In th e S u p re m e Co u rt o f Ge o rg ia

De c id e d: Ja n u a ry 2 0

, 2 0 15

S 1 4 A1 5 7 0 . Mc NEELY v . THE S TATE.

B ENHAM , Ju stic e

.

Ap p e lla n t N e bu la M c Ne e ly wa s c o n v ic te d o f two c ou n ts o f fe lo n y m u rd e r

a n d o th e r o ffe nse s re la te d to sh o p liftin g a n d th e d e a th s o f two in d iv id u a ls

a risin g fro m a n a

u to m o b ile c o llisio n

. Th e c ollisio n o c c u rre d wh e n a p p e l l a n t a n d

h e r a c c o m

p lic e we re fle e in g a n d a tte m p tin g to e lu d e a p o lic e o ffic e r a fte r th e y

h a d b e e n c o n fro n te d fo r sh o p liftin g

. 1 F o r th e re a so n s se t fo rth b e lo w, we a ffirm

1 The crimes occurred on J une 4, 2006. T h e Columbia County g rand jury returned an

indictment on A u gu s t 9

, 2006, charg ing appellant with felony theft b y shoplifting ; fleeing and

attempting to elude a police officer; two counts of felony murder (while in the commission of fleeing

and attempting to elude a police officer); feticide of an unborn c hild during the commission of the

felony of f

leeing and attempting to elude a police officer; serious injury by vehicle to the mother of

the u nborn child by reckless driving ; serious injury by vehicle to the six -y ear old c hild in the vehicle

in which appellant was a p asseng er b y reckless driving ; and cruelty to children in the second deg ree

by op er a t i n g a motor vehicle in a reckless manner with the minor child unrestrained by a safety

seatbelt w hich r esulted i n s e r i o u s i n j uries to the child. The State g ave notice of its intent to seek

recidivist punishment ag ainst appellant. After a t r i a l co n d u cted May 6-8, 2008, the jury found

appellant g uilty of the lesser offense of m i s d e m eanor shoplifting and g uilty as charg ed to the

remaining counts. The trial c ourt sentenced appellant as a recidivist to twelve months to serve for

misdemeanor shoplifting

, five y e ars to serve for fleeing a nd eluding

, life for each of the two counts

of felony murder, life wi t h o ut parole for feticide, five y ears for each of the two c ounts of serious

injury by v ehicle, and ten y ears for c r u e l t y to a child, with all sentences to run c onsecutively

. Appellant filed a timely motion for new trial on J u ne 6, 2008. After a hearing on March 21, 2014,

the trial court denied the motion for new trial on April 29, 2 014. Appellant filed a timely notice ofin p a rt w ith re sp e c t to th e c on v ic tio n s, b u t we v a c a te in p art, with re sp e c t to th e

se p a ra te se n te n c e im

po se d fo r th e c o n v ic tio n fo r fe lo n y fle e in g a n d e lu d in g

,

b e c a u se we fin d

, fo r p u rp o se s o f se n te n c in g

, th a t c on vic tio n m e rg e d a s a m a tte r

o f la w with th e c on v ic tio ns fo r fe lo ny m u rd e r.

Vie we d in th e lig ht m o st fa v o ra b le to th e ve rd ic t, th e e v id e n c e sh o w s

a p p e lla n t’s a c c o m

p lic e

, Tia ra S m ith

, d ro ve h e r SUV in to a n in te rse c tio n a g a in st

a re d lig h t, c a

u sin g a d e a dly a

u to m o b ile c ollisio n wh ile sp e e d in g a wa y fro m th e

sc e n e wh e re S m ith a

n d a p p e lla n t h a d b e e n in vo lv e d in sh op liftin g

. Sm ith wa s

th e g irlfrie n d o f a

p p e l l an t ’ s so n

. Ap p e lla nt a sk e d S m ith to d riv e h e r to g o

sh o p p in g fo r a b irth da y gift. Th re e m o n th s e arlie r, a p p e lla n t h a d b e e n re le a se d

fro m in c a rc e ra tio n fo r sh o p liftin g a n d o th e r o ffe n se s, an d S m ith k n e w a p p e lla n t

in te nd e d to sh o p lift m e rc ha n dise o n th e d a y in q u e stio n

. With o ut p e rm issio n

,

a p p e lla n t to o k a lo n g a f

r i e n d ’ s six -y e a r o ld d a

u gh te r, wh o w a s u se d a s a

d iv e rsio n du rin g th e sh o p liftin g e p iso d e

. A t Ma rsh a ll’s d e p artm e n t sto re

, a lo ss

p re v e n tio n d e te c tiv e o b se rv e d th e wo m e n p la c e v a rio u s ite m s in a sh o pp in g c art.

Le a v in g th e c a rt in sid e

, th e y th e n we n t o u tsid e to th e p a rk in g lo t wh e re th e y

appeal on May 7, 2014, and this a p peal was docketed in this Court to the September 2014 term f or

a decision to be made on the briefs.

2re a c h e d in to a n S UV a n d d u m p e d ite m s o u t o f a sh o p p in g b a g

. T h e wo m e n

re tu rn e d to th e sto re with th e e m p ty b a g, p la c e d ite ms p re vio u sly c o lle c te d in

th e ir c a rt in to th e sh o p p in g b a g

, a n d le ft th e sto re w ith o u t pa y in g fo r th e m

. Th e

sto re d e te ct i v e h a d a lre a d y a le rte d p o lic e

, a n d sh e a nd th e sto re m a n a g e r

fo llo we d th e wo m e n o u t to th e p a rk in g lo t a n d c o n fro nte d a p p e l l a n t a b o u t th e

m e rc h a nd ise

. Ap p e lla nt d e n ie d th e ite m s we re sto le n an d sta rte d sh o vin g th e

d e te c tiv e

. Ap p e lla n t re fu se d th e d e te c tiv e ’ s r e q u e st to g o b a c k in to th e sto re

.

In ste a d

, wh e n sh e sa w th a t S m ith a n d th e c h ild h a d g o tte n in to th e S UV,

a p p e lla n t d ro p p e d th e m e rc h a n d ise a n d ju m p e d in to th e S UV, a n d th e wo me n

d ro v e a w a y

.

A Co lu m b iaCo u n ty S h e riff’s m o to rc y c le o ffic e r h e a rd a d isp a tc h a

b o u t

th e sh op l i ftin g a n d wa s he a d e d in th e d ire c tio n o f th e sto re w h e n h e o b se rv e d

a n S UV sp e e d in g in th e o p p o site d ire c tio n a t 7 0 m ile s p e r h o ur. Afte r tu rn in g

a ro u nd to p u rsu e th e S UV a nd tu rn in g o n th e m o to rc y c le ’s b lu e lig h ts a n d sire n

,

h e h e a rd a d ditio na l in fo rm a tio n th a t t h e g e ta wa y c a r w a s a d a rk -c o lo re d S UV

with a S o u th Ca ro lin a lic e n se p la t e

. T h e S UV h e wa s p u rsu in g m a tc h e d th e

d e sc rip tio n o f th e g e ta w a y c a r. Th e SUV d id n o t sto p o r slo w do wn a s it we n t

th ro u g h two in te rse c tio n s, a n d th e n c o llid e d with a n oth e r v e h ic le a fte r ru n n in g

3a

sto p lig h t. Two o c c u p a n ts in th e o th e r c a r we re k ille d u p o n im p a c t. A th ird

o c c u p a n t wa s fiv e m o n th s p re g n a n t, an d h e r u n b o rn c h ild w a s lo st a s a re su lt o f

e x te n siv e in

ju rie s sh e su sta in e d in th e c o llisio n. Th e y ou ng girl in th e S UV wa s

n o t we a rin g sa fe ty re stra in ts, a nd sh e a lso s u s t a i n e d se rio u s in ju rie s in th e

c o llisio n

. Ap p e lla n t wa s e je c te d fro m th e S UV u p o n im p a c t a n d wa s ta k e n to

th e h o sp ita l. W h e n in te rv ie we d b y la w e nfo rc e m e n t a t th e h o sp ita l, a p p e lla n t

d e n ie d g o in g in to th e sto re in q u e stio n

.

B o t h S m ith a n d a

p p e lla n t we re in d ic te d. S m ith p le a d e d g uilty a n d

te stifie d a g a in st a

p p e lla nt a t h e r tria l. Sm ith te stifie d th a t sh e sa w th e

m o to rc y c le o ffic e r p u rsu in g h e r a n d to ld a p p e lla n t to pu t o n h e r se a tb e lt b e c a use

sh e wa s g o in g to p u ll o v e r. S h e fu rth e r te stifie d th a t a p p e lla n t a rg u e d with h e r

a n d d e m a n d e d th a t sh e n o t sto p

, a n d fu rth e r d e m a n de d th a t sh e ru n th e lig h t a t

th e in te rse c tio n w h e re th e c o llisio n o c c u rre d

. Wh e n in te rv ie we d b y a u th o ritie s

a fte r th e c o llisio n

, S m ith sa id a p p e lla n t re p e a te d ly d e m a n de d th a t S m ith d riv e

fa ste r to g e t a wa y fro m th e p u rsu in g o ffic e r b e c a use sh e c o u ld n o t a ffo rd to g e t

in to m o re tro u b le

. Ap p e lla n t te stifie d a t tria l an d a dm itte d sh o p liftin g

. S h e a lso

a d m itte d h a v in g go tte n o u t of p riso n a b o u t th re e m o n th s be fo re th is in c id e n t a n d

a d m itte d k n o win g th a t v io la tin g h e r p a ro le a n d p ro b a tio n b y sh o p liftin g wo u ld

4se n d h e r b a c k to p riso n

. S h e d e n ie d

, h o we v e r

, th a t sh e e n c o u ra g e d Sm ith to

a v o id b e in g p ulle d o v e r a n d c la im e d sh e to ld S m ith to slo w d o wn

.

1

. P u rsu a n t to OCGA § 4 0 -6 -3 9 5 (a ): “ It sh a ll be u nla wfu l fo r a n y d riv e r

o f a v e h ic le w i llfu lly to fa il o r re fu se to b rin g h is o r he r v e h ic le to a sto p o r

o th e rwise to fle e o r a tte m p t to e lu d e a pu rsu in g p o lic e v e hic le o r p o lic e o ffic e r

wh e n giv e n a v isu a l o r a u d ib le sig n a l to b rin g th e v e h ic le to a sto p .” Re ly in g

u p o n Ca rte r v

. Sta te

, 2 4 9 Ga

. Ap p

. 3 5 4 (5 ) (5 4 8 S E 2 d 1 0 2) (2 0 0 1 ) (in wh ic h n o

e v id e n c e wa s pre se n te d th a t a p p e lla n t d id a n y th in g oth e r th a n o c c u p y t h e

p a sse n g e r se a t o f th e v e h ic le wh ile h is a c c o m p lic e in th e c rim e o f h ig h

ja c k in g

e n g a g e d in a h ig h-sp e e d c h a se with p olic e ), a p pe lla n t a rg u e s th a t th e e v id e n c e

wa s in su ffic ie n t fo r a re a so n a b le fin d e r o f fa c t to fin d h e r g u ilty o f v io la tin g th e

te rm s o f th is sta tu te b e c a

u se sh e wa s n o t th e d riv e r o f th e v e h ic le in wh ic h sh e

wa s rid in g

, n o r d id sh e h a v e a u t h o rity to b rin g th e d riv e r’s v e hic le to a sto p

.

Th e S ta te ’s th e o ry re g a rd in g th is o ffe n se

, h o we ve r, is th a t a p p e lla n t wa s a p a rty

to th is c rim e by a id in g o r a b e tt i n g in it, o r b y in te n tio n a lly a dv isin g o r

e n c o u ra g in g S m ith to c o m m it th e c rim e

. S e e OCGA § 1 6 -2 -2 0 (b ) (3 ) a n d (4 ).

It is tru e

, a s a

p p e lla n t a rg u e s, th a t to su sta in a fe lo ny c o nv ic tio n

, th e te stim o n y

5o f a n a c c o m

p lic e m u st b e c o rro b ora te d

. S e e fo rm e r O CGA § 2 4 -4 -8

. 2 We

re j e c t a p p e lla n t’s a sse rtio n

, ho we ve r, th a t th e e v id e nc e o f h e r a c tiv e

p a rtic ip a tio n in th e d riv e r’s a c t o f fle e in g o r a tte m p tin g to e lu d e th e la w

e n fo rc e m e n t o ffic e r c o nsiste d so le ly o f th e un c o rro b o ra te d te stim on y o f S m ith

,

h e r a c c o m

p lic e to th e c rim e

. E v id e n c e c o n n e c tin g th e d e fe n da n t with th e c rim e

,

in sa tisfa c tio n o f OCGA § 2 4 -4 -8

, m a y b e slig ht a n d it m a y b e e n tire ly

c irc u m sta n tia l. S

u t t o n v

. S ta te

, 2 9 5 Ga

. 35 0

, 3 5 1 -3 5 2 (1 ) (7 5 9 S E2 d 8 4 6 )

(2 0 1 4 ). F u rth e r, “ e v id e n c e o f th e d e fe nd an t’s c o n d u c t b e fo re a n d a fte r th e c rim e

m a y g iv e rise to a n in fe re n c e th a t [ s ]h e p a rtic ip a te d in th e c rim e .” (Cita tio n

o m itte d .) Id

. a t 3 5 2

. Th is ru le is a p p lic a b le to th e c rim e o f fle e in g o r a tte m p tin g

to e lu d e a p o lic e v e h ic le p u rsu a n t to OCGA § 4 0 -6 -3 9 5 (a ). S e e W e stmo re la n d

v

. S ta te

, 2 8 7 Ga

. 6 8 8 (4 ) (b ) (6 9 9 S E2 d 1 3 ) (2 01 0); Co op e r v

. S ta te

, 2 8 1 Ga

.

Ap p

. 8 8 2 (2 ) (6 3 7 S E2 d 4 8 0 ) (2 0 0 6 ).

Ap p e lla n t te stifie d a n d a d m itte d sh o p liftin g

, a n d fu rth e r a d m itte d sh e h a d

a p rio r re c o rd o f sh o p liftin g

, th a t sh e h a d o n ly re c e n tly b e e n re le a se d fro m

p riso n

, a n d th a t sh e k n e w ge t tin g c a u g ht th e d a y o f th e se e v e n ts wo u ld b e a

p a ro le v io la tio n th a t wo u ld se n d h e r b a c k to p riso n

. Th e e v id e n c e sh o we d

2 This Code section now appears as OCGA § 24-14-8 in the new Evidence Code.

6a

p p e lla n t a v o id e d d e te n tio n a n d q u e stio nin g b y s to re pe rso n n e l a n d th a t sh e

p h y sic a l l y a s s a u lte d on e o f th e sto re e m p lo y e e s wh o c o n fro n te d h e r. Wh e n

a p p e lla n t sa w S m ith wa s a b o u t to p u ll o u t o f th e sto re p a rk in g lo t, sh e fle d th e

sc e n e to ju m

p in to th e c a r w ith S m ith

. Wh e n qu e stio n e d in th e h osp ita l a fte r th e

c o llisio n

, a

p p e lla n t d e n ie d h e r in v o lv e m e n t w i t h th e sh o p liftin g

. Th e se

c irc u m sta n c e s se rv e a s a m p le c o rro b o ra tio n o f th e a c c o m p lic e ’s te stim o n y th a t

a p p e lla n t u rg e d h e r to driv e fa st a n d ord e re d he r to ru n th e sto p lig h t in o rd e r to

a v o id b e in g a

p p re h e n d e d b y th e p u rsu in g p o lic e offic e r. “ W h e n re vie win g th e

su ffic ie n c y o f th e e v id e n c e th is Co u rt d o e s n o t re we ig h th e e vid e n c e o r re so lv e

c o n flic ts in th e te stim on y

. [Cit.] Re so lv in g e v i d e n tia ry c o n flic ts a n d

in c o nsiste nc ie s a n d a sse ssin g witn e ss c re d ib il i t y a re th e pro v in c e o f th e fa c t

fin d e r, n o t th e a

p p e lla te c o u rt.” Bro wn e r v

. S ta te

,

_ _ _ Ga

.

_ _ _ (1 ) (6 6 5 S E2 d

3 4 8 ) 20 1 4 WL 5 5 0 6 6 6 6 (No v

. 3

, 2 0 1 4 ); se e a lso Dix o n v

. S ta te

, 2 9 4 Ga

. 4 0 (3 )

(7 5 1 S E2 d 6 9 ) (2 0 1 3 ). Ac c o rd in g ly

, th e e v id e n c e w a s su ffic ie n t to su p p ort

a p p e lla n t’s c o n v ic tio n

, a s a p a rty to th e c rim e , o f v io la tin g OCGA § 40 -6 -3 9 5

(a ). Se e Biv in s v

. S ta te

, 1 6 6 Ga

. Ap p

. 5 8 0 (2 ) (3 05 S E2 d 2 9 ) (1 98 3) (a ffirm in g

th e c on v ic tio n o f a p as s e n g e r in a v e h ic le b e in g d riv e n b y a n a c c o m p lic e fo r

fle e in g a n d a tte m

p tin g to e lu d e a p o lic e o ffic e r).

72

. Ap p e lla n t wa s c o n v ic te d o f two c o un ts o f fe lo n y m u rd e r f o r c a u s in g

th e d e a th s of th e t w o v ic tim s, a s se t fo rth in th e in d ic tm e nt, “wh ile in th e

c o m m issio n o f th e fe lo n y o f F le e in g a n d Atte m p tin g to Elu d e a P o lic e Offic e r

. . . .” Ap p e lla n t wa s a lso c o n v ic te d of fe tic id e

, OCGA § 1 6 -5 -8 0

, fo r willfu lly

k illin g a n u n bo rn c h ild in th e m a n n e r se t fo rth in th e sta tu te “ wh ile in th e

c o m m issio n o f th e fe lo n y o f Fle e in g a n d Atte m ptin g to Elu d e a

P o lic e Offic e r

. . . .” Ap p e lla n t c h a lle n g e s h e r c o n v ic tio n s fo r th e se th re e o ffe n se s b e c a u se

, sh e

c la im s, th e e v id e n c e wa s in su ffic ie n t to su p p o rt th e u n d e rly in g fe lo n y o f fle e in g

a n d a tte m p tin g to e lu d e a n o ffic e r, wh ic h wa s a n e sse n tia l e le m e n t o f e a c h o f th e

o ffe n se s, a s c ha rg e d

. F o r th e re a so n s se t f o r t h i n D iv isio n 1

, we fin d th a t th e

e v id e n c e wa s su ffic ie n t to su pp o rt a fin din g th a t a p p e lla n t wa s a p a rty to th e a c t

o f fle e in g a n d a tte m

p tin g to a llu d e a p o lic e o ffic e r. Co n se q u e ntly

, th e e v id e n c e

wa s su ffic ie nt fo r th e ju ry to fin d a p p e lla n t g u ilty o f th e u n d e rly in g fe lo n y o n

wh ic h th e two fe lo n y m

u rd e r c o u n ts w e re b a se d

, a n d th e e le m e n t o f fle e in g a n d

a tte m p tin g to a llu d e a

p o lic e o ffic e r a s c h a rg e d in th e fe tic id e c ou n t.

3

. Alo n g th e sa m e v e in

, a p p e lla n t a sse rts th e e v id e nc e w a s in su ffic ie n t to

su p p o rt a fin d in g th a t sh e wa s e n g a g e d in re c k le ss d riv in g b e c a use sh e wa s n o t

t h e d r iv e r o f th e ve hic le in v o lv e d in th is c a se

. Co n se q u e n tly

, sh e a rg u e s h e r

8c o n v ic tio n s fo r two c o un ts of se rio u s in ju ry b y ve h ic le b a se d o n th e a lle g a tio n

o f re c k le ss d riv in g

, a n d th e c o n v ic tio n fo r c ru e lty to a c h ild in th e se c o n d d e gre e

b y o p e ra tin g a

v e hic le in a

re c k le ss m a n n e r, c an n o t b e su sta in e d.

Re c k le ss driv in g is d e fin e d a s “ [d riv in g ] a n y v e h ic le in re c k le ss d isre g a rd

fo r th e sa fe ty of p e rso n s o r p r o p e r t y

. . . . ” O CGA § 4 0 -6 -3 9 0 (a ). S e rio u s

in ju ry b y v e h ic le is de fin e d a s c a usin g b o d ily ha r m t o a n o th e r th ro u g h th e

v io la tio n o f OCGA § 4 0 -6 -3 9 0 b y , am o n g o th e r th in g s, “ re n de rin g a m e m b e r

o f h is b od y u se le ss, [o r] b y se rio u sly d isfig u rin g h is b od y o r a m e m b e r th e re o f

. . . .” OCGA § 4 0 -6 -3 9 4

. Ag a in

, a p p e lla n t c la im s th e e v id e nc e wa s in su ffic ie n t

to p e rm it aju ry to c o nc lu d e sh e c o n trib u te d to h e r a c c om p lic e ’s a c t o f d riv in g

re c k le ssly

, o th e r th a n th e u n c o rro b o ra te d te stim on y o f th e a c c o m p lic e th a t

a p p e lla n t “ e g g e d h e r o n .” W e re je c t th is a rg u m e n t b e c a

u se

, fo r th e re a so n s se t

fo rth a nd d isc u sse d i n D i v isio n 1

, su ffic ie n t e vid e n c e wa s pre se n te d to

c o rro b o ra te th e te stim on y o f th e a c c o m p lic e th a t a

p p e lla n t in te n tio n a l l y a id e d

o r a b e tte d in th e c o m m issio n o f re c k l e s s d r iv in g, o r th a t sh e in te n tio n a lly

a d v ise d, e n c o u ra g e d

, o r p ro c u re d h e r a c c o m p lic e to e ng a g e in re c k le ss d riv in g

,

a s se t fo rth in OCGA § 4 0 -6 -3 9 0 (a ), in o rd e r to a v o id b e in g a p p re h e n d e d b y th e

p u r s u in g o ffic e r. Ac c o rd in g ly

, a p p e lla nt’s c on vic tio n s fo r th e c rim e s pre d ic a t e d

9u p o n re c k le ss d riv in g a re a ffirm e d

, e ve n th o u g h sh e wa s n o t th e a c tu a l d riv e r o f

th e v e h ic le

. S e e G u zma n v

. S t a t e

, 26 2 Ga

. A p p. 5 64 (5 8 6 S E2 d 5 9) (2 0 0 3 )

(e v id e n c e wa s su ffic ie n t to su p p o rt a fin d in g th a t d e fe n da n t wa s a p arty to th e

c rim e o f d riv in g u n d e r th e in flu e n c e o f a lc o h o l b y su p p ly in g a lc o h o l to a m in o r

a n d th e k e y s to h is c a r, k n o win g th a t th e m in o r w a s a b ou t to d riv e ). Lik e wise

,

with re sp e c t to th e c o n v ic tio n fo r c ru e lty to a c h ild b y o p e ra tin g a v e h ic le in a

re c k le ss m a n n e r, th e e v id e n c e is su ffic ie n t to su p po rt a p p e lla n t’s c o n v ic tio n a s

a p a rty to th a t c rim e

.

4

. P u rsu a n t to th e a n a ly sis se t fo rth in th e p re v io u s d iv isio n s o f th i s

o p in io n

, we c o n c lu de th e e v id e n c e wa s su ffic ie n t to su sta in a c o n v ic tio n fo r

e a c h c rim e fo r wh ic h a

p p e lla n t wa s fo u n d g u ilty

, in a c c o rd an c e with t h e

sta n d a rdse t fo rth in J

a c k so n v

. Virg in ia

, 4 4 3 U.S

. 3 0 7 (9 9 S C t 2 7 8 1 , 6 1 LE2 d

5 6 0 ) (1 97 9 ).

5

. Th e tria l c o u rt d id e rr, h o we v e r, in im p o sin g a se p a ra te se nte n c e o f fiv e

y e a rs im p riso n m e n t fo r th e fle e in g a n d e l u d in g c o n vic tio n. Ap p e lla n t’s

c o n v ic tio n s fo r fe lo ny m

u rd e r a n d fe tic id e we re b a se d o n th e u n de rly in g fe lo n y

o f fle e in g a n d e lu d in g th e p o lic e

. In its b rie fs, th e S ta te a c k n o wle dg e s th e lo n g

sta n d in g ru le th a t th e u n d e rly in g fe lo n y fo r a fe lo n y m u rd e r c o n v ic tio n m e rg e s

10with fe lo n y m u rd e r fo r p u rp o se s o f se nte n c in g

. S e e J o h nso n v . S

ta te

, 2 9 3 Ga

.

6 4 1

, 6 4 2 (1 ) (7 4 8 S E2 d 8 9 6) (2 0 1 3 ); se e a lso Fe rg uso n v

. S ta te , 2 80 Ga . 8 9 3

,

8 9 4

, n

. 2 (1 ) (6 3 5 S E2 d 1 4 4 ) (2 0 0 6 ) (a p p ly in g th is ru le to th e u nd e rly in g o ffe nse

o f fle e in g a n d a tte m

p tin g to a llu d e a p o lic e o ffic e r). Ac c o rd in g ly

, a pp e lla n t’s

c o n v ic tio n a nd se n te n c e fo r fe lo n y fle e in g a n d e lu din g

, se t fo rth in Co u n t 2 o f

th e in d ic tm e n t, is v a c a te d

.

6

. Ap pe lla n t a lso u rg e s th a t th e c o nv ic tio n s fo r c ru e lty to c h ild re n in th e

se c o nd d e g re e (b y o p e ra tin g a v e h ic le re c k le ssly w ith th e c h ild u n r e stra in e d

,

th e re b y c a

usin g se r i o u s b o d ily in

ju rie s, a s a lle g e d in th e in d ic tm e n t) 3 a n d se rio u s

in ju ry b y v e h ic le (b y th e a c t o f re c k le ss driv in g ) 4 with re sp e c t to th e sa m e v ic tim

sh o u ld m e rg e fo r th e p u rp ose o f se n te n c in g

. Ac c o rd in g to a pp e lla n t, th e c o u n t

3 Count 8 o f the indictment reads in pertine n t part that a ppellant was charg ed “with the

offense of cruelty to children in the second deg ree ( [ OCGA] § 16-5-70 (c)) for that said accused

.

. . did with criminal neg lig ence cause [ name of child]

, a child under the ag e of eig hteen ( 18) y ears,

cruel and ex cessive phy sical a n d mental pain by failing to p rovide protection to [ the c hild]

, a minor

over six y ears of ag e, when the accused d id operate a motor v ehicle in a reckless manner with said

minor unrestrained by a safety seat belt which resulted in the child receiving serious facial injuries

during an accident, contrary to the laws of [ the] State . . . .”

4 Count 7 o f the indictment reads in pertinent part that appellant w as charg ed “ w i th the

offense of serious injury by vehicle ([ OCGA] § 4 0

- 6

- 3 9 4) for that said accused

. . . did without

malice, cause bodily harm to [ name of child]

, a h uman being

, by rendering a member of her body

useless throug h a violation of the Official Code of Georg ia Annotated Section 40-6-390, Reckless

Driving , in that said accused did fail to stop at a traffic control d e vise

. . . w hile traveling at a hig h

rate of speed, and did collide w ith another vehicle, a nd as a result of the ac c i dent [ the child]

, an

occupant in the accused’s vehicle, suffered [ a list of serious injuries] .”

11a lle g in g se rio u s in ju ry b y v e h ic le is, p u rsu a n t to OCGA § 1 6

- 1

- 6

, a le sse r

in c lu de d o ffe n se o f th e c o u n t a lle g in g c ru e lty to c h ild re n in th e se c o n d d e g re e

,

b e c a u se it is d e m o n stra te d b y p ro o f o f th e sa m e o r le ss th a n a ll th e fa c ts

n e c e ssa ry to p ro v e th e c ru e lty to c h ild re n a c c u sa tio n

. Ap p e lla nt a lso a sse rts th e

sa m e c o n d u c t e sta blish e d th e c o m m issio n o f b o th th e se c rim e s.

We re je c t th e se a sse rtio n s. Th e te st fo r wh e th e r c o n v ic tio n s fo r m u ltip le

c rim in a l o ffe n se s m

u st b e m e rg e d is “wh e th e r e a c h p ro v isio n re q u ire s p ro o f o f

a fa c t wh ic h th e oth e r d o e s n o t.” (Cita tio n o m itte d .) D rin k a rd v

. W a lk e r

, 2 8 1

Ga

. 2 1 1

, 2 1 5 (6 3 6 S E2 d 5 3 0) (2 0 0 6 ). Th e se two c o un ts do n o t re q u ire m e rg e r

b e c a u se e a c h o ffe n se re q u ire s p ro o f o f a d iffe re n t wro n gfu l a c t. Co nv ic tio n fo r

c r u e l t y t o c h ild re n in th e se c o n d d e g re e re q uire s th e p e rso n c h a rg e d to h a v e

c a u se d

, with c rim in a l n e g lig e n c e

, c ru e l o r e x c e ssiv e ph y sic a l o r m e n ta l p a in to

a c h ild u n d e r th e a ge o f 1 8

. OCGA § 16 -5 -7 0 (c ). As a lle g e d in th e in d ic tm e n t,

th e o ffe n se re q u ire d p ro o f th a t th e a p p e lla n t fa ile d to p ro v id e pro te c tio n to th e

in ju re d c h ild by op e ra tin g a m o to r v e h ic le in a re c k l e s s m a nn e r with th e c h ild

u n re stra in e d

, th u s c a

u sin g h e r in

ju rie s. Co n v ic tio n fo r se rio u s in ju ry b y v e h ic le

,

a s a lle g e d in th is c a se

, re q u ire s th e p e rso n c ha rg e d to h a v e c a u se d b o d ily h a rm

to a n o th e r, a s d e sc rib e d in th e sta tu te

, th ro u g h v io la tio n of th e re c k le ss d riv in g

12sta tu te

. OCGA § 4 0 -6 -3 9 4

. Th e c ru e lty to c h ild re n c o n v ic tio n in th is c a se

re q u ire d p ro o f o f fa c ts n o t re q u ire d b y th e se rio u s in ju ry b y v e h ic le c o n v ic tio n

,

a n d v ic e v e rsa

, a n d th u s th e se two c o n vic tio ns d o n o t m e rg e

.

Ju d g m e n t a ffirm e d in pa rt a n d v a c a te d in p a rt. All th e Ju stic e s c o n c u r.

13