SECOND DI VI SI ON

BA RNES, P. J.

, BOGGS and RI CKM 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

M ay 4, 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 56 9 . W H ALEY v . THE STATE.

B A R N E S , Pres i d i n g J ud g e.

A Ri ch m o n d Co u n t y ju ry fo u n d M eg uel Dem arcu s W h al ey g u il t y of h i jack i n g

a m ot o r veh icl e, p o s ses s i o n o f m a r i j u an a wi t h i n t en t to d i s t ri b u t e, p o s ses s i o n o f a

fi rearm d u r i n g t h e co m

m i s s i o n o f a cri m e, fl eei n g an d at t em p ti n g t o el u d e a l aw

en fo rcem en t o ffi cer, reck les s d ri v i n g

, v i o l at i o n o f a Cl as s C l earn er’ s p erm i t

, an d

o b s t ru ct i on o f a l aw en fo rcem en t o ffi cer. W h al ey fi l ed a m o t i o n fo r n ew t ri al

, wh i ch

t h e t ri al co u rt d en i ed

. On a p p eal

, W h al ey co n t en d s t h at t h ere w as in su ffi ci en t

ev i d en ce t o co n v i ct h i m

o f h i jack in g a m ot o r v eh i cl e, p os s es si o n o f m ari ju an a wi th

i n t en t t o d i s t ri bu t e, an d reck l es s d ri v i n g

. Fo r th e reas o ns d is cu s s ed b el o w, we affi rm

W h al ey ’ s co nv i ct i o n s fo r h i jack i n g a m ot o r v eh i cl e an d p o s s es s i o n o f m ari ju an a wi th

i n t en t t o d i s t ri b u t e, b u t rev ers e h i s reck l es s d ri vi n g co n v i ct io n.

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

, t h e ev i d en ce i s v i ewed i n a l i g h t m o s t

fav o rab l e t o t h e v erd i ct .” S t ep h en s v. S t a t e

, 2 4 7 Ga. A p p

. 7 1 9 (5 4 5 SE2 d 3 25 ) (2 0 0 1 ).W e n ei t her wei gh t h e ev id en ce n o r j u d g 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

“ wh et h er, aft er v i ewi n g t h e ev i d en ce i n t h e l i g ht m o s t fav o rab le t o t h e p ro s ecu t i o n,

a n y rat i o n al tri er o f fact co u l d h av e fo u n d t h e es s en t i al el em en t s o f t h e cri m e b ey o n d

a reas o n ab l e d o u b t .” (Ci t at i o n o m i t t ed ; em p h as is in ori g i n al .) Ja cks o n v. Vi r g i n i a

,

4 4 3 U. S. 3 0 7, 31 9 (III) (B) (9 9 SCt 2 7 8 1

, 6 1 LE2 d 5 6 0 ) (1 9 7 9). “ So lo n g as t h ere i s

s o m e co m p et en t ev i d en ce, ev en t h o u g h co n trad ict ed

, t o s u p po rt each el em en t o f t h e

St at e’ s cas e, t h e ju ry ’ s v erd ict wi l l b e u p hel d .” McLeo d v. S t a t e , 2 4 5 Ga. Ap p . 6 6 8,

6 6 9 (1 ) (5 3 8 SE2 d 7 59 ) (2 0 0 0 ).

So v i e w e d

, t h e ev i d en ce s h o ws t h at aro u nd 10 : 30 p .m

. o n J u l y 5

, 20 1 0

, t h e

v i ct i m recei v ed a cal l fro m h is fri en d Ch ri s as k i n g i f t h e v i ct i m wan t ed to h an g o u t

.

Th e v i ct i m d i d n o t k n o w Ch ri s v ery w el l

, 1 b u t ag reed t o p i ck h i m up at a g as s t at i o n.

Aft er m eet i n g up w i t h Ch ri s

, t h e v i ct i m d ro v e t h em aro u n d un t i l Ch ri s as k ed t o s t o p

at s o m eo n e’ s h o u s e fo r a few m i n u t es

. Th e v i ct i m d ro v e Ch ri s to t h e h o u s e, an d Ch ri s

wen t in s i d e wh i le th e v i ct im rem ai n ed i n h i s car. Aft er Ch ri s ret urn ed t o t h e car, t h ey

co n ti n u ed t o ri d e aro u n d u n t i l Ch r i s r e c e i v e d a cal l o n h i s cel l ph o n e. Th e v i ct i m

p u l l ed h i s car i n to an ot her g as s t at i o n an d l et Ch ri s o u t o f t h e car s o t h at he co u l d t al k

o n t h e ph o ne p ri v a t e l y. Aft er t al k i n g o n h is p h o n e, Ch ri s g o t b ack i n to t h e car an d

1 Th e v i ct i m

d i d n o t k n o w Ch ri s ’ l as t n am e o r wh ere h e l iv ed

.

2as k ed t he v i ct i m t o d ri ve t o a n earb y el em en tary s ch o o l s o t h a t t h ey co ul d m eet u p

wi t h t wo m en wh o m

Ch ri s i d en t i fi ed as h i s co u s i n an d h i s fri en d

.

Aft er Ch ri s d i rect ed t h e vi ct i m t o t h e el em en t ary s ch o o l

, t h e v i ct im d ro v e i n to

a l o t on t he s i d e o f t h e s ch o o l t o wai t fo r Ch ri s ’ co us i n an d fri en d t o ap p ro ach t h e car.

On ce t h e v i ct i m

h ad d ri ven i nt o t h e l o t

, h o wev er, Ch ri s as k ed t he v i ct i m t o t u rn o ff

h i s car an d wal k w i t h h im b eh i n d t h e s ch o o l to m eet u p wi t h hi s c o u s i n an d fri en d

t h ere. Al t h ou g h h e “ fel t k i n d o f s u s p i ci o u s” at t h at po i n t

, t h e v i ct i m ag reed t o wal k

wi t h Ch r i s b eh i n d t h e s ch o o l

. Up o n wal ki n g b eh i n d t h e s ch o o l, t h e v i ct i m s aw t wo

m en

, l at er i d en ti fi ed as W h al ey an d h i s co -d efen d an t To d deri u s M cNo rri l l

, s i t t i n g o n

s o m e s t ep s

. Ch ri s ap p ro ach ed W h al ey an d M cNo rri ll

, g av e t h em a hi g h -fi v e

, a n d

s p o k e wi t h t h em

p ri v at el y fo r a few m i n u t es wh i l e t h e v i ct i m s t o od n earb y

.

Th e v i c t i m t h ou g h t t h ey were go i n g t o wal k b ack t o h i s car, b u t W h al ey

s u d d en l y ap p ro ach ed t h e vi ct i m an d p oi n t ed a h an d g u n at h im

. Wh a l e y s a i d

, “ Yo u

k n o w wh at t i m e it i s ,” wh i ch t he v i ct i m u nd ers t o od t o m ean t h at h e was b ei n g ro b b ed

.

W h al ey h e l d t h e g u n t o t h e vi ct i m ’ s h ead as h e wen t t h ro u g h t he v i ct i m ’ s p o ck et s

wi t h h is o t h er h an d. Ch ri s b eg an p ro t es t in g

, b u t W h al ey t ol d M cNo rri l l t o “ s h u t h i m

u p ,” an d M cNo rri ll pu l l ed o ut a h an d g u n an d p o i n t ed i t at Ch ri s

. Th e vi ct im l at er t o ld

3t h e p o l i ce t h at o n e o f th e g un s was a .2 2 cal i b er weap o n an d t h e o t h er w a s a

. 3 8 0

cal i ber b l ack an d s i l v er weap o n

.

W h al ey t o l d t h e v i ct i m t o li e d o wn o n t h e g ro u n d an d as k ed M cNo rri l l fo r a

ro l l o f d u ct t ap e. Aft er t h e v i ct i m l ay o n t h e g ro u n d, W h al ey

g o t t h e d u ct t ap e fro m

M cNo rri l l an d wrap p ed it aro u n d t h e v i ct im ’ s ey es

, m o u t h

, an d han d s. W h al ey p l aced

h i s g u n ag ai n s t t he v i ct i m ’ s h ead an d ag ai n w en t th ro u g h t h e vi ct im ’ s p ock et s

, t ak i n g

$ 1 2 5 in cas h

, a cel l p ho n e, t h e v i ct i m ’ s k ey s

, an d h i s d ri v er’ s l icen s e. W h al ey warn ed

t h e v i ct i m th at h e an d M cNo rri l l h ad t h e v i ct i m ’ s i den t i fi cat i o n an d wo ul d k i l l t h e

v i ct i m i f h e cal l ed t he po l i ce. Befo re ru n n i n g fro m t h e s cen e, W h al ey an d M cNo rri l l

k i ck ed t h e v i ct i m

i n t h e l eg s , ri b s , an d h ead

.

Th e v ict i m was ab l e t o free h i m s el f fro m t h e d u ct t ap e i n t i m e t o s ee W h al ey

an d M cN o rri ll g et i n si d e h i s car an d dri v e away fro m t h e s ch o o l

. 2 Th e v i ct i m t h en

wal k ed t o a g as st at i o n a few m i n u t es away an d u s ed t h e p h o ne t o cal l t h e p o l i ce. A

s h eri ff’ s d ep u t y arri v ed at th e g as s t a t i o n s h o rt ly t h ereaft er, an d t h e v i ct i m t o l d t h e

d ep ut y ab o u t wh at h ad h ap p en ed

, d es cri b ed t h e t wo s u sp ect s

, an d p ro v i d ed a

d es cri p t i o n o f h i s s t o l en car. Th e d ep u t y rad i oed th e i n fo rm at i o n t o hi s d i sp at ch er,

an d o t her d ep ut ies i n t he area were t o l d t o b e o n t h e l o ok o ut fo r t h e v i ct i m ’ s car.

2 Ch ri s ap p aren t ly

ran o ff s ep arat el y , b u t t h e reco rd i s u n cl ear o n t h i s p o i n t

.

4A few m i n u t es l at er, an o t h er d ep u t y s aw t h e v i ct i m ’ s car s to p p ed at a red l i g ht

at an i n t ers ect i o n

, co n fi rm ed t h at i t m at ch ed t h e d es cri p t io n o f t h e s t o l en v eh i cl e, an d

at t em p t ed t o i n i ti at e a t raffi c s t o p

. W h en t h e d ep ut y act i v a t e d t he em erg en cy l i g h t s

o n h i s m ark ed p at ro l car, t h e d ri v er o f t h e vi ct i m ’ s car i g n o red t h e l i g ht s an d d ro v e

away

, res u l t in g i n a p o li ce ch as e.

A d ep u t y i n a s eco n d m ark ed p at ro l car act i v at ed h i s em erg en cy l i g h t s an d t o o k

o v er t h e ch as e. As t h e ch as e co n t i n u ed

, W h al ey ju m ped o u t o f t h e d ri v er’ s s i d e d o o r

wh i le t h e v i ct i m ’ s car was s ti l l m o vi n g an d ran t o w ard s t h e wo o d s

. M cNo rri l l

rem ai n ed i n t h e fro nt p as s en g e r s eat aft er W h al ey ju m ped o u t

, an d t h e vi ct i m ’ s car

cras hed t h ro u g h a fen ce an d cam e to a s t o p ag ai n s t a t ree. Dep u t i es pu rs u ed W h al ey

o n fo o t an d g av e s ev eral v erb al co m m an d s fo r h i m to s t o p

, b u t h e co nt i n ued ru n n i n g

fro m t hem

. On e o f t h e d ep u ti es cau g h t u p wi t h W h al ey an d was ab l e t o ap p reh en d

h i m

. Th e d ep u t y d i s co vered t h at W h al ey had a l earn er’ s p erm i t t h at req ui red h i m to

h av e a l i cen s ed d ri v er o v er 2 1 y ears o f ag e ri d i n g wi t h h i m in t h e p as s en g er s eat

.

M cNo rri l l was u n d er 2 1

.

An o th er d ep ut y ap p ro ach ed t h e cras hed car an d arres t ed M cNo rri l l

, w h o was

s t il l i n t h e p as s en g er s eat

. Th e d ep u t y s earch ed McNo rri l l an d d i s co v ered t wel v e .2 2

cal i ber b u l l et s i n h i s p o ck et

. T h e v i ct im s u b s eq u en t l y w as d ri v en to t h e s cen e wh ere

5t h e car ch as e h ad co n cl u ded

, an d h e co n fi rm ed t hat W h al ey an d M cNo rri l l were t h e

p erp et rat o rs i n a s h o w -u p i d en t i fi cat i o n

.

Dep u t i es s earch ed t he v i ct i m ’ s car t h at h ad b een t a k en by W h al ey an d

M cNo rri l l

. M ari

ju an a wei g h i n g a t o t a l o f 4

. 5 gram s was i n p lai n vi ew o n t h e

p as s en g er s eat an d o n th e dri ver’ s s i d e fl o orb o ard

. Fro m t h e way t h e m ari ju an a was

p ack ag ed

, i t ap p eared t o b e fo r d i s t ri b u ti o n

. T h e v i ct i m l at er t es ti fi ed at tri al t h at t h e

m ari ju an a d i d n o t b el o ng t o h i m

. Ad di t i o n al l y

, d ep u t i es fo u n d a l oad ed Hi -Po i n t .3 8 0

cal i ber h an d gu n o n t h e d ri v er’ s s eat

, an d t h e vi ct im tes t ifi ed t h at i t was t h e g u n t h at

W h al ey h ad p o i n t ed at h i m

.

Dep u t i es al s o s earch ed beh i n d t h e el em en t ary s c h o o l

, w h ere t h ey fo u n d an

em pt y ro ll o f d u ct t ap e an d a b as eb al l cap t h at b el o n ged to t h e vi ct i m

. Ho wev er, t h e

v i ct i m ’ s cel l p h o n e, cas h, an d o t h er p ers o n al i t em s were n ev er fo u n d.

W h al ey an d M cNo rri l l were jo i n t l y ch arg ed wi t h h i jack i n g a m o t o r v eh i cl e,

arm ed ro b b ery

, fal s e i m

p ri s o n m en t

, p o s ses s i o n o f m ari ju an a wi t h i n t en t t o d i s t ri b u t e,

an d t wo co un t s o f p os s es s i o n o f a fi rearm d uri n g th e co m m i s s i o n o f a cri m e. W h al ey

al s o was ch arg ed wi t h fl eei n g an d at t em p t i n g t o el u d e a law en fo rcem en t o ffi cer,

reck l es s d ri v i n g

, v i o l at i on of a Cl as s C learn er’ s p erm i t

, an d o b s t ru ct i o n o f a l aw

en fo rcem en t o ffi cer. W h al ey a n d M cNo rri l l s u b s eq u en t l y were t ri ed t og et h er. Th e

6v i ct i m an d res po n d i n g d ep u t i es t es ti fi ed t o t h e ev en t s as s u m m ari zed ab o v e, an d t h e

St at e i nt ro d u ced an d sh o wed t o t h e ju ry a v i d eo reco rd i n g o f th e p ol i ce car ch as e an d

p h o t o g rap h s o f t h e i t em s s ei zed at t h e el em en t ary s ch o o l an d fro m

t h e v i ct i m ’ s car.

W h al ey an d M cNo rri l l el ect ed n o t t o t es t i fy an d d i d n o t p res en t an y d efen s e

wi t n es s es

.

Aft er rev i ewi n g al l t h e e v i d en ce, t h e ju ry fo u n d bo t h W h al ey an d M cNo rri l l

g u i l t y of h i

j ack i n g a m o t o r v eh i cl e, p o s s es si o n o f m ari ju an a wi th i n t en t t o d i s t ri b u t e,

an d on e co u n t of p o s s es s i o n of a fi rearm d u ri n g th e co m m i s s i o n o f a cri m e. Th e ju ry

al s o fo u n d W hal ey g u i l t y o f f l e e i n g a n d at tem

pt i n g t o el u d e a l aw en fo rcem en t

o ffi cer, reck l es s d ri v in g

, v io lat i o n o f a Cl as s C l earn er’ s p erm i t

, an d ob s tru ct i o n o f

a l aw en fo rcem en t offi cer. T h e ju ry acq u i t t ed W h al ey an d M cNo rri l l o f arm ed

ro b b ery

, fal s e i m

p ri s on m en t

, an d o n e co u n t o f p o 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 of a cri m e. W h al ey fi l ed a m o t i o n f o r new t ri al

, wh i ch t h e t ri al co u rt

d en ied

, r e s u l t i n g i n t h i s ap p eal i n wh i ch W hal ey ch al len g es t h e su ffi ci en cy o f t h e

ev i d en ce o n s ev eral co u nt s

. 3

1

. W h al ey fi rs t co n t en d s t h at t h ere was i n s u ffi ci en t ev i den ce t o s u p p o rt h i s

c o n v i c t i o n fo r h i

jack i n g a m o t o r v eh i cl e. Sp eci fi cal l y

, W h al ey m ai n t ai n s t h at t h e

3 M cNo rri l l i s n o t a p art y

t o t h i s ap p eal

.

7St at e fai l ed t o p r o v e t h a t t h e v i ct i m ’ s car was t ak en fro m t h e pers o n o r p res en ce o f

t h e v i ct i m

, g i v en t h at W h al ey t o o k t h e car k e ys fro m t h e v i ct im wh i l e b eh i n d t h e

el em en t ary s ch o o l

, b u t t h en fl ed an d ret ri ev ed t he car fro m t h e s ch o o l p ark i n g l o t

. W e

are u n p ers u ad ed b ecau s e W hal ey ’ s arg u m en t i s pred i cat ed o n to o n arro w o f a read i n g

o f t h e h i jack i n g -a-m ot o r-v eh i cl e s t at u t e.

“ A p ers o n co m

m i t s t h e o ffen s e o f h i

jack i n g a m o t o r v eh i cl e wh en s u ch p ers o n

wh i le i n p o s s es s i o n o f a fi rearm o r w eap o n o b tai n s a m o to r v eh i cl e f r o m t h e p er

so n

o r p r es en ce o

f a n o t h er b y fo rce an d v i o l en ce o r i n t i m i d at i o n o r at t em p t s o r co n s p i res

t o d o s o

. ” (Em

p h as i s s u p p l i ed

. ) OCGA § 1 6-5 -4 4 .1 (b ). 4 By it s p l ai n l an g u ag e,

OCGA § 1 6-5 -4 4.1 (b ) req u i res o n ly pres en ce, n o t i m m ed iat e p res en ce, b u t ev en t h e

m o re res t ri ct i v e t erm

“ i m m ed i at e p res en ce” u s ed i n t h e arm ed ro bb ery s t at ut e

h as b een hel d t o ex t en d “ fai rl y far,” an d ro b b ery co n vi ct io n s are u p h el d

ev en o u t o f t h e p h y s i cal p res en ce of t h e vi ct im

. Fu rt her, t h e co n cep t o f

i m m ed i at e p res en ce i s b ro ad l y co n s t ru ed i f t h e o bject t ak en was u nd er

t h e v i ct i m ’ s co n t ro l o r res p o n s i bi l i t y an d t h e v i ct i m i s n o t t o o d i st an t

.

4 OCGA § 1 6 -5 -4 4 .1 h as b een a m e n d e d t wi ce s i n ce t h e t im e o f t h e o ffen s e

co m m i t t ed i n t h i s cas e, b u t n o t s u b sect i o n (b ), t h e p ro v is io n at i s s u e h ere. See Ga. L.

2 0 1 4 , p . 4 3 2 , § 2 -4 ; Ga. Laws 2 0 1 5, p . 6 9 3

, § 2 -1

.

8(Ci t at i o n s an d p u n ct u at i o n o m it t ed .) Hea rd v. S t a te

, 2 8 7 Ga. 5 5 4

, 5 5 5 (1 ) (6 9 7 SE2 d

8 1 1 ) (2 0 1 0 ).

Here, t h e ev i d en ce s h owed t h at W h al ey to o k t h e car k ey s d i rect l y fro m t h e

p ers o n o f t h e v i ct im u p o n t hreat o f v i o l en t i n ju ry an d t h en ret ri ev ed t h e v i ct i m ’ s car

t h at was park ed i n a l o t o n t h e si d e of th e s ch o o l wh ere t h e at t ack h ad ju s t o ccu rred

.

Un d er th es e ci rcu m s tan ces

, t h e ju ry was au t h ori zed t o fi n d t h at W h al ey t o o k t h e car

fro m t h e v i ct i m ’ s “ p res en ce” fo r p u rp o s es o f t h e o ffen se o f hi jack i n g a m o to r v eh i cl e.

See Hea r d

, 2 8 7 Ga. at 5 5 5 (1 ) (d efen d an t en t ered b us i n es s an d to o k k ey s fro m v i ct i m

,

wh o t h en h i d i n cl o s et wh i le d efen d an t ret ri ev ed car t h at was ap p ro x i m at el y 2 0 0 y ard s

away i n a p ark i n g l o t ); Ko l l i e v

. S t a t e

, 3 0 1 Ga. Ap p

. 5 3 4

, 5 4 1 (4 ) (6 8 7 SE2 d 8 6 9 )

(2 0 0 9) (p h y s i cal p reced en t on l y ) (d efen dan t s b o u n d v ict i m i ns i d e house a n d ret ri ev ed

car fro m g arag e); Jo h n so n v. St a t e

, 24 6 G a. Ap p

. 1 09

, 11 2 (3 ) (5 3 9 SE2 d 6 0 5 ) (2 0 0 0 )

(d efen d an t t o o k car k ey s fro m v i ct i m i ns i d e s to re an d ret ri ev ed car t h at was p ark ed

o u t s i d e). 5

5 W e d ecl in e W h al ey ’ s req u es t t o o v erru l e an y o f o u r pri o r cas e l aw co n s t ru i n g

t h e t erm “ p res en ce.” W e al s o n o t e t h at o u r c o n st ru ct i o n of t h e t erm “ p res en ce” i s

b as ed o n Hea r d

, wh i ch i s b i n d i n g Su p rem e Co u rt p reced en t.

92

. W h al ey al s o co n t en ds t h at t here was i n s u ffi ci en t ev i den ce t o s u p p o rt h i s

co n vi ct i o n o f p o s s es s i on o f m ari ju an a wi t h i n ten t t o d i s tr i b u t e. He arg u es t h at t h e

St at e fai led t o p ro v e bey o n d a reas o n ab le d ou b t t hat h e p o s s es s ed t h e m ari ju an a i n t h e

v i c t i m ’s car becau s e t h e ev i d en ce d i d n o t ex cl u d e th e reas o n ab le al t ern at i v e

h y p o t h es i s t h at t h e m ari

ju an a b el o n g ed t o t h e v i ct i m o r M cNo rri l l

. W e d i s ag ree

b ecau s e t h ere was s uffi ci en t ev i d en ce t h at W h al ey was i n jo i n t co n s t ru ct i v e

p o s s es s i o n o f t h e m ari

ju an a wi t h M cNo rri l l

.

Th e l aw reco g n i zes t h at p o s s es si o n can b e act u al o r co n s t ru ct i v e,

s o l e o r jo in t

. A p ers o n h as act u al p os s es si on o f a t h i ng i f h e k n o wi n g l y

h as d i rect p h y s i cal co n t ro l o f i t at a g i v en t i m e. A p ers o n wh o

, t h o u g h

n o t i n act u al po s s es s i on

, k n o wi n g l y has b o t h t h e p o w er an d i nt en t i o n at

a g i v en t i m e t o ex erci s e d o m i n io n o r co n tro l o v er a t h i n g i s th en i n

co n s t ru ct iv e p o s ses s i o n o f i t

. If o n e p ers o n a l o n e has act u al o r

co n s t ru ct iv e p o ss es s i o n o f a t h i n g

, p o s s es s i o n i s s o le, bu t i f t w o o r m o re

p ers on s sh are act u al o r co n s t ru ct i ve p o s s es s io n o f a t h i n g

, p o s s es s i on i s

jo i n t

.

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

, 3 2 6 G a. Ap p

. 42 9

, 43 1 (1 ) (7 5 6

SE2 d 6 6 0) (2 0 1 4).

“ A fi n d i n g o f co n s t ru ct i v e p o s s es s i o n m us t b e b as ed u p o n s o m e co n n ect i o n

b et ween t h e defen d an t an d t he co n t rab an d o t h er t h a n s p at ial p ro x i m i t y ,” an d m ere

10p res en ce at t h e s cen e o f th e cri m e i s i n s u ffi ci en t, wi t h o u t m o re, t o sh o w co n s t ru ct i v e

p o s s es s i o n

. (Ci tat io n s an d p u n ct u at i o n o m i tt ed .) No b l e v. S t a t e

, 2 2 5 Ga. Ap p

. 4 7 0,

4 7 1 (4 84 SE2 d 7 8 ) (1 9 97 ). Bu t “ [c] i rcu m s t an t i al ev id en ce t hat m u l ti p l e o ccu p an t s o f

a car h ad eq u al acces s t o h i d den co n t rab an d m ay s u p p ort th e t h e o r y t h at al l t h e

o ccu pan t s were g u i l t y as p art i es t o t h e cri m e an d h ad j o i n t co n s tru ct i ve p o s s es s i o n o f

t h e co n t rab an d .” M

a d d o x v. S t at e

, 3 22 Ga. Ap p

. 8 1 1

, 8 1 5 (2 ) (7 4 6 SE2 d 2 8 0) (2 0 1 3 ).

Ad d it i on al l y, w h e r e a co n s t ru ct i v e p o s s es s io n cas e is b as ed s o l el y o n

ci rcu m s t an t i al ev i d en ce,

t h e p ro v ed fact s sh al l n o t o n l y b e co n s i s t en t wi t h t h e h y p o t h es i s o f g u i l t

,

b u t s h al l ex cl u d e ev ery o th er reas o n ab l e h y p o t h es i s s av e t h at o f t h e g ui l t

o f t h e accu s ed

. W h et h er t h i s bu rd en h as b een m et is a q u es t i o n fo r th e

ju ry

, an d i t s d et erm i n a t i o n wi l l n o t b e d i st u rb ed un l es s t h e verd i ct i s

i n s u p p ort ab l e as a m at ter o f l aw.

(Ci t at i o n an d p u nct u at io n o m i tt ed .) No b l e , 2 2 5 Ga. Ap p . at 4 7 1

.

M i n dfu l o f t h es e p ri n ci p l es

, we co n cl u d e t h at t h e t o t al i t y o f th i s ev i d en ce was

s u ffi ci en t t o es t ab l i s h b ey o nd a reas o n ab l e d o u bt t hat W h al ey was

, at a m i n i m u m

, in

jo i n t c o n s t r u ct i v e p o ss es s i o n o f t h e d ru g s wi t h McNo rri l l

, an d t h at ev ery o t h er

reas on ab l e h y

p o t h es i s ex cep t t he g u i l t o f W h al ey h ad b een ex cl u ded

. Th e ev i d en ce

ad d uced a tri al s ho wed t h at W hal ey was t h e dri v er o f t h e v ict i m ’ s car s h ort l y b efo re

11t h e m ari

ju an a p a c k a g e d f

o r di s t ri b u t i o n was fo u n d i n pl ai n v i ew o n t h e fro nt

p as s en g er s eat an d t h e d ri v er’ s si d e fl o o rb oard n ear a h an d g u n l i n ked t o W h al ey

. An d

wh en t h e p o l i ce at t em

p t ed t o s t o p t h e car an d ap p reh en d W h al ey

, h e s p ed away i n t h e

car an d t h en fl ed o n fo o t

. Fu rt herm o re, t he v i ct im d en i ed th at t h e m ari j u an a b el o n g ed

t o h im

, an d t h e ev id en ce s h o wed t h at W h al ey an d M cNo rri l l h ad act ed i n co n cert wi th

an o th er t h ro u g ho u t t h e n i gh t i n q u es t i o n

.

Th i s co m bi ned ev i d en ce, co n s t ru ed i n fav o r o f t h e v erd i ct

, au t h o ri zed a fi n d i n g

b y t h e ju ry t h at W h al ey co n s t ru ct i v el y p os s es sed t h e m ari ju an a an d was g u il t y o f t h e

ch arg ed of

f e n s e. See Pr a t h er v. S t a t e

, 2 9 3 Ga. Ap p

. 3 1 2

, 3 1 4 (1 ) (6 6 7 SE2 d 1 1 3 )

(2 0 0 8) (ju ry co u l d fi n d t h at t he d efen d an t d ri v er rat h er t h an th e car o wn er p o s s es s ed

m ari ju an a fo u n d i n t h e car, wh ere th e o wn er t es t i fi ed t h at t h ere were n o d ru g s i n t h e

car wh en s h e al l o wed t h e d efen d an t t o b o rro w i t ); Mo od y v. S t at e

, 2 3 2 Ga. Ap p

. 4 9 9,

5 0 2 -5 0 3 (1 ) (5 0 2 S E 2 d 3 2 3 ) ( 1 9 9 8 ) (d efen d an t ’ s “ at t em pt s t o av o i d arres t an d t h e

p res en ce o f co n t rab an d i n p lai n v i ew” s u p p o rt ed fi n d i n g t h at t he d efen d an t “ k n ew

ab o ut t h e d ru g s an d

, at a m i n im u m

, jo i n tl y p o s s es s ed t h e d ru gs ”); Do e v. S ta t e

, 1 8 9

Ga. Ap p. 7 9 3

, 7 94 -7 9 5 (3 7 7 SE2 d 5 4 6 ) (1 9 8 9) (al t h o u g h d efen d an t d i d no t own t ru ck

wh ere m ari

ju an a was fo u n d an d h ad p as s en g ers wi t h h i m d u ri n g p art o f hi s t ri p

, t h ere

was s u ffi ci en t ev i d en ce t o s h o w t h at h e p o s s es sed t h e d ru g s, g i v en t h at h e was d ri v er

12o f t h e t ru ck an d t h e d ru g s were fo u n d i n t h e o p en as h t ray

, o n t h e s eat

, an d u n d er t h e

s eat wi t h i n reach o f t h e d efen d an t ).

3

. W h al ey fu rt her co n t en d s t h at t h ere was i n s u ffi ci en t ev i d en ce t o co n v i ct h i m

o f t h e m is d em ean o r o ffen s e o f reck l es s d ri v in g as al l eg ed in t h e i n d i ct m en t

. W e

ag ree.

“ An y p ers o n wh o d ri v e s an y v eh i cl e i n reck l es s d i s reg ard fo r t h e s afet y o f

p ers o n s o r pro p ert y co m

m i t s t h e o ffen s e o f reck l es s dri v i n g.” OCGA § 4 0 -6 -3 9 0 (a).

Th e i n d i ct m en t al l eg ed t h at W h al ey co m m i t t ed t h e o ffen s e o f reck l es s d ri v i n g “ by

ru n n in g s ev eral red l i g h ts at a h i g h rat e o f s peed .”

As t h e St at e co n ced es o n ap p eal

, t h e St at e fai l ed t o p ro v e th at W h al ey

co m m i t t ed reck l es s d ri v i n g i n t h e m an n er al l eg ed i n t h e i n d ict m en t

. M o re

s p eci fi cal l y

, t h ere was n o ev i d e n c e p r e s e n t ed at t ri al t h at W h al ey ran s ev eral red

l i gh t s at a h i g h rat e o f s p eed wh i l e d ri v i n g t h e v i ct i m ’ s car.

W h i l e an u n n eces s ary d es cri p t i o n o f an u n n eces s ary fact av erred i n an

i n d i ct m e n t need n o t b e p ro ved

, i n cri m i n al l aw ev en an u n n eces s ari l y

m i n u t e d es cri p t i o n o f a n eces s ary fact m us t b e p ro v ed as ch arg ed

. If th e

i n d i ct m en t s et s ou t t he o ffen s e as d on e i n a p art i cu l ar wa y, t h e p ro o f

m u s t s h o w i t s o [.] No av erm en t i n an in d i ct m en t c a n b e reject ed as

s u rp lu s ag e wh i ch i s d es cri p t i v e ei th er o f t h e o ffen s e o r o f th e m an n er i n

wh i ch i t was co m

m i t t ed

. Al l s u ch av erm en t s m u s t b e p ro v ed as l ai d [.]

13(Fo o tn o te o m i t t ed .) Fo r d -Ca lh o u n v. S t at e

, 3 2 7 Ga. A p p

. 8 3 5

, 8 3 6 (1 ) (7 61 SE2 d

3 8 8 ) (2 0 1 4 ). See Gr i

ff i n v. S t a t e

, 2 9 4 G a. 3 25

, 3 2 8 (7 5 1 SE2 d 7 7 3) (2 0 1 3 ). Becau s e

t h e St at e ad m it t ed l y d i d n ot p ro v e t h e m at eri al al l e g a t io n i n t h e i n di ct m en t t h at

Wh a l e y ran s ev eral red li g h t s at a h i g h rat e o f s peed

, we rev ers e h i s co n v i ct i o n f o r

m i s d em ean o r reck l es s d ri v i n g

.

J u d g m e n t a f f i r med i n p a r t a n d r ever

s ed in p a r t

. Bo g

g s a n d R i ckma n

, JJ

. ,

co n cu r

.

14