THI RD DI VI SI ON

M I LLER, P. J.

, M CFA DDEN and M CM I LLI A N, JJ.

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

June 29, 2016



# I n th e Co u r t o f

A p p eals o f

G eo r g ia

A1 6 A0 45 2 . DEM PS v

. THE STATE.

M C M ILLI A N , J u dg e.

Kas h i f D em

ps ap p eal s t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s d en i al o f h is m o t i o n fo r n ew t ri al aft er

a ju ry ag ai n co n v i ct ed h i m i n 2 0 1 2 o f arm ed ro b b ery an d po s ses s i o n o f a fi rearm

d u ri n g t h e co m

m is s i o n of a fel o n y

. 1 Dem p s as s ert s t h at t h e t ri al co u rt erred b y (1 )

al l o wi n g t h e ad m is s i o n of s i m i l ar t ran s act i o n ev i den ce; (2 ) i n st ru ct i n g t h e ju ry t h at

i t co u l d fi n d D em

ps g u i l t y o f p o s s es s i n g a fi rearm d u ri n g th e co m m i ss i o n o f a fel o ny

i n a m an n er n o t al leg ed i n th e in d i ct m en t ; an d (3 ) al l o wi n g t h e St at e t o i m p erm i s s i b l y

u s e s i m i l ar t ran s act i on ev i d en ce i n cl o s i n g arg u m en t

. Dem p s al s o a s s ert s t h at h i s

1 Dem p s was fi rs t t ri ed an d co n v i ct ed o n t h es e ch arg es

, as w el l as ag g rav at ed

as s au l t

, in 2 0 0 9

. Ho wev er, in M ay 2 0 1 0

, t h e t ri al co u rt g ran t ed Dem p s a n ew t ri al o n

t h e g ro u n d t h at h e h ad recei v ed in effect i v e as s i s t an ce o f c o u n s el

. Fo ll o wi n g t h e

s eco n d ju ry ’ s co n v i ct i on

, t h e t ri al co u rt u l t i m at el y sen t en ced Dem p s t o a to t al o f 1 5

y ears , wi t h 1 0 y ears t o b e s erv ed i n co nfi n em en t

.co n vi ct i o n m u s t b e rev ers ed b ecau s e i t i s bas ed on i n s uffi ci en t ci rcu m s t an t i al

ev i d en ce. Fo r t h e reas o n s t h at fo l l o w, we fi nd n o erro r an d affi rm

.

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

, we v i ew t h e ev i d en ce i n t h e l ig h t m o s t

fav o rab l e t o t he v erd i ct

, an d th e d efen d an t n o l on g er en jo y s t h e p res um

p t i o n o f

i n n o cen ce.” (Ci tat i o n o m i t t ed .) Al -Ami n v. S t at e

, 2 7 8 Ga. 7 4

, 74 (1 ) (5 9 7 SE2 d 3 3 2 )

(2 0 0 4). W e “ d o n o t w e i g h t h e ev i d en ce o r det erm in e wi t n es s cred i b i l i t y

, b u t o n l y

d et erm i n e i f t h e e v i d e n c e 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 nab l e d o u b t .” (Ci t at i o n

o m it t ed .) Id

.

So v i ewed , t he ev i d en ce s h o ws 2 t h at t he v i ct i m

, w h o wo rk ed at a barb ers h o p

i n so u t h wes t At l an t a, wal k ed t o a n earb y Ch u rch ’ s Ch i ck en fo r d i nn er aft er d ark o n

2 W e n ot e at t he o u t s et t h at Dem p s ’ b ri ef fai l s

– i n s ev eral res p ect s

– t o co m p l y

wi t h t he ru l es o f t h is Co urt

, wh i ch req u i re “ a s u cci nct an d accu rat e s t at em en t o f t h e

p ro ceed in g s b el ow an d t h e m at eri al fact s rel ev an t t o t h e ap p eal an d t h e c i t a t i o n o f

s u c h p art s o f t he reco rd o r t ran s cri p t es s en t ial t o a co ns i d erat i o n o f t h e erro rs

co m p l ai n ed o f, an d a s t at e m e n t o f t h e m et h od by w h i ch each en u m erat i o n o f erro r

was pres erv ed fo r co n s i d erat i o n .” Geo rg i a Co u rt of Ap p eal s Ru l e 25 (a) (1 )

. W e

rem i n d co u n sel th at o u r req u i rem en t s fo r ap p el l at e b ri efs “ were creat ed n o t t o p ro v i d e

an o b st acl e, b u t t o ai d p art i es i n p res en t i n g t h ei r arg u m en t s i n a m an n er m o s t l i k el y

t o b e fu l l y an d effi ci en t ly co m p reh en ded b y th i s Co u rt .” (Ci t at i o n an d pu n ct u at i o n

o m i t t e d .) Bi

g g i n s v. S ta t e

, 3 22 Ga. Ap p

. 2 86

, 28 7 -8 8 (1 ) (7 4 4 SE2 d 8 1 1 ) (2 0 1 3 ).

“ Fu rt h er, t h i s Co u rt wi l l n o t cu l l t he rec o r d i n s earch o f erro r o n b eh al f o f a p art y

. Acco rd in g ly

, i f we h av e m i s s ed s o m et h in g i n t h e reco rd o r m isc o n s t ru ed an arg u m en t

,

t h e res p o n s i b i l i t y res t s wi t h co u n s el .” (Ci t at io n o m it t ed .) Id . at 2 8 8

.

2No v e m

b er 1 6

, 2 0 0 7

. W h en h e arri v ed

, t h e d o o r was l o ck ed

, an d th e em p l o y ee

i n d i cat ed t h ro ug h t h e d o o r t h at th e res t au ran t was cl o s ed

. As t h e v i ct i m t u rn ed t o h ead

b a ck

, h e n o t iced t h at t h ere w as a b l ack Cro wn Vi ct o ri a s i tt i ng i n t h e d ri v e-t h ro u g h

wi t h a p o l ice s can n er o n t o p

. H al fway d o wn t he b l o ck

, t h e v i ct im h eard a ru s t l i n g

n o i s e an d t urn ed t o s ee t w o m en b eh i n d h i m

. Th e m en as k ed t h e v i ct im fo r a “ l i g h t ,”

an d aft er g iv i ng t h em a l i g h t, h e co n t in u ed wal k i n g

. Ho w ev er, th e t wo m en p u t a g u n

t o each s i d e o f t h e v i c t i m ’ s h ead an d d irect ed h i m b eh i n d a b u i l d i n g wh ere t h ey

fo rced h i m t o rem o ve h i s cl o t h i n g an d han d o ver al l h i s b el o ng i n g s

. In ad d i ti o n t o h i s

cl o t h i n g an d b oo t s

, t h e t wo m en t o o k t h e vi ct i m ’ s cel l p h o n e, h i s w al let co n t ai n i n g

ap p ro x i m at el y $ 6 0 i n cas h

, an d a m o n ey ord er. At tri al

, t h e v i ct im t es t i fi ed t h at o n e

o f t h e t wo m en was t al l er an d h el d a b l ack g u n wh i l e t h e s h o rt er m an h ad a s i l v er g u n.

Th e vi ct i m i m

m ed i at el y rep o rt ed th e ro bb ery

, an d o ffi cers arri ved w i t hi n t h ree

o r fo u r m i n u t es

. Th e v ict i m to l d t h e p o l i ce t h at h e h ad b een ro b b ed an d d es cri b ed t h e

s u s p i ci o u s b lack Cro wn V i ct o ri a h e h ad s een ju s t b ef o re t he ro b b ery o ccu rred

. An

o ffi cer s en t t h e cal l o u t o v er t h e rad i o , an d ap p ro x i m at el y o n e m in u t e l at er, an o t h er

o ffi cer l o cat ed t he v eh i cl e an d p u l l ed t h e d ri v er o v er. Po l i ce l at er i d en ti fi ed Dem p s

3as t h e d ri v er of t h e v eh i cl e an d Dem et ri us W al k er as t he p as s en g er. 3 A t h i rd p ers o n,

Ch eq u i t a W o o d y

, was i n t h e b ack s eat of t h e v eh i cl e. Al th o u g h t he vi ct i m was o n l y

ab l e t o i d en ti fy W al k er a s o ne o f th e m en wh o had ro b bed h i m

, h e reco g n i zed t h e

v eh icl e an d s aw h i s p h o n e an d cl o th i n g i n s i d e t h e car.

At t ri al

, t h e St at e p res en ted ev i d en ce t h at Dem p s h ad been arres t ed in 2 0 0 5 fo r

arm ed ro b b ery i n Cl ay t o n Co un t y (t h e “ 2 0 05 ro b b ery ”). 4 Fel i x Cu ev as tes t ifi ed t h at

h e was ro b b ed b y t wo m en at g u n po i n t

, w i t h o n e h o l d i n g a si l ver g u n

, wh i le h e was

wal k i n g h o m e al o n e fro m wo rk

. Th e m en to o k h i s b ack p ack an d wal l et

, wh i ch were

l at er reco v ered b y p o l i ce an d ret u rn ed to h i m

. M ajo r J os ep h W o o d al l o f t h e Cl ay t o n

Co u n t y p o l i ce d ep art m en t t es ti fi ed t h at h e h ad recei v ed a l o o ko u t reg ard i n g an arm ed

ro b b ery i n v o l v i n g a wh i t e Fo rd SUV an d res p o n d ed t o as si st wh en a v eh i cl e m at ch i n g

t h e d es c r i p t i o n w a s p ul l ed o v er b y an o t h er o ffi cer. W h en h e arri v ed at t h e s cen e,

M ajo r W o o d al l s aw Dem p s ex it t h e d ri ver’ s do o r an d fl ee o n fo o t b u t he was ab l e to

q u i ck l y ap p reh en d h i m

. Mean wh i l e, Offi cer Bri an Bu s h m ad e a cu rs o ry ch eck o f t h e

v eh icl e an d fo u n d t wo h an d g u n s (o n e b l ack an d o n e s i l ver), a b ack p ack

, s o m e

3 W al k er was i n di ct ed wi t h Dem p s b ut en t ered a g u i l t y pl ea o n al l ch arg es o n

t h e ev e o f t h e fi rs t t ri al

.

4 In ex ch an g e fo r Dem

p s ’ g u i l t y p l ea to o n e co u nt o f cri m i nal u se o f a fi rearm

wi t h an al t ered seri al n u m b er, t h e St at e d i s m i s s ed al l rem ai n i n g ch arg es i n t h at cas e.

4cl o t h i n g

, a wal l et an d m i s cel l an eo u s p ap ers s cat t ered o ut s i d e t h e v eh i cl e o n t h e

s i dewal k . Th e wal l et co nt ai n ed an I.D. fo r a Fel i x Cu ev as

.

De m p s t es t ifi ed i n hi s o w n d efen s e at t ri al

. W i t h res p ect t o t h e 2 00 5 ro b b ery

ch arg e, h e cl ai m ed t h at he h ad recei v ed a cal l fro m a f r i e n d t o p i ck h i m u p

, s o h e

d ro v e h is w h i t e Fo rd Ex p l o rer t o an ap art m en t co m p l ex to get h i m an d an o t h er

i n d i v i d u al

. W h i l e t h ey w ere d ri v i n g t h ro u gh a n earb y n ei g h b o rh o o d

, a p o l i ce v eh i cl e

p u l l ed b eh i n d t h em

an d fo l l o w ed t h em fo r a wh i l e. Acco rd i n g t o Dem p s

, as h e was

d ri v i ng

, h e s aw hi s fri en d s go i n g t h ro u g h a b a c k p a c k a n d “ tal k in g ab o u t wh at t h ey

ju s t d i d.” Aft er t h e p o li ce s t o p p ed h im

, h e ran becau s e h e k new t h at h i s fri en d s h ad

ju s t co m m i t t ed a ro b b ery

. A l th o u g h h e ad m i t t ed t o o wn i n g a gu n t h at h e h ad i n t h e

car wi t h h i m , h e d en ied p art ici pat i n g i n t h e ro b b ery

.

Reg ard i n g t h e 2 0 0 7 ro b b ery at i s s u e i n th i s cas e, Dem p s cl ai m ed t h at h e

r e c e i v ed a cal l fro m W al k er, a l o n g t i m e fri en d o f h i s

, as ki n g fo r a ri d e h o m e fro m

Cl ev el an d Av en u e. W h en h e p i ck ed u p W al ker, a m an he k new as “ New Yo rk ” an d

W o o d y

, t h e m o t h er o f W al ker’ s ch i l d

, were wi t h W al k er. Al l fo u r of t h em t h en

s t op p ed at Ch u rch ’ s Ch i ck en t o g et s o m e fo od b ecau s e W o o d y was h u n g ry

. Dem p s

p ark ed t h e car, an d al t h o u g h h e d i d n o t s ee t h em

, h e as s u m ed t h at W al ker an d New

Yo rk wen t i n s i d e t h e res t au ran t

. Fi v e m i n u t es l at er, t h ey ret urn ed wi th o u t an y fo o d,

5b u t Dem

p s d i d n o t as k wh y t h ey d i d n o t g et an y fo o d

. He p ro ceed ed t o d ro p o ff New

Yo rk at a n earb y

ap art m en t

.

W h i l e o n th e way t o t ak e W al k er an d W o o dy h o m e, Dem p s was p u l l ed o v er by

p o l i ce an d s aw W al k er t ak e a g u n fro m h i s pan t s an d p l ace i t o n t h e fl o or o f t h e car.

Dem p s ad m i t t ed t hat wh en h e s t ep p ed o ut of t h e car, h e s ai d “ Yo u g o t m e, I d i d i t ”

b u t cl ai m ed t h at h e was referri n g t o h av i n g ru n a y el l ow l i g h t. He d en i ed s eei n g a g u n

o r t h e v i ct i m ’ s b el o n g i n g s u n ti l h e was p u l l ed o v er an d cl ai m ed t hat W al ker o r New

Yo rk m u st h av e co n ceal ed t h e b o o t s

, jean s

, an d s weat s h irt u n d er h i s co at

. He fu rt h er

d en ied p art i ci p at i n g in o r ev en k n o wi n g ab o u t t h e ro b b ery

. On cro s s -ex am i n at i o n,

Dem p s t es t i fi ed t h at h e i s 5 ’ 1 0 ”, wh ereas W al ker i s 6 ’ 2 ” an d New Yo rk i s 6 ’ 3 ”. He

al s o s t at ed t h at h e h ad ap p ro x i m at el y $ 7 0 i n cas h o n h i m

wh en h e was arres t ed

.

1 . In h is fi rs t en u m erat i o n o f erro r, Dem p s as s ert s t h at t h e t ri al co u rt erred i n

ad m i t t i ng ev i d en ce o f t h e 2 0 0 5 ro b b ery b ecau s e i t sh o ul d n o t hav e b een ad m i t t ed o n

t h e i s su e o f i d en ti t y an d b ecau se n o w i t nes s s p eci fi cal l y i d en t ifi ed Dem p s as o n e o f

t h e p erp et rat o rs o f t h e 2 0 0 5 ro b b ery

. Un d er o u r fo rm er Ev i d en ce C o d e

, 5 s i m i l ar

t ran s act io n ev id en ce was ad m i s s i b l e i f t h e St at e s h owed t h at

5 B e c a u s e t h i s cas e was t ri ed in D ecem b er 2 0 1 2

, Geo rg i a’ s fo rm er Ev i d en ce

Co d e ap p l i es h ere. Un d er t h e n ew Ev i d en ce C o d e

, t h e ad m i s s i b i l it y o f t h i s t y p e o f

ev i d en ce i s g o v ern ed b y

OCGA § 2 4 -4 -4 04 (b ).

6(1 ) i t s o u g h t t o i n t ro d u ce t h e ev i d en ce n o t t o rai s e an i m p ro p er i n feren ce

as t o t h e accu s ed ’s ch aract er, b u t fo r s o m e ap p ro p ri at e p u rp o s e wh ich

h as b een d eem ed t o b e an ex cep t i o n t o t he g e n e r a l r u l e o f

i n ad m i s si b il i ty ; (2 ) th ere was s u ffi ci en t ev i den ce to es t ab l is h th at th e

accu s ed co m

m it t ed t h e i n d ep en d en t o ffen se o r act ; an d (3 ) t h ere was a

s u ffi ci en t co n n ect i o n o r s i m il ari t y bet ween t h e i n dep en d en t o ffen s e o r

act an d th e cri m e ch arg ed s o t h at p ro o f o f t h e fo rm er t en ds t o p ro v e th e

l at t er.

(Ci t at i o n s an d p un ct u at i on om i tt ed .) Br i t ta i n v. S t a t e

, 3 2 9 G a. Ap p

. 68 9

, 70 1 (3 ) (7 6 6

SE2 d 1 0 6 ) (2 0 1 4 ). See al s o W il l i a ms v. S t at e

, 2 6 1 Ga. 6 4 0

, 6 4 2 (2 ) (b ) (4 0 9 SE2 d

6 4 9 ) (1 9 91 ) (es t ab l i sh i n g t h e t h ree-p ro n g tes t ). “ A t ri al co urt ’ s d eci s i o n t o ad m i t

s i m i l ar t ran s act i o n ev id en ce wi l l n o t b e di s t u rb ed ab s en t an ab u se of d i s cret i o n.”

(Ci t at i o n o m i t t ed .) R ed

d i ng v. S t a t e , 2 9 7 Ga. 8 4 5 , 8 4 7 (2 ) (7 7 8 SE2 d 7 7 4) (2 0 1 5 ).

(a) Du ri n g t h e co u rs e o f t h e fi rs t t ri al

, t h e t ri al co u rt ru l ed t h at t h e 2 00 5 ro b b ery

wo u l d b e ad m i s si b l e, b u t t h e St at e was u n ab l e t o lo cat e t h e v i ct i m at t h at t i m e. On ce

t h e St at e was ab le to l o cat e Cu ev as fo r th e s eco n d tri al

, i t fi l ed n o ti ce o f i t s i n t en t to

p res en t Cu ev as as a wi t n es s f o r t h e l i m i ted pu rp o ses of i l l u s trat i n g t h e d efen d an t ’ s

s t at e o f m i n d

, in t en t

, m o t i v e, m o d u s o p eran d i

, an d co u rs e o f co nd u ct

. 6 Dem p s fi rs t

6 At a h eari n g o n t h e m at t er, t h e St at e s o u g h t t o ad m i t t h e s i m i l ar t ran s act i o n

ev i d en ce p ri m ari ly fo r t h e p u rp o s es o f s h o wi n g co u rs e of co n d u ct an d b en t o f m i n d

b u t al so su g ges t ed t h e 20 0 5 ro bb ery was s u ffi ci en t l y s i m i l ar t o th e fact s o f t h i s cas e

7arg u es t h at i t was erro r t o al l o w t h e St at e t o i n t ro d u ce t h e 2 0 0 5 ro b b ery as ev i d en ce

o f i d en t i t y wh ere t h e t wo cri m es wer e n o t s o d i s t i n ct i v e as to sh o w t h ey were

co m m i t t ed b y t h e s am e p ers o n

. H o wev er, p ret erm i t ti n g w h e the r D e m ps pr e se rv ed t h i s

en u m erat i o n o f erro r fo r rev i ew, 7 t h e t ri al co u rt p ro perl y ad m i tt ed t h e s i m i l ar

t ran s act io n ev i d en ce fo r t h e St at e’ s req u es t ed p u rp os es o f co u rs e o f co n d u ct an d b en t

o f m i nd

. 8 Acco rd in g l y

, Dem p s can n o t s h o w rev ers i b l e er r o r o n t h is g ro u n d

. See

Ma t th ews v. St a t e

, 29 4 Ga. 5 0

, 5 4 (3 ) (c) (7 5 1 SE2 d 7 8 ) (2 0 1 3 ) (wh ere t ri al co u rt

p ro p erl y ad m i t t ed s i m il ar t ran s act i o n ev i d e n c e f ol l o wi n g l i m i t i n g i ns t ru ct i o n s

, i t s

fai l u re t o l im i t t h e u s e o f t h e s i m i l ar t ran s act i on ev i den ce t o th e p u rp os es req u es t ed

b y t h e St at e was no t rev ers i b l e erro r); Cu r r y v. S t a te

, 33 0 Ga. Ap p

. 6 10

, 6 1 5

, n .1 1 (1 )

(7 6 8 SE2 d 7 9 1 ) (2 0 1 5 ) (b ecau s e s i m i l ar tran s act io n ev i d en ce was rel ev an t t o s h o w

t o p erm i t i t s ad m i s s i o n fo r p u rp o s es o f i d en t ifi cat i o n as wel l

.

7 See Jen n in gs v. S ta t e

, 2 7 7 Ga. Ap p

. 1 5 9

, 1 6 2 (3 ) (6 2 6 SE2 d 1 55 ) (2 0 0 6 )

(d efen d an t wai v ed s i m i l ar t ran s act i o n ev i d en ce o b ject i on wh ere t h e o n l y i s s u e

p res erv ed in t h e reco rd was h i s cl ai m t h at t h e St at e fai led t o p ro d u ce su ffi ci en t

ev i d en ce t h at h e was t h e m an wh o co m m i t t ed t h e p ri o r cri m e).

8 We a l s o n o te t hat t h e t ri al co u rt g av e ap p ro p ri at e l im it i ng i n s t ru ct i o n s

,

ex p lai n i n g t h at t h e ju ry co u l d o n l y co n si der t h e ev id en ce f o r t h e t h ree l i m i t ed

p u rp os es s t at ed an d t h at it was u p t o t h e j u r y t o d et erm i ne w het h er t h e ev i d en ce

p ro v ed an y

o f t h o s e p u rp o s es at al l

.

8i n t en t

, we n ee d n o t a d d r e s s t ri al co u rt ’ s fi n d i n g s t h at i t was al s o rel ev an t t o s h o w

m o ti v e, p l an , an d i d en ti t y ).

(b ) Dem p s al s o as s ert s t h at ev i den ce o f t h e 2 00 5 ro b b ery w as no t ad m i s s i b l e

b ecau s e no wi t n es s i d en t i f i e d D e m p s at t ri al as t h e p erp et rat o r o f t h at cri m e. Th i s

arg u m en t i s wi t h o ut m eri t. Ag ai n

, p ret erm i t t i n g w h et h e r D em ps wai v ed ap p el l at e

rev i ew o f t h is i s su e, we fi nd n o ab us e o f d i s cret i o n

. “ Ab so l u t e p ro o f i s no t req u i red

t h at a d efen d an t co m

m i t t ed t h e offen s e in a s i m i l ar t ran s act i o n

. ” (Ci t at i o n an d

p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed .) Dea n v. S t a t e , 3 2 1 Ga. Ap p

. 7 3 1

, 7 3 3 (1 ) (a) (7 4 2 SE2 d 7 5 8 )

(2 0 1 3) (o n l y a p rep o n deran ce o f th e ev i d en ce i s req u i red t o p ro v e d efen d an t

co m m i t t ed t h e p ri o r act , wh i ch m ay b e p ro v en b y

ci rcu m s t an ti al ev i d en ce).

Here, al th o u g h t h e vi ct i m o f t he 2 0 05 ro b b ery was un ab l e t o i d en t i fy Dem p s

as o n e o f t h e p erp et rat o rs

, Dem p s was arres t ed s h o rt ly t h ereaft er in p o s s es si o n o f a

g u n an d th e v i ct i m ’ s b el o n g in gs aft er in i t i al l y fl eei n g fro m p o l i ce. In ad di t i o n

, t h e

St at e p ro d uced Dem

p s ’ si g ned g u i l t y p l e a

, an d t h e t ri al co u rt

, aft er n o t i n g t h e

u n i q u e n e s s o f Dem

p s’ n am e an d t h e m at ch i n g dat e o f b i rt h

, fo u n d t he s i g n at u re o n

t h e g u il t y p l ea t o b e “ real cl o s e t o i den t i cal ” t o Dem p s’ s i g n at u re o n t h e i n d i ct m en t

i n t h e cas e s u b ju d i ce. An d fi n al l y

, Dem p s h i m s el f t es ti fi ed t h at h e h ad b een

ap p reh en d ed fo r t h e 2 0 0 5 ro b b ery aft er fl eei n g fro m t h e p o l ice an d t h at h e u l t i m at el y

9p l ed g u i l t y i n t hat cas e t o o n e co u n t o f cri m i n al u se o f a fi rearm wi th an al t ered s eri al

n u m b er. Acco rd i n g l y , t h i s en u m erat i o n o f erro r fai l s

.

2 . Dem p s n ex t co n t en d s t h at t h e tri al co u rt erred i n i n s t ru ct i n g t h e ju ry t h at i t

co u ld fi n d hi m g u i l t y o f p o s s es s i n g a fi rearm d uri n g t h e co m m i s s i o n of a fel o n y i n a

m an n er n o t al l eg ed in t he in di ct m en t

. It i s u n d i s p u t ed th at Dem p s d i d n ot o b

j ect t o t h e

ju ry ch arg es at t ri al

. Th u s

, o ur rev i ew i s l i m i t ed t o a p l ai n erro r an al y s i s u n d er OCGA

§ 1 7-8 -5 8 (b ). 9 See S t a t e v. Kel l y , 2 9 0 Ga. 2 9 , 3 1 (1 ) (7 1 8 SE2 d 2 3 2 ) (2 0 11 ).

Th e tes t fo r d et erm i n in g wh et h er t h ere h as b een p l ai n erro r i n a ju ry i ns t ru ct i o n

i s :

Fi rs t

, t h ere m

u st b e an erro r or d efect

-- s o m e s o r t of d ev i at i on fro m a

l eg al ru l e -- t h at h as n o t b een i n t en t i o n al l y rel i n qu i s h ed o r ab an d o n ed

,

i .e., affi rm at i v el y wai v ed

, b y th e ap p el l an t

. Seco n d

, t h e l eg al erro r m u s t

b e cl ear o r o bv io u s

, rat h er t h an s u b ject t o reas o n ab l e d i sp u te. Th i rd

, th e

erro r m u s t hav e affect ed t h e ap p el l an t ’ s s u b s t an t i al ri g h t s

, wh i ch i n th e

9 OCGA § 1 7 -8 -5 8 (b ) p ro v i d es :

Fai l u re t o o b

ject i n acco rd an ce wi t h s u b s ect i o n (a) o f t hi s Co d e s ect i o n

s h al l p recl u d e ap p el l at e rev i ew o f s u ch p o rt io n o f t h e ju ry ch arg e, un l es s

s u ch po rt i o n o f t h e j u ry ch arg e co n s t i t u t es p l ai n erro r wh 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 i es

. Su ch p l ai n erro r m ay b e co n s i d ered o n

ap p eal ev en i f i t was n o t b ro u g h t t o t h e co u rt ’ s at t en t i o n as p ro v id ed i n

s u b s ect i o n (a) o f t h i s Co d e Sect i o n

.

10o rd i nary cas e m ean s h e m u s t d em o n s t rat e t h at i t affect ed t h e o ut co m e o f

t h e t ri al co u rt p ro ceed i n gs

. Fo u rt h an d fi n al l y

, i f t h e ab ov e t h ree p ro n g s

are s at i s fi ed

, t h e ap p el l at e co u rt h as t h e d i s cr et i o n t o rem ed y t h e erro r

--

d i s cret i o n wh i ch o u gh t t o b e ex erci s ed o n l y if t h e erro r s eri o u s l y affect s

t h e fai rn es s , i n t eg ri t y

o r p u b l i c rep u t at io n o f ju d i ci al p ro ceed i n gs

.

(Ci t at i o n s om i tt ed ; em

ph as i s i n o ri g i n al .) W

i l li a ms v. St a t e

, 29 7 Ga. 4 6 0

, 46 4 -6 5 (3 )

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

As we u n d ers t a n d De m

p s ’ arg u m en t o n ap p eal

, h e n o w as s ert s t h at t h e t ri al

co u rt erred i n i n s t ru ct i n g t h e ju ry t h at “ a p ers o n co m m i t s t h e o f

f e ns e o f p o s s es s i o n

o f a fi rearm d u ri n g t h e co m m i s s i on o f a fel o n y wh en t h e pers o n h as o n, or wi t h in

arm ’ s reach o f hi s p e r s o n

, a fi rearm d u ri ng t h e co m m i s s i o n o f o r an y at t em

p t to

co m m i t a fel o n y. ” A c c o rd i n g t o Dem p s, t hi s was erro r becau s e ev i d en ce was

p res en t ed at t ri al t h at h e p o s s es s ed a fi rearm d u ri n g th e co m m is s i o n o f arm ed ro b b ery

,

a fel o n y

, as wel l as d u ri n g th e co m m i s s i on o f ag g rav at ed as s au l t

, al s o a f e l o n y.

Ho wev er, i n d efi n i n g t h e rem ai ni n g ch arg es

, t h e t ri al co u rt d id n ot d efi n e ag g rav at ed

as s au l t as a fel o ny

. Rat her, aft er d e f i n i n g p o s s es s io 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 fel o n y

, t h e tri al co u rt i n s t ru ct ed t h e ju ry on l y th at “ [t ] h e o ffen s e o f

ro b b ery i s a fel o ny u n d er th e l aws o f t hi s St at e.” Becau s e t h e tri al co u rt ’ s i n s t ru ct i on s

reg ard i n g th e p os s es s io n ch arg e fo cu sed t h e ju ry ’ s at t en t i on o n ro b b ery wi t h o u t

11m en t i o n i n g ag g rav at ed as s au l t o r i d en t ify i n g an y o ffen s e ot h er th an ro bb ery as a

fel o n y

, Dem

ps h as n o t s ho wn ei t h er cl ear erro r o r th at t h e co m p l ai ned o f i ns t ru ct i o n

affect ed t h e o u t co m e o f t h e p ro ceed i n g s

. 1 0 See Ro b i n s o n v. S ta t e

, 2 9 8 Ga. 4 5 5

, 4 6 2

(5 ) (7 82 SE2 d 6 5 7) (2 0 1 6 ) (n o p l ai n erro r wh ere ju ry i n s t ru ct i o n s

, as a w h o l e, were

p r o p e r); M

a r t i n v. St a t e

, 29 8 Ga. 2 5 9

, 2 7 7 (6 ) (b ) (7 7 9 SE2 d 3 4 2 ) (2 01 5 ) (n o p l ai n

erro r wh ere t ri al co u rt ’ s fai l u re t o i n cl u de al l l an g u ag e fro m p at t ern ju ry

ch arg e d id

n o t affect t ri al o u t co m e).

3

. Dem p s al s o as s ert s t h at h e was d en i ed a fai r tri al wh ere t he St at e im p ro p erl y

co m m en t ed o n s i m i l ar t ran s act i o n ev i d en ce i n cl o s i n g arg u m en t

. W e fi rs t n o t e t h at

a rev iew o f t h e reco rd s h o ws t hat Dem p s d id n o t o b

j ect to an y po rt i o n o f t h e St at e’ s

cl o s i ng arg u m en t s at t ri al

, s uch t h a t h e has wai v ed ap p el lat e rev i ew of t h i s i s s ue.

Ho wev er

, p r et erm i tt i n g t h is wai v er, fo r th e reas on s d i s cu s sed i n Di vi s i o n 1

, t h i s

en u m erat i o n o f erro r p ro v id es n o b as i s fo r rev ers al

.

4

. In h i s fi n al en um erat i o n o f erro r, Dem p s arg u es t h at h i s co n v i ct i o n m u st b e

rev ers ed as i t i s b as ed o n i n su ffi c i e n t c i rcu m s t an t i al ev i d en ce b ecau s e th e v i ct i m

co u ld n o t i den t i fy h i m as on e o f t h e m en wh o ro b b ed h i m an d t h ere was no ev i d en ce

t h a t h e k n ew t h at W al k er an d New Yo rk were ab o u t t o co m m it an arm e d r o b b e r y.

1 0 W e al s o n o t e t h at t h e ju ry d i d n o t co nv i ct Dem p s o f ag grav at ed as s au l t

.

12Th u s, Dem

p s ap p ears t o arg u e t h at h i s co n v i ct i o n was b as ed so l el y o n ci rcu m s t an t i al

ev i d en ce, s u ch t h at t h e ev i den ce m u s t “ ex cl u d e e v e r y o t h er reas o n ab le h y p o t h es i s

s av e t h at o f t h e g u i l t o f t h e a c c u s e d .” Fo rm er OCGA § 2 4 -4 -6

. 1 1 Ho wev er, as o u r

Su p rem e Co u rt h as ex pl ai n ed

, “ n o t ev ery h y p o t h es is is a reas o n a b l e o n e, an d t h e

ev i d en ce n eed n ot ex cl u d e ev ery co n cei va b l e i n feren ce o r hy po t h es i s

– o n l y t h o s e

t h at are reas o n ab l e.” (Ci t at i o n an d p un ct u at i o n o m i t ted ; em ph as i s i n o ri g i n al .) Bl ack

v. S ta t e

, 2 9 6 Ga. 6 5 8

, 6 6 0 ( 1 ) (7 6 9 SE2 d 8 9 8 ) (2 0 15 ). M o reo v er, “ [w] h et h er an

al t ern at i v e h y

p o t hes i s rai s ed b y t h e d efen d an t i s reas o nab l e i s a q u es t i o n co m m i t t ed

p ri n ci p al l y t o t h e ju r y, a n d wh ere t h e ju ry i s au th o ri zed to fi nd t hat t he ev i d en ce,

t h o u g h ci rcu m st an t i al

, was s u ffi cie n t to e xc l ude e ve r y r e a sona ble h y p ot h es i s s av e t h at

o f t h e g u i l t o f t h e accu s ed

, we wi l l n o t d i s t u rb t h at fi n d i ng u n les s i t i s i n s u pp o rt ab l e

as a m at t er o f l aw.” (Ci t at i o n an d p u n ct u at i on o m i tt ed .) Id

.

Here, t h e St at e pres en t ed ev i d en ce t h a t t w o m en

, o n e t al l er an d o n e s h o rt er,

u s ed h an d g u n s t o tak e p ro p ert y fro m t h e v i ct i m

, an d wi t h i n m i n u t es t h e po l ice l o cat ed

Dem p s ’ v eh i cl e, wh i ch m at ch ed t h e vi ct i m ’ s d es cri p t i o n an d co n t ai n ed h i s s t o l en

b el o n g i n gs as wel l as t w o h an d g u n s

. W hen s t o p p ed

, Dem p s sp o nt an eo us l y s t at ed

,

1 1 Fo rm er OCGA § 2 4 -4 -6 h as b een carri e d f o rward i n t o t h e new Ev i d en ce

Co d e at OCGA § 2 4 -1 4 -6

.

13“ Yo u g o t m e, I d i d it .” G i v en t h es e fact s

, t h e ju ry was au t h o ri zed t o di s cred i t Dem p s ’

v ers i on o f ev en t s.

M o reo v er, co n t rary t o Dem p s ’ as s ert io n s , t h e ev id en ce was su ffi ci en t fo r t h e

ju ry to co n v i ct hi m as a p art y t o t h e cri m es

. Un d er Geo rg i a l aw, a p ers o n m ay b e

co n vi ct ed o f a cri m e e v e n i f h e d o es no t d i rect ly co m m i t t he cri m e, b u t i s i n s t ead a

p art y t o th e cri m e

. S e e F l o u r no y v. S t a t e

, 2 9 4 Ga. 7 4 1

, 7 5 6 (3 ) (7 55 SE2 d 7 7 7 )

(2 0 1 4). “ A p art y t o a cri m e i s o n e wh o i n t en t i o n al l y ai d s o r ab et s t h e co m m i s s i o n o f

t h e cri m e, o r i n t en t i o nal l y ad v i s es , en co u rag es

, h i res

, co u n s el s

, or pro cu res an o t h er

t o c o m m i t t h e cri m e. OCGA § 1 6 -2 -2 0 (b ) (3 ), (4 ).” (Ci t at i o n an d pu n ct u at i o n

o m it t ed .) Ta

yl o r v. S ta te

, 3 3 1 Ga. Ap p. 57 7

, 5 81 (2 ) (a) (7 7 1 SE2 d 2 24 ) (2 0 15 ). Here,

t h e St at e s h o wed t h at D em ps was

– fo r t h e s eco n d t i m e i n t wo y ears

– q u i ck l y fo u n d

b y p o l i ce wh il e dri vi ng a car co n t ai n i n g t h e p o s s es si o n s o f a nearb y p ed es tri an wh o

h ad b ee n ro b b ed at n i g h t b y t wo arm ed m en

. Th u s

, w e can n o t s ay t h e ju ry ’ s

co n vi ct i o n s are i n su p p ort ab l e as a m at t er of l aw. See Cl emen te v. S t at e

, 3 3 1 Ga. Ap p.

8 4

, 8 6 (7 69 SE2 d 7 90 ) (2 0 1 5 ) (wh et h er d efen d an t ai d ed an d ab et t ed o th er m en i n t h e

arm ed ro b b ery was a q u es t i on fo r th e ju ry ); Pa r n el l v. S t at e

, 2 6 0 Ga. A p p

. 21 3

, 2 2 0

(6 ) (5 8 1 SE2 d 2 6 3 ) (2 0 0 3 ) (ju ry au t h o ri zed t o fi n d “ g et away ” d ri v er was a p art y to

14t h e ch arg ed o ffen ses ). A cco rd i n g l y

, t h e t ri al co u rt d i d n o t err i n d en yi n g D e m p s ’

m o ti o n fo r n ew t ri al

.

Ju d g men t a f f i r m ed . Mi l l er

, P. J., a n d

McFa d d en , J., co n cu r

.

15