FI RST DI VI SI ON DOYLE, C. J.

, PHI PPS, P. J.

, and BOGGS, 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

Febr uar y 22, 2016



# I n th e Co u r t o f

A p p eals o f

G eo r g ia

A1 5 A1 91 1 . W H ATLEY v . THE STATE.

P H I P P S , Pres i d i n g J u dg e.

A ju ry fo u nd Sed ri ck Co r t e z W h at ley g u i l t y o f n i n e fel o ni es , i n cl u d i n g

k i d n ap p i ng , i n co n n ect i o n wi t h t wo in ci d en t s th at o ccu rred o n co n secu t i v e ni g h t s in

No v em b er 2 0 0 9

. W h at l ey cl ai m s t h at t h e t ri al co u r t erred b y d en y i n g hi s m o t i o n to

s u p p res s b ecau s e affi d a vi t s su p p o rt i n g t wo s earch warran t s i s s u ed i n t h e cas e were

b as ed o n i n fo rm at i o n s u p p l i ed b y a co n fi d en ti al i n fo rm an t o f u n k n o wn rel i ab i l i t y

.

W h at l ey al s o arg u es t h at t h ere was i n s u ffi ci en t ev i d en ce t o s u pp o rt h i s k i d n ap p i n g

co n vi ct i o n . W e reject b o t h cl ai m s o f erro r an d affi rm

.

Vi ewed i n a l i g h t f

a v o r a b l e t o t h e v erd i ct

, 1 t he reco rd sh o w s t h at a cl erk at

Co l em an ’ s Gro cery i n Fay et t e Co u n t y h ad ju s t cl o s ed th e s t o re fo r t h e ni g h t an d was

1 See Ja cks on v. Vi r

g in i a , 4 4 3 U. S. 3 0 7 (9 9 SCt 2 7 8 1, 61 LE2 d 5 6 0 ) (1 9 7 9 ).wal k i n g t o h i s car wh en t wo m en weari n g m as k s ap p ro ach ed an d o rd ered h i m b ack

i n s i d e. On e o f t he m en h ad a si l v er g u n

. Aft er t h e m en t hreat en ed t o s h oo t

, t h e cl erk

g av e t h em cas h

, scrat ch -o ff l o tt ery t i ck et s , an d ci g ars

. Th e m en t h en fo rced t h e cl erk

i n s i d e th e s t o re’ s o ffi ce an d l o ck ed t h e d o o r, an d t he cl erk cal led 9 11

. Vi deo fro m t h e

s t ore’ s s ecu ri t y cam eras s ho wed t h at o n e m an wo re a d ark jack et wi th fu r aro u n d t h e

h o o d an d t h e o t h er wo re a l i g h t er h o o d i e wi t h t h e l et t ers “ L-R-G” o n t h e b ack

.

Th e fo l l o w i n g ev en i n g , a m an d ro v e t o a Fay et t e Co u n t y ATM t o d ep o s i t h i s

p ay ch eck

. Aft erward

, a car fo l l o wed h i m h o m e an d p ark ed i n fro n t o f h i s h o u s e.

Th ree p eo p l e g ot o u t of t h e car, o n e h o l d i n g a s i l v er g u n , an d acco s t ed t h e ATM -u s er

i n h i s d ri veway

. On e m an g rab bed t h e ATM -u s er’ s wal l et fro m h i s p o ck et

, an d t h en

t h e p eo p l e l eft

.

Sev eral d ay s lat er, a d et ect i v e w i t h t he Fay et te Co u nt y Sh eri ff’ s Offi ce

o b t ai n ed a warran t t o s earch t h e res i d en ce o f a m an n am ed K ev i n W y g an t

, J r. fo r

ev i d en ce o f t h e ab ov e cri m es

. W h en p o l i ce ex ecu ted t h e warran t

, t h ey fo u n d W h at l ey

i n s i d e, al o n g wi t h W y g an t. T h ey al s o fo u n d a bl ack jack et wi t h a fu r-t ri m m ed h o o d,

a m as k

, a 9 m

m s i l v er h an d g un , a b ag o f l o t tery t i ck et s , a b o x of ci g ars , an d t h e ATM

u s er’ s d ri v er’ s l i cen se, s oci al s ecu ri t y c ard

, an d cred i t card s. Th e det ect i v e t h en

2o b t ai n ed a s earch warran t fo r W h at l ey ’ s res id en ce

. Th ere, p o li ce fo u n d a jack et

b eari n g t h e l et t ers “ L-R-G.”

W h at l ey was arres t ed an d ch arg ed wi t h t wo co u nt s each o f arm ed ro b b ery ,

ag g rav at ed as s au l t

, an d po ss es s i o n o f a fi rearm d u ri n g t h e co m m i s s io n o f a cri m e, an d

o n e co un t each o f fi n an ci al t ran s act i o n card t h eft

, k i d n ap p i n g , an d b urg l ary

. He l at er

co n fes s ed to th e cri m es , ex cep t h e d en i ed t h at a g u n h ad b een u sed i n t h e ro b b ery o f

t h e ATM -u s er. Fo l lo wi n g a ju ry t ri al , W h at l ey

was co n v i ct ed o n al l co u n ts

. 2

1

. W h at l ey arg u es t h at t h e t ri al co u rt erred b y d en y i ng h i s m ot i on t o s u p p res s

t h e ev i d en ce fo u n d i n t h e t w o res i d en ces b ecau s e t h e s earch warran t s were

i m p ro p erl y b as ed o n i n fo rm at i o n fro m an i n fo rm an t o f u n kn o wn rel i ab i l i ty

. W e fi n d

n o erro r.

At t h e h eari n g o n t he m o t i o n t o s u p p res s , t h e i n v es t i g at i n g d et ect i v e t es t i fi ed

t h at h e ap p l i ed t o a m

u ni ci p al co u rt ju dg e fo r t h e w arran t t o s e a rch W y g an t ’ s

res i den ce. In su p p o rt o f t h e ap pl i cat i o n , h e su b m it t ed an affi d av i t reco u nt i n g t h e t wo

i n ci d en t s i n d et ai l an d d e s c r i b i n g t h e s t o l en i t em s , t he p erp et rat o r’ s m as k s an d

2 W y g an t was ch arg ed w i th t h e sam e cri m es as W h a t l e y, b u t h e was t ri ed

s ep ar a t e l y

. W y g an t was co n v i ct ed o f t h e cri m es as s o ci at ed wi t h t h e g ro cery s t o re

ro b b ery , b u t acq u i t t ed o f t h o s e i n v o l v i n g t h e ATM -u s er. W e affi rm ed h i s co n v i ct i on s i n an u n pu b l i s h ed o p i n i o n

. W yg a n t v. S t a t e , 3 2 7 Ga. Ap p

. XXIX (J u n e 2 5

, 2 0 1 4 ) (u n p ub l is h ed ).

3cl o t h i n g , an d t h e g u n

. Th e affi d av i t al so s t at ed t h at t h e Geo rg i a L o t tery Co m m i s s i o n

h ad recen t l y n ot ifi ed th e d et ect i v e o f an at t em p t at a l o cal bu s i n es s t o cas h o n e o f t h e

l o t t ery t i ck et s s t ol en fro m Co l em an ’ s Gro cery

. Aft er rev i ewi n g v i d eo fo o t a g e fro m

t h e b u si n es s , t h e det ect i v e was ab l e t o i d en t i fy t h e p ers o n wh o h ad t ri ed t o cas h t h e

t i ck et

. T h en a p o l i ce o ffi cer fro m a n earb y ju ri s d i ct i on t o l d t h e d et ect i v e t h a t an

u n i d en t i fi ed co n fi d en t i al i n fo rm an t h ad g i v en hi m i n f o r m at i o n ab o u t t h e i n ci d en t s

.

Acco rd in g t o t h e affi d av i t , t h e i n fo rm an t

(h eri n [s i c] k n own as CI0 0 0 2 C)

. . . s t at ed h e h ad p i ck ed u p [t h e t i ck et

cas h er] at [a Fai rb u rn res i d en ce t h e d ay b efo r e ]. Du ri n g t h e t i m e

CI0 0 0 2 C w as at t he res i d en ce, h e s p o k e wi t h a b l a ck m al e wh o

i d en ti fi ed h i m s e l f a s “ Kev i n ” (wh o w as i d en ti fi ed b y [p o l i ce] as
[W y g an t ]

. ) Du ri n g t h i s t i m e t h e “ Kev i n ” s u bject b rag g ed ab o u t

co m m i t t i n g a ro bb ery at Co l em an ’ s Gro c ery an d s t at ed he h ad wo rn a

cl ear m as k an d u s ed a s il v er h an d g u n

. Th e “ Kev i n ” s u bject al s o b rag g ed

ab o u t t ak i n g m o n ey an d a l arg e am ou n t o f Lo t tery t i ck et s fro m t h e s t o re.

CI0 0 0 2 C s tat ed h e o bs erv ed t h e cl ear m as k han g i n g o n t h e wal l

,

o b s erv ed a si l v er h an d g u n , a b l ack jack et w i t h a fu r co v ered h o od

, an d

o b s erv ed a s ack co nt ai n i n g n u m ero u s Lo t t e r y t i ck et s al o n g wi t h cl ear

wrap p ers

. Up o n l eav in g t h e l o cat i o n , CI0 0 0 2 C l earn ed fro m [t he t i ck et

cas h er] t hat he had rece i v ed t h e [l o t t ery ] t i ck et

. . . fro m “ Kev i n’ s ”

res i d en ce.

4A fel l o w offi cer acco m p an i ed t h e d et ect iv e t o ap pl y fo r t he warran t an d g av e

t h e m u n i ci p al co u rt ju dg e o ral t es ti m o n y co n cern i n g t h e i n fo rm an t ’ s rel i ab i l i t y

. T h at

o ffi cer to l d t h e ju dg e t h at t h e i n fo rm an t h ad p ro v i d ed i n fo rm at i o n in m u l t i p l e recen t

g an g, d ru g , an d b urg l ary cas es at b o t h t h e s t at e an d fed eral l ev el s

. T h at i n fo rm at i o n,

t h e o ffi cer t o l d t h e ju dg e, h ad “ p an n ed o ut an d l ed t o arres ts .” Bas ed on t h e affi d av i t

an d th e o ral t es t i m on y , t h e m un ici p al co u rt ju d g e is s u ed a warran t t o search W y g an t ’ s

res i den ce fo r W y g an t

, as w el l as t h e m as k

, g un , fu r-t ri m m ed jack et

, an d l o tt ery

t i ck et s

.

Th e d et ect i v e l at er ap p l i ed t o a s u p eri or co u rt ju d g e fo r t he warran t to s earch

W h at l ey ’ s res i d en ce. In s up p o rt o f t h at ap pl i cat io n , t h e d et ect i v e s u b m i t t ed an

affi d av i t t h at was m a t e r i a l l y id en ti cal to h i s fi rs t affi d av i t

, ex cep t t h at i t al s o n o t ed

t h at W h at l ey h ad b een p res en t at W y g an t ’ s res i d en ce, a n d i t l i s ted t h e i t em s fo u n d

i n s i d e t h at res i d en ce. Th e s u p eri o r co u rt ju dg e i s s ued a warran t au t h o ri zi n g t h e p o l i ce

t o s earch W h at l ey ’ s res i d en ce fo r t h e “ L-R-G” jack et

, lo t t ery t i ck et s , s i l v er g u n , an d

m as k , as wel l as a h at

.

5A ju d ge m ay i s s u e a s earch warran t “ u p o n fact s s u ffi ci en t to s up p o rt p ro b ab l e

cau s e t h at a cri m e

. . . h as b een co m m i t t ed .” 3 Th e ju d g e’ s t as k i n d et erm i n i n g wh et h er

p ro b ab l e cau s e ex i s t s t o i s s u e a s earch warran t

i s s i m p l y t o m ak e a p ract i cal

, co m m o n-s en s e d eci s io n wh et h er, g i ven al l

t h e ci rcu m st an ces s et fo rt h i n t h e affi d av i t b efo r e h i m , i n cl u d i n g th e

v eraci t y an d b as i s o f k n o wl ed g e o f p ers o ns s u p p l y i n g h ears ay

i n fo rm at i o n , t h ere i s a fai r p ro b ab i l i t y t h at co n t rab an d o r ev i d en ce o f a

cri m e wi l l b e fo u n d i n a p art i cu l ar p l ace. Ou r d u t y i n r e v i ewi n g th e [ju d g e] ’ s d eci s i o n in t hi s c a s e i s t o det erm in e i f t h e [ju d g e] h ad a

s u b s t an t i al b as i s fo r co n cl u d i n g t h at p ro b ab l e cau s e ex i s t ed t o i s s u e th e

s earch warran t s

. 4

“ Th e [ju d g e] m ay co ns i d er oral t es t i m o n y as w el l as t h e affi dav i t in i s s u i n g a s earch

warran t .” 5

3 Ga l l o wa

y v. S t a te

, 3 3 2 Ga. Ap p. 3 8 9 (7 7 2 SE2 d 83 2 ) (2 01 5 ) ( c i t a t i on s

o m it t ed ).

4 Id . at 3 8 9 -3 9 0

.

5 Fl ewel l i n g v. S t a t e , 3 0 0 Ga. Ap p

. 5 0 5

, 5 1 0 (2 ) (a) (6 8 5 S E2 d 7 5 8 ) (2 0 0 9 ) (p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed ).

6W

he n the sta

t e at tem p t s t o es t ab l i s h p ro b ab l e cau s e t h ro u gh i n fo rm ation ga ine d

fro m an u n i d en t i fi ed i n fo rm an t

, “ t h e i n fo rm an t ’ s v eraci t y an d b as i s o f k n owl ed g e are

m ajo r co n s i d erat i o n s i n t h e p ro b ab l e cau s e an al y s i s .” 6

Am o n g t h e f

a ct o rs t o b e co n s i d ered b y a [ju d ge] i n as s es s i n g th e

r e lia b i l i t y o f in fo rm at i o n fro m an u n i d en t ifi ed i n fo rm an t are: (1 ) t h e t y p e

o f i n fo rm at i o n p rev i o u sl y s u p pl i ed b y t h e i n fo rm an t

, (2 ) t h e u se t o

wh i ch t h e i n fo rm at i o n w a s p u t

, an d (3 ) t h e el ap s ed t i m e s i n ce th e

i n fo rm at i o n was fu rn i sh ed

. Each o f t h es e fact o rs n eed n o t b e s ho wn , s o

l o n g as t h e [ju dg e] h as s u ffi ci en t i n fo rm at i o n t o ju d g e rel i ab il i ty

. 7

If an u n i d en t ifi ed i n fo rm an t i s n o t s h o wn t o b e rel i ab l e, h i s t i p n ev ert h el es s m ay b e

co n si d ered t ru s t wo rt hy

i f p ort i on s o f i t are s u ffi ci en t l y co rro b o rat ed b y t h e p o l i ce. 8

Fo r t h e co rro b o rat i o n t o b e m ean i n g fu l

, th e t i p m u s t “ i n cl u d e a ran g e o f d et ai l s

rel at i n g t o fu t u re act i o n s o f th ird part i es n o t eas i l y p red i ct ed o r s i m i l ar i n fo rm at i o n

n o t av ai l ab l e t o t h e g en eral p u bl i c.” 9

6 Eva n s v. S t a t e , 2 6 3 Ga. Ap p

. 5 7 2, 5 7 5 (1 ) (b ) (5 8 8 SE2 d 7 6 4) (2 0 03 ) (ci t at i o n

o m it t ed ).

7 Co p el a n d v. S t a t e , 2 7 3 Ga. Ap p

. 8 5 0

, 8 5 1 (1 ) (a) ( 6 1 6 SE2 d 1 89 ) (2 0 0 5 ) (fo o t no t es an d p un ct u at i o n o m it t ed ).

8 Id

.

9 Id

. (p u nct u at io n an d fo o t n o t e o m it t ed ); s ee al s o S u t t on v. S t a t e , 3 1 9 Ga. Ap p. 5 9 7

, 5 9 8 (7 3 7 SE2 d 7 0 6 ) (2 01 3 ) (“ wh ere o t h er i n v es t i g at i o n s up p o rt s t h e i n fo rm at i o n

o f t h e i n fo rm an t

, t h is can b e co n s i d ered as a p art o f t h e rel iab l e b as i s fo r t h e fi n d i n g

7Here, al t h ou g h t h e i n v es t i g at i n g d et ect i v e’ s affi dav i t s co n tai n ed i n s u f fi ci en t

i n fo rm at i o n to es t ab l is h t h e i n fo rm an t ’ s rel i ab i l i t y , t h e o t h er o ffi cer’ s o ral t es t i m o ny

t o t h e m un i ci p al co u rt ju d g e sh o wed t hat t he i n fo rm an t h ad p ro v en t o b e t ru s t wo rt hy

b y g i v i n g h el pfu l in fo rm at i on o n m u l t i p l e recen t o ccas i o n s

. M o reo v er, th e affi d av i t s

s h o wed t hat t h e i n fo rm an t ’ s t i p was rel i ab l e i n t h i s cas e. Th e i n fo rm an t s ai d t h at h e

m et W y g an t wh i l e h e w as wi t h t h e ti ck et -s el l er, wh om t h e i n v es t i g at i n g d et ect i v e h ad

i n d ep en den t l y id en t i fi ed fro m v i d eo fo o t ag e. Ad d itiona l ly

, the inf or m a nt g av e a ran g e

o f d et ai l s ab o u t t h e Co l em an ’ s Gro ce r y r o b b ery th at wo ul d n o t h av e b een wi d el y

k n o wn , in cl u di n g d es cri b i n g t h e m as k

, g u n , an d jack et us ed by o n e o f t h e p erp et rat o rs

an d t h e l arg e q uan t i t y o f lo t t ery t i ck et s t hat were t ak en

. Fi n al ly

, t h e i n fo rm an t cl ai m ed

t h at h e h ad s een t h es e i t em s i n si d e W y gan t ’ s res i d en ce, an d t he i n fo rm an t p ro v i d ed

an a d d r e s s

. W e co ncl u d e t h at t h i s d et ai l ed i n fo rm at i o n , m u ch o f i t i n d ep en d en t l y

co rro b o rat ed

, was s u ff

i c i e n t t o es t ab l i s h t h e i n fo rm an t ’ s rel iab i li t y an d t h erefo re to

s u p p ly p ro b ab le cau s e fo r t h e warran t s

. 1 0

o f p ro b ab l e cau s e”) (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 See, e.g

. , C o l e v. S t a t e , 2 8 2 Ga. Ap p

. 2 1 1

, 2 1 3 (1 ) (6 3 8 SE2 d 36 3 ) (2 0 0 6 ) (i nfo rm an t ’ s t ip was rel i ab l e ev en t h o ug h h e had n o t prev i o u s l y g i v en i n fo rm at i o n to

t h e p o l ice, wh ere t h e t i p s h o wed “ i n s i d e i n fo rm at i o n ab o u t [t h e d efen d an t ’ s ] p ri v at e affai rs ”); Mu ns o n v. S t a te

, 2 1 1 Ga. A p p

. 8 0

, 8 2 (4 3 8 SE2 d 1 2 3 ) (1 9 9 3) (p ro b ab l e

cau s e ex i s t ed b a s e d o n i n fo rm at i o n p ro v i d ed b y i n fo rm an t o f u n k n o wn rel i ab i l i t y ,

82

. Am o n g W h at ley ’ s co nv i ct i o n s was a k i dn ap p i n g co n v i ct i o n fo r

“ ab d u ct i n g [i n g ] an d s t eal [i n g ] away ” t h e c l e r k i n t h e Co l em an ’ s Gro cery i n ci d en t

.

W h at l ey co n t en d s th at th ere w as i n s u ffi ci en t e v i d en ce t o s u p p o rt t he k id n ap p i n g

co n vi ct i o n u n d er Ga r

z a v. S t a t e 1 1 b ecau s e “ [a] n y m o v em en t o f [t h e cl erk ] s h o u l d b e

d eem ed a s m erel y i n ci d en t al to t h e o ffen s e o f ro b b ery an d fo r n o o t h er p u rp o s e.”

Ag ai n , we d i s ag ree.

“ A p ers on co m

m i t s t h e o ffen s e o f k i d nap p in g wh en s uch p ers o n ab d u ct s o r

s t eal s away an o th er p ers o n wi t h o u t l awfu l au t h o ri t y o r w arran t an d h o l d s s u ch o t h er

p ers o n ag ai n s t hi s o r h er wi l l .” 1 2 Th e el em en t of “ ab d u ct i n g o r s t eal i n g away ”

–

k n o wn as as p o rt at i o n

– m ay b e p ro v en b y ev i d en ce o f “ s l i g h t m o v e m e n t ” o f t h e

v i ct i m

. 1 3 In Ga r

z a , t h e Su prem e Co u rt h el d t h at th e m o v em en t req u ired to es t ab l i s h

t h e as p o rt at i o n el em en t of Geo rg i a’ s p re-2 0 0 9 ki dn ap p i n g s t at u te m u s t b e m o re t h an

wh ere p o l i ce co rro b o rat ed s o m e o f t h e i n fo rm at i o n ).

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

1 2 OCGA § 1 6 -5 -4 0 (a).

1 3 OCGA § 1 6 -5 -4 0 (b ) (1 ).

9“ m erel y in ci den t al ” t o o th er cri m i n al act i v i t y , an d t he co u rt s et fo rt h fo u r fact o rs t o

g u i d e t h i s i n q u i ry

. 1 4

Bu t Ga r za has been s u p ers ed ed b y s t at u t e fo r cri m es

– s u ch as W h at l ey ’ s

– t h at

w e r e co m m i t t ed aft er J u l y 1, 2 0 0 9

. 1 5 Th e k i d n ap p i n g s t at u t e n o w cl ari fi es t h a t t h e

v i ct i m ’ s m o v em en t i s no t co n si d ered m erel y i n ci d en t al

, b u t i ns t ead is s u f f i c i en t to

es t ab l i s h t h e as p o rt at i o n el em en t o f t h e o ffen s e, i f i t “ (A) [c] o nceal s o r i so l at es t h e

v i ct i m ; (B) [m ] ak es th e co m m i s s i o n o f t h e o th er o ffen s e s u b s t an t i al l y eas i er; (C)

[l ] es s en s t h e ri s k o f d et ect i o n ; or (D) [i ] s fo r t h e pu rp o s e o f av o i d i n g ap p reh en s i o n .” 1 6

Here, t h e cl erk t es t i fi ed t h at aft er t ak i n g i t em s i n s id e t he s to re, t h e ro b b ers fo rced h i m

i n t o t h e o ffi ce ag ai n st h i s wi l l an d l ock ed t h e d o o r

. T h i s t es t i m o ny s u p p o rt s t h e

reas on ab l e i n feren ce t h at t h e r o b b ers i s o lat ed th e cl erk t o ex p ed i t e t h ei r es cap e,

t h ereb y l es s en in g t he ri s k o f t h ei r d et ect i o n

. Th us , t h e ev i d en ce was s u ffi ci en t t o

es t ab l i s h t h e as p o rt at i o n el em en t o f k i d n ap p i n g

.

Ju d g men t a f f i r m ed . Do yl e, C. J., a n d

Bo g g s , J., co ncu r

.

1 4 2 8 4 Ga. at 7 02 (1 ). Th o s e fact ors are th e d u rat i o n o f t he m o v em en t

, wh et h er i t o ccu rred d u ri n g t h e co m m i s s i o n o f a s ep arat e o ffen s e, wh et h er i t was an i n h eren t

p art o f t h at sep arat e o ff e n s e, an d wh et h er t h e m o v em en t i t s el f s i gn i fi can t l y

en d an g ered t h e v i ct i m

i n d ep en d en t o f t h e d an g er p o s ed b y t h e s ep arat e o ffen s e. Id

.

1 5 See Go n z a l ez v. Ha r t , 2 9 7 Ga. 6 7 0

, 6 7 2 n

. 3 (7 7 7 SE2 d 4 5 6 ) (2 0 1 5 ).

1 6 OCGA § 1 6 -5 -4 0 (b ) (2 ).

10