FI RST DI VI SI ON

BA RNES, P. J.

, GOBEI L and M A RKLE, 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.

https ://w w w

. ga a ppe a ls .us /r ule s

M ar ch 10, 2022



# I n th e Co u r t o f

A p p eals o f

G eo r g ia

A2 1 A1 48 1 . FULLER v . THE STATE.

G O B E I L

, J u d g e.

A ju ry fo u n d Hen ry Fu l l er g u i l t y o f m u l t ip l e cri m es rel at ed to an arm ed ro b b ery

co m m i t t ed at a Ci rcl e K co n v en i en ce s t o re i n Jan u ary 2 0 1 6

. He was i n d i ct ed an d t ri ed

al o n g s i d e t wo co -co n s p i rat o rs , J am ari o Hi l l an d Ro b ert Pab on . Fu ll er ap p eal s fro m

h i s ju d g m en t o f co nv i ct i o n an d t h e d en i al o f h i s m o ti o n fo r n ew t ri al , as sert i n g : (1 )

t h e e v i d e n c e was i n s u ffi ci en t t o s up p o rt t h e v erd i ct

, an d (2 ) (a) t h e tri al co u rt

c o m m it t ed p l ai n erro r i n cu t t i n g o ff Fu l ler’ s co u n s el fro m cro s s -ex am in i n g co

co n sp i rat o r Pab o n

, o r (b ) c o u n s e l w a s i n effect i ve fo r fai li n g t o o b ject t o t h e t ri al

co u rt ’ s ru l i n g o n t h i s i ss u e.Vi ewed i n th e li g h t m o s t fav o rab l e t o th e ju ry ’ s v erd i ct

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

i n t h e earl y m o rn i ng h o u rs o f J an u ary 2 2

, 2 0 1 6

, t h e vi ct i m was wo rk in g as a cl erk at

a Ci rcl e K co n ven i en ce s t ore i n Gl y n n Co u n t y

, Geo rg i a. Th e v i ct i m s t ep ped o u t s i d e

t o s m o k e a ci g aret t e an d s aw t wo b l ack m al es ap p ro ach i n g her. Th e m en fo rced t h e

v i ct i m b ack i n t o t h e s t o re wi t h a g u n t o h er b ack an d d em an d ed m on ey fro m t h e s afe.

Th e v i ct i m was n o t ab l e t o acces s t h e s afe, s o t h e as sai l an t s t oo k ap p ro x i m at el y $ 4 0

t o $5 0 fro m t h e cas h reg i s t er an d a cart o n o f ci garet t es

. T h e m en o rd ered t h e v i ct i m

t o st ri p, to o k h er o u t s i d e beh i n d t h e s t o re, in s t ru ct ed h er t o l i e o n t h e g ro u n d

, an d t o ld

h er t h at i f s h e m o v ed

, t h ey wo u l d s h o o t h er. Th ey t h en ran away

, g o t i n t o a v eh i cl e,

an d t h e car s p ed away “ t o ward s Hab ers h am [St reet ] .” Th e vi ct i m h eard p o l i ce s i ren s

“ i m m ed iat el y ” t h ereaft er, an d s h e ju m p ed u p an d ran b ack i n t o th e s to re. Th e v i ct i m

t es t i fi ed t h at s he co u l d n o t s ee t h e m en ’ s faces

, as t h ey were co v ered by m as k s

. Th e

i n ci d en t was reco rd ed o n Ci rcl e K s u rv ei l l an ce cam eras an d p lay ed fo r t h e ju ry

.

Serg ean t Jas o n Di x o n wi t h t h e Gl y n n Co u n t y Po l ice Dep art m en t was o n p at ro l

t h at m o rn i n g o n Hab ers h am St reet an d no t i ced a s i l v er s ed an t h at was m o v i n g i n an

u n u s ual m an n er. Th e s ed an ran a red l i g h t

, an d Di x o n act i v at ed hi s em erg en cy l i g h t s

1 Ja cks o n v. Vi r

g i n i a

, 4 4 3 U. S. 3 0 7

, 3 19 (III) (B) (9 9 SCt 2 7 8 1

, 6 1 LE2 d 5 6 0 )

(1 9 7 9).

2an d fo l l o w ed t h e v eh icl e. Th e veh i cl e s p ed away an d ev en t u al l y cras h ed in t o a t ree.

By t he t i m e Di x o n reach ed t he v eh i cl e, th ere were n o o ccu pan ts i n si d e. Di x o n ran t h e

p l at es o n t h e v eh i cl e, a s i l v er To y o t a Cam ry

, wh i ch s h o wed t h e car h ad b een rep o rt ed

s t ol en

. Th e car was t owed b ack t o t h e p o l i ce s t at i o n

, w h ere i t w as im p o u n d ed

,

s earch ed

, a n d p ro ces s ed

. Fi ng erp ri nt s m at ch i n g Fu ll er, Hi l l

, an d Pab o n

, am o n g

o t h ers

, w ere fo u nd

. DNA m at eri al m at ch i n g Fu l l er an d Hi l l w as al s o fo un d i n s i d e t h e

v eh icl e.

A cel l p h o n e was fo u n d i n s i d e t h e v eh i cl e. Aft er ob t ai n i n g a warran t t o s earch

t h e p ho n e, Det ect i v e Res d en Tal b ert cam e to b el i ev e t h e ph o n e b el o n g ed t o “ Ro b b i e”

Pab on

. Tex t h i s t o ry fro m t h e p h o n e i n cl u d ed an o u t g o i ng tex t m es s ag e s t at i n g “ I n eed

a l i ck real b ad ,” “ l i ck ” referri n g t o a ro b bery o r t h eft . Tal b ert al s o fo l l owed u p o n a

t i p th at s o m e of Pab o n ’s b e l o n g i n g s wo u l d b e fo u n d at a res i den ce, an d at t h at

res i den ce Tal b ert d i s co v ered an d s ei zed b oo t s an d cl o t h es s i m i l ar t o t h o s e wo rn by

t h e Ci rcl e K ro b b ers

.

In v es t i g at or D av i d M oo re res p o n d ed t o t h e Ci rc l e K aft er t h e ro b b ery was

rep o rt ed

. A ft er recei v i ng t h e i nfo rm at i o n ab o ut t h e fi n g erp ri n t s fo u n d i n t h e s i l v er

s ed an

, M o o re wen t t o Hi l l ’ s res i d en ce t o q u es t io n h i m

. Th e wo m an wh o o wn ed t h e

h o m e was p res en t

, g av e M o o re p erm i s s i o n t o s earch t he h o us e, an d g av e M o o re a cel l

3p h o n e b el o n g i n g t o Hi l l

. Aft er s earch i n g t h e p ho n e, M o o re fo un d i n cri m i n a t i n g

v i d eo s an d p h o to s o f Pab o n d ep i ct i n g h im wi t h a g u n an d weari n g cl o th i n g s i m i l ar

t o t h e Ci rcl e K ro b b ers

. M o o re al s o pu l l ed ad d i t i o nal s ecu ri t y v i deo fro m th e Ci rcl e

K s u rv ei ll an ce cam eras

, wh i ch s h o wed t wo i n d i v i d ual s m at ch i n g t h e d es cri p t i o n o f

t h e ro b b ers i n t h e Ci rcl e K t h e d ay b efo re t h e ro bb ery

, J an u ary 2 1

, 2 0 1 6

. I n t h e

J an u ary 2 1 v i d eo

, t h e faces o f t h e i n d iv i d ual s were v i si b l e.

Ad d it i on al l y

, o n J an u ary 2 0

, t wo d ay s b efo re t h e ro b b ery

, an o t h e r v i ct i m

, C.

A., rep o rt ed h er s i l ver To y ot a Cam ry as s t o l e n

. S h e t es t i fi ed th at s h e d i d n o t k n o w

Pab on

, Hi l l

, o r Fu l l er; t h ey d id n o t h av e an y reas o n t o b e i ns i d e h er car, an d s h e h ad

n ev er au th o ri zed an y o n e t o d ri v e h er v eh i cl e. Th e nex t d ay

, M arl on Jam es

, wh o

s al v ag es cars

, recei v ed a cal l f ro m a p ho n e n um

b er l at er co n n ect ed t o Hi l l

. W h en

J am es ret u rn ed t h e cal l

, a m an s o u g h t to s el l J am es a “ ju n k car[,] ” s p eci fi cal l y a 2 0 1 5

o r 2 01 6 To y o t a Cam ry

. Th e m an al s o sen t Jam es p h o t o s o f t h e car. W h en t h e m an

s t at ed t h at h e d i d n o t h av e t h e car’ s t i t l e, J am es t o l d h im t h at h e co u l d n o t p u rch as e

t h e v eh i cl e. Th e m an o n t h e p h o n e ev en tu al l y t ol d J am es t hat “ [t ] h e car was h o t o ut

o f J ack s o n v i l l e[,] ” “ h o t ” m ean i n g s t o l en

. Th e To y o ta Cam ry co n n ect ed t o t h e Ci rcl e

K ro b bery h ad a l i cen s e p l at e m at ch i n g t h e s t o l en v eh i cl e, an d D et ect i v e M o o re l at er

fo u n d p h o t o s o n Hi l l ’ s p h o n e m at ch in g t h o s e s en t t o J am es

.

4Hi l l

, Pab o n

, an d Fu l l er were al l arres t ed an d i n d i ct ed fo r t h e arm ed ro b b ery

, as

w e l l a s co n s p i racy t o co m m it arm ed ro bb ery

, ag grav at ed as s au l t wi t h i n t en t t o ro b

,

k i d nap p i n g

, an d fal s e i m p ri s o n m en t

, al l rel at ed t o t h e ro bb ery o f th e Ci rcl e K. Th e

t h ree m en al s o were in di ct ed fo r t h eft b y recei vi n g s t o len p ro p ert y rel at ed to t h e t h eft

o f t h e To y ot a Cam ry

. Fu ll er was i n d i ct ed fo r p o s s es s i o n o f a w e a p o n d u ri n g t h e

co m m i s s io n o f a fel o n y

. 2

Th e t h ree m en were t o b e t ri ed jo i n t ly

. Aft er t h e St at e r e s t e d i t s cas e, Pab o n

d eci d ed to en t er a gu i l t y p l ea, ag reei n g t o a s en t en ce o f 2 5 y ears

, wi t h 1 0 y ears t o

s erv e i n co n fi n em en t

. W h i l e en teri n g h i s p l ea, o ut s i d e t h e p res en ce o f t h e ju ry

, Pab o n

an n ou n ced wi t h o ut p ro m p t i n g “ I d i d w an t to s t at e s om et h i n g fo r t he reco rd

. H e n ry

Fu l l er was n o t wi th m e at t h e t i m e.” Pab o n t h en s t at ed h i s rel u ct an ce t o t es t i fy

, an d

h i s co u n s el s t at ed t h at Pab o n i n t en d ed t o ex erci s e h i s ri g h t t o rem ai n s i l en t

.

C o u n s e l fo r H i ll cal led Pab o n as a wi t n es s

. E v en t ho u g h Pab o n’ s co u ns e l

rep eat ed t h at Pab o n i n t en ded t o rem ai n s i l en t, Pab o n a n s w ered qu es t io n s as k ed by

Hi l l ’ s co u n s el

, rep l y in g t h at Hi l l was n o t wi t h Pab o n d u ri ng t he ro b b ery an d t h at Hi l l

was n ot t h e g et away

d ri v er.

2 Fu ll er was al s o i nd i ct ed fo r po s s es s i o n o f a fi rearm by a co nv i ct ed fel o n

, b ut

t h e St at e d is m is s ed t h e ch arg e aft er t h e t ri al

.

5Co u n s e l f o r Fu l l er t h en s o u g h t t o q u es t i o n Pab on

. Pab o n was g i v en a b ri ef

reces s t o c o n s u l t wi t h h i s at t o rn ey

, an d wh en h e ret u rn ed

, Pab o n ’ s at t o rn ey

an n ou n ced t hat Pab o n wo u l d a s s e r t h i s ri g h t t o rem ai n s i l en t an d an s wer n o m o re

q u es ti o n s

. Aft er s o m e fu rt h er d i s cu s s i o n b et ween t h e at t orn ey s an d t h e co u rt

, co u n s el

fo r Fu l l er as k ed th e t ri al co u rt

, “ W i t h t h at

, J u d g e, I’ m p ro h i b i t ed fro m co n t in u i n g to

q u es ti o n t h i s wi t n es s ? ” Th e co u rt res p o n d ed : “ I wo u l d t h i n k t h at wo u l d s t op i t .” Th e

co u rt t hen i n s t ru ct ed Pab o n t o l eav e t h e wi t nes s s t an d.

T h e c a s e was s u b m i t t ed t o t h e ju ry

. Th e ju ry co u l d n o t reach a u n an i m o u s

v erd i ct as t o Hi l l

, b u t was ab l e t o reach a u n an i m o u s v erd ict a s t o Fu l l er. Th e t ri al

c o u r t d i rect ed t he ju ry t o co n t i n u e t o d el i b erat e as t o t h e ch arg es ag ai n st H i l l

, a n d

aft er t h ey were s t il l u n ab l e t o reach a u n an i m ou s v erd ict

,

t h e co urt d ecl ared a m i st ri al fo r Hi l l

, an d t h e j u ry s u b m i t t ed it s v erd i ct fo r Fu l l er,

g u i l t y on al l co u n t s

. Fu l l er was s en t en ced as a reci d i vi s t t o l i fe p lu s fi v e y ears

. Fu l l er

fi led a m o t i o n fo r new t ri al

, wh i ch was d en i ed aft er a heari n g

. Th i s ap p eal fo l l o wed

.

1

. (a) On ap p eal

, Fu ll er fi rs t co n t en d s t h at t h e ev i d en ce was i n s u f f i ci en t “ to

s h o w t h at M r. Fu l ler co m

m i t t ed an y o f t h e cri m es al l eg ed i n t h is cas e.” He arg u es t h at

t h e ev i d en ce was s o l el y ci rcu m s t an ti al

, an d fai l ed t o ex cl u d e reas o n ab l e h y p o t h es es

o f h i s i n n o cen ce. W e d i s ag ree.

6“ [W ] h en a cri m i n al co n v i ct i on i s ap peal ed

, t h e ev i d en ce m us t b e v i ewed i n t h e

l i gh t m o s t fav o rab l e t o t he v erd i ct

, an d t h e ap p el l an t n o l on g er en jo y s a p res u m

p t i o n

o f i n n o cen ce.” Jo nes v. S t at e

, 3 1 8 Ga. Ap p

. 26

, 2 8 -2 9 (1 ) (7 3 3 SE2 d 7 2 ) (2 0 1 2 ). “ [I] n

ev al u at i ng th e su ffi ci en cy o f t h e ev i d en ce, we d o n o t wei g h t h e ev i d en ce o r d et erm i n e

wi t n es s cred i b i l it y

, b u t o nl y d et erm i n e wh et h er a r a t i o n a l t ri er o f fact co ul d h av e

fo u n d t he d efen d an t g ui l t y o f t h e ch arg ed o ffen s es b ey o nd a reas o n ab le d ou b t .” Id

.

at 2 9 (1 ) (ci t at io n an d p un ct u at i o n o m i t t ed ).

W e ag ree wi t h Fu ll er t h at t h e St at e’ s cas e was i n l a r g e p a r t

, i f n o t en t i rel y

,

b as ed o n ci rcu m s t an t ial ev i d en ce. W h ere t h e ev i d en ce ag ai n st a d efen d an t i s m erel y

ci rcu m s t an t i al , “ t h e p ro v ed fact s s h al l n o t o n l y b e co n s i s t en t wi th 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 u i l t o f t h e

accu s ed

. ” OCGA § 2 4

- 1 4 -6

. Ho wev er, ci rcu m s tan t ial ev i d en ce can s up p o rt a

co n vi ct i o n , as

n o t ev ery h y

p o t h es i s i s reas o n ab l e, an d t h e ev id en ce d oes n ot h av e t o

ex cl ud e ev ery co n cei v ab l e i n feren ce o r h y p o t h es i s ; i t n eed ru l e o u t o n l y

t h o s e t hat are reas on ab l e. Th e r e a s o n ab l en es s o f an al t ern at iv e

h y p o t h es i s rai s ed b y a d efen d a n t i s a q ues t i o n p ri n ci p al l y fo r t h e ju ry

,

an d wh en t h e ju r y i s au t h o ri zed t o fi n d t hat t h e ev i d en ce, t ho u g h

ci rcu m s t an ti al

, i s s u ffi ci en t t o ex cl ud e ev ery reas o n ab l e h y p o t h es i s sav e

7t h at o f t h e accu s ed ’ s gu i l t

, t h i s Co u rt wi l l n ot d i s t u rb th at fi n d i n g un l es s

i t is i n s u p p o rt ab l e as a m at t er o f l aw.

Bl a cks h ea r v. St a t e

, 30 9 Ga

. 4 7 9

, 4 83 (8 47 SE2 d 3 1 7 ) (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 ).

H e r e

, w e co n cl u d e t h at a rat i o n al j u ro r co u l d fi n d Fu ll er g ui l t y o f t h e ar m e d

ro b b ery an d as s o ci at ed cri m es

. Fi n g erp ri n t an d DNA ev i den ce p laced Fu l ler an d h i s

c o-d efen d an t s i n s i d e t h e s t o l en To y o t a Cam ry

. Sp eci fi cal ly

, F ulle r ’ s f inge r pr ints w e r e

fo u n d o n t h e ex t eri o r o f t h e dri ver d o o r, th e g as cap co v er, a wat er b ot t l e fo u nd i n s i d e

t h e v eh i cl e, an d t h e pas s en g er d o o r h an d l e. Fu l l er’ s DNA was fo un d o n t h e gear s hi ft

an d th e s t eeri n g w heel

. Pab o n ’ s fi n g erp ri nt s were fo u nd o n a p as s en g er-s i d e d o o r an d

a CD reco vered fro m th e v eh i cl e. Hi l l ’ s fi n g e r p r i n t s were al s o fo u n d o n t h e wat er

b o t t l e al o n g s i d e Fu l l er’ s

, as wel l as d ri v er-s i d e an d p as s en g er-s i d e d o o rs an d t h e CD.

Hi l l ’ s DNA was fo u n d o n t h e g ear s h i ft an d s t eeri n g wh eel as wel l

.

Ad d it i on al l y

, t h e o wn er of t h e v eh i cl e t es ti fi ed t hat s h e di d n o t k no w Fu l l er an d

t h e co -d efen dan t s an d n ev er p ro v i d ed t h em acces s t o h er car, sh o w i n g t h at t here was

n o in n ocen t ex p l an at io n fo r Fu l l er’ s fi n g erp ri n t s an d DNA t o b e fo u nd o n an d i n s i d e

t h e v eh i cl e, i n cl ud i n g o n t h e g as cap

, s t eeri ng w h eel

, an d g ears h ift

. Serg ean t Di x o n

wi t n es s ed t h i s veh i cl e i n t he area o f t h e Ci rcl e K ju s t aft er t h e ro b b ery

, an d o b s erv ed

8t h e veh i cl e fl ee aft er h e t u rn ed o n h i s em erg en cy l i g h t s

, b efo re it cras h ed i n t o a t ree.

Ad d i t i o n al l y, e v i d e n c e co n n ect ed t h e t h ree d efen d an t s to each o t h er an d t o t h e

r o b b e r y i t s el f, i n cl u d i n g cl ot h i n g fo u n d at a res i d en ce wh ere Pab o n s t ay ed wh i c h

m at ch ed t h e cl o t h i n g s een i n t h e v i d eo s fro m t he Ci rcl e K s u rv ei l lan ce cam eras

. An d,

as d es cri b ed ab o v e, th e t h ree d efen d an t s ’ fi n g erp ri n ts an d DNA wer e i n t erm i n g l ed

i n s i d e t h e v eh i cl e, i ncl u d in g o n s p eci fi c o b j ect s

.

Th e ju ry al s o was ab l e t o v i ew t he Ci rcl e K s u rv ei l l an ce fo ot ag e fro m t h e

ro b b ery a n d fro m J an u ary 2 1, t h e d ay b efo re t h e ro b b ery

. Th e ju ro rs were ab l e to

as s es s wh et h er t hes e i n d i v i d u al s wo re s im i l ar cl o t h i n g an d m at ch ed t h e g en eral s i ze

an d d es cri p t io n o f th e ro b b ers

. In t h e J an uary 2 1 fo o tag e, t h e m e n s ’ faces were in

v i ew, an d t h e ju ry was ab l e t o d eci d e wh et h er t h o s e m en res em b led t h e ro b b ers an d

t h e d efen d an t s i n s i d e t h e co u rt ro o m

. See G r i mes v. S t a t e

, 29 1 Ga. A p p

. 58 5

, 5 9 0 -5 9 1,

5 9 4 (2 ) (6 6 2 SE2 d 3 4 6 ) (2 0 08 ) (i d en t if yi n g a s u s p ect fro m a s urv ei l l an ce v i d eo i s

wi t h i n t h e p ro v i n ce o f t h e ju ry ).

Ul t i m at el y

, wh ere th e ju ry h eard t h e St at e’ s e v i d e n c e l i n k i ng Fu l l er t o t h e

s t ol en v eh i cl e an d t h e Ci rcl e K ro b b ery

, a n d wh ere t h ey h eard Fu l l er’ s co u n sel ’ s

arg u m en t t hat t h e St at e h ad no t su ffi ci en t l y i d en t i fi ed t h e m en i n s id e t h e Ci rcl e K, we

can n ot s ay t h at t h e ju ro rs i rrat i o n al l y ch o s e t o co n vi ct Fu l l er of t h e in d i ct ed offen s es

.

9See Mo o n v. S t a t e

, 1 8 7 Ga. Ap p

. 5 5 8

, 5 5 8-5 5 9 (3 7 0 SE2 d 8 0 8 ) (1 9 8 8 ) (af f i rm i n g

b u rg lary co n v i ct i o n b as ed o n ci rcu m st an t ial ev i d en ce wh ere d efen d an t ’ s fi n g erp ri n t s

we r e fo u nd on wi n d ow th ro u g h wh i ch en t ry was gai n ed in to res i d en ce, an d wh ere

t h ere was no i n no cen t ex p l an at i o n p res en t ed a s t o h o w t h ey cam e t o b e t h ere);

Per d o m o v. S t a t e

, 3 0 7 Ga. 6 7 0

, 6 7 3 -6 7 4 (2 ) (8 3 7 SE2 d 7 6 2) (2 02 0 ) (affi rm i n g

co n vi ct i o n s wh ere s us p ect s were n o t p o s i t i v el y i d en t i fi ed b u t “ t h e ju ry h eard d et ai l ed

t e s t i m o n y co n cern in g a t ri o o f arm ed an d m as k ed m en co m m i t t i n g th e cri m e s ”

ch arg ed

, defen d an t ’ s fi n g erp ri n t s were fo u n d o n (an d h e ad m i t t ed t o b ei ng i n s i d e) t h e

v eh icl e seen at t he s cen e of t h e cri m es

, a n d “ t h e o v erwh el m i n g ev i d en ce

d em o n s t rat ed t h at al l o ccu p an t s o f t h e v eh i cl e were in v o l v ed i n t h e cri m e s i n

q u es ti o n ”).

(b ) Fu ll er s p eci fi cal ly co nt es t s his kidna pping c onvic ti o n, arg u in g t hat t h e St at e

fai l ed t o p ro v e as p o rt at io n. W e are u n p ers u ad ed . Gen eral ly , t o p ro ve t h e o ffen s e o f

k i d n ap p i ng

, t h e St at e m

u st p ro v e t h at t h e v ict i m was m o v ed

. O CGA § 1 6 -5 -4 0 (a).

OCGA § 1 6-5 -4 0 (b ) (1 ) p ro v i des t h at ev en s l i g h t m o v em en t s at is fi es t h e as p o rt at i o n

req u i rem en t s o lo ng as t h e m o v em en t i s n o t m erel y i n ci d en t al t o t h e co m m i s s i o n o f

s o m e o t h e r o ffen s e. M o v em en t o f t h e v i ct i m is n o t co n s i d ered m erel y i n ci den t al t o

an o th er o ffen s e i f i t : (a) co n ceal s o r i s o l at es t h e v i ct im

, (b ) m ak es t he co m m i s s i o n o f

10t h e o t h er o ffen se s u bs t an t i al l y eas i er, (c) l es s en s t h e ri s k o f d et ect i o n

, or (d ) i s fo r t h e

p u rp os es o f av o i d i n g ap preh en s i o n . OCGA § 1 6 -5 -4 0 (b ) (2 ) (A)-(D).

In t h i s cas e, aft er t h e ro bb ery was co m m i t t ed

, t h e v i ct i m was fo rced t o s t ri p an d

m o ved o u t s i d e b eh i n d th e s t o re, wh ere s h e w as o rd ered t o l i e d o wn wh il e th e ro b b ers

m ad e t h ei r g et away

. Th i s m o v em en t co n ceal ed h er fro m th e v i ew of an y o n e l o o k i n g

i n t o t h e s t o re, i so l at ed h er fro m o th ers

, an d l es sen ed th e ri s k o f t h e ro b b ers b ei n g

d et ect ed o r ap p re h e n d e d as t h ey fl ed

. W e fi n d t h i s ev i d en ce s u ffi ci en t t o p ro v e t h e

as p o rt at io n el em en t o f k i d nap p i n g

. See Al exa n d er v. S ta t e

, 3 4 8 Ga. Ap p

. 8 5 9

, 8 6 5 (1 )

(b ) (8 2 5 SE2 d 40 5 ) (2 0 19 ) (m o v i n g ro b b ery v i ct im i n t o a b a t hro o m s at i s fi ed t h e

as p o rt at io n el em en t b y

i s o l at in g v ict i m , co n ceal i n g v i ct i m

, an d m ak i n g t h e ro b b ery

s u b s t an t i al l y eas i er); Ta

yl o r v. S t a t e

, 3 4 4 Ga. Ap p

. 12 2

, 1 3 1 (1 ) (g ) (8 0 9 SE2 d 7 6 )

(2 0 1 7) (m o v i n g v i ct i m fro m d o o rway i n t o i n t eri o r ro o m s at is fi ed as p o rt at i o n el em en t

b ecau s e i t “ co n c e a l e d an d is o l at ed [t h e v i ct i m ] fro m an y o n e wh o w ou l d h av e

h ap pen e d b y t h e do o r to t he ap art m en t at t h e t i m e” an d al s o red u ced t h e l i k el i h o o d

t h at t h e ro b b ery

wo ul d b e d et ect ed ).

(c) Fu ll er al so s p ec i fi cal l y co n t es t s hi s th eft b y recei vi ng s t o l en p ro p ert y

co n vi ct i o n

, arg u i n g t h a t t he St at e fai l ed t o p ro v e t h at Fu l l er k n ew th e v eh i cl e was

s t ol en

. Ag ai n

, we are u np ers u ad ed

. Un d er OCGA § 1 6 -8 -7 (a), a p ers on co m m i t s t h e

11o ffen s e o f t h eft b y recei v i n g “ wh en h e recei v es

, d i s p o s es o f, o r ret ai ns st o l en p ro p ert y

wh i ch h e kn o ws o r s ho u l d kn o w wa s s t o l en [.] ” (Em p h as is s u p p l i ed

. )

Fu l l er was i n di ct ed i n d i v i d ual l y an d as a p art y t o t h i s cri m e. “ A p as s en g er in

a s t o l en v eh i cl e m ay b e co n v i ct ed o f t h eft b y recei v i n g i f o t h er ci rcu m s tan ces ex i s t

fro m wh i ch g u i l t y

k n o w l ed g e m ay

b e i n ferred

, su ch as s om e ev i d en ce, ei t h er d i rect

o r ci rcu m s t an t ial t h at t he accu s ed was a p art y to t h e cri m e b y ai d i n g an d ab et t i n g i t s

co m m i s s io n

. ” Ki n g v. S t at e

, 2 6 8 G a. Ap p. 8 1 1

, 8 1 2 (1 ) (6 0 3 SE2 d 88 ) (2 0 0 4 ).

Ev i d en ce i n t h i s cas e s h owed t h at t h e v eh i cl e was s t o l en on Jan u ary 2 0 , a m ere t wo

d ay s befo re t h e ro b b e r y. I n t hat s h o rt t i m e fram e, Fu ll er l eft h i s fi n g erp ri nt s o n t h e

o u t s i d e an d i n si d e of t h e car, an d l eft h i s DNA o n t h e s t eeri n g wh eel an d g ear s h i ft

,

d em o n s t rat i n g hi s p o ss es s i o n an d co n t ro l o f t h e v eh icl e. Th e v eh i cl e’ s o wn er t es t i fi ed

t h at s h e d id n o t k n o w Fu ll er an d h i s co -d efen d an t s

, an d th ere was no i n n o cen t

ex p lan at i o n fo r Fu l l er’ s fi n g erp ri n t s an d DNA b ei n g fo u n d o ut s i d e o r i n s i d e t h e

v eh icl e.

Th ere was ev i d en ce i m

p l y i n g k no wl ed g e t h at t h e v eh i cl e was s t ol en

, i n cl u d i n g

a cel l p h o n e l i n k ed t o Hi l l t h a t w a s u s ed t o cal l ed a car s al v ag er, an d ev i d en ce t h at

t h e m an wh o m ad e t h e cal l t ri ed t o s el l t he v eh i cl e, ad m it t in g t h at he d i d n o t h av e t h e

car’ s ti t l e, an d d es cri b i n g t h e car as “ h o t .” Ad d i t io n al l y

, t h e car h ad a Fl o ri da l i cen s e

12p l at e w i t h a p lat e fram e fro m th e v i ct i m ’ s ch u rch

, an d ad u l t d i ap ers were fo u n d i n t h e

car’ s t ru n k t h at bel o n g ed t o an el d erl y p at i en t of th e v i ct i m ’ s

. Th es e u n us u al d et ai l s

al l o wed th e ju ry t o i n fer t hat Fu l l er h ad kn o wl ed g e th at t h i s car d i d n o t b el o n g t o an y

o f t h e y o un g m en wi t h wh o m h e was d ri v i n g t h e car aro u n d Gl y n n Co u n t y

, G eo rg i a.

See Ki n g

, 2 6 8 Ga. Ap p

. at 8 1 2 (1 ) (i t was o bv i ou s t h at a t ru ck t h e d efen dan t was

ri di n g i n was s t ol en b ecau s e “ t h e i g n i t i o n w as m es sed u p”) (p u n c t u a t i o n o m i t t ed );

S a n d er s v. S t a t e

, 2 0 4 G a. A p p

. 5 4 5

, 5 4 6 (1 ) (a) (4 19 SE2 d 7 5 9) (1 9 9 2 ) (p ers o n al

i t em s o f th e v i ct i m s

, i n cl u d in g p h o t o g rap h s an d i t em s co n t ai n i n g t h ei r n am es

, were

s t rewn ab o u t t h e i n t eri o r o f t h e car, p u t t i n g th e defen d an t on n o t i ce t h at h i s

acco m pl i ce d i d n o t o wn th e c a r )

. T h e refo re, w e affi rm t h e t ri al co urt ’ s d en i al o f

Fu l l er’ s m o t i on fo r n ew t ri al b as ed o n t h e s uffi ci en cy o f t h e ev i d en ce.

2

. Fu l l er al s o rai s es erro r as s o ci at ed wi t h t h e tri al co u rt ’ s ru l i n g t h at h e co u ld

n o t co nt i n u e t o cro s s -ex am in e Pab on

.

(a) Fi rs t

, Fu l l er as s ert s t h at t h e t ri al co u rt co m m i t t ed p l ai n erro r wh en i t cu t o ff

h i s q u e s t i o n i n g o f Pab o n aft er Pab o n co m m u ni cat ed h i s d es ire t o as s ert h i s Fi ft h

Am en d m en t ri gh t t o rem ai n s i len t . Fo r t he reas o ns th at fo l l o w, we d o n o t fi n d p l ai n

erro r.

13Fu l l er arg u es t h at h e was en t i t l ed t o a fu l l an d s i ft i n g cro s s -ex am i n a t i o n o f

Pab on aft er h e was cal l ed as a wi t n es s b y Hi l l

. He co n t en d s t h at t h e erro r affect ed t h e

o u t co m e o f h is t ri al b ecau se Pab o n “ was t h e o n l y wi t n es s wh o to o k t h e s t an d o fferi n g

t es t i m o ny ab o u t wh o was an d was n o t act u al l y i n vo l v ed i n t h e arm ed ro b b ery o f t h e

Ci rcl e K.” He arg u es t hat al l o wi n g Hi l l t o el i ci t t es t im o n y fro m Pab o n t h at Hi l l was

n o t pres en t at t h e ro b bery

, b u t p rev en t in g Fu l l er fro m s e e k i n g th e s am e k i n d o f

t es t i m o ny fro m Pab o n i n h i s fav o r, ex pl ai n s th e d is crep an cy i n t h e v erd i ct s b et ween

Hi l l (m i st ri al ) an d Fu l l er (g u i l ty ).

Fu l l er i s co rrect t h at a d efen d an t has t he ri g h t to a “ t h o ro u g h an d s i ft i n g

cro s s -ex am i n at i o n” an d th at “ [c] ro s s -ex am i n at i o n i s a v i t al co m po n en t o f t h e

co n st i t u t io n al l y p ro t ect ed ri g h t o f t h e accu s ed t o co n fro n t t h e wi t n es s es ag ai n s t h i m .”

S n el l i n g v. S t a te

, 2 1 5 Ga. Ap p

. 2 6 3

, 2 6 4 (1 ) (a) (4 5 0 SE2 d 2 9 9 ) ( 1 9 9 4 )

. H o wev er,

b ecau s e t h e reco rd rev eal s t hat Fu l l er’ s co u n sel m ad e n o o b ject io n t o h er i n ab i l i t y to

fu rt her cro s s -ex am in e Pab o n o r fu rt her co n fro n t Pab o n o n b eh al f of Fu l l er, we ag ree

t h at t h e co rrect s t an dard t o ap p ly o n rev i ew i s p l ai n erro r. See S i mp s o n v. S t a t e

, 3 5 3

Ga. Ap p

. 5 6 8

, 5 7 1 (2 ) (8 3 9 SE2 d 4 7) (2 0 2 0 ) (wh ere d efen dan t di d n o t rai s e

Co n fro n t at i o n Cl au s e arg um en t at t ri al , we rev i ew o n l y fo r p l ai n erro r).

14To s h ow p l ai n erro r, [Fu l l er] m u s t sh o w t h at t h e erro r: (1 ) was n o t

affi rm at iv el y wai v ed ; (2 ) was cl ear an d n o t op en t o reas o n ab l e d i s p u t e;

(3 ) affect ed h i s s u b s t an t i al ri g h t s ; an d (4 ) s eri o u s l y affect ed t h e fai rn es s

,

i n t eg ri t y

, o r p u b l i c rep u tat i o n o f ju d i ci al pro ceed i n gs

. Un d er t he t h i r d

p ro n g o f t h is t es t

, [Fu l l er] m u s t m ak e an affi rm at i v e s h owi n g t hat th e

erro r p ro b ab l y d i d affect t h e o u t co m e b el o w. Sat i s fy i ng al l fo ur p ro n g s

o f t h i s s t an d ard i s d i ffi cu l t

, as i t s h ou l d b e.

Id . (ci t at i o n an d p u n ct uat i o n o m i t t ed ).

In t h is cas e, t h e t ri al co urt co nced ed i n i t s o rd er o n Fu ll er’ s m o t i on fo r n ew t ri al

t h at i t co m

m i t t ed erro r b y al l o wi n g Pab o n t o as s ert h i s Fi ft h Am e n d m e n t ri g h t to

rem ai n s il en t wi t h o u t ex am i n i n g wh et h er h is t es t i m o n y m ay h av e s u b je c t e d h i m to

p ro s ecu ti o n fo r s o m e o t h er o ffen s e. An d we ag ree.

Al t h ou g h Pab on h ad p l ead ed g u i lt y

, h e h ad no t y et b een s en t en ced

, s o h e l i k el y

was en t it l ed t o as s ert hi s Fi ft h Am en d m en t ri g h t t o rem ai n s il en t

. See S h ea l ey v. S t a t e

,

3 0 8 Ga. 8 4 7

, 8 5 2 (2 ) (b ) (8 4 3 SE2 d 8 64 ) (2 0 2 0 ) (ci ti n g Mi t ch el l v. Un it ed St a t es

, 5 2 6

U. S. 3 1 4

, 3 2 6 (1 19 SCt 13 0 7

, 1 4 3 LE2 d 4 2 4) (1 9 9 9 ), fo r th e p ro po s it i o n t h at “ a

d efen d an t ’ s Fi ft h Am en d m en t p ri v i l eg e aga inst se lf

- inc r im in at i o n i s n o t ex t i n g u i s h ed

b y t h e en t ry o f a g ui lt y p l ea bu t rat h er m ay b e as s ert ed at l eas t u n ti l s en t en ci n g ”).

“ W h en t h e wi t n es s m an i fes t s h i s i n t en ti o n t o cl ai m Fi ft h A m en d m en t p ro t ect i o n

, t h e

co u rt m u st co nd uct a h eari n g o u t s i d e th e pres en ce o f t h e ju ry t o d et erm i ne wh et h er

15t h e t es t i m o n y t h e St at e s eek s t o e l i c i t p ot en t i al l y co ul d in cri m i n at e t h e w i t n es s .”

Pa r ro t t v. St a t e

, 2 0 6 Ga. Ap p

. 8 2 9

, 8 3 2 (2 ) (4 2 7 SE2 d 2 7 6 ) (1 9 9 2 ). See al so Br o wn

v. S t at e

, 2 9 5 Ga. 8 0 4, 8 0 9 (5 ) (a) (7 6 4 SE2 d 3 7 6 ) (2 01 4 ) (s am e p ro ces s ap p l ied wh en

a cri m i n al d efen d an t i n t en ded t o cal l wi t n es s). It i s cl ear th at t h e co u rt fai l e d to

co n du ct s u ch an i n q u i ry i n Fu l ler’ s cas e.

Ho wev er, we can n o t co n cl u d e th at t h e erro r in th i s cas e p ro b ab l y d i d affect t h e

o u t co m e b el o w. Al t h o ug h Pab o n s h o u l d n o t h av e b een ex cu sed fro m t h e wi t n es s

s t an d wi t h o u t fu rt her i n q ui ry

, i t i s cl ear fro m th e reco rd th at h e di d n o t wan t to an s wer

fu rt her q u es ti o n s fro m Fu l l er’ s co u ns el

. Pab o n ’ s at t o rn ey was co n ti nu o u s l y ad v i s i n g

Pab on t o r em ai n si l en t

, an d Pab o n rep eat ed m u l t i p l e t i m es t h at h e d id no t i n t en d to

an s wer an y m o re q u es t i o n s

. “ [A] n u n an s wered q u es t i o n d oes n o t fu rn i s h g ro u n d s fo r

a m i s tri al .” W

i l la rd v. S ta t e

, 2 4 4 G a

. A p p

. 4 6 9

, 4 7 2 (1 ) (b ) (5 3 5 SE2 d 82 0 ) (2 0 0 0 )

(ci t at i o n an d p u n ct u at i o n om i t t ed ). In st ead

, “ (w)h en a wi t n es s d ecl i n es t o an s wer o n

cro s s ex am i n at i o n cert ai n p ert i n en t q u es t i on s rel ev an t to a m at ter t es t i fi ed ab o u t b y

t h e wi t n es s o n d irect ex am i n at i o n

, al l o f th e wi t n es s ’ t es t i m on y o n t h e s am e s u b ject

m at t er s h o u ld b e s tri ck en .” Mer c e r v

. S t a t e

, 2 8 9 Ga. Ap p

. 6 06

, 6 0 8 -6 09 (2 ) (6 5 8

SE2 d 1 7 3) (2 0 0 8 ) (ci t at i o n

, pu n ct u at i o n

, an d em ph as i s o m it t ed ). See al s o C o d y v.

S t a t e

, 2 7 8 Ga. 7 7 9, 7 8 0 -7 8 1 (2 ) (6 0 9 SE2 d 3 2 0 ) (2 0 04 ) (“ If t he wi t n es s’ s refu s al to

16an s wer (wh et h e r be c a use the a ns wer co u l d i ncri m in at e o r becau s e th e wi t n es s v i o l at es

t h e co u rt ’ s o rd er t o an s wer) d en i es a p art y a t h oro u g h an d s i ft i n g cro ss -ex am i n at i o n

o f t h e s p eci fi cs o f t h e wi tn es s ’ s t es t i m o n y o n d irect

, t h en t h e t ri al co u rt i s au t h o ri zed

t o s t ri k e t h at wi t n es s ’ s d i r e ct t es t i m o n y .”). Th erefo re, h ad t h e co u rt fo l l o wed t h e

p ro p er pro ced u re, Fu l l er wo u ld s t i l l n o t h av e b een en t i tl ed t o t h e t es ti m o n y h e d es i red

fro m Pab o n; h e wo ul d h av e been en t i tl ed m erel y t o s t ri k i n g Pab on ’ s t es t i m o n y t h at

Hi l l was n o t wi t h h i m

d u ri n g t h e ro b b ery

. See Ma bl e v. S t a te

, 2 6 1 G a. 3 79 , 3 8 1 (2 )

(4 0 5 SE2 d 4 8) (1 9 91 ) (fai l ure t o s tri k e t es t i m on y of wi t n es s was h arm l es s

, wh ere

ev i d en ce o f g u i l t was o verwh el m i n g ). Th u s

, we can n o t fi n d p l ai n erro r i n t h i s cas e.

(b ) Al t ern at i v el y

, Fu ll er as s ert s t h at t ri al co u n s el w as i n effect i v e fo r fai l i n g to

o b jec t wh en t h e t ri al co u rt al lo wed Pab o n t o b e ex cu s ed as a wi tn es s ; an d i n s o

fai l i n g , t h ereb y

“ acq ui es ced t o t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s erro n eo u s d eci s i o n .” W e d i s ag ree.

To p rev ai l on a cl ai m o f i n effect iv e as si st an ce o f c o un s el

, Fu l l er m u s t p ro v e

b o t h t hat h i s l awy er’ s p erfo rm an ce w as d efi ci en t an d t h at h e s uffered p reju d i ce as a

res u l t o f t h i s d efi ci en t p erfo rm an c e

. S t ri ckl a nd v. W a s h i n g t o n

, 4 6 6 U. S. 6 6 8

, 6 8 7

(III) (1 0 4 SCt 2 0 5 2

, 8 0 LE2 d 6 7 4 ) (1 9 8 4 )

. “ If [Fu l l er] can n o t m eet h i s bu rd en o f

p ro v in g ei th er p ro n g o f th e S t r i ckl a n d t es t

, t h en we n eed n o t ex am in e t h e o t h er

p ro n g.” Ca u s ey v. S t a te

, 3 1 9 G a

. A p p

. 8 4 1

, 8 4 2 (7 38 SE2 d 6 7 2 ) (2 0 13 ). “ Th e t ri al

17co u rt ’ s d et erm i n at i o n t h at an accu s ed h as n ot b een den i ed effect i v e as s i s t a n c e o f

co u ns el wi ll b e affi rm ed on ap p eal u n l es s t h at d et erm i nat i o n i s cl earl y erro n eo u s .”

Jo h n s o n v. S t a t e

, 2 1 4 G a. Ap p

. 7 7

, 7 8 (1 ) (4 4 7 SE2 d 7 4 ) (1 9 9 4 ) (ci t at i o n s an d

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

Pret erm it t i n g w h et h er t ri al co u n s el ’ s fai l u re t o o b ject co n s t i t u t es d efi ci en t

p erfo rm an ce, we ag ree wi t h t h e t ri al co u rt t h at Fu l l er can n o t d em o n s t rat e t h at h e was

p reju d i ced b y co u n s el ’ s act i o n s

. As d i s cu s s ed ab o ve, ev en h ad co u n s el s u cces s fu l l y

o b ject ed t o Pab o n ’ s refu s al t o an s wer h er q u es ti o n s , t h e p ro p er rem ed y wo u l d h av e

b een t o s t ri k e h i s prev i o u s t es t im o n y ab o u t wh o was wi t h Pab o n du ri n g t h e ro b b ery

.

Mer cer

, 2 8 9 G a. Ap p

. at 6 0 8-6 09 (2 ). No n e o f Pab o n’ s t es ti m o n y was i n cri m i n at i n g

as t o Fu l ler, s o s t ri k i n g i t was n o t l i k el y t o h av e ch an g ed t h e res u l t o f Fu l l er’ s t ri al

.

Ju d g men t a f f i r m ed . Ba r nes , P. J., a n d

Ma r kl e, J., co n cu r

.

18