FI FTH DI VI SI ON

M CFA DDEN, P. J.

, BRA NCH and BETHEL, JJ.

N O T IC E : M otions for r e c ons i de r a tion m us t be

p h 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 30, 2017



# I n th e Co u r t o f

A p p eals o f

G eo r g ia

A1 7 A0 89 8 . HARVEY v

. THE STATE.

B E T H E L , J u d g e.

Ch ri st o p h er D a v i d Harv ey ap p eal s th e d en i al o f h i s m o t i o n fo r a n ew t ri al

,

arg u i n g t h at t h e t ri al co u rt erred i n s ev eral res pect s

. Harv ey arg u es t h at th e t ri al co u rt

s h o u ld h av e s u s tai n ed h i s o b ject i o n t h at t h e p o li ce s erg ean t wh o t es t i fi ed reg ard i n g

i t em s fo u n d o n H a r v ey ’ s p ers o n l ack ed p ers o n al k n o w l ed g e. Acco rd i ng l y

, h e

co n ten d s t h at t h e ad m i s s i o n o f t h o s e i t em s in t o ev i d en ce w as erro r. Harv ey fu rt h er

arg u es t h at t h e ev id en ce was i n su ffi ci en t t o s u p p o rt h i s co n v i ct i on s fo r p o s s es s i o n o f

m ari ju an a, p o s s es s io n o f a fi rearm d u ri n g a fel on y

, an d p os s es s i o n o f a fi rearm b y a

co n vi ct ed fel o n

. Becau s e th e t ri al co u rt d i d n o t err i n o v erru l i n g Harv ey ’ s o b ject i o n

t o t h e po l i ce s erg ean t ’ s t es t im o n y o r t h e ad m i s s i o n o f t h e i t em s

, t h e ev i d en ce i s

s u ffi ci en t t o affi rm h is co n vi ct i o n fo r po s s es s i on of m ari ju an a. H o wev er, we ag reew i t h Harv ey t h at t h e ev i d en ce was i n s u ffi ci en t t o su p po rt h i s co n v i ct i o n s f o r

p o s s es s i o n o f a fi rearm du ri n g 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 v i c t ed

fel o n , an d we rev ers e t ho s e co nv i ct i o n s

.

On ap peal fro m a cri m i n al co n v i ct io n

, we vi ew t h e ev i den 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 verd i ct

, wi th th e d e f e n d a n t n o lo n g er en

jo y in g a

p res um p t i o n of in no cen ce. W e n ei th er wei g h th e ev id en ce n o r ju d g e th e

cred ib i l i t y o f wi tn es s es

, b u t d et erm in e o n l y wh et h er, aft er v i ewi n g th e

ev i d en ce i n t h e l i g h t m o s t fav o rab l e to t h e p ro secu t i o n, a rat io nal tri er

o f fact co ul d h av e fo u n d t h e es s e n t i al el em en t s o f t h e cri m e b ey o n d a

reas o n ab l e d o u b t

.

McMu l len v. S t at e

, 3 2 5 Ga. Ap p

. 7 5 7

, 7 5 8 (1 ) (7 5 4 SE2 d 7 98 ) (2 0 1 4 ) (fo o t n o t e

o m it t ed ). So v iewed

, t he reco rd s h o w s t h at o n M arch 2 0

, 2 0 1 5

, t he W arn er Ro b i n s

Po l i ce Dep art m en t ex ecu t ed a s earch warran t o n an ap art m en t un i t

. Aft er t h e fro nt

d o o r was ram m ed o p en

, an o ffi cer s aw a b l a c k m al e ru n t o a b ack b ed ro o m

. Th e

o ffi cer k i ck ed t h e b ed ro o m d o o r o p en

, en t ered t h e ro o m

, an d o rd ered t h e i n d i v i d u al

t o t h e g ro u n d

. Th e o ffi cer o b s erv ed a g u n o n t h e fl o o r n ex t t o wh ere t h e in d i v i d u a l

was l y i n g

. Th e o ffi cer d i d n o t recal l an y o n e el s e b ei n g p res en t i n t h e b ack b ed ro o m

at t he t i m e, an d t h e o ffi cer d i d n o t s earch t h e in d i v i du al o r n o t i ce an y t hi n g el s e as i d e

fro m th e fi rearm i n t h e ro om

. Th e o ffi cer co ul d n o t recal l t h e id en t i t y o f t h e i n d i v i d u al

h e d et ai n ed i n t h e b a c k b ed ro o m an d d i d no t i d en t i fy H arv ey as t h e pers o n h e

2d et ai ned n ear t h e g u n o n t h e f l o o r. Sev eral o t h er in d i v i du al s were fo u n d i n t h e

ap art m en t at t h e s am e t i m e, s o m e o f wh o m were al s o arres t ed

.

So m et i m e t h at ev en i n g (aft er t h e o ffi cer had p u rs u ed t h e in d i v i du al t o t h e b ack

b ed ro o m

, ap p reh en d ed t h e i n d i v i d u al

, an d left t he b ed ro o m ) a s erg ean t wal k ed b ack

t o t he ro o m . Th ere th e s erg ean t s aw s ev eral o ffi cers

, as wel l as Harv ey an d an o t h er

i n d i v i d u al i n cu st o dy o n t h e fl o o r. Th e serg ean t o b s erv ed s ev er a l p i e c e s o f crack

co cai n e o n t h e fl o o r wi t h i n ap p ro x im at el y s i x t o s ev en i n ch es o f Harv ey

, b ut d i d n ot

s ee a g u n n ear ei t h er o f t h e i n d iv i d u al s i n cu s t od y o n t h e fl o o r. Rat h er, t h e s erg ean t

o b s erv ed t h e g un ly i n g o n t h e k i t ch en co un t er, wh i ch h e t es t i fi ed was ret ri ev ed fro m

t h e b ed ro o m

. 1 An ad d i ti o n al g un was reco vered fro m a b ack p ack i n t h e l i v i n g ro o m

. 2

At t ri al

, t h e St at e as k ed t h e s erg ean t t o reco u n t t he i t e m s r e c o v e r ed fro m

Harv ey

. Th e d efen s e o bject ed

, arg u i n g t h at t h e s erg ean t l ack ed p ers on al k no wl ed ge.

Aft er co n fi rm i n g t hat t h e s erg ean t n ei t h er co n du ct ed n o r o b s erv ed t h e s earch o f

Harv ey

, th e t ri al co u rt s u s t ai n ed t h e o b ject i on b ecau s e t h e s erg ean t wo u l d h av e b een

rel y i n g o n h ears ay i n g iv i n g h i s res p on s e. Ho wev er, t h e tri al co urt l at er p erm i t t ed t h e

1 Th ere was n o t es t i m o n y at t ri al reg ard i n g wh o s ecu red t h e g u n fo u n d i n t h e

b ed ro o m an d p l aced i t o n t h e k i t ch en co u n t er, o r wh en

.

2 No ev i d en ce was pres en t ed at t ri al co n nect i ng t h e b ack p ack t o Harv ey

.

3s erg ean t t o t es t i fy

, ov er defen s e co u n sel ’ s o b ject i o n, 3 as to t h e i t em s he was h an d ed

p ert ai n i n g t o Harv ey

. Th e s erg ean t te stif i ed t h at h e en t ered i n t o ev id en ce razo r b l ad es

,

cas h , an d m ari

ju an a, wh i ch were al l o b t ai n ed fro m Harv ey ’ s p ers o n

.

Th e ju ry fo u nd Harv ey g u i l t y o f p o s ses s i o n of co cai ne wi t h i n ten t t o d i s t ri b u t e,

p o s s es s i o n o f an i l l eg al s u b s t an ce wi t h in 1 ,0 0 0 feet o f a h o u si n g p ro ject

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

, p o s s es s io n o f l es s t han an o u n ce o f

m ari ju an a, an d p o s s es si o n o f a fi rearm b y a co n vi ct ed f e l o n

. Harv ey fi l ed a m o t i o n

fo r a n ew t ri al , wh i ch t h e t ri al co u rt d en i ed aft er a h eari n g

.

1 . (a) Harv ey

arg u es t h at t h e t ri al co u rt erred b y o v erru l i n g h i s o b

ject i o n t h at

the se r g e an t l ack ed p ers o n al k n o wl ed g e t h at t h e razo r b l ad es

, m ari ju an a, an d cu r r e nc y

h ad b een ret ri ev ed fro m Harv ey ’ s pers o n

. Bu t o u r rev i ew of t h e reco rd s h o ws t h at t h e

s erg ean t w as as k ed wh et h er h e was “ h an d ed an y i t em s p ert ai n i n g t o M r. Harv ey [.] ”

Defen s e co u ns el o b

ject ed “ to t h e fo rm ” o f t h e q u es t i o n o n t he bas i s t h at t h e s erg ean t

“ m ay n ot h av e pers o n al k n o wl ed g e t h at [t h e i t em s ] o ri g i n at ed fro m M r. Harv ey .” Th e

t ri al co u rt p ro p erl y

o verru l ed t he o b

ject i o n

, as t h e q u es t i o n po s ed b y t h e St at e— o n

i t s face— d i d n o t cal l fo r an an s wer o u t si d e t h e s erg ean t’ s k n owl ed g e. Th e s erg ean t

3 Defen s e co u n s el o b

ject ed “ t o t he fo rm ” o f t h e q u es t i o n o n t h e b as i s t h at t h e

s erg ean t l ack ed p ers o n al k n o wl ed g e t h at t h e i t em s o ri g i n at ed fro m Harv ey

.

4p art i ci p at ed i n t he i nv es t i g at io n o f t h e cri m i nal act i v it y at t he res i d en ce (i n cl u d i n g a

s earch o f t h e p rem i s es ) k n ew th at a s earch o f Harv ey ’ s p ers on was occu rri ng

, an d was

p res en t i n t h e res i d en ce wh i le t h e s earch was b ei n g co n d u c te d

. Th e s erg ean t co n ced ed

at tri al t h at h e d id n o t p ers o nal l y co n d u ct o r o b s erv e t h e s earch o f Harv ey ’ s p ers o n,

b u t was h a n d e d r a z o r bl ad es

, cas h

, an d a s m al l b ag o f m ari j u an a t o en t er i n to

ev i d e n c e

. 4 T h e serg ean t co u ld t h erefo re t es t i fy as t o al l o f th es e fact s b as ed o n h i s

o wn p ers on al k n o wl ed g e, an d t h e tri al co u rt d i d no t ab u se i t s d i s cret i on i n o v erru l i n g

4 Aft er t h e s erg ean t ’ s res p o n ded t h at h e was “ p res en t ” wh i l e t he s earch es were

b ei n g co n d u ct ed , t h e s erg ean t was as k ed :

Ok ay

, s o

, s o y ou can ’ t tes t i fy as t o w h at

, wh at m ay o r m ay n o t h av e b een

d i s co v ered wh en h e was s earch ed t h en ? Yo u ju s t k n o w t hat he w as

arres t ed an d i t wo ul d h av e b een p ro to co l fo r t h em t o h av e s earch ed h i m ?

Th e s erg ean t res p o n d ed :

Search ed an d t h en h an d ed m e an y p ro p ert y t hat I t h en p lace in a b ag an d

t ag as t h e ev id en ce an d en t er i t i n t o t h e ev i d en ce.

T o ou r read i n g, t h e s erg ean t ’ s t es t im o n y cl earl y accep ts t h e p rem i s e o f th e q u es t i o n

t h at h e can no t t es t i fy as t o wh at m ay o r m ay no t h av e b een d i s co v ered wh en Harv ey

was s earch ed

.

5Harv ey ’ s o b ject i o n to t he fo rm o f t h e qu es t i o n

. 5 Al th o u g h m ag i c wo rd s a r e n ot

n eed ed t o m ak e a p ro p er o b ject i o n

, Harv ey m

u s t art i cu lat e h is co n cern wi t h su ffi ci en t

s p eci fi ci t y t o i n fo rm t he t ri al ju d g e o f th e al l eg ed erro r w h e n o b ject i n g. 6 Harv ey ’ s

o b ject i on t o t h e fo rm

o f t h e q u es t i o n was p ro p erl y o v erru l ed

.

(b ) H a r v e y n e x t arg u es th at t h e ad m i s s i o n o f t h e razo r b l ad es an d m ari ju an a

was erro r b ecau s e t h e s erg ean t ’ s l ack of p ers o n al kn o w l ed g e reg ard i n g t h e reco v ery

o f t h e it em s f

r o m Harv ey ’ s p ers o n 7 m ean t t h at a s u ffi ci en t fo u n dat i o n fo r t h ei r

a d m i s s i o n was n o t es t ab l is h ed

. In h i s b ri ef b efo re t hi s Co u rt

, H arv ey d i rect s t h i s

Co u rt ’ s at t en t i o n t o OCGA § 2 4 -9 -9 0 1 (a), reg ard i n g au t h en ti cat i o n

— an o b ject i o n

h e d i d n o t rai s e at tri al

. 8 Becau s e Harv ey d id n o t m ak e a fo un d at i o n al o b ject i on b as ed

o n au th en t i cat i o n at t ri al

, h e can n o t cl ai m erro r o n t hi s b as i s o n ap peal

. S ee Lo cke’s

Gr a ph i c & Vi n

yl S i g n s

, In c. v. Ci t i co r

p Ven d o r Fi n a n ce, In c.

, 28 5 Ga. Ap p

. 8 2 6

, 8 2 8

5 W e rev i ew t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s ad m i ss i o n o f tes t im on y fo r ab u s e o f d i s cret i o n

. See

McDa ni el

v. S t a t e , 2 6 3 Ga. Ap p . 6 2 5 , 6 3 0 (2 ) (5 8 8 SE2 d 8 1 2 ) (2 0 0 3 ).

6 S ee El l i s v. S t a t e , 2 87 Ga. 1 7 0 , 1 7 2 (6 9 5 SE2 d 3 5 ) (2 0 10 ).

7 Th e s erg ean t h ad kn o wl ed g e as t o wh et h er t h e razo r b l ad es an d m a r i j u a n a

were t h e s am e o n es h e en t ered i n t o ev id en ce at t h e s cen e. Bu t t h e reco rd d o e s n ot

es t ab l i s h t h at t h e s erg ean t had p ers o n a l k n owl ed g e as t o wh et h er t he i t em s were

act u al l y fo u n d i n Harv ey ’ s p o ck et s

.

8 Harv ey al so d i d n ot rai s e an y

o b j ect i o n as t o h ears ay

o r ch ai n -o f-cu s t o d y

.

6(2 ) (a) (6 4 8 SE2 d 1 5 6) (2 0 0 7) (“ An arg u m en t no t rai s ed i n t h e t ri al co u rt i s wai v ed

an d can n o t b e rai s ed fo r t h e fi rs t t i m e o n ap p eal

. ”). Fu rt h er, wh i l e a lack of p ers o n al

k n o wl ed g e m ay be a val i d fo u n d at io n al o b ject i on fo r a wi tn es s ’ s t es t im o n y

, s ee

To l ver v. S ta t e

, 2 6 9 Ga. 5 30

, 5 3 2 (2 ) (5 0 0 SE2 d 5 6 3 ) (1 9 98 ), it i s p h y s i cal ev i d en ce,

n o t wi tn es s tes ti m o n y, t h at i s i n i s s u e. Harv ey p oi n ts u s t o n o o th er au t h o ri t y

req u i ri n g u s t o p ro h i b i t th e ad m i s s i o n o f p h y s i cal ev i d en ce wh ere t h e wi t n es s l ay i n g

t h e fo u n d at i o n l ack s p ers o n al k n o wl ed g e th at t he ev i d en c e w a s o b t ai ned o ff t h e

d efen d an t ’ s p ers o n

. T h erefo re we can n ot s a y t h e t ri al co u rt erred i n o v erru l i n g h i s

o b ject i on t o t h e ad m i s s i on o f t he razo r b l ad es an d m ari ju an a i n t o ev i d en ce.

(c) Harv ey al s o ar g u e s t h a t t h e ev i den ce i s in s u ffi ci en t t o s u p p o rt h i s

co n vi c t i o n f

o r p o s s es s i o n o f l es s t h an an o u n ce o f m ari ju an a b ecau s e th e s erg ean t

wh o tes t i fi ed as t o Harv ey ’ s p o s s e s s i o n l ack ed p ers o n al kn o wl ed g e. Ag ai n

, we

d i s ag ree.

Un d er OCGA § 16 -1 3 -3 0 (j) (1 ), i t is u n l awfu l fo r a n y p e r s o n t o p o s s es s

m ari ju an a. At t ri al

, t h e serg ean t t es t i fi ed t h at m ari ju an a was t ak en fro m Harv ey ’ s

7p o ck et an d en tered i n to ev i d en ce

. H arv ey d i d n o t o b ject t o t h is t es t i m o n y

, 9 an d t h e

m ari ju an a w as l at er ad m it t ed in t o ev i d en ce o v er Harv ey ’ s o bject i o n. Th e q ues t i o n o f

wh et h er t h e m ari

ju an a was p o ss es sed b y Harv ey was a q u es t i on o f fact fo r t h e ju ry

,

an d t h e ev i d en ce was s u ffi ci en t t o co ncl u d e b ey o n d a reas o n ab l e d ou b t t h at Harv ey

was g ui l ty

o f p o s s es s i o n o f l es s t h an o n e o un ce of m ari ju an a. S ee Jo hn s on v. S t a t e

,

2 9 9 Ga. Ap p. 7 0 6

, 7 1 1 ( 1 ) (e) (6 8 3 SE2 d 6 5 9 ) (2 0 0 9 ) (ev i d en ce s u ffi ci en t wh ere

m ari ju an a was fo u n d i n d efen d an t ’ s p o ck et d uri n g arres t ); S ir ma n s v. St a t e

, 3 0 1 Ga.

Ap p . 7 5 6 , 7 5 6 (1 ) (6 8 8 SE2 d 6 6 9 ) (2 0 0 9 ) (s am e).

2

. (a) Harv ey arg u es t h at t h e ev i d en ce i s i n s u ffi ci en t t o s u p p o rt h i s co n v i ct i o n

fo r p o s s es 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 on y . W e ag ree.

OCGA § 1 6 -1 1 -1 0 6 (b ) pro v i d es t h at i t is u n l awfu l fo r a p ers o n t o h av e “ o n o r

wi t h i n arm ’ s reach o f hi s o r h er p ers o n a fi rearm ” d u ri n g t h e co m m i s si on o f cert ai n

d ru g -rel at ed cri m es

. Harv ey w as co n v i ct ed of h av in g a g u n “ wi t h in arm ’ s reach o f h i s

p ers o n .” Harv ey ’ s co n v i ct i on can n o t b e su s t ai n ed u nl es s t here w as ev i d en ce t h at h e

h ad i m m ed i at e acces s t o t h e weap o n wh il e p o s s e s si n g co cai n e wi t h i n t en t to

d i s t ri b u t e. S

ee Cl yd e v. S t at e

, 2 9 8 Ga. Ap p

. 2 8 3

, 2 8 5 -8 6 (2 ) (6 8 0 SE2 d 1 4 6 ) (2 0 0 9 );

9 Harv ey ’ s on l y o bject i o n was m ad e earl i er i n t h e co l l o q u y an d was l i m i t ed to

t h e fo rm o f a q u es t i o n p o s ed t o t h e s erg ean t

, as d et ai l ed i n Di vi s i o n 1 (a).

8s ee al

s o D aven p o r t v. S ta t e

, 3 0 8 Ga. Ap p

. 1 4 0

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

(“ wh en a d efen d an t i s ch arg ed un d er t h i s s t at u t e, t h e ev id en ce i s s u ffi ci en t t o s u s t ai n

a c o n v i c t i o n wh en it is sh o wn at t ri al t h at a fi rearm was w i t hi n arm ’ s reach o f t h e

d efen d an t at an y p o i n t du ri n g t h e co m m i s s io n o f t h e cri m e, t h u s g iv i n g t h e d efen d an t

i m m ed i at e acces s t o t h e w eap o n ”). Th e St at e n eed o nl y p ro v e t h at t h e “ d efen d an t

p as s ed ev en m o m en t a r i l y w i t h i n arm ’ s reach o f t h e g u n

. ” Gi b s o n v. S ta te

, 2 2 3 Ga.

Ap p . 1 0 3 , 1 0 3 (1 ) (4 7 6 SE2 d 8 6 3 ) (1 9 9 6 ).

Th ere i s n o ev i d en ce sh o w i n g t hat Harv ey h ad a g u n o n hi s p ers o n

. Rat h er, t h e

g u n was ret ri ev ed fro m t h e b e d r o o m w h e r e i t was fo u n d nex t t o an u n i d en t i f i ed

i n d i vi d u a l

. 1 0 Tes t im o ni al ev i d en ce es t ab l i s h ed t h at at so m e p oi n t aft erward s

, Harv ey

was fo u n d i n t h e ro om (wi t h a n o t h e r p ers o n i n cu s t o dy ) an d t h e crack co cai n e was

fo u n d n ex t t o h im

. W h i le Harv ey d o es n o t ap pear t o d i s p u t e h i s p o s s es si o n o f t h e

crack co cai n e, t h ere i s n o ev i d en ce s ho wi n g t h at Harv ey

, as o p po s ed t o s om e o t h er

p ers o n

, ex erci s ed do m i n i o n o v er t h e g u n

. Th erefo re, we m u s t rev ers e t h i s co n v i ct i o n.

S ee Cl yd e

, 2 98 Ga. A p p. at 28 5 -8 6 (2 ) (rev ers i ng co n vi ct i o n wh e r e t h ere was n o

1 0 T h e offi cer w h o fi rs t en t ered t h e b ed ro o m

, d et ai n ed t h e i n d iv i d u al

, an d

o b s erv ed t h e g u n n e xt t o t h at i n d i v i d u al d i d n o t i d en t i fy Harv ey as t h e pers o n h e

d et ai ned

. Th e o n l y o t her t es t i m o n y es t ab li s h i n g t h at H arv ey was i n t h e b ed ro om cam e

fro m t h e s erg ean t

, wh o al s o ob s erv ed an ot h er d et ai n ed i nd i v i d u al i n t h e b ed ro o m an d

d i d n o t o b s erv e a g u n i n t he ro o m

.

9ev i d en ce p res en t ed as t o t h e d i s t an ce b et ween t h e fi rearm an d t he d ru g s ). Co mp a r e

Gi b so n

, 2 2 3 Ga. A p p. at 1 03 (1 ) (d efen d an t ’ s p o s s es s io n o f co cai n e an d o f t he fi rearm

es t ab l i s h ed b y h i s d o m i n i o n ov er h i s res i d en ce).

(b ) Fi n al l y

, Harv ey arg ues t h at t h e ev i d en ce is i n s u ffi ci en t t o s u pp o rt Harv ey ’ s

co n vi ct i o n fo r po s ses s i o n of a fi rearm by a co n v ict ed fel o n becau s e t h e ev i d en ce fai l s

t o pro v e b ey o n d a reas o n ab l e d o u b t t h at t h e fi rearm was in h is p o s s es s i o n

. W e ag ree.

In ord er to v i ol at e OCGA § 1 6 -1 1 -1 31 (b ), H arv ey n eed ed o n ly to p o s s es s

, n ot

t o o wn , t he g u n i n qu es t io n

. Pa r r a mo r e v. S t a t e

, 2 7 7 Ga. Ap p . 3 7 2 , 3 73 (6 2 6 SE2 d

5 6 7 ) (2 0 0 6 ). “ Po s s es s io n can b e ei t h er act u al o r co n st ru ct iv e.” Id

. “ A p ers o n w h o

k n o wi n g l y h as d i rect p hy s i cal co n t ro l o ver a th i n g at a g iv en t i m e i s i n act u al

p o s s es s i o n o f

i t .” Ma n to o t h v. S t a t e , 3 3 5 Ga. Ap p

. 7 3 4

, 7 3 5 (1 ) (a) (7 8 3 SE2 d 1 3 3 )

(2 0 1 6) (ci t at i on o m i tt ed ). Here, t h ere is n o ev i d en ce t hat Harv ey h ad d i rect p h y s i cal

co n tro l o v er th e g u n b ecau s e t he wi t n es s t es t i m o n y f a i l s t o es t ab l i sh t h e i d en t i t y o f

t h e p ers o n n ex t t o wh o m

t h e g un was fo un d

.

It i s un d i s p u ted t h at Harv ey was fo u n d i n t he ap art m en t wh ere t w o g u n s were

l o cat ed

. Th e St at e w as t h erefo re req u i red t o p ro v e co n s tru ct i ve p os s es s i o n

. “ A p ers o n

wh o

, t h o u g h n o t i n act u al p o s s es s i o n

, k n o w i n g ly h as b o th t h e p o wer an d t h e in t en t i o n

at a g i v en t i m e to ex erci s e d om i n i o n o r co n t ro l o v e r a th i n g i s t h en i n co n s t ru ct i v e

10p o s s es s i o n o f i t .” Pa r r amo r e

, 2 7 7 Ga. A p p

. at 3 73 ( c i t at i on o m i t t ed ). Co n s t ru ct i v e

p o s s es s i o n m ay b e p ro v ed b y ci rcu m s t an t i al ev i d en ce. Id

. “ As l o ng as t h ere i s s l i g ht

ev i d en ce o f acces s, p o wer, an d i n ten t i o n t o ex erci s e c o n t r o l o r d o m i n i o n o v er t h e

co n trab an d

, th e q u es t i on o f fact reg ard i n g co ns t ru ct i v e p o s ses s i o n rem ai n s wi t h i n t h e

d o m ai n o f t h e t ri er o f fact .” Ma n t o ot h

, 3 3 5 Ga. Ap p

. at 7 3 6 (1 ) (a) (ci t at i o n o m i t t ed ).

Bu t “ [m ] erel y fi n d i ng co n t rab an d o n p rem i s es o ccu p i ed b y t h e d efen dan t d o es n ot

s u p p ort a co nv ict i o n if t h e ev i d en ce sh o w s t h at p ers o n s o t h er t han t h e d efen d an t h ad

eq u al o p p o rt u n i ty t o co m

m i t t h e cri m e. Li k ewi s e, m ere s p at ial pro x i m i t y b et ween t h e

d efen d an t an d t h e co n t rab an d wi l l n o t s u p po rt a fi n d i ng o f co n s tru ct i ve p o s s es s i o n.”

P et er s o n v. S t at e

, 25 2 G a. Ap p

. 4 69

, 4 71 (2 ) (5 5 6 SE2 d 5 1 4 ) (2 0 01 ) (fo o t n o t e s

o m it t ed ).

Th e g u n Harv ey was ch arg ed wi t h p o ss es s i n g was fo u n d on th e b ed ro o m fl o o r

n ex t to an u n id en t i fi ed i n d i vi du al

. A s erg ean t t es t i fi ed t h at a co up l e o f p ap ers b eari n g

Harv ey ’ s n am e were fo u n d i n t h e cl o s et o f t h at b ed ro o m

, b u t Harv ey ’ s n am e d i d n ot

ap p ear o n t h e l eas e fo r t h e ap art m en t an d t h ere w as n o ev i d en ce t h at Harv ey h ad an y

cl o t h i n g o r p ers o nal it em s t h ere. Co mp ar e Pet er so n

, 2 5 2 Ga. Ap p

. at 4 7 1-7 2 (2 ) (n o

e v i den ce t h at d efen d an t h ad an y cl o t h i n g o r pers o n al i t em s i n t h e ap art m en t wh er e

g u n s were fo u nd ). Th u s

, t h e o n l y ev id en ce li n k i n g Harv ey t o t h e g u n

, o t h er t h an h i s

11p ro x im it y t o it

, was t h e d i s co v e r y o f p ap erwo rk beari ng h i s n am e i n a cl o s et o f t h e

ap art m en t

. Th i s ci rcu m s t an t i al ev i d en ce d oes n o t p ro v i d e a l i n k b et ween Harv ey an d

t h e g u n

, n o r d o es it ex cl u de t he p o s s i b i li t y t h at t h e g un b el o n g ed to o t h ers p res en t in

t h e ap art m en t

— s u ch as t h e o t h er i n d i vi d u al d e t a i n e d i n t h e b ed ro o m o r t h o s e

i n d i v i d u al s fo u n d i n t h e l i v i n g ro o m

. Acco rd i n gl y

, t h e co n v i ct i o n o f p os s es s i o n o f a

fi rearm by a co n v ict ed fel o n m u s t b e rev ers ed

. S

ee Pet er s o n

, 2 5 2 G a. Ap p

. at 4 7 1 -7 2

(2 ) (rev ers i n g c o n v i c t i o n o f p o s s es s i o n o f a fi rearm b y a co n v i ct ed fel on wh ere

d efen d an t fl ed t o a b ed ro o m fo l l o wi n g o ffi ce r ’s e n t r y i nt o ap art m en t an d o ffi cers

d i s co v ered fi rearm s i n t hat b ed ro o m cl o s et as wel l as pap erwo rk b eari n g d efen d an t ’ s

n am e).

Ju d g men t a f f i r med i n p a r t a nd r ever

s ed i n p a r t. McFa d

d en

, P. J.,co n cu rs

s p eci a l l y i n Di vi s io n 1 a n d f

ul ly i n Di vi si o n 2

. B r an ch

, J., co n cu r s i n D i vi s i o n 1 in

j u d g men t o n l y a nd f u l l y i n Di vi s i o n 2

.

12A1 7 A0 89 8 . HARVEY v

. THE STATE.

M C F A D D E N , Pres id i n g J u d g e, co n cu rri n g fu l l y i n p art an d s p eci al l y

i n p art

.

I co n cu r fu l l y in Di v i s i o n 2 o f t he m ajo ri t y o p i n i o n

, b u t o n l y in t h e ju d g m en t

o f D i v i s i o n 1

. In m

y o pi n i o n

, t h e an al y si s i n D i v i s i o n 1 is u n n eces s ary becau s e t h e

arg u m en t s ad d res s ed t h ere are fo un d e d o n ap p el l an t Harv ey ’ s m is read i ng o f t h e

ev i d en ce.

Th o s e arg u m en t s are f

o u n d ed o n Harv ey ’ s co n t en t io n t h at t h e s tat e fai l ed to

e s t ab l i s h t h at t h e t es ti fy i n g s erg ean t had p ers o n al k n o w l ed g e t h at cert ai n i t em s

—

razo r b l ad es

, m ari

ju an a an d cu rren cy

— h ad b een fo un d o n H a r v ey ’ s p ers o n

. Th e

m ajo ri ty accep ts t h at co n t en t io n , fi n d i n g t h at t h e s erg ean t “ co n ced ed at t ri al t h at h e

d i d n o t p ers on al l y co n du ct o r o b s erv e t h e s earch of Harv ey ’ s p e r s o n [.] ” Bu t t h e

s erg ean t d i d n o t s o co n ced e.It i s t ru e t h at wh en t h e t ri al co u rt as ked

, “ Di d h e s ee it co m e o ut o f [Harv ey ’ s ]

p o ck et ? ”, t h e s erg ean t rep l i ed

, “ No

, s i r.” Bu t t h e an t eced en t o f “ i t ” i s n ot t h e i t e m s

at i s s u e, b u t rat h er “ [s ] ev eral crack co cai n e ro ck p i eces l y i n g on t he fl o o r t o t h e s i d e

o f M r. Harv ey

. ”

Su b s eq uen t l y

, an d b efo re t es t i fy i ng t h at t h e i t em s at i s s ue “ were rem o v ed fro m

M r. Harv ey ’ s p o ck et [s ]

, ” t h e s erg ean t t es ti fi ed t h at h e d id p ers o n al l y o b s erv e t h e

s earch o f Harv e y ’ s p ers on

. W hen as k ed i f h e saw t he s earch b ei n g co n d u ct ed

, t h e

s erg ean t t es t i fi ed :

Th ro u g h o u t th e en ti re a p a r t m en t I was p res en t at t h e t i m e al l s u b ject s

arres t ed an d n o t arres t ed were search ed

. I was wi t h i n t w o t o t h ree feet

o f ev ery i n d i v id u al b ei n g s earch ed ; ho wev er, wi t n es s i n g t h at w i th m y

o wn ey es b ei n g pres en t in t h e ro o m

, y es

, si r, n earb y b u t ex act l y s ay i n g

wh at was tak en fro m h i s p ers o n an d n o t t o l d b y t h e o f f i c er t hat

co n d u ct ed t h e s earch

.

Th u s

, co n t rary t o t h e fau l t y fact u al p rem i s e of t h e ap p el l an t ’ s arg u m en t s

accep t ed i n D i v i s io n 1 o f t he m a j o r i t y

, t h e reco rd s h o ws t h at t h e s erg ean t was n ot

r e l y i n g o n h ears ay fro m t h e offi cer wh o co nd u ct ed t h e s earch

, b u t i n s t ea d w a s

t es t i fy i ng fro m h i s o wn p ers o nal k n o wl ed g e bas ed o n h av in g w i t nes s ed t h e search o f

Harv ey

. Acco rd i n g ly

, al th o u g h I d i s ag ree wi t h t h e an al y s is o f th e i s s u es ad d res s ed in

Di v is i o n 1

, I ag ree w i t h t he m ajo ri t y ’ s co n cl u s i o ns t h at t h e t r i a l co u rt co rrect l y

2o v erru l ed t h e ev i d en t iary o b ject i o n s i n q ue stion a nd tha t t h ere was s u ffi ci en t ev i d en ce

t o s u p p o rt t h e m ari

ju an a co n v ict i o n

.

3