FOURTH D I VI SI ON DOYLE, P. J.

, COOM ER and M A R KLE, 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

Jul y 9, 2019



# I n th e Co u r t o f

A p p eals o f

G eo r g ia

A1 9 A0 88 9 . CHAM BERS v . THE STATE.

P E R C U R I A M

.

Co n vi ct ed of po s s es s i on o f co cai n e w i t h i n t e n t t o d i s t ri b ut e, Ro b ert Ken zi e

Ch am b ers ap p eal s , co n t en d i n g t h at (1 ) t h e t ri al co u rt erred i n den y i n g h is m o t i o n to

s u p p res s b ecau s e h i s d et en t i o n was n o t ju s ti fi ed b y ex i g en t ci rcu m s tan ces , an d (2 ) h i s

t ri al co un s el ren d ered i n effect i v e as s i st an ce i n f a i l i n g t o req u es t a ju ry ch arg e o n

s i m p l e p o s s es s i o n . Fo r t h e reas o n s t h at fo ll o w, we affi rm

.

Vi ewed i n t h e l ig ht m o s t fav o rab l e t o t h e v erd i ct

, 1 t h e ev i d en ce s ho ws t h at in

J an u ary 2 0 0 9

, an ag en t wi t h t h e Oco n ee D ru g Tas k Fo rce recei v ed a t i p fro m an

u n p ai d co n fi den t i al i nfo rm an t

. Th e ag en t h ad k no wn t h e i n fo rm an t fo r fi v e y ears , t h e

i n fo rm an t ’ s prev i o u s t ip s had res u l t ed i n t en t o fi ft een arres t s , an d t h e i n fo rm an t h ad

1 Ja cks o n v. Vi r

gi n i a , 4 4 3 U. S. 3 07 (9 9 SCt 2 7 8 1 , 6 1 LE2 d 5 6 0 ) (1 9 7 9 ).n ev er gi v en t h e ag en t fal s e i nfo rm at i on

. Th e ag en t co n t act ed m em b ers o f l o cal l aw

e n f o rcem en t an d rel ay ed t h e t i p: Ch am b ers was t rav el i n g t o hi s res i den ce i n a g o l d

Fo rd Ex p l o rer d ri v en b y

h i s g i rl fri en d an d he wo u l d b e carry i n g a l arg e q u an t i t y o f

cr a c k co cai n e. Th e ag en t as k ed an offi cer wi t h t h e Hel en a Po l i ce Dep art m en t t o b e

o n t he l o o k o u t fo r Ch am b ers an d t o d et ai n h im

. T h e o ff i c e r d r o v e to Ch am

b ers ’ s

res i den ce an d o b s erv ed Ch am b ers ’ s g i rl fri en d p u l l i n t o t h e d ri v eway i n a g o ld

Ex p lo rer, wi t h Ch am

b ers i n t h e p as s en g er s eat

.

Th e o ffi cer ap p ro ach ed th e p as s en g er si d e of t h e v e h i cl e an d t o ld Ch am b ers

an d hi s g i r l f

r i e n d t o p u t t h ei r h an d s o n th e das h

. M ean w h i l e, s ev eral teen ag ers

g at h ered aro u n d t he v eh icl e. Ch am b ers reach ed i n t o h i s p an t s , p u l l ed o u t a g ray cl o th

b ag , t hrew t h e b ag o u t t h e wi n d o w o f t h e v eh i cl e t o hi s s o n , an d t o ld h i m t o ru n

. Th e

o ffi cer as k ed fo r t h e bag

, an d Ch am b ers ’ s s o n h a n d ed i t t o t h e o ffi cer. Th e b ag

co n tai n ed n um ero u s p i eces of s u s pect ed crack co cai n e, t h ree b ag s o f su s p ect ed

p o wd er co cai n e, an d n u m ero u s sm al l b ag g i es

. Su b s eq uen t t es t i n g s h o wed t h e

s u s p ect ed n arco t i cs t o b e 1 2 .6 7 g ram s o f co cai n e.

Pri o r to t ri al

, Ch am

b ers fi l ed a m o t i on t o s up p res s , arg u i n g t h at t here was n o

p ro b ab l e cau s e fo r t he s t op

. T h e m o t i o n was d en i ed fro m t h e b en ch f o l lo wi n g a

h eari n g

.

2At t ri al

, t h e ag en t t es t i fi ed t h at t h e s t reet v al u e o f t he d ru gs was ap p ro x i m at el y

$ 1 ,2 6 7 an d

, bas ed o n hi s ex p eri en ce, Ch am b ers d i d n o t p os s es s th e d ru g s fo r p ers o n al

u s e. In h i s d efen se, Ch am b ers t es t i fi ed an d d en ied o wn i n g t h e b ag

. He fu rt h er

t es t i fi ed t h at h e had g i v en a ri d e t o a m an he k n ew, w h o h a d l e ft t h e b ag in h i s car,

an d ex p lai n ed t hat h e t h rew th e b ag ou t o f t h e wi n d o w so t h at h i s s o n co u ld t h ro w i t

away

.

A ju ry

co n v i ct ed Ch am

b ers o f p os s es si o n wi t h i n t en t t o d i s t ri bu t e. He t i m el y

fi l e d a m o t i o n fo r n ew t ri al i n 2 0 1 0

, wh i ch was n o t d en ied u n t i l 2 01 8

. Th i s ap p eal

fo l l o w s

. 2

2 Ch am b ers ’ s t ri al to o k p l a ce o n No v em b er 1 6

, 2 0 10

, an d t h e ju d g m en t o f

co n vi ct i o n was en t ered t h at s am e day

. Tri al co u n s e l f i l e d a m o t i o n fo r n ew t ri al o n Decem b er 1 3, 2 01 0

. In 2 0 12

, Ch am bers fi l ed a p ro s e m o t i o n fo r n ew co u n sel an d a

p ro s e am en d ed m o t i o n fo r n ew t ri al

, rai si n g , fo r t h e f i r s t t i m e, h i s cl ai m fo r i n effect i v e as s i s t an ce. On Oct o b er 3 0

, 2 0 12

, Ch am b er s ’s c urren t co u n s el fi l ed an

en t ry o f ap p earan ce. On No v em b er 1

, 20 1 2

, Ch am

b ers fi l ed a p ro s e req u es t fo r a h eari n g o n h i s m o t io n fo r n ew t ri al an d a bri ef i n s u p p o rt o f h is m o t i o n

. No h eari n g

was s et

. On J ul y 1 8

, 2 0 1 4

, Ch am b ers ag ai n fi l ed h i s pro s e am en ded m o t i o n fo r n ew

t ri al

. On Au g u s t 2 2, 2 0 1 6

, Ch am b ers s en t a l et t er t o t h e cl erk o f co urt

, i n q u i ri n g ab o ut
h i s m o ti o n fo r n ew t ri al

. Rat he r t h a n s e t t i ng t h e m at t er fo r a h eari n g , t h e cl erk

ret u rn ed Ch am

b ers ’ s p ro s e m ot i o n s t o h i m an d s u g g es t ed t hat h e d i rect an y fu rt h er

q u es ti o n s t o h is “ fo rm er at to rn ey ”

– wh o s t i l l rep res en t s h i m t o d ay

– or t h e d i s t ri ct

at t o rn ey

. At s o m e p o in t i n t h e i n t erv en i n g y ears , th e ju dg e w h o pres i d ed o v er Ch am b ers ’ s t ri al ret i red

. Ap p aren t l y , i t was n o t u n t i l t h e Su prem e Co u rt ’ s d i rect i v e i n Owen s v. S t a t e , 3 0 3 Ga. 2 5 4 (8 1 1 SE2 d 4 2 0 ) (2 0 1 8 ), t h at th e cl erk o f co u rt rev i ewed t h e cri m i n al cas e fi les

, “ d i s co v ered ” t h at Ch am b ers ’ s m otion r e m ai n ed p en d i ng , an d referred t h e m at t er

31 . Ch am b ers co n t en d s t h at t he t ri al co u rt erred i n d en y in g h is p ret ri al m o t i o n

t o s u p p res s b e cau s e, ev en if t h e o ffi cer had p ro b ab le cau se to d et ai n h i m , h i s

d et en t i o n was n o t ju s t i fi ed b y ex i g en t ci rcu m s t an ces

.

I n r e v i ewi n g a t ri al co u rt ’ s ru l i n g o n a m o t i o n t o s u p p res s , t h i s Co u rt m us t

co n st ru e t h e reco rd i n t h e l i g h t m o s t fav o rab l e to t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s fact ual fi n di n g s an d

ju d g m en t

, an d “ al l rel ev an t ev i d en ce o f reco rd

, i ncl u d in g ev i d en ce i nt ro d u ced at t ri al

,

as wel l as ev i d en ce i n tro du ced at t h e m o t i o n t o s u p p res s h eari n g, m ay be co n si d ered .”

Pi t t m a n v. S t a t e , 2 8 6 Ga. Ap p

. 4 1 5

, 4 1 6 (6 5 0 SE2 d 3 0 2 ) (2 0 0 7 ) (p u n ct u at i o n

o m it t ed ). Th e t ri al j u d ge si t s as t h e tri e r o f fact an d it s “ fi n d i n g s bas ed u p o n

t o a ju d g e fo r a h eari n g

. See i d

. at 26 0 (4 ); U n i fo rm Su p eri o r Co u rt R u l e 3 9

. 3

. 1

. Fi n al l y , t h e co u rt s et Ch am b ers ’ s m o t i o n fo r n ew tri al fo r a heari ng o n A u g u s t 1 6,

2 0 1 8

, wh i ch was res ch ed ul ed t o Sep tem ber 1 9

, 2 0 1 8

, aft er t h e Dep art m en t o f

Co rrect i o n s fai l ed t o p ro d u ce h i m fo r t h e A u g u s t h eari n g

. In t h e m ean t i m e, Ch am b ers fi led a co u ns el ed am en d ed m o t i o n fo r n ew t ri al

. Fo l l o wi n g th e h eari n g , Ch am b ers ’ s

m o ti o n fo r n ew t ri al was d en i ed o n Oct o b er 4

, 20 1 8

. Th e cas e was d ock et ed i n t h i s Co u rt o n Decem

b er 4 , 2 01 8

. Su ffi ce t o say , “ [t ] h i s so rt o f ex t rao rd i nary p os t -co n v i ct i o n , p re-ap p eal d el ay

p u t s at ri s k t h e ri g ht s o f d efen d an t s an d cri m e v ict i m s an d t he v al i d i t y o f co n v i ct i on s

o b t ai n ed aft er a fu l l tri al

. It i s t h e d u t y o f al l t h o se i nv o lv ed in t h e cri m in al ju s t i ce

s y s t em , i n cl u d i n g t ri al co u rt s a n d p r o secu t o rs as wel l as d efen s e co u n s el an d

d efen d an t s , t o en s ure t h at t h e ap p ro p ri at e p o st -co nv i ct i o n m o t i o n s are fi led

, l i t i g at ed

,

an d d eci d ed wi t h o u t u n n eces s ary d el ay .” Mo r g a n v. S t a t e , 2 90 G a. 7 8 8

, 78 9 n .2 (7 2 5

SE2 d 2 5 5) (2 0 1 2 ) (ci t at i o n an d p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed ). Nev ert hel es s , t h i s d el ay d o es

n o t affect t h e o u t co m e o f t h is ap p eal as Ch am b ers h a s as s ert ed no erro r as s o ci at ed

wi t h i t

. See i d

.

4co n fl i ct i n g ev id en ce are an al o g o u s t o t h e v erd i ct o f a ju ry an d sh o ul d n o t b e d i s t u rb ed

b y a rev i ewi n g co u rt i f th ere i s an y ev i d en ce t o s u p p ort t h em .” Br own v. St a t e , 2 9 3

Ga. 78 7

, 8 0 2 -8 0 3 (3 ) (b ) (2 ) (7 5 0 SE2 d 1 4 8 ) (2 0 13 ) (p u n ct uat i o n o m i t ted ). “ A t ri al

co u rt ’ s ru l i n g on a m o t i on t o s u p p res s wi l l b e u p h el d i f i t i s ri gh t fo r an y reas o n.”

Bu r kes v. S t a t e , 3 4 7 Ga. Ap p . 7 9 0 , 7 9 1 (1 ) (8 2 1 SE2 d 3 3) (2 01 8 ).

Here, t h e t ri a l co u rt fo u n d t h at t h e i n fo rm an t ’ s t i p was rel i ab l e an d

co rro b o rat ed b y t h e o ffi cer’ s o b s erv at i o n s o n th e s cen e, s u ch t h at t h ere was p ro b ab l e

cau s e t o arres t Ch am

b ers

. W i t h o u t m ak i n g an y ad d i ti o n al fact u al fi nd i n g s , t h e co u rt

al s o fo u n d “ ex i g en t ci rcu m s t an ces [.] ”

Gen eral ly

, t h e Fo urt h A m en d m en t p ro h ib i t s w arran t l es s s earch es u nl es s “ t h ey

fal l w i t hi n a wel l -es t ab l is h ed ex cep t i o n t o t h e warran t req u i rem en t

, i n cl u d i n g

s earch es co n d u ct ed p u rs uan t t o co n s en t

, t h e ex i s t en ce o f ex ig en t ci rcu m s t an ces , an d

s earch es in ci d en t t o a l awfu l arres t .” S t a t e v. Tu r ner , 3 0 4 Ga. 3 5 6

, 3 5 9 (1 ) (8 1 8 SE2 d

5 8 9 ) (2 01 8 ) (p un ct u at i on o m i t t ed ). Ho wev er, Fo u rt h Am en d m en t ri g ht s are p ers o n al

,

an d

, as s uch

, “ a d efen d an t m ay m o v e to s u p p res s ev i d en ce o b t ai n ed th ro u g h an i l l eg al

s earch an d s ei zu re on l y wh en hi s own ri g h t s were v i o l at ed .” Jo n es v. S t a t e , 3 2 0 Ga.

Ap p . 6 8 1 , 6 8 5 (2 ) (7 4 0 SE2 d 6 5 5 ) (2 0 1 3 ) (p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed ).

5In t hi s cas e, t h e u n p ai d i n fo rm an t h ad a h is t o ry o f p ro vi d i n g rel i ab l e

i n fo rm at i o n t o t h e ag en t

, an d th e i n fo rm an t ’ s t i p was co rr o b o r at ed b y t h e o ffi cer’ s

o b s erv at i o n at t he s cen e t hat Ch am bers was t rav el i n g t o h i s h o m e i n t h e p as s en g er

s eat o f h i s g o l d Ex p l o rer d ri v en b y h i s g i rl fri en d

. “ W h en co u p l ed wi t h co rro b o rat i o n

b y t h e p ers on al o b s erv at i o n o f a p o l i ce o ffi cer, a rel i ab l e i n fo rm an t ’ s ti p i s su ffi ci en t

t o es t ab l i s h p ro b ab l e cau s e fo r a warran t l es s s earch .” W el l s v. S ta t e , 2 12 Ga. Ap p

. 6 0,

6 3 (2 ) (4 4 1 SE2 d 4 6 0 ) (1 9 9 4 ). Acco rd i n g l y , t h e o ffi cer h ad p ro b ab l e cau s e t o d et ai n

Ch am b ers . See i d

.

M o reo v er, up o n ap p ro ach i n g t he ve hic le

, the of f ic e r or dered Ch am

bers t o p l ace

h i s h an d s o n t h e d as h

, b u t in s t ead Ch am b ers th rew t h e b ag o u t o f t he wi n d o w

. As o u r

Su p rem e Co u rt has ex p l ai n ed

, “ ab s en t ph y s i cal fo rce,” an en co u nt er wi t h a p o l i ce

o ffi cer i s n o t co n s i d ered a s ei zu re u n d er t h e F o u rt h Am en d m en t

, u nl es s t h ere i s

“ s u b m i s s i o n t o t h e as s ert io n o f au t h o ri t y .” S t a t e v. W al ker

, 2 9 5 G a

. 8 8 8, 8 9 1 (7 6 4

SE2 d 8 0 4 ) (2 0 1 4 ). Becau s e Ch am b ers d i d n o t co m

p l y wi t h t h e o ffi cer’ s co m

m an d,

h i s ab an d o n m en t o f t h e b ag w as n o t t h e fru i t o f an y s ei zu re, an d th ere was n o n eed

t o s up p res s t h e b ag

. See i d.; S i ms v. S t a t e , 2 5 8 G a

. Ap p

. 6 6 2

, 66 3 (5 7 4 SE2 d 8 7 9 )

(2 0 0 2) (affi rm i n g d en ial of m o t i o n t o s u p p res s wh en defen d an t t h re w a w ay b ag

co n tai n i n g co cai n e b efo re s ub m i t t i n g t o o ffi cer’ s req u es t).

6Fi n al l y , t o t h e ex t en t t h at Ch am b ers ch al l en g es th e offi cer’ s au t h o ri ty to s earch

t h e b ag , “ wh en t h e accu s ed d i s av o ws o wn ers h i p o f o r o t h er leg i t i m at e p o s s e s s o ry

i n t eres t i n th e i tem s earch ed

, h e h as no l eg i t i m at e ex p ect at i o n o f p ri v acy i n t h at i t em ,

an d t h us a s earch v i o lat es n o ri g h t .” S ca n d ret t v. S t a t e , 2 4 4 Ga. Ap p. 2 0 0

, 2 0 1 (5 3 4

SE2 d 9 0 8 ) (2 0 0 0 ) (p u n c t u a t i o n o m i t t ed ). Ch am b ers t es t i fi ed t h at t h e b ag d i d n ot

b el o n g t o h i m

. As s u ch

, he had n o l eg i t i m at e ex p ect at i o n o f p ri v acy i n i t an d l ack ed

s t an d i n g t o ch al l en g e i ts s earch

. See D u n ca n v. S t at e , 3 4 6 Ga. Ap p

. 7 7 7

, 7 8 4 (2 ) (8 1 5

SE2 d 2 9 4 ) (2 0 1 8) (h o l d i n g t h at d efen d an t h ad n o l eg i t i m at e ex p ect at i o n o f p ri v acy

i n b ag an d l ack ed s t an di n g t o ch al l en g e s earch o f b ag w hen h e co nt en d ed t h at

s o m eo n e el s e o wn ed b ag ); S ca n d r et t

, 2 4 4 Ga. A p p

. at 2 0 1 (affi rm i n g d en ial of m o t i o n

t o s u pp res s wh en defen d an t d en i ed an y p o s s es s o ry i n t eres t i n t h e b ag th at was

s earch ed ).

Ul t i m at el y , t h e co n t en ts o f t he b ag were ad m i s s i b l e, an d t h e t ri al co u rt d i d n ot

err i n d en y i n g Ch am

b ers ’ s m o t i o n t o s up p res s. 3

3 In h i s b ri ef, Ch am

b ers arg u es t h at n o “ ex i g en t ci rcu m s tan ces ” j u s ti fi ed h i s d et en t i o n , b u t t h i s arg u m en t i s n o t p ers u as iv e. As a g en eral m at t er, ex i g en t
ci rcu m s t an ces are u s ed to ju st i fy warran t l es s en t ry i n t o a h o us e wh en , i n t er al i a, an

o ffi cer reas o nab l y fears t h e i m m i n en t d es t ru ct i o n o f ev i d en ce. Ja mes v. S t a t e , 2 9 4 Ga. Ap p

. 6 5 6

, 6 5 9 (6 7 0 SE2 d 18 1 ) (2 0 08 ). Here, t here w as n o e n try i n to Ch am b ers ’ s h o u s e or veh icl e p ri o r to the d i s co v ery o f t h e b ag

. Nev ert h el es s , p ret erm it t i n g wh et h er

ex i g en t ci rcu m s t an ces h av e an y ap p li cat i o n i n t h i s cas e, t h e offi cer co u l d h av e

72

. Ch am b ers al s o arg u es t h at h i s t ri al co u n s el p ro v i d ed i neffect i v e as s i s t an ce

b y fai l i n g t o req u es t a j ury ch arg e o n s i m pl e p o s s e s s i o n o f co cai n e as a l es s eri n cl u d ed o ffen se o f p o s s es s i o n wi t h i nt en t t o d i s tri b ut e.

In o rd er t o prev ai l o n a cl ai m o f i n effect i v e as s is t an ce, Ch am b ers m u s t s h o w

b o t h t hat co u n s el ’ s p erfo rm an ce was d efi ci en t an d th at t h e d efi ci en cy preju d i ced h i m

s u ch t h at t h ere i s a reas o n ab l e p ro b ab i l it y t h at

, b u t fo r t h e d efi ci en cy , t h e o u t co m e o f

h i s t ri al wo u l d h av e been d i fferen t

. Gr a nt v. S t a t e , 2 9 5 Ga. 1 2 6 , 1 3 0 (5 ) (7 5 7 SE2 d

8 3 1 ) (2 0 14 ) (ci t i n g S t r i ckl a nd v. W a s h i n g t o n , 4 6 6 U. S. 6 6 8 (1 0 4 SCt 2 0 52

, 8 0 LE2 d

6 7 4 ) (1 9 8 4 )). “ Th ere is a s tro n g p res u m p t i o n t hat t ri al co u n s el p ro v i d ed effect i v e

rep res en t at i o n an d

, as a g en eral ru l e, m at t ers o f reas o n ab l e t ri al t act i cs an d s t rat eg y ,

wh et h er wi s e o r u n wi s e , do n o t am ou n t t o i neffect i v e as s i st an ce of co u n s el .”

Ri ch a r ds o n v. S ta t e , 2 7 6 Ga. 54 8

, 5 5 2 (3 ) (5 8 0 SE2 d 2 2 4) (2 0 0 3 ). O n rev i ew, we

d efer to t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s fact ual fi n d i n g s an d cred ib i l i t y d et erm i n at i o ns u n l es s cl earl y

erro neo u s , b u t we rev i ew i t s l eg al co n cl u si o n s d e n o v o

. Gr a n t , 2 9 5 Ga. at 1 3 0 (5 ).

At t h e h eari n g o n t h e m o t i o n fo r n ew t ri al

, co u n s el t es t i f i e d t h at h e d i d n ot

req u es t a ju ry

ch arg e o n s im

p l e p o s s es s i o n b ecau s e Ch am b ers was no t i n t eres t ed i n

reas on ab l y feared t h e d es t ru ct i o n o f ev i den ce, i n l i g h t o f t h e t i p , t h e teen ag ers

s u rro u n d i n g t h e v eh i cl e, an d t h e fact t h at Ch am b ers act ual l y t h rew t h e bag o u t o f t h e

v eh icl e. See i d

.

8s erv i ng an y p ri s o n t i m e. T o t h at en d

, Ch am b ers refu s ed a p l ea o ffer. W i t h t h i s in

m i n d

, co u n s el b el i ev ed t h at t h e o n ly ch an ce fo r an acq u it t al was t o fo rce t h e St at e to

m eet i t s b u rd en o f s h o w i n g p o ss es si o n wi t h i n t en t t o di s t ri b u t e, as o p p o s ed t o s i m p l e

p o s s es s i o n

.

Th e u n d i sp u t ed ev i d en ce at tri al was t h at t h e b a g co n t ai n ed 1 2.6 7 g ram s o f

co cai n e an d t h at t he co cai n e was n o t p o s s es s ed fo r p ers on al u s e. No tab l y , th ere was

n o ev i d en ce t o s u p p o rt p os s es si o n o f a s m al ler am o u n t o f co cai n e. M o reo v er, t ri al

co u ns el ’ s d eci s i o n n ot t o req u es t a ju ry ch arg e o n a l es s er-i n cl u d ed o ffen s e i n o rd er

t o pu rs u e an al l -o r-n o t hi n g d efen s e was a m at t er o f t ri al s t rat eg y

. See Al l en v. S t a t e ,

2 8 6 Ga. Ap p

. 4 6 9

, 4 7 4 ( 2 ) (b ) (6 49 SE2 d 5 8 3 ) (2 0 07 ). Acco rd i n g l y , Ch am b ers h as

n o t s h o wn t h at h i s co u n s el was i n effect i ve.

Ju d g men t a f f i r m ed . Di vi s i o n Per

Cu r i a m. Al l

Ju d g es co n cu r

.

9