h ad Arb eg as t t reat ed fo r

h erp es

, an d d efen s e co un sel arg u ed i n cl o s i n g t h at Arb eg as t d i d n o t h av e h erp es

,

i m p l yi n g t h at t h e s i m il ar t ran s act i on v i ct i m m u s t h av e co n t ract ed i t fro m s o m eo n e

el s e.

19Al t h ou g h h e m ay h av e ch an g ed hi s m i n d l at er, t ri al co u n s el ’ s st rat eg ic d eci s i o n

n o t t o o b ject t o t h e h erp es t es t i m o n y was reas o nab le b ecau s e i t s u p p ort ed Arb eg as t ’ s

cl a i m t hat h e co u l d n o t h av e m o l es t ed t h e b oy

. “ T h e p ro b l em wi th [Arb eg as t ’ s ]

a rg u m en t [t h at t h e fai l u re t o o b ject t o t h e h erp es t es t i m o n y was defi ci en t ,] i s t h a t i t

d ep en d s en t irel y on h in d s i g h t

. To s h o w defi ci en t p erfo r m a n c e, a d efen d an t m u s t

d em o n s t rat e t h at co u ns el ’ s p erfo rm an ce was no t reas o n ab l e u n d er t h e ci rcu m s t an ces

co n fro n ti n g co u ns el at t h e ti m e, wi th o u t res o rt i n g to h i n d s i g h t .” Bel t o n v. S t a t e

, 2 7 0

Ga. 6 7 1

, 6 7 3 (3 ) (5 1 2 SE2 d 6 1 4 ) (1 9 9 9) (ci t at i o n an d p u n ct u at i o n om i t t ed ). Th i s

Arb eg as t h as fai l ed t o d o

.

(d ) Fa i l u r e t o pr es en t r es u l t s o f Ar b eg a s t ’s med i ca l t es t

.

Arb eg as t arg u es t h at t ri al co u n s el was i n effect iv e fo r fai l in g t o i n t ro d u ce t h e

res u l ts o f h i s t es t fo r herp es

. T ri al co u n sel t es t i fi ed t h at h e d i d n o t i n t ro du ce t h e tes t

res u l ts b ecau se th ey w ere i n co n cl u si v e. H e t es t i fi ed t h at h e d i d arg u e i n cl o s i n g t h at

i f A rb eg as t h ad h erp es

, t h e s t at e wo u l d h av e i nt ro d uced ev i den ce o f i t

. An d

, as n o t ed

ab o ve, b o t h Arb eg as t an d h i s fat h er t es t i fi ed t hat Arb eg as t d i d n o t h av e h erp es

.

“ Th erefo re, as t h ere was al read y s o m e ev i d en ce [t h at Arb eg as t d i d no t hav e h erp es ]

b efo re th e j u r y, i t can n o t b e s ai d t hat t h ere i s a reas o n ab l e pro b ab il i ty t h at t h e t ri al

res u l t wo u ld h av e b een d ifferen t i f [t h e i n co n cl u s iv e t es t res ul t s ] h ad b een

. . . en t ered

20i n t o ev i d en ce.” S ca n d r et t v. S t a t e

, 2 9 3 Ga. 6 0 2

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

(ci t at i o n o m i tt ed ).

(e) Fa i l u r e t o f

i l e a s peed y t r i a l d ema n d ea r l i er

.

Arb eg as t arg u es t hat t ri al co u n s el w as i n effect iv e fo r fai l i n g t o fi l e a s p eed y

t ri al d em an d earl i er i n t he p ro ceed i n g

. Tri al co un s e l

, wh o b eg an h i s rep res en t at i o n

o f Arb eg as t o n M arch 2 2

, 2 0 0 6 aft er A rb e g a s t ’s f i rs t at t o rn ey b ecam e i l l

, di d fi le a

m o ti o n cl ai m i n g a v i o lat i o n o f Arb eg as t ’ s co n s t i t u t i on al ri g h t t o a s peed y t ri al o n

J an u ary 3 0

, 2 0 0 9

. Th e t ri al co u rt d en i ed th e m o t i o n

, an d we affi rm ed

. Ar b eg a s t v.

S t a t e

, 30 1 Ga. Ap p. 4 6 2 (6 8 8 SE2 d 1) (2 0 0 9 ). In reach i n g o u r deci s i o n, we wei g h ed

ag ai n s t Arb eg as t t h e d el ay o f 6 4 m o n th s b et ween hi s arres t an d th e fi l i n g o f h i s

m o ti o n t o d i s m i s s . Id

. at 4 6 6 (2 ) (c).

Arb eg as t arg u es t h at t ri al co un s el was i neffect i v e fo r cau s i n g t h i s d el ay

, b u t t h e

t es t i m o ny of t ri al co u n s el s h o ws t h at t h e d el ay was s t rat eg i c. W h en as k ed wh y h e

wai t ed u n t i l 2 0 0 9

, co u n s el r e s p o n d e d t h at t h ere were “ a l o t o f s t rat eg y deci s i o n s .”

On e re as o n w as t h at Arb eg as t was o u t o n b o n d fro m h i s arres t u nt i l 2 0 0 8

. Co u n s el

ex p lai n ed

, “ If h e wen t t o t ri al an d l o s t

, h e wo u l d n o t b e o n b o n d

. He wo u l d b e in

cu s t o d y

. So in it i a l l y o u r d eci s i o n

... i n cl u ded t h e fact h e was no t i n jai l.” Co u n s el

ad d ed t h at h i s s t rat eg y “ i n cl ud ed t h e p o s s i b i l i t y [ t hat ] t h e t i m e co u l d w o rk i n h i s

21fav o r.” Co u n s el al s o t h o ug h t i t co u l d b e b en efi ci al if t h e v i ct i m s w ere ol d er wh en t h e

cas e w en t t o t ri al b ecau s e y o u n g ch i l d ren “ cert ai nl y h av e an ap p eal to j u ro rs t h at g o es

b ey o n d wh at t h ey s ay .” He t es t i fi ed t h at Arb eg as t “ w as o k ay wi t h [a] l et ’ s wai t an d

s ee wh at h ap p en s ” ap p ro ach

. Co u n s el t es t i fi ed th at h e fi l ed t h e d em an d wh en h e d id

b ecau s e th e p ro s ecu to r p laced t h e cas e o n t h e cal en d ar w i t ho u t n o t i c e a n d h e was

“ b l in d s i ded

. ”

“ T h e d eci s i o n t o fi l e a s p eed y t ri al d em an d i s u s u al l y t act i cal i n n at u r e

.

Reas o n ab l e t ri al st rat eg y an d t act i cs d o no t am ou n t to in effect i v e as si s t an ce o f

co u ns el .” Bo wl i n g v. S t at e

, 2 8 9 Ga. 8 8 1

, 8 9 0 (5 ) (7 1 7 SE2 d 1 9 0 ) (2 0 11 ) (ci t a t i o n s

an d p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed ). Arb eg as t h ad n o t s h o wn t h at co u n s el ’ s d eci s i o n reg ard i n g

t h e t i m i n g o f t h e s p eed y t ri al d em an d was u n reas o n ab l e.

(f) Fa i l u r e t o i n ves t i

ga t e t h e s i mi l ar

t r a ns a ct i o ns

.

A r b eg as t arg u es t hat t ri al co un s el was i n effect iv e b ecau s e he fai l ed t o

ad eq uat el y i nv es t i g at e t h e cas e, p art i cu l arl y t he s im i l ar t ran s act i o n s

. He co n ten d s t h at

t ri al co u n s el ad m i t t ed t h at h e fai l ed t o i n v es t i g at e ei t h er s i m i l ar t ran s act i o n p ri o r t o

t ri al

, p ri m ari l y becau s e h e was rep res en t i n g Arb eg as t p ro bo n o an d Arb eg as t was

res p o n s i b l e fo r al l co st s

. Th i s i s a m i s ch aract eri zat i o n o f t h e t es t i m o n y

. Tri al co u n s el

act u al l y t es t i fi ed o n l y t h at h e w a s n o t a b l e t o go t o New Yo rk t o i n v es t i g at e t h e

22s i m i l ar t ran sact i o ns

. Bu t t h e r eco rd d is cl os es t h at h e d i d t ak e o t h er act i o n to

i n v es t i g at e t he s i m il ar t ran s act io n s

. In an y ev en t

, Arb eg as t d i d n o t “ m ak e an y p ro ffer

as t o wh at fu rt h er i n v es t i g a t i o n wo u l d h av e u n co v ered

. He t hu s can n o t es t ab l i s h

i n e f f e c t i ve as si s tan ce o f co u n s el o n t hi s g ro u n d .” H ea r d v. S ta t e

,

__ Ga.

_

_,

_ _ ( 3 )

(e) (_

_ SE2 d

_ _ ) (Ca s e N o

. S1 4 A1 9 2 5

, deci d ed M arch 2

, 2 0 1 5 ) (ci t at io n o m i t t ed ).

(g ) Fa il u r e t o ef

f ect i vel y r eq u es t f u n ds fo r a n in ves t i

gator a n d e

x pe rt wi t n es s es

.

Arb eg as t arg ues t h a t t r i al co u n s el was i n effect i ve fo r fai l i n g t o s u cces s fu l l y

req u es t fu n d s fo r an i n v es t i g at o r, an ex p ert i n ch i ld i n t erv i ew tech n i q u es

, a n d a

m ed i cal ex p ert t o t es t i fy a b o u t h erp es

. As n ot ed ab o v e, A rb eg as t d i d n o t m ak e an y

p ro ffer as t o wh at fu rt h er in v es t i g at i on wo u ld h av e un co v ered

. No r d i d h e m ak e an y

p ro ffer as t o wh at an ex p ert i n ch i l d i n t erv i ew t ech ni q ues or a m ed i cal ex p ert wo u ld

h av e tes t i fi ed

. W i th “ n ei th er a pro ffer o f w h at t h e t es t i m o n y o f t h e [i n v es t i g at o r an d ]

ex p ert [s ] wo u l d hav e b een n o r a s h o wi n g th at t h e t ri al co u rt wo u l d h av e ab u s ed [h i s ]

d i s cret i o n i n d en y i n g a m o t i o n fo r fu n d s t o hi re su ch an [i n v es ti g at o r an d ] ex p ert [s ]

. . . [Arb eg as t ] h as no t s h o wn t h at h e was p reju d i ced b y an y tri al co u n s el erro r i n t h i s

reg ard .” Ba t t i s e v. S t a t e

, 3 0 9 Ga. Ap p

. 8 3 5

, 8 3 7 (2 ) (b ) (7 11 SE2 d 3 9 0 ) (2 0 1 1 )

(ci t at i o n an d p un ct u at i on om it t ed ). He h as t h u s n o t es t ab l i sh ed i n effect iv e as s i s t an ce

23o f co u n s el o n t h i s g ro u n d

. Lemer y v. S t a t e

, 3 3 0 Ga. Ap p. 62 3

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

8 0 0 ) (2 0 1 5 ) (ap pel l an t fai l ed t o s h o w co u ns e l w a s i n effect i v e wh en sh e fai l ed to

t i m el y req u es t fu n d s fo r an i nd ep en d en t ps y ch o l og i cal ex am i n at io n b ecau s e h e fai l ed

t o pres en t ev i d en ce t h at an i n d ep en d en t ev al u at i on wo u l d h av e y i el d ed co n cl u s i on s

t h at were co n t rary t o t h o s e o f t h e fi rs t ev al u at io n ); Ba r s t a d v. S t a t e

, 3 2 9 Ga. Ap p.

2 1 4

, 2 1 9 -2 2 0 (3 ) (7 6 4 S E 2 d 4 53 ) (2 0 1 4 ) (ap p el lan t di d n o t s h o w t ri al co un s el was

i n effect i v e fo r fai l i ng t o req u es t fu n d s t o h i re an i n d ep en d en t DNA ex p ert b ecau s e,

al t h o u g h h e arg u ed t h at a DNA ex p ert wo u l d h av e l i k el y ch an g ed t he o u t co m e o f h i s

t ri al

, h e d i d no t cal l an ex pert t o t es ti fy at t h e m o t io n fo r n ew t ri al h eari n g an d t hu s

d i d n o t es tab l i s h t h a t a D NA ex p ert ’ s t es ti m o n y w o u l d h av e y i el d ed a d i fferen t

res u l t ) ; T h o r n t o n v. St a t e

, 3 05 Ga. Ap p

. 6 9 2

, 6 9 4 (1 ) (a) (7 0 0 SE2 d 6 6 9 ) (2 0 1 0 )

(d efen d an t fai l ed t o s h o w t h at t ri al co u n s el ’ s fai l ure t o o b tai n a co n t in u an ce t o o b t ai n

fi ng erp ri n t an al y s is p reju d i c e d h i m b ecau s e h e d i d n o t cal l an ex p ert wi t n es s at t h e

m o ti o n fo r n ew t ri al h eari n g).

(h ) Fa i l u r e t o co n vey p l ea o f f er

.

Arb eg as t arg ues t h at t ri al co u n s el fai led t o co n vey a p l ea o ffer. Tri al co u n s el

t es t i fi ed at t h e m o t i o n fo r n ew t ri al h eari n g t h a t h e c o n v ey ed o ne p l ea o ffer, b u t h e

d i d n o t rem em

b er wh et h er o r n o t h e c o n v ey ed an o t her p l ea o ffer wh i l e Arb eg as t ’ s

24fi rs t ap peal was p en d in g

, g i v en t h at t h e tri al co u rt l ack ed au t h o ri ty t o act at t h at t i m e

an d h e t h o u g h t h e wo u l d w i n t h e ap peal

. Arb eg as t h as n ot s h o wn p reju di ce b ecau s e

h e h as p res en t ed n o ev i d en ce t h at t h ere was a reas o n a b l e l i k el i h o o d t h at h e wo u ld

h av e accep t ed t h e s t at e’ s o ffer. Br o wn v. S t a t e

, 2 9 1 Ga. 89 2

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

(2 0 1 2).

Ju d g men t a f f i r m ed . El l i n g t o n , P. J., a n d Di ll a r d , J., co n cu r

.

25