SECOND DI VI SI ON

M I LLER, P. J.

, HODGES, J.

, and SENI OR A PPELLA TE JUDGE PHI PPS

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

D E A D LIN E S A R E N O LO N G E R TO LLE D IN T

H I S

C O U R T. A LL FILIN G S M U ST B E S U B M I TTE D WITH IN

TH E TIM E S S E T B Y

O U R C O U R T R U LE S

.

June 25, 2021



# I n th e Co u r t o f

A p p eals o f

G eo r g ia

A2 1 A0 59 1 . W A LKER v

. THE STATE.

M I LLE R , Pres i d i n g J u d g e.

A Hen ry Co u n t y ju ry fo u n d J o s ep h Ge n e W al k er g u i l t y o f a v i o l at i o n o f a

s ex u al o ffen d er res tri ct i o n

, ch i l d m o l es t at i o n

, l oi t eri n g an d p ro wl in g

, p u b l i c

i n d ecen cy

, p u b l ic d ru n k en n es s

, an d ob s t ru ct i o n of an offi cer. Th e t ri al co u rt i m p o s ed

a 3 0 -y ear s en t e n c e, wi th th e fi rs t 1 5 y ears t o b e s erv ed i n co n fi n em en t an d t h e

rem ai n d er t o be s erv ed o n p ro b at i o n

. W al k er ap p eal s fro m h i s co n v i ct i o n s an d

s en t en ce, arg u i n g t h at (1 ) t h e ev i d en ce w as i n su ffi ci en t t o s u s t ai n h i s co n v i ct i o n fo r

v i o l at i o n o f a s ex u al o ffen d er res t ri ct i o n ; (2 ) h is tri al co u n sel r e n d e red i n effect i v e

as s i s tan c e o f c o u n s el by fai l i n g t o fi l e a d em u rrer t o t h e vi o lat i o n o f a s ex u al

r es t ri ct i o n o ffen s e; (3 ) t h e tri al co u rt erred by d en y in g hi s m ot i o n t o b i fu rcat e t h e

p ro ceed in g s ; (4 ) t h e tri al co u rt erred b y al l o wi n g t he St at e t o p res en t v i ct i m i m p actt es t i m o ny i n t he g u i l t ph as e o f h i s t ri al ; an d (5 ) t h e cu m ul at i v e e f f e ct o f t h e erro rs

warran t s a n ew t ri al

. Fo r t h e reas o n s t h at fo l l o w, we rev ers e W al k er’ s co n v i ct i o n fo r

v i o l at i o n of a s ex u al o ffen d er r es t ri ct i on

, bu t w e affi rm W al k er’ s rem ai n i n g

co n vi ct i o n s

.

Vi ewed i n t h e l i g ht m o s t fav o rab le to t h e ju ry ’ s v erd i ct s

, 1 t h e reco rd ad d u ced

at t ri al s h o ws th at i n J ul y 2 0 1 7, Do n i q ue Go o d e l i v ed w i t h her fo u r y ear-o l d s o n at

t h e Ech el o n Park Ap a r t m e n t s i n Hen ry Co u n t y

, Geo rg ia, an d Go o d e’ s 1 6 y ear-o ld

n i ece, D a n i ra W es t

, v i s i t ed h er t h at s u m m er. W h i l e G o o de was at wo rk on J u l y 2 9,

2 0 1 7

, W es t t oo k Go o de’ s 4 y ear-o ld s o n to t h e p ark acro s s fro m t h e h o m e an d n o t i ced

t h at a m an

, wh om sh e l at er i d en t i fi ed as W al ker

, w a t c h e d h e r as s h e p l ay ed wi th

Go o d e’ s s o n . As W es t co n t i n u ed t o p l ay wi t h Go od e’ s s o n at t he p l ay gro u n d , W es t

s aw W al k er t o u ch h i s p en is

. W es t t es t i fi ed t h at W al k er’ s p en i s was o ut o f h i s p an t s

,

t h at s h e s aw Wa l k er’ s p en i s as h e “ t o uch ed ” i t, an d s h e d es cri b ed W al k er’ s

m o vem en t s as h i m “ s h ak i n g h i s p en i s.” W es t s ai d t h at it ap p eared t h at W al k er wan t ed

h er to s ee h i m t o u ch i n g h i s p en i s

, an d h e co n t i n u ed t o u ch i n g h i s p en i s as h e wal k ed

u p a n earb y

s t ai rway

. W es t t h en cal led Go o d e wh o t h en cal l ed 9 1 1

. 2

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 ).

2 Go o d e’ s 9 1 1 cal l was ad m it t ed i n t o ev i d en ce an d p lay ed fo r t h e ju ry

.

2M i ch ael Bl y t h e, a p ol i ce o ffi cer wi th t h e M cDo n ou g h Po l i ce Dep art m en t

, was

d i s p at ch ed t o t h e p l ay g ro u n d

. As Offi cer Bl y t h e dro v e aro u n d t he ap art m en t co m p l ex

s earch i n g fo r W al k er, W es t fl ag g ed h i m d o wn

, t o ld h im t hat h er au n t h ad cal l ed 9 1 1,

an d reco u n t ed t o h im W al k er’ s act i o n s

. W h il e s p eak i n g wi t h Off i c e r Bl y t h e, W es t

s aw W al k er nearb y an d p o i n t ed h i m o u t t o Offi cer Bl y t h e, an d Offi cer Bl y th e o rd ered

W al k er to co m e o u t fro m am o n g t h e b u s h es . At t h at p o i n t , W al k er t o o k o ff ru n n i n g

i n an o th er d i r e c t i o n

, an d Offi cer Bl y t h e an d an o t h er o ffi cer wh o res p on d ed t o t h e

p l ay g ro u n d ch as ed aft er W al k er as he co n ti n u ed t o fl ee t he area. Aft er W al k er was

ap p reh en d ed

, O ffi cer Bl y t h e sm el l ed t h e o d o r o f al co h o l fro m W al ker an d as k ed h i m

i f h e h ad b een d ri n k in g, an d W al k er an s wered t h at h e h ad d ru n k a m arg ari t a.

W al k er w as i n d ict ed o n o n e co un t of v i o l at i on o f a s ex u al o ffen d er res t ri ct i o n

(OCGA § 4 2 -1 -1 5 ), t wo co u n ts o f ch i l d m o l es t at i o n (OCGA § 1 6 -6 -4 (a)), o n e co u nt

o f l o i t eri n g o r p ro wl in g (OCGA § 1 6 -1 1 -3 6 ), o n e co un t o f p u b l i c i n d ecen cy (OCGA

§ 1 6 -6 -8 ), o n e co u nt o f p u b l i c d ru n k en n es s (OCGA § 1 6-1 1 -4 1 ), an d on e co u n t o f

o b s t ru ct i on o f an o ffi cer (OCGA § 1 6 -1 0 -2 4 (a)). Th e j u ry fo u n d W al k er g u i l t y o n al l

co u nt s

, an d t h e tri al co u r t im p os ed a 3 0 -y ear sen t en ce, wi t h t h e fi rs t 1 5 y ears t o b e

s erv ed i n co n fi n em en t an d th e rem ai n d er t o b e serv ed o n p ro b at i o n

. W al k er

3s u b s eq u en t l y fi l ed a m o t i o n fo r n ew t ri al

, wh i ch th e t ri al co u rt d en i ed aft er a h eari n g.

Th i s ap p eal fo l l o wed

.

1

. Fi rs t

, W al k er arg u es t h at t h e ev i d en ce w a s i n s uffi ci en t t o su s t ai n h i s

co n vi ct i o n fo r v i o l at i o n o f a s ex u al o ffen der res t ri c t i o n b e c a u se t h e St at e fai l ed to

p res en t ev i d en ce t h at h e co m m it t ed a cri m e t h at req u i red reg is t rat i o n o n o r aft er J u l y

1

, 2 0 0 8

. Aft er a cl o s e rev i ew o f t h e rel ev an t s t at u t o ry p ro v is i o n s

, we ag ree an d

rev ers e W al k er’ s co n v i ct i o n o n t h i s co u n t.

Ord i n ari l y

, wh en rev i ewi n g a s u ffi ci en cy o f t h e ev i den ce cl ai m

, t h e s t an d ard

we ap p ly i s “ wh et h er a rat i o n al t ri er of fact co u ld h av e fo un d t h e d e f e n d a n t g ui l t y

b ey o n d a reas o n ab l e d o u b t. Th is co u rt d o es n ot rewei g h ev i d en ce or res o lv e co n fl ict s

i n t es t i m o n y ; i n s t e a d

, e v i d en ce i s rev iewed i n a l ig h t m o s t fav o rab l e t o t h e v erd i ct

,

wi t h d eferen ce t o th e ju ry ’ s as s es s m en t o f t h e wei g h t an d cred i b il i t y o f t h e ev i d en ce.”

(Ci t at i o n o m it t ed

. ) L i t t l e v

. S ta t e

, 3 3 2 Ga. Ap p

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

Becau s e W al k er’ s s u ffi ci en cy o f th e ev i d en ce cl ai m p ri m ari ly i n v o l v es t h e

i n t erp ret at io n o f a s t at u t e, h o w ev er, “ [a] s in al l ap p eal s i n v o lv in g th e co n s t ru ct i o n o f

s t at u tes

, o u r rev i ew i s co n d u ct ed u n d er a d e n ov o s t an d ard .” (Ci t at i o n o m i t t ed .)

W i l l ia ms v. S ta t e , 2 9 9 Ga. 6 3 2 , 6 3 3 (7 9 1 SE2 d 5 5 ) (2 0 1 6 ).

4“ Pu rs uan t t o t h e ru les o f s t at u t o ry co n s tru ct i o n

, w e p res u m e t h at t h e Gen eral

As s em b l y m ean t w hat i t s ai d an d s ai d wh at i t m e a n t

. ” Wi l l i a ms

, s u p ra, 29 9 Ga. at

6 3 3 . Ad d i t io n al ly

,

[i ] n s t at ut o ry in terp ret at i o n ca s e s s u ch as t h is

, i t i s w el l s et t led t h at a

s t at u t e d raws i t s m ean i n g fro m i t s tex t

. W h en i nt erp ret i n g a s t at ut e, we

m u s t g i v e t h e t ex t i ts p l ai n an d o rd i n ary m ean i n g

, v i ew i t i n t h e co n t ex t

i n wh i ch i t ap p ears , an d read i t i n i t s m o s t n at u ral an d reas o n ab le way

.

F o r co n tex t

, we m ay l o o k t o o t h er p ro v is i on s o f t h e sam e s t at u t e

, t h e

s t ru ct u re an d h is t ory o f t h e wh o l e s t at u t e, an d t h e o t h er l aw

—

co n s t i t ut i o n al

, s t at u t o ry

, an d co m m on l aw al ik e

— t h at fo rm s t h e l eg al

b ack g ro u n d o f t h e s t at u t o ry p ro v i s i o n i n q ues t i o n

.

(Ci t at i o n s an d p u n ct u at i o n om it t ed .) S t a t e v. Co l ema n

, 3 06 Ga. 5 2 9

, 5 3 0 (8 3 2 SE2 d

3 8 9 ) (2 0 1 9 ).

Here, Co u n t 1 of t h e i nd i ct m en t al l eg ed th at W al k er v i ol at ed OCGA § 4 2 -1 -1 5,

wh i ch s t at es i n rel ev an t p art th at “ i t s h al l b e u n l awfu l fo r an y i n d i v i d u al o r fo r an y

p ers o n w h o i s o r s h o u l d be reg i s t ered o n an o t h er st at e’ s s ex ual offen d er reg i s t ry to

l o i t er, as p ro h i bi t ed b y

Co d e Sect i o n 1 6 -1 1 -3 6 , at an y ch i l d care faci l it y

, s ch o o l , o r

area wh ere m i n o rs co n g reg at e.” OCGA § 4 2 -1 -1 5 (d ). As r e f l e c t ed ab o v e, t h i s

p art i cu l ar s u b s ect i o n o f th e s t at u t e, b y i t s el f, d o es no t co nt ai n an y d at e l i m i t at i o n s o r

co n st rai nt s as t o wh en t h e d efen d an t ’ s p ri o r act occu rred

. In l o o k in g at t h e st at u t o ry

5s ch em e, ho w e v e r

, we n o t e t hat OCGA § 4 2 -1 -1 5 i s t i t l ed i n p art : “ Res t ri ct i o n s o n

res i den ce o f o r l o i t e r i n g b y reg i s t ered s ex o ffen d er f o r a ct s co mmi t t ed a

f t er Ju l y 1,

2 0 0 8 [.] ” (Em

p h as i s s u pp l i ed

. )

M o reo v er, i n l oo k i n g at t h e s t ru ct u re o f OCGA § 4 2-1 -1 5

, w e n o t e t h a t t h i s

s t at u te i s s i t u at ed nex t to t wo si m i l ar s t at u to ry p ro v is i o n s wi t h i n t h e s am e art i cl e t h at

h av e nearl y i d en t i cal ti t l es an d p ro v i s i o n s

, b u t co nt ai n d i fferen t d at e l i m i t at i o n s

.

OCGA § 4 2 -1 -1 6 i s t i t l ed i n p art

, “ [r] es t ri ct i o n s o n res i d en ce of o r lo i t eri n g by

reg i s tered s ex offen d er fo r act s co m m i t t ed b et w een J u l y 1

, 2 0 0 6 an d J un e 3 0

, 2 0 0 8 [,] ”

an d co n t ai n s sev eral p ro v i s i o n s wi t h i n t h e s t at u t e t h at s p eci fy d at e l i m i t at i o n s

. 3

No t ab l y

, OCGA § 4 2 -1 -1 5 an d OCGA § 4 2-1 -1 6 b o t h c o n tai n i d en t i cal p ro v i s i on s

p ro h ib i t i ng an i n d i v i d u al wh o is req u i red to reg i s t er fro m l o i t eri n g at an y ch i l d care

faci li t y

, s ch o o l

, o r area wh ere m i n o rs co n g reg at e. 4 Fu rt h er, OCGA § 4 2 -1 -1 7 i s p art l y

t i tl ed

, “ [r] es t ri ct i o n s on res i d en ce o f o r l o i t eri ng b y re g i s t ered s ex o ffen d er fo r act s

3 F o r e x a m

p l e O CGA § 4 2 -1 -1 6 (b ) s t at es t h at “ [a] n y i n d i v i d u al wh o

co m m i t t ed an act b et ween Ju ly 1, 2 0 0 6

, a n d Ju n e 30

, 2 0 0 8

, fo r wh i ch s uch i n d i v i d u al

i s req u i red t o r e g i s t e r s hal l n o t res i de wi t h i n 1

, 0 0 0 feet o f an y ch i l d care faci l i t y

, ch u rch

, s ch o o l , o r area wh ere m i n o rs co n g reg at e. (Em p h as is s u p p l i ed ).

4 See OCGA § § 4 2 -1 -1 5 (d ), 4 2

- 1

- 1 6 (d ) (“ [I] t s hal l b e u n lawfu l fo r an y

i n d i v i d u al t o l o i ter, as p ro h i b i t ed b y Co d e Sect i o n 1 6 -1 1 -3 6

, at an y ch i l d care faci l i t y

,

s ch o ol , o r area wh ere m in o rs co n g reg at e.”).

6co m

m i t t ed b et ween J u n e 4

, 2 0 0 3 a n d J un e 3 0

, 20 0 6 [.] ” Th at s t at u t e al s o co n t ai n s

s ev eral p ro v is io n s wi t h d at e l i m i t at i o n s

. 5

Bas ed on o ur an al y si s o f t h e s t at u t o ry s ch em e, we are co m

pel l ed t o co n cl u d e

t h at OCGA § 4 2 -1 -1 5 (d ) on l y ap p l i es t o act s req u i ri n g reg i s t ry t h at were co m m i t t ed

o n o r aft er J u l y 1

, 2 00 8

. T h e leg i s l at u re t it l ed OCGA § 42 -1 -1 5 as “ [ r ] es tr ict i o n s o n

r es i d en ce o f o r l o i t er i n g b

y reg i s t er ed

s ex of f en d er f o r a ct s co mmi t t ed a

f t er Ju l y 1,

2 0 0 8 [ ,] ” an d t he l eg i s l at u re en act ed ot h er s t at u t es wi th s i m i l ar o r i d en t i cal p ro v i s i on s

wi t h i n t h e s am e art i cl e th at ex pres s l y co n t ai n dat e l i m i t at i o n s

, wh i ch ev i n ces an i n t en t

o n t h e p art o f t h e l eg i s l at u re t h at OCGA § 4 2

- 1

- 1 5 a n d t h e l o i t eri n g p ro h i b i t i o n

t h erei n o nl y ap p li es t o t h o s e wh o are req u ired t o reg i s t er fo r act s th at were co m m i t t ed

d u ri n g a s p eci fi c t i m e p eri o d

.

W e reject t he St at e’ s arg u m en t t h at t h e l eg i s l at u re d i d n o t i n t en d fo r t h e d at e

l i m i tat i on t o ap p l y t o t h e en t i re s t at u t e. Th e St at e’ s arg um en t is b as ed on t h e fact t h at

,

b ecau s e W al k er was an “ i n d i v i du al ” 6 u n d er OCGA § 4 2-1 -1 5 an d t h erefo re req u i red

5 See, e.g

. , OCGA § 4 2-1 -1 7 (b ) (“ An y i n d iv i d u al wh o co m m i t t ed an act

b et ween J u n e 4, 2 0 0 3

, a n d J u n e 3 0

, 2 0 0 6

, fo r wh i ch su ch i n d iv id u al i s req u i red to

reg i s ter s h al l n o t res i d e w i th i n 1 ,0 0 0 feet o f an y ch i l d care faci l i t y

, s ch o o l, o r area

wh ere m i n ors co n g reg at e.”).

6 OCGA § 4 2 -1 -1 5 (a) (1 ) d efi n es “ i nd i vi d u al ” as “ a p ers o n w h o i s req u i red to

reg i s ter p u rs u an t to OCGA § 42 -1 -1 2 .” OCGA § 4 2 -1 -1 2 (a) (9 ) (B) (x i ) req u i res a

7t o reg i s t er as a sex u al offen d er, t h e p ro h i b i t i o n ag ai n s t l o it e r i n g b y an “ i n d i v i d u al ”

i n OCGA § 4 2 -1 -1 5 (d ) was ap pl i cab l e t o W al k er. W e d o n o t co n s t ru e OCGA § 4 2 -1

-

1 5 in s uch a m an n er. W e n o t e t h at OCGA § 42 -1 -1 6 (a) (2 ) al s o defi nes “ i n d i v i d u al ”

i n t h e s am e m an n er as OCGA § 4 2 -1 -1 5 (a) (1 ), an d i t al s o co n t a i n s a n i d e n t i cal

p ro v is i o n t o OCGA § 42 -1 -1 5 (d ) t h at p ro h ib i t s s ex ual o ffen ders fro m l o i t eri n g

. See

OCGA § 4 2 -1 -1 6 (d ) (p ro h ib i t i n g sex u al o ffen d ers fro m l o i t eri ng a t a n y c h i l d care

faci li t y

, s ch o o l

, o r areas wh ere m i n o rs co ng reg at e). In co ns t ru i n g s t at ut es

, we ad h ere

t o t h e fu n d am en t al pri nci p l e “ t h at req u i re[s ] u s t o co ns t ru e t h e s t at ut e[s ] acco rd i n g

t o [t h ei r] t erm s

, t o g i v e wo rd s t h ei r p l ai n an d o rd i n ary m ean in g

, an d t o av o i d a

co n st ru ct i o n th at m ak es s o m e l an g u ag e m ere s u rp l u s ag e.” (Ci tat i o n o m i t t ed .) Co a t es

v. St a t e

, 3 0 4 G a. 3 29

, 3 3 0 (8 1 8 SE2 d 62 2 ) (2 0 1 8 ). Ad d it i o n a l l y

, “ al l s t at u t es are

p res u m ed t o b e en act ed b y t h e leg i s l at u re wi th fu l l k n owl ed g e of th e ex i s t i n g

co n di t i o n o f th e l aw an d w i t h referen ce t o i t. Th ey are t h erefo re t o b e co n s t ru ed in

co n nect io n an d i n h arm o n y wi th ex i s t i n g l aw[,] ” “ an d we [d o] n o t p res u m e t h at t h e

l eg i s lat u re i nt en d e d t h at an y p art o f t h e cri m i nal co d e t o b e wi t h o u t m ean i n g [.] ”

(Ci t at i o n s an d p un ct u at i on om i tt ed .) Ma h o n e v. St a t e

, 34 8 G a. Ap p. 4 9 1

, 4 9 5 -4 9 6 (2 )

p ers o n t o reg i s t er as a s ex u al o ffen d er i f t h ey h av e b een co n vi ct ed fo r “ [a] n y co n d u ct

wh i ch

, by i t s n at u re, is a s ex u al o ffen s e ag ai n s t a v i ct i m wh o i s a m i n o r[] ” wh i ch was

co m m i t t ed aft er J u ne 3 0 , 2 00 1

.

8(8 2 3 SE2 d 8 1 3) (2 0 1 9 ). Becau s e t h e St at e’ s i n t erp ret at i o n o f OCGA § 4 2 -1 -1 5 (d )

wo u l d ren d er OCGA § 4 2 -1 -1 6 (d ) m ean i ng l es s an d m ere s u rp l u s ag e, we reject t h e

St at e’ s i n t erp ret at io n an d h o ld t h at OCGA § 4 2-1 -1 5 ( d ) ap p l i es t o act s req u i ri n g

reg i s try t hat were co m

m i t t ed o n o r aft er J u l y

1 , 2 0 08

.

Tu rn i n g t o t h e ev i d en ce p res en t ed fo r t h i s o ffen s e, th e St at e prese n t ed ev i d en ce

t h at W al k er was req u i red t o reg i s t er as a s ex u al o ffen d er du e t o h is co n v i ct i o n fo r

s t at u to ry rap e t h at o ccu rred i n Oct o b er 2 0 0 2. Gi v en o u r h o l d i n g t h at t he l o i t eri n g

p ro h ib i t i on i n OCGA § 4 2 -1 -1 5 (d ) ap p l ies o n l y t o act s req u iri n g reg is t ry t h at were

co m m it t ed o n or aft er J ul y 1

, 2 0 0 8

, W al k er’ s s t at ut o ry rap e co n vi ct i o n wh i ch

o ccu rred i n O ct o b er 2 0 0 2 was i n s u ffi ci en t to p r o ve a v i o lat i o n o f t h e l o i t eri n g

p ro v is i o n i n O CGA § 4 2 -1 -1 5 (d ), an d we t h erefo re rev ers e h i s co n v i ct i o n an d v acat e

t h e s en t en ce en t ered o n t h at co u n t

.

2

. Seco n d

, W al k er arg u es t h at h i s t ri al co u ns el ren d ered in effect i v e as s i s t an ce

o f co u ns el b y

fai l i n g t o fi l e a g en eral d em u rrer t o t h e v i o l at io n o f a s ex ual o ffen d er

res t ri ct i o n o ffen se. Becau s e we h av e rev ers ed W al k er’ s co n v i ct i o n o n t h i s co u n t

, t h i s

cl ai m i s m o o t. See Jo h n so n v. S t a t e , 2 1 4 Ga. Ap p

. 7 7

, 8 1 (2 ) (4 4 7 SE2 d 7 4 ) (1 9 9 4 )

(cl ai m t h at co u n sel w as in effect i v e fo r fai l i n g t o fi l e a m o ti o n fo r d i rect ed v erd i ct o n

9a co u n t o f co nv i ct i on was m o o t o n ce Co u rt o f Ap p eal s co n cl u d ed th at t he ev i d en ce

was i n s u ffi ci en t t o s u p p ort t h at co n v i ct i on ).

3

. Nex t

, W al k e r a r g u es t h at t h e tri al co u rt erred b y d en y i n g hi s m o t i o n to

b i fu rcat e t he vi ol at i o n o f a sex u al offen d er res t ri ct i o n ch arg e fro m t h e rem ai n i n g

ch arg es

. W e co n cl u d e t hat

, pret erm i t t i n g wh et h er t h e t ri al co u rt erred b y d en y i n g

W al k er’ s m o t i on t o b i fu rcat e, an y erro r was h arm l es s

.

Th e t es t fo r d et erm in i n g n o n co ns t i t u ti o n al h arm les s erro r i s wh et h er i t

i s hi g h l y p ro b ab l e t h at t h e erro r d i d n o t co n t ri b u te t o t h e v erd i ct

. An d i n

co n s i d eri ng wh et h er a t r i a l c o u rt ’ s erro r was h arm fu l

, we wei g h th e

ev i d en ce as we wo u l d ex p ect reas o n ab l e ju ro rs t o h av e d o n e s o

, as

o p p o s ed t o as s u m i n g t hat t h ey t o o k t h e m o s t p ro -g u i lt p o s s i b l e v i ew o f

ev ery b i t o f ev i d en ce i n t h e cas e.

(Ci t at i o n s an d p u nct u at io n o m i t t ed .) Lo f t o n v. S t at e

, 3 0 9 Ga. 3 4 9

, 3 5 6-3 5 7 ( 3 ) (b )

(8 4 6 SE2 d 5 7 ) (2 0 2 0 ); see al s o Ma n g r u m v. S t at e

, 2 4 4 Ga. Ap p

. 55 9 (5 3 6 SE2 d 2 1 7 )

(2 0 0 0) (ap p l y i ng harm les s erro r t es t t o d efen d an t’ s cl ai m t h at t h e t ri al co u rt erred by

fai l i n g t o s ev er t h e o ffen s es ).

Here, W al k er m ad e a m o t i o n t o b i fu rcat e t he v i o l a t i o n o f a s ex u al o ffen d er

res t ri ct i o n fro m t h e rem ai n i n g ch arg es

, arg u i n g t h at h is s t a t u s a s a reg i s t ered s ex

10o ffen d er was irrel ev an t to t he o t h er ch arg es an d t h at h e wo u l d b e p reju d i ced b y t h e

ad m i s s i o n of t h at ev i d en ce at t ri al

. Th e t ri al co u rt

, h o wev er, d en i ed W al k er’ s m o t i o n.

We c o n cl u d e th at

, p ret erm i t t i n g wh et h er t h e t ri al co u rt erred b y d en y i n g

W al k er’ s m o t i o n t o b i fu rcat e t h e v i o l at i o n o f a s ex u al o ffen d er res t ri ct io n ch arg e f r om

t h e rem ai n in g ch arg es

, an y erro r was h arm l es s . Th e St at e p res en t ed t es ti m o n y fro m

W es t t h at W al k er t o o k h is p en i s o ut o f h i s p an ts an d b eg an t o uch i n g an d “ s h ak i n g h i s

p en is ” wh i l e s he an d h er co us i n p l ay ed at a p l ay g ro un d W es t fu rt her t es t i fi ed t h at i t

ap p eared t h at W al k er wan t ed t o m ak e su re t h at s h e s aw h i m t ou ch i n g hi s p en i s

.

Ad d i t i o n al l y, Wal k er fl ed fro m l aw en fo rcem en t aft er W es t i d en ti fi ed h i m t o t h e

p o l i ce o ffi cers

, an d t he o ffi cers n o t iced t h e o d o r o f al co h o l em an at i ng fro m W al k er

aft er h e was ap p reh en d ed

. In l i g h t o f t h i s ev i d en ce, we co n cl u d e t h at an y erro r i n t h e

t ri al co urt ’ s d en i al o f W al k er’ s m o t io n t o b ifu rcat e t h e pro ceed i n g s was harm l es s

. See

Ma n g r um

, 2 4 4 G a. Ap p

. at 5 5 9 (h o l d i n g t h a t t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s erro r i n den y i n g t h e

d efen d an t ’ s m ot i o n t o s ev er t he o ffen s es was h arm l es s wh ere th e St at e p res en t ed

s t ro n g ev i d en ce o f t h e d efen dan t ’ s g u i l t ).

4

. W al k er fu rt h er ar g u es t h at t h e t ri al co u rt erred b y al l o wi n g t h e St at e to

p res en t v i ct i m i m

p act ev i d en ce d u ri n g t h e g ui l t p h as e o f h i s t ri al . W e ag ree t h at t h e

11t ri al co urt erred b y perm it ti n g t h e St at e t o p res en t v i ct im i m p act ev id en ce d u ri n g t h e

g u i l t p h as e o f W al k er’ s t ri al , b u t we co n cl u d e t h at t h e erro r was h arm l es s.

Th e ad m is s i b i l i t y o f v i c t i m i m pact ev i d en ce i s rev i ewed fo r ab u s e o f

d i s cret i o n

. See La wl er v. S t a te

, 2 7 6 Ga. 2 2 9, 2 3 2 (3 ) (5 7 6 SE2 d 8 4 1 ) (2 0 0 3 )

(rev iewi n g t h e ad m i s s i bi l i t y o f v i ct i m im p act t es t i m o ny u n d er t h e ab u s e o f d i s cret i o n

s t an d ard ).

“ Un d er G eo rg i a l aw, ev i d en ce ab o u t a cri m e v i ct i m ’ s p ers o n al ch aract eri s ti cs

an d t h e em o t i o n al im

p act o f t h e cri m e on t he v i c t i m

, t h e v i ct i m ’ s fam i l y

, an d t h e

v i ct i m ’ s co m

m u n i t y g en eral l y i s n ot ad m i s s i b l e i n t h e g u i l t /i n n ocen ce ph as e o f a

cri m i n al t ri al .” Lo

ft on

, s u p ra, 3 09 Ga. at 3 6 3 (6 ) (b ) (i i ). Th i s i s b ecau s e “ b ack g ro u n d

i n fo rm at i o n ab o ut t h e v i ct i m t h at i s n o t rel ev an t t o t he i s s u es i n t h e g u i l t / i nn o cen ce

p h as e, p art i cu l arl y

t h e s o rt o f b ack g ro u nd i n fo rm at i o n l i kel y t o en gen d er th e ju ry ’ s

s y m p at h ies

, s h ou l d n ot b e pres en t ed t o t h e ju ry d u ri n g t h at p has e.” (Ci t at io n o m i t t ed .)

Id . at 3 6 3 -3 6 4 (6 ) (b ) (i i ).

Here, o v er W al k er’ s ob

ject i o n

, t h e St at e q u es t i on ed W es t as t o h ow W al k er’ s

act i on s i m

p act ed h er, an d W es t res p o n d ed t h at s h e p ay s at t en t i o n w h en s o m eo n e i s

wat ch i n g h er t o m ak e s u re t h at th ey wo u ld n ot t ry t o h arm her. Th e S t at e al s o

12q u es ti o n ed W es t ab ou t wh et her s h e h as v i si t ed G o o d e a t h e r ap art m en t s i n ce t h e

i n ci d en t , an d W es t res p on d ed th at s h e h ad n o t ret u rn ed t o Go o d e’ s h om e.

W e co n cl ud e t h at t he t ri al co u rt erred b y p erm i t t i n g t h e St at e t o p res en t v i ct i m

i m p act t es t i m o n y fro m W es t i n t h e gu i lt p h as e o f h i s t r i al

. W es t ’ s t es t i m o ny ab o ut

h o w W al k er’ s act i o n s s ub s eq u en t l y a f f e c t e d h er d ai l y l i fe w as n o t rel ev an t t o t h e

ju ry ’ s d et erm i n at io n o f W al k er’ s g u i lt an d in ap p ro p ri at el y ap p ea l ed t o t h e ju ry ’ s

s y m p at h ies

. See Lo

ft o n

, su p ra, 3 0 9 Ga. at 3 6 4 (6 ) (b ) (i i ) (h ol d in g t h at t h e ad m i s s i o n

o f e v i d e n c e rel at i n g t o t h e v i ct i m ’ s career p ro gres s i o n an d h i s fat h er’ s d eat h was

i n ad m is s i b le d uri ng t h e g u i l t p has e o f t h e d efen d an t ’ s tri al b ecau se t h e ev i d en ce was

n o t rel ev an t t o t h e d et erm i n a ti o n o f th e defen d an t ’ s g u il t an d i t i n ap p ro p ri at el y

ap p eal ed t o t he ju ry ’ s s y m p at h i es ).

Nev ert h el es s

, we co n cl u d e t h at t he erro r i n t h e ad m i ss i o n o f th e v i ct i m i m p act

e v i den ce was h arm l es s

. See W i l l i s v. S t a t e

, 3 0 4 Ga. 6 8 6

, 7 1 5 -7 1 6 (1 6 ) (8 2 0 SE2 d

6 4 0 ) (2 0 1 8 ) (ap p l y i n g h arm l es s erro r t es t to th e i m p ro p er ad m i s s i on of v i ct i m i m p act

t es t i m o ny ). As st at ed ab o v e i n Di v i s i o n 3 , t h e St at e p res en t ed tes t im on y fro m W es t

t h at W al k er t o o k h i s p en i s o u t o f h i s p a n t s an d b eg an t ou ch i n g an d “ s h ak i n g h i s

p en is .” W es t fu rt h er t es t i fi ed th at i t ap p eared t hat W al k er wan t ed t o m ak e s u re t h at

s h e s aw h i m t o u ch i n g h i s p en i s

. Ad d it i on al l y

, W al k er fl ed fro m l aw en fo rcem en t aft er

13W es t i d en t ifi ed hi m t o th e p o l i ce o ffi cers

, an d t he o ffi cers n o t i ced t h e o d or o f al co h ol

em an at i n g fro m W al ker aft er h e was ap p reh en d ed

. T herefo re, i n l i g h t o f t h i s s t ro n g

ev i d en ce o f g u i l t

, we co n c l u d e t h a t t h e erro r i n t h e ad m i s s i o n o f i m p act t es t i m o ny

d u ri n g t h e g ui lt p has e o f W al k er’ s t ri al w as h arm l es s

. See i d

. (h ol d i ng t hat t h e erro r

i n t h e ad m i s s i o n o f t h e vi ct i m i m p act ev i d en ce was h arm l es s b ecau s e t h e St at e

p res en t ed s t ro ng ev id en ce o f t h e d efen d an t ’ s g u i lt ).

5

. Las t l y

, W al k er arg u es t h at t h e cu m u l at i v e effect o f t h e e r r o r s by t h e t ri al

co u rt an d h i s t ri al co u n s el en t i t l es h i m t o a n ew t ri al

.

Geo rg i a has recen tl y ad o p t ed a cu m u l at i v e e r r or ru l e, s t at i n g t hat

Geo rg i a co u r t s co n si d eri n g wh et her a cri m i n al d efen d an t i s en t it l ed t o

a n ew t ri al s ho u l d co n s i d er co l lect i v el y t h e p reju d i ci al effect o f t r i a l

co u rt erro rs an d an y d efi ci en t p erfo rm an ce b y co u n s el

— at l eas t wh ere

t h o s e erro rs b y

t h e co u rt an d co u ns el i n v o l v e ev id en t i ary i s su es

.

(Ci t at i o n an d p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed .) S h o wer s v. S t a t e

, 3 5 3 Ga. Ap p

. 7 5 4

, 7 6 1 (2 ) (d )

(8 3 9 SE2 d 2 4 5 ) (2 0 2 0 ).

In t h i s cas e, we h av e co n si d ered t h e p ret erm i t t ed erro r o f t he t ri al co u rt ’ s d en i al

o f W al k er’ s m o t i o n t o b i fu rcat e an d t h e i m p ro p er ad m is s i o n o f v i ct i m i m p act

t es t i m o ny

, an d we co n cl u d e t h at t h e cu m u l at i v e effect o f th es e erro rs d o es n o t warran t

a n ew t ri al i n l i gh t of t h e s t ro n g ev i den ce o f Wa l k e r ’s g u i l t

. See A l l en v. St a t e

, 3 1 0

14Ga. 4 11

, 4 17 (4 ) (8 51 SE2 d 54 1 ) (2 0 2 0 ) (h o ld i n g t h at t h e cu m u l at i ve eff

e ct o f t h e

t ri al co u rt ’ s erro rs d i d n o t warran t a n ew t ri al ).

Acco rd i ng l y

, fo r t h e reas o n s s t at ed ab o v e, we rev ers e W al k er’ s co nv i ct i o n fo r

v i o l at i o n o f a s ex ual o ffen d er res t ri ct i o n , b u t we affi rm h i s rem ai n i n g co n vi ct i o n s.

Ju d g men t af fi r med i n p a r t a n d r ever sed i n p ar t

. Ho d

g es

, J., an d S

en i o r

Ap p el l a te Ju d

g e Her b et

E. Ph i p p s , co n cu r

.

15