FI FTH DI VI SI ON

RI CKM A N, C. J.

, M CFA DDEN, P. J.

, and SENI OR A PPELLA TE JUDGE PHI PPS

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.

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. ga a ppe a ls .us /r ule s

D E A D LIN E S A R E N O LO N G E R TO LLE D IN T

H I S

C O U R T. A LL FILIN G S M U ST B E S U B M I TTE D WITH IN

TH E TIM E S S E T B Y

O U R C O U R T R U LE S

.

Septem ber 23, 2021



# I n th e Co u r t o f

A p p eals o f

G eo r g ia

A2 1 A1 03 7 . TARIQ-M ADYUN v . THE STATE.

M C F A D D E N , Pres id i n g J u d g e.

Aft er a ju ry t ri al

, Kal eem Tari q -M ad y u n was co n v i ct ed o f arm ed ro b b ery

. He

arg u es o n ap p eal t h at t h e t ri al co urt erred in al l o wi n g h im t o wai v e h is r i g h t to

co u ns el an d rep res en t h i m s el f at t ri al

, b u t h is co l l oq u y wi th t h e tri al co u rt o n t h e i s s u e

o f s el f-rep res en tat i o n s u p p o rt ed t h e ru l i n g

. H e a r g u e s t h at t h e t ri al co u rt erred in

ad m i t t i ng ev i d en ce o f h i s p ri o r ro b b ery co n vi ct i o n s

, bu t he h as n ot 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 io n

. Fi n al l y

, h e arg u es t h at t h e t ri al c o u r t erred in

s en t en ci n g h i m as a reci d iv i s t, b u t n on e o f h is arg u m en ts i n s u p p ort of t h i s cl ai m o f

erro r h av e m eri t . So we affi rm

.

1

. Fa ct s a n d p r o ced

ur a l h i s to r y.Tari q -M ad y un h as n ot ch al l en g ed t h e s u ffi ci en cy o f t h e ev i den ce s u p p o rt i n g

h i s co n v i ct i o n s an d o u r res o l ut i o n o f h i s cl ai m s of erro r rel at i n g to h is wai v er o f t h e

ri gh t to co u n s el an d h i s reci d i v i s t s en t en ce d o n o t r e s t o n a rev i ew o f t h e t ri al

ev i d en ce. Hi s cl ai m o f erro r rel at i n g t o t h e ad m is s i o n o f t h e o t h er act s ev i d en ce,

h o wev er, req u i res a cl o s e as s es s m en t o f t h at ev id en ce wi t h in t h e co n t ex t o f al l o f t h e

ev i d en ce p res en t ed at t ri al

. Fo r t h at reas o n

, “ we l ay o u t t h e ev id en ce i n co n s i d erab l e

d et ai l an d n o t o n l y i n t h e li g h t m o s t fav o rab le t o t h e ju ry ’ s v erd i ct s .” Hea r d v. S t a t e

,

3 0 9 Ga. 7 6 , 7 7 (1 ) n . 2 (8 4 4 SE2 d 7 91 ) (2 0 2 0 ).

Th e tri al ev i d en ce s h o wed t h at b et ween 5 a.m

. an d 6 a.m

. on Oct o b er 1 3

, 2 0 1 8,

a m an ro b b ed a fas t fo o d res t au ran t s ho rt l y aft er i t o p en ed

. He was t al l an d wo re b l ack

cl o t h i n g i n cl u di n g a h o od i e, g l o v e s

, a n d a m as k t h at co v ered h i s en t i re face. He

carri ed a g u n

.

Th e ro b b er en t ered t h e res t au ran t an d p o i n t ed a gu n at t h e fi rs t p ers o n h e

en co un t ered

, sp eak i n g s o f t l y t o h er an d t el l i n g h er t o b e q u i et an d g at h er h er

b el o n g i n gs

. H e t h en fo rced al l o f t h e em p lo y ees

, at g u n po i n t

, i n t o t h e wal k -i n co o l er

at t he b ack o f t h e s t o re. He d em an ded th at th e res t au ran t ’ s m an ag er t ak e h i m t o t h e

res t au ran t o ffi ce. Two m an ag ers acco m p an i ed h i m t h ere. Th e ro b b er a p peared to

k n o w t h at t h e o ffi ce s afe wo u ld co n t ai n en v el op es wi t h m o n ey

, wh i ch he d em an d ed

.

2At h i s d i rect io n, t h e m an ag ers rem o v ed t h e m o n ey fro m t h e s afe an d p l aced i t i n t o a

b ag t h at t h e m an had t ak en fro m a n earb y t ras h can an d h el d o u t t o t h em

. Th e m o n ey

t ak en b y t h e ro b b er was m ai n l y

i n d en o m i n at i o n s o f fi ve- an d o n e-d o l l ar b i l l s

.

Th e ro b b er t o o k t h e t wo m an ag ers b ack to t h e co o l er, ag ai n at g u n p oi n t

, t h en

l eft t h e res t au ran t an d ran i n t o an ad jacen t wo o d ed area. M ean wh i l e, t h e em p l o y ees

es cap ed th ro u g h th e co o l er’ s e x t e ri o r d oo r an d ran acro s s a p ark i n g l o t t o an o t h er

res t au ran t wh ere l aw en fo rcem en t o ffi cers were eat i n g

. T h os e offi cers i m m ed i at el y

cal l ed fo r b ack u p an d beg an i n v es t i g at i n g t h e ro b b ery

.

In v es t i g at in g l aw en fo rcem en t o ffi cers l earn ed t h at , ab o u t an h ou r b efo re t h e

ro b b ery , an o t h er o ffi cer h ad s p o t t ed a car o n an acces s ro ad o n th e o t h er s id e o f t h e

wo o d ed area in to wh i ch t h e ro b b er h ad fl ed

, ap p ro x i m at el y 1 0 0 y ard s fro m t h e

res t au ran t

. Bel i ev i n g t h e car was ab an do n e d

, t h e o ffi cer h ad t ak en d o wn i t s t ag

n u m b er. W h en th e in ves ti g at o rs wen t t o t h e acces s ro ad to fi n d t hat car, i t was g o ne.

Fro m i t s t ag nu m

b er, t h ey l earn ed t h at t h e car h ad b een ren t ed s ev eral d ay s b efo re by

T a r i q -M ad y

u n

, a ri d e-s h are d ri v er wh o h ad b een wo rk in g i n t h e area t h e pre v i o u s

ev en in g

.

Aft er o b t ai n in g a warran t

, l aw en fo rcem en t o ffi cers s earch ed Tari q -M ad y u n ’ s

h o m e an d t h e ren t al car. In h is b ed ro o m

, t h ey fo u n d b l ack cl o t h i n g an d a cel l p h o n e

3i n a cas e t h at al s o co nt ai n ed Tari q -M ad y u n ’ s d ri v er’ s l i cen s e. In t he car t h ey fo u n d

$ 7 4 in d en o m i n at i on s of fi ve- an d o ne-d o l l ar b i ll s

, a fu l l -face m as k, g l o v es

, an d s h o es

m at ch i n g t ho s e w o rn b y t h e ro bb er, an d a g u n

. Tari q -M ad y u n ’ s DNA was fo u n d o n

t h e m as k

. Cel l u l ar p h on e reco rd s p l aced Tari q -M ad y u n ’ s p h on e a t t h e acces s ro ad

aro u n d 4 a.m . t h e m o rn i n g o f t h e ro b b ery

.

No n e of t h e v i ct i m s affi rm at i v el y i den t i fi ed Tari q-M ad y u n as t h e ro b b er. On e

o f t h e v i ct i m s, h o w e v e r

, t es t i fi ed t h at s h e co u l d di s cern t h e s h ap e of t h e ro b b er’ s

faci al feat u res t h ro u g h h i s fab ri c face m as k

, wh i ch res t ed t i g h t l y ag ai n s t h i s face, an d

t h at t h e feat u res m at ch ed t h o s e o f Tari q-M ad y u n

.

Th e s t at e p res en t ed ev id en ce th at

, i n 2 0 0 6

, Tari q -M ad y un h ad p l ead ed g ui l t y

t o an d b een co n vi ct ed o f s ev eral arm ed ro bb eri es o f fas t -fo od res t au ran t s o r o t h er,

s i m i l ar res t au ran t s i n Al ab am a. In each o f t h o se ro b b eri es

, Tari q -M ad y un h ad en t ered

t h e res t au ran t at a t i m e t h at was n o t v ery b u s y

, ei t h er s ho rt l y aft er o p en i n g o r s h o rt l y

b efo re cl o s in g; h ad w o rn b l ack cl o t h i n g i n cl u d i n g a h o o d o r h at an d a m as k ; h ad wo rn

g l o v e s ; h ad p o s s es s ed t h e sam e t y p e o f g u n (a b l ack

, s em i au t o m at i c p i s t o l ) ; h a d

s p o k en t o t h e fi rs t p e r s o n h e ap p ro ach ed w i t h a cal m d em ean o r; h ad fo rced t h e

res t au ran t em

p l o y ees at g u np o i n t in t o t h e b ack o f th e res t au ran t an d m ad e t h em l i e

o n t h e fl o o r; h ad s in g l ed o u t a p ers o n t o acco m p an y h im to t h e pl ace w h ere t h e

4res t au ran t k ep t i t s m on ey

, s u ch as t h e o ffi ce; h ad i n s t ru ct ed t h at p ers o n t o p l ace t h e

m o ney i n t o a b ag t h at h e h el d o u t t o t h em ; h ad t h en m ad e th at p ers o n ret urn t o t h e

g ro u p o f em

p l oy ees ; an d h ad l eft t h e p rem i s es o n fo ot

.

2

. W a i ver o f t h e r i g h t t o co u n s el

.

Tari q -M ad y

u n a r g u e s t h at th e t ri al co u rt erred i n accep t i n g hi s wai ver o f h i s

ri gh t t o co u n s el w i th o u t fi rs t ad v i s i n g h i m t h at h i s “ s ov erei g n ci t i zen ” defen s e was

m eri t l es s . W e d i s ag ree.

A cri m i n al d efen d an t “ h as a fu n d am en t al ri g h t t o rep res en t h i m s el f in a s t at e

cri m i n al tri al w h en h e vo l u n tari l y an d i n t el l ig en t l y el ect s t o d o so .” Cl ar ke v. Za n t

,

2 4 7 Ga. 1 9 4

, 1 9 5 (2 7 5 SE2 d 4 9) (1 9 8 1 ) (ci t at io n an d p u n ct u at i on o m i t ted ). “ Un d er

Fa r et t a [ v. Ca l i

f o rn i a , 4 2 2 U. S. 8 0 6 (9 5 SCt 2 5 2 5 , 4 5 LE2 d 5 6 2 ) (1 9 7 5 ),] t h e t ri al

co u r t m u s t ap p ri s e t h e d efen d an t o f t h e d an gers an d d i s ad v an t ag es i nh eren t in

rep res en t i n g hi m s el f s o t h at t h e reco rd wi l l es t ab li s h th at h e k n o ws wh at h e i s d o i n g

an d h i s ch o i ce i s m ad e wi t h ey es o p en .” St a t e v. Eva n s

, 2 8 5 Ga. 6 7, 6 8 (6 7 3 SE2 d

2 4 3 ) (2 00 9 ) (ci tat i o n an d pu nct u at i on o m i t t ed ). On ap p eal

, t h e s t at e b ears t h e “ b u rd en

o f s h o wi n g t h at [t h e] d ef

e nda nt r ecei v ed s u ffi ci en t in fo rm at io n an d g u id an ce fro m t h e

t ri al co u rt t o m ak e a kn o wi n g an d i n t el li g en t w ai v er o f t h e r i g h t t o t ri al co un s el [.] ”

Ren fr o v. S t a t e

, 3 4 8 Ga. Ap p

. 6 1 5

, 6 1 7 (2 ) (8 2 4 SE2 d 7 5 ) (2 0 1 9 ) (ci t at i o n an d

5p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed ). W e rev i ew t h e t r i a l c o urt ’ s ru l i n g o n t h i s i s s u e fo r ab u s e o f

d i s cret i o n . Id

.

T he reco rd s h o ws t h at

, aft er Tari q -M ad y un st at ed h i s d es i re t o rep res e n t

h i m s el f, t h e t ri al co u rt en g ag ed i n a wai v er co l l o q u y wi t h h i m

. See g en eral ly W i g g i n s

v. S t a t e

, 29 8 Ga. 3 6 6, 3 6 8 (2 ) (7 8 2 SE2 d 3 1 ) (2 01 6 ) (o n ce a defen d an t m ak es a p ret ri al

, un eq u i vo cal as sert i o n o f t h e ri gh t t o s el f-rep res e n t at i o n

, t he t ri al co u rt m u s t

en g ag e i n a h eari n g t o en su re t h e d efen dan t k n o wi n gl y an d i n t el l i g en tl y wai v es h i s

ri gh t to co u n s el ). Th e t ri al co u rt s et o u t t h e o ffen s es al l eg ed i n th e i nd i ct m en t an d

i n fo rm ed Tari q-M ad y

u n of th e m ax i m

um p en al t y fo r each o ffe n s e

. Th e t ri al co u rt

i n fo rm ed Tari q -M ad y

u n t h at he m i g h t h av e p o s s i b l e d efen ses t o th e ch arg es o r o t h er

arg u m en t s i n fav or o f acq u i t t al an d t o l d h im t h at an at t o rn ey co ul d g i v e h i m

“ i n dep en d en t p ers p ect i v e

. . . i n an al y zi n g

, rev i ewi n g

, an d p res en t in g t h e cas e i n t h e

m o s t effect i ve way

. ” Th e t ri al co u rt s tat ed t h at s el f-rep res en t at i o n “ m ay res u l t in

co n seq u en ces t o [Tari q -M ad y u n ’ s ] d et ri m en t ” an d warn ed h i m o f d i s ad v an t ag es to

s el f-rep res en t at i on : t h at Tari q -M ad y u n wo u l d n o t b e en ti t l ed to an y s p eci al t reat m en t

fro m ei t h er t h e t ri al c o u rt o r t h e p ro s ecu to r; t h at h e wo u l d b e as s u m i n g fu l l

res p o n s i b i l i t y fo r hi s d efen s e, i ncl u d i n g as t o “ t h e t ech n i cal ru l es o f s ub s t an t i v e l aw,

cri m i n al p ro ced u re, an d ev i d en ce fo r m ak in g m o t io n s

, o b j ect i o n s

, p res en t at i o n o f t h e

6ev i d en ce, a n d a l l o t h er m at t eres rel at ed t o th i s t ri al ”; an d t hat h e m i g ht “ m i ss

i m p o rt an t d efen s es t o th e cas e b ecau s e o f [h i s ] l ack o f k n o wl e d g e o f t he l aw[.] ” In

res p o n s e t o q u es t i o n s fro m t h e t ri al co u rt

, Tari q-M ad y u n co n fi rm ed t h at he h ad a h i g h

s ch o ol eq u i v al en cy d i p l o m a, t h at h e co u l d read an d wri t e t h e En g l i s h l an g u ag e, t h at

h e was n o t cu rren tl y u n d er th e care o f an y m en t al h eal t h p ro fes s i o n al

, an d t h at h e was

n o t cu rren t l y u n der t h e in fl u en ce o f an y d ru g s, p res cri p t i o n m ed icat i o n s

, o r al co h o l

.

Tari q -M ad y

un t h e n m ad e a s t at em en t t o t h e t ri al co u rt s ug g es t i ng t h at h e

i n t en d ed t o p u rs ue a “ s o v erei gn ci t i zen ”-t y p e d efen s e an d as k ed t h e t ri al co u rt i f t h e

co u rt h ad “

ju ri s d i c t i o n o v er t h e m at t er an d pers o n at t h i s p oi nt in t i m e[.] ” Th e t ri al

co u rt res p o n d ed t h at i t d i d “ ex erci s e p ro p er ju ri s d i ct io n ” i n t h e cas e. T ari q -M ad y u n

s t at ed t h at h e h ad n o fu rt h er qu es t i o n s

, an d t h e t ri al co u rt fo u n d t h at h e h ad “ freel y

,

k n o wi n g l y

, an d v o l u n t ari l y ch o s en t o wai v e co un s el an d rep res en t h i m sel f,” h el d t h at

h e co u l d p ro ceed p ro s e, an d ap p o i n t ed h i s fo rm er co u n s el as st an d by co u n s el fo r t h e

t ri al

.

Th e t ri al co u rt ’ s co l l o q uy wi t h Tari q -M ad y u n s u ffi ci en t l y ap p ri s ed h i m o f t h e

d an gers an d d i s ad van t ag es i n h eren t i n s el f-r e pr e s e nta ti o n. See S t a t e v. Eva n s

, 2 8 5 Ga.

6 7

, 6 8 (6 7 3 SE2 d 24 3 ) (2 0 0 9 ); H a yn es v. S t a te

, 3 5 6 G a. Ap p

. 6 3 1

, 63 4 (1 ) (8 4 8 SE2 d

6 4 4 ) (2 02 0 ). Co m

p are Ma r ti n -Ar

g aw v. S t a t e

, 3 4 3 G a. Ap p

. 8 6 4

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

72 4 7 ) (2 0 17 ) (rev ers i n g co n vi ct i o n an d rem an di n g cas e fo r n ew t ri al wh ere t h e “ t ri al

co u rt d i d n o t a r t i cu l at e on th e reco rd an ex p res s fi n d in g t h at [t he d efen d an t ]

k n o wi n g l y an d vo lu n t ari l y w ai ved h i s ri g ht t o co u n s el ” an d t he reco rd as a wh o l e d id

n o t d em on s trat e t h at th e d e f e n d an t was m ad e aware o f t he d an g ers o f s el frep res en t at i o n b ey o nd th e fact t h at “ h e wo ul d b e req ui red to ab id e b y ev id en t i ary an d

p ro ced ural ru l es wi t ho ut t h e co u rt ’ s as si s t an ce”).

Nev ert h el es s

, Tari q -M ad y u n arg u es t h at th e t ri al co u rt was al s o req ui red t o t el l

h i m t h at hi s s o v erei g n ci t i zen d efen s e wo u l d n ot s u cceed

. “ Th e s o -cal l ed so v erei g n

ci t i zen d efen s e is o n e i n w hi ch an i n d i v i d u al cl ai m s t h at h e o r s h e i s n o t s u b ject t o t h e

ju ri s d i ct i o n of co urt s an d g o v ern m en t ag en ci es

, a l l eg i n g t h at t h e g o v ern m en t i s

i l leg i t i m at e, an d i t i s a d efen s e t h at h as n o co n cei v ab l e v al i d i ty i n Am eri can l aw.”

Mo r ma n v. S t a t e , 3 56 G a. Ap p

. 6 8 5, 6 8 6 n . 2 (8 4 8 SE2 d 1 6 5 ) (2 0 2 0 ) (ci t at i o n s an d

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

Al t h ou g h T ari q -M ad y

u n ack n o wl ed g es i n h i s ap p el l at e b ri ef th at “ [t ] h ere i s n o

p res en t cas e l aw req u i ri ng a s p eci fi c ad v i s em en t t h at s ov erei g n ci ti zen d efen s es are

fu t i l e,” h e as k s u s t o ex t en d o u r ex i s t i n g l aw to m an d at e s u ch a b ri gh t -l i n e ru l e. W e

d ecl i ne t o d o s o. Deci s i o n s o f o u r Su prem e Co u rt an d t h i s co u rt m ak e cl ear t h at t h e

v al i d i t y o f a wai v er o f co u n s el i s a cas e-b y -cas e d et erm i nat i on , an d, i n m ak i n g t h at

8d et erm i n at i o n

, t h e t ri al co u rt i s n o t req u i red t o u s e an y p art i cu lar lan g u ag e, p ro b e a

d efen d an t ’ s cas e an d ad vi s e h i m o n l eg al s t rat eg y

, m ak e an y s p e c i f i c i n q ui ri es o f a

d e f en dan t

, o r ap p ri s e a d efen d an t o f t he s peci fi c d an g ers o f s el f-rep res en t at i o n

i n h eren t in t h e d efen d an t ’ s p art i cu l ar cas e. See, e.g

., W i g gi n s v. S t a t e , 2 98 Ga. 3 6 6,

3 6 9 (2 ) (7 8 2 SE2 d 3 1 ) (2 0 1 6); Eva ns

, 2 8 5 Ga. at 6 9 ; Jo n es v. S t a t e

, 2 7 2 G a. 8 8 4

, 8 8 6

(2 ) (5 36 SE2 d 5 11 ) (2 0 0 0); W a yn e v. S t a t e

, 2 6 9 G a. 36

, 3 8 (2 ) (4 9 5 SE2 d 3 4 ) (1 9 9 8 );

Ha yn es

, 3 5 6 Ga. Ap p

. at 6 3 2 (1 ); Ma r t i n -Ar g aw

, 3 4 3 Ga. Ap p

. at 8 6 7 -8 6 8 (2 ). A

d efen d an t ’ s “ t ech ni cal l eg al k n o wl ed g e [i s ] n ot rel ev an t t o an as s es s m en t o f h i s

k n o wi n g ex erci s e o f t he ri g ht t o d efen d h i m sel f.” Fa r et t a

, 4 22 U. S. at 8 3 6 (V).

Acco rd Eva n s

, 28 5 Ga. at 6 9 ; La ma r v. S ta t e

, 2 7 8 G a

. 1 5 0

, 1 5 3 (1 ) (b ) (5 9 8 SE2 d

4 8 8 ) (2 0 0 4 ).

M o reo v er, t h e reco rd i n t h i s cas e s ho ws t h at , d u ri n g t h e wai v er co l l o q u y , t h e

t ri al co urt ex p res s l y reject ed t h e ju ri s d ict i on al arg u m en t cen t ral to a s ov erei g n ci t i zen

d efen s e. A s d es cri b ed ab o v e, i n res p o n s e t o a q u es t i o n fro m Tari q -M ad y u n

, t h e t ri al

co u rt p l ai n l y s t at ed th at h e h ad ju ri s d i ct i o n o v er t h e cri m i n al pro ceed i n gs ag ai n s t h i m

.

Th i s un d ercu t s Tari q -M ad y u n ’s arg u m en t t h at h e d i d n ot h av e t h e n eces s ary

i n fo rm at i o n t o i n t el l ig en t l y

, freel y

, an d v o l u n t ari l y w ai v e hi s ri g h t t o co u n s el

. See

Ha yn es

, 35 6 Ga. Ap p

. at 6 3 4 (1 ) (co ns i d eri n g

, i n affi rm i n g t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s ru l i n g t h at

9t h e d efen d an t h ad i n t el l i g en tl y

, freel y

, an d v o l un t ari l y wai ved hi s ri g h t t o co u n s el

, t h e

d efen d an t ’ s awaren es s t hat h is s o v erei g n ci t i zen d efen se was m eri t l es s ).

Fo r th es e reas o n s

, we fi n d n o erro r i n t h e tri al co urt ’ s accep t an ce o f Tari q

M ad y u n ’ s wai v e r o f c o u n s el

. “ [U] p on b ei n g ap p ri s ed b y t h e t ri al co u rt o f t h [e]

d an gers an d d i s ad v an t ag es [i nh eren t i n sel f-rep res en t at i o n ]

, a co m pet en t d efen d an t

wh o n ev ert h el es s ch o o s es t o p ro ceed p ro se h as v al i d l y wai v ed t h e ri g h t t o co u n s el

u n d er o u r Fed eral an d St at e co n s ti t ut i on s an d i s en ti t l e d t o e x e rci s e h i s o r h er

co n st i t utiona l r ight to se lf

-rep res en t at i o n

. ” La ma r

, 2 7 8 G a. at 1 5 2 (1 ) (b ) (p u n ct u at i o n

o m it t ed ).

3

. Ot h er a ct s evi d en ce.

Tari q -M ad y

un arg u es t h at t h e t ri al co u r t erred i n ad m i t t i n g h is p ri o r ro b b ery

co n vi ct i o n s as o t h er act s ev i d en ce u n d er OCGA § 2 4 -4 -4 0 4 (b ) (“ Ru le 4 0 4 (b )”). W e

d i s ag ree.

Ru l e 4 0 4 (b ) p erm i t s t h e ad m i s s i o n of ev i d en ce o f ot h er cri m es

, wro n g s

, o r act s

fo r p urp os es ot h er th an to p ro v e ch aract er. It “ ex p l i ci tl y reco g n i zes th e rel ev an ce o f

o t h er act s ev i d en ce o ffered fo r a p erm is s ib l e p u rp o s e an d

, at t h e s am e t im e, pro h i b i t s

t h e ad m i s s i o n o f su ch ev i d en ce wh en i t i s offered s o l el y fo r t h e i m

p erm i s s i b l e

p u rp os e o f s h owi n g a d efen d a n t ’s b ad ch aract er o r p ro p en s it y t o co m m i t a cri m e.”

10Fl o wer

s v. S t a t e

, 3 0 7 Ga. 61 8

, 6 2 1 (2 ) (8 3 7 SE2 d 8 24 ) (2 0 2 0 ) (ci tat i o n an d

p u n ct u at i o n o m it t ed ; e m

p h a s i s i n ori g i n al ). In d et erm i n i ng wh et h er t o ad m i t o t h er

act s ev i d en ce u n d er Ru l e 4 0 4 (b ), t h e t ri al co u rt m u s t ex am i n e w het h er “ (1 ) t h e o t h er

act s ev i den ce i s rel ev an t t o an i s s u e o t h er t h an t he d efen dan t ’ s ch aract er, (2 ) t h e

p ro b at i v e v al u e i s n o t s u b s t an t i al l y o u twei g hed b y u n du e p reju d i ce u n der OCGA §

2 4 -4 -4 0 3 (“ Ru l e 4 0 3”), an d (3 ) t h ere i s s u ffi ci en t pro o f t h at a j u ry co u l d fi n d b y t h e

p rep o n d eran ce o f t h e ev i d en ce t h at t h e d efen dan t co m m i tt ed t h e act s

. ” Fl o wer

s

, 3 0 7

Ga. at 6 21 (2 ) (ci t at i o n , p u n ct u at i o n , an d fo o tn o t e o m i t t ed ).

Tari q -M ad y

un d o es n o t arg u e t h at t h e s t at e fai l ed t o m eet it s b u rd en o n t h e fi rs t

p a r t o f t hi s t es t. He co n ced es t h at th e o t h er act s ev i d en ce was rel ev an t t o p ro v e t h e

p u rp os es fo r wh i ch t h e s t at e o ffered i t

— i d en t i t y

, i n t en t, m o t i v e, p l an

, p rep arat i o n,

an d k n o wl ed g e

— an d h e co n ced es t h at th es e were p ro p er p u rp o s es u n d er Ru l e 4 0 4

(b ). He as s ert s i n h i s ap p el l at e b ri ef t h at “ [i ] f t h e [s ] t at e sat i s fi ed p art s t wo an d t h ree

o f t h e t es t

, t h e ev i den ce w o u l d h av e b een p ro p er.” So we ad d res s on l y th e s eco n d an d

t h i rd p art s o f t h e Ru l e 4 0 4 (b ) t e s t

. S e e H o o d v. St a t e

, 3 0 9 G a. 4 9 3

, 4 9 9 (2 ) (8 4 7

SE2 d 17 2 ) (2 0 2 0 ). “ W e w i l l affi rm th e t r i a l c o u rt ’ s deci s i o n to ad m i t o t h er act s

ev i d en ce ab s en t a cl ear ab u s e o f d i s cret i o n.” Lo f l a n d v. S t a t e

, 3 5 7 Ga. Ap p

. 9 2

, 9 4 (1 )

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

11(a) Th er e wa s s u ff i ci en t p r oo

f t h a t Ta r i q -Ma d

y u n co mmi t ted t h e p r i o r

r o b b er i es

.

Tu rn i n g fi rs t t o t h e t h i rd part o f t h e Ru l e 4 04 (b ) t es t

, we fi n d n o m eri t i n Tari q

M ad y u n ’ s arg u m en t t h at th e st at e fai l ed t o p res en t s u ffi ci en t p ro o f t hat h e h ad

co m m i t t ed al l o f t he s i x p ri o r ro b b eri es

. At tri al

, t he s t at e in t ro d u ced cert i fi ed co p i es

o f Tari q -M ad y

u n ’ s g u i l t y pl eas fo r t h e ro b b eri es

, wh ich were s u ffi ci en t p ro o f t h at h e

co m m i t t ed t h o s e cri m es

. See Ha r vey v. S t a te

, 34 4 Ga. Ap p

. 7 6 1

, 7 7 1 (2 ) (a) (i i i ) (8 1 1

SE2 d 4 7 9) (2 0 1 8).

(b ) Th e p ro b a ti ve va lu e o f t h e evi d en ce wa s n o t su b s t a n ti a l l y o u t wei g h ed b y

t h e d a ng er o f u n f a i r p rej ud ice.

Tu rn i n g n ex t t o t h e s eco n d p art o f t h e Ru l e 4 0 4 (b ) t es t

, w e are n ot p ers u ad ed

b y T ari q -M ad y

u n’ s arg u m en t t hat t h e t ri al co u rt s h ou l d h av e ex cl ud ed t he o t h er act s

ev i d en ce u n der Ru l e 4 0 3

, wh i ch p ert i n en tl y p erm i t s t h e ex cl u s i o n o f o t h erwi s e

rel ev an t ev i d en ce “ i f i t s pro bat i v e v al ue is s u b s t an t i al l y o ut wei g h ed b y t h e d an g er o f

u n fai r p reju d i ce[.] ” Th i s ru l e

i s o n e of in cl u s i o n

, an d t h e ex cl u s i on of ev i d en ce u n d e r i ts bal an ci n g

t es t i s an e x t rao rd i n ary rem ed y wh i ch s h o u l d be u s ed o n l y s pari ng l y

.

Th e Ru le 40 3 an al y s i s req u i res t h e t ri al co u rt t o ex erci se [h i s] d i scret i o n

12an d m ak e a co m m o n s en s e a s s e ss m en t o f al l t h e ci rcu m s tan ces

s u rro u nd i n g t h e ex t ri n s i c act [s ] an d t h e ch arg ed o ffen s e.

Lo f l a n d

, 3 5 7 Ga. Ap p

. at 95 (1 ) (a) (ci t at io n s an d p un ct u at i o n o m it t ed ). “ Th e m ajo r

fu n ct i o n o f Ru l e 4 0 3 i s t o ex cl u d e m at ter o f s can t o r cu m ul at i v e p ro b a t i v e fo rce,

d rag g ed i n b y

t h e h eel s fo r t h e s ak e o f i t s p reju d i ci al effect .” Ol d s v. S t a t e , 2 9 9 Ga.

6 5 , 7 0 (2 ) n . 7 (7 8 6 SE2 d 6 3 3 ) (2 0 1 6 ) (ci t at i o n an d p u n ct u at i o n o m i t ted ).

Tari q -M ad y

un m ak es t wo arg u m en t s i n s u p p ort of h i s cl ai m t h at t h e t ri al co u rt

,

i n ap pl y in g t h e Ru l e 4 0 3 b al an ci n g t es t

, s h ou l d hav e ex cl u d ed t h e o t h er act s ev i d en ce

fro m b ei n g u sed t o pro ve h is i d en t i ty : b ecau se th e p ri o r ro b b eri es were n ot

“ s i g nat ure” cri m es u s i n g a m o du s o p eran d i t h at was u n i q u el y h i s ; an d b ecau s e t h e

s t at e d i d n o t n eed t he ev i d en ce t o p ro v e h i s i d en t i ty

. W e are n ot p ers u ad ed by ei t h er

arg u m en t , wh i ch we ad d res s i n t u rn

.

It i s t ru e th at o t h e r a c t s e v i d en ce “ can n o t b e u s ed t o p ro v e i d en t i t y s i m p l y

b ecau s e t h e d efen d an t h as at o th er t i m es co m m i tt ed t he s am e co m

m on p l ace v ari et y

c r i m i n al act [,] ” bu t i n s t ead “ [t ] h e ex t ri n s i c act m u s t be a ‘ s i g n at u re’ cri m e a n d t h e

d efen d an t m

u s t h av e u s ed a m o d u s o p e ran d i t h at i s u ni q u el y hi s .” B r o o ks v. S t a t e

,

2 9 8 Ga. 7 2 2

, 7 2 5 (2 ) (7 8 3 SE2 d 8 9 5 ) (2 0 1 6 ) (ci tat i o n s o m i t t ed ). Th i s r e q u i r em en t

,

h o wev er, p ert ai n s to t h e f i r s t p art o f t h e Ru le 4 04 (b ) t es t : t h e r el eva n ce o f t h e

13ev i d en ce. See Hea r d

, 3 0 9 Ga. at 8 5 (3 ) (b ), 8 8 -9 0 (3 ) (f) (“ co n cl ud [i n g] th at t h e t ri al

co u rt ab u s ed i t s di s cret io n i n ru l i n g t hat t h e [o t h er act ] ev i den ce

. . . was r el eva n t ” fo r

p ro v in g i d en t i t y b ecau s e t h e st at e d i d no t s h o w t h at t h e ex t ri ns i c act was a “ s i g n at u re”

cri m e) (em

p h as i s s u p p l i ed ); S l o a n v. S t a t e , 3 5 1 Ga. Ap p . 1 9 9

, 2 0 6 -2 0 7 (2 ) (a) (8 3 0

SE2 d 5 7 1 ) (2 01 9) (h ol d i n g o t h er act s ev i d en ce w as n ot rel ev an t t o p r o v e i d e nt i t y

b ecau s e t h e ex t ri ns i c cri m es were n o t s uffi ci en t l y s i m i l ar wi t h t h e ch arg ed cri m e t o

d em o n s t rat e t h at th e y w e r e “ si g n at u re” cri m es ). As st at ed ab o v e, T ari q -M ad y u n

co n ced es i n h i s ap p el l at e b ri ef t h at t h e o t h er act s ev i d en ce i n t hi s cas e was rel ev an t

t o p ro v e h i s i d en t it y

an d s o t he s t at e m et t h e fi rs t p art o f t h e Ru le 4 0 4 (b ) t es t

.

Bu t ev en i f w e al s o ap p l y t h e “ s i g n at u re” cri m e req u irem en t t o t h e seco n d p art

o f t h e Ru l e 4 0 4 (b ) t es t

— t he b al an ci n g o f p ro b at i ve v al u e a g ai n s t t h e d an g er o f

u n fai r p r e j u d i c e un d er Ru l e 4 0 3

— t h e t ri al co u rt d i d no t ab us e h i s d is cret i o n in

ad m i t t i ng t h e ev i d en ce. As o ur Su p rem e Co urt h as ex p l ai ned

,

i t i s n o t n eces s ary t h at t h e ch arg ed cri m e an d t h e o th er cri m es be

i d en ti c a l i n e v ery d et ai l. Bu t t h ey m u s t p o s s es s a co m

m o n feat u re o r

feat u res t h at m ak e i t very l i k el y t h at t h e u n kn o w n p erp et rat or o f th e

ch arg ed cri m e an d t h e kn o wn p erp et rat o r o f th e u nch arg ed cri m e are th e

s am e p ers o n

. Th e m o re u n i q u e each o f t h e c o m m o n feat u res i s

, th e

s m al l er t h e nu m

b er t h at i s req u i red fo r t h e p ro b at i v e v al u e of th e

ev i d en ce t o b e s i gn ifi can t

. Bu t a n u m b er o f co m

m on feat ures o f l es s er

14u n i q u en es s

, al t h o u gh i n s u ffi ci en t t o g en erat e a st ro n g i n feren ce o f

i d en ti t y i f co n s i d ered s ep arat el y

, m ay b e o f s i g n i fi can t p ro bat i v e v al ue

wh en co n si d ered t o g et her.

Hea rd , 3 0 9 Ga. at 8 8 (3 ) (f) (ci t at i on o m i t t ed ).

Sev eral co m

m o n feat u res ex i s t b et w een t h e si x p ri o r ro b b eri es co m m i t t ed b y

Tari q-M ad y

un an d t h e ro b be r y wi t h wh i ch h e was ch arg ed i n t h i s cas e. A l l o f t h e

ro b b eri es were o f res tau ran t s

. Th e ro b b eri es al l o ccu rred ei t h er s h o rt l y aft er o p en i n g

o r s h o rt l y b efo re cl o si n g

, at t i m es wh en few p eo p l e were i n t h e res t au ran t s . In each

cas e t h e ro b b e r fo l l o wed th e s am e p ro ced u re. He en t ered t he res t au ran t an d fi rs t

ap p ro ach ed s o m eo n e u s i n g a cal m d em ean o r. He t h en co rral l ed al l o f t h e em p l o y ees

at g un p o i n t t o a si n g l e, co nt ai n ed l o cat i o n

. He s ep arat ed ou t so m eo n e t o t ak e h i m to

t h e lo cat i o n wh ere t h e res t au ran t ’ s m on ey was k ep t

, h el d o p en a b ag

, an d d em an d ed

t h at t h e p ers o n p l ace t he m o n ey i n th e b ag

. He t h en ret u rn ed t h at p ers o n to th e g ro u p

b efo re l eav i n g t h e res t au ran t o n fo o t

. In ev ery i n s t an ce, t he ro b b er was weari n g d ark

cl o t h i n g

, g lo v es

, an d a m as k t h at co v ered h i s face. A l t ho u g h t h es e s i m i l ari t i es are n ot

u n i q u e, sev eral are d i s t i n ct i ve an d

, co n si dered t o g et h er, th ey g o bey o n d es t ab l i s h i n g

m erel y t h e “ s am e co m

m o n p l ace v ari e t y o f c r i m i n al act .” Br oo ks

, 2 9 8 Ga. 2 7 5 (2 )

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

15An d t h ere are n o m ajo r d i fferen ces bet ween t h e s i x p ri o r ro b b eri es co m m i t t ed

b y T ari q -M ad y

u n an d t h e ch arg ed cri m e in t h is cas e. Cf. H ea r d

, 3 0 9 Ga. 89 (3 ) (f)

(fi n di n g t h at t h e “ s i m i l ar (b u t n o t u n i qu e) feat u res o f t h e ch arg ed an d u n ch arg ed

cri m es in [t h at ] cas e [were] u n d e rm i n ed b y t h e m ajo r d i fferen ces bet ween t h em ”);

Br o oks

, 2 9 8 Ga. at 7 2 6 (2 ) (fi n d i n g no “ si g n at u re” cri m e wh ere “ t h e d i s s i m i l ari ti es

are s t ark an d m i l i t at e ag ai ns t t h e s u p p o s i ti o n t hat t h e [cri m es ] were co m m i t ted b y t h e

s am e p ers o n ”). In s t ead

, t h e d i s s i m i l ari ti es were rel at iv el y m i n or: t h e ro b b er i n t h i s

cas e w o re b l ack g l o v es rat h er t h an fo o d -s erv i ce s t y l e gl o v es ; h e fo rced t h e res t au ran t

em pl o y ees i n t o t h e res t au ran t ’ s co o l er rat h er t h an hav i n g th em li e o n th e fl o o r; an d

h e t o o k a b ag fro m

a t ras h can at t he s cen e rat h er t h an b ri ng i n g a b ag wi t h h i m

.

Co n si d eri ng al l o f th e s i m il ari t i es an d d i ss i m il ari t i es b et ween t h e s i x p ri o r

ro b b eri es an d th e ch arg ed cri m e i n t hi s cas e, “ [w] e fi n d t h at t h e m o d u s o p eran d i fo r

each [ro b b ery ] w as s u ffi ci en t l y s i m i l ar t o m ark t h e o ffen s es as [Tari q -M ad y u n ’ s ]

h an di wo rk

, ” Br a n n on v. S t a t e

, 2 9 8 Ga. 6 01

, 6 0 7 (4 ) (7 8 3 SE2 d 6 4 2) (2 0 1 6), an d t h at

t h e co m m o n feat u res o f t h e ch arg ed cri m e an d t h e p ri o r ro b beri es h av e “ s i g n i fi can t

p ro b at i v e v al u e wh en co n s i d ered t o g et h er.” H ea r d

, 3 0 9 Ga. at 8 8 (3 ) (f) (ci t at i o n

o m it t ed ).

16Nev ert h el es s

, Tari q -M ad y u n arg ues t h at t h i s p ro b at i v e v al u e w as su b s t an t i al l y

o u t wei gh ed by t h e d an ger o f u n fai r p reju d i ce b ecau se t h e st at e d i d n o t n eed t h e o t h er

a c t s e v i d en ce t o p ro v e h i s i d en t i t y as t h e ro b ber an d s o t h e ev i d en ce h ad l i t t l e

m arg i n al wo rt h

. Th e m arg i n al wo rt h o f o t h er act s ev i d en ce an d pro s ecu to ri al n eed fo r

i t are fact o rs in d et erm i n i ng t he ev i d en ce’ s p ro b at i v e v al u e. See Ol d s

, 2 9 9 Ga. at 7 5

-

7 6 (2 ). Bu t i n t hi s cas e b o t h t h e m arg i n al wo rt h o f th e ev i d en ce an d th e p ro secu t o ri al

n eed fo r i t t o p ro v e h i s id en t i t y w ere great er t han T ari q -M ad y u n rep res en t s

. No

ey ewi t n e s s e s p o s i t i v el y i d en ti fi ed Tari q -M ad y u n as th e ro b ber. Th e ro bb er wo re a

fu l l -face m as k d uri ng th e ro b bery an d t h e o n l y ey ewi t n es s wh o t es t i fi ed o n t h e i s s u e

d i d n o t s ee t h e ro b b er’ s face u n co v ered ; i n s t ead

, s h e p ercei v ed h i s feat u res t h ro u g h

a fu l l -face m as k an d m erel y t es t i fi ed t h at t h e feat u res r e s em b l ed t h o s e of Tari q

M ad y u n

. An d w h i le t h ere was p h y s i cal e v i d en ce i m p l i cat i n g h i m

, s u ch as t h e

cl o t h i n g

, m o n ey

, m as k

, an d g u n fo u nd i n h i s h om e an d ren t al car, t h ere was n o d i rect

ev i d en ce i d en t i f

yi n g h i m as t h e ro b b er. So t h e ev i d en ce t h at Tari q -M ad y u n h ad

co m m i t t ed o t h er ro b b eri es wi t h a v ery s i m i l ar m o du s o p e ran d i had s i g n i fi can t

p ro b at i v e v al u e i n t h is cas e.

T h at ev i d en ce “ was ob v i o u sl y p reju d i ci al t o [Tari q -M ad y u n]

, b u t t h e tr ia l c our

t

co u ld reas o n ab l y co ncl u d e th at t h i s p reju d ice d i d n o t s u b s t an t i al l y o u t wei g h t h e

17s i gn i fi can t p ro b at iv e v al u e o f t he p ri o r [ro b b eri es ] .” McKi n n ey v. S ta t e

, 3 07 Ga. 1 2 9,

1 3 8 (3 ) (b ) (8 3 4 SE2 d 7 4 1 ) (2 0 1 9 ). See S ma r t v. S t a te

, 2 9 9 Ga. 41 4

, 4 1 9 (2 ) (b ) (7 8 8

SE2 d 4 4 2) (2 0 1 6 ) (t h e m ere fact t h at t h e o t h er act s ev id en ce was p reju di ci al d o es n ot

co m p el ex cl u s i o n o f t h e ev i den ce becau s e “ al m o st al l ev i d en ce pres en t ed b y t h e

[s ] t at e wi l l b e [p reju d i ci al ] ”). M o reo v er, t h e tri a l co u rt g av e t h e ju ry a l i m i t i n g

i n s t ru ct i o n o n t h e u s e o f t h i s ev i d en ce b o t h a t t he t im e o f i t s ad m i s s io n an d i n t h e

fi nal ju ry ch arg e

, t h e r eb y m i t i g at i n g i t s p reju d i ci al i m p act

. See McKi n ney

, 3 0 7 Ga.

at 1 38 (3 ) (b ). “ Fo r t h es e reas o n s

, t h e t ri a l c o u r t di d n o t ab u s e [h i s ] di s cret i o n in

ad m i t t i ng t h is ev id en ce t o p ro v e i d en t i t y .” Id

.

Becau s e t he ev i d en ce was ad m i s s i b l e t o p ro v e i d en ti t y

, we need n o t ad d res s i t s

ad m i s s i b i l i t y t o s h o w t h e o t h er p u rp o s es fo r wh i ch i t was o ffered

— i n t en t, m o t i ve,

p l an

, p rep arat i o n

, k n o wl ed g e. See Th omp s o n v. S t a t e

, 3 0 8 Ga. 8 5 4

, 85 9 (2 ) n. 6 (8 4 3

SE2 d 7 9 4) (2 0 2 0); McKi n n ey , 3 0 7 Ga. at 1 38 (3 ) (b ) n

. 7

.

4

. Reci d i vi st

s en t en ce.

Tari q -M ad y

un arg u es t h at t h e t ri al co urt erred i n s en t en ci n g h i m as a reci d i v i s t

.

In s u p p o rt o f t h i s cl ai m

, he arg u es t h at t h e reco rd do es n o t i n cl u d e cert i fi ed co p i es o f

Tari q-M ad y

un ’ s p ri o r co n v i ct i on s

, t h at t h e t ri al co urt d id n o t p ro p erl y co n cl u d e t h at

t h e p ri or co n vi ct i o n s were q ual i fy i n g p red i cat e co n v i c tions f or e nh an ced p u n i s h m en t

,

18an d t h at t he t ri al co u rt fai l ed t o ex erci se d is cret i o n affo rd ed by t h e r e c i d i v i s t

s en t en ci n g s t at u t e. No n e o f t h es e cl ai m s h av e m eri t.

(a) Th e r eco r d co n ta in s a cer t i f i ed co p y o f t h e p r i o r co n vi ct i o n s.

Co n trary t o Tari q -M ad y

u n ’ s as s ert i o n

, th e reco rd d o es co n tai n a cert i fi ed co py

o f h i s p ri o r co n vi c t i on s

. Th e tri al t ran s cri p t s ho ws th at t h e t ri al co u rt ad m i t t ed a

cert ifi ed co p y o f t h e p ri o r co n v i ct i o n s i n t o ev i d en ce, an d al t h o u g h t h e a p p el l at e

reco rd tran sm i t t ed b y t h e cl erk o f t h e t ri al co u rt i n i t i al l y fai l ed t o in cl u d e t h e ex h i b i t

p a g e c o n t ai n i n g t h e cert i fi cat i on

, t h e cl erk lat er s u p p lem en t ed t h e ap p el l at e reco rd

wi t h t h at m i s s i n g p ag e. So Tari q -M ad y u n h as s h o wn n o erro r.

(b ) Th e p r i or

r o b ber y co n vi ct i on s p er m i t r eci di vi s t s en t en ci n g

.

Tari q -M ad y

un arg u e s t h a t t h e t ri al co u rt erred i n det erm in i n g t h at h i s p ri o r

ro b b ery co nv i ct io n s were q ual i fy i n g p red icat e co n v i ct io n s au t h ori zi n g t h e t ri al co u rt

t o s en t en ce h i m

as a reci d iv i s t . W e d i s ag ree.

Un d er Geo rg i a’ s g en eral reci d i v i s t s en t en ci n g s t at ut e, OCGA § 1 7 -1 0 -7

, “ a

t ri al co u rt i s req ui red t o i m p o s e an en h an ced s en t en c e i f t he [s ] t at e s at i s fi es cert ai n

p rereq u i s i t es

, i n cl u di ng p ro o f o f o n e o r m o r e q ua lif y ing pr i o r co n v i ct i o ns [.] ” No r d a hl

v. S t a t e

, 3 0 6 Ga. 1 5

, 1 7 (1 ) (8 29 SE2 d 9 9 ) (2 0 1 9) (ci t at io n o m i t ted ). A q u al i fy i n g

p ri o r co nv i ct io n

, o r p red i cat e co n v i ct i o n

, i s a co n v i ct i o n “ o f a fel o n y o ffen s e i n t h i s

19s t at e o r

. . . u n d er th e l aws o f an y o t h er st at e o r of th e Un i t ed St at es o f a cri m e wh i ch

i f co m m i t t ed wi t h in t h i s s t at e w o u l d b e a fel o ny [u n d er wh i ch t h e d efen d an t wo u ld

b e] s en t en ced to co nfi n em en t i n a p en al i n s t i t u t i o n[.] ” OCGA § 17 -1 0 -7 (a). See al s o

OCGA § 1 7 -1 0 -7 (c) (p ert ai n i n g t o en h an ced p u n i s h m en t fo r a p ers o n wh o prev i o u s l y

h as b een co n v i ct ed o f t h ree o r m o re s uch cri m es ).

Th e g en eral recid i v i s t s en t en ci n g s t at u t e req ui res an “ el em en t s -o n l y ” ap p ro ach

t o ev al u at i n g p red i cat e co n v i ct i o n s

. No r d a h l

, 3 0 5 Ga. at 1 9 (1 ). T h e s en t en ci n g co u rt

m u st “ i d en t i f[y ] t ho se el em en t s t h at were es t ab l is hed b y vi rt u e o f t h e p ri o r co n v i ct i o n

i t sel f, t h at i s

, t h o se fact s th at th e ju ry was n eces s ari l y re q u i r e d t o fi nd t o ren d er a

g u i l t y verd i ct o r t h o se fact s t he co u rt was n eces s ari l y req u i red t o fi n d t o s a t i s fy t h e

fact ual b as i s fo r a gu i l t y p l ea.” Id

. at 2 2 (2 ) (em ph as i s om i t t ed ). Th e s en t en ci n g co u rt

p ars es t h e el em en t s o f t h e p ri o r o u t -o f-s t at e

. . . cri m e an d d et erm i n es

wh et h er t h o s e el em en t s sat i s fy t h e s t at u t o ry d efi n i t i o n o f a fel o n y u nd er

Geo rg i a l aw. W hen t h e o u t -o f-s t a t e

. . . offen s e set s o ut a s i n g l e (o r

“ i n d i v i s i b l e”) s et o f el em en t s t o d efi n e a s i n gl e cri m e, t h e s e n t en ci n g

co u rt l i n es u p t h at cri m e’ s el em en t s al o ng s id e t ho s e o f t h e s t at e offen s e

an d s ees i f t h ey

m at ch

.

20Id

. at 23 (3 ) (ci t at i o n

, p u n ct u at i on

, an d em p h as is o m i t t ed ). A d ifferen t ap p ro ach

ap p li es wh en t h e o ut -o f-s t at e o ffen s e “ s et s fo rt h m u lt i pl e cri m es a n d i s

, t h u s

,

‘ di v is i b l e.’ ” Id . at 2 3 (3 ) (ci t at i o n an d p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed ).

In rev iewi n g t h e t ri al cour t’ s r e c idivist se nte nc ing de c i s i o n u nd er t h i s an al y t i cal

fram ewo rk

,

we fi rs t i d en t i fy t h e [o u t -o f-s t at e] cri m e[s ] u s ed t o en h an ce [Tari q

M ad y u n ’ s ] s en t en ce un d er OCGA § 1 7 -1 0 -7 (a) an d (c), co n s i d er

wh et h er [each ] cri m e i s d i v i s i b l e, an d t h en p ars e [e a c h ] cri m e’ s

e le m e nts[

. ] A ft er es tab l i s h i n g t h e el em en t s of t h e [o u t -o f-s tat e ] pr e dic a te

co n v i ct i o n[s ]

, w e d et erm i n e wh et her th o s e el em en t s wo u l d d es cri be a

fel o n y u n der Geo rg i a l aw.

No r d a h l , 3 0 6 Ga. at 2 4 (4 ).

Th e reco rd s h o ws t h at Tari q-M ad y un was co n v i ct ed o f s i x v i o lat i o n s o f Al a.

Co d e § 13 A-8 -4 1

. Th a t Co de s ect i on p ert i n en tl y p ro v id es : “ A p ers o n co m m i t s t h e

cri m e o f ro b b ery i n th e fi rs t d eg ree i f h e v i o l at es Sect i o n 1 3 A-8 -4 3 [ p e r t a i n i n g to

ro b b ery i n t h e t h i rd d eg ree] an d h e: (1 ) Is arm ed wi t h a dead l y w eap o n o r d an g ero u s

i n s t ru m en t ; o r (2 ) Cau s es s eri o u s p h y s i cal i n ju ry t o an o t h er.” Al a. Co d e § 1 3 A-8 -4 1

(a). A v i o l at i on o f § 1 3 A-8 -4 3 o ccu rs

i f i n t h e co u rs e of co m

m i t t i n g a t h eft [a pers o n ] : (1 ) Us es fo rce ag ai n s t

t h e p ers o n o f t h e o wn er o r an y p ers o n p res en t wi t h i n t en t t o o v erco m e

21h i s p h y s i cal res i s t en ce o r p h y s i cal p ower o f res i st en ce; or (2 ) Th reat en s

t h e i m m i n en t u s e o f fo rce ag ai n s t t h e p ers o n o f th e o wn er o r an y p ers o n

p res en t wi t h in t en t to co m p el acq u i es cen ce to t he t ak i n g o f o r es cap i n g

wi t h t he p ro p ert y

.

Al a. Co d e § 1 3 A-8 -4 3 (a).

Th e es sen ti al el em en t s o f t h e cri m e o f fi rs t -d eg ree ro b b ery

, as s et fo rt h i n t h e

ab o ve Co d e s ect i o n s

, wo u l d d es cri b e a fel on y u n d er Geo rg i a l aw. See, e.g

., OCGA

§ 1 6 -8 -4 0 ( d es cri b i ng el em en t s o f t h e fel o n y o f ro b b ery ); OCGA § 1 6 -8 -4 1

(d es cri bi n g el em en t s o f t h e fel o n y o f arm ed ro b bery ). An d i n hi s ap p el l at e b ri ef,

Tari q-M ad y

un d o es n o t arg u e o t h erwi s e.

In s t ead h e a r g u e s th at t h e t ri al co u rt was req u i red to s et fo rt h t h is an al y s i s

ex p li ci t l y o n th e reco rd

. Bu t h e ci tes t o n o au t h o ri t y es t ab l i s h i n g s u ch a req ui rem en t

,

an d ab s en t an y sh o wi n g t o t h e co n t rary

, we p res u m e t h at t h e tri al co urt fo l l o wed t h e

l aw i n sen ten ci n g hi m

. See Lee v. St a t e

, 3 24 Ga. Ap p

. 2 8

, 3 1 ( 1 ) ( 7 4 9 SE2 d 3 2 )

(2 0 1 3); Ri ver

s v. S t a t e

, 2 7 0 Ga. Ap p . 6 3 3 , 6 3 5 (1 ) n . 5 (6 0 7 SE2 d 1 4 4) (2 00 4 ).

Tari q -M ad y

un al s o arg u es

, wi t h ou t ci tat i o n t o a u t h o r i t y, t h at t h e t ri al co u rt

co u ld n o t s en t en ce h i m as a reci d i v i s t b ecau s e t he s t at e d i d n o t p ro v id e t h e t ri al co u rt

wi t h p ro o f o f th e el em en t s o f t h e o ffen s e s et fo rt h i n A la. Co d e § 1 3 A-8 -4 1

. Bu t

22u n d er OCGA § 2 4 -2 -2 2 0

, t h e t ri al co u rt co u l d t ak e ju d i ci al n o t i ce o f t h e A l ab am a

s t at u te “ wi t h o u t t he i n t ro d u ct i o n o f p ro of.”

(c) Ta r i q -Ma d

yu n h a s n o t s h own t ha t t h e t r i a l co u r t f a i l ed t o exer ci s e

d i s cr et i o n i n s en t en ci n g

.

Fi n al l y

, Tari q -M ad y

u n arg u es t h at th e t ri al co u rt erre d by fai l i ng to ex erci s e

d i s cret i o n i n s en t en ci n g u n d er OCGA § 1 7 -1 0 -7 (a) o f t h e g en eral reci d i v i s t

s en t en ci n g s t at u t e, wh i ch p ro v i d es t h at “ u n l es s o th erwi se p ro v i d ed b y l aw, t h e t ri al

ju d g e m ay

, i n hi s o r h er d i s cret i o n

, pro b at e o r su s pen d t h e m ax i m u m s en t en ce

p res cri bed fo r th e o ffen s e.” In s u p p o rt o f t h i s arg u m en t

, h e as sert s t h at t h e p ro s ecu t o r

m i s i n fo rm ed t h e t ri al co u rt o n t hi s p o i n t an d th at

, in sen t en ci n g h i m

, t h e t ri al co u rt d id

n o t e x p r e s sl y in d i cat e h e was ex erci s i n g d i s cret i o n

. Bu t Tari q-M ad y u n m ad e t h i s

ex act arg u m en t i n h i s m o ti o n fo r n ew t ri al

, an d t h e t ri al co u rt reject ed t h e arg u m en t

wh en he d en i ed t h e m o t i o n i n an o rd er s t at i n g t hat h e h ad h eard al l o f Tari q

M ad y u n ’ s arg um en t s

. W e m ay i n fer fro m th i s ru l i n g t h at

, i n i m p o s i n g t h e sen t en ce,

t h e t ri al co u rt to o k i n to acco u n t t h e d i s cret i o n affo rd ed h i m b y t h e reci d i v i s t

s en t en ci n g s t at u t e. So Tari q -M ad y u n h as n o t s h o wn erro r.

Ju d g men t a f f i rmed

. R i ckma n

, C. J., a n d S en i or Ap p el l a t e Ju d

g e H er b er t E.

Ph i p ps co n cu r

.

23