FI FTH DI VI SI ON

PHI PPS, P. J.

, DI LLA RD and PETERSON, 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

October 25, 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 94 4 . M CGLOTHLIN v . THE STATE.

P H I P P S , Pres i d i n g J u dg e.

A j u ry fo un d To by A n t ho n y M cGl o t hl i n g u i l t y o f en t i ci ng a ch il d fo r i n d ecen t

p u rp os es an d ch i l d m o l es t at i o n

. He ap p eal s, arg u i n g t h at t he St at e fai led t o d i s cl o s e

ex cu lp at o ry i n fo rm at i o n reg ard i n g an i n fo rm an t an d t h at h e recei v ed i n effect i v e

as s i s tan ce o f co u n s el at t ri al . Fo r reas o n s t h at fo ll o w, we affi rm

.

Co n st ru ed fav o r a b l y t o t h e ju ry ’ s v erd i ct

, 1 t h e ev i d en ce s ho ws t h at i n 2 0 0 4,

M cGl o th l i n b eg an li v i ng w i t h M ari a Berg en er, h er hu s ban d, an d t hei r s i x -y ear-o ld

s o n , J

. B., wh o h ad b een ad o p t e d o u t o f fo s t er care. As part o f h i s res p on s i b i l i ti es

1 See Al -Ami n v. S ta t e , 2 7 8 Ga. 7 4 (1 ) (5 9 7 SE2 d 3 3 2 ) (2 0 0 4) (“ On ap p eal fro m

a cri m in al co n v i ct i o n , we v i ew t h e ev i d en ce i n a l i g h t m o s t fav o rab l e to t h e v erd i ct

,

an d t h e d efen d an t n o l o n g er en jo y s t he p res u m

p t io n o f i n n o c e n ce.”) (ci t at i o n

o m it t ed ).aro u n d th e h ou se, M cGl o t h l i n h el p ed Berg en er wi t h J

. B., b ab y s it t in g an d g et t i n g h i m

read y fo r b ed . On t h es e o ccas i on s , M cGl ot h l i n was al o n e wi t h t h e ch i l d.

In Au g u s t 2 0 0 4, Berg en er at t en d ed a co u n s el i n g s es si o n w it h J

. B. to ad d res s

i s s u e s h e h ad wi t h h i s bi rt h m o t h er. J

. B. in q ui red d u ri n g t he ses s i o n wh et h er h e

“ co u l d t el l a s ecret .” He t h en s t at ed : “ To b y as k ed m e t o pee i n h is m o u t h.” Fo l l o wi n g

t h e s es s i o n , J

. B. t ol d Berg en er t h at

, wh i l e g i vi n g h i m a b at h

, M cGl o t h li n h ad was h ed

h i s p en i s , as k i ng h i m

i f h e l i ked i t wh en M cGl o t h l i n p u t s oap o r l o t i o n o n h i s p en i s

i n d ifferen t w ay s

. Berg en er an d h er h u s b an d s a t d o wn wi t h J

. B. s h o rt ly aft er t h e

o u t cry , s eek i n g ad d i t i o n al det ai l s

. A t t h at po i n t

, J

. B. d i scl o s ed t h at McGl ot h l i n h ad

al s o wan ted t o u ri n at e i n J . B.’ s m o u t h

.

Berg en er rep o rt ed th e o ut cry t o t h e au t h o ri ti es an d t o ok J. B. fo r a fo ren s i c

i n t erv i ew. J

. B. to ld t h e i n t erv i ewer t h at M cGl ot hl i n h ad was hed J

. B.’ s p en i s ,

t o u ch i n g i t wi t h h i s h an d, an d h ad as k ed if J

. B. wan ted t o “ p e e i n [ M c G l o t h l in ’ s ]

m o ut h

, ” b u t J

. B. s ai d “ n o.” J

. B. al s o s t at ed t h at M cGl o th l i n h ad s h o w n J

. B. h i s

p en is an d “ [s ] o m et i m es i t was p o i n t y .”

Th e p o l i ce co n t act ed M cGl o t h l i n , wh o s u b m it t ed t o a reco rd ed i n t erv i ew wi th

t h e l ead d et ect iv e

. M c G l o t h l i n d en i ed t ou ch i n g J

. B. i n ap p ro p ri at el y , b u t i n d i cat ed

t h at h is arm m i g h t h av e i n a d v e r t e n t l y b u m ped J

. B.’ s p en is w h i l e h e w as was h i n g

2J

. B.’ s l eg , “ o r s o m et hi n g l ik e t h at .” Fo l l o wi n g th e i n t erv i ew, M cGl o t h l in cal l ed t h e

d et ect i v e, as k i n g “ [w] h at i f I n eed s o m e h e l p ? ” an d “ [w] h at i f I d i d d o wh at [J

. B.]

s ai d I d i d b u t n o t ex act l y t he way [J

. B.] s ai d I d i d ? ” M cGl o t h l i n was arres t ed

, an d t h e

d et ect i v e s u bs eq u en t ly recei v ed i n fo rm at i o n fro m t wo jai l i n m at es t h at M cGl o t h l in

h ad m ad e i n cu l p at o ry s t a t e m e n t s t o t h em

. Acco rd in g t o t h e in m at es , bo t h o f wh o m

t es t i fi ed at tri al

, M cGl o t h l i n ad m i t t ed t h at he h ad p erfo rm ed o ral s ex o n J

. B. an d t h at

t h e b o y h ad u ri n at ed i n h i s m o u t h

.

M cGl o t h l i n was ch arg ed wi th en ti ci n g a ch i l d f o r i nd ecen t pu rp o s es ,

ag g rav at ed ch i l d m o l es t at i o n b y p l a c i n g hi s m o u t h o n J

. B.’ s p en i s , an d ch i ld

m o les t at i o n b y ru b b i n g J

. B.’ s p en i s

. Th e ju ry fo u n d M cGl o t h l i n g ui l t y o f en t i ci n g a

ch i l d an d ch i l d m o l e s t a t i o n , b u t n o t g u i l t y o f ag g rav at ed ch i l d m o l es t at i o n.

M cGl o th l i n fi led a m o t i o n fo r n e w t r i a l

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

. Th i s ap p eal

fo l l o w ed

.

1

. M cGl o t h li n arg u es t h at h e i s en t i tl ed t o a n ew tri al b ecau s e t he St at e fai l ed

t o d is cl o s e an ag re e m e n t t h at p o l i ce m ad e wi t h Kev in K i n n ey , o ne o f t h e jai l h o u s e

i n fo rm an t s wh o t es ti fi ed ag ai n s t h im

. Ki n n ey as s ert ed at t ri al th at t h e St at e h ad n ot

p ro m i s ed h i m an y t h i n g o r m ad e an y d eal s i n ex ch an g e fo r h i s t es t i m o n y

. At t h e n ew

t ri al heari n g , h o wev er, M cGl o t h l i n o ffered ev i d en ce t h at

, aft er t es t i fy i n g , Ki n n ey

3recei v ed a s en t en ce red u ct i on p u rs u an t t o a co n s en t d ecree t h at referen ced a p re-t ri al

p ro m i s e b y

p o li ce o ffi cers t o h el p Ki n n ey s ecu re t h e red u ct i o n

.

Pu rs uan t t o Br a dy v. Ma r yl a n d

2 an d Gi g l i o v. Un it ed S t a t es , 3 t h e S t at e m u s t

d i s cl os e m at eri al ev i d en ce t hat i s fav orab l e t o t h e d efen d an t

, i n cl u di n g i m p each m en t

ev i d en ce t h at co u l d b e u s ed t o s h o w b i as o r i nt eres t o n t h e p art o f wi t n es s es cal l ed by

t h e St at e. 4 “ [T] h e St at e i s u n d er a d u t y t o rev eal an y ag reem en t

, ev en an in fo rm al o ne,

wi t h a wi tn es s co n cern i n g cri m in al ch arg es p en d i ng ag ai n s t t h at wi t n es s , an d a fai l u re

t o d i s cl o s e s uch an ag reem en t co n st i t u t es a v i o l at i o n o f t h e d u e p ro ces s

req u i rem en t s .” 5 To s h o w a v i o l at io n , a d efen d an t m u s t d em o n s t rat e

t h at th e St at e p os s es s ed ev i d en ce o f th e d eal ; t h at t h e d efen d an t d i d n o t

p o s s es s t h e ev i d en ce n or co u l d he o b t ai n i t h i m s el f wi t h an y reas o n ab l e

d i l i g en ce; t h at t he St at e su p pres s ed ev i d en ce o f t h e d eal ; an d t h at , h ad

t h e ev i d en ce o f th e d eal b een d i s cl o s ed t o t h e d efen d an t

, t h ere ex is ted

a reas o n ab le p ro b a b i li t y t h at t h e res u l t at t ri al wo ul d h av e b een

d i fferen t

. 6

2 3 7 3 U. S. 8 3 (8 3 SCt 1 1 9 4 , 1 0 LE2 d 2 1 5 ) (1 9 63 ).

3 4 0 5 U. S. 1 50 (9 2 SCt 7 6 3 , 3 1 LE2 d 1 0 4 ) (1 9 72 ).

4 Fo r d v. S t a te , 2 7 3 Ga. Ap p . 2 9 0 , 2 9 1 (6 1 4 SE2 d 9 0 7 ) (2 0 05 ).

5 Id . (ci t at i o n s o m i t t ed ).

6 Id . (ci t at i o n s o m i t t ed ).

4Pret erm it t i n g wh et her a d u t y t o d is cl o s e ex i s t ed h ere, McGl o t hl i n can n ot

es t ab l i s h a reas o n ab l e p ro b ab i li t y th at t he t ri al res u l t wo u ld h av e b een d i fferen t h ad

t h e d eal wi t h Ki nn ey

b een rev eal ed . Su ch ev i d en ce m i g h t h av e p ro v i d ed fo d d er fo r

cro s s -ex am i n i n g an d i m

peach in g Ki nn ey ’ s t es t i m o n y

. Bu t m u ch o f t h at t es t i m o ny

d es cri b ed M cGl o t h l i n’ s al l eg ed ad m i s s i o n t h at he h ad en g ag ed i n o ral sex wi t h J

. B.,

ev i d en ce t hat re l at ed t o t h e ag g rav at ed ch il d m o l es t at i o n ch arg e. An d t h e ju ry

acq u it t ed M cGl o t h l i n of ag g rav at ed ch i l d m o l es t at i o n

. Ev en wi t h o u t ev id en ce o f t h e

d eal , t h erefo re, ju ro rs reject ed a s i g n i fi can t p ort i o n o f Ki n n ey ’ s t es t i m o n y

. 7

Ki n n ey al s o t es t i fi ed a b o u t t h e ch i l d m o l es t at i on al l eg at i o n fo r wh i ch

M cGl o th l i n was co nv i ct ed

, as s ert i n g at t ri al t hat M cGl o t h l i n h ad ad m i t ted t o u ch i n g

J

. B.’ s “ p ri v at e p art s .” T h e St at e, h o wev er, p res en t ed s i g n i f i c a n t o th er ev i d en ce

reg ard i n g t h i s al l eg at io n

. J

. B. t o l d hi s m o t h er t h at M cGl o t h l i n h ad t ou ch ed h i s p en i s ,

an d t h e ju ry w at ch ed th e fo ren s i c in t e r v i e w i n wh i ch J. B. m ad e a si m i lar rep o rt

.

7 See Gr a n g er v. S t a t e , 3 2 0 Ga. Ap p

. 5 8 0

, 5 8 2-5 8 3 (1 ) (7 4 0 SE2 d 3 13 ) (2 0 1 3 ) (i n i n effect i v e as si s t an ce co n t ex t

, n o reas o n ab l e p ro bab i l i t y t h at t ri al res u l t was i m p act ed b y t ri al co u n sel ’ s fai l u re t o o b ject t o t es ti m o n y t hat b ol s t ered ch i ld v i ct i m ’ s

t es t i m o ny wh ere verd i ct o f acq u i t t al o n s ev eral c h a r ges dem o n s trat ed t h at ju ry h ad

n o t fo u n d v i ct i m cred i b l e); Ja r r et t v. S t a t e , 2 99 Ga. Ap p. 52 5

, 5 3 1 (7 ) (b ) (6 8 3 SE2 d

1 1 6 ) (2 0 0 9 ) (i n i n effect i v e as si s t an ce co n t ex t, co u n s el ’ s fai l u re t o o b ject t o al l eg ed l y i m p ro p er ch aract er ev i d en ce i m p l i cat i n g d efen d an t i n d ru g t rad e d i d n o t i m p act

v erd i ct wh ere ju ry

acq u it t ed d efen d an t o f al l d ru g -rel at ed o ffen s es ).

5Fu rt h erm o re, McGl o t h l in i n t i m a t e d t o t h e l ead d et ect i v e t h at h e m ig h t h av e d o n e

“ wh at [J

. B.] s ai d .” Gi v en t h i s ev i d en ce, M cGl o t h l i n can n o t d em o n s t rat e a reas o n ab l e

p ro b ab i l i t y t h at t he v erd i c t w o u l d h av e b een d i fferen t h ad t h e St at e d i s cl o s ed t h e

al l eg ed d eal wi t h K i n ney , a wi t n es s wh o m ju ro rs ap p aren t l y h ad al read y fo u n d

l ack i ng i n cred i bi l i t y

. 8

2

. M cGl o t h l i n co n t en d s t h at h e recei v ed i neffect i v e as s i s t an ce o f co u n s el at

t ri al

. Sp eci fi cal l y , h e arg u es t h at t ri al co un s el was i n effect iv e b ecau s e s he fai l ed to

o b ject t o t h e ad m is s i o n o f h is reco rd ed po l i ce i n t erv i ew, wh i ch “ c on t ai n ed an

ag reem en t t o t ak e a po l y g rap h t e s t a n d a fal s e as s ert i o n t h at [h e] was a co n v i ct ed

fel o n

. ” T o p rev ai l o n t hi s cl ai m , M cGl o t h l in m u s t s h o w “ (1 ) t h at co u n sel ’ s

p erfo r m a n ce was defi ci en t an d (2 ) t h at t h e d efi ci en t p erfo rm an ce p reju d i ced t h e

d efen s e b y creat in g a reas o n ab l e p ro b ab i l i t y t h at bu t fo r co u n sel ’ s erro rs , t h e o u t co m e

8 See Mo cl a i r e v. S t a t e , 2 1 5 G a

. A p p

. 3 60

, 3 6 1 (1 ) (4 5 1 SE2 d 6 8 ) (1 9 9 4 ) (b ecau s e n o n -d i s cl o sed ev i d en ce d i d n o t “ u n d erm i n e co n fi d en ce i n th e o u t co m e o f

t h e t ri al ,” t h e t ri al co u rt was j u s t i fi ed i n den y i n g d efen d an t’ s m o t i on f o r n e w t r i al ).

6o f t h e t ri al wo u l d hav e b een d i fferen t .” 9 Fai l u re t o s at i s fy ei t her p ro n g o f t h is t wo -p art

t es t i s fat al t o a d efen d an t ’ s i neffect i v e as s i st an ce cl ai m

. 1 0

(a) Du ri n g t h e p o l ice i n terv i ew, t h e l ead d et ect i v e accu s ed M cGl ot h li n o f b ei n g

a fel o n

. M cGl o t h l i n res p o n d ed

, “ It ’ s n o t l i k e t h i s. I d o n ’ t hav e fel o ni es ,” t o wh i ch t h e

d et ect i v e rep l i ed

, “ Yo u ’ re t el l i n g m e fo rg ery i s n o t a fel on y ? ” McGl ot h l i n s t at ed :

“ Bu t I was i n n o cen t

. An d i t s ay s so

. It was d i s m i s s ed

. ” H e t h e n ex p l ai n ed t h e

ci rcu m s t an ces u n d erl y in g t he al l eg ed fo rg ery i n ci d en t , as s ert i n g ag ai n t h at “ i t ” was

“ d ro p p ed .” M cGl o t h li n co n ten d s t h at t ri al co u n s el s ho u ld h av e o b ject ed t o t h i s

p o rt i on o f t h e i n t erv i ew b ecau s e i t i m p ro perl y p l aced h i s ch aract er i n i s s u e.

Ev en i f an o b

ject i o n w o u l d h av e b een ap p ro p ri at e, M cGl o t h l i n can n ot

d em o n s t rat e a reas on ab l e p ro bab i l i t y t h at ex cl u s i on o f t h i s d i s cu s s i o n wo u l d h av e

al t ered t h e t ri al res u l t

. Al t h o u g h t h e d et ect i ve accu s ed M cGl ot h li n o f b ei n g a “ fel o n ”

an d co m m i t t i n g fo rg ery , M cGl o t h l i n i m m ed i at el y refu t ed t h e s tat em en t , ex p l ai n i n g

9 Dyer v. S t a t e , 2 9 5 G a. Ap p

. 4 9 5

, 4 98 (1 ) (6 7 2 SE2 d 4 6 2 ) (2 00 9 ) (ci t at i o n an d

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

1 0 Reed v. S t a t e , 29 1 Ga. 1 0

, 1 6 (4 ) (b ) (7 2 7 SE2 d 1 1 2) (2 01 2 ); Ja rr et t , s u p ra

at 5 3 0 -5 3 1 (7 ).

7t h at t h e fo rg ery ch arg e h ad b een d i s m i s sed

. 1 1 Mo reo v er, t h e ju ry acq u i t t ed

M cGl o th l i n o f ag g rav at ed ch i l d m o l es t at i o n

– t h e m o s t s eri o u s ch arg e ag ai n s t h i m

–

u n d erm i n i n g h i s arg u m en t th at t h e d et ect i ve’ s “ fel on ” referen ce p reju d i ced t h e ju ry

ag ai n s t h i m

. 1 2 Gi v en t h es e ci rcu m s t an ces , as wel l as t h e ev id en ce o f g u i l t p res en t ed

b y t h e St at e, t h i s i n effect i ve as s i s t an ce al leg at i o n fai l s

. 1 3

(b ) M cGl ot hl i n al s o arg u es t h at t ri al co u n sel s h o u ld h av e o b ject ed t o ad m i s s i o n

o f h is po l i ce i n t erv i ew b ecau s e h e ag reed i n t h e in t erv i ew t o t a k e a p o l yg rap h t es t

.

Acco rd in g t o M cGl o t h l i n , referen ce t o t hi s ag reem en t w a s i n ad m i s s i b l e an d wo u ld

h av e b een ex cl u d ed h ad co u n s el o b ject ed

.

1 1 See i d

. at 5 0 0 (2 ) (d efen d an t no t preju d iced b y p ro s ecu t o r’ s q ues t i o n s ab o ut

p ri o r cri m i n al ch arg e wh ere ju ry “ heard n o ev id en ce refu t i n g o r co n t r a d i c t i n g [d efen d an t ’ s ] t es t i m o n y t h at h e w a s acq u i t t ed o f t h is ch arg e”). W e reco g ni ze t h at aft er M cGl o th l i n refu ted t h e f e l on y accu s at i o n , t h e d et ect i v e s t at ed t h at h e fo u n d

M c G l o t h l i n t o b e “ d ecei t fu l .” M cGl o t h l in

, h o wev er, rai ses n o cl ai m o f erro r

co n cern in g t h i s s tat em en t

. An d v i ewed i n co nt ex t

, t h e d et ect i v e’ s co m m en t rel at ed

t o h is b el i ef t h at M cGl o th l i n was l y i n g ab o u t hi s i n t eract i on wi t h J

. B., n o t ab o u t t h e fo rg ery i n ci d en t

.

1 2 See Reed

v. S t a t e , 29 1 Ga. 1 0, 1 7 (4 ) (b ) (7 2 7 S E 2 d 1 1 2 ) (2 0 12 ) (acq u i t t al

o n o n e o f s ev eral ch arg es “ i n d i cat es t h at t h e ju ry l i k el y was no t p reju di ced ag ai n s t [t he d efen d an t ] b ecau s e o f” p ro s ecu t i o n ’ s al l eg ed l y i m p ro p er cl os i n g arg u m en t ).

1 3 See i d .; Dyer , s u pra.

8Wel l b efo re t h e t ri al co u rt ad m i t ted t h e reco rd ed i n t erv i ew, h owev er, J

. B

. ’s

m o th er t es ti fi ed wi th o u t o b ject i o n t h at M cGl o th l i n h ad co n sen t ed t o a p o l y g rap h

ex am i n at i o n

. Th e d et ect i v e wh o i n t erv i ewed M cGl o t h li n a l s o t es t i fi ed ab o u t t h e

ag reem en t an d M cGl o t h l i n’ s u l t i m a t e d eci s io n n o t t o fo l l o w t h ro u g h wi t h t h e

ex am i n at i o n

. M cGl ot h l i n ’ s en u m erat ed erro r d o es n o t co m p lai n ab o u t t ri al co u n sel ’ s

p erfo rm an ce wi t h res p ect t o t es t i m o n y fro m J

. B.’ s m o th er o r th e d et ect i v e. It fo cu s es

s o l el y o n ad m i s s i on o f t he p o l i ce i n t erv iew, as m u st we. 1 4

Th e p ol y g rap h referen ce i n t h e i n t erv i ew was cu m u l at i v e o f o t h er ev i d en ce

ad m i t t ed at t ri al

. Un d er t h es e ci rcu m s tan ces , an d i n l ig h t of t h e s i g n ifi can t ev i d en ce

s u p p ort i n g t he ju ry ’ s v erd i ct

, M cGl o th l i n can n o t d em on s trat e an y l i k el i h o o d t h a t

co u ns el ’ s fai l u re t o o b

ject t o t h e i n terv i ew o n t h i s g ro u n d i m p act ed t h e t ri al res u l t

. 1 5

(c) Fi n al l y , t o t h e ex t en t t h at M cGl o t h l i n h as s h o wn o r we h av e as su m ed t h at

t ri al co u n s el ’ s as s is t an ce was d efi ci en t

, “ we al s o fi n d th at t he cu mu l a t i ve effect o f an y

1 4 See R i g g s v. S t at e , 3 1 9 Ga. Ap p. 1 8 9

, 1 98 (5 ) (7 3 3 SE2 d 8 3 2 ) (2 01 2 ) (“ A

p art y can n ot ex p an d h i s en u m erat i o n s o f err o r t h r o u g h arg u m en t o r ci t at i o n i n h i s b ri ef.”) (p u n ct u at i o n o m i tt ed ).

1 5 W i l l i a ms v. S t a t e , 2 9 2 G a. 8 4 4

, 84 8 (3 ) (a) (7 4 2 SE2 d 4 4 5 ) (2 0 1 3 ) (d efen d an t

n o t p reju di ced b y co un sel ’ s fai l u re t o o b j ect t o ev i d en ce t h at was cu m u lat i v e o f o t h er

ev i d en ce ad m it t ed at tri al ); An d er s o n v. S t at e , 3 1 1 G a

. Ap p

. 7 3 2

, 7 4 0 (2 ) (d ) (7 1 6

SE2 d 8 1 3) (2 0 1 1) (s am e).

9s u ch d efi ci en ci es d i d n o t creat e a reas o n ab l e l i k el i h oo d t h at th e o u t co m e of t h e t ri al

wo u l d h av e b een d ifferen t b u t fo r an y d efi ci en t p erfo rm an ce.” 1 6

Ju d g men t a f f i r m ed . Di l l ar d

a n d Pet er s o n , JJ., co ncu r

.

1 6 W i l l i a ms , s u p ra at 8 5 5 (3 ) (j) (ci t at i o n s o m i t t ed ; em p h as i s i n o ri g i nal ).

10