FOURTH D I VI SI ON

DI LLA R D, C. J.

, RA Y, P. J.

, and SELF, J.

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

ph y sic a l ly r e ce iv ed i n our c le r k ’s offic e w ithin te n

da y s of the da te of de c is ion to be de e m ed tim e ly file d.

http://w w w .ga a ppe a l s .us /r ule s

A ugust 11, 2017



# I n th e Co u r t o f

A p p eals o f

G eo r g ia

A1 7 A1 05 0 . COTM AN v . THE STATE.

A1 7 A1 05 1 . W ILLIAM SON v . THE STATE.

D I LLA R D , Ch i ef J u d g e.

In 2 0 1 0

, Go v ern o r So nn y Perd u e o rd ered a s p eci al i n v es t i g at i o n i n t o t he n earl y

d ecad e-l o n g s us p ici o n s t h at ad m i n i s t rat ors

, p ri n ci pal s

, an d t each ers i n t h e At l an t a

Pu b l ic Sch oo l s Sy s t em (“ APS”) h ad en g ag ed i n wi d es p read ch eat i n g o n st an d ard i zed

t es t s u s ed t o as s es s th e p ro g res s o f el em en t ary an d m i d d l e-s ch o o l s t u den ts i n G eo rg i a.

Aft er t h e co n c l u s i on o f th at i n v es t i g at io n

, t h e St at e i n d ict ed t hi rt y -fi v e A PS

ad m i n is t rat o rs

, pri nci p al s, an d t each ers fo r cri m es ran g i n g fr o m a l t e ri n g St at e

d o cu m en t s

, pro v i di n g fal s e s tat em en t s t o l aw-en fo rcem en t o ffi ci al s

, an d co n s p i ri n g

to v iola t e the G e or g i a R a c ke te e r In fl u en ced an d Co rru p t Org an i zat i o n s (“ RICO”) Ac t.

Ul t i m at el y

, t he St at e j o i n t l y t ri ed 1 2 d efen d an t s

, i n cl u di n g Sch o ol Refo rm TeamEx ecu t iv e Di rect o r Tam ara Co t m an an d el em en t ary s ch o o l teach er An g el a

W i ll i am s o n

. Th en

, fo l l owi n g a s i x -m o n t h t ri al

, a ju ry co n vi ct ed 1 1 o f t h e d efen d an t s

,

s p eci fi cal l y co nv i ct i ng C o t m a n an d W i l l iam so n o f co n s p i ri n g t o v i o l at e RICO an d

al s o co n v i ct i n g W i l l i am so n o n t wo co u nt s o f m ak i n g fal s e wri t i ng s an d t wo co u n t s

o f fal se s weari n g

.

In s ep arat e ap peal s

, wh i c h we h av e co n s o l i d at ed fo r rev i ew at th e p art i es ’

req u es t

, Co t m an an d W i l l iam s o n co n ten d t h at t h e t ri al co u rt erred b y i n s tru ct i n g t h e

j u r y t h at i t co u l d fi n d th at t h ey v i o l at ed ei t h er of t h e t wo s ub s ect i o n s o f t h e RICO

s t at u te d es pi t e t h e i n d i ct m en t ch arg i n g t h e v i o l at io n i n t h e co n ju n ct iv e, fai l i n g t o fi n d

t h at t h is i n s t ru ct i o n creat ed a fat al v ari an ce, an d sen t en ci n g t h e d efen dan ts u n d er t h e

RICO s tat u t e rat her t h an t he g en eral co n s p i racy s t at u t e. Co tm an fu rt her co n t en d s t h at

t h e t ri al co urt erred i n d en y i n g h er p l ea i n bar o f d o ub l e jeo p ard y

. Nev ert hel es s

, fo r

t h e reas o n s s et fo rt h i n

f ra

, we affi rm t h e co n v ict i o n s of bo t h Co t m an an d W i l l i am s o n.

APS , Aca d emi c Ta r g et s

, a n d Ad eq u a t e Y ea r ly Pr o gr es s

Vi ewed i n th e li g h t m o s t fav o rab l e t o th e ju ry ’ s v erd i ct

, 1 t h e reco rd s ho ws t h at

o n J u ly 1, 1 99 9

, Dr. B e v e r l y Hal l b ecam e th e s u p eri n t en d en t o f At l an t a Pu b l i c

Sch oo l s

. Dr. Hal l ’ s ad m in is t rat i v e st aff i n cl ud ed Sh aro n Pi t t s (wh o w o rk ed as Hal l ’ s

1 S ee, e.g

. , Po wel l

v. S t a te , 3 1 0 Ga. Ap p . 1 4 4 , 1 4 4 (7 1 2 SE2 d 1 3 9 ) (2 0 1 1 ).

2Ch i ef o f St aff), Co l i nd a Ho ward (wh o o v ers aw th e O f f i c e o f In tern al Res o l u t i o n

(“ OIR”) an d was t as k ed wi t h i n v es t i g at i n g em p l o y ee m i sco n d u ct ), M i l l i cen t Few

(wh o wo rk ed as t he APS Di rect o r o f Hu m an Res o u rces ), an d Vel et er Mazy ck (l eg al

co u ns el ). Ad d i t i o n al ly

, u n d er Dr. Hal l

, APS was o rg an i zed i n t o fo u r Sch o o l Refo rm

Team s (“ SRT”), wh i ch were s p eci fi c g eo g rap h i c reg i o n s o f m et ro po l i t an At l an t a an d

m o re sp eci fi cal l y t h e el em en tary an d m i d d le s ch o o l s wi t h i n t h os e reg i o n s

. Du ri n g Dr.

Hal l ’ s t en u re, Tam ara Co t m an serv ed as t h e Ex ecu t i v e Di rect o r o f SRT-4

, an d as wi th

al l of t h e d irect o rs

, h er res p o n s i b i l i t i es i n c l ud ed p ro vi d i ng s u perv i s o ry gu i d an ce to

t h e p ri nci p al s an d s ch o o l s wi t h i n h er reg i o n

.

Im m ed i at el y aft er Dr. Hal l was h i red as s u p eri n t en d en t

, s h e b e g a n w o rk i n g

wi t h p ro fes s io nal ed ucat i o n co n s ul t an t s t o d ev i s e a m ean s b y wh i ch t o m eas u re an d

i m p ro v e APS st u d en t s ’ acad em i c p ro g res s

. T h en

, aft er t h o s e co n s u l t at io n s

, Dr. Hal l

es t ab l i s h ed a s y s t em req u iri n g s t u d en t s at al l APS el em en t ary an d m id d l e sch o o l s to

b e tes t ed s o as t o d et erm i n e t h e n u m b ers o f s t u d en t s wh o “ m et acad em i c

ex p ect at i o ns ” an d t h e n um b ers w h o “ e xc e e d e d” s uc h e xpe c ta tions. Im p ort an t l y

, ev ery

s ch o ol in APS was req u i red t o m eet a “ T arg et ” n u m b er— i .e.

, a p ercen t ag e o f s t u d en t s

i n b o th o f t h es e cat eg o ri es

, an d Dr. Hal l m an d at ed t h at t h es e Targ et n um b ers b e

rai s ed ev ery

y ear.

3In J an uary 20 0 2

, aro u n d t h e s am e t i m e t h at Dr. Hal l b eg an i m pl em en t i n g h er

Targ et s s y s t em fo r APS, t h e fed eral g o vern m en t en act ed th e No Ch i l d Left Beh i n d

Act of 2 0 0 1. Un der t h i s leg i s l at i o n

, t h e St at e o f Geo rg i a recei v ed fed eral fu n d i n g to

as s i s t l o w-i n co m e s ch o o l d i s t ri ct s an d

, i n ter a l i a

, was req u i red t o rep o rt wh et h er i t s

s ch o ol s were m ak i n g wh at w as t erm ed “ Ad eq u at e Yearl y Pro g res s ” (“ AYP”), wh i ch

was m eas u red b y s t ud en t s ’ p erfo rm an ce o n t he an nu al l y a d m i n i s t ered Cri t eri o n

Referen ced Co m

p et en cy Tes t (“ CRCT”). Sch o o ls fai l i n g t o ach i ev e AYP recei v ed

ad d it i o n al fed eral fu n d i n g t o as s i s t t each ers an d s tru g g li n g s t u den t s

.

Al t h ou g h inex t ri cab l y l i n k ed

, th e Targ et s es t ab l i s h ed b y Dr. Hal l were s ep arat e

fro m t h e req ui rem en t s fo r AYP an d , i n fact , were m o re s t ri n g en t . Bu t i n ad d i t i o n t o

t h e s t at ed o b

ject i v e o f b ei ng a m ean s by wh i ch to m eas u re s t u d en t s ’ acad em i c

p ro g res s d u ri n g Dr. Ha l l ’s t en u re, Targ et s q u i ck l y b ecam e t h e p ri m ary m ean s by

wh i ch t o m eas u re t each ers an d ad m in i s t rat o rs ’ p erfo rm an ce. Fo r i n s tan ce, t h e SRT

Ex ecu t iv e Di rect o rs

, i n cl u d i n g Co t m an

, recei v ed s al ary rai s es i f t h ei r s ch o o l s m ad e

Targ et s an d AYP, an d em p lo y ees at i n di v i du al s ch o o l s wo u l d s i m i l arl y recei v e

b o n u s es i f t h ei r sch o o l s ach i ev ed t h ei r T arg et n u m b ers

. In d eed

, D r. Hal l ’ s o wn

em pl o y m en t co n t ract s al s o p ro v i d ed s i g n i fi can t s al ary b o n u s es t h at were co n t i n g en t

u p o n APS ach iev i n g i t s acad em i c p ro g res s Targ et s

.

4Th e fai l ure t o m ak e Targ et s

, h o wev er, o ft en res u l t ed i n n eg at i v e co n s eq u en ces

fo r APS em

p l o y ees

. Sp eci fi cal l y

, t each ers an d ad m i n i s t rat o rs wh os e s t u d e n t s an d

s ch o ol s fai l ed t o m eet Tar g e t s co u ld b e d em ot ed (res u lt in g i n a d ecreas ed s al ary ),

t ran s ferred (al s o res u l t i ng i n a d ecreas ed sal ary ), or p l a ced o n wh at w as t erm ed a

Pro fe s s i o n al Dev el o p m en t Pl an (“ PDP”), wh i ch w as o ft en a p recu rs o r t o t h e

t erm i n at i o n of o n e’ s em

p lo y m en t co nt ract wi t h A PS. Un s u rp ri s i n gl y

, t h e p res s u re

p l aced o n ad m i n is t rat o rs an d t each ers t o m ak e Targ et s becam e i n t e n s e an d was

ex acerb at ed b y t h e fact t h at m an y a t APS b el iev ed t h e Targ et s to b e p at en t l y

u n reas o nab l e. Des p it e s u ch co n cern s

, Dr. Hal l was un co m p ro m i s i n g in her s t an ce t h at

T a rg et s be m et

, i n fo rm in g o n e p ri nci p al u po n h i s t erm in at io n fo r fai l i n g t o m e e t

Targ et s

, d es p it e hi s s ch o o l’ s acad em i c p ro g res s, t hat s h e “ h ad n o t i m e fo r i ncrem en t al

g ai n s .”

Evi d en ce o f Ch ea t i n g Th r o u g h o ut

APS

W i t h i n a f

e w y ears o f Dr. H al l ’ s hi ri ng as APS s u p eri nt en d en t

, l arg e

i m p ro v em en t s i n APS st u d en t s ’ t es t s co res l ed t o s u s p i ci o n s t h at s u ch gai n s m ay h av e

b een t he res u l t o f ch eat i n g

. I n i t i al l y

, l i t t l e i n t h e way of co n cret e ev i d en ce

d em o n s t rat ed wi d es p read ab u s es

. Bu t i n M arch 2 0 0 5

, a teach er at Pa r k s M i d d l e

Sch oo l i n fo rm ed t h e Ex ecu t i v e Di rect o r o f SRT-2 t hat t h e newl y h i red p ri n ci p al was

5ex p li ci t l y p ro m o t in g ch eat i n g o n t h e CRCT. An d w h en it ap p eared t h at t h e Di rect o r

wo u l d n ot b e t ak i ng an y act i o n

, t h e t each er s en t an on y m o u s l et t ers d i rect l y t o Dr. Hal l

t o i n f o r m h er o f w h at was t ak i n g p l ace at t h e s ch o o l

. Sh o rt ly t h ereaft er, t h e SRT-2

Di rect o r at t en d ed a s t aff m eet i n g at Park s M i dd l e Sch o o l

, ack n o w l e d g e d t h e

an o ny m o u s l et t ers

, bu t ord ered t h at t h ey ceas e, s t at i ng th at t he p ri n ci p al h ad t h e

b ack in g o f Dr. Hal l an d w o ul d n o t b e l eav i n g

. Nev ert h el es s

, A PS d irect ed Reg i n al d

Du k es

, a p ri v at e i n v es t ig at o r wh o h ad wo rk ed wi t h APS i n t h e p as t, t o i n ves t i g at e t h e

al l eg at i o n s

. On J u n e 3 0

, 2 00 6

, aft er i n t erv i ewi n g t each ers

, in cl u d i n g t h e t each er wh o

fi rs t rep ort ed t h e i s s u e, Du k es su b m i t t ed a rep o rt t o Dr. Hal l

, i n wh i ch h e co n cl u d ed

t h at ch eat i n g h ad o ccu rred at Park s Mi d dl e Sch o o l

. Bu t D r. Hal l t o ok n o act i o n as a

res u l t o f t h e rep o rt , an d APS n ev er h i red Du k es ag ai n

.

In Ju l y 2 0 0 8, a s um m er re-t es t o f th e CRCT fo r s t u d en ts fro m s ev eral d i fferen t

APS s ch o o l s was co n d uct e d at Deerwo o d Acad em y

. Du ri ng t h at re-t es t

, s ev eral

t each ers co l l ab o rat ed t o eras e s t u d en ts ’ i n co rrect an s wers an d ch an g e t h em t o t h e

c o r r e c t o n es

, an d as a res u l t

, D eerwo o d m et i t s AYP t arg et fo r th at y ear. A f e w

m o nt h s l at er, i n Oct o ber 2 00 8

, Kat h l een M at h ers b ecam e t h e ex ecu t i v e d i rect o r o f t h e

Go v ern o r’ s Offi ce o f St u den t Ach i ev em en t (“ GOSA”), an ag en cy t as k ed wi th

p ro v id i n g d at a an al y s i s o n v ari o u s ed u cat i o n p ro g ram s i n t h e St at e. An d i n rev i ewi n g

6d at a rel at ed t o t h e CRCT, M at hers n o t i ced ab no rm al l y dram at i c i n creas es in s t u d en t

ach i ev em en t wi th in APS, i n cl u d i n g at Deerwo o d Acad em y

, i n co m p ari s o n to s co res

s t a t ewi d e. In ad d i ti o n

, h er o ffi ce an d t h e A s s es s m en t Di v i s i o n o f t h e Geo rg i a

Dep art m en t o f Ed u cat i o n we r e recei vi n g n u m ero u s an on y m o us co m p l ai n t s fro m

p aren t s an d t each ers of ch eat i n g at APS sch o o l s

. Aro u n d t h i s s am e t im e, t h e At l an t a

J o u rn al Co n st i t u t io n (“ A J C”) p u b l i s h ed an art i cl e reg ard i n g t h e u n u su al g ai n s i n tes t

s co res wi t h i n APS, i n wh i ch t h ey q u o t ed an ex p ert in t h e fi el d o f p s y ch o m et ri cs

, 2 wh o

s t a t ed t h at t h e g ai n s were as “ ex t rao rd i n ary as a s no ws t o rm i n J u l y ” an d warran t ed

fu rt her i n v es t i gat i o n

.

Bas ed o n her o wn s u s pi ci o n s an d t h e AJ C’ s art i cl e, M at h ers d eci ded to co n d u ct

a s t at ewi d e eras ure an al y s i s o n al l o f t h e 20 0 8 CRCT s u m m e r r e

- t e s t s

. In es s en ce,

s u ch a n an al y si s en tai l ed s can n i n g t h e t es t s w i t h an Op ti cal M ark Reco g n i t i o n

m ach i n e t h at d et erm in es i f a n s wer b u bb l es

, i n ad d i t i o n t o t h e o n e u l t i m at el y fi l l ed

,

al s o co n t ai n res i d u al am o u nt s of p en ci l g rap h i t e, i n d i cat i n g t hat t he b u b b l e h ad b een

fi ll ed b ut l at er eras ed

. T h e an al y s i s was co m p l et ed i n A p ri l 2 0 0 9, an d b as ed o n t h e

res u l ts

, wh ich s h o wed t h at 1 1 D eerwo o d s t ud en t s h ad si g n i fi can t ly h i g h i ns t an ces o f

2 Ps y ch o m et ri cs i s a fi el d o f s t u d y co n cern ed pri m ari l y w i t h d ev el op i n g an d

ev al u at i ng t h e effect i v en es s o f ed u cat i o n al t es t i n g

.

7eras in g a w ro n g an s wer an d ch an g i n g it t o a co rrect o n e ( i .e.

, w ro n g -t o

- r i g ht

eras ures ), as w el l as an ad d it i on al i n v es t i g at i on

, GOSA co n cl u d ed t h at ch eat i n g h ad

o ccu rred at Deerwo o d Acad em y d u ri n g th e 2 0 0 8 s um m er re-t es t

. Th ereaft er, M at h ers

at t em p t ed t o s ch ed ul e a m eet i ng wi t h Dr. Hal l t o d i s cu s s t h e eras u re an al y s i s

, b ut

aft er bei n g u n ab l e t o d o s o, s he h ad a co p y o f t h e rep o rt h an d-d el i v ered t o Dr. Hal l

at a l o cal co n feren ce t h e s u p eri n t en d en t was at t en d in g

.

On Ju n e 2 3

, 2 0 0 9

, M at h ers m et wi th APS O I R d irect o r Ho w ard an d Pen n

Pay n e, an ex t ern al i n v es t i g at or, wh o APS h i red t o l o o k i n to t h e ch eat i n g al l eg at i o n s

,

an d i n fo rm ed t h em o f GOSA’ s fi n di n g s

. Fo l lo wi n g t h i s m eet i n g, o n J u l y 6, 2 0 0 9

, Dr.

Hal l em ai l ed M at h ers t o i n fo rm h er t h at APS an d Pay n e h ad co m p l et ed i n v es ti g at i on s

a n d d et erm i n ed t hat t h ere was n o ev i d en ce ch eat in g h ad o ccu rred at Deerwo o d

Acad em y

. Th en

, o n Au g u s t 21

, 2 0 0 9

, APS rel eas ed Pay n e’ s rep o rt reg ard i n g

Deerwo o d

, wh i ch fo u nd n o e v i d e n ce o f ch eat i n g. Ul t i m at el y

, h o w ev er, M at h ers

l earn ed th at t h e st at em en t s i n Dr. Hal l ’ s em ai l an d t he co n cl us i o ns i n t h e Pay n e rep o rt

were fal s e. In fact

, APS h ad n o t co n d u ct ed an i n t ern al i n v es t i g at i o n a n d

, i n a d raft

rep o rt t hat Dr. Hal l o rd ered Few an d Ho w a r d t o des t ro y

, Pay n e act u al l y co n cl u d ed

t h at ch eat i n g p ro b ab l y o ccu rred at Deerwo o d d u ri ng t h e 2 0 0 8 s u m m er re-t es t

.

8Un s at i s fi ed wi t h A PS an d Dr. Hal l ’ s res p o ns e t o h er co n cern s , i n t h e au t u m n

o f 20 0 9, Mat h ers deci d ed t o co n d u ct a s t at ewi d e eras u re an al y s i s fo r t h e 2 0 09 CRCT

ad m i n is t ered t h e p rev i o u s s pri ng

. Th e an al y s i s was co nd u ct ed b y CTB/ McGraw Hi l l

,

an d o n J an u ary 2 2

, 2 0 1 0

, it rel eas ed i t s rep o rt

, w h i ch in cl u d ed t h e n um b er o f wro n g

t o -ri g h t eras u res i n each s ch o o l i n t h e s t at e (an d in each cl as s ro o m o f ev ery s ch o o l ),

an d fl ag ged t ho s e s ch o o l s wi t h t h e h i g h es t n u m b ers o f wro n g -t o-ri g h t eras u res

. Th e

rep o rt fl ag ged 5 8 A PS s ch o o l s as hav i n g m o d erat e to sev ere wro ng -t o -ri g h t eras u res

.

Co n s eq u en t l y

, i n Feb ru ary 2 0 1 0

, GOSA o rd ered APS, a s w e l l as o th er fl ag g ed

d i s t ri ct s , t o co nd u ct an i nt ern al i n v es t i g at i o n i n t o t he s u s p ect ed ch eat in g an d rep o rt

i t s fi n d i n g s b y Ap ri l o f t h at s am e y ear. In l i g h t o f t h i s d i rect i v e, D r. Hal l as s em b l ed

a Bl u e Ri b bo n Co m

m i s s i o n (“ BRC”) t o co n d u ct A PS’ s i n v es t ig at i o n

. Th e BRC t h en

h i red K PM G an d t as k ed i t s i n v es t i g at o rs wi t h in t erv i ewi n g APS t each ers an d

ad m i n is t rat o rs

. Bu t ad d i t iona lly

, de spite M at h ers cau t i on i n g A PS ag ai n s t q u es t i o n i n g

t h e eras u re a n a l ys i s

, t h e BRC h i red a p ri v at e co m p an y t o co n d u ct an o th er s u ch

an al y s i s. An d on Au g u s t 2

, 2 0 1 0

, b as ed o n t h e s eco nd eras u re an a l ys i s a n d KPM G

i n v es t i g at o rs ’ i n t erv iews o f APS t each ers an d ad m i n is trat o rs

, t h e BRC s u b m i t t ed i t s

rep o rt t o GOSA, in wh i ch i t fo un d n o ev i d en ce o f ch eat i n g

. Un co n vi n ced

, M at h ers

reject ed t h e BRC’ s fi n di n g s

.

9Th e Go ver n or ’s S p eci a l In ves t i g a ti o n i n t o APS

Fo l l owi n g h e r reject i o n o f t h e BRC’ s rep o rt

, o n Au g u s t 2 6

, 2 0 10

, M at h ers

req u es t ed t h at Go v ern o r Perd u e o rd er a sp eci al i n dep e n d e n t i n v es t i g at i o n i n t o t h e

s u s p ect ed ch eat i n g on t h e CRCT wi t h i n APS. Go v ern o r Perd u e ag reed an d ap p o i n t ed

fo rm er At t o rn ey Gen eral M i ch ael Bo wers

, fo rm er DeKal b Co u n t y Di s t ri ct At t o rn ey

Ro b ert W i ls o n, a n d i nv es t ig at o r Ri ch ard Hy d e, wi th as s is t an ce fro m t h e Geo rg i a

Bu reau o f In ves ti g at i o n

, t o i n v es t i g at e t h e m at t er. Su b s eq u en t l y

, t h e s p eci al

i n v es t i g at o rs wen t t o CBT/ M cGraw Hi l l ’ s h ead qu art ers i n In di an ap o l i s , In d i an a, to

r e p l i cat e an d

, t h erefo re, v eri fy GOSA’ s p rev io u s eras u re an al y s es o f t h e 20 0 8 a n d

2 0 0 9 CRCTs

. As a res u l t

, t he i n v es t i g at o rs det e r m i n e d t h at th e p rev i o us eras u re

an al ys es m ay h av e ev en u n d er-rep o rt ed t h e n u m b ers o f wro n g -t o -ri g ht eras u res o n

t h o s e two t es ts

. In ad d i t i o n

, fro m Oct o b er 2 0 1 0 t hro u g h M ay 2 0 1 1

, t h e s p eci al

i n v es t i g at o rs an d GBI ag en t s co n d uct ed o v er 2 ,1 0 0 i n t erv iews o f APS t each ers an d

ad m i n is t rat o rs em

p l o y ed t h ro u g h o u t 5 5 sch o o l s . An d d es p i t e APS l ead ers h i p b ei n g

u n co op erat i v e an d m an y t each ers l y i n g du ri n g in t erv i ews

, ev en tu al ly 82 t each ers an d

ad m i n is t rat o rs ad m i t t e d t o c h eat i n g d u ri n g t h e 2 0 0 9 CRCT, wi t h m an y fu rt h er

ad m i t t i ng t h at s u ch ch eat i ng h ad b een o ccu rri n g at n u m ero u s APS s ch o ol s fo r y ears

.

10On J u n e 3 0

, 2 0 1 1

, t h e s peci al i n v es t i g at o rs rel eas ed t h ei r rep o rt

, co n cl u d i n g

t h at wi des p read ch eat i n g o n t he 2 00 9 C R C T had o ccu rred wi t h i n 4 4 APS s ch o ol s

.

Sp eci fi cal l y

, th e s p eci al in v es t i g at o rs ’ rep o rt fo un d t h at t each ers an d ad m in i s t rat o rs

h ad ch eat ed b y nu m ero u s m ean s

, i ncl u d i n g v i o l at i n g tes t i ng s ec u r i t y an d s t o rag e

p ro t o co l s

, ch an g i n g s t u d en t s ’ an s wers aft er t h e t es ts w ere co m pl et ed

, p ro v i d i n g

s t ud en t s wi t h co rrect an s wers wh i l e t h e t es t s were b ei ng ad m i n i s t ered

, an d co p y i n g

t h e t es t s an d rev i ewi n g t h e co rrect an s wers wi t h s t u d en t s p r i o r t o t h e t es t s b ei n g

ad m i n i s tered

. In ad d i t io n

, t h e s p eci al i n v es ti g at o rs fo u n d t h at t es ti n g i rreg u l ari ti es

were wi t n es s ed b ut n ot rep o rt e d a s r e q u ired b y tes t in g p ro t o co ls

, an d t h at t es t i n g

co o rd i n at o rs an d ad m i ni s trat ors s i gn ed d o cu m en t s s t a t i n g t hat p ro to co l s were

fo l l o w ed d es p i t e b ei n g wel l aware t h at t h o s e av erm en ts were n ot t ru e. Th e rep o rt al s o

fo u n d t h at th e reas o n s p ro v id ed b y t each ers an d ad m i ni s t rat o rs fo r w h y t h ey ch eat ed

were m y ri ad

. M an y wi t n es s es ex p l ai n ed t h at i f t h ey m ad e Targ et s an d AYP (wh i ch

t h ey cl ai m ed was d i ffi cu l t t o d o wi t h o u t ch eat i n g ), t hey recei v ed b on u s m o n ey an d

t h ei r s ch o o l s ’ ach i ev em en t wo u l d b e p u b l i cl y reco g n i zed at APS’ s an n u al y ear-en d

co n vo cat i o n

. Bu t m an y m o re wi t n es s es s t at ed t h at t hey en g ag ed i n ch eat i n g o r fai l ed

t o rep ort ch eat i n g t h ey wi t n es s ed b ecau se o f APS’ s cu l t u re o f ob s es s i on wi t h Targ et s

11an d AYP an d o f p un i s h i n g an y o n e wh o s p o k e o ut wi th dem o t i o n s o r t erm in at i o n s o f

em pl o y m en t

.

Ta ma r a Co t ma n a nd Ch ea ti n g wi t h in S RT-4

As p rev io u s l y n o t ed

, fro m 2 0 0 4 t hro u g h 2 0 1 1, Co t m an s erv ed as t h e Ex ecu t i v e

Di rect o r o f SRT-4 wi t h i n APS. In Au g us t 20 0 7, Pat ri ci a W el l s

, t h e p ri n ci p al o f Ben

C a r s o n M id d l e Sch o o l

, wh o b eg an wo rk i n g th ere t h e p rev io u s y ear, b eca m e

co n cern ed t h at m an y o f h er s t u d en t s ’ acad em i c perfo rm a n c e d id n o t co rrel at e wi th

t h ei r el em en tary s ch o o l CRCT s co res an d

, t h erefo re, s h e as k ed s o m e o f t he s t u d en t s

t o ex p l ai n t h e d i s crep an cy

. T h e s t u d en t s res p o n ded t hat t h ei r el em en t ary s ch o ol

t each ers h ad pro vi d ed t h em wi t h t h e an s wers t o t h e CRCT. An d b ecau s e Ben Cars o n

M i d d l e Sch o ol was w it hi n SRT-4

, P r i n c i pal W el l s i m m ed i at el y rep o rt ed t h e

i n fo rm at i o n t o Co t m an

. Bu t Co t m an d i d n ot r e p o rt W el ls ’ s al l eg at i o n s t o OIR an d

t o o k n o act i o n t o i n ves ti g at e t h em

. Th en

, at th e en d o f m o n t h

, Co tm an g av e W el l s a

n eg at i v e p erfo rm an ce ev al u at i o n

. By Oct o b er 2 0 07

, Co t m an p l aced W el ls o n a PDP,

an d i n D ecem

b er 2 0 0 7, Co t m an i n fo rm ed W el l s t h at fo r t he n ex t s ch oo l y ear s h e

co u ld ei t h er accep t a d em o t i o n t o an as s i s t an t p ri n ci p al p o si ti o n at a d i fferen t s ch o ol

o r res ig n . W el l s o p t ed t o res i g n

.

12Si m i l arl y

, i n th e s p ri n g of 2 0 0 7

, ju st b efo re t h e C RCT, t h e pri n ci p al o f Sco t t

El em en t ary cal l ed a s t aff m eet i n g

, d u ri n g wh i ch t he t each ers were s h o wn m et h o d s fo r

ch eat i n g o n th e u p co m in g t es t

. To n et t e Hu n t er, a p arap ro fes si on al at t h e s ch o o l

, was

al a r m e d b y t h e d is cu s s i o n an d

, t h u s

, rep o rt ed t h e i n ci d en t d i rect l y t o Co t m an

. To

Hu n t er’ s s u rp ri s e, Co t m an ad v i s ed h e r t hat t h e i s s ue was n o n e o f h er b u s i n es s an d

t h at s h e n eed ed t o ceas e d i s cu s s i n g i t i f s he wan t ed t o k eep h er jo b

. A few d ay s b efo re

t h e en d o f t h at s ch o o l y ear, Co t m an t erm i n at ed Hu n t er’ s em p l o y m en t.

Th at s am e s ch o o l y ear, M i ch ael M i l s t ead was hi red as th e p ri n ci p al fo r Harp erArch er M i d d le Sch oo l

, an d i m m ed i at el y

, h e b eg an n o t ici n g a s i g n i fi can t d i s crep an cy

b et ween m an y o f h is s t u d en t s ’ p o o r acad em i c p erfo rm an ce an d th ei r h i g h 5 t h g rad e

CRCT s co res

. Mi l s t ead al ert ed C o t m a n reg ard i n g t h is d i s crep an cy

, b u t s h e d i d n ot

i n v es t i g at e an d

, in fact

, i n fo rm ed M i l s t ead t h at o t h er p ri n ci p al s d i d n o t ap preci at e h i m

rai s in g t h i s i ss ue. In ad d i t i o n , Co t m an co nt i n u ed t o p lace a s i g n i fi can t em p h as i s o n

m ak i n g AYP an d p l aced M i l s t ead o n PDPs on t w o o ccas i o n s wh en h i s s ch oo l fai l ed

t o m eet t h e g o al s

. Lat er, Co t m an t o l d M i l s t ead t h at h e s ho u l d res i g n

, as s h e wo u l d n ot

b e ren ewi n g h i s co n t ract , an d M i l s t ead d i d s o in 20 0 9

. J us t p ri o r t o hi s res i g n at i o n,

M i l s tead o b s erv ed t h at th e p rev i o us y ear’ s CRCT s co res were s i g n i fi can t l y h i g h e r

t h an t h e y ear b efo re, b ut h e h ad n o fai t h t h at t h o s e s co res were l eg i t i m at e.

13In y et an o t h er s i m il ar i n ci d en t

, M o n ica H o o k er b eg an w o rk i n g as a t each er at

Bes t A cad e m y i n i t s i nau g u ral y ear (2 0 07 -2 0 0 8), an d s h e was g i v en t h e ad d ed

r e s p o n s ib i l i t y o f co l l ect i n g t es t i n g d at a fo r t he s ch o o l

. Ho o k er rep o rt ed t o h e r

p ri n ci p al t hat t h e s tu d en t s ’ acad em i c p erfo rm an ce di d n o t co rrel at e wi t h th ei r h i g h

CRCT s co res fro m t h e prev i o u s s p ri ng

. Co tm an r e s p o n d ed t o Ho o ker’ s rep o rt by

d em o t in g h er an d t ran s ferri ng h er t o an o t her sch o o l

, co m p l ai n i n g t o H o o k er t h at s h e

was no t p l ay i n g f

o r th e ri g h t t eam

. Gi v en Co t m an ’ s co n s t an t fo cu s o n t es t s co res

,

Ho o k er u n d ers t oo d h er dem o t i o n t o b e a res u l t of h er refu s al t o ch eat o n t h e CRCT.

In t h e s pri ng o f 2 0 08

, D. C., a t h i rd -g rad e s t u d en t at Bl al o ck El em en t ary (a

s ch o ol al s o wi th i n SRT-4 ), to ld h is m o th er t h at h i s teach e r h a d g i v en s tu d en t s t h e

an s wers d u ri n g t h e recen t CRCT. Th e m o t h er, wh o h ad recen t l y h eard a s i m i l ar s t o ry

fro m h er y o u n g ni ece, t h en rep o rt ed her s o n ’ s rev el at i o n t o t h e s ch o o l’ s p ri n ci p al an d

Co t m an

. Bu t rat h er t h an in v es t i g at i n g o r rep o rt i n g t h e co m p l ai nt t o OIR, Co t m an t o ld

t h e m ot h er t h at h er s o n w as ly i n g

. Un p ers u ad ed

, t h e m ot h er fi l ed a co m p l a i n t wi th

APS’ s cen t ral o ffi ce. Su b seq uen t l y

, an i n ves t i g at o r wi t h OIR i n t erv i ewed D

. C. an d

h i s m o t h er, b u t n o fu rt h er act i o n was t ak en

. An d o n Sep tem ber 1 2

, 2 0 0 8

, t h e m o t h er

recei v ed a let t er fro m

Dr. Hal l

, s t at i n g t h at t h ere was n o ev i d en ce t h at ch eat i n g h ad

o ccu rred at Bl al o ck

El em en t ary

.

14I n t h e sp ri n g o f 2 0 0 9

, M ary Go rd on

, a t each er at Tu rn er Mi d d l e Sch o o l

,

recei v ed t h e an swers t o t h e Co m m o n As ses s m en t t es t an d s t u den ts ’ an s w e r s h e et s

.

Bu t Go rd o n refu s ed t o ch eat o n t h e t es t

, an d

, i n fact

, rep o rt ed t he i n ci d en t t o Co t m an

,

wh o refu s ed t o i n v es t i g at e th e m at t er. In s t ead

, Co t m an ad v i sed Go rd o n : “ Th ey ju s t

d o t h i ng s l i k e t h at at Tu rn er.” Lat er, Go rd on was p laced o n a PDP, an d s h e ev en t u al l y

res i gn ed d u e t o t h e s t res s cau s ed b y h er wo rk en vi ro n m en t

.

Cai t li n Si m s was th e pri n ci p al o f G ro v e Park El em en tary du ri n g t h e 2 0 0 8 -2 0 0 9

s ch o ol y ear, an d s h e n ot ed t h at u n d er Co t m an

, Targ et s were t h e n um b er o n e p ri o ri t y

.

In d e e d

, Co t m an co n s t an t l y ran k ed s ch o o l s ag ai n s t each o t h er an d u s ed PDPs as

p u n i s h m en t

. Si m s al s o recal l ed an i n s t an ce wh en Co t m an g av e t h e p ri n ci p al s em p t y

fram es an d t o l d t h em t o p u t a p i ct u re in t h e fram e of s o m et h i n g i m p ort an t

, s u ch as a

m o rt g ag e o r car no t e as m ot i v at i o n fo r i m p ro v i n g th ei r s ch o o l s’ CRCT sco res

. Aft er

t h e BRC b eg an it s i nv es t i g at io n i n t o t h e ch eat i n g al l eg at i o n s

, Co tm an as k ed Si m s to

ex p lai n t o t h e co m

m i s si o n ho w t h e s ch oo l ’ s ed u cat i o n s t rat eg ies h ad res u l t ed i n t h e

g ai n s

, bu t Si m s refu s ed

, ex p l ai n i n g t h at s h e was u n co m fo rt ab l e d o i n g s o bas ed o n t h e

fact t h at t h e h ig h nu m

b er o f wro n g -t o -ri g h t eras u res at Gro v e Park were d i ffi cu l t to

reco n ci l e. Sh o rt ly

aft er Si m s ’ s refu s al , Co t m an p laced h er o n a PDP.

15An g el a W i l l i a ms o n a n d

Ch ea t in g a t Do b b s El emen t a r

y

A n g e l a W i l l i am s o n was a wel l-res p ect ed 4 t h g rad e t each er at Do b b s

El e m e n t a r y

, wh i ch i s wi t h i n SRT-2

. As wi t h m o s t o t her s ch o o ls wi t h in APS, t h e

p res s u re t o m eet Targ et s at Do b b s was t rem en d o u s

, an d t he p ri n ci p al wo u l d s t res s at

ev ery s t aff m eet i n g t hat Targ et s h ad to be m et b y an y m ean s n eces s ary

. In fact

, t h e

p ri n ci p al was so a d a m an t ab o u t m eet i n g th es e g o al s th at s h e wo u l d t el l Do b b s ’ s

t each ers th at t h ey s h ou l d fi n d n ew p ro fes s i o n s i f th ey were un ab le t o m ak e Targ et s

.

In 2 0 0 7

, d u ri n g CRCT t es t i n g

, t he as s is tan t p ri n ci pal b ro u g ht t h e co m p l et ed

t es t s i n t o a t each ers ’ m eet i n g at t h e en d o f t h e d ay an d i n s t ru ct ed t h e t each ers to

“ c l e a n u p ” t h e t es t s

. W h en a few o f t h e n ewer t each ers l oo k ed co n fu s ed as t o t h e

m ean i n g o f t h i s co m

m en t

, W il l iam s o n ex p lai n ed : “ If y o u w an t to k eep y o u r j o b s

, y o u

b et t er cl ean t h es e t es t s u p

. ” W i l l i am s o n t h en dem o n st rat ed h o w t o u s e t h e h i g h

ach i ev i n g s t u d en ts ’ t es t s as a g u i d e fo r ch an g i n g t he an s wers o n t he l o wer ach i ev i n g

s t ud en t s ’ t es t s

.

S e ve r a l of W illia

m son ’ s fo rm er s tu d en ts rev eal ed th at d u ri n g t he C R C T te sting,

s h e w o u l d wal k aro u n d t h e cl as s ro o m an d p ro v i d e s tu d en ts wi t h th e co rrect an s wers

i f t h ey ap p eared t o be an s weri n g q u es ti o n s i n co rrect l y

. Al l o f t h es e s t u d en t s fu rt h er

s t at ed t h at W i l li am s o n ad m o n i sh ed t h em n o t t o t el l an y on e, oft en s t at i n g t h at “ wh at

16h ap pen ed i n her cl as s

, s t ay ed i n h er cl as s .” Nev ert h el es s, a few o f t he s tu d en t s t o ld

o t h er teach ers ab o u t W i l l i am s o n ’ s act i o n s. In ad d i ti o n

, a p arap ro fe s s i o n al

, wh o

p ro ct o red th e CRCT i n W il l i am s o n ’ s cl as s

, o b s erv ed h er pro v i di n g s t u d en t s wi th

an s wers

, t h u s co rro b o rat in g t h e s t u d en ts ’ acco u nt s o f s u ch i n s t an ces

. M o reo v er,

GOSA’ s eras u re an al y ses i n b o t h 2 00 8 an d 2 00 9 s h o wed t hat n u m ero u s s tu d en t s i n

W i ll i am s o n ’ s cl as s h ad s t at i s t i cal l y s i g n i fi can t h i g h wro n g-t o -ri g h t eras u res

.

Pr o ced u r a l Ba ckg ro u nd

On M arch 2 9

, 2 01 3

, fo l l o wi n g t h e co n cl u s i o n o f t h e Go v ern o r’ s Sp eci al

In v es t i g at i o n

, t h e St at e ch arg ed Dr. Hal l, Co tm an

, W i ll i am s o n

, an d 32 o t h er A PS

ad m i n is t rat o rs

, p ri n ci p al s

, an d t each ers

, vi a an i n d i ct m en t fi l ed i n th e Su peri o r Co u rt

o f Fu l t o n Co u n t y

, wi t h n u m ero u s cri m es rel at i n g to t h e wi d es p read ch eat i n g wi t h in

APS, i ncl u d i n g co n sp i ri n g t o v i o l at e t h e G eo rg i a RICO Act

, p ro v i d i n g fal s e

s t at em en t s t o l aw-en fo rcem en t o ffi ci al s , t h eft b y t ak i n g, i nfl u en ci n g wi t n es s es , an d

fal s e s weari n g

. M o re s p eci fi cal l y

, t he St at e ch arg ed Co t m an wi t h o n e co u n t o f

co n sp i ri n g t o v i o l at e t h e RICO Act an d on e co u nt o f i n fl u en ci n g a wi tn es s

, an d i t

ch arg ed W i l l i am s o n w i t h o n e co u n t o f co n s p i ri ng t o v i ol at e t h e RICO Act

, t wo co u n t s

o f p ro v i d i n g fal se s t at em en t s, an d t wo co u nt s o f fal s e s weari n g.

17On M ay 1 4

, 2 0 1 3

, Co t m an fi l ed a s p eci al d em u rrer s eek i ng t o q u as h Co u n t 4

o f t he in d i ct m en t

, w h ich ch arg ed h er wi t h th e o ffen s e o f i n fl u en ci n g a w i t n e s s

.

Sp eci fi cal l y

, Co tm an arg u ed t h at t h e al l eg at i o n t h at s h e “ d i d i n t i m i d at e [p ri n ci p al ]

J i m m y e Hawk i n s” in an effo rt t o h i n d er co m m u ni cat i on w i t h t h e GBI w as t o o v ag ue.

Sh o rt l y t h ereaft er, th e St at e re-i n d ict ed Co t m an s o lel y o n t he ch arg e o f in fl u en ci n g

a wi t n es s

, an d t hen i t f

i l e d a m o t io n req u es ti n g t h at t h e t ri al co u rt en t er an o rd er o f

n o l l e p ro s eq u i as t o Co u n t 4 i n t h e o ri g i nal in d ict m en t an d jo i n t h e n ew i n d i ct m en t

wi t h t h e o ri g i n al fo r tri al p u rp o s es

. Bu t Co t m an fi l ed a res p o ns e o b j ect i n g t o jo i n d er

an d a m o t i o n d em an di ng a s p eed y t ri al o n t h e n ew i n di ct m en t

.

Su b s eq uen t l y

, Co t m an was t ri e d s ep arat el y o n t he s o l e ch arg e i n t h e n ew

i n d i ct m en t o f i n fl u en ci n g a wi t n es s

, an d on Sep t em ber 1 2

, 2 0 1 3

, at t h e co ncl u s i o n o f

t h at t ri al

, t h e ju ry fo u n d h er no t g u i l t y

. On e m o n t h l at er, Co tm an f i l e d a p l ea i n b ar

o f fo rm er jeo p ard y

, arg u i n g th at t h e St at e was b arred fro m t ry i n g h er o n ei t h er t h e

RICO o r i n fl u en ci n g -a-wi t n es s ch arg es i n t he o ri g i n al i n d i ct m en t . Th e St at e fi l ed a

res p o n s e, an d fo l lo w in g a h eari n g

, t h e t ri al co u rt d en i ed Co t m an ’ s p l e a i n b ar as to

t h e RICO ch arg e b u t g ran t ed i t as t o th e i nfl u en ci ng -a-wi tn es s ch arg e. Co t m an

ap p eal ed t h e d en i al o f h er pl ea in b ar o n t h e RICO ch arg e, b ut th i s Co u rt affi rm ed t h e

t ri al co u rt ’ s ru l i n g , co n cl u d i n g “ t h at Co t m an , h av i ng o p p os ed t h e St at e’ s i nv i t at i o n

18t o j o i n t h e two i nd ict m en t s fo r a s i n g l e t ri al

, faces su b s eq u en t pro s ecu t i o n b ecau s e o f

h er own el ect i o n an d t h ereb y w ai v ed t h e p ro t ect i o n s ag ai n s t s u bs eq u en t p ro s ecu t i on s

affo rd ed b y

OCGA § 1 6 -1 -8 (b ).” 3

On Sep t em

b er 2 9

, 2 0 1 4

, aft er m o n t h s o f d i s co v ery

, p re-t ri al m o t i o n s, an d 2 1

d efen d an t s el ect i n g t o pl ead g u i l t y, th e t ri al fo r 1 2 o f t h e in d ict ed d efen d an t s

,

i n cl u d i n g Co t m an an d W i l l i am s o n

, co m m en ced

. 4 Du ri n g th e si x-m on t h t ri al

,

n u m ero u s wi tn es s es

, i ncl u d i n g 1 4 o f t h e d efen d an t s w h o h ad o p t ed t o p l ead g u i l t y

,

t es t i fi ed as t o t h e ev id en ce d i s cu s s ed s u p r a

. T h e St at e res ted i t s cas e o n Feb ru ary 1 1,

2 0 1 5

, an d

, t h ereaft er, t h e d efen dan t s p res en t ed t h ei r res p ect i v e cas es o v er t h e co u rs e

o f t h e fo l l o wi ng s ix week s

. Fi n al l y

, o n A p ri l 1

, 2 0 15

, aft er n earl y a week o f

d el i b erat i o n

, th e ju ry fo un d Co t m an an d W i l l i am so n g ui lt y o n t h e c h arg e o f

co n sp i racy t o v io lat e t h e RICO Act an d fu rt h er fo u n d W i l li am s o n gu i lt y o n t h e t wo

ch arg es o f p ro v i d in g fal s e s t at em en t s a n d t h e t wo ch arg es o f fal s e s w eari n g

. Bo th

Co t m an an d W i l l i am s o n wai v ed m o t i o n s fo r n ew t ri al

, an d t hes e ap p eal s fo l l o w.

3 Co t ma n v. S t a t e , 3 2 8 Ga. Ap p . 8 2 2 , 8 2 6 (1 ) (7 6 2 SE2 d 8 2 4 ) (2 0 1 4 ).

4 By t h e t i m e t h e t ri al co m m en ced

, Dr. Hal l w as g rav el y i ll an d

, th erefo re, was

n o t t ri ed wi t h t h e afo rem en t i o ned d efen d an t s

.

19An al ys i s

1

. Co t m an an d W il l iam s on co nt en d t h at t h e t ri al co urt erred b y in s t ru ct i n g t h e

ju ry t h at it co u l d co n v i ct t h e d efen d an t s i f it fo u n d th at t h ey v i o l at ed ei th er s u b s ect i o n

(a) o r s u b s ect i on (b ) o f t h e RICO Act d es p it e t he i n di ct m en t ch arg i n g t h e d efen d an t s

wi t h co n s p i ri n g or en d eav o ri n g t o v i o l at e su b sect i o n s (a) a n d (b ), co n ju n ct i v el y

. W e

d i s ag ree t h at t h i s i n s t ru ct i o n co n s t i tu t ed erro r.

At t h e o u t s et

, we n o t e t h at a tri al co u rt ’ s d u t y i n del i v eri n g ch arg es t o t h e ju ry

i s t o “ t ai l o r t h o se ch arg es n ot o n l y t o t h e in d i ct m en t b u t al s o ad ju s t t hem t o t h e

ev i d en ce at t ri al .” 5 In do i n g s o

, a t ri al co u rt s h o ul d tai l o r i t s ch arg es t o “ m at ch t h e

a l l e g at i o n s of i nd i ct m en ts

, ei t h er b y ch arg i n g o n l y t h e rel ev an t p o rt i o n s o f t h e

ap p li cab l e Co d e s ect i o n s o r b y g i v i n g a l i m i t i n g i n s t ru ct i o n t h at d i rect s t h e ju ry to

co n si d er o n l y wh et h er th e cri m es were co m m it t ed i n t h e m an n er al l e g e d i n t h e

i n d i ct m en t

. ” 6 An d i m

p o rt an t l y

, “ i n rev i ewi n g an al leg ed l y erro neo u s ju ry i n s t ru ct i o n,

5 Pa len ci a -Ba r r on v. S t a t e

, 3 1 8 Ga. Ap p

. 3 0 1

, 3 0 6 (3 ) (7 3 3 SE2 d 8 24 ) (2 0 1 2 )

(p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed ); a cco r d Ca s h v. S t a t e

, 2 9 7 Ga. 8 5 9

, 8 6 3 (2 ) (7 7 8 SE2 d 7 8 5 )

(2 0 1 5).

6 Br a l ey v. S t a t e

, 2 7 6 Ga. 4 7

, 5 3 (3 1 ) (5 7 2 SE2 d 5 8 3 ) (2 0 0 2); a cco rd W h eel er

v. S t a t e

, 3 2 7 Ga. Ap p

. 3 1 3

, 3 1 8 (3 ) (7 5 8 SE2 d 84 0 ) (2 01 4 ); see H o l ma n v. S ta t e

, 3 2 9

Ga. A p p

. 3 9 3

, 4 0 1 (2 ) (b ) (i i ) (7 6 5 SE2 d 6 1 4 ) (2 0 1 4 ) (h o l d i n g th at t h e i n s t ru ct i on s

fro m t h e tri al co u rt m

u s t “ s u ffi ci en tl y l i m it th e ju ry ’ s co n s id erat i o n t o t h e al l eg at i on s

an d el em en t s o f t h e o ffen s e as ch arg ed i n t h e i n d i ct m en t ” (p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed )).

20we ap p l y t h e p l ai n l eg al erro r s t an dard of rev i ew.” 7 Beari n g t h es e g u i d i ng p ri n ci p l es

i n m i n d , we t u rn n o w t o t h e d efen d an t s ’ s p eci fi c cl ai m o f erro r.

At t h e t i m e t h e i n d i c t m en t i n t h is cas e i ss u ed

, 8 OCGA § 1 6 -1 4 -4 (a) o f t h e

Geo rg i a RICO Act p ro v i d ed : “ It i s u n l awfu l fo r an y p ers o n

, t hr o u g h a p at t ern o f

rack et eeri n g act iv i t y o r p ro ceed s d eri v ed th erefro m

, t o acq u i re o r m ai n t ai n

, d i rect l y

o r i n di rect ly

, an y i n t e r e s t i n o r co n t ro l o f an y en t erp ri s e, real pro p ert y

, o r p ers o n al

p ro p ert y o f an y n at u r e

, i ncl u d i n g m o n ey

. ” OCGA § 1 6 -1 4-4 (b ) p ro v id ed : “ It i s

u n l awfu l fo r an y p ers o n em p l o y ed b y o r as s o ci at ed wi t h an y en t erp ri s e t o co n d u ct o r

p art i ci p at e i n

, d i rect l y o r i n d i rect l y

, s u ch en t erp ri s e t h ro u g h a p at t ern o f rack et eeri n g

act i vi t y .” An d s u bs ect io n (c) o f t h e Act pro v i d e d : “ I t i s u nl awfu l fo r an y p ers o n to

co n sp i re o r en deav o r t o v i o lat e an y o f t h e p ro v i s i o n s o f s u bs ect i o n (a) o r (b ) o f t h i s

Co d e s ect i o n .”

7 W h eel er

, 3 2 7 Ga. Ap p. at 3 1 8 (3 ) (p u n ct uat i o n o m i t t ed ); s ee Ha r tz l er v. S t a t e

, 3 3 2 Ga. Ap p

. 6 7 4

, 6 8 0 (3 ) (7 7 4 SE2 d 7 3 8) (2 0 1 5 ) (n ot i n g t h at ap p el lat e rev i ew o f a

ju ry ch arg e i s d

e n ovo ).

8 In 20 1 5

, t h e RICO Act was am en d ed i n s ev eral m i n or res p ect s

, b u t t h o s e

am en d m en t s d i d n o t b eco m e effect i v e u n t i l J u l y 1

, 2 01 5

, an d hav e n o b eari n g o n

t h es e ap p eal s. S

ee Ga. L. 2 0 15

, Act 9 8 , § 2 -2 5

.

21In C o u n t 1 o f th e i n di ct m en t i n t h i s m at t er, t h e St at e ch arg ed al l o f t h e

d efen d an t s wi t h v i o l at in g OCGA § 1 6 -1 4 -4 (c) o f t h e RICO Act i n t h at

s ai d accu s ed

. . . u n l awfu l l y co ns p i red an d en d eav o red t o acq u i re an d

m ai n t ai n

, d i re c t l y an d in d i rect l y

, an i n t eres t i n an d co n t ro l o f U.S.

Cu rren cy

, t h e p ro p ert y o f t h e At l an t a Pu b li c Sch o o l Sy s tem (“ APS”) an d

t h e Geo rg i a D ep art m en t o f Ed u cat i o n (“ GaDOE”) as fu rt h er s p eci fi ed

b el o w

, t h ro u g h a pat t ern o f rack et eeri n g act i v it y in v i ol at io n o f OCGA

§ 1 6 -1 4 -4 (a), an d wh il e em p l o y ed b y an d as s o ci at ed wi t h A P S,

u n l awfu l l y co n s p i red an d en d eav o red to co n d u ct an d p art i ci p at e in

,

d i rect l y an d i n d irect l y

, APS t h r o u g h a p at t ern of rack et eeri n g act i v i t y

,

i n v i o l at i o n of OCGA § 1 6 -1 4 -4 (b ), as des cri b ed b el o w a n d

i n co rp orat ed by referen ce as i f fu l l y set fo rt h h erei n ; co n t rary t o t he l aws

o f s ai d St at e, t h e g o o d o rd er, p eace an d d i g n it y t h ereo f . . . .

Du ri n g t h e ch arg e co n feren ce, t h e St at e req u es ted th at t h e co u rt i n s tru ct t he ju ry t h at

t h e St at e o n l y h ad t o p ro v e t h at t h e d efen d an t s co n sp i red to v i o l at e s u b s ect i o n (a) o r

s u b s e c t i o n ( b ), ev en t h ou gh t h e i n d i ct m en t s t at ed t hat t he d efen d an ts had v i o l at ed

b o t h s ub s ect i o n s, co n

ju n ct i v el y

. O v er t h e defen d an t s’ o b ject i on

, t h e co urt ag reed

.

A n d i n d eed

, aft er i t i n s t ru ct ed t h e ju ry o n t h e St at e’ s b u rd en o f p ro o f an d t h e l a w

p ert ai n i n g t o th e RICO Act an d co n s p i racy

, t he t r i a l c o u r t i ns t ru ct ed t h e ju ry

s p eci fi cal l y

reg ard i ng Co u n t 1 o f t h e i n d i ct m en t as fo l l o ws :

22So m e cri m es

, s uch as t h o s e ch arg ed in t h e i n d i ct m e n t

, m ay be

co m m i t t ed i n m o re th an o n e way

. Each defen d an t m ay o n l y b e co n v i ct ed

o f t h e al l eg ed ch arg e i n th e s p eci fi c m an n er t h at t h e d efen d an t h as b een

ch arg ed i n t h i s i n di ct m en t

.

I ch arg e y o u t h at

, wh ereas i n Co u n t 1 o f t h e in d i ct m en t

, t h e St at e

al l eg es t h at t h e d efen d an t co m m it t ed a cri m e i n m o re t han o n e way

, th e

St at e n eed n o t p ro v e th at t h e d efen d an t co m m i tt ed t h e cri m e i n each way

ch arg ed

.

Rat h er, it i s s u ffi ci en t i f y o u

, t he ju ry

, sh o ul d f i n d bey o n d a

reas o n ab l e do u b t t h at t h e d efen dan t co m m i t t ed t h e cri m e i n at leas t o ne

way , o n e o f t h e way s al l eg ed

.

As p rev i o u s l y n ot ed

, Co t m an an d W i l l i am s o n co n t en d t hat t h e t ri al co u rt erred

i n es s en t i al l y i n s t ru ct i n g t h e ju ry t h at i t c o u l d co n v i ct th e d efen d an t s o f vi o l at i n g

OCGA § 1 6 -1 4 -4 (c) d i s

ju n ct i vel y

, i.e.

, b y fi n di n g t h at t h e d efen dan t s co m m i t t ed t h e

cri m e i n at l eas t o n e o f t h e t wo way s ch arg ed

, ev en th o ug h th e in d i ct m en t ch arg ed t h e

o ffen s es co n

ju n ct iv el y . Bu t i t i s wel l s et t l ed t h at

wh en a d efen d an t i s c h arg ed

, as i n t h i s cas e, wi th th e v i o l at io n o f a

cri m i n al s t at ut e co nt ai n i n g d i s ju n ct i v el y s ev eral way s o r m et ho d s a

cri m e m ay b e co m

m i t t ed

, p ro o f of an y o n e of wh i ch i s s u f f i ci en t t o

co n s t i t u t e t h e cri m e, t he i n d i ct m en t

, i n o rd er t o be g o o d as ag ai n s t a

23s p eci al dem u rrer, m u s t ch arg e s u ch way s o r m et h o d s co n ju n ct iv el y if i t

ch arg es m o re t h an o n e o f t h em

. 9

An d at t ri al

, i t is s u ffi ci en t fo r t h e St at e t o s h ow t hat “ i t w as co m m i t ted i n an y o n e o f

t h e s ep arat e w ay s l i s t ed i n t h e i nd i ct m en t

, ev en if t h e in d i ct m en t u s es t h e co n ju n ct i v e

rat h e r t h an d i sju n ct i v e fo rm .” 1 0 M o reo v er, as n o t ed s u p r a

, t h e t ri al co u rt h ere al s o

ch arg ed t h e ju ry t h at t h e b urd en was o n t h e St at e “ t o p ro v e ev ery m at eri al al l eg at i o n

o f th e i n d i ct m e n t an d ev ery es s en t i al el em en t o f t h e cri m e ch arg ed b ey o n d a

reas on ab l e d o u b t .” A cco rd i n g l y

, th e t ri al co u rt di d n o t err i n i n s t ru ct in g t h e ju ry t h at

t h e St at e co u l d p ro v e th at t h e defen d an t s co n sp i red t o v i ol at e t h e RICO A ct i n at l eas t

o n e way o f t h e t wo way s al l eg ed

. 1 1

9 Ca s h

, 2 97 Ga. at 8 6 2 (2 ) (p u n ct u at i o n o m it t ed ); s ee al s o Y o u n g v. S t a t e

, 2 2 6

Ga. 5 5 3

, 5 5 4 (1 ) (1 7 6 SE2 d 5 2 ) (1 97 0 ) (“ As a g en eral ru l e, wh ere a s t at u te s p eci fi es

s ev eral m ean s o r way s i n wh i ch an o ffen s e m ay b e co m m i t t ed in t he al tern at i v e, i t i s

b ad p lead i n g t o al l eg e s u ch m ean s or way s i n t h e al t ern at iv e; t h e p r o p e r way i s to

co n nect t h e v ari o u s al l eg at i o n s i n t h e accu si n g p l ead i n g wi t h t h e co n ju n ct i v e t erm

‘ an d ’ an d n o t wi t h t h e wo rd ‘ o r.’ ” (ci t at i o n an d p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed )).

1 0 Ca s h

, 2 97 G a. at 8 6 2 (2 ) (p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed ); a cco rd Gr a ha m v. S t a t e

, 3 3 7

Ga. Ap p

. 1 9 3

, 1 9 7 -9 8 (2 ) (7 8 6 SE2 d 8 5 7 ) (2 0 1 6 ); G i p s o n v. S t a t e

, 3 32 G a. Ap p

. 3 0 9,

3 1 7 (5 ) (7 8 6 SE2 d 8 57 ) (2 0 1 5 ).

1 1 S ee Ca s h

, 2 9 7 Ga. a t 8 6 2 -6 3 (2 ) (h o l d i n g t h at wh en a cri m i n al s t at u t e

co n tai n s d i s

ju n ct i v e way s a cri m e can b e co m m i t t ed

, t h e S t a t e c a n s h o w i t was

co m m i t t ed i n an y o n e o f t h e way s l i s t ed in t h e i n d i ct m en t ev en i f t h e i n d i ct m en t u s es

co n j u n ct i v e l an g u ag e); Gr a ha m

, 3 3 7 Ga. Ap p

. at 1 96 -9 7 (2 ) (h o l d i n g t h at t ri al co u rt

24In h er rep l y b ri ef, Co t m an ci t es t o Un i t ed S t a t es v. Gi ps o n 1 2 an d pro ffers t h e

n o v el co n t en t i on t h at t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s ch al l en g ed i n s tru ct io n co n s ti tu t ed erro r b ecau s e

i t al l o w ed t h e ju ry t o ren d er a no n -u n an i m o us v erd ict as t o Co un t 1

. Bu t p ret erm i t t i n g

wh et h er Co t m an h as wai v ed t h i s c o n t e n t i o n

, g i v en t h at s h e fai l ed t o s peci fi cal l y

o b ject t o t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s in s tru ct i o n o n t h i s g ro u nd

, 1 3 fai led to o b ject t o t h e v erd i ct

d i d n o t err b y i n s t ru ct i n g th e ju ry t h at t h e St at e d i d n o t h av e t o p ro v e al l o f t h e act s

l i st ed i n each co u n t o f t he in d i ct m en t b ecau s e “ [i ] f a cri m e m ay b e co m m i t t ed i n m o re

t h an o ne way

, it i s s u ffi ci en t fo r t h e St at e t o s h o w t hat i t was co m m i t t ed i n an y

o n e

o f t h e s ep arat e way s l is t ed i n t h e i n d i ct m en t

, e v e n i f t h e in d i ct m en t u s es t h e

co n j u n ct i v e r a t h e r t h an d i s

j u n ct i v e fo rm ” (p u n ct uat i o n o m i t t ed )); Gi p s o n

, 3 3 2 Ga.

Ap p

. at 31 7-1 8 (5 ) (h o l d i n g th at co u rt ’ s ch arg e was n o t erro r b ecau s e t h e St at e m ay

s h o w t hat a cri m e was co m m i t t ed in an y o ne o f t h e s e p a r a t e w a y s l i s t ed i n t h e

i n d i ct m en t

, ev en i f t h e i n d i ct m en t u s es th e co n ju n ct i ve rat h er t h an d i s

ju n ct i v e fo rm

an d b ecau s e t h e c o u r t fu rt h er in s t ru ct ed t hat t h e b u rd en was on t h e St at e t o p ro v e

ev ery m at eri al al l eg at i o n o f t he i n d i ct m en t an d ev ery m at eri al el em en t o f t h e cri m e

ch arg ed bey o n d a reas o n ab l e d o u b t ).

1 2 5 5 3 F2 d 4 5 3 (5 th Ci r. 1 9 77 ).

1 3 S ee Gr a h a m

, 3 3 7 G a. Ap p

. at 1 9 7 (2 ) (n o t i ng t hat b ecau s e t h e d efen d an t

fai l ed t o l o d g e an y s p eci fi c o b ject i o n t o t h e j u ry i n st ru ct i o n h e n o w ch al l en g es

, we

rev i ew t h e i n s t ru ct i o n t o d et erm i n e wh et h er i t co n s t i t u t es p l ai n er r o r w h i ch affect s

s u b s t an t i al ri g h t s o f t h e p art ies u n d er OCGA § 1 7 -8 -5 8 (b )).

25fo rm

, 1 4 an d

, a s n ot ed

, rai s ed t h i s is s u e fo r t h e fi rs t t i m e i n h er rep l y b ri ef, 1 5 i t

n ev ert h el es s l ack s m eri t

.

In Gi p so n

, th e d efen d an t was ch arg ed w i t h o ne co u n t o f t ran s p ort i n g a s t o l en

v eh icl e i n i n t ers t at e co m m erce, i n v io l at io n o f 1 8 USC § 2 3 12

, a n d o n e c o u n t o f

s el l i n g or recei v i n g a s t o l en v eh i cl e m o vi ng i n i n ters t at e co m m erce, in v i o l at i o n o f

1 8 USC § 2 3 1 3

. 1 6 N o t l o n g aft er b eg i n n i n g d el ib erat i o n s

, the j u r y req u es t ed ad d i t i o n al

i n s t ru ct i o n s fro m

t h e co urt v i a a n o t e t h at read

, “ In Co u n t Two

, wi l l he b e g u i l t y o f

al l co u nt s o r wi l l i t b e b ro k en d o wn ? ” 1 7 Percei v in g t h at t he q u es t i o n co u l d b e

i n t erp ret ed s ev eral way s

, t h e t ri al co u rt g av e i n s tru ct i on s r e s p o n s i v e t o each

i n t erp ret at io n

. 1 8 In res p o n s e t o i t s t h i rd i n t erp ret at i o n o f t h e ju ry ’ s q u es t i o n

, t h e co u rt

ch arg ed th e ju ry

as fo ll o w s :

1 4 See Jo n es v. S ta t e

, 2 7 9 Ga. 8 5 4

, 8 6 0 (7 ) (a) (6 2 2 S E 2 d 1 ) ( 2 0 0 5 ) (h o l d i n g

t h at b ecau s e d efen d an t d i d n ot rai s e an y o b j ect i o n t o t h e fo rm

o f t h e v erd i ct b el o w,

h e wai v ed an y ri g h t t o as s ert erro r i n t h at reg ard o n ap p eal ).

1 5 S ee Gr een v. S t a t e

, 3 3 9 Ga. Ap p

. 2 6 3, 2 7 1 (3 ) (7 9 3 SE2 d 1 5 6 ) (2 0 1 6 )

(d ecl i n i n g t o co n s i d er arg u m en t m ad e fo r fi rs t ti m e i n rep l y b ri ef t h at was b e y o n d

s co p e o f en u m erat ed erro r).

1 6 Gi p s o n

, 5 5 3 F2 d at 4 5 5 (I).

1 7 Id

.

1 8 Id

.

26A t h i rd q u es t i o n t h at m ay b e t h e o ne t h at th e ju r y i s real l y as k i n g i s

,

m u s t t h ere b e an ag reem en t b y al l twel v e ju ro rs as t o wh i ch act o f t h o s e

s ev eral ch arg ed i n Co u n t T w o

, t h at t h e d efen d an t d i d. Fo r ex am p l e,

wo u ld i t b e po s si b le fo r o n e ju ro r to b el i ev e t h at t h e Defen d an t h ad

s t ored p ro p ert y

, an d an o t h er ju ro r t o bel i ev e t h a t h e had recei v ed

p r o p e r t y, an d so o n

. If al l t wel v e ag reed th at h e had d o n e s o m e o n e o f

t h o s e act s

, bu t t h ere was n o t ag reem en t t h a t h e h ad d on e t h e s am e act

,

wo u ld t h at s u p p o rt a co n v i ct i on ? Th e an s wer is y es

. I f e a c h of y o u i s

s at i s fi ed b ey o n d an y reas o n ab l e d o u b t t h at h e d i d an y o n e o f th o s e act s

ch arg ed

, an d d i d i t w i t h t h e req ui s it e s t at e o f m i n d

, t h en t h ere wo u l d be

a u n an i m o us v erd i ct

, an d t h ere co ul d b e a ret u rn o f g u i l t y un d er Co u n t

Two o f th e i n d i ct m en t

, ev en t h o u g h th ere m ay h av e b een d i sag reem en t

wi t h in t h e ju ry as t o wh et h er i t was recei v i n g o r s t o ri n g o r wh at

. 1 9

Su b s eq u en t l y

, t h e d efen d an t o b ject ed

, b u t t h e t ri al co u rt o v erru l ed t h e o b ject i o n

. 2 0

An d at t h e co n cl u s i o n o f th e tri al

, t h e ju ry acq u it t ed th e d efen d an t o n Co un t On e b ut

co n vi ct ed h i m o n Co u nt Two

. 2 1 Bu t t he Un i ted St at es Co u rt o f Ap p eal s fo r t h e Fi ft h

Ci rcu i t rev ers ed t h e co n vi ct i o n , fi n di n g t h at t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s i n st ru ct io n

au t h ori zed t h e j u r y t o ret u rn a gu i l t y v erd ict d es p i t e th e fact t hat s o m e

ju ro rs m ay hav e b el i ev ed t h at [t h e d efen d an t ] en g ag ed i n co n d u ct o n l y

1 9 Id

. at 45 5 -5 6 (I).

2 0 Id

. at 45 6 (I).

2 1 Id

. at 45 5 (I).

27ch aract eri zab l e as recei vi n g

, co n ceal i n g

, or st ori n g wh i le o t h er ju ro rs

were co n vi n ced th at h e co m m i t t ed act s o n l y c o n s t i t u ti n g b art eri n g

,

s el l i n g

, or d i s p o si n g. Th u s

, u n d er t h e i n st ru ct io n

, t h e ju ry was p erm i t ted

t o co n v i ct [t h e d efen dan t ] ev en t ho u g h t h ere m ay h av e been s i g n i fi can t

d i s ag reem en t am o n g t he ju ro rs as t o wh at h e d id

. 2 2

Acco rd in g ly

, t h e Fi ft h Ci rcu i t co n cl u d ed t h at t h e i n st ru ct i o n was “ v i o l at i v e o f [ t h e

d efen d an t ’ s] ri g ht t o a u nan i m o u s ju ry v erd i ct .” 2 3

Nev ert h el es s

, i n t h is m at t er, Co t m an ’ s arg u m en t t h at t h e t ri al co urt ’ s

i n s t ru ct i o n s i m i l arl y san ct i o n ed a n o n -u n an i m o us v erd ict s t rai n s cred u l i t y g i v en t h at

t h e t w o cas es are i n no way fact ual l y an al og o u s

. In d eed

, u n l i k e t h e i n s t ru ct i o n at i s s u e

i n Gi p so n

, 2 4 t h e t ri al co u rt i n t h i s m at t er d i d n o t in s t ru ct th e ju ry t h at i t co u l d co n v i ct

t h e d e f e n d a n t s i f s om e o f t h e ju ro rs fo u n d t h at t h e d efen d an t s co n s pi red t o v i o l at e

s u b s ect i o n (a) o f t h e RICO A ct wh i l e o t h ers fo un d t hat t h ey co n s p i red t o v i o l at e

s u b s ect i o n (b ). Rat h er h ere, i n st ark co n tras t t o Gi p s o n

, t h e t ri al co u rt co n cl u d ed i t s

i n s t ru ct i o n s b y d i rect i n g t hat “ [w] h at ev er y o u r v erd i ct is

, i t m u s t b e u n an i m o u s ; t h at

m ean s ag reed by

al l .”

2 2 Id

. at 45 8 -5 9 (II).

2 3 Id

. at 45 9 (II).

2 4 S ee s u p r a n o t e 1 9 an d acco m

p an y i ng t ex t

.

28M or e ove r

, r e c o g n i zi n g t hat Gi p s o n i n es s en ce co n ce r

n e d ve r dic t spe c i f

ic ity a nd

u n an im i t y p ro b l em s i n s i t uat i o n s i n v o l v i n g al tern at i ve t h eo ri es of a ct u s r ea u n d er a

cri m i n al s t at u t e, t h e Su p rem e Co u rt o f t h e Un i ted St at es i n Sch a d v. Ar i z o n a

, 2 5 fo u n d

t h e Fi ft h Ci rcu i t ’ s ap p ro ach wan t i ng , s p eci fi cal l y n o t i n g

,

[ w ]e are n o t p ers u ad ed t h at th e Gi p s o n ap p ro ach real l y an s wers th e

q u es t i o n

, h o wev er. A l t ho u g h t h e cl a s s i fi cat io n o f al t ern at i v es i n t o

‘ di s t in ct co n cep tu al g ro u p i n gs ’ is a way t o ex pres s a ju d g m en t ab o u t th e

l i m i t s o f p erm i ss ib l e al tern at i v es

, t h e n o t i o n i s t oo in d et erm i n at e t o

p ro v i d e co ncret e g u id a n ce t o co u rt s faced wi t h v erd i ct s p eci fi ci t y

q u es t i o n s

. 2 6

Fo l l o wi ng o n t h e h eel s o f S ch a d , t h e Su p rem e Co u rt o f t h e Un i t ed St at es rei t erat ed

i n Gr i f f i n v. U n it ed S t a t es

, 2 7 t h at “ a g en eral ju r y v e r d i ct w as v al i d s o lo n g as i t was

l eg al ly s u p p o rt a b le o n o n e o f t h e s u b m i t t ed g ro u n ds

— ev en t h o ug h t hat g av e n o

as s u ran ce t h at a v a l i d g ro u n d, rat h er t h an an i n v al i d on e, was act u al ly t h e b as i s fo r

t h e ju ry ’ s act io n .” 2 8 Gi v en t h e fo reg o i n g an d t h e part icu l ar ci rcu m s tan ces p res en t ed

2 5 5 0 1 U.S. 6 2 4 (1 1 1 SCt 2 4 9 1 , 1 1 5 LE2 d 5 5 5 ) (1 9 91 ).

2 6 Id

. at 63 5 (II) (A).

2 7 5 0 2 U.S. 4 6 (1 1 2 SCt 4 6 6 , 1 1 6 LE2 d 3 7 1 ) (1 9 9 1 ) (Scal i a, J .).

2 8 Id

. at 4 9 (II); a cco r d Jo n es v. S ta t e

,

_ _ _ Ga.

_ __ , Sl i p op

. at 4 (1 ) (Cas e No

. S1 7 A0 30 1 ; d eci d ed M ay

1 , 2 0 1 7 ) (2 0 1 7 W L 1 5 4 85 6 4 ).

29i n t h e cas e s u b j u di ce

, Co t m an ’ s ad d i t i o n al co n t en t io n t h at t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s i ns t ru ct i o n

as to Co u n t 1 co n s t i t ut ed erro r b ecau s e i t al l o wed th e ju ry t o ren d er a n o n -u n an i m ou s

v erd i ct i s wi t h o ut m eri t

.

2 . Co t m an an d W i l l i am s o n al s o co n ten d t h at t h e t ri al co u rt erred i n fai l i n g t o

fi nd t h at t h e ch al l en ged ju ry in s t ru ct i o n res u l t ed i n a fat al vari an ce b et ween t h e

i n d i ct m en t an d t h e ev i d en ce p ro v en at t ri al . Ag ai n

, we d i s ag ree.

W e fi rs t n o t e t h at t h e Su p rem e Co u rt o f Geo rg ia h as h el d t h at

[o ] u r co u rt s n o l on g er em

p l o y an o v erl y t ech n i cal ap p l i cat i o n o f t h e fat al

v ari an ce ru l e, fo cu si n g i n st ead o n m at eri a l i ty

. Th e t ru e i n q u iry

,

t h erefo re, i s no t w h et h er t h ere h as b een a v ari an ce i n pro o f, b u t wh et h er

t h ere h as b een s uch a v ari an ce as t o affect t h e su b st an t i al ri g h ts o f th e

accu s ed

. It i s t he u n d erl y i n g reas o n s fo r t h e ru l e wh i ch m u s t b e s erv ed :

1 ) t h e al l eg at i o n s m

u s t d efi n i te l y i n fo rm t h e accu s ed as t o t h e ch arg es

a g ai n s t h im s o as t o en ab l e h i m t o p res en t h i s d efen s e an d n o t t o b e

t ak en b y s urp ri s e, an d 2) t h e al l eg at i o n s m u s t b e ad eq u at e t o p ro t ect th e

accu s ed a g a i n s t an o t h er p ro s ecu t io n fo r t he s am e o ffen s e. On l y i f th e

al l eg at i o n s fai l t o m eet t h es e t es t s i s t h e v ari an ce fat al

. 2 9

Here, i n Co u n t 1 o f t he i n d ict m en t

, t h e St at e ch arg ed al l o f t h e defen d an t s in

co n si d erab l e d et ai l , as p rev i o u s l y d is cu s sed , wi t h v i o l at in g OCGA § 1 6 -1 4 -4 (c) o f

2 9 Del a c r u z v

. S t a t e

, 2 8 0 Ga. 3 9 2

, 3 9 6 (3 ) (6 2 7 SE2 d 57 9 ) (2 0 06 ); a cco r d

Ja r r et t v. S t a t e , 2 9 9 Ga. Ap p . 5 2 5 , 5 2 9 (4 ) (6 8 3 SE2 d 1 1 6 ) (2 0 0 9 ).

30t h e RICO Act b y co n s p i ri n g an d en d eav o ri n g t o en g ag e in rack et eeri n g i n vi o l at i o n

o f OCGA § 1 6 -1 4 -4 (a) an d b y co n s p i ri n g an d en d eav ori n g t o en g ag e i n rack et eeri n g

i n v i o l a t i o n o f OCGA § 1 6 -1 4 -4 (b ). Bu t i n t h ei r ap p el l at e b ri efs

, Co t m an an d

W i ll i am s o n d o n o t arg ue th at t hes e al leg at i o n s fai l ed t o i n fo rm th em o f t h e ch arg es

,

t o o k t h em b y s urp ri s e, or fai l ed t o p ro t ect t h em ag ai ns t an ad d i t io n al p ro s ecu t i o n fo r

t h e sam e o ffen s e. Ra t h er, th e d efen d an t s arg ue— si m i l arl y t o th ei r fi rs t cl ai m o f

erro r— th at a fa t a l v a r i an ce res u l t ed wh en t h e i n di ct m en t ch arg ed a v i o l at i o n o f

OCGA § 1 6 -1 4 -4 (c) i n t wo way s co n j u n ct i v el y

, b u t t h e co u rt i n s t ru ct ed t h e ju ry t h at

t h e St at e co u ld p ro v e a v i o l at i o n i n ei t h er o f t he way s ch arg ed d i s ju n ct i v el y

. Bu t we

rei t erat e t h at “ [wh en ] a p ers o n i s ch arg ed i n an i n d i ct m en t wi th a cri m e in t wo way s

b y u s i n g t h e co n

ju n ct i v e ‘ an d ’ bu t [wh en ] t h e s t at ut e co n t ai n s ‘ o r,’ i f i t i s p ro v en t h at

t h e d efen d an t v i o l at ed t he s t at u t e i n ei t h er way he m ay b e co n v ict ed .” 3 0 An d i n s u ch

3 0 Ja r ret t

, 2 9 9 G a

. A p p

. at 5 3 0 (6 ) (p un ct u at i o n o m i t t ed ); s ee S t o n e v. S t a t e

, 2 2 9 Ga. Ap p

. 3 6 7

, 3 7 0 (1 ) (b ) (4 9 4 SE2 d 4 8 ) (1 9 97 ) (n o t i n g t h at i f a cri m e m ay b e

c o m m i t t ed i n m o re t h an o n e way

, i t is s uffi ci en t fo r th e St at e t o s ho w t hat i t w a s

co m m i t t ed i n an y o n e o f th e s ep arat e way s li s t ed i n th e i n d i ct m en t

, ev en i f t h e

i n d i ct m en t u s es t h e co n

ju n ct i v e rat h er t h an d i s

ju n ct i v e fo rm ).

31ci rcu m s t an ces

, t h ere i s “ n o fat al v ari an ce b et ween t h e co u rt ’ s ch arg e a n d t h e

i n d i ct m en t

. ” 3 1

F ur th erm o re, al t h o u g h ev en t h e m o st g en ero u s read i ng of the de f e nda nts’ br i e f s

g l ean s n o co n t en t i o n o n t h ei r p art t h at a fat al v ari an ce occu rred becau s e t h e St at e

fai l ed t o s u ffi ci en t l y pro v e t h at t h e d efen d an t s v i o lat ed OCGA § 1 6 -1 4 -4 (c) i n ei t h er

o f t h e way s al l eg ed i n t h e in d i ct m en t

, th e reco rd

, n ev ert h el es s

, d em o n st rat es t h at t h e

St at e pres en t ed s u ffi ci en t ev i d en ce t h at Co t m an an d W i l l i am s o n co n sp i red t o v i o l at e

OCGA § 1 6 -1 4 -4 (a) an d (b ).

A p e rs o n p art i ci p at es i n a “ pat t ern o f rack et eeri n g act i v i t y ” wh en h e o r s h e

en g ag es “ i n at l eas t t w o act s o f rack et eeri n g a c t i v i t y i n fu rt h eran ce o f on e o r m o re

i n ci d en t s

, s ch em es

, o r tran sact i o n s t h at h av e t h e s am e o r s i m i l ar i n ten t s

, res u l t s

,

acco m pl i ces

, v i ct im s

, o r m et h o d s o f co m m i ss i o n o r o t herwi s e are i n t errel at ed by

d i s t i n gu i sh i n g ch aract eri st i cs an d are n ot i s o lat ed i n ci d en t s .” 3 2 Ad d it i on al l y

, u n d er

t h e st at u t e, t h e t erm “ ‘ [r] ack et eeri n g act i v i t y ’ m ean s t o co m m i t ” a n um

b er of cri m es

3 1 Ja r r et t

, 29 9 Ga. Ap p

. at 5 3 0 (6 ); s ee Th o ma s v. St a t e

, 1 9 2 Ga. Ap p

. 4 2 7

, 4 2 7

-

2 8 (3 8 5 SE2 d 3 1 0 ) (1 9 8 9 ) (h o l d i n g t h at v ari at io n b et w een i nd i ct m en t

, wh i ch ch arg ed

d efen d an t wi t h recei v i n g “ an d ” ret ai n i ng s t o l en p ro p e r t y, an d recei vi n g s t o l en

p ro p ert y s tat u t e t h at t ri al co u rt read t o j u ry

, w h i c h d efi n ed o ffen s e as recei p t

, d i s p o s i t i on “ o r” ret en t i o n o f s u ch p ro pert y , was n o t erro r).

3 2 S ee fo rm er OCGA § 1 6 -1 4 -3 (8 ) (A) (2 0 1 1 ).

32ch arg eab l e b y in d i ct m en t un d er t h e l aws o f Geo rg i a, as s et fo rt h i n O CGA § 1 6 -1 4 -3

(9 ) (A) (i ) –

(x xx v i i ), i n cl u di ng t h e cri m es o f t h eft an d th o se rel at i n g t o p erju ry an d

o t h e r f a l si fi cat i o n s

. 3 3 An d u nd er Geo rg ia l aw, a p ers o n m ay b e fo u n d g u i l t y o f a

RICO co n s p i racy “ i f t h ey k n o wi n g l y an d wi ll fu ll y jo i n a co n s p i r a c y w h ich i t s el f

co n tai n s a co m

m o n p l an o r p u rp o s e t o co m m i t t w o o r m o re p red i cat e act s .” 3 4

Here, as reco u n t ed i n d et ai l su p ra

, t h e e v i d en ce sh o w ed th at A PS

ad m i n is t rat o rs a n d t each ers

, i n cl u d i n g Dr. Hal l

, Co tm an

, an d W il l iam s o n

, recei v ed

b o n u s es an d i n creas es i n t h ei r s al ari es i f Targ et s an d AYP were m et an d t h at t h o s e

g o al s were o ft en m et as a d irect res u l t o f ch eat i n g on t h e CRCT. Th e ev i d en ce al s o

s h o wed t h at

, o n s ev eral o ccas i o n s

, Co t m an was i n fo rm ed reg ard in g i n st an c e s o f

ch eat i n g b u t t o o k n o act i o n t o i n v e s t i g at e s u ch an d

, i n fact

, pu n is h ed t h o s e wh o

rep o rt ed ch eat i n g wi th d em o t i o n s o r t erm i n at i o n s o f em p l o y m en t

. I n a d d i t i o n

, t h e

ev i d en c e s h o wed t h at W i l l i am s o n ch eat ed o n t h e CRCT, a St at e d ocu m en t

, by

i m p ro p erl y p ro v id i n g s t ud en t s wi t h co rrect an s wers an d b y ch an g i n g wro ng an s wers

t o co rrect o n es o n t es t s t h at h ad b e e n co m p l et ed

. Th e ev i d en ce fu rt h er s ho wed t h at

3 3 S ee fo rm er OCGA § 1 6 -1 4 -3 (9 ) (A) (i x ), (x v ) (2 0 11 ).

3 4 Ro s en v. Pr o t ect i ve Li

f e In s

. Co

. , 8 1 7 FSu p p2 d 13 5 7, 1 3 82 (II) (G) (N.D. Ga.

2 0 1 1 ) (ap p l y i n g t h e Geo rg i a RICO Act ); a cco rd W yl ie v. Den t o n

, 3 2 3 Ga. Ap p

. 1 6 1,

1 6 5 (1 ) (7 4 6 SE2 d 6 89 ) (2 0 1 3 ) (p h y s i cal p reced en t o n l y ).

33W i ll i am s o n li ed t o l aw en fo rcem en t wh en co n fro n t ed wi t h cl ai m s th at s h e ch eat ed

.

Th u s, t he ev id en ce was su ffi ci en t t o s u p p o rt t h e d efen dan t s ’ co n vi ct i o n s

, 3 5 an d an y

fat al v ari an ce cl ai m

i n t hi s reg ard l ack s m eri t

.

3

. Co t m an an d W i l l i am s o n fu rt h er co n t en d t h at t h e t r i a l c o u r t erred in

s en t en ci n g t h em u nd er t h e RICO Act rat h er t h an t h e g en e r a l c on s pi racy s t at u t e,

arg u i n g t hat s en t en ci n g th em u n d er t h e fo rm er v i ol at ed th e ru l e o f l en it y

. Yet ag ai n,

we d i sag ree.

As d i s cu s s e d a t l en gt h, s u p r a

, Co t m an an d W i l l i am s o n were ch arg ed an d

co n vi ct ed o f co n s p i racy t o v i o l a t e t h e RICO Act u n d er OCGA § 1 6 -1 4-4 (c). An d

O C G A § 1 6 -1 4-5 (a), t h e s en t en ci n g s ect io n o f t he RICO A ct

, p ro v i d es t h at “ [ a ]n y

p ers o n co n v i ct ed of t h e o ffen s e o f en g ag in g i n act i v i t y i n v i o l at i on o f Co d e Sect i o n

1 6 -1 4-4 sh al l be gu i l t y o f a fel o n y an d s hal l be p u ni s h ed b y n o t l e s s t h an fi v e n o r

3 5 S ee Do r sey v. St at e

, 2 7 9 Ga. 5 3 4

, 5 4 0 (2 ) (b ) (6 1 5 SE2 d 5 1 2 ) (2 0 0 5 ) (h o l d i n g

t h a t e vi d en ce was s u ffi ci en t t o es t ab l i s h t h at d efen d an t, as co un t y sh eri ff, acq u i red

p ro p ert y an d m o n ey t h ro u g h a p at t ern o f rack et eeri n g, t h u s s up p o rt i ng h is co n v i ct i o n

u n d er t h e RICO Act ); Br own v. S t a t e

, 3 2 1 Ga. Ap p

. 19 8

, 2 04 (4 ) ( 7 3 9 SE2 d 1 1 8 )

(2 0 1 3) (h o l d i n g t h at t h e ev i d en ce t h at d efen d an t co n s pi red wi t h o t h er em p l o y ees to

fal s ify o v ert i m e reco rd s i n ex ch an g e fo r p ay m en t was s uffi ci en t t o s u p p o rt

d efen d an t ’ s RICO co n v i ct i o n ) ; M a r ti n v. S t a t e

, 1 89 Ga. Ap p

. 48 3

, 4 8 9 -9 0 (5 ) (3 7 6

SE2 d 8 8 8 ) (1 9 88 ) (fi n d i n g th at ev id en ce was s u ffi ci en t t o sh o w t h at t hree at t o rn ey s

were p art o f RICO en t erp ri s e wh i ch en g ag ed i n t i ck et -fi x i ng o f al co h o l -rel at ed

ch arg es b y rem o v i n g fi l es rel at i n g to ch arg es fro m co u n t y s o l i ci t o r’ s o ffi ce); s ee a l s o

Ja cks o n v. Vi r

g in ia

, 4 4 3 U.S. 3 07

, 3 1 9 (III) (B) (9 9 SCt

. 2 78 1

, 6 1 LE2 d 5 60 ) (1 9 7 9 ).

34m o re t h an 2 0 y ears ’ i m p ri s o nm en t or t h e fi n e s p eci fi ed in s u b s ect i o n (b ) o f t h i s Co d e

s ect i on , o r b ot h .”

In t h i s m at t er, aft er co n d u ct in g a h eari n g

, t h e t ri al co u rt s en ten ced Co t m an to

t wen t y y ears

, wi t h s ev en y ears t o s erv e i n i n carcerat i o n

, an d s en t en ced W i l l i am so n

t o fi v e y ears

, wi t h t w o y ears t o s erv e i n i n carcerat i on

. A n d al t h o ug h t h es e s en t en ces

were wi t h i n t h e ran g e p ro v i d ed i n OCGA § 16 -1 4 -5 (a), th e d efen d an t s arg u e t h at

t h ey s h o u l d h av e b een s en t en c e d u n d er t h e g en eral co ns p iracy s tat u t e, wh i ch

p ro v id es :

A p ers on co n v i ct ed o f t h e o ffen s e o f cri m i n al co n s p i racy t o co m m i t a

fel o n y s h al l b e p u n i s h ed b y im p ri s on m en t fo r n o t l es s t h an o n e y ear n o r

m o re t h an o n e-h al f t h e m ax i m u m peri o d o f ti m e fo r wh ich h e co u l d h av e

b een s en t en ced i f h e had b een co n v ict ed o f t h e cri m e co ns p ired t o h av e

b een co m m i t t ed

, b y o n e-h al f t h e m ax im u m fi n e t o wh i ch h e co u l d h av e

b een s u b j ect ed i f h e h ad b een co n v i ct ed o f s u ch cri m e, o r b o th

. 3 6

Sp eci fi cal l y

, t h ey arg u e t h at b ec a u s e t h e gen eral co n s p i racy s t at u t e req ui res a t ri al

co u rt t o i m

p o se a sen ten ce t h at i s n o t m o re t h an o n e-h al f t h e m ax im u m peri o d o f t i m e

fo r w h i ch defen dan t s co u ld h av e b een s en t en ced i f t h ey h ad b een co n vi ct ed o f t h e

3 6 OCGA § 1 6 -4 -8

.

35cri m e co n s p i re d t o h av e been co m m it t ed

, 3 7 s en t en ci n g t h em u n d er t h e RICO Act

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

.

As we h av e p rev i o u s ly ex p l ai n ed

, t he ru l e o f l en i t y “ en s u res t h at i f an d wh en

an am b i g u i t y ex is t s i n on e o r m o re s t at u t es

, s u ch t h at t h e l aw ex act s v ary i n g d eg rees

o f p u n i s h m en t fo r t h e s am e o ffen s e, t h e am b i gu i t y wi l l b e res o lv ed i n f a v o r o f a

d efen d an t

, wh o wi ll t h en recei v e t h e les s er p u n is h m en t.” 3 8 Bu t t h e ru l e of l en i t y

co m es i n t o p l ay o n l y t o “ res o l v e am b i g u i t i es t h at rem ai n aft er ap p l y i n g al l o t h er t o o l s

o f s t a t u t o r y co n s tru ct i o n .” 3 9 Im p o rt an t l y

, wh en “ t h ere i s a s p eci fi c an d a g en eral

cri m i n al st at ut e, t h e ru l e o f l en i t y i s n ot i m p li cat ed

, an d a s p eci fi c s t at u t e w i l l p rev ai l

3 7 S ee i d

.

3 8 Go r d o n v. S t a t e

, 33 4 Ga. Ap p

. 6 3 3

, 6 3 4 (7 8 0 SE2 d 3 76 ) (2 01 5 ) (p u n ct u at i o n

o m it t ed ); s ee McNa i r v. S t a te

, 2 9 3 Ga. 2 8 2

, 2 8 3 (7 4 5 SE2 d 6 4 6 ) (2 01 3 ) (n o t i n g t h at

t h e ru l e o f l en i ty p r o v i d es t h at s t at u t o ry am b i g u it y is res o l v ed i n fav or o f t h e

d efen d an t

, wh o wi l l t h en recei v e t h e l es s er p u n is h m en t ); Is s a v. S t a t e

, 3 4 0 Ga. Ap p.

3 2 7

, 3 41 (7 ) (7 9 6 SE2 d 7 25 ) (2 0 1 7 ) (s am e); Ma t h i s v. S t a t e

, 33 6 Ga. Ap p. 2 5 7

, 2 6 0

(7 8 4 SE2 d 9 8 ) (2 0 1 6 ) (s am e).

3 9 S t a t e v. Na n ker vi s

, 2 9 5 Ga. 4 0 6

, 4 0 9 (2 ) (7 6 1 SE2 d 1 ) (2 0 14 ) (p u n ct u at i o n

o m it t ed ); s ee W

o o d s v. S t a t e

, 2 79 Ga. 2 8

, 3 1 (3 ) (6 0 8 SE2 d 6 3 1 ) (2 0 0 5) (h o l d i n g t h at

wh en a cri m e is pen al i zed b y a s p eci al l aw, t h e g en eral p ro v i s i o ns o f t h e p en al co d e

are no t ap p l i cab l e); McW h o r t er v. S ta t e

, 2 7 5 G a. Ap p

. 6 24

, 6 2 9 (2 ) (6 2 1 SE2 d 5 7 1 )

(2 0 0 5) (s am e).

36o v er a g en eral s tat u t e, ab s en t an y i n d i cat i o n o f a c o n t rary l eg i s l at i ve [d i rect i v e] .” 4 0

An d here, t h e cl ear l an g u ag e o f OCGA § 16 -1 4 -5 (a) d em o n s t rat es t h at i t i s a s p eci fi c

l a w c r i m i n al i zi n g a v i ol at i o n of an y p art of OCGA § 1 6 -1 4 -4

. 4 1 Co n s eq u en t l y

, t h e

t ri al co u rt d i d no t err i n s en t en ci n g Co t m an an d W i l l i am so n u n d er t h e s p eci fi c

p ro v is i o n s o f OCGA § 1 6 -1 4 -5 (a). 4 2

4

. Fi n al ly

, Co t m an co n t en d s t h at t h e t ri al co u rt erred in d en y i ng h er pl ea i n b ar

o f d o ub l e jeo p ard y . On ce ag ai n , we d i s ag ree.

4 0 Na n ker vi s

, 2 9 5 Ga. at 4 0 9 (2 ) (p u n ct u at io n o m i t t ed ); s ee W o o d s v. S t a t e

, 2 7 9

Ga. 2 8, 31 (3 ) (6 0 8 SE2 d 6 3 1 ) (2 0 0 5 ) (h ol d i n g t h at wh en “ a cri m e i s pen al i zed b y a

s p eci al l aw, t h e g en eral p ro v i s io n s o f t h e p en al co d e are n o t ap p l i cab l e”).

4 1 S ee OCGA § 1 6 -1 4 -5 (a).

4 2 S ee Na n ker vi s

, 2 9 5 Ga. at 4 0 9 -1 0 (2 ) (h o l d i ng t h at t h e ru l e of l en i ty d i d n ot

ap p ly i n p ro secu t i o n fo r m et h am p h et am i n e t raffi ck in g a nd

, t hu s

, t ri al co u rt was

p recl u d ed fro m s en t en ci ng d efen d an t fo r m an u fact u ri n g a co n t ro l l ed s u b s t an ce g i v en

t h at m et h am

p h et am i n e traffi ck i n g s t at ut e w as m o re s p eci fi c t h an g en eral st at u t o ry

p ro v is i o n s fo r m an ufact u ri ng co n t ro l l ed s ub s tan ces ); W o o d s

, 2 7 9 Ga. at 3 0 -3 1 (3 )

(h o l d i n g t h at t ri al co u rt d i d n o t err i n s en t en ci n g d efen d an t u n d er O CGA § 1 6 -1 3 -3 3,

rat h er t h an t h e g en eral “ at t em p t ” s t at u t e (OCGA § 1 6 -4 -6 ), b ecau s e “ t h e t wo

s en t en ci n g s t at u t es are m u tu al l y ex cl us i v e an d t here is n o u n cert ai nt y as t o wh i ch

ap p li es

— OCGA § 1 6-1 3-3 3 ren d ers OCGA § 1 6 -4 -6 in ap p li cab l e i n p ro s ecu t i on s

u n d er t h e Geo rg i a Co n t ro l l ed Su b s t an ces Act .”); McW h or t er

, 2 7 5 Ga. Ap p

. at 6 2 9 -3 0

(2 ) (fi nd i n g t h at gen eral s t at u t e l i m i t i n g s en t ece fo r co n sp i racy t o on e-h al f m ax i m u m

s en t en ce fo r s u b s t an t iv e cri m e d i d n o t ap p l y wh en i m p o s i n g s en t en ce fo r o ffen s e o f

co n sp i racy t o m an u fact u re m et h am ph et am i n e b ecau se Co n t ro l l ed S u b s t an ces Act

s p eci fi cal l y al l o wed i m

po s it i o n o f m ax i m

um s en t en ce fo r s u b s tan t i v e cri m e wh en

i m p o s i n g s en t en ce fo r co ns p i racy t o co m m it cri m e).

37As d i s cu s s ed s u p r a

, i n Co un t 4 o f t he o ri g in al i nd i ct m en t

, t he St at e ch arg ed

Co t m an w i t h t h e o ffen se o f i n fl u en ci n g a wi t n es s

, sp eci fi cal l y al l eg i n g t h at s h e “ d id

i n t i m i d at e [p ri n ci p al ] J i m m y e Hawk i n s .” Co tm an fi l ed a s p eci al d em u rrer, wh i ch

p ro m p t ed t he St at e t o re-i n d i ct her s o l el y o n t h e s am e ch arg e of i n fl u en ci ng Hawk i n s

b u t wi th ad d i t i o n al d et ai l s s p eci fy i n g t h e n at u re o f th e in t i m i d at i o n

. T h e S t at e t h en

fi led a m o t i on req u es t i n g t hat t h e t ri al co u rt en ter an o rd er o f n o ll e p ro seq u i as to

Co u n t 4 i n t he o ri g in al i nd i ct m en t an d jo in t h e n ew in d ict m en t wi t h t h e o ri g i n al fo r

t ri al p u rp o s es

. Bu t Co t m an o b j ect ed t o jo in d er, d em an ded a s p eed y t ri al o n t h e n ew

i n d i ct m en t

, an d, at t h e co n cl u s i o n o f t h at t ri al , was acq u i t t ed

.

Co t m an t h en fi l ed a p l ea i n b ar o f fo rm er jeo p ard y

, arg u in g th at t h e St at e was

p recl u d ed fro m try i ng h er on ei th er t h e RICO or i n fl u en ci n g -a-wi tn es s ch arg es i n t h e

o ri g i nal in d i ct m en t

. Su b s eq u en t l y

, t h e t ri al co urt g ran t ed Co tm an ’ s p l ea i n b ar as to

t h e i n fl u en ci n g -a-wi t n es s ch arg e b u t d en i ed i t as t o t h e RICO ch arg e. On ap p eal

, we

affi rm ed t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s ru l i n g, co n cl u d i n g “ t h at Co tm an

, hav in g o p p o s ed th e St at e’ s

i n v i t at i o n t o jo i n t h e t wo i n d i ct m en t s fo r a s in g l e t ri al

, faces s u b s eq u en t p ro s ecu t i o n

b ecau s e o f h er o wn el ect i o n an d t h ereb y wai ved t h e p ro tect i o ns ag ai n st s u b s eq u en t

p ro s ecu ti o n s affo rd ed b y O CGA § 1 6 -1 -8 (b ).” 4 3 Bu t i n t h at s am e o pi n io n

, w e al s o

4 3 Co t ma n , 3 2 8 Ga. Ap p . at 8 2 6 (1 ).

38n o t ed t h at “ Co tm an [d i d ] n ot arg u e s u b s t an t iv e d o u b le jeo p ard y fo r p u rp o ses o f t h e

a p p e a l .” 4 4 T h u s

, i n t h i s ap p eal

, Co t m an n o w co n t en d s t hat t h e t ri al co u rt erred i n

d en y i n g her p l ea i n b ar b ecau s e t h e s ub s eq u en t p ro s ecu t i on o n t h e RICO ch arg e was

b arred b y s u b s t an ti ve d o u b l e jeo p ard y

.

It i s wel l es t ab l i sh e d t h a t t h e p ro h i b it i on ag ai n s t d o u bl e j eo p ard y i n b o t h t h e

Un i ted St at es Co n s ti t u t ion 4 5 a nd the G e org i a Co n s t i tu t i o n 4 6 p ro t ect s o u r ci ti zen s fro m

,

i n t er a l i a , b ei n g p ro s ecu t ed a s eco n d t i m e fo r t h e s am e o ffen se aft er an acq u i t t al o r

co n vi ct i o n

. 4 7 M o re s p eci fi cal ly

, d o u bl e jeo pard y p ro tect s ag ai ns t t h ree t y p es o f

4 4 Id

. at 82 5 (1 ) n .5

.

4 5 S ee U .S. CONST. am en d

. V (“

. . . no r s h al l an y p ers on b e s u b j ect fo r t h e

s am e o ffen ce t o b e t w i ce p u t i n j eo p ard y o f l i fe o r l i m b

. . . .”); s ee a l

s o Br o wn v.

O h i o

, 43 2 U.S. 16 1

, 1 6 5 (II) (9 7 SCt 2 22 1

, 5 3 LE2 d 1 87 ) (1 97 7 ) (“ Bec a u s e i t w a s

d es i g n ed o ri g i n al l y to em b o d y t h e p ro t ect i o n o f t h e co m m o n -l aw p l eas o f fo rm er

jeo p ard y

, t h e Fi ft h Am en d m e n t d o u b l e jeo p ard y g u aran t ee s erv es p ri n ci pal l y as a

res t rai n t on co urt s an d p ro s ecu t o rs

. Th e l eg is lat u re rem ai n s free u n d e r t h e Do u b l e

J eo p ard y Cl au s e t o d efi n e cri m es an d f i x p u n i s hm en t s ; b u t o nce t he l eg i s l at u re h as

act ed co u rt s m ay n o t i m

p o s e m o re t h an o n e p u n i sh m en t fo r t h e s am e o ffen s e an d

p ro s ecu to rs o rd i n ari l y m ay n o t at t em p t t o s ecu re t h at p u n i s hm en t i n m o re t h an o n e

t ri al .” (ci t at i o n an d fo o t n o t e o m i t t ed )).

4 6 S ee GA. CONST. Art . 1 , § 1

, ¶ X VIII (“ No p ers o n s h al l b e p u t i n jeo p ard y

o f l i f e o r l i b ert y m ore t h an o n ce fo r t h e s am e o ffen se ex cep t wh en a n ew t ri al h as

b een gran t ed aft er co n v i ct i on o r i n cas e o f a m is t ri al .”).

4 7 S ee Ph i l l ip s v. S ta t e

, 29 8 Ga. Ap p. 5 2 0, 5 2 1 (1 ) (6 8 0 SE2 d 4 24 ) (2 0 09 ) (“ Th e

p ro h ib i t i on ag ai n s t d o ub l e jeo p ard y i n b o t h th e Un i t ed St a t e s a n d Geo rg i a

39ab u ses : “ (1 ) a s eco n d pro secu t i o n fo r t h e s am e o ffen se aft er acq u i t t al

, (2 ) a s eco n d

p ro s ecu ti o n fo r t h e s am e offen s e aft er co n v ict i on

, an d (3 ) m u l t i p l e p u n i s h m en t s fo r

t h e s am e o ffen s e.” 4 8 An d t h e s t an d ard o f rev i ew o f a “ g ran t o r den i al o f a d o u b l e

jeo p ard y p lea i n b ar i s w h e t h er, aft er rev i ewi n g t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s o ral an d wri t t en

ru l i n gs as a w h o l e, t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s fi n d i n g s su p po rt i ts co n cl u s i o n .” 4 9 Beari n g t h es e

g u i d i n g p ri n ci p l es i n m i n d , we t u rn n o w t o Co t m an ’ s s p eci fi c cl ai m

.

Th e w el l es t ab l i sh ed t es t fo r d et erm i ni n g wh et h er t w o o ffen s es are s u ffi ci en t l y

d i s t i n gu i sh ab l e t o av o i d t he p ro h i b it i o n ag ai ns t d o u bl e jeo p ard y an d

, t hereb y

, p erm i t

t h e i m po s i t i o n o f cu m

u l at iv e pu n i s h m en t, was d el in eat ed i n Bl o ckb u r g er v. Un i t ed

S t a t es

, 5 0 i n wh i ch t h e Su p rem e Co u rt o f t h e Un i t ed St at es h el d : “ [t ] h e ap p li cab l e ru l e

i s t h at wh ere t h e s am e act o r t ran sact i o n co n s t i t u t es a v i o l at i on o f t wo d i s t i n ct

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

, t h e t es t t o be ap p li ed t o d et erm i n e wh et h er th ere are t wo o ffen s es

Co n s t i t u t i o n s, am o ng o t h er t h i n g s

, p ro t ect s ag ai n s t a s eco n d p ro secu t i o n fo r t h e s am e

o ffen s e aft er acq u i t t al o r co n vi ct i o n

. ”).

4 8 Ga r r et t v. S t a t e

, 3 0 6 Ga. Ap p. 4 2 9

, 4 3 0 (7 0 2 SE2 d 4 7 0 ) (2 01 0 ), ci t in g No r th

Ca r o l i n a v. Pea r ce , 3 9 5 U.S. 7 1 1 , 7 1 7 (8 9 SCt 2 0 7 2, 2 3 LE2 d 6 5 6) (1 96 9 ).

4 9 Jo h n s v. St at e

, 31 9 Ga. Ap p. 7 1 8, 7 1 9 (7 3 8 SE2 d 3 0 4) (2 0 1 3) (p u n ct u at i o n

o m it t ed ).

5 0 2 8 4 U.S. 2 9 9 (5 2 S.Ct . 1 8 0 , 7 6 LEd . 3 0 6) (1 93 2 ).

40o r o n ly

o n e, i s wh et h er each p ro v i s i o n req u i res p ro o f o f a fact wh ich t h e o t h er d o es

n o t .” 5 1 Fu rt h erm o re, th e Su p rem e Co u rt o f th e Un i t ed St at es h as al s o “ reco gn i zed t h at

t h e Bl o ckb u r

g er t es t fo cu s es o n t h e p ro o f n eces s ary t o p ro v e t h e s t at u t o ry el em en t s

o f each o ffen s e, rat her t h an o n t h e act u al ev i d en ce t o be pres en t ed at t ri al .” 5 2

Acco rd in g ly

, i f each s t at u t e req u i res p ro o f o f an ad di t i o n al fact wh i ch t h e ot h er d o es

n o t , t h e o ffen s es are n ot t h e s am e u nd er t h e Bl o ckb ur g er t es t. 5 3

As p rev io u s l y n o t ed

, i n h er earl i er tri al

, Co t m an was acq u i t ted o n t h e ch arg e

o f i n fl uen ci n g a wi t n es s u nd er OCGA § 1 6 -1 0-9 3 (b ) (1 ) (C), wh i ch p ro vi d es :

It s h al l b e u nl awfu l fo r an y p ers o n k n o w i n g l y t o u s e i nt i m i d at i o n

,

p h y s i cal fo rce, o r t h reat s ; to p ers u ad e an ot h er p ers o n b y m e an s o f

co rru p t io n o r to at t em

p t t o d o s o ; or t o e n g a g e i n m is l ead i n g co n d uct

t o ward an ot h er p ers o n wi t h i n t en t t o

. . . [h ] i n d er, d el ay

, o r p rev en t th e

5 1 Id

. at 3 04 ; a cco r d Ga r r e t t

, 30 6 Ga. Ap p

. at 4 3 0. Th is co ns t i t u t i o n al t es t i s

al s o co d i fi ed u n d er OCGA § 1 6 -1 -8 (b ). S ee McCa n n o n v. S t a t e , 2 52 Ga. 5 1 5 , 5 1 9,

3 1 5 SE2 d 4 1 3 (1 9 8 4 ). M o reo v er, t h e Su p rem e Co u rt o f Geo rg i a sp eci fi cal l y ad o p t ed

t h e “ req u i red ev i d en ce” t es t u nd er Bl o ckb u r g er fo r d et erm i n i n g wh en o ne cri m e i s

“ i n cl u d ed i n ” an o t h er u n der OCGA § § 1 6-1 -6 an d 1 6 -1 -7 (a) (1 ). Dr i n ka r d v. W a l ker

, 2 8 1 Ga. 2 1 1

, 2 1 6 (6 3 6 SE2 d 5 30 ) (2 0 0 6).

5 2 Ga r r et t

, 3 0 6 Ga. Ap p. at 4 3 1 (p u n ct u at io n o m it t ed ), ci t i n g Il l in o is v. Vi t a l e

, 4 4 7 U.S. 4 1 0 , 4 1 6 (1 0 0 SCt 2 2 6 0 , 6 5 LE2 d 2 2 8) (1 98 0 ).

5 3 See Ga r r et t

, 30 6 Ga. Ap p

. at 4 31 (p u nct u at i o n o m i t t ed ); s ee a l s o Led f o r d v.

S t a t e

, 2 8 9 Ga. 7 0

, 7 1 (1 ) (7 0 9 SE2 d 2 3 9 ) (2 0 1 1) (ap p l y in g “ req ui red ev i d en ce” tes t

fo r d et erm in i ng wh et her o n e o ffen s e i s i n cl u d ed i n an ot h er).

41co m

m u n i c a t i o n t o a law en fo rcem en t o ffi cer, p ro secu t i n g at t o rn ey

, o r

ju d g e of t h i s s t at e o f in fo rm at i o n rel at i n g t o t h e co m m i s s i o n o r po s si bl e

co m m i s s i o n o f a cri m i n al o ffen s e o r a v i o l at i on o f co n d it i o n s o f

p ro b at io n , p aro l e, o r rel eas e p en d i n g ju d i ci al p ro ceed i n g s

.

Bu t rack et eeri n g i s “ a s p eci al t y p e o f co m

p o u n d o ffen s e, n o t s im

pl y a m o re s eri ou s

g rad e o f fo rg ery

, ro bb ery

, h o m i ci d e, o r an y o f t he o t h er o ffen s es s peci fi ed i n t h e Act

as p red i cat e o ffen s es .” 5 4 An d al th o u g h i n fl u en c i n g a wi t n es s can b e a p red i cat e

o ffen s e su p p o rt i n g a RICO ch arg e, 5 5 i t i s cert ai n l y n o t a n eces sary el em en t o f s u ch a

ch arg e. M o re im

p ort an t l y

, i t was n ot a p red icat e o ffen s e i n Co t m an ’ s RICO t ri al

. In

fact

, t h e am en ded i n d ict m en t d i d n o t al l eg e th at Co t m an en g ag ed i n i n fl u en ci n g a

wi t n es s

, ei t h er as a p red icat e act o f t h e RICO ch arg e o r as a s ep arat e ch arg e, an d t h e

S t a t e p res en t ed n o ev i d en ce d u ri n g t he t ri al p ert ai n i n g to t h e ch arg e fo r w h i c h

Co t m an was acq u it t ed i n h er fi r s t tri al

— i .e.

, h er al l eg ed at t em p t to i n t i m i d at e

Pri n ci p al Hawk i n s fro m sp eak i n g wi t h t h e G BI. F ur the r m ore, wh i l e Co t m an i s co rrect

t h at m an y o f t h e s a m e wi t n es s es wh o t es t ifi ed d u ri ng h er fi rs t t ri al al s o t es t i fi ed

d u ri n g h er RICO t ri al

, n o n e o f t hose w it n es s es t es t i fi ed reg ard i n g t h e s p eci fi c m eet i n g

5 4 Red f o r d v. S ta t e , 3 0 9 Ga. Ap p. 1 1 8, 1 2 2 (7 1 0 SE2 d 1 9 7 ) (2 0 1 1 ).

5 5 S ee fo rm er OCGA § 1 6 -1 4 -3 (9 ) (A) (x i v ) (2 0 1 1).

42wi t h Pri n ci p al Hawk i n s th at res ul t ed i n t he i n fl u en ci ng -a-wi tn es s ch arg e. Reg ard l es s

,

Co t m an ’ s fo cu s o n s u ch w i tn es s o v erl ap i n t h e t wo t ri al s i s m i s p l ac ed g i v en

, as

d i s cu s s ed s u

p r a

, t h at “ t h e Bl o ckb u r

g er t es t fo cu s es o n t h e p ro of neces s ary t o p ro v e

t h e s t at u t o ry el em en ts o f each o f f e n s e, r a t h er t h a n on t h e a ct ua l evi d en ce t o b e

p r es en t ed a t t r i a l

. ” 5 6 Acco rd i n g l y, C o t m an ’ s p ro s ecu t i o n o n t h e RICO ch arg e aft er

s h e was acq u i tt ed on t h e i n fl u en ci n g -a-wi t n es s ch arg e was n ot b arred by s u b s t an t i v e

d o u b l e jeo p ard y

. 5 7

Fo r al l t h es e reas o ns

, we affi rm Co t m an an d W i l l i am s o n’ s co n v i ct i o n s i n b o th

Cas e No . A1 7A1 0 5 0 an d Cas e No . A1 7 A1 0 5 1.

Ju d g men t a f f i r m ed i n b o t h ca s es

. Ra

y, P. J., a n d

S el f , J., co n cu r

.

5 6 S ee s u p r a n o t e 5 1 an d acco m

p an y i ng t ex t (em

p h as is ad d ed ).

5 7 S ee S t ep p v. S t a t e

, 2 8 6 Ga. 5 5 6

, 5 58 -5 9 (6 90 SE2 d 16 1 ) (2 0 1 0 ) (h o l d i n g t h at

d efen d an t ’ s co n v i ct i o n i n r e c o rd er’ s co u rt fo r v i o l at i o n o f co u n t y o rd i n an ce

reg u l at i n g her res p o n si b il it i es as p et o wn er d i d n ot bar, o n d o u b l e jeo p ard y g ro u n d s

,

s u b s eq u en t p ro s ecu t i o n i n s t at e co u rt fo r m i s dem ean o r reck les s co n d uct

, as vi o l at i o n

o f co u n ty o rd i n an ce req u i red pro o f o f o wn ers h i p o f an i m al

, wh ereas reck l es s co n d u ct

s t at u te d id n o t, an d vi o l at i on o f re c k l e s s co n du ct st at u t e req u i red p ro of o f act u al

b o d i l y h arm b ei n g cau s ed

, wh i ch o rd i n an ce d i d n o t ); S o u th wel l v. S ta t e

, 3 2 0 Ga. Ap p.

763, 763- 65 (1 ) (7 4 0 SE2 d 7 2 5 ) (2 0 1 3 ) (h o l d i ng t h at d efen d an t’ s s ep arat e co nvic tions

fo r ro b bery by i n t i m i d a t i o n an d fel o n y t h eft b y t ak i n g d i d n o t vi o l at e p ro h i b i t i o n

ag ai n s t d o u b l e jeo p ard y b ecau s e ro b b ery b y i n t im i d at i o n was b as ed o n d efen d an t ’ s

act o f t h reat en i ng vi ct i m wi th k n i fe t o o b t a i n m o n ey

, wh il e th eft was b as ed o n

s t eal in g v i ct i m ’ s car an d d i d n o t req u i re p ro o f t hat t ak i n g was b y i nt i m i d at i o n ).

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