FI RST DI VI SI ON
GOBEI L,
COOM ER and PI PKI N, 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

October 19, 2020



# I n th e Co u r t o f

A p p eals o f

G eo r g ia

A2 0 A1 20 6 . TOW

N S v . THE STATE.

C O O M E R , J u d ge.

J o h n at han Kei t h To wn s ap p eal s fro m h i s co nv i ct i o n fo r t h e fel on y o ffen s e o f

m ak i n g a fal s e s t at em en t

. To wn s co n t en d s t h at t h e t ri al co u rt erred in d en y in g h i s p l ea

i n b ar b ecau s e t he St at e wai t ed o v er t wo y ears t o i n d i c t h i m fo r co n du ct t h at i s a

m i s d em ean o r. Fo r t h e fo l l o wi n g reas o n s , we rev ers e.

Th e fact s , as st i p ul at ed t o b y t h e p art i es at To wn s ’ b en ch t ri al

, es t ab l i s h t h at o n

Au g u s t 21

, 2 0 1 6

, To wn s cal led t h e Pau l d i n g Co un t y Sh eri ff’ s Offi ce an d rep o rt ed

t h at h i s car h ad b een s to l en

. A d ep u t y i n ves t i g at ed an d d i sco v ered T o wn s’ s t o ry to

b e f al s e. On Au g u st 2 6

, 2 0 1 6, t h e d ep u ty i n v i t ed To wn s t o th e s tat i o n t o m ak e a

wi t n es s s t at em en t fo r hi s fal s e as s ert io n of h i s car’ s t h eft

. To wn s ag r e e d t o d o s o,

arri v ed at t h e s t at i on , an d wro te a wi t n es s s t at em en t i n s u p p o rt o f t h e fal s e rep o rt

. Th ed ep ut y t h en co nfro n t ed To wn s wi t h h i s k n o w l ed g e of t h e cri m e’ s fal s i t y an d arres t ed

To wn s fo r m ak i n g fal s e s t at em en t s an d m ak in g a fal se rep ort o f a cri m e.

On Ap ri l 9

, 2 0 1 9

, t h e St at e i n d i ct ed T o wn s fo r m ak in g fal s e s t at em en t s an d

m ak i n g a fal s e rep o rt o f a cri m e. To wn s fi l ed a gen eral d em u rrer an d a p l ea i n b ar o n

J u n e 1 0

, 2 0 1 9

, wh i ch t h e t ri al co u rt h eard on J u l y 9

, 2 01 9

. On J u ly 2 2

, 2 0 1 9

, t h e t ri al

co u rt g ran t ed th e g en eral d em urrer an d pl ea i n b ar wi t h res p ect t o m ak i n g a fal s e

rep o rt an d d en i ed t h em

wi t h res p ect t o m ak i ng fal s e s t at em en t s

.

On Oct o b er 2 3, 20 1 9 , t h e St at e re-i n di ct ed T own s fo r o n e co u nt of m ak i n g a

fal s e s t at em en t. To w n s fi l ed an o t h er g en eral d em u rrer an d p lea i n b ar o n No v em b er

2 5

, 2 0 19

, b as ed on t h e ru l e o f l en i t y an d t h e st at ut e o f l i m i t at i o n s. On Decem b er 1 7,

2 0 1 9

, aft er a heari n g , t h e t ri al co u rt den i ed T own s’ g en eral dem u rrer an d p l ea i n b ar.

Aft er a s t i p u l at ed ben ch t ri al

, t h e tri al co u rt co n vi ct ed To wn s o f m ak i n g a fal s e

s t at em en t

. Th e St at e co nced ed t h at t h e ru l e of l e n i t y ap p l ied fo r p u rp o s es o f

s en t en ci n g an d reco m

m en d ed a m i s d em ean o r s en t en ce, wh ich t h e t ri al co u rt ad o p t ed

.

Th i s ap p eal fo l l o wed

.

To wn s co n t en d s t h at t ri al co u rt erred i n d en y i ng h i s p l ea i n b ar. W e ag ree.

To wn s arg u es t h at t he ru l e o f l en it y m ak es h i s co n du ct a m i s d em ean o r. “ As in

al l ap p eal s i n vo l v i n g t h e co n s t ru ct i o n o f s t at u t es , o u r rev i ew is co n d u ct ed u n d er a d e

2n o v o s t an d ard .” M i t ch el l v. S t a t e , 3 4 3 G a. A pp

. 1 1 6

, 1 1 7 ( 80 6 SE2 d 2 2 6 ) (2 0 1 7 )

(ci t at i o n an d p u nct u at io n o m i t ted ).

“ Th e ru l e o f len i t y ap p l i es wh en a s t at u t e, o r st at u t es , es t ab li s hes

, o r es t ab l is h,

d i fferen t p u n i s h m e n ts fo r t h e s am e o ffen s e, an d p ro v i d es t h at t h e am bi g u i t y i s

res o l ved i n fav o r o f t h e d efen d an t

, wh o wi l l t h en recei v e t h e l es s er p un i s h m en t .”

Ba n ta v. S t a t e , 2 81 G a. 6 15

, 6 1 7 (2 ) (6 4 2 SE2 d 5 1 ) (2 0 0 7). “ T h e fu nd am en t al i n q u i ry

wh en m ak i n g t h is as ses s m en t , t h en , i s wh et h er t h e i d en t i cal co n d u ct wo ul d s u p p o rt

a co n v i ct i o n u n der ei t h er o f t w o cri m es wi t h d i f f e r i n g p en al t i es , i .e., wh et h er t h e

s t at u tes d e f

i n e t h e s am e o ffen s e s uch t h at an am b i g ui t y i s creat ed by d i fferen t

p u n i s h m en t s b ei n g set fo rt h fo r t h e s am e cri m e.” Go r d o n v. S t at e , 3 3 4 Ga. Ap p

. 6 3 3,

6 3 5 (7 8 0 SE2 d 3 7 6 ) (2 0 1 5 ) (ci t at i o n s an d p u n ct u at i on om i t ted ; em p h as i s i n o ri g i n al ).

“ [T] h e es s en t i al req u i rem en t of t h e ru l e o f l en i t y i s t h at bo t h cri m es co u l d b e p ro v ed

w i t h t h e s am e ev i d en ce.” Id

. at 63 7 (ci t at i on s an d pu n ct u at i o n o m it t ed ). As t h e

Su p rem e Co u rt o f Geo rg i a recen t l y ex p l ai n ed

, wh en

o n e o ffen se h as b een cri m i n al i zed b y t wo d ifferen t s tat u t o ry p ro v i s i o ns ,

o n e o f w h i c h p ro v i d es a l es s er p u n i s h m en t th an t h e o t h er

. . . , th e

s t at u t o ry p ro v i s i o n i m

p o s i ng t h e g reat er p u n i sh m en t i s effect i v el y

ab ro gat ed b y th e p ro v i s i o n i m p o s i n g t h e l es ser p u n i s hm en t, an d th e

d efen d an t ca n n o t b e p r o

p er ly p r o s ecu t ed o r co n vi ct ed u n d er t h e mo r e

s t ri n g en t p r o vi s io n

.

3S t a t e v. Ha n n a , 30 5 Ga. 1 0 0

, 1 0 4 (2 ) (8 2 3 SE2 d 7 8 5 ) (2 0 1 9 ) (em ph as i s s u p p l i ed ).

“ [T] h e effect o f co m

p l et el y o v erl ap p i n g an d th erefo re am b i g uo u s cri m i n al s t at u t es i s

t h at t h e d efen d an t ca n b e s u b ject o n l y t o t he s t at u t e wi t h t h e l es s er p en al t y [.] Id

. at

1 0 5 (2 ) n . 4 (em

p h as i s i n o ri g i n al ).

To wn s was ch arg ed wi t h t h e fel o n y o ffen s e o f m ak in g a fal s e s t at em en t

, wh i ch

i s co m m i t t ed wh en a p ers on

k n o wi n g l y an d w i l lfu ll y fal s i fi es

. . . a m at eri al fact ; m a k e s a fal s e,

fi ct i ti o us , o r frau d u l en t s t at em en t o r r ep res en t at i o n ; o r m ak es o r u ses

an y fal s e wri t i n g or d o cu m en t

, k n o wi n g t he s am e t o co n t ai n an y fal s e,

fi ct i ti o us , o r frau du l en t s t at em en t o r en try

, i n an y m at ter wi th i n th e ju ri s di ct i o n o f an y d ep art m en t o r ag en cy o f s t at e g o v ern m en t o r o f th e

g o v ern m en t o f an y co un t y , ci t y , o r o th er p o l i t i cal s u b d i v i s io n o f t h i s

s t at e[.]

OCGA § 1 6

- 10 -2 0

. To wn s arg u es t h at t h e ru l e o f l en i t y m ak es hi s co n d u ct a

m i s dem ean o r, t h e o ffen s e o f m ak in g a fal s e rep o rt o f a cri m e, wh ich i s c o m m i t t e d

wh en a p ers o n “ wi l l fu l l y

an d k n o wi n gl y

g iv es o r cau ses a fal s e rep o rt o f a cri m e t o

b e g i ven to an y l aw en fo rcem en t o ffi cer o r ag en cy o f t h i s s tat e[.] ” OCGA § 1 6 -1 0 -2 6.

Th e i n d ict m en t ch arg ed T o wn s wi t h co m m i t t i n g th e fel o ny o ffen se o f m ak i n g

a fal s e s t at em en t b y

4k n o wi n g l y an d wi l l fu l l y [ m a k i n g ] a fal s e s t at em en t t o [t h e d ep u t y ] i n

reg ard s t o a m at t er wi t h i n t h e ju ri s di ct i o n o f t h e Pau l d i n g Co u n t y

Sh eri ff’ s Offi ce, a d e p a r t m e n t o f t h e Pau l d in g Co u nt y g o vern m en t, t o

wi t : t h e accu s ed d i d w ri t e a w i tn es s s t at em en t rep o rt i n g t o l aw

en fo rcem en t t h at sai d accu s ed ’ s v eh i cl e had b een s t o l en , i n v i o l at i o n o f

O.C.G.A. § 1 6 -1 0 -2 0 [.]

Up o n rev i ew o f t h e t w o st at ut es at i ss u e, al t h o u gh t h ere are m an y way s

t h at t h e cri m e o f m ak i n g a fal s e s t at em en t m ay be co m m i t ted

, [To wn s ’ ]

co n d u ct

, as ch arg ed

, s u b

ject ed hi m t o p ro s ecu t i on an d s en ten ci ng u nd er

b o t h OCGA § § 1 6 -1 0 -2 0 an d 1 6 -1 0 -2 6

. In d eed

, [ T o wn s ] wi l fu l l y an d

k n o wi n g l y m ad e a fal se s t at em en t t o [a l a w e n f o r cem en t o ffi cer] b y

fal s el y rep o rt i n g t o [t h at ] o ffi cer[] a cri m e t h at h e al l eg ed t o h av e

o ccu rred in [h is ] ju ri sd i ct i o n

. Th u s , b ecau s e t h es e two s t at u tes p ro v id e

d i fferen t g rad es o f p u n is h m en t fo r t h e s am e cri m i n al co n d uct

, [To wn s ]

i s en t i t l ed t o t h e ru l e o f l en it y

.

Go r do n , 3 3 4 Ga. Ap p

. 6 3 3

, 6 40 -6 4 1 (7 8 0 SE2 d 3 7 6) (2 01 5 ) (fo o t n o t es o m i t t ed ).

Co n s eq u en t l y, To wn s co u l d n o t p ro p erl y b e p ro secu t ed fo r or co n v i ct ed o f m ak i n g

a fal s e s t at em en t u n d er OCGA § 1 6 -1 0 -2 0 . See H a n n a , 3 0 5 Ga. at 1 04 (2 ). 1

1 If t h e St at e h ad in di ct ed To wn s w i th i n t h e t w o -y ear s t at u t e o f l i m i t at i o n s fo r

m i s d em ean o rs , i t co u l d hav e p ro s ecu ted To wn s fo r m ak i n g a fal s e rep o rt o f a cri m e

u n d er OCGA § 16 -1 0 -2 6

.

5Acco rd in g ly , we rev ers e To wn s ’ fel o n y co n v i ct io n.

Ju d g men t r ever sed . Go b ei l

a n d Pi p ki n , JJ., co n cu r

.

A2 0 A1 20 6 . TOW

NS v . THE STATE.

G O B E I L
, J u d g e, co n cu rri n g fu l l y an d s p eci al l y

.

Becau s e I ag ree t h at t he t ri al c o u r t e r r e d in d en y i n g To wn s ’ s p lea i n b ar, I

co n cu r i n t he M ajo ri t y ’ s o p i n i o n

. I wri t e s ep arat el y , h o w ev er, t o el ab o rat e u p o n m y

rat i o nal e fo r d o i ng s o

.

In sh o rt

, t h ere is n o di s p u t e t h at To wn s ’ s co n d uct i n t h i s cas e wo ul d be a cri m e

u n d er bo t h OCGA § 1 6 -1 0 -2 0 (m ak in g a fal s e s t at em en t

, a fel o n y ), an d OCGA § 1 6

-

1 0 -2 6 (m ak i n g a fal s e rep o rt o f a cri m e, a m i s d em ean o r). Th ere al s o i s n o d i s p u t e t h at

t h e s t at u t e o f l i m it at i o n s (t wo y ears u nd er OCGA § 1 7 -3 -1 (e) fo r m i sd em ean o rs ) h adex p ired at t h e t i m e t h e St at e i n di ct ed To w n s in Ap ri l 2 0 1 9

. T h e St at e t h en deci d ed to

re-i n di ct To wn s fo r o n e co u n t o f m ak i n g a fal s e s t at em en t un d er OCGA § 1 6 -1 0 -2 0

(a fel o n y ) an d t h e t ri al co u rt co n v i ct ed hi m o f t h i s ch arg e. Th e t ri al co u rt s en t en ced

h i m , h o wev er, as i f h e were co n v i ct ed o f a m i s d em ean or o ffen se.

As s et fo rt h i n S ta te v. Ha n n a , 3 0 5 Ga. 1 0 0 (8 2 3 SE2 d 7 85 ) (2 0 19 ), t h e ru l e o f

l en i t y h as b een ap p l i e d wh en t h e co u rt co n cl u d es t h at o n e o ffen s e h as b een

cri m i n al i zed b y t w o d i fferen t s t at u t o ry p ro vi s i o n s , o n e o f w h i c h p ro v i d es a l es s er

p u n i s h m en t t h an th e o t h er. Id

. at 1 0 4 (2 ). I n t h a t s i t u at i o n, t h e s t at u to ry p ro v i s i o n

i m p o s i n g t h e g reat er p un i s h m en t i s “ effect i v el y ab ro g at ed b y t h e p ro v i s i o n i m p o s i n g

t h e l es ser p u n i s h m en t, an d t h e d efen d an t can n o t be p ro perl y p ro s ecu ted o r co n v i ct ed

u n d er t h e m o re s t r i n g e n t p ro v i s i o n .” Id

. As rel ev an t h ere, o u r Su p rem e Co u rt

ex p lai n ed t h at

[a] l t h o u g h t h e ru l e of l en i t y m ay req u i re a co u rt t o rev ers e a co n vi ct i o n

b as ed u p o n t he v i o l at i o n o f a s t at u t o ry p ro v i s i o n t h at has b een

effect i v el y ab ro gat ed b y a d u p li cat i v e p ro v i si o n i m po s i n g a l es s er

p en al t y , t h e ru l e d o es no t al l o w t h e co u rt t o i m p o s e a s en t en c e f

o r a n

o ffen s e d i fferen t t han t h e o n e u n am b i g u o u s l y p ro v i d ed fo r i n th e st at ut e

t o wh i ch t h e d efen d an t p l ed o r was fo u nd g u i l t y

.

2Ha n n a , 30 5 Ga. at 10 5 (2 ) (em p h as i s i n o ri g i n al ). See al s o Br o wn v. S ta t e , 2 7 6 Ga.

6 0 6

, 6 0 8 (5 8 1 SE2 d 3 5 ) (2 00 3 ) (“ Becau s e t h e s am e co n d u ct co n st i t u t ed b o t h a fel o ny

an d a m i s d e m e an or, t h e ru le o f l en i t y req u ires t h at Bro wn b e s ub ject ed t o t h e

p en al t i es fo r t h e m i s d em ean o r, rat h er t han t h e fel o n y

. Acco rd i n g l y , we rev ers e

Bro w n ’ s fel on y co n v i ct i o n

. ”). In t h e i ns t an t cas e, th e St at e fai l ed to t im el y i n d i ct

To wn s fo r t h e m i s d em ean o r o ffen s e o f m ak i n g a fal s e rep o rt o f a cri m e u nd er OCGA

§ 16 -1 0 -2 6

. As a res ul t

, b ecau s e To wn s was n o t in d i ct e d f o r n o r co n v i ct ed o f t h e

m i s d em ean o r o ffen s e, th e t ri al co u rt co u l d n ot s u b s t i tu t e a m i s dem ean o r s en t en ce fo r

h i s fel o n y co n v i ct i o n

. See Ha n n a , 3 0 5 Ga. at 1 0 5 (2 ). Im po rt an t l y , b ecau s e t h e s t at u t e

o f l i m i t at i o n s h ad ru n , t h e St at e n o l o n ger co u l d i nd i ct an d p ro s ecu t e To wn s fo r t h e

m i s d em ean o r o ffen s e o f m ak i n g a fal s e rep o rt

.

3