THI RD DI VI SI ON

DOYLE, P. J.

, GOBEI L, J.

, and SENI OR JUDGE FULLER

N O T IC E : M otions for r e c ons i de r a tion m us t be

p h 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

D ecem ber 1, 2023



# I n th e Co u r t o f

A p p eals o f

G eo r g ia

A2 3 A1 33 6 . M O HR v . THE STATE.

F U LLE R , Sen i o r J u d g e.

A ju ry fo u n d S t u a r t J a m es M o h r g u i l t y of ag g rav at ed as s au l t

. Fo l l o w i n g t h e

d en ial o f h i s m o ti on fo r new t ri al

, M o h r ap p eal s, arg ui n g t h at t h e t ri al co u rt erred in

d en y i n g a m ot i o n t o s u pp res s an d i n p recl u d in g t h e in t ro d u ct io n o f cert ai n t es t i m o n y

.

M o h r al s o al l eg es t h at h e recei v ed in effect i v e as s i s t an ce o f co u n sel

. Fo r reas o n s t h at

fo l l o w , we affi rm

.

Vi ewed fav o rab l y t o t h e v erd i ct

, 1 t h e ev i d en ce sh o w s t h at

, o n t h e n i g h t o f

M arch 1 6 , 2 0 1 7 , M o h r –

wh o o wn s a b ar – was cel eb rat i ng t h e fact t h at h i s b ar h ad

b een ap p ro v ed as a Ken o ret ai l er. Mo h r o ffered d ri n k s t o h i s p at ro ns , i n cl u d i n g t h e

v i ct i m

. T h e v i ct im an d M o h r “ d ev el o p ed a m u t u a l at tract i o n ” an d b eg an k i s s i n g.

1 See Ja cks on v. Vi r

g in i a

, 4 4 3 U. S. 3 0 7 (9 9 SCt 2 7 8 1, 61 LE2 d 5 6 0 ) (1 9 7 9 ).Acco rd in g t o M o h r, h e th o u g ht t h e v i ct i m wo u l d b e s p en d i n g t h e ni g h t wi t h h i m

.

Ho wev er, a s eco n d b ar p at ro n

, Bri an S., i ns ert ed hi m s el f i n t o t h e co n v ers at io n

. M o h r

b el i ev ed t h e v i ct i m

“ was wel co m i ng [Bri an S.] i n t o [t hei r] s i t u at i on .”

Lat er t hat n i g h t, aft er t h e b ar h ad cl o sed

, Bri an S. b eg an s h o o t i n g p o o l wi t h t h e

v i ct i m

. Acco rd i n g t o M oh r, t h e t wo were p l ay i ng “ s t ri p po o l ,” an d Bri an S. rem o v ed

h i s s h i rt

. M o h r cam e ou t o f a b ack ro o m an d s to o d fo r a m o m en t w at ch i n g t he v i ct i m

p l ay po o l wi th a s h irt l es s Bri an S. M o h r t h en w al k ed b eh in d t h e b ar, at wh i ch p o i nt

t h e v i c t i m a p p r o a c h ed h i m

. Th e t wo ap p aren tl y t al k ed b efo re th e vi ct im wen t b ack

t o h er p o o l g am e. Les s t han t wo m i n ut es l at er, t h e v i ct i m ret u rn ed t o th e b ar; as s o o n

as s h e reach ed t h e b ar, M o h r h i t h er in t he face wi th s uch fo rce t h at s h e t o pp l ed o v er

a b ar s to o l an d fel l t o th e g ro u nd

. Aft er a few s eco n d s, t h e v i ct i m s t o o d u p an d t u rn ed

h er b ack t o M o h r. M o h r t h en p i ck ed u p a t ras h can fro m b eh in d th e b ar an d t h rew i t

at t he v i ct i m . He al so t h rew t wo o t h er b ar i t em s at h er. Sev eral m i n u t es l at er, M o h r

wal k ed fro m t he bar area t o t h e p o o l t ab l e w h ere h e s t o o d i n fro n t o f t he v i ct i m

. Th e

v i ct i m b eg an t o w al k away

, bu t M o h r grab b ed her arm

, p u l l ed h er b ack

, an d sl am m ed

h er face-fi rs t i n t o t h e p oo l t ab l e. As t h e v i ct im ro se, s h e tu rn ed t o ward M o h r

, w h o

s l am m ed h er b ack i nt o t h e p o ol t ab l e. M oh r t h en l ift ed t h e v i ct i m u p an d ag ai n t h rew

2h er o n t o t h e p o ol t ab l e. W h i l e h o l d i n g t h e v i ct i m o n t h e p o o l t ab l e, M o hr b eg an to

p u l l at h er p an ts . At t h is p o i n t

, Bri an S. ap p ro ach ed M o h r, wh o wal k ed away

.

Sh eri ff’ s d ep u ti es were cal l ed t o th e scen e an d d i s co v ered t h e vi ct i m wi t h “ a

l arg e am o u n t o f b l o o d on t h e fro n t o f h er cl ot h in g , h er s h i rt an d h er p an t s , an d o v er

h er face.” Th e v i ct i m was t ak en b y am b u lan ce t o a h o s p i t al wh ere s h e rem ai n ed fo r

fi ve d ay s

. Acco rd i n g t o t h e v i ct i m

, s h e s u s t ai n ed a co n cu ss i o n an d co n t i nu es t o s u ffer

fro m m em o ry pro bl em s

.

M o h r was arres t ed an d c h a r g e d w i t h s im pl e b at t ery

. Th e n ex t d ay

, d ep u ti es

wen t to th e b ar t o g et t h e s u rv ei l l an ce v i d eo

. A d ep u ty s p o k e wi th t h e b ar’ s m an ag er,

wh o v o lu n t ari l y p ro v i d ed t h e reco rd i n g s y s t em

. M o h r g av e an i nv es t i g at o r t h e

p as s wo rd t o acces s t he s y st em

, b u t t h e i n v e s t ig at o r o b t ai n ed a s earch warran t p ri o r

t o wat ch i n g t h e v id eo

. Th i rt een d ay s aft er t h e w arran t w as i s s u e d

, i t was ex ecu t ed

.

Aft er t h e i nv es t i g at o r wat ch ed t h e v i d e o

, th e ch arg e ag ai n s t M oh r w as u p g rad ed to

ag g rav at ed as s au l t.

At t ri al

, t h e su rv ei l lan ce v i d eo was p l ay ed fo r th e j u ry

, an d i t s ho wed M o h r

s t ri k i n g t h e v i ct i m

, t h ro wi n g t h i n g s at h er, an d s l am m i n g h er o n t o t h e p o o l t ab l e.

Bas ed o n t he ev i d en ce, t h e ju ry fo u n d M o h r g u i l ty

o f ag g rav at ed as s au l t

.

31

. M o hr m o v ed t o s u p p res s t h e s u rv ei l l an ce v i d eo

, arg ui n g am on g o t h er t h i ng s

t h at t h e m an ag er of t h e b ar l ack ed au t h o ri t y

t o co n s en t t o t h e s earch

. T h e t ri al co u rt

d e n i ed th e m o t i o n

, fi n d in g th at p o li ce were au th o ri zed t o s ei ze t h e reco rd i n g

eq u ip m en t t o p rev en t t h e d es t ru ct i o n o f t h e v i d eo an d , i n t h e al t ern at i v e, t h e s earch

was p erm i s s i b le u n d e r t h e “ i n d ep en d en t s ou rce d o ct ri n e” b ecau s e t h e “ s u b s eq u en t

acq u is i t io n o f a s earch warran t t o v i ew t h e co n t en t s o f t h e D VR s y s t em ren d er[ed ]

an y i s s u es w i t h t h e i ni ti al s ei zu re m o o t .” Th e t ri al co u rt al s o fo u n d t h at t h e m an ag er

h ad t h e ap p aren t au t h o ri t y to g i v e t h e d ep u t i es t h e reco rd i ng e q u i p m en t

. M o h r

ch al l en g es t he d en i al o f h i s m o t i o n t o s u p pres s o n ap p eal

.

In rev i ewi ng a t ri al co urt ’ s ru l i n g o n a m o t i o n t o s u p p res s

, an

ap p el l at e co urt g en eral l y

m u s t (1 ) accep t a t ri al co u rt ’ s fi n d in g s un l es s

t h ey are cl earl y erro neo u s

, (2 ) co n s t ru e t h e ev i d en ti ary reco rd i n th e

l i gh t m o s t f

a v o r ab l e t o t h e fact u al fi n d i n g s an d ju d g m en t o f t h e t ri al

co u rt

, an d (3 ) l im i t i t s co n s i d erat i o n o f t h e di s p u t e d f a c t s t o t h o s e

ex p res s l y fo u n d b y t h e t ri al co u rt

. Bu t t h i s Co urt rev i ews de n o vo th e

t ri al co u rt ’ s ap p li cat i o n o f l aw t o t h e u nd i sp u t ed fact s

.

Lo p ez -Lo p ez v. S t a t e

, 3 6 7 Ga. Ap p

. 8 3 4

, 8 3 7 (8 88 SE2 d 63 1 ) (2 0 23 ) (ci t at i o n s

,

fo o t n o t es an d pu n ct u at io n o m i t t ed ). W e wi l l u p h o l d 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 i f i t i s ri gh t fo r an y reas o n. Ch amb er s v. S t a t e

, 35 1 Ga. A p p

. 3 8 9, 3 9 1 (1 )

(8 3 1 SE2 d 1 1 ) (2 0 1 9 ).

4A s earch an d s ei zu re i s reas on ab l e i f i t i s co n d u c t ed p u rs u an t t o

a v al i d s earch warran t or wi t h co ns en t fro m (1 ) t h e i nd i v i d u al wh o s e

p ro p ert y is s earch ed ; (2 ) a t hi rd p art y wh o h as co m m o n au t ho ri t y ov er

t h e p ro p ert y ; o r (3 ) i f a p o l i ce o ffi cer co ul d h av e reas o n ab ly b el i ev ed

t h at a t hi rd p art y h a d c o m m o n au t ho ri t y o ver t he pro p ert y

. Co m m o n

au t h ori t y res t s o n m

u t u al u s e o f t h e p ro p ert y b y p ers o n s g en eral l y

h av i ng jo i n t acces s o r co n t ro l fo r m os t p u rp o s es

. In s o m e ci rcu m st an ces

,

a t h ird p art y w h o p u rp o rt s t o co n s en t t o a s earch l ac k s t he act ual

au t h ori t y t o d o so

, b u t l a w en fo rcem en t m ay rel y o n t h at i n d i v i d u al ’ s

ap p aren t au t h o ri t y

t o g i v e co n s en t, i f s uch rel i an ce i s reas on ab le.

Ma s s ey v. S t a t e

, 3 5 0 G a. Ap p

. 4 2 7

, 4 3 1 (2 ) (b ) (8 2 7 SE2 d 9 2 1 ) (2 0 1 9 ) (ci tat i o n s an d

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

Here, t h e m a n ag er t es t i fi ed t h at s h e h ad a k ey t o t h e o ffi ce w h ere t h e v i d eo

eq u ip m en t was k ep t an d t h at s h e was i n ch arg e o f t h e bar wh en M o h r was n o t t h ere.

Sh e wa s r es p o n s i b l e fo r sch ed u l i n g, i n ven t o ry

, d el i v eri es

, b an k i n g

, op en i n g an d

cl o s i ng th e b ar. G i v en th e b read t h o f t h e m an ag er’ s res p o n s i b il i ti es at th e b ar, i t was

n o t u n reas o n ab l e fo r t h e d ep u ti es t o bel i ev e t h at t h e m an ag er h ad t h e au t h o ri t y to

p ro v id e t h e reco rd i n g eq u i p m en t

. See Ma s s ey

, 3 5 0 Ga. Ap p

. at 4 3 2 (2 ) (b ).

Acco rd in g ly , t h e s ei zu re o f t hat eq u i p m en t was l awfu l.

Nev ert h el es s

, M o hr co nt en d s t h e s u bs eq u en t s earch was u n l awfu l b ecau s e t h e

d ep ut i es di d n o t ex ecu te t h e warran t wi t h in t en d ay s as req u ired b y OCGA § 1 7 -5 -2 5.

5Ho wev er, i t d o es n o t ap p ear t h at M o h r i n vo k ed OCGA § 1 7 -5 -2 5 b el o w, an d t h e t ri al

co u rt m ad e n o ru l i ng as t o wh et h er s u p p res si on was warran t ed b as ed o n t h e St at e’ s

fai l u re t o co m

p l y wi th t h e t i m e req u i rem en t s o f OCGA § 17 -5 -2 5

. An d “ in

ch al l en g i n g a t ri al co u rt ’ s d en i al o f a m o t i on t o su p pres s

, a d efen d an t m ay n o t arg u e

o n ap p eal g ro u n d s t h at he d i d n o t arg u e (an d o bt ai n a ru l i n g o n ) b el ow.” Ma xwel l v.

S t a t e

, 3 6 7 Ga. Ap p

. 3 0 2

, 3 0 6 (1 ) (8 8 5 SE2 d 3 9 ) (2 02 3 ) (ci t at i o n an d pu n ct u at i o n

o m it t ed ).

2

. At t ri al

, M o hr at t em

p t ed t o q u es t i on t h e v i ct i m ab o u t pri o r fal s e al l eg at i on s

s h e h ad m ad e th at h e co nt en d s were “ s u b s t an t i al l y s i m il ar to t h e a c c u s a ti o n [s ] ” t h e

v i ct i m m ad e ag ai n st M o h r

. 2 T h e t ri al co u rt ru l ed t h at M oh r co u l d n o t in t ro d uce

ev i d en ce o f t h e v i ct i m ’ s p ri o r b ad act wi t h o u t co m p l y i ng wi t h OCGA § 2 4-4 -4 0 4 (b )

an d p ro v i d in g n o t ice t o t h e St at e. On ap p eal

, M o h r co n t en d s t h at t h e tri al co u rt erred

i n req u i ri n g n o t i ce.

Un d er OCGA § 24 -4 -4 0 4 (b ), ev id en ce of p ri o r b ad act s i s n o t a d m i s s i b l e

ei t h er t o p ro v e th e ch aract er o f a pers o n o r t o s h o w t h a t t h e p e r s o n act ed in

co n fo rm i t y

wi t h t he p ri or b ad act s ; h o wev er, s u ch ev i d en ce m ay “ b e ad m i s s i b l e fo r

2 A t 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

, M o h r m ad e a p ro ffer t h a t t h e

v i ct i m h ad p rev i o u s ly accu s ed a b ar m a nag er o f p u n ch i n g h er wh en s he, i n fact

,

p u n ch ed h ers el f an d fal s el y accu s ed t h e m an ag er.

6o t h er p u rp o s e s

, i n cl ud in g

, b u t n o t l im i t ed t o

, p ro of o f m o t i v e, op p o rt u n it y

, i n t en t

,

p rep arat i o n

, pl an

, k n o wl ed g e, i d en t i t y

, o r a b s en ce o f m i s t ak e o r acci den t .” W i th

reg ard t o cri m i n al cas es , t he s t at u t e p ro v i d es :

T h e p ro s ecu t i o n in a cri m i n al p ro ceed i ng s h al l pro v i d e r e a sona ble notic e

t o th e defen s e i n ad van ce o f t ri al

, u n l es s p ret ri al n o ti ce i s ex cu s ed b y th e

co u rt u po n g o o d cau s e s h own

, of t he g en eral n at ur e o f a n y s u ch

e v i d en ce i t i n ten d s t o i n t ro d u ce at t ri al

. No ti ce s h al l n o t b e req u i re d

wh en t h e ev i d e n c e o f p r i o r cri m es

, w ro n g s, o r act s is o ffered t o p ro ve

t h e ci rcu m s t an ces i m

m ed i at el y s u rro u n d i ng t h e ch arg ed cri m e, m o t i v e,

o r p ri o r d iffi cu l ti es b et ween t h e accu s ed an d t h e al l eg ed v i ct i m

.

OCGA § 2 4 -4 -4 0 4 (b ).

As n o t ed b y M o h r, t he n o t ice req u i rem en t in OCGA § 24 -4 -4 04 (b ) ap p li es

o n l y t o t he p ro s ecu t i o n i n a cri m i n al p ro ceed i n g. Acco rd i n g l y

, t h e t ri al co urt erred to

t h e ex t en t i t p recl ud ed M o h r fro m q ues t i o ni ng t h e v i ct i m ab o u t h er p ri o r fa l s e

al l eg at i o n s b as ed o n l ack o f n o t i ce. Bu t t hi s erro r d o es n o t en t i tl e M o h r t o rev ers al

.

Here, s u rv ei l l an ce vi deo s h owed M o h r beat i n g t he v i ct i m ; t h e cas e d id n o t t urn o n t h e

v i ct i m ’ s cred i b i l i t y

. U nd er t hes e ci rcu m s t an ces

, i t i s h i g h l y pro b ab le t h at t h e t ri al

co u rt ’ s erro r h ad n o b eari n g o n t h e v erd i ct

. See S m i th v. S ta t e

, 3 5 6 Ga. Ap p

. 2 1 1

, 2 1 3

(1 ) (8 44 SE2 d 86 9 ) (2 02 0 ) (t ri al co u rt ’ s erro r in ad m it t i n g ev id en ce u n der OCGA §

2 4 -4 -4 0 4 (b ) was h arm l es s wh ere s u rv ei l l an ce v i d eo es t ab l i s h ed d efen d an t ’ s g u il t ).

73

. At t ri al

, M o h r t o o k t he s t an d an d hi s at to rn ey q ues t i o n e d h i m ab o u t h i s

i n t eract i o n wi t h t h e v i ct i m

. Fo u r t i m e s

, M o h r beg an t o t es t i fy as t o wh at t h e v i ct i m

s ai d t o h i m

, an d t h e St at e o b ject ed o n h ears ay g ro u n d s

. Th e t ri al co u rt s u s t ai n ed t h e

o b ject i on s

. On ap p eal

, M o h r co n t e n d s t h at t h e t ri al co u rt erred i n ex cl u d i n g t h e

t es t i m o ny b ecau se t he s t at em en t s were b ei n g offered t o s h o w t h ei r effect o n M o h r an d

n o t fo r t h e t ru t h o f t h e m at t er as s ert ed

. See OCGA § 2 4 -8 -8 0 1 (c) (d efi ni n g h ears ay

as “ a s t at em en t, o t h er t h an o ne m ad e b y t h e d ecl aran t wh i l e t es t i fy in g at t h e t ri al o r

h eari n g , o ffered i n ev i den ce t o p ro v e t h e t ru t h o f t h e m at ter as s ert ed ”).

W i t h reg ard t o t hree o f t h e s u s t ai n ed h ears ay ob ject io n s

, M o h r d i d n o t arg u e

b el o w t h at h e was o fferi n g t h e t es t im o n y fo r a n o n -h ears ay p u rp o s e. A cco rd i n g l y

, h e

h as wai v ed an y erro r wi t h res p ect t o t ho s e t wo ru l i n g s . See Pa yn e v. S t a t e , 2 7 3 Ga.

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

W i t h reg ard t o t h e fo u rt h h ears ay o b ject io n

, M o h r t es ti fi ed t h at h e s lap p ed t h e

v i ct i m

. Co u n s el as k ed wh y h e s l ap p ed h er, an d M o hr res p o nd ed : “ It was s u pp o s ed to

b e a jo k e.

. . . Sh e h ad m ad e a r e f e r e n c e t o m e as k i n g

— ” At t h at po i nt

, t h e St at e

o b ject ed ; M oh r’ s at t o rn ey res p on d ed “ I th i n k t hi s m ay b e co u l d g o

. . . t o t he effect o f

t h e h earer,” b u t t h e t ri al co u rt su s t ai n ed th e o b j ect i on

. Aft er t h e ru l i n g

, M oh r d i d n ot

8s eek t o p ro ffer wh at t h e res t o f h i s t es t i m on y wo u ld h av e b een

, an d he m ad e n o s u ch

p ro ffer at t he h eari ng o n h i s m o t i o n fo r n ew t ri al

.

“ Th e b u rd en i s o n t he p art y al leg i n g erro r t o s h o w i t affi rm at i v el y b y t h e

reco rd

. Th i s co u rt can n o t d et erm i n e t h e p ro p ri et y o f t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s ru l i n g wi t h o ut

a pro ffer of t h e ex cl u d ed ev i d en ce o r t es t i m on y .” Bea r f i el d v. S t a t e

, 3 0 5 Ga. Ap p

. 3 7,

4 1 (2 ) (6 99 SE2 d 3 6 3 ) (2 0 10 ) (ci t at i o n s an d pu n ct uat i o n o m i t ted ). Becau se M o h r h as

n o t s h o wn wh at h is t es t i m o n y wo u l d hav e b een

, h e h as no t m et h i s b u rd en o f

d em o n s t rat i n g erro r.

4 . Fi n al ly , M o h r co nt en d s t h at h e recei v ed i n effect i v e as s i s t an ce o f co u n s el

.

[I] n g en eral

, wh en a d efen d an t cl ai m s t hat h i s t r i a l co u ns el w as

i n e f f e c t i v e, h e h as t h e b u rd en o f es t ab l i s h i n g t h at (1 ) h i s at to rn ey ’ s

rep res en t at i o n i n s p eci fi ed i n s t an ces fel l b el o w an o b ject i v e st an d ard o f

reas o n ab l e n e s s a n d (2 ) t h ere i s a reas on ab l e p ro bab i l i t y t h at

, b u t fo r

co u n s el ’ s u n p ro fes s i o n al erro rs

, t h e res u l t o f t h e p ro ceed i n g wo u l d h av e

b een d ifferen t

. An d wh en a t ri al co u rt d et erm i n es

, as t h e co u rt bel o w d i d

h ere, t h at a d efen d an t d i d no t recei v e i n effect i v e as s i s t an ce, we wi l l

affi rm t h at d eci s i o n o n ap p eal u n l es s i t i s cl earl y erro n eo us

.

Pep e-Fr a z i e r v. S t at e

, 3 3 1 Ga. Ap p

. 2 6 3

, 2 6 9 (3 ) (7 70 SE2 d 6 54 ) (2 0 1 5 ) (ci t at i on s

an d pu n ct u at i o n om i t t ed ). Fu rt h erm o re, if a d efen dan t fai l s t o es t ab l i s h on e o f t h e t wo

9p ro n gs

, w e d o n ot n eed t o ex am i n e t h e ot h er. Ro b i n so n v. S t a t e

, 3 08 Ga. 5 4 3, 5 5 3 (3 )

(8 4 2 SE2 d 5 4 ) (2 0 2 0 ).

(a) M oh r co n t en d s t h at t ri al co u n s el was i n effect i v e i n fai l i ng t o i n t ro d u ce t h e

v i ct i m ’ s m ed ical reco rd s at t ri al

. Th e at t orn ey as su m ed t h e St at e wo u l d b e ten d eri n g

t h e reco rd s an d t h us fai led t o p ro v i d e n o ti ce o f h i s in t en t t o hav e t h e reco rd s ad m i t t ed

.

See OCGA § § 2 4

- 8

- 8 03 (6 ) (b u s i n es s reco rd s ex cep t i o n t o h ears ay ); 2 4 -9 -9 0 2 (a)

(1 1 ) (cert i fi c a t i o n an d n o t i ce req u i rem en t s fo r ad m i ss i on o f b u s i n es s reco rd s ).

Acco rd in g t o Mo h r, t ho s e reco rd s wo u l d h av e s h o wn b o t h t h e v i ct i m ’ s l ev el o f

i n t o x i cat io n an d t h at s h e d i d n ot

, i n fact

, h av e a co n cu s s i o n

. He cl ai m s t h e ab s en ce

o f th e m ed i cal ev i d en ce h am pered h i s ab i li t y t o i m

p each th e v i ct i m ’ s cred i b i l i t y

reg ard i n g t h e ex t en t o f h er i n ju ri es

.

W e fi n d n o rev ers i b l e erro r. M o h r w as n ot ch arg ed wi t h ag g rav at ed as s au l t fo r

co n cu s s in g t h e v i ct i m ; h e was ch arg ed w i t h as s au lt in g t h e v i ct i m wi t h h i s h an d s

, “ by

s t ri k i n g [ t h e v i ct i m ] an d s l am m i n g t h e h ead o f [t h e v i ct im ] i n t o a t ab le cau s i n g a

l acerat i o n of t h e ch in an d s wel l i n g an d b ru i s i n g t o t he face[.] ” Th e s u rv ei l l an ce v i d eo

s h o ws wh at ap p ears t o b e a b ru tal as s au l t

, an d t h e d ep u t i es cal l ed t o t h e s cen e s aw t h e

b l o od i ed v i ct i m

. Th e m ed i cal reco rd s

– wh ich w ere pro ffered at t he h eari n g o n t h e

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

– s h o wed t hat t h e v i ct i m s u ffered “ s i g ni fi can t t rau m a t o h er face”

10an d was h o s p it al i zed fo r s ev eral d ay s

. Un der t hes e c i r c um s t an ces

, M o h r h as n ot

d em o n s t rat ed t h at h e was h arm ed b y h i s at t o rn ey ’ s fai l u re t o hav e t h e m ed i cal reco rd s

ad m i t t ed

. See Ha r r el l v. St a t e

, 2 5 3 Ga. Ap p

. 69 1

, 6 98 (5 ) (c) (5 6 0 SE2 d 2 95 ) (2 0 0 2 )

( n o reas o n ab l e p ro b ab i li t y t h at o b t ai n i n g t h e v i ct i m ’ s m ed i cal reco rd s wo ul d h av e

affect ed t h e o u t co m e at t ri al ).

(b ) M oh r co n t en d s t hat hi s co un s el ren d ered i n effect i ve as s i s t an ce b y fai l i n g

t o pro p erl y ad v i s e h im o f t h e St at e’ s p l ea o ffer fo r t wel ve y ears o r fo r “ an op en

, b l i n d

p l ea” i n wh i ch t h e p ro s ecu t o r wo u l d p l ay t h e s u r vei l l an ce v i d eo fo r t h e t ri al co u rt

b efo re s en t en ci n g

. Aft er d i s cu ss i n g t h e p o t en t i al p lea ag reem en t wi t h t ri al co u n s el

,

M o h r reject ed t h e offer. Ac c o r d i n g t o M o h r, at t h e t im e h e d i d s o

, h e t h o u g h t h i s

at t o rn ey wo u l d b e ab l e t o i n t ro d u ce ev i d en ce of t h e p os t -t rau m at i c s t res s he s u ffered

fo l l o w i n g h i s m i li t ary s erv i ce an d t h e v i ct i m ’ s m ed i cal reco rd s

, b ot h of wh i ch h e

b el i ev ed wo ul d ha v e b een fav orab l e t o hi s d efen s e. M oh r arg u es t h at h i s at t o rn ey

s h o u l d h a v e k n o w n t h e “ ev i d en ce w as cl earl y in ad m i s s i bl e” an d ad vi s ed h i m to

accep t t h e p l ea o ffer, wh i ch h e cl ai m s h e wo u l d h av e t ak en

.

“ If a p l ea b arg ai n h a s b e e n offered

, a d efen d an t h as t he ri g ht to effect i v e

as s i s tan ce o f co u n s el i n co ns i deri n g wh et h er to accep t i t .” S t a t e v. Do r s ey , 3 6 4 Ga.

Ap p . 7 3 1 , 7 3 3 (1 ) (8 7 5 SE2 d 9 0 0 ) (2 0 2 2 ) (ci t at i o n an d p u n ct uat i on o m i t ted ).

11A d efen d an t cl ai m in g i n e f f e c t i v e as s i s t an ce b as ed o n reject i n g a pl ea

o ffer b ecau s e o f co u n s el ’ s d efi ci en t ad v i ce m u s t es t ab l i s h p reju d i ce b y

s h o wi n g: (1 ) t hat b u t fo r t h e i n effect i v e ad v i ce o f co u n s el

, th e r e i s a

reas o n ab l e p ro b ab i li t y t h at t h e p lea o ffer wo u l d h av e b een p res en t ed t o

t h e co u rt

, m ean in g t h at th e d efen d an t wo u l d h av e accep t ed t h e p l ea an d

t h e p ro s ecu t i o n wo u l d no t h av e wi t h d rawn i t i n l i g h t o f i n t erv en i n g

ci rcu m s t an ces ; (2 ) t h at t h e t ri al co u rt wo u l d h av e accep t ed t he term s o f

t h e n e g o t i at ed p l ea; an d (3 ) t h at t h e co n v i ct i on o r s en t en ce, o r b o th

,

u n d er t h e o ffer’ s t erm s wo u l d h av e b een l es s s ev ere t han u nd er th e

ju d g m en t an d s en t en ce t h at i n fact were i m p o s ed

.

Y ar n v. S t a te

, 3 0 5 Ga. 4 2 1

, 4 2 6 -4 2 7 (4 ) (8 2 6 SE2 d 1 ) (2 0 1 9 ) (ci t a t i o n a n d

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

Here, Mo h r h as n o t s h own p reju d ice. A s a t h res h o l d m at t er, it i s n o t cl ear fro m

t h e reco rd ei t h er th at t h e p l ea o ffer was s ti ll o n t h e t a b l e a f t er t h e h eari n g o n t h e

m o ti o n t o s u pp res s o r t h at t h e t ri al co urt wo u l d hav e accep t ed t he p l ea. Fu rt h erm o re,

t o t h e ex t en t t h e pl ea o ffer rem ai n ed v i ab le aft er t h e s u p p r e s s i o n h eari n g

, M o h r

reject ed t h at p lea w it h kn o wl ed g e t h at t he s urv ei ll an ce v i deo wo u l d b e s ho wn t o t h e

ju ry

. G i v en M o h r’ s wi l l i n g n e s s t o p ro ceed t o t ri al i n t h e face o f su ch d am n i n g

ev i d en ce, t he t ri al co u rt was n o t req u i red t o b el i ev e h i s p o s t -co n vi ct i o n cl ai m t h at h e

wo u l d h av e accep t ed t h e p l ea d eal had he b een a w a r e o f o t h er ev i d en t i ary l i m i t s in

t h e cas e

. S e e Dr es b ach v. St a t e

, 3 0 8 Ga. 4 2 3, 42 6 (2 ) (8 4 1 SE2 d 7 14 ) (2 0 2 0 )

12(cred i b l e ev i d en ce i s req u i red t o es t ab l i s h a reas o n ab le p ro b ab i l i t y t h at t h e d efen d an t

wo u l d h av e accep t ed a p l ea d eal ).

( c ) F i n a l l y

, M o h r arg ues t h at h i s t ri al co u n s el was i n effect i v e i n fai l i n g to

ch al l en g e t he ex ecu t io n o f t h e search warran t u n der OCGA § 1 7 -5 -2 5

. M o h r s u g g es t s

t h at

, h ad h is at t o rn ey s ou g h t s u p p res s i o n o f t he s u rv ei l lan ce vi d eo on th i s b as i s

, t h e

ev i d en ce wo u l d h av e b een s u p p res s ed

.

“ W h en t ri al co u ns el ’ s fai l u re t o fi le a m o ti o n t o s u p p res s i s t h e b as i s fo r a cl ai m

o f i neffect i v e as s i st an ce, t h e d e f e n d a n t m u s t m ak e a s t ro n g s h o wi n g t h at t h e

d am ag i n g ev id en ce w o ul d h av e b e e n s up p res s ed h ad co un s el m ad e t h e m o t i o n.”

Ca l ho u n v. S t a t e

, 3 2 7 Ga. Ap p

. 6 8 3

, 6 8 6 (2 ) (a) (7 61 SE2 d 9 1 ) (2 0 1 4 ) (ci t at i o n an d

p u n ct u at i o n o m it ted ). OCGA § 1 7 -5 -2 5 p ro v i d es th at a s earch warran t s h al l b e

ex ecu t ed wi t h i n ten d ay s an d t h at “ [a] n y search warran t n o t ex ecu ted wi t h in t en day s

fro m t h e t i m e o f i s s uan ce s h al l be v o i d a n d s h a l l b e ret u rn ed to t h e co u rt o f t h e

ju d i ci al o ffi cer i s s u in g t h e s am e as ‘ n o t ex ecu t ed .’ ” A l th o u g h a t ri al co u rt i s

au t h o ri zed t o s u p p res s ev i d en ce s ei zed i f a warran t i s n o t ex ecu t ed wi t hi n t en d ay s

,

s ee S t a t e v. Hi l l ma n

, 1 4 6 G a. A p p

. 4 18

, 4 1 8 (2 4 6 SE2 d 4 3 4 ) (1 9 7 8 ), we are u n aware

o f an y cas e h o ld i n g t h at a t r i a l c o u rt mu s t s u p p res s s u ch ev id en ce. To t h e co n t rary

,

“ [a] v i o l at i o n of th e s tat u t o ry warran t re q u irem en ts d oes n o t n eces s ari l y au t h o ri ze

13ev i d en ce s up p res s i on .” S t a t e v. S t a f f o rd

, 2 7 7 Ga. A p p

. 8 5 2

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

(2 0 0 6). Un d er OCGA § 1 7 -5 -3 1

, “ [n ] o search w arran t s h al l be q uas h ed o r ev i d en ce

s u p p res s ed b ecau s e o f a t ech n i cal i rreg u l ari t y n o t affect in g t h e s ub s tan t i al ri g h t s o f

t h e accu s ed .”

Here, M o h r’ s s u b s t an t i al ri g h t s were n o t affect ed

. At t h e t i m e t h e warran t was

i s su ed

, t h e au t h o ri t i es al read y h ad l awfu l po s s es s i o n o f t h e reco rd i n g eq u i p m en t

, an d

i t ap pears t h at M o h r g av e h i s p as s wo rd t o t h e in v es ti g at o r v o l u n t ari l y

. Th e au t h o ri ti es

al s o ob t ai n ed a s earch warran t fo r t h e co n t en t s o f t h e reco rd i n g eq u i p m en t

. Th e fact

t h at au t h o ri t i es w ai ted 1 3 d ay s fro m th e i s s u an ce o f t he warran t t o acces s th e co n t en t s

o f t h e reco rd in g eq u ip m en t was

, at m o s t

, a t ech n ical v io l at i o n

. See, e. g

., Nel s o n v

.

S t a t e

, 3 1 2 Ga. 37 5 (8 6 3 SE2 d 6 1 ) (2 0 2 1 ) (d el ay o f o ver t w o y ears b et ween th e s ei zu re

o f el ect ro n i c dev i ces an d t h e s earch o f th o s e d ev ices d i d n ot v i o l a t e t h e Fo u rt h

Am en d m en t ). Un d er t h es e ci rcu m s t an ces

, we d o n o t b e l i e v e M o h r was en t i t l ed to

s u p p res s i o n o f th e ev i d e n c e

, an d h e h as t h u s fai l ed t o es t ab l i sh th e p reju d i ce

n eces s ary fo r a cl ai m o f i n effect i v e as s i s t an ce. See Ca l ho u n

, 3 2 7 Ga. A p p

. at 6 8 6 -6 8 7

(2 ) (a).

Ju d g men t a f f i r m ed . Do yl e, P. J., a n d

Go b ei l , J., co n cu r

.

14