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M ar ch 30, 2015



# I n th e Co u r t o f

A p p eals o f

G eo r g ia

A1 4 A1 84 8 . ASHLEY v

. THE STATE.

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

A f t e r a ju ry t ri al

, Th ad Lee As hl ey was co nv i ct ed o f k id n ap p i n g, cri m i n a l

at t em p t t o k i d n ap

, en t eri n g an au t o m o b il e, an d cri m i n al tres p as s. He arg u es

, am o n g

o t h er t h i n g s

, t h at t h e ev id en ce was i n s u ffi ci en t t o s u p p o rt h i s k i d n ap pi n g an d

at t em p t ed k i d n ap p i ng co n v ict i o n s an d t h at t h e t ri al co u rt erred i n ad m i t t i n g ch aract er

e v i d e n c e

. W e ag ree t h at t h e ch al l en g ed ev i den ce i m p ro perl y pl aced As h l ey ’ s

ch aract er i n t o is s u e an d

, acco rd i n g l y

, we rev ers e. W e fi n d

, ho wev er, t h a t t h e o t h er

ev i d en ce was s u ffi ci en t t o s u p p o rt t h e co n v i ct i o n s

, an d t h erefo re As h ley m ay b e

ret ri ed . See Li vel

y v. S t a te , 2 6 2 Ga. 5 10 , 5 1 2 (3 ) (4 21 SE2 d 5 2 8 ) (1 9 9 2 ).

1

. S u f f ici en cy o f t h e evi d en ce.In co n si d eri n g wh et h er t h e ev i d en ce wa s s u f fi ci en t t o su p p o rt a d efen d an t ’ s

co n vi ct i o n

, “ t h e rel ev an t q u es t i o n i s wh et h er, aft er v i ewi n g t h e ev id en ce i n t h e l i g ht

m o st fav o rab l e t o t h e p ro s e c u ti o n

, a n y rat i o n al tri er of fact co u l d h av e fo u n d t h e

es s en t i al el em en ts o f t h e cri m e b ey o n d a reas o n ab l e d ou b t .” Ja cks o n v. Vi r g i n i a

, 4 4 3

U. S. 3 0 7

, 3 1 9 ( I I I ) (B) (9 9 SCt 2 7 8 1

, 6 1 LE2 d 5 60 ) (1 9 7 9 ) (ci tat i o n o m i t t ed ;

em ph as i s i n o ri g i n al ). So v i ewed

, t h e ev i d en ce s h owed t h a t in Sep t em b er 2 0 1 1,

As h ley was s u b

j e c t t o a cri m i n al t res pas s warn i n g th at b arred hi m fro m t h e m o b i l e

h o m e p ark i n wh i ch h i s f a t h e r l i v ed

. Nev ert h el es s

, o n Sep t em b er 4, As h l ey

ap p ro ach ed s ev en -y ear-o l d K. L. i n t he m o b i l e h o m e p ark

. At t h at t im e, K. L. was

i n s i d e h er fam i l y ’ s m i n i v an i n fro n t o f h er h o m e, h el p in g t o b u ck l e y o u n g er ch i l d ren

i n t o t hei r s eat s

. As h l ey g rab b ed K. L. b y t h e wri s t an d p ul led h er o ut o f t h e v eh i cl e.

Th e g i r l b ro k e free fro m As h l ey an d ran

, scream i n g an d s hak i n g

, t o h er n earb y

m o th er. As h l ey b eg an t o wal k away

, t h en ret urn ed t o th e m i n i v an an d reach ed i n s i d e

t o ward t wo -y ear-o ld B. L., wh o s cram b l ed away fro m h i m

. Th e g i rl s ’ m o th er y el l ed

at As h l ey

, wh o fl ed

. As hl ey g av e law en fo rcem en t o ffi cer s s ev eral co n fl i ct i n g

ex p lan at i o n s fo r h i s b eh av i o r, i ncl u d i n g t h at h e was un d er t he i n fl u en ce o f d ru g s an d

t h at h e b el iev ed t he m i n iv an b el o n g ed t o h i s fat h er.

2Th e ju ry fo u n d As h l ey g u i l t y o f k i d n ap p i ng K. L. an d at t em p t i n g t o k i d n ap B.

L. A s h l ey arg u es t h at t h i s ev i d en ce was i n su ffi ci en t t o s u p p o rt t h es e co n v i ct i o n s

, t h at

as t o K. L. t h e ev i d en ce di d n o t d em o ns t rat e t h e el em en t o f as p o rt at i o n an d t h at as to

b o t h g i rl s t he ev i d en ce d i d n o t s h o w t h at h e p o ss es s ed t h e neces s ary cri m i n al i n t en t

.

W e are n o t co n v i n ced

.

(a) As p o r t a t io n.

Un d er t h e cu rren t v ers i o n o f t he ki d n ap i n g s t at u t e, wh i ch ap p l i es t o t h i s cas e,

“ [a] p er s o n c o m m i t s t h e o ffen se o f ki d nap p i ng wh en s u ch p ers o n ab d uct s o r s t eal s

away an o t h er pers o n wi t h ou t l awfu l au t h ori t y o r warran t an d h o l d s s u ch o t h er p ers o n

ag ai n s t h i s o r h er wi l l .” OCGA § 1 6 -5 -4 0 (a). “ [S] l i g h t m o vem en t s h al l b e s u ffi ci en t ;

p ro v i d e d

, h o wev er, t h at an y su ch s l ig h t m o v em en t o f an o th er pers o n wh ich o ccu rs

wh i le in t h e co m

m is s i o n o f an y o t h er o ffen s e s h al l n o t co n s t i tu t e t h e o ffen s e o f

k i d n ap p i ng i f s u ch m o v em en t i s m erel y in ci den tal t o s u ch o t h er o ffen s e.” OCGA §

1 6 -5 -4 0 (b ) (1 ). “ M o v em en t s h al l n o t b e co n s id ered m erel y i n ci d en t al t o an o t h er

o ffen s e i f i t : (A) Co nceal s o r i s o l at es t h e v ict i m ; ( B ) M a kes th e co m m i ss i o n o f t h e

o t h er o ffen s e s u b s t an t i al l y eas ier; (C) Les s en s th e ri s k o f det ect i on ; o r (D) Is fo r t h e

p u rp os e o f av oi di n g ap p reh en si o n .” OCGA § 1 6 -5 -4 0 (b ) (2 ).

3As h l ey arg ues t hat , wh en h e p u l l ed K. L. fro m t h e m i n iv an

, h i s m o v em en t o f

h er was m erel y i n ci den t al t o t he o ffen s e o f en t eri ng an au t o m o bi l e. W e d i s ag ree. Th e

o ffen s e o f e n t e r i n g an au t o m o b i l e i s co m m i t t ed wh en a p ers o n “ en t er[s ] an y

au t o m ob i l e o r ot h er m o t o r v eh i cl e wi t h t he i n t en t t o co m m i t a t heft o r fel o n y .” OCGA

§ 1 6 -8 -1 8

. Th e s t at e ch arg ed As h l ey wi t h co m m i t t i n g t h i s o ffen s e b y e n t e ri n g t h e

m i n i v an wi t h t he i n t en t t o co m m i t t h e fel o n y o f ki d n ap p i ng

. T h e m o v em en t o f K. L.

was a req u i red el em en t o f t he fel o n y u p on wh ich t h e en t eri n g an au t o m o b i l e o ffen s e

was bas ed

. As su ch

, t h e m o v em en t of K

. L. was n o t i n ci d en t al t o th e o ffen s e o f

en t eri n g an au to m o b i l e bu t i n s tead m ad e t h e co m m i s s i o n o f t h at o ffen s e eas i er. See

OCGA § 1 6 -5 -4 0 (b ) (2 ) (B).

As h l ey d o es n o t o t h erwi s e ch al l en ge th e s u ffi ci en cy of t he ev id en ce t o s h o w

as p o rt at io n

. An d we fi nd th at t h e ev id en ce w as su ffi ci en t u nd er th e cu rren t v ers i o n

o f OCGA § 16 -5 -4 0, wh ich m ak es cl ear t h at o nl y sl i gh t m o vem en t i s req u i red to

s h o w a s p o r t a t i o n as l o n g as t h e m o v em en t i s n ot i n ci d en t al t o an o t h er o ffen s e. See

g en eral l y Ha mmo n d v. S t a t e

, 28 9 Ga. 1 4 2

, 1 4 3 (7 1 0 SE2 d 1 2 4 ) (2 0 1 1 ) ( e x p l ai n i n g

t h at l aw p ri o r to t h e 2 0 08 d eci s i o n o f Ga r z a v. S t a t e

, 2 8 4 Ga. 69 6 (6 7 0 SE2 d 7 3 )

(2 0 0 8), req u i red o n l y

s l ig h t m o v em en t to s at i s fy as p o rt at i o n el em en t o f k id n ap p i n g

an d t h at am en dm en t s to OCGA § 1 6 -5 -4 0, effect i v e J u l y 1

, 2 0 0 9

, rees t ab l i s h ed t h e

4s u ffi ci en cy of s l ig h t m o vem en t ). In m an y Geo rg i a cas es co ns t ru i n g t h e s l i g ht

m o vem en t req u i rem en t we h av e fo u n d s im i l ar m o v em en t o f ev en a few feet su ffi ci en t

t o s u p p o rt a k i dn ap p in g co n v i ct i o n

. See, e.g

., El l is v. S t a t e

, 2 8 2 Ga. Ap p. 1 7

, 2 0 (1 )

(6 3 7 SE2 d 7 2 9) (2 0 06 ) (d efen d an t d r a g g e d v i ct i m “ a few feet ” t o ward an o p en

wi n do w ) ; B o

y k i n v. S t at e

, 26 4 G a. Ap p. 83 6

, 8 3 9 (1 ) (5 92 SE2 d 4 26 ) (2 0 0 3 )

(d efe n d an t fo rced v i ct i m t o g et o u t o f car an d l i e on gro u n d ); P hi ll i ps v. S t a t e

, 2 5 9

Ga. A p p. 3 3 1

, 3 3 1 -3 3 2 (1 ) (5 7 7 SE2 d 2 5 ) (2 0 0 3 ) (d efen d an t g rab b ed v i ct i m as s h e

t r i e d t o r u n o u t o f st o re an d fo rced h er b ack i n t o s t o re, m o v i n g her s i x t o ei g h t feet

d u ri n g s t ru g g l e); Es t es v. St a t e

, 2 34 G a. Ap p

. 1 5 0

, 1 5 1 (5 0 5 SE2 d 8 4 0 ) (1 9 9 8 )

(d efen d an t t o l d vi ct i m t o g et i n t o v eh i cl e, g rab b ed v i ct i m

, an d s t ru gg l ed wi t h h er,

d u ri n g wh ich d efen d an t m ov ed v i ct i m “ a l i t t le” an d v i ct i m t o o k “ a s in g l e s t ep ”

t o ward v eh i cl e b efo re v i ct im b ro k e away fro m d efen dan t ); Gi d den s v. S ta t e

, 1 9 0 Ga.

Ap p . 7 2 3 , 7 2 5 (3 ) (3 8 0 SE2 d 2 7 4 ) (1 9 8 9 ) (d efen d an t p u s h ed v i ct i m i n t o car).

(b ) In t en t

.

As h l ey arg u es t h at t h ere was i n s u ffi ci en t ev i d en ce to s h o w t h at h e h ad t h e

cri m i n al i n t en t t o k i d n ap ei t h er g i rl

. In su p po rt o f t h i s arg u m en t h e ci t es t o ev i d en ce

t h at h e m i s t ak en l y

b el iev ed t h e m i n i v an b el o ng ed t o h i s fat h er.

5“ A p ers o n wi l l n o t b e p res u m ed t o act wi t h cri m i n al i n ten t io n b u t t h e t ri er o f

fact s m ay fi n d s uch i n t en t i o n u p o n co n s id erat i o n of t he wo rd s

, co n d u ct

, d em ean o r,

m o ti v e, an d al l o t h er ci rcu m s t an ces co n n ect ed wi t h th e act fo r wh i ch t h e accu s ed i s

p ro s ecu ted .” OCGA § 1 6 -2 -6

. Cri m i n al i n t en t “ d o es n o t m ean an i n t en t i o n t o v i o l at e

a pen al s t at u t e bu t an i n ten t i o n t o co m m it th e act p ro h i b it ed t her e b y. E x p r e s s ed

an o th er way

, i n t en t refers t o t h e p ro po s i t i o n t h at o n e i n t en d s th e co n s eq u en ces o f h i s

v o l u n t ary act i o n s.” S

ch wer d t f eg er v. S t a t e

, 1 6 7 Ga. Ap p

. 1 9

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

(1 9 8 3) (ci t at i o n s an d p u n ct u at i o n o m i t ted ). “ T he p res en ce o r lack o f cri m i n al i n t en t

i s fo r t he ju ry t o deci de b as ed o n t h e fact s an d ci rcu m s tan ces p ro v en at t ri al .” Th o ma s

v. S t a t e , 3 2 0 Ga. Ap p . 1 0 1, 1 04 (2 ) (7 3 9 SE2 d 4 1 7) (2 01 3 ) (ci t at io n o m i t t ed ).

Th e ev i d en ce i n t h i s cas e au t h o ri zed t h e ju r y t o fi n d t h at As h l ey h ad t h e

cri m i n al i n t en t neces s ary t o fi n d h i m g u i l ty o f k i d n ap p i n g K. L. an d at t em p t i n g to

k i d n ap B. L. Th e ev i d en ce s h owed th at As h l ey ap p ro ach ed th e gi rl s

, wh o m h e d i d n ot

k n o w, wh i l e t h ey w ere i n t h ei r m o t h er’ s o p en m i ni v an

. He g rab bed K. L., l i ft ed h er,

an d carri ed h er o u t o f t h e m i n i van ag ai ns t h er w i l l. W hen As h ley p i ck ed h er u p , K.

L. beg an y el l i n g an d st ru g g li n g b efo re b reak i n g free fro m h i m

. A s h l ey t h en reen t ered

t h e m in i van an d tri ed t o g rab B. L., wh o s cram b l ed away fro m h i m

. As t h e g i r l s ’

m o th er y el l ed at hi m

, As hl ey fl ed

. T h e s e f act s, i n cl u d i n g As h l ey ’ s fl i g h t fro m t h e

6s cen e, p res en t ed ev i d en ce o f co n s ci o u s n es s o f g u i l t

. Th o ma s

, 3 20 Ga. Ap p . at 1 0 4

-

1 0 5 (2 ).

Al t h ou g h As h l ey o ffered an e x p l an at i o n fo r t h es e act i on s t h at h e arg u ed

s h o wed h e l ack ed cri m i nal i n ten t

, t h e ju ry was au t h o ri zed t o reject th at ex p l an at i o n.

See Th o m a s

, 3 2 0 Ga. Ap p

. at 1 0 5 (2 ); S ch wer d t f eg er

, 1 6 7 Ga. A p p

. at 20 (1 ). An d h i s

cl ai m ed i n to x i cat i o n is n o t rel ev an t t o t h e i ss u e of h i s cri m i nal i n t en t i n t h is cas e. See

Gu ys e v. S t a t e

, 2 8 6 Ga. 57 4

, 57 8 (2 ) (6 9 0 SE2 d 4 0 6) (2 0 1 0 ) (v o l u n tary i n to x i cat i o n

g en eral l y i s n o t ex cu s e fo r cri m i n al act ); Fo s ter v. S t a t e

, 2 58 Ga. 7 3 6

, 7 4 5 (1 0 ) (3 7 4

SE2 d 1 8 8 ) (1 9 8 8 ) (i n t o x i cat i o n d efen s e in v ol v es s ep arat e i s s u e fro m l ack o f i n t en t

t o co m m i t cri m e).

2

. Ch a r act er evi d

en ce.

Nev ert h el es s

, w e m

u st rev ers e b ecau s e t h e t ri al co u rt i m pro p erl y al l o wed t h e

s t at e t o p res en t ch aract er ev i d en ce ag ai n st As h ley

. Th at ev i den ce d ep i ct ed As h l ey as

a p ers o n wh o b eh av ed i n a m an n er aro u n d ch il d ren t h at m ad e o t h ers u n co m fo rt ab l e,

an d i t i n cl u d ed t h ree s peci fi c i nci d en t s i n t h e s u m m er o f 2 0 1 1 i n wh i ch As h l ey h ad

en g ag ed i n q u es t i o nab l e co n d u ct aro u nd ch i l d ren at t h e m o b i l e h o m e park s wi m m i n g

p o o l

. T h ere was ev i d en ce t h at A s h l ey s qu i rt ed a y o un g b o y wi t h a w at er g u n s o h ard

t h at he m ad e t h e b oy cry

. Th e r e w a s ev i d en ce th at h e l o ok ed at y o u n g gi rl s i n a

7m an n er t hat m ad e o n e g i rl ’ s m o t h er u n co m fo rt ab l e an d g av e an o t her o n lo o ker a “ v ery

b ad vi b e.” Fi n al ly

, t h ere w as ev i d en ce t h at As h l ey o ft en p i ck ed at an d t eas ed ch i l d ren

i n h i s fam i l y

, m ak i n g t h em cry

. On e o f th e ch i l d ren h e p i ck ed at was hi s t en -y ear-o ld

n i ece, w h o m h e wo ul d fl i ck wi t h h i s fi n g er o n th e b ack o f t h e h ead o r ri b cag e, ev en

t h o u g h s h e s t ro n g l y

d i s l ik ed t h i s b eh av i o r. Th e n i ece t es t i fi ed t o a s p eci fi c i n ci d en t

at t he p o ol wh ere As h ley fl ick ed h er o n her s i d e an d sh e th reat en ed t o h i t h i m

. Th e

t ri al co u rt al l o wed t h e s t at e t o i n t ro d u ce t h e ab o v e ev i d en ce aft er t he s tat e arg u ed t h at

t h e ev i d en ce co n cern ed s i m i l ar t ran s act i o n s.

Geo rg i a’ s fo rm er Ev i d en ce Co d e, wh i ch ap p l i ed at t h e t i m e o f t h e t ri al i n t h i s

cas e, pro v i d ed th at “ [t ] h e g en eral ch aract er o f t h e p art i es an d es p eci al l y t h ei r co n d u ct

i n o t h er t ran s act i o ns are i rrel ev an t m at t er u nl es s t h e n at u re o f t h e act i o n i n v o l v es s u ch

ch aract er an d ren d ers n eces s ary o r p ro p er t h e i n v es t i g at i o n o f s u ch co nd u ct

. ” Fo rm er

OCGA § 2 4 -2 -2 (2 0 1 2 ). (Si m i l ar t ran s act i o n ev id en ce i s ad d res s ed i n Geo rg i a’ s n ew

Ev i d en ce Co de at OCGA § 2 4 -4 -4 04 (b ).)

To ad m i t ev i d en ce o f a n i n d ep en d en t o ffen s e o r act co m m i t t ed b y th e

accu s ed

, t h e s t at e m

u s t s h o w t h at it s eek s to i n tro d u ce t he ev i d en ce fo r

an ap p ro p ri at e p u rp o se, t h ere i s s u ffi ci en t ev i d en ce t o es t ab l is h th at th e

accu s ed co m

m i t t ed t h e i n d ep en d en t o ffen s e, an d t here i s a su ffi ci en t

co n n ect i o n o r s i m il ari t y b et ween t h e i n d ep en d en t o ffen s e an d t h e cri m e

8ch arg ed s o t h at p ro o f o f t h e in d ep en d en t act t e n d s t o p r o v e t h e cri m e

ch arg ed

.

Ja cks o n v. S t a te

, 29 1 G a. 5 4

, 5 5 (2 ) ( 7 2 7 S E 2 d 4 54 ) (2 0 1 2) (ci t at i o n o m i t t ed ). In

o t h er wo rd s

, “ [ s ] i m i l ar t ran s act i o n ev i den ce m ay b e ad m i t t ed i f i t i s su b s t an t i al l y

rel ev an t fo r s o m e p u rp o s e o th er t h a n to s h o w a l ik el i h o o d th at t h e d efen d an t

co m m i t t ed t h e cri m e o n t ri al becau s e h e i s a p ers o n o f cri m i n al ch aract er.” Po r t er v.

S t a t e

, 26 4 Ga. Ap p

. 5 2 6

, 5 3 1 (4 ) (5 9 1 SE 2 d 4 3 6 ) (2 0 0 3 ) (ci t at i o n an d pu n ct u at i o n

o m it t e d ). “ Th e ev id en ce i s n ot t o b e ad m i t ted

, ho wev er, i f i t m erel y rai s es an

i m p ro p er i n feren ce ab ou t t h e ch aract er o f t h e accu s ed .” Ch ua v. St a t e

, 2 8 9 Ga. 2 2 0,

2 3 2 (2 ) (7 1 0 SE2 d 5 4 0 ) (2 0 1 1 ) (ci t at i o n o m i t t ed ). On ap pel l at e rev iew, “ [w] e accep t

t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s fi n d i n g s o f fact u n l es s t h ey are cl earl y erro neo u s an d wi l l up h o l d t h e

d eci s i o n t o ad m i t t h e s im i lar t ran sact i o n ev i d en ce u n l es s t here h as b een an ab u s e o f

d i s cret i o n .” Ja cks o n , 2 9 1 Ga. at 5 5 (2 ) (ci t at i o n o m i t t ed ).

Th e t ri al co urt ad m i tt ed t h e s im i l ar t ran s act i o n ev i den ce i n t h i s cas e fo r t h e s o l e

p u rp os e o f sh o wi n g As h l ey ’ s cri m i n al in t en t

. T he ev i d en ce, h o wev er, was n ot

rel ev an t t o s ho w t h at p urp os e. Th e s t at e h as n o t arg u ed t h at As h ley ’ s b eh av i o r i n t h e

earl ier i n ci d en t s w a s c r i m i nal

. W h i l e a s i m i l ar t ran s act i o n n eed n ot b e a cri m e, s ee

Ch u a

, 2 8 9 Ga. at 2 32 (2 ), t he fact t h at a p ers o n en g ag ed i n a n on -cri m i nal b eh av i o r

9d o es n o t ev i n ce cri m i n al i n t en t. Th e s t at e s o u g h t t o u s e act s i n wh i ch As h l ey l a cked

cri m i n al i n t en t t o p ro v e t h at h e h ad cri m i n al i n ten t i n an o th er i n st an ce.

Ou r Su p rem e Co u rt h as h el d t h at , “ [w] here t h e ex tri n s i c o ffen se i s o ffered t o

p ro v e i nt en t

, i t s rel ev an ce i s d et erm i n ed b y co m pari n g t h e d efen d an t ’ s s t at e o f m i n d

i n p erp et rat i n g b o t h t h e ex t ri n si c an d ch arg ed o ffen s es .” Br ad s ha w v. St a t e

,

_

_ Ga.

_ _ ,

_ _ (3 ) (_

_ SE2 d

_

_ ) (S1 4 A1 3 6 5

, d eci ded M arch 2

, 2 0 1 5 ) (ci t at i o n a n d

p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed ). Ap p ly i n g t h i s ru le, t he Co u rt det erm in ed t hat ev i d en ce o f a

s i m i l ar t ran s act i o n was rel ev an t t o es t ab l i s h a d e f e n dan t ’ s i n t en t i n t h e ch arg ed

o ffen s e b ecau s e t h e s i m i l ar t ran s act i o n an d t h e ch arg ed o ffen s e “ i nv o lv e[d ] t h e s am e

m en t al s t at e.” Id

. at

_

_ (3 ). Acco rd Un i t ed S ta t es v. Di cker s on

, 24 8 F3 d 1 0 36

, 1 0 4 7

(IV) (A) (1 1 t h C i r

. 2 0 0 1 ) (t o es t ab l i s h t hat s i m i l ar t ran s act i o n

, o ffered as p ro o f o f

i n t en t

, i s rel ev an t to i s s u e o t her t h an d efen d an t ’ s ch aract er, as req u i red u n der Fed eral

Ru l es o f Ev i d en ce, “ i t m

u s t be det erm i n ed t h at t h e ex t ri n s ic o ffen s e req u i res t h e s am e

i n t en t a s t h e ch arg ed o ffen s e”) (ci t at i on s an d p un ct u at io n o m i t t ed ). Th i s cas e, in

c o n t ras t

, i n v o l v es in s tan ces wh ere As h ley h ad d i fferen t m en t al s t at es

– l a c k i n g

cri m i n al in t en t o n t he o n e h an d an d al l eg ed l y p o s s es s i n g cri m i n al i n t en t o n t h e o t h er

h an d.

10It i s tru e t h at th e Br ad s h aw an d Di cker

so n cas es

, ci t ed ab ov e, di d n o t ad d res s

o u r fo rm er Ev i d en ce Co d e. Nev ert h el es s

, t h ey are p ers u as iv e. W h i l e G eo rg i a’ s n ew

Ev i d en ce Co d e is m o re res t ri ct i v e t h an t h e fo rm er E vi d en ce Co de i n t h e s en s e t h at i t

n o l o ng er l i s t s b en t o f m i n d o r c o u r s e o f c o n d u ct as pro p er p u rp o s es fo r s i m i l ar

t r a n s act i o n ev i d en ce, s ee Jo h n so n v. S ta t e

, 2 92 Ga. 2 2

, 2 5 n

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

(2 0 1 2), i n o t h er res p ect s th e n ew Ev i d en ce Co d e’ s t reat m en t o f s i m i lar t ran s act i o n

ev i d en ce i s

, as o n e c o m m en t at o r h as n o t ed

, a ru l e o f in cl u s io n t h at ex pan d s t h e

ad m i s s i o n of s u ch ev i den ce. See R. Carl so n

, et al

., Ca r l s o n o n Evi d

en ce

, p

. 1 2 0 (3 d

Ed

. 20 1 5). M o reo v er, t h e ad o p t i o n o f o ur n ew E vi d en ce Co de d i d n o t ch an g e t h e

req u i rem en t t h at s i m i l ar t ran s act i o n ev i d en ce be rel ev an t t o s ho w a p ro p er p u rp o s e;

t h at req u i rem en t is fo u n d i n c a s e s d eci d ed u n d er b o t h t h e o l d an d n ew Co d es

. See

Br a ds h a w

,

_

_ Ga. at

_ _ (3 ); Po r t er

, 2 6 4 G a. Ap p

. at 5 3 1 (4 ). No r d i d t h e ad o p t i o n o f

t h e n ew E v id en ce Co d e ch an g e Geo rg i a’ s d efi n it i o n o f rel ev an t ev i d en ce; u n d er b o th

Co d es ev i d en ce i s rel ev an t i f i t l o g i cal l y t en d s t o p ro v e o r d i s p ro v e an y m at eri al fact

at i s s u e i n t h e cas e. See O CGA § 2 4 -4 -4 01 ; Ci t y o f At l a n t a v

. La n d

ma r k

En vi r o nmen t a l In d

u s

. , 2 7 2 Ga. Ap p

. 73 2

, 7 44 (1 0 ) (6 1 3 SE2 d 13 1 ) (2 0 0 5 ) (ci t i n g

fo rm er OCGA § 2 4 -2 -1 ). Si m p l y p u t

, t h ere i s no reas o n t o di s co un t o u r S u p r e m e

11Co u rt ’ s di s cu s s i o n i n Br a d s h a w o f h o w t o d et erm i ne t h e rel ev an ce o f s i m i l ar

t ran s act io n s t o p ro v e cri m i n al i n t en t

.

Co n si d eri ng Br a d

s h a w ’ s i n s t ru ct io n t h at we “ co m p ar[e] t h e d efen d an t ’ s s t at e

o f m i n d i n p erp et rat i n g b o t h t h e ex t ri n s i c an d ch arg ed o ffen s es ,” Br a ds h a w

,

_ _ Ga.

at

_ _ (3 ), we fi n d t h ere was n o t a s uffi ci en t s i m i l ari t y o r co n n ec t i o n s u c h t h at

ev i d en ce t h at As h l ey h ad en g ag ed i n cert ai n act s w i t ho u t a cri m i n al i n t en t t en d ed to

p ro v e t h at h e h ad t h e req u i si t e cri m i n al i n t en t fo r t h e k i dn ap p i n g an d at t em p t ed

k i d n ap p i ng o ffen s es

. In s t ead

, t h e ev i d en ce m erel y rai sed an i nferen ce ab o u t As h l ey ’ s

ch aract er

– t h at h e i s a p ers o n wh o en g ag es i n an n o y i n g an d d is t u rb i n g b eh av i o r

aro u n d ch i ld ren

. As s u ch

, t h e ev i d en ce sh o u l d n o t h av e b een ad m i t t ed

. See Ch u a

, 2 8 9

Ga. 2 3 2 (2 ).

In h i s ru li n g

, t he tri al co u rt al s o fo u n d t h at As h l ey ’ s b eh av i o r at t h e po o l was

p art o f “ a s eri es o f i n ci d e n t s t h at cu lm i n at e[d ] i n t h e [k i d nap p in g ,] ” an d s u g g es t ed

t h at t h e ev i d en ce o f t h e p o ol i n ci d en t s m i g h t b e ad m i ss i b l e as p art o f a s i n g l e

t ran s act io n rat h er t h an as s ep arat e, s i m i l ar t ran s act i o ns

. See g en eral ly Bu r g er v. S t a t e

,

2 4 2 Ga. 2 8

, 3 2 (8 ) (2 4 7 SE2 d 8 3 4 ) (1 9 78 ) (i f sep ar a t e a ct i s co m m i t t ed as p art o f

s am e t ran s act i o n as t h at fo r w hi ch accu s ed i s b ei ng t ri ed

, an d fo rm s p art of res g es t ae,

ev i d en ce o f i t i s ad m i ss i b l e). No t h i n g fro m t he reco rd

, h o wev er, s ho ws t h at As h l ey ’ s

12b eh av i o r aro u n d ch i ld ren i n t h e s u m m er of 2 0 1 1 was i n t ri n s ic t o t h e cri m es ch arg ed

i n t h is cas e

– t h e k i d n ap pi ng an d at t em p t ed k i d n ap p in g o f di fferen t ch i l d ren t wo

m o nt h s lat er. See g en eral ly Peo p l es v. S t a t e , 2 95 Ga. 4 4 , 5 2 (4 ) (b ) (7 5 7 SE2 d 6 4 6 )

(2 0 1 4 ) (reject i n g s t at e’ s arg u m en t t h at ev i d en ce o f p ri o r ro b b ery w as ev i d en ce o f

ch arg ed cri m es as s o ci at ed wi t h s u b s eq u en t ho m e i n v a s i o n, rat h er th an s i m i l ar

t ran s act io n

, becau s e t h e ev i d en ce o f t h e ro b b ery was “ ex t ri n s i c t o th e cri m es ch arg ed ;

i t d i d n o t b ear di rect l y o n [d efen d an t ’ s ] al leg ed co n d u c t in th i s cas e, n or was i t

i n t r i n s i c t o

, o r in ex t ri cab l y i n t ert wi n ed wi t h

, t h e cri m es at t h e [v i ct i m s ’ ] h o u s e”)

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

Th e ad m i s s i on o f th e i m p ro p er ch aract er ev i d en ce ag ai ns t As hl ey req u i res

rev ers al

. Th e ju ry fo u nd As h l ey g u i l t y o f ki d n ap p i ng an d at t em p t ed k i d n ap p i n g rat h er

t h an l e s s e r i n c l u ded offen s es o f s i m p l e b at t ery an d s i m

p l e as s au l t

. A s i g n i fi can t

am ou n t o f t h e s t at e’ s ev i d en ce ad d res sed As hl ey ’ s ch aract er, an d w e can no t s ay t h at

i t was h i g h l y p ro b ab l e t h at th e erro r i n ad m i t t i ng t h at ch aract er ev i d en ce d i d n ot

co n tri b u t e t o t h e ju ry ’ s v erd i ct

. See Peo p l es , 2 9 5 Ga. at 5 5 (4 ) (c).

3

. Rema in i n g

cl a i ms o f er r o r

.

Gi v en o u r d i s p o s i ti o n

, we d o no t ad d res s As h ley ’ s rem ai n i n g cl ai m s o f erro r.

13Ju d

g men t r ever

s ed

. An d r ews

, P. J., Ba r n e s

, P

. J., a nd Do yl e, P. J., co n cu r ;

Bo g gs , Ra y, a n d Br an ch , JJ., d i s s en t

.

14A1 4 A1 84 8 . ASHLEY v

. THE STATE.

R A Y , J u d g e.

Becau s e I b el i ev e t h at t h e t ri al ju d g e d i d n o t ab u s e i t s d i scret i o n i n ad m i t t i n g

s i m i l ar t ran s act i o n ev id en ce o f As h l ey ’ s p ri or co n du ct aro u n d y o un g ch i l d ren

, I

res p ect fu l l y d i s s en t t o Di v i s i o n 2 o f t h e m ajo ri t y o p i n io n an d o t h erwi s e wo u l d affi rm

t h e co n v i ct i o n

.

Th e m ajo ri ty rel i es up o n Un i t ed S t a t es v. Di cker so n

, 2 4 8 F.3 d 10 3 6

, 10 4 7 (IV)

(A) (1 1 t h Ci r. 2 0 0 1) fo r t h e p ro p o s i t i o n t h at s i m i l ar t ran s act i o n ev i d en ce, wh en

o ffered as p ro o f o f i n t en t

, m us t d em o ns t rat e t h at t h e ex t ri n s i c o f fen s e “ req u i res t h e

s am e in t en t as th e ch arg ed offen s e” u n d er th e Fed eral Ru l es o f Ev id en ce. It i s t el l i n g

t h at b o t h t h e m ajo ri ty an d As h l ey ’ s ap p el l at e b ri ef fai l t o ci t e to an y rel ev an t Geo rg i a

l aw i n s u p p o rt o f t h i s h ol d i n g

. Th is is b ecau se Geo rg i a’ s cas e l aw co n st ru i n g o u r

fo rm er ev i d en ce co d e i m

p o s ed n o s u ch req u irem en t. Fed eral Ru l e of Ev i d en ce 4 0 4(b ), rel i ed u p o n b y D i cker s o n , an d o u r n ew Ev id en ce Co de ap p ly a m o re res t ri ct i v e

s t an d ard t h an o u r fo rm er ev i d en ce co d e i n ad m i tt i n g ev i d en ce o f s i m i l ar t ran s act i on s

fo r t h e p u rp o s e o f s h o w i n g a d efen d an t ’ s i n t en t

.

Un d er o u r fo rm er ev i d en ce co d e, “ t h ere [was ] n o req u i r e m en t t h at t h e

i n d ep en den t act s b e i d en t ical t o t h e cri m e ch arg ed ; t h e p r o p e r fo cu s i s o n t h e

s i m i l ari t i es

, n ot t h e d i fferen ces

, b et ween t he s ep arat e [ a c t s ] an d t h e cri m e in

q u es ti o n .” (Ci t at i o n an d pu n ct uat i o n o m i t t ed

. ) Jo nes v. S t a t e

, 31 6 Ga. Ap p

. 4 4 3

, 4 4 6

(2 ) (a) ( 7 2 9 SE2 d 5 7 8 ) (2 0 1 2 ). M o reo v er, wh en th e St at e i n t ro d u ces p ri o r act s to

s h o w a d efen d an t ’ s i n t en t, “ a l es s er d eg ree o f s i m i l arl y i s req u i re d t h a n w h e n s u ch

ev i d en ce i s i n t ro d u ced t o p ro v e i de ntity

. ” ) (Ci t at i o n an d pu n ct uat i o n o m it t ed .) Ki n d er

v. S t a te

, 2 8 4 Ga. 14 8, 1 5 0 (3 ) (6 6 3 SE2 d 7 1 1 ) (2 0 0 8 ). Acco rd

, Jo nes

, s u p ra (fi n d i n g

ev i d en ce o f p ri o r at t ack s co m m i t t ed b y a d efen d an t wi t h li t t l e o r n o p ro vo cat i o n was

rel ev an t to s h o w h i s in t en t i n a d o m es t i c v i o l en ce cas e wh ere h e al l eg ed h e act ed in

s el f-d efen s e); Ca r ver v. St o n e

, 2 5 8 Ga. 3 8 5

, 3 8 5 (3 6 9 SE2 d 4 7 1 ) (1 98 8 ) (d efen d an t

,

a m em b er o f t h e KKK

, was ch arg ed wi t h m ak i n g t erro ri s t i c th reat s t o a p ers o n o f a

d i fferen t race; t ri al co u rt d i d n o t ab u s e i t s d i s cret i o n in al l o w i n g p ro s ecu t i o n to

p res en t s u b s tan t i al ev i d en ce, u n rel at ed to t h e i nci d en t i n v o lv i n g t h e v ict i m

, o f

d efen d an t ’ s raci st s t at em en t s an d b el i efs t o p ro ve h i s ‘ i n t en t t o t erro ri ze.’ )

2Here, t h e t ri al co u rt fo u n d t h a t t h e p ri o r act s were l og i cal l y co n n ect ed t o t h e

cu rren t ch arg es : t h e s am e t rai l er p ark

, t h e s am e ap p ro x i m at e t i m e p eri o d

, a s eri es o f

i n ci d en t s cu l m in at i n g i n t he cri m e ch arg ed

, an d al l i n v o l v i ng i n ap pro p ri at e co n t act

wi t h y o u n g ch i l d ren

. As hl ey ’ s defen s e at tri al i s t h at h e co u l d n o t fo rm t h e req u i si t e

i n t en t t o co m

m i t t h e cri m es ch arg ed b ecau s e o f hi s d ru g u s e. Th i s was s u ffi ci en t to

rai s e an i s s u e co n cern i n g h i s s t at e o f m i n d

, an d i t creat ed a p o s s i b i l it y t h at t h e ju ry

co u ld h av e co n cl u d ed th at wh i l e h e co m m i t ted t h e ch arg ed act s

, h e d i d n o t i n t en d to

d o s o

. In t en t i s, t h erefo re, at i s s u e i n t h i s cas e, an d t h e t r i a l co urt d i d n o t ab u s e i t s

d i s cret i o n i n al lo wi n g ev i den c e t h at As h ley h ad a h i s t o ry o f d em o n s t rat i n g an

i n ap p ro p ri at e i nt eres t i n an d b eh av io r aro u n d y o u n g ch i l d ren as ev i d en ce t h at h e d i d,

i n fact

, i n t en d t o co m

m i t t h e cri m es ch arg ed

.

I am au t h o ri zed t o s t at e t h at Bo g g s an d Bran ch

, J J

. , jo i n i n t h is d i s s en t

.

3