FI FTH DI VI SI ON

M C FA DDEN, C. J.

, R I CKM A N, P. J.

, and SENI OR A PPELLA TE JUDGE PHI PPS.

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

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H I S

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

TH E TIM E S S E T B Y

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

.

June 17, 2021



# I n th e Co u r t o f

A p p eals o f

G eo r g ia

A2 1 A0 35 3 . GREEN v . THE STATE.

P H I P P S , Sen i o r Ap p el l at e J u d g e.

A j u ry fo u n d M ark Ho l d en Green g u i l ty o f ag g rav at ed ch i ld m ol es t at i o n an d

ch i l d m o l es t at i o n

. Fo l lo w i n g t he d en i al o f h is m o t i o n fo r n ew t ri al

, Green ap p eal s

,

co n ten d in g t h at t h e t ri al co u rt erred i n ad m i t t i n g h ears ay an d o t h er act s ev i d en ce, t h e

ev i d en ce was i n s u ffi ci en t t o su p p o rt h i s co n v ict i o n fo r ag g rav at ed ch i l d m o l es t at i o n,

an d h i s tri al co u n s el was i n effect i ve. Fo r t h e fo l lo wi n g reas on s

, w e affi rm Green ’ s

co n vi ct i o n s

.

On ap p eal fro m a cri m i n al co n v i ct i o n

, w e v i ew t h e ev i d en ce i n t he l i g h t m o s t

fav o rab l e t o t h e ju ry ’ s verd i ct

, w i t h t h e d efen d an t n o l on g er en jo y i ng a p res u m

p t i o n

o f i n n o cen ce. See Ca r o l i n a v. S t a t e

, 2 7 6 Ga

. Ap p

. 2 9 8

, 3 0 0 (1 ) (6 23 SE2 d 1 5 1 )

(2 0 0 5). W e n ei t h er wei g h t he ev i d en ce no r d et erm i n e wi tn es s cred i b i li t y

, wh i ch aret as k s t h at fal l w i t h i n t h e ex cl u s i ve p ro v i n ce o f t h e ju ry

, b u t o n l y det erm in e i f t h e

ev i d en ce was s u ffi ci en t fo r a rat i o n al t ri er o f fact t o fi n d t h e d efen d an t g u i l t y o f t h e

ch arg ed o ffen s e b ey o n d a reas o n ab l e do u b t

. Id .; s ee al s o W ho r t o n v. S t a t e , 3 1 8 Ga.

Ap p . 8 8 5 , 8 8 5 (7 3 5 SE2 d 7 ) (2 0 1 2 ).

So v iewed

, t h e ev i d en ce s h o ws t h at Green is t h e s t ep -fat her o f th e v i ct i m s, A.

G. an d E. G. Th e vi ct i m s ’ m o t her t es t i fi ed t h at wh en A. G. an d E. G

. were fo u r y ears

o l d

, A. G. t o l d her, “ M o m

, y o u k n o w M ark h as a l o ng to o t t oo t .” Th e v i ct i m s ’ m o t h er

ex p lai n ed t h at A. G. an d E. G. u s e t h e t erm “ t o o t t o ot ” to refer t o t h ei r p ri v at e area.

Th e v i ct im s ’ m o th er t es t i fi ed t h at A. G. s ai d th at G reen “ h ad s t u ck it i n her m o u t h an d

d i d t h i s m o t i o n ,” wh i ch s he d em o n s t rat ed

, an d “ t h at y u ck y m i l k cam e o u t .”

Aft er t h e v i ct i m s ’ m o t h er rep ort ed t he al l eg at io n t o p o l i ce, s h e t o o k A. G. an d

E. G. t o a ch i l d ad v o cacy cen t er

. A t t h e ch i l d ad v o cacy cen t er, b o t h ch i l d ren were

i n t erv i ewed b y an ex p ert i n fo ren s i c i n t erv i ewi n g

. Th e fo ren si c i n t erv i ewer t es t i fi ed

t h at s h e h ad co n d u ct ed ap p ro x i m at el y 6 0 0 fo ren s i c i n t erv i ews

. Reco rd i ng s o f t h e

fo ren s i c i n t erv i ews of A. G. an d E. G. were p l ay ed fo r t h e j u r y. T h e fo ren s i c

i n t erv i e w e r f

i r s t t es t i fi ed ab ou t h er i n terv iew o f E

. G

. A ft er ex p l ai ni n g t h at E. G.

referred t o t h e m al e an at o m y a s a “ t o o t t o o t t ai l ” becau s e i t l oo k s li k e a t ai l

, s h e

t es t i fi ed t h at E. G. t o l d h er t hat t h ere was a “ b oo b o o ” o n Green ’ s “ t o ot t o o t t ai l ” an d

2t h at s h e “ b i t h i m th ere o n h i s t o o t t o o t t ai l

. ” E. G. al s o ref e r r e d t o so m et h in g b ei n g

s t ick y l i ke p ean u t b u tt er, wh i ch t h e fo ren s i c i nt erv i ewer tes t i fi ed s h e t h o u g h t wo u ld

h av e b een ejacu l at i o n.

Th e fo ren s i c i n t erv i ewer t h en t es ti fi ed ab o u t h er in t erv i ew o f A. G. A

. G. t o ld

t h e fo ren s i c i n t erv i ewer ab o u t “ y u ck y m i l k ” an d m o t i o ned w i t h h er m o ut h l i k e s h e

was s p i t t i n g it o ut

. W h en t h e f o ren s i c i n terv iewer as k ed A. G. ab ou t G reen ’ s “ t o ot

t o o t ,” A. G. s ai d

, “ He d i d l i k e t h i s .” Th e fo ren s i c i n t e r v i ewer t es t i fi ed t h at s h e

i n ferred fro m A. G.’ s s t at em en t s an d g es t u res t h a t Green p u t h i s p en is i n A. G.’ s

m o ut h

.

A s ex u al as sau l t n u rs e ex am i n er t es t i fi ed t h at s h e h ad ex am i n ed A. G. an d E.

G. A. G. to l d t he n u rs e ex am in er, “ Yu ck y m il k cam e ou t o f Mark ’ s t o o t

, t o ot

. . . . He

p u t i t i n m

y m o ut h.” A. G. al s o t o l d h er t h at Green “ h as a l o n g t ai l cal l ed a t o o t t o ot

t h at y u ck y wh i t e m i l k co m es o ut o f,” t h at “ h e p u ts th e y u ck y m il k i n m

y m o u t h ,” an d

“ i t t as t es b ad an d I s p i t i t i n t h e t ras h can .” W h en t h e n u rs e ex am i n er as k ed A. G. to

d es cri b e w h at t h e “ to ot t o o t ” lo o k s l i k e, A. G

. s ai d

, “ It ’ s l o n g l i k e a t ai l an d h as a h o l e

i n t h e en d o f i t

. H e d o es hi s h an d s l i k e t h i s

. ” Th e n u rs e ex am i n er t es t i fi ed t h at A. G.

m ad e m o t i o n s wi t h h er h an d s as i f m as t u rb at i n g a p en i s

. A. G. t o l d h er, “ Th at ’ s wh en

3t h e y

u ck y w h i t e m i l k co m es o u t o f th e en d

. . . . I d o n ’ t l i k e i t w h e n h e d o es t h at

. It

t as t es b ad .”

At t h e en d o f E. G.’ s ex am

, t h e n u rs e ex am in er as ked E. G. i f s h e h ad ev er s een

Green ’ s p ri v at e areas

. Th e n u rs e ex am i ner t es t i fi ed t h at E. G

. to l d h er, “ He h as a t ai l

,

h e p u t s h i s h an d aro un d h i s ‘ t o o t t o o t

, ’ ” m o t i on ed wi t h h er h an d s as t h o u g h

m as t u rb at i n g

, an d s ai d

, “ Pee p ee cam e o u t o f i t

. It wen t al l o v er m y s ho rt s an d I h ad

t o ch an g e cl o t h es .”

A n u r s e wh o ex am i n ed G reen t es t i fi ed t h at h e h as a co n di t i o n referred t o as

h y p o s p ad i as

, w h ere t h e u ret h ral o p en i n g o f th e pen i s can b e at v ari o u s l o cat i o n s o f

t h e p en i s rat her t h an th e n orm al l o cat i o n

, wh i ch i s t h e t i p o f t he p en i s

. Acco rd i n g to

t h e n u rs e, Green ’ s u ret h ral o pen i n g i s b et w een t h e h ead o f t h e p en i s an d t he area ju s t

b el o w th e h ead of th e p en i s. Sh e al s o tes t i fi ed t h at Green has a s k i n p i g m en t

co n di t i o n referred to as v i t i l i go

, an d t h at h e had p ig m en t at i o n l o s s i n an area t h at s h e

p o i n t ed t o i n a p ict u re s h o wi n g Green ’ s p en i s an d o n h i s s cro t al s ac.

Green was in d i ct ed fo r ag g rav at ed ch il d m o l e s t a t i o n an d ch i l d m o l es t at i o n.

Aft er a ju ry t ri al

, Green w as fo un d g u i l t y o f b o t h o ffen s es

. Th i s ap p eal fo l l o wed t h e

d en ial o f Green ’ s m o t i o n fo r n ew t ri al

.

41

. Green co nt en d s t h at t he t ri al co u rt erred b y al l o w i n g h ears ay s t at em en t s o f

A. G. t o b e ad m i t t ed i n t o ev i d en ce. 1 Ho wev er, Green d i d n o t p res erv e t h i s i s s u e fo r

ap p el l at e rev i ew.

At t h e t i m e o f Green ’ s o ffen s es i n 2 0 16

, OCGA § 2 4 -8 -8 2 0

, t h e ch i l d h ears ay

s t at u te, p ro v i ded :

A s t at em en t m ad e b y a ch i l d y o u n g er t h an 1 6 y ears of ag e d es cri b i n g

an y act o f s e x u a l co n t act o r p h y s i cal ab u s e p erfo rm ed wi t h o r o n s u ch

ch i l d b y an o t h er o r wi t h o r o n an o t her i n th e p res en ce o f s u ch ch il d sh al l

b e ad m i s s ib l e in ev id en ce b y t h e t es t im o n y o f t h e p ers on t o wh o m m ad e

i f t h e p ro p o n en t o f s u ch s t at em en t p ro v i des n o ti ce t o t h e ad v ers e p art y

p ri o r t o t ri al of t h e i nt en t i o n to u s e s u ch o ut -o f-co u rt s t at em en t an d s u ch

ch i l d t es t i fi es at t h e t ri al

, u n l es s t h e ad v ers e p art y fo rfei t s o r w ai v es s u ch

ch i l d ’ s t es t i m o n y as p ro v i d ed i n t hi s t i tl e, an d

, at t h e ti m e o f th e

t es t i m o n y reg ard i n g t h e o u t -o f-co u rt s t at em en ts

, t h e pers o n t o wh o m th e

ch i l d m ad e s u ch s t at em en t i s s ub ject to cro ss -ex am i nat i o n reg ard i n g th e

o u t -o f-co u rt s t at em en t s

.

“ [T] h e t ri al c o u r t h a s b ro ad d i s cret i o n i n d et erm i n in g t h e ad m i s s i b i li t y o f ch i ld

h ears ay ev id en c e

, a n d w e wi l l rev ers e a t ri al co u rt ’ s ru l i n g o n t h e ad m i s s i b i l i t y o f

s t at em e n t s [u n d er OCGA § 2 4 -8 -8 2 0 ] o n l y i f t h e t ri al co u rt ab u s ed i t s d i s cret i o n.”

1 “ Fo r co n v en i en ce of di s cu s s i o n

, we h av e t ak en th e en u m erat ed erro rs o u t o f

t h e o rd er i n wh i ch [Green ] h as l i s t ed t h em

. . . .” Pu g h v. S t a t e

, 34 7 Ga. Ap p

. 7 1 0

, 7 1 1

(1 ), n . 5 (8 2 0 SE2 d 7 6 6) (2 01 8 ) (ci t at i o n o m i t t ed ).

5Al l i so n v. S t a t e

, 3 5 6 Ga. Ap p. 2 5 6

, 2 61 (1 ) (8 4 6 SE2 d 2 2 2) (2 0 2 0 ) (ci t at i o n an d

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

W h en t h e v ict i m s ’ m o t h er t es t i fi ed

, Green o b ject ed t o t h e ad m i s s i o n o f h ears ay

s t at em en t s b y A. G. Aft er t h e St at e res p o n d ed t h at A. G

. was pres en t an d ab le to

t es t i fy

, t h e t ri al co u rt ad m i t t ed t h e h ears ay s t at em en t s o v er t ri al co u n s el ’ s o b ject i o n.

W h en A. G., wh o was s ix y ears o l d at t h e ti m e o f t ri al

, t oo k t h e st an d

, s h e an s wered

v o i r d i re q u es t i o n s f

ro m th e St at e an d Green ’ s t ri al co u n s el

. Green ’ s t ri al co u n s el

o b ject ed t o A. G. b ei n g al l o wed t o t es t i fy o n t h e bas i s t h at h e was n o t s at i s fi ed t h at

A. G. k n ew t h e d i fferen ce b et ween t h e t ru t h an d a l i e. Th e t ri al co u rt al l o wed A. G.’ s

t es t i m o ny

, fi n d i ng th at s h e k n ew “ t h e d i fferen ce i n ri g h t an d wro n g

, tru t h an d a l i e.”

Th e p ro s ecu to r t h en at t em p t ed t o s wear A. G. i n as a wi tn es s :

Q: Do y ou s wear o r affi rm t es t i m o n y o r t h e co n v ers at io n m e an d y o u are

ab o u t t o h av e i n fro n t o f t h i s ju ry , i s t he t ru t h ?

A: I d o n ’ t k n o w.

Q : Y o u d o n ’ t k n o w ? Y o u ’ re n o t [g oi n g t o ] t el l t h e t ru t h wh il e we’ r e

t al k i n g ?

A: No

.

Q: Yo u ’ re n ot [g o i n g t o ] t el l m e t h e t ru t h ?

A: I ju s t d o n ’ t k n o w s o m e t h i n g s are d i fferen t

.

Q: So m e t h i ng s are d i fferen t ? Can y o u t el l m e wh at ’ s d ifferen t ?

A: Li k e, I n ev er l earn ed ju m p ro p in g , b ecau s e t h at ’ s h ard

.

6Q: Ok ay

. I can g et t h at

. W h at i f I s ai d

, I’ m n o t [g o i ng t o ] as k y o u ab o u t

ju m p ro p i n g o r h u l a ho op i n g i n fro n t of t h e j u ry t o d ay ? Becau s e I’ m n o t

[g o i ng t o] as k y o u an y th i n g l i k e t h at

. I’ m ju s t [g o i n g t o ] as k q ues t i o n s

[a b o u t ] wh at h ap p en ed b et ween y o u an d Mark

. Is t h at o k ay ? W i ll y o u

t el l t h e t ru t h t h en ?

A: Yes

.

Q: Ok ay . Let ’ s rai s e o u r h an d ag ai n , t h e ri g h t o n e. Th ere y o u g o

.

. . .

Q : Do y o u s wear o r affi rm t h e t es t i m o n y y o u are ab o u t t o gi v e, t h e

co v ers at i o n m e an d y o u are [g o i n g t o ] h av e t od ay i n fro n t o f t h e ju ry

,

co n cern i n g M ark , i s t h e t ru t h ?

A: I d o n ’ t k n o w.

Q: Yo u d o n ’ t k n o w ag ai n? No ? Yo u ju s t d o n’ t k n ow?

A: Y eah

, b ecau s e t hi n g s are d i fferen t

, b u t I d o n’ t k n o w ho w t o d o o r I

ju s t d o n ’ t k n ow wh at i t m ean s

.

Green ’ s t ri al co u n s el req u es t ed a ben ch co n feren ce an d st at ed

, “ I d on ’ t t h in k s h e can

t es t i fy o n wh at ’ s t h e tru t h an d w h a t ’s a l i e.” T he tri al co u rt res p o n d ed

, “ Ok ay .”

Nei t h er t h e p ro s ecu t o r n o r Green ’ s t ri al co u n s el p u rs u ed as k i n g fu rt h er qu es t i o n s o f

A. G., wh o was al lo wed t o l eav e t h e wi t nes s s t an d

.

Gree n arg u es t h at b ecau s e A. G. “ was i n cap ab l e of t ak i n g t h e o at h t o t el l t h e

t ru t h

, s h e s h o ul d b e co n si d ered

. . . n o t b ei ng ‘ av ai l ab l e’ t o t es t i fy at t ri al an d

t h erefo re t h e ch i ld h ears ay s t at ut e wo ul d no t ap p l y .” A l t ho u g h Green o b ject ed t o t h e

ad m i s s i o n o f A

. G.’ s hears ay st at em en t s wh en t h e v i ct i m s ’ m o t her t es ti fi ed

, h e d i d n ot

7ren ew h i s o b ject i on wh en A. G. d i d n o t t es ti fy

. By n o t ren ewi n g h i s o b j e c t i o n

, h e

fai l ed t o p res erv e t h i s i s s u e fo r ap p el l at e rev i ew. See Ja cks o n v. S t a t e

, 2 2 2 Ga. Ap p.

8 4 3

, 8 4 7 (4 ) (4 7 6 SE2 d 6 1 5 ) (1 99 6 ) (d efen d an t fai l ed t o p res erv e t h e i s s u e fo r

ap p el l at e rev i ew wh en h e d i d n o t ren ew h i s h ears ay o b ject i o n wh en th e d ecl aran t d id

n o t t es t i fy ).

2

. In a cl os el y rel at ed en u m erat i o n

, Green arg u es t h e ev i d en ce was in su ffi ci en t

t o s u p p o rt h i s co n v i ct io n fo r ag g rav at ed ch i l d m o l es t at io n b ecau se “ [t ] h e o n l y

ev i d en ce co n cern in g an y

i n ap p ro p ri at e co n d u ct i n rel at i o n t o A. G. cam e b y way o f

h ears ay s t at em en ts [.] ” W e d i s ag ree.

“ A p ers on co m

m i t s t h e o ffen s e o f ch i l d m o l es t at i o n wh en s u ch p ers o n

. . .

[d ] o es an y im

m o ral o r i n decen t act t o o r i n t h e p res en ce of o r wi t h an y ch i l d u n d er t h e

ag e o f 1 6 y ears w i th t h e i n t en t t o a r o u s e o r sat i sfy th e s ex u al d es i res o f ei t h er t h e

c h i l d o r t h e p ers o n [.] ” OCGA § 1 6 -6 -4 (a) (1 ). “ A p ers o n co m m it s t h e o ffen s e o f

ag g rav at ed ch i l d m o l es t at i o n wh en su ch p ers o n co m m i t s an o ffen s e o f ch i ld

m o les t at i o n w h i ch

. . . i n v o l v es an act of s o do m y .” OCGA § 1 6 -6 -4 (c). A n d s o d o m y

i s co m m i t t ed wh en a pers o n “ p erfo rm s o r s u b m i t s t o an y s ex ual act i n v o l v in g t h e s ex

o rg an s o f on e pers o n an d t h e m o u t h o r an u s o f an ot h er.” OCGA § 1 6

- 6

- 2 ( a) (1 ).

Green was ch arg ed wi t h ag g rav at ed ch i ld m o l es t at i o n fo r “ co m m i t[t i n g ] an i m

m o ral

8an d i nd ecen t act

, t o wi t : so d o m y

, ag ai n s t [A. G .]

, a ch i l d u nd er t h e ag e o f s i x t een 1 6

y ears

, wi t h t h e i n t en t to aro u s e an d s at i s fy th e sex u al des i res o f th e accu s ed o r t h e

ch i l d

, i n t h at t he accu s ed d id p e r f o r m a s ex ual act

, s ai d act i n vo l v i n g t h e s ex o rg an

o f t he accu sed an d t h e m o u t h o f t h e s ai d [A. G.] ” Th e ev i d en ce was s u ffi ci en t fo r t h e

ju ry t o fi n d Green g u il t y b ey o n d a reas o nab l e d o u b t o f ag g rav at ed ch i l d m o l es t at i o n

as ch arg ed i n t h e i n d i ct m en t

.

As d i s cu s s ed i n Di v i s i o n 1

, Green fai l ed t o p res erv e fo r ap pel l at e rev i ew t h e

i s su e of wh et h er A. G.’ s h ears ay s t at em en ts were p ro p erl y ad m i t t ed u nd er t h e ch i ld

h ears ay s t at u t e. Co n seq u en t l y

, Green h as n o t es t ab li s hed t h at th e t ri al co u rt erred by

ad m i t t i ng A. G .’ s h ears ay s t at em en ts

. Th e v i ct i m s ’ m o t her t es ti fi ed t h at A. G. s ai d

t h at Green had s t u ck h is “ t o ot t o o t” i n her m o u t h

. It i s w e l l s e t t l ed th at “ [t ] h e

t es t i m o ny o f a si n gl e wi t n es s i s g en eral l y s u ffi ci en t t o es t ab l i s h a fact .” O CGA § 2 4

-

1 4 -8

. Th e v i ct im s ’ m o t h er’ s t es t i m o n y

, al on g wi t h A. G.’ s fo ren si c i n t erv i ew an d

t es t i m o ny b y th e n u rs e ex am i n er an d t h e f o r en s i c i n t erv i ewer, was s uffi ci en t to

s u s t ai n Green ’ s co n v i c t io n fo r ag grav at ed ch i ld m o les t at io n

. See Al li s on

, 3 5 6 Ga.

Ap p

. at 2 6 1 -2 6 3 (2 ) (a) (t es t i m o n y o f v ict i m ’ s m o t her an d fo re n s i c p s yc ho l o g i s t as

t o wh at v i c t i m t o l d t h em d efen d an t d i d was s u ffi ci en t t o s u s t ai n d efen dan t ’ s ch i ld

m o les t at i o n co n v i ct i on ).

93

. Pri o r t o t ri al

, t h e St at e fi l ed a n o t i ce o f i n t en t t o p res en t ev i d en ce of p ri o r b ad

act s Green h ad co m

m i t t ed ag ai n s t h i s ad o p ted dau g ht er, K

. G., p u rs u an t t o OCGA §

2 4 -4 -4 1 4 (“ Ru l e 4 1 4 ”). At a p re-t ri al heari n g

, t h e St at e i n fo rm ed t h e t ri al co u rt t h at

i t was s eek i n g t o u s e t h e p ri o r act s ev i d en ce t o s h o w p ro p en si t y

. Ov er Green ’ s

o b ject i on , t h e t ri al co u rt al l o wed t h e St at e t o p res en t t h e o t h er act s ev i d en ce. Green

co n ten d s t h at t he t ri al co u rt erred i n ad m i t ti n g th e o t her act s ev i d en ce. W e di s ag ree.

K. G., wh o was 24 y ears o l d at t he t i m e o f t ri al

, t es t i fi ed t h at Green

, w h o was

h er st ep -fat h er at t h e t i m e, 2 b eg an ab u si n g h er w h en s h e w as 1 1 y ears o l d

. Sh e

t es t i fi ed t h at t h e ab u s e s t art ed as ju s t t o uch i n g

. K. G. wo u l d s l e e p wi t h h er m o t h er,

wh o was s i ck wi t h can cer, an d s h e wo ul d wak e u p an d Green ’ s h an d wo ul d b e d o wn

h er p an t s

. K. G

. tes t ifi ed t h at o v er t h e n ex t m o n t h s an d y ear i t p ro gres s ed to t h e p o i nt

wh ere K. G. “ w o u l d h av e to p erfo rm o ral

. I w o u l d h av e t o t o u ch hi m as wel l .” K. G.

t es t i fi ed t h at t h e ab u s e “ p ro g res s ed i n t o p en et rat i o n

. . . [v ] ag i n al an d s od o m y .” Th e

ab u se co n t i n u ed u n t i l s h e w a s 1 7

, wh en s h e m o v ed ou t o f s t at e. K. G. t es t i fi ed t h at

Green ev en t u al l y st art ed g i v i n g h er s l eep i n g p i ll s

, an d t h ere w ere t i m es wh en Green

rap ed h er wh i l e s h e was as l eep

. K. G. al s o tes t ifi ed th at Green “ h as a s car un d ern eat h

o f h i s p en i s ” t hat s h e fi rs t n o ti ced wh en s h e was aro u n d 1 3 o r 1 4 y ears o l d

.

2 K. G. t es t i fi ed t hat Green ad o p t ed h er t h e d ay aft er s h e t urn ed 1 8

.

10Ru l e 4 1 4 (a) pro vi d es : “ In a c ri m in al p ro ceed i n g i n wh i ch t h e accu s ed i s

accu s ed of an o ffen s e o f ch il d m o l es t at i o n

, ev i d en ce o f th e accu s ed ’ s co m m i s s i o n o f

an o th er o ffen s e o f ch i l d m o l es t at i o n s h al l b e ad m i s s i b l e an d m ay b e co n s i d ered fo r

i t s b eari n g o n an y m at t er t o wh i ch i t i s rel ev an t .” Ru l e 4 1 4 s u p ers ed es th e p ro v i s i on s

o f OCGA § 24 -4 -4 0 4 (b ) i n ch i ld m o l es t at i o n cas es an d “ creat e[s ] a ru l e o f i n cl u s i o n

wi t h a s t ro n g p res u m

p ti o n i n fav o r o f ad m i s s i b i l i t y as [Ru l e 4 1 4 ] p ro v i d es t h at s u ch

ev i d en ce ‘ s h al l b e ad m is s i b l e.’ ” Di xo n v. St a te

, 3 4 1 G a. Ap p

. 2 5 5

, 25 8 (1 ) (8 0 0 SE2 d

1 1 ) (2 0 1 7) (ci t at i on s an d p u n ct u at i o n o m i tt ed ). Ev i d en ce ad m it t ed u n d er Ru l e 4 1 4 i s

n o t s u b ject t o t h e li m it at i o n s o f OCGA § 2 4 -4 -4 0 4 (b ) an d “ m ay be co n s i d ered fo r i t s

b eari n g o n an y m at t e r t o w h i ch i t i s rel ev an t

, ” i n cl u d i n g p ro p en s i t y

. S t a t e v.

McPh er s o n

, 3 4 1 Ga. A p p

. 8 7 1

, 8 7 3 (8 0 0 SE2 d 3 89 ) (2 0 1 7 ). A n d

, as we h av e

ex p lai n ed , u n d er Ru l e 4 1 4 (a),

s h o wi n g a d i s p o s i t i o n t o ward m o l es t at i o n i s a rel ev an t pu rp o s e an d n o t

u n fai rl y p reju d i ci al i n l i g h t o f th e n at u re o f th at co n d uct

. Th u s

, ev i d en ce

t h at a d efen d an t en gag ed i n ch i l d m o l es t at i o n i n t h e p as t i s ad m i s si bl e

t o p ro v e t hat t h e d efen d an t h as a d i s p o s i t i o n o f ch aract er t h at m ak es i t

m o re l ik el y t hat h e d i d co m m i t t h e act of ch i l d m o l es tat i o n ch arg ed i n

t h e i n st an t cas e.

Id . at 8 7 3 -8 7 4 (ci t at i o n an d p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed ).

11Nev ert h el es s

, ev i d en ce t h at i s ad m i s s i b le u n d er [Ru l e 4 14 ] m ay s t i l l be

ex cl ud ed if i t s p ro b at i v e v al u e i s su b st an t i al l y ou t wei g h ed b y t h e d an g er

o f u n fai r p reju d i ce, co n fu s i o n o f t h e i s s u es

, o r m i s l ead i n g t h e ju ry or b y

c o n s i d erat i o ns o f un d u e d el ay

, was te o f t im e, o r need l es s p res en t a t i o n

o f cu m u l at i v e ev i den ce. OCGA § 2 4 -4 -4 03

.

Di xo n v. S t a t e

, 35 0 Ga. Ap p

. 2 1 1

, 2 13 (1 ) (8 2 8 SE2 d 42 7 ) (2 0 1 9 ) (ci t at io n s an d

p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed ). “ Th i s d et erm i n at i o n li es w i t hi n t h e d i s cret i on o f th e t ri al co u rt

an d cal l s fo r a co m

m o n s en s e as s e s s m e n t o f al l th e ci rcu m st an ces s u rro u n d i n g t h e

ex t ri ns i c o ffen s e, i n cl u d i n g p ro s ecu t o ri al n eed

, o veral l s i m i l ari t y b et ween t h e

ex t ri ns i c act an d t h e ch arg ed offen s e, as wel l as t em p o ral rem o t en es s .” Id

. at 2 1 4 (1 )

( c i t at i o n s o m i tt ed ). “ W e rev iew t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s d eci si o n o n wh et h er t o ad m i t

ev i d en ce u n der Ru le 4 1 4 fo r a cl ear ab u se o f d i s cret i o n .” Ja cks o n v. S ta t e

, 3 4 2 Ga.

Ap p . 6 8 9 , 6 9 1 (8 0 5 SE2 d 4 5 7 ) (2 0 1 7 ).

Green co nced es t h at

, b as ed o n K. G.’ s t es t i m o n y

, t h e St at e m et i t s b u rd en b y

p ro v in g b y t he p rep o nd eran ce o f t h e ev i d en ce t h at Green co m m i tt ed t h e p ri o r b ad act

an d th at p ro p en s i t y i s a pro per p u rp o s e u nd er Ru l e 4 1 4

. H o wev er, h e arg u es t h at t h e

p ri o r act s are n o t s u ffi ci en t l y s i m i l ar t o t h e cu rren t al l eg at i o n s t o al l o w a j u ry t o fi n d

t h at h e h ad a p ro p en si t y

t o co m m i t t h es e act s

. A cco rd i ng t o Green

, t h e e v i d e n ce o f

p ri o r act s was t o o rem o t e i n t i m e t o b e p ro b at i v e. Green al s o arg u es t h at t h e t ri al co u rt

12erred i n co n cl u d i n g t h at t h e p ro b a t i v e v a l u e o f t h i s ev id en ce was n ot su b s t an t i al l y

o u t wei gh ed b y

i t s p reju d i ci al effect

.

Up o n r e v i e w, we co ncl u d e t h at t h e t ri al co u rt d id n ot ab u s e i t s d i s cret i o n in

ad m i t t i ng ev i den ce reg ard i n g Gre en ’ s p ri o r act s u n d er Ru le 4 1 4 3 b ecau s e t h e

ev i d en ce was rel ev an t t o s h o w Green ’ s p ro pen s i t y t o co m m i t th e cri m es

. T here was

s u ffi ci en t si m il ari t y bet ween t h e p ri o r act s ag ai n s t K. G. an d t h e al l eg ed o f f e n s e s

ag ai n s t A. G. an d E. G., al l o f wh o m were ch i l d ren in Green ’ s care, t o al l ow fo r t h e

ad m i s s i o n o f t he ev i d en ce reg ard i n g t h e p ri o r act s

. Al th ou g h Green arg u es t h at t h e

ev i d en ce o f p ri o r act s was t o o r e m o t e i n t im e t o b e p ro bat i v e, tem p o ral rem o t en es s

d o es n o t d em an d ex cl u s i o n

. S e e E u b a nks v. S ta t e

, 3 32 Ga. Ap p

. 5 68

, 5 6 9 -5 7 0 (1 )

(7 7 4 SE2 d 1 4 6 ) (2 0 1 5 ) (act co m m i tt ed 1 7 y ears p ri or t o t ri al was ad m i s s ib l e).

“ As n o t ed ab o v e, th e p reju d i ci al i m p act o f ev i d en ce o f s i m i l ar t ran s act i o n s in

ch i l d m o l es t at io n cas es i s g en eral l y co n s i d ered t o b e o u t wei g h ed b y it s pro b at i v e

3 Al t h o u g h t he t ri al co u rt ’ s o ral ru l in g d o es n ot s t at e wh i ch Co d e s ect i o n i t

rel i ed on i n al l o w i n g t h e St at e t o p res en t th e o t h er act s ev i d en ce, i n it s o rd er d en y i n g

Green ’ s m o t i o n fo r new tri al

, i t s t at ed : “ Th e t ri al co u rt p ro p erl y al l o wed th e ev i d en ce

u n d er OCGA § 2 4 -4 -4 1 4

, w h ic h a l o n e w o u l d h av e al l o wed t h e ad m is si o n o f t h e

p ro p os ed ev id en ce. Th e t ri al co u rt al s o an al y zed t h e ad m is s i b i l i t y o f t h e ev i d en ce

u n d e r O CGA § § 2 4-4 -4 0 3 an d 2 4 -4 -4 04 (b ) fi n d i n g t h e ev i d en ce was ad m i s s i b l e

u n d er b o t h t h o s e Co d e s ect i o ns .” Becau s e we ag ree t h at th e o th er act s ev i den ce was

ad m i s s i b l e u n d er Ru l e 4 1 4

, we n eed n o t ad dres s wh et h er i t was al s o ad m i s s i b l e u n d er

OCGA § 4 0 4 (b ).

13v al u e in d em o n st rat i n g an accu s e d ’s d i s po s it i on t o ward co m m i t t i n g m o l es t at i o n.”

McPh er s o n

, 3 4 1 Ga. A p p. at 87 5 -8 7 6

. T here has been no s ho wi ng t hat t h e ev i d en ce

wo u l d co n fu s e t h e i s s u es o r m i s l ead t h e ju ry

. No r h as t h ere b een a s h o w i ng t h at t h e

p ro b at i v e v al u e o f t h e ev i d en ce wo u l d o t h erwi s e b e s ub s tan t i al l y o u t wei g h ed b y t h e

d an ger o f u nfai r p reju d i ce. In l i g h t o f t h e “ s t ro n g p res u m p ti o n i n fav o r o f

ad m i s s i b i l i t y ,” we can no t say t hat t h e t ri al co u rt ab u s ed i t s di s cret io n i n al lo wi n g t h e

o t h er act s ev i d en ce t o b e ad m i t ted

. W i l ker s o n v. S t a t e

, 3 5 6 Ga. Ap p

. 8 3 1

, 8 3 4 (1 ) (8 4 9

SE2 d 6 7 7) (2 0 2 0).

4

. G reen arg u es t h e t ri al co u r t e r red i n al l o wi n g h ears ay s t at em en t s o f K. G.

i n t o ev i d en ce. W e d i sag ree.

“ Th e ad m i s s i o n o f e v i d e n c e i s co m m i t t ed t o t h e s o un d d i scret i o n o f t h e t ri al

co u rt

, an d t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s d eci s i o n wh et h er t o ad m i t o r ex cl ud e ev i d en ce w il l n o t b e

d i s t u rb ed o n ap p eal ab sen t an ab u s e o f d i s cret i o n .” Lyo n s v. St a t e

, 3 0 9 G a. 15

, 2 1 (4 )

(8 4 3 SE2 d 8 2 5 ) (2 0 2 0 ).

A d et ect i v e t es t i fi ed t h at t h e v i ct i m s ’ m o t h er g av e h i m K. G .’ s p ho n e n u m b er

an d t o l d h i m th at h e n eed ed t o cal l h er. O ver Green ’ s h ears ay o bject i o n

, t h e d et ect i v e

t e s t i fi ed t h at K. G. to ld h i m t hat wh en s h e was ab o u t 12 y ears ol d

, Green s t art ed

t o u ch i n g h er an d hav i n g h er t ou ch hi m

. Fro m t h e t o u ch i n g

, th e ab u se es cal at ed t o o ral

14s ex an d th en t o p en et rat i on

. Th e d et ect i v e as k ed K. G. i f s h e w ou l d b e w i l l i n g to

co m e t o Geo rg i a t o t es ti fy

, an d s h e t o l d h i m t h at s h e wo u l d

. H e t h e n a s k ed h er, “ Is

t h ere an y t h i ng rem ark ab l e ab o u t [Green ’ s ] p en i s ? ” Sh e t ol d hi m t h at i t has a s car

u n d ern eat h i t

. T h e d et ect i v e t es t i fi ed

, “ In m y m i n d

, t h ere’ s m

y bo o b o o .” To co n fi rm

t h i s

, t h e d et ect i v e o b t a i n e d a s earch warran t t o g et p i ct u res o f G reen ’ s p en i s

. Ov er

o b ject i on , t h e p i ct u res were ad m i t t ed i n t o ev i d en ce.

As d i s cu ss ed i n Di v i s i o n 3

, K. G.’ s tes t i m o n y w a s pro p erl y ad m i t ted u n d er

Ru l e 4 1 4

. Pret erm i t t in g wh et h er t h e det ect i v e’ s tes t i m o n y reg ard i n g K. G.’ s

s t at em en t s t o h i m were ad m i tt ed fo r t h e t ru t h of t h e m at t er as s ert ed

, t h e t es t i m o n y i s

cu m u l at i v e o f t h e d i rect t es ti m on y b y K. G.

Un d er t h e cu rren t Ev i d en ce Co d e, erro r s h al l n o t b e pred i cat ed u p o n a

r u l i n g wh i ch ad m i t s ev i d en ce u n l es s a s ub s tan t i al ri g ht o f t h e p art y i s

affect ed

. In d et erm i n in g wh et h er tri al co u rt err o r w as h arm l es s

, we

r e v i e w t h e reco rd de no v o

, an d we w ei g h t h e ev i d en ce as we w o u l d

ex p ect reas o n ab le ju ro rs t o hav e d o n e s o as o p po s ed to v i ewi n g i t al l i n

t h e l ig ht m os t fav o rab l e t o t h e ju ry ’ s v erd i ct

. Th e t es t fo r det erm i n i n g

n o n co n s t i t u t io nal harm l es s erro r i s wh et h er i t i s h ig h l y p ro b ab l e t hat th e

erro r d i d n o t co n t ri b u te t o th e v erd i ct

. Gen er a l l y, t h e erro n eo u s

ad m i s s i o n o f h ears ay i s h arm l es s wh ere s u bs t an ti al

, cu m u l at i ve, l eg al l y

ad m i s s i b l e ev i d en ce o f t h e s am e fact i s i n t ro d u ced

.

15Lyo ns

, 3 0 9 Ga. at 2 2 (4 ) (ci t at i o n s a n d p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed ). Here, t h e det ect i v e’ s

t es t i m o ny ab o u t wh at K. G

. t o l d h i m ad d ed n o t h in g t o wh at t h e ju ry l earn ed fro m K.

G.’ s tes t i m on y

. Th u s

, ev en i f t h e d et ect i v e’ s t es t i m on y reg ard i n g wh at K. G

. t o l d h i m

was ad m it t ed i n erro r, th e ad m i s s i o n o f th e d et ect i v e’ s t es t i m o n y was h arm l es s

. Id

.

W e t h erefo re co ncl u d e t h at an y erro r i n ad m i t t i ng t he d et ect i ve’ s t es t i m o n y d o es n ot

req u i re rev ers al

.

5

. Green co n t en d s t h at h i s t ri al co u n s el w as i n effect i ve fo r fai l i n g to o b ject to

h ears ay s t at em en t s o f K. G. an d fai l i n g t o o bject an d req u es t a m i st ri al wh en A. G.

was u nab l e t o tes t ify an d h e was d en i ed hi s co n s t i t u t i o n al ri g h t t o co nfro n t wi t n es s es

ag ai n s t h i m

.

To e s t a b li s h t h at h i s t ri al co u n s el was co n s t i t u ti o n al l y i n effect i v e,

Ap p el l an t m

u s t p ro v e b o t h d efi ci en t p erfo rm an ce b y co u ns el an d

res u lt i n g p reju d i ce. To s h o w t h at h i s l awy er’ s p erfo rm an ce w as

d efi ci en t

, Ap p el l an t m

u s t d em o n s t rat e t h at t h e l awy er p erfo rm ed h i s

d u t i es i n an o b

j ect i v el y u nreas o n ab l e way

, co n s i d eri n g a l l th e

ci rcu m s t an ces an d in t h e l i g h t o f p rev ai l i n g p ro fes s i o n al no rm s

. Th i s i s

n o eas y s h owi ng

, as t h e l aw reco gn i zes a “ st ro n g p res u m p t i o n ” t hat

co u n s el p erfo rm ed reas o n ab l y

, an d Ap p el l an t b ears t h e b u rd en o f

o v erco m i n g t h i s p res u m

pt i o n . To carry t h i s b u rd en

, h e m us t s h o w t hat

n o reas o n a b l e l a w yer w ou l d h av e d o n e wh at h is l awy er di d

, o r w o u l d

h av e fai l ed t o d o wh at h i s l awy er d i d no t

. In p art icu l ar, d e c i s i o n s

reg ard i n g t ri al t ac t i c s an d s t rat eg y m ay fo rm t he bas i s fo r an

i n effect iv en es s cl ai m o n l y i f t h ey were s o p at en t l y u n reas o n ab l e t h at n o

co m p et en t at t o rn ey wo u l d h av e fo l l o w ed s u ch a co urs e.

16Ev en wh en a d efen dan t has p ro v ed t h at h i s co un s el ’ s p erfo rm an ce w as

d efi ci en t in t h is co n s t i t u t i o n al sen s e, h e al s o m u st pro v e p r e

j u d i c e b y

s h o wi n g a reas o n ab l e p ro b ab il i ty t h at

, b u t fo r co u n s el ’ s u n p ro fes s i o nal

erro rs , t h e res u l t o f t h e p ro ceed i ng wo u l d h av e b een d i fferen t . It i s n o t

en o u g h t o s ho w t h at t h e erro rs h ad s o m e co ncei v ab l e e f f e c t on th e

o u t co m e of t h e p ro ceed i n g

. Rat h er, Ap p el lan t m u s t d em o ns t rat e a

“ reas o n ab l e p ro b ab i l it y ” o f a d i fferen t res u l t, wh i ch

, t h e Un i t ed St a t es

Su p rem e Co urt h as ex p l ai n ed

, i s a p ro b ab i l i t y s u ffi ci en t t o u n derm in e

co n fi d en ce i n t h e o u tco m e.

Th e rev i ewi n g co u rt n eed n o t ad d res s b ot h co m p o n en t s of t h e i n q u iry i f

t h e d efen dan t m ak es an i n s u ffi ci en t s h o w i ng o n o n e. In al l

, t h e b u rd en

o f pro vi ng a d en ial o f effect i v e as s i s t an ce o f co u n s el i s a h eav y o ne, an d

Ap p el l an t h as fai l ed t o carry t h at b u rd en

.

Br o wn v. S t a t e

, 3 0 2 Ga. 4 5 4

, 4 5 7 -4 5 8 (2 ) (8 0 7 S E 2 d 3 6 9) (2 0 1 7 ) (ci t at i o n s an d

p u n ct u at i o n o m i t ted ). To p ro v e d efi ci en t p erfo rm an ce, a d efen dan t m u st s h o w by

cl ear an d co n v i n ci n g ev i d en ce t h at t h e perfo rm an ce o f hi s lawy er was no t wi t h i n t h e

ran g e o f reas o n ab l e p ro fes s i o n al l awy eri n g

. Jo n es v. S ta t e

, 3 1 8 Ga. Ap p

. 3 4 2

, 3 4 6 (3 )

(7 3 3 SE2 d 4 0 0 ) (2 0 1 2 ). “ Th i s req u i res a s h owi n g o f erro rs s o s e r i o u s th at co u n s el

was n o t fu n ct i o n i n g as t h e ‘ co un se l’ gua r a nte e d b y t h e Si x th Am en d m en t .” Ab er n a t h y

v. S t a t e , 3 5 7 Ga. Ap p . 7 3 2, 7 38 (2 ) (8 4 9 SE2 d 4 8 9) (2 02 0 ).

W h et h er a t ri al at t o rn ey ren d ers co n s ti t ut i on al l y i n effect i v e as s i s t an ce i s a

m i x ed q u es t i o n o f l a w an d fact

. “ Th e p ro p er s t an d ard o f rev i ew req u ires t h at we

accep t t h e [t ri al ] co u rt ’ s fact u al fi n d i n g s u n l es s c l earl y erro n eo u s

, b u t we

17i n d ep en den t l y ap p l y t h e l eg al p ri n ci p l es t o t h e fact s .” H ea d v. Ca r r

, 2 7 3 Ga. 6 1 3

, 6 1 6

(4 ) (5 44 SE2 d 4 09 ) (2 0 0 1 ). Aft er rev i ewi n g Green ’ s cl ai m s i n acco rd an ce wi t h t h es e

s t an d ard s

, w e co n cl u d e th at Green h as n o t m et h i s b u rd en o f d em o n s t rat in g t h at h i s

t ri al co u n s el was in effect i v e.

(a) Fa i l u r e t o o b

j ect t o h ea r s a y s t at emen t

s o f K. G.

Th e v i ct i m s’ m o t her t es t i fi ed t h at s h e cal l ed K. G. t o l et h er k no w t hat Green

wo u l d p os s i b l y b e g o i n g t o jai l an d ex p l ai n ed wh y

. Acco rd i n g t o t he v i ct i m s ’ m o t h er,

K. G

. g o t u p s et an d s t art ed cry i n g

. K. G. h u n g u p t h e p h o n e, b u t wh en th e v i ct i m s ’

m o t h er i m

m ed i at el y g o t b ack i n co n tact

, “ sh e s ai d th at [Green ] h ad rap ed an d

m o les t ed h er fro m

, I t h in k

, ag e 1 3 t o 1 7 .” T h e v i ct i m s’ m o t h er t es t i fi ed t hat ri g h t aft er

s h e l earn ed t h i s fro m

K. G., s h e cal l ed t h e d et ect i v e t o l et h im k n o w t h at A. G. an d

E. G. “ [were n o t] t h e o n l y o n es t h at t h i s h ad h ap p en ed t o .”

P r e t e r m i t t i ng wh et h er t ri al co u n s el was d efi ci en t fo r fai li n g t o o b ject t o t hi s

t es t i m o n y

, G r e e n h as fai l ed t o s h o w p reju d ice. See Ar y v. S t at e

,

_

_ _ Ga. Ap p

.

_

_ _,

_ _ _ (4 ) (b ) (_

__ _ SE2 d

__

_) No

. A2 1 A0 16 5

, 2 0 2 1 W L 21 0 0 40 9

, at * 9 (4 ) (b ) (2 0 2 1 )

(ev en as s u m i ng t ri al co u ns el ’ s p erfo rm an ce w as d efi ci en t

, d efen dan t d i d n o t es t ab l i s h

t h at h is co u n s el was co n s t i t u t i on al l y in effect i v e b ecau s e d efen d an t d id n o t s h o w h e

was p reju d i ced b y co u n s el ’ s d efi ci en t p erfo rm an ce). K. G

. t es ti fi ed t hat Green s t art ed

18m o les t i ng h er w hen s h e was 1 1 y ears ol d

, t h at th e ab u s e co n t in u ed un t i l s h e was 1 7

y ears o l d

, an d t h at h e rap ed h er. “ To es t ab li s h p reju d i ce fo r p u rp o s es o f an i n effect i v e

as s i s tan ce o f co u ns el cl ai m

, [Green ] m u s t s h o w ‘ a reas o nab le p ro bab i l i t y ’ t h at t h e

ju ry wo u ld h av e reach ed a di fferen t res ul t ” b u t fo r h is tri al co un s el ’ s erro r. Id

. Green

h as n o t d em o n s t rat ed a reas o n ab l e p ro b ab il i ty o f a d i f feren t res u lt i f t he v i ct i m s ’

m o th er’ s t es t im o n y

h ad n o t b een ad m i t ted . See Br o wn , 3 0 2 Ga. at 4 5 7 (2 ).

(b ) Fa i l u r e t o ob

j ect a n d r eq u es t a mi s t r i a l

wh en A. G. d i d n o t t es ti

f y.

As d i scu ss ed ab o v e, t he reco rd s h o ws t hat t ri al c o u n s el ob ject ed t o t h e

ad m i s s i o n o f h ears ay s t at em en t s b y A. G. d u r i n g t h e vi ct i m s ’ m o t h er’ s t es t i m o n y

.

Aft er co n fi rm i n g t h at A. G. w as p res en t an d ab l e t o t es t i fy

, th e tri al co u rt ad m i t t ed t h e

h ears ay s t at em en t s o v er t ri al co u n s el ’ s o b j ect i o n

. Green arg ues t hat h i s t ri al co u n s el

was i n effect i v e b ecau s e h e fai l ed to ren ew h i s o b ject i o n t o t he ad m i s s i o n o f h ears ay

s t at em en t s b y A

. G. o r m o v e fo r a m i s t ri al wh en A. G. d i d n o t t es t i fy . W e d i s ag ree.

In i t s o rd er d en y in g Green ’ s m o t i o n fo r n ew tri al

, t h e t ri al co u rt fo u n d a s

fo l l o w s :

In t h is cas e, i t was t ri al co u n s el ’ s s trat eg y NOT t o cro s s ex am i n e t h e t wo

v i ct i m s

. Fu rt h er, [A. G. ] w a s p res en t to tes t i fy an d was d eem ed

co m p et en t to t es t i fy

. Sh e b ecam e co n fu s e d a n d was d is co n cert ed

. At

t ri al

, t h e p ro s ecu t i o n

, t ri al co u n s el

, an d t h e t ri al co u rt ag reed no t t o pu s h

19h er an y fu rt h er. Tri al co u n s el effect i v el y wai v ed h i s o pp o rt un i t y t o cro s s

ex am i n e [A. G.] wh i ch was h i s s t rat eg y

. Un d er t hi s s t rat eg y, [A. G.’ s ]

i n ab il i t y t o t es t i fy su p p ort ed t ri al co u n s el ’ s st rat eg y

. . . . Defen s e co u n s el

d i d n o t p u rs u e [ A

. G.’ s ] t es t i m on y wh i ch was co n s is ten t wi th h i s

s t rat eg y

.

Th es e fi n d i n g s are s u p p o rt ed b y t h e reco rd

. Green ’ s t ri al co u n s el di d n o t c r o s s

ex am i n e E. G. ev en t ho u g h s h e t es t i fi ed at t ri al

. H e tes t ifi ed at t h e n ew tri al h eari n g

t h at i t was h is s t rat eg y n o t to cr o s s e x a m i n e t h e two v i ct i m s b ecau s e “ cert ai n l y t h e

l as t th i n g y o u wan t t o d o i s l o ok l i k e y o u ’ re b eat i n g u p o n y o u n g g i rl s ,” wh i ch co u ld

al i en at e t h e ju ry

. In fact

, t ri al co u n sel was pl an n i n g t o wai v e t h e tes t i m on y of t h e t wo

v i ct i m s becau s e h e b el i ev ed t h ey were t o o y o u ng t o t es t i fy

. He t es t i fi ed t h at h i s fo cu s

was o n t h e i n co ns i s t en ci es i n t he g i rl s ’ s tat em en t s

.

“ A s t ro n g p res u m

p t i o n ex i s t s t h at co u n s el ’ s co n d u ct fal l s wi t h i n t h e ran g e o f

reas on ab l y p ro fes s i o n al co n d u ct ,” La ws o n v. S ta t e

, 29 6 Ga. 1

, 7 (2 ) (b ) (7 6 4 SE2 d

8 1 6 ) (2 01 4 ), an d t ri al co u ns el ’ s d eci s i o n i n t h is cas e n o t t o p u rs u e A. G .’ s t es t i m o ny

at t ri al was a reas o n ab l e t ri al s trat eg y

. See Ca mp os v. S ta t e , 2 6 3 Ga. Ap p . 1 1 9 , 1 2 2

(5 8 7 SE2 d 2 6 4 ) (2 0 0 3 ) (co u n s el n o t i n effect i v e fo r d ecl in i n g t o cal l t h e ch i l d v i ct i m

as a wi t n es s fo r pu rp os es o f cro s s -ex a m i n a t i o n ). Ren ewi n g h is o b ject i on t o t h e

ad m i s s i o n o f h ears ay s t at em en t s b y A. G. or m o v i n g fo r a m i s t ri al wh en A. G

. d i d n ot

20t es t i fy wo u l d h av e b een i n co n s i s t en t wi t h t h i s st rat eg y

. Acco rd i n g ly

, Green h as fai l ed

t o es t ab l is h d efi ci en t p erfo rm an ce o n t h i s g ro u nd

. See La ws o n

, 2 9 6 Ga. at 7 (2 ) (b ).

M o reo v er, Green h as fai led t o d em o n st rat e t h at t h e ou t co m e of t h e t ri al wo u ld

h av e been di fferen t i f h i s t ri al co u n s el h ad ren ewed h i s o b ject i o n t o t h e ad m i s s i b i l i t y

o f A. G.’ s h ears ay s t at em en t s o r m o v ed fo r a m i s tr i a l wh e n A. G. d i d n o t t es t i fy

. A

ju d g e h as b ro ad d i s cret io n t o al l o w t h e recal l of a wi t n es s, ev en o n e t h at h as b een

ex cu sed

. W

a t ki n s v. S t at e , 2 5 3 Ga. Ap p

. 3 8 2

, 3 84 (1 ) (5 5 9 SE2 d 1 3 3 ) (2 0 0 2 ). An d,

a ch i ld v ict i m i s al l o wed t o t es t i fy reg ard l es s o f t h e ch i l d’ s ab i l it y t o u n ders t an d t h e

n at u re o f an o at h

. See OCGA § 2 4 -6 -6 0 3 (b ); Gi b b y v. S t a t e

, 2 1 3 Ga. Ap p

. 20

, 2 2 (2 )

( d ) ( 4 4 3 SE2 d 8 5 2 ) (1 9 9 4) (d eci d ed u n d er fo rm er OCGA § 2 4-9 -5 (b )); Br i g h t v

.

S t a t e

, 1 9 7 Ga. Ap p

. 7 8 4

, 7 8 4 (3 ) (4 0 0 SE2 d 1 8 ) (1 99 0 ) (s am e)

. T h e ch i l d s i m p l y

b eco m es an u n s wo rn wi t n es s

. Br i g h t

, 1 9 7 Ga. A p p

. at 7 8 4 (3 ). Th u s

, i f Green ’ s t ri al

co u ns el h ad ren ewed h i s o b ject i o n t o t h e ad m i s s i b i l it y o f A. G.’ s h ears ay st at em en t s

o r m o v ed fo r a m i st ri al

, t h e t ri al co u rt co ul d h av e al lo w ed t h e St at e t o recal l A. G. to

t es t i fy as an un s wo rn w i t nes s. Co n seq u en t l y

, G reen h as fai l ed t o p ro v e p reju d i ce. See

Br o wn , 3 0 2 Ga. at 4 5 7 (2 ).

Ju d g men t a f f i r m ed . McFa d

d en , C. J., a nd

Ri ckma n, P. J., co n cu r

.

21