THI RD DI VI SI ON

ELLI NGTON, P. J.

, DI LLA RD and M C FA DDEN, 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 ls .us /r ule s /

M ay 5, 2015



# I n th e Co u r t o f

A p p eals o f

G eo r g ia

A1 5 A0 50 8 . M O TON v . THE STATE.

D I LLA R D , J u dg e.

Fo l l owi n g t ri al

, a ju ry co n v i ct ed E arl M o t o n , II, o n t wo co u n t s o f m i s d em ean o r

p u b l i c in d ecen cy

. On ap p eal

, M o t o n co n t en d s t h at t h e ev i d en ce was i n s u ffi c i e n t t o

s u p p ort h i s co n v i ct i o n s an d t h at t h e t ri al co urt erred i n (1 ) refu s i n g t o s en ten ce h i m

as a fi rs t o ffen d er , ( 2 ) d e n y i n g h i s m ot i o n fo r a co nt i n u an ce o f t h e h eari ng o n h i s

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

, an d (3 ) d en y i n g h i s m o t i o n fo r n ew t ri al

, i n wh i ch h e arg u ed t h at

t h e ju ry v erd i ct was n ot u n an im o u s . Fo r t h e reas o n s s et fo rt h i n f r a , we affi rm

.

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

, 1 t h e ev i den ce s h o ws

t h at o n M ay

1 6

, 2 0 1 3 , Aq u il a Ab d el -Qu ed u s an d h er t en -y ear-o l d d au g ht er wen t t o

t h e St o n ecres t b ran ch of th e DeKal b Co u n ty Pu b l i c Li b rary t o m eet a cl o se fam i l y

1 S ee, e.g

. , Po wel l

v. S t a te , 3 1 0 Ga. Ap p . 1 4 4 , 1 4 4 (7 1 2 SE2 d 1 3 9 ) (2 0 1 1 ).fri en d, Am i r Bi n Yam i n, wh o was t h ere s t u d y in g fo r a t es t

. Sh o rt ly aft er h er d au g h t er

s at d own at a d es k t o u se o n e o f t h e l i b rary ’ s co m p ut ers , Ab del -Qu ed u s n o t i ced t h at

a yo u n g m an , l at er i d en t i fi ed as M o t o n , ap p eared t o b e o bs erv i n g h er d au g h t er

t h ro u g h t h e g a p s i n a b o ok sh el f. A few s eco n d s l at er, Ab d el -Qu ed u s wat ch ed as

M o t o n p u l l ed h i s erect p en i s o ut o f h i s p an ts an d b eg an m as t u rb at i n g

.

Im m ed i at el y , Ab d el -Qu ed u s al ert ed Bi n Yam i n t o M o t o n’ s act i o ns

. Bu t fro m

h i s v an t ag e po i n t b eh i n d M ot o n , Bi n Yam i n d i d n o t s ee M o to n’ s e x p o s e d p en i s

.

Ho wev er, Bi n Y am in d i d see t h at M o t o n was m o v i ng o ne of h i s arm s b ack an d fo rt h

n ear h i s wai s t an d

, t h u s, ap p eared t o b e m as t u rb at i ng

. An d u p o n co n fro n t i n g M o t o n,

Bi n Yam i n al s o n o ti ced t hat M o t o n ’ s p an t s were o p e n

. C o n s eq u en tl y , Bi n Yam in

i n fo r m ed o n e of t h e l i b rari an s , wh o t h en q ues t i o n ed M o t o n ab o u t h is act i o n s. In

res p o n s e, M o t on cl ai m ed t h at h i s u n derwear h ad b eco m e b un ch ed s o h e at t em p t ed to

a d j u s t h i m s el f, t h i n k i n g n o on e wo ul d n o ti ce. Un p ers u ad ed b y t h i s res p o n s e, t h e

l i brari an cal l ed a po li ce o ffi cer, wh o fu rt h er q u es t i o n ed M ot o n reg ard i n g t h e i n ci d en t

at t he p o l i ce s t at i o n an d recei v ed a s i m i l ar ex p l an at i o n

.

Th ereaft er, t h e St at e ch arg ed M o t o n , vi a accu s at i o n , w i th o n e co un t o f p u b l i c

i n d ecen cy by ex p o s i n g h i s s ex u al o rg an s i n a lewd m an n er 2 an d o ne co un t of p u b l i c

2 S ee OCGA § 1 6 -6 -8 (a) (2 ).

2i n d ecen cy b y m ak i n g a l ewd ap p earan ce i n a st at e o f p art i al n u d i t y

. 3 A n d d u ri n g t h e

en s u in g t ri al

, Ab d el -Qu ed u s , Bi n Yam i n, t h e l i brari an , an d t h e po l ice o ffi cer t es t i fi ed

ab o ut t h e i n ci d en t

. In ad d i ti o n , s ev eral wi t n es s es , i n cl ud i n g M o t o n ’ s fat h er, t es t i fi ed

as t o M o t o n ’ s g o o d ch aract er, an d M o t o n tes t ifi ed i n h i s o wn d efen s e. N ev ert h el es s ,

at t h e co n cl u s i o n o f t he t ri al

, t h e ju ry fo u n d M o t o n g ui l t y o n b o th co u nt s i n t h e

accu s at i on

.

Su b s eq uen t l y , M o t o n fi l ed a m ot i on fo r n ew t ri al

, an d t h e t ri al co u rt s ch ed u l ed

a h eari n g

. Th en , ap pro xi m at el y o n e week befo re t h e h eari n g , M o t o n fi l ed a m o t i o n

fo r co n t in u an ce, arg u i n g, i n t er a l i a , t h at h e h ad n o t recei v ed a t ran s cri p t of h i s t ri al

.

Bu t fi n d in g t h at M o t o n h ad

, i n fact

, al read y re c e i v ed an el ect ro n i c co p y o f t h e

t ran s c r i p t

, t h e t ri al co u rt d en i ed M o to n ’ s m o ti o n

. Aft er M o t o n fi l ed an am en d ed

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

, t h e co u rt h el d t h e h eari n g o n t h e m o t io n a s s c h e d u l ed an d,

u l t i m at el y , d en i ed i t. Th i s ap p eal fo l l o ws

.

1

. M o t o n fi rs t co n t en ds t h at t h e ev i d en ce was i n su ffi ci en t t o s u p p o r t h i s

co n vi ct i o n s o n t he t wo ch arg es o f p u b l i c i n d ecen cy . W e d i s ag ree.

At t h e o u t set

, we n o t e t h at wh en a cri m i n al co nv i ct i o n i s ap p eal ed

, t h e ev i d en ce

m u st b e v i ewed in t he l i g h t m o s t fav o rab le t o t h e v erd i ct

, an d t h e ap pel l an t n o l o n g er

3 S ee OCGA § 1 6 -6 -8 (a) (3 ).

3en

jo y s a p res u m

p t i on o f i n n o cen ce. 4 An d

, o f co u rs e, i n ev al u at i ng t he su ffi ci en cy o f

t h e ev i d en ce, “ we do n o t wei g h t h e ev i d en ce o r d et erm i ne w i tn es s cred ib i l i t y , b ut

o n l y d et erm i n e wh et h er a rat i o nal t ri er o f fact co u l d h av e fo un d t he defen d an t g ui l t y

o f t he ch arg ed offen s es b ey o n d a reas o n ab l e d ou b t .” 5 T h u s , t h e ju ry ’ s verd i ct wi l l b e

u p h el d s o l o ng as t h ere is “ so m e c o m p e t e n t ev id en ce, ev en t ho u g h co nt rad i ct ed

, to

s u p p ort each fac t n e c e s s a r y t o m ak e ou t t h e St at e’ s cas e.” 6 W i t h t h es e g u i d i n g

p ri n ci p l es i n m i n d , we t u rn n o w t o M o t o n’ s s p eci fi c cl ai m o f erro r.

U n d er OCGA § 16 -6 -8 (a), a p ers o n co m m i t s th e o ffen s e o f m i s d e m e a n o r

p u b l i c i n d ecen cy

wh en h e o r s h e p erfo rm s , i n a p u b l i c p l ace, “ [a] l ewd ex p o s u re o f

t h e s ex u al org an s” 7 o r “ [a] l ewd ap p earan ce i n a s t at e o f p art i al o r co m p l et e n u d i t y

. ” 8

An d h ere, Ab d el -Qu ed u s t es t i fi ed t hat sh e s aw M o t o n p u l l h i s e rect p en i s fro m h i s

p an ts an d b eg i n t o m as t u rb at e. Th i s ev i d en c e a l o n e was s u ffi ci en t t o p ro v e t h at

4 S ee En g l i s h v. S ta t e , 3 0 1 Ga. Ap p . 8 42 , 8 42 (6 8 9 SE2 d 1 3 0 ) (2 0 10 ).

5 Jo n es v. S t a t e , 3 1 8 Ga. Ap p

. 2 6

, 2 9 ( 1 ) ( 7 3 3 SE2 d 7 2 ) (2 0 1 2 ) (p u n ct u at i o n

o m it t ed ); s ee a l

s o Ja cks o n v. Vi r

g i ni a , 4 4 3 U.S. 3 07

, 3 1 9 (III) (B) (9 9 SCt

. 2 7 8 1

, 6 1

LE2 d 5 6 0) (1 9 7 9 ).

6 Mi l l er v. S t at e , 2 7 3 G a. 8 3 1

, 8 3 2 (5 4 6 SE2 d 5 24 ) (2 0 0 1 ) (p u n ct u at i o n

o m it t ed ).

7 OCGA § 1 6 -6 -8 (a) (2 ).

8 OCGA § 1 6 -6 -8 (a) (3 ).

4M o t o n co m

m i tt ed t h e o ffen s e o f p u b l i c i n d ecen cy b y a l ewd ex p o s u re o f h i s s ex u al

o rg an s an d b y

a l ewd ap p earan ce i n a s tat e o f p art i al n u d i t y

. 9

2

. Mo t o n al s o co n t en d s t h at t h e t ri al co urt erred i n refu s i n g t o sen t en ce h i m as

a fi rs t o ffen d er u n d er OCGA § 4 2 -8 -6 0 . Ag ai n, we d i sag ree.

It i s wel l es t ab l i s h ed t h at t h e d eci s i o n of wh et h er o r n o t to s en t en ce a d efen d an t

u n d er t h e fi rs t -o ffen d er st at u t e “ l i es en t i rel y wi t h i n t h e d i s cret i o n o f t h e t ri al co u rt .” 1 0

An d ab s en t so m e erro n eo u s b el i ef o n t h e p art o f t h e tri al co u rt th at t h e l aw d o es n ot

p erm i t fi rs t o ffen d er t reat m en t, we “ p res u m e t h e t ri al co u rt act ed p ro p erl y i n i m p o s i n g

t h e s en t en ce.” 1 1 In d eed

, t o reb u t t h i s p res u m p t i o n t h ere “ m

u s t b e a cl ear s tat em en t in

9 S ee D o u g l a s v. S t a t e , 3 3 0 G a

. Ap p

. 5 4 9

, 5 5 1 (1 ) (7 6 8 SE2 d 52 6 ) (2 0 1 5 ) (h o l d i n g t h at s u ffi ci en t ev i d en ce ex i s ted t o s up p ort co n v i ct i o n fo r p u b l i c i n d ecen cy b y a l ewd ex p o su re o f s ex u al o rg an s , wh en a wi tn es s n o ti ced d efen dan t m as t u rb at i n g

o n a b en ch ou t s i d e of a sh o pp i n g m al l an d co u l d c l e a r l y s e e h i s ex po s ed p en i s );

W h i tf i el d v. S t at e , 2 59 Ga. Ap p

. 6 1

, 6 1 -6 2 (5 7 5 SE2 d 89 9 ) (2 00 2 ) (h ol d i n g ev i d en ce

was s uffi ci en t t o s u p p o rt co n v i ct i o n fo r p u b l ic i n d ecen cy wh en , aft er an al t ercat i o n i n a p ark in g l o t

, d efen dan t “ s t o o d i n fro n t o f t h e car, ex po s ed hi s p en i s , s h o o k i t

, an d

t o l d [a wo m an ] t o s u ck i t”); s e e g en er a l l y OCGA § 2 4 -1 4 -8 (“ Th e tes t im o n y o f a

s i ng l e wi t n es s i s g en eral l y s u ffi ci en t t o es t ab l i s h a fact . . . .”).

1 0 Fr eema n v. St at e , 3 28 Ga. Ap p

. 7 5 6

, 7 6 2 ( 5 ) (7 6 0 SE2 d 7 0 8 ) (2 0 1 4 ) (p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed ); a cco r d Tew v. S t a t e , 3 2 0 Ga. Ap p. 1 2 7

, 1 2 7 (7 3 9 SE2 d 4 2 3 ) (2 0 1 3).

1 1 F r e e m a n , 3 2 8 Ga. A p p

. at 7 6 2 (5 ) (p u nct u at i o n om i t ted ); s ee Gr a yd o n v. S t a t e , 31 3 Ga. Ap p

. 5 8 0

, 5 8 2 (h o l d i n g t h at tri al co u rt act ed wi t h in i t s d i s cret i o n in

d en y i n g defen d an t’ s req u es t fo r fi rs t -o ffen d er tr eat m en t wh en th ere was n o in d i cat i o n

5t h e reco rd t h at co n s t it u t es ei t h er a g en eral refu s al t o co n s i d er s u ch t reat m en t o r an

erro neo u s ex p res si o n o f b el ief t h at t h e l aw d o es n o t perm i t t h e ex erci s e o f s u ch

d i s cret i o n .” 1 2

I n t h e cas e su b j u d i ce , t h e t ri al co u rt i n i t i al l y ex p res s ed s o m e d o u b t as t o

wh et h er i t co u l d s e n t e n c e M o t o n as a fi rs t o ffen d er aft er t h e ju ry ret u rn ed a g ui l t y

v erd i ct

. H o wev er, aft er a b ri ef reces s , t h e t ri al co u rt s tat ed t h at bas ed o n d efen s e

co u ns el ’ s p o s i t i o n t h at fi rs t -o ffen d er t reat m en t was wi t h i n t he co u rt ’ s d i scret i o n , t h e

co u rt wo u l d al l o w d efen s e co u n s el t o arg u e as t o w h y fi rs t -o ffen d er t reat m en t was

ap p ro p ri at e. Th en , fo l l o wi n g arg u m en t b y d efen s e co u ns el an d th e St at e’ s s o l i ci t o r

o n t h e i s s u e, t h e t ri al co u rt p refaced s en ten ci n g b y s t at in g :

W el l

, t h e cas es m ak e i t cl ear t h at I h av e t o ex erci s e m y di s cret i on wh en

t h es e t h i n g s are req u es t ed , an d th at i s wh at I’ m d oi n g

. T hat i s wh y I’ m

g i v i ng y o u an op p o rt u n i t y t o ex p l ai n t o m e wh y becau s e I am wan t i n g

t o an d I l eg i t i m at el y am co m m i t t ed t o fo l l o w i n g t h e l aw as i t i s s tat ed i n

t h i s st at e. Th e l aw d oes n ’ t req u i r e m e t o g i v e fi rs t o ffen d er s t at u s

. It

s i m p l y req u i res m e t o co n s i d er i t, an d I am co n si d eri n g i t

.

t h at t ri al co u rt refu s ed t o co n s i der req u es t o r erro neo u s ly b el i ev ed t h at s u ch was n ot

p erm i t ed ).

1 2 McCu l l o u g h v. S t a t e , 3 1 7 Ga. Ap p

. 8 5 3

, 8 5 3 (7 33 SE2 d 3 6 ) (2 0 1 2 ) (p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed ); a cco r d P o wel l v. S ta t e , 2 7 1 Ga. Ap p. 55 0

, 5 5 1-5 2 (6 1 0 SE2 d

1 7 8 ) (2 0 0 5 ).

6Th e co u rt th en co nt i n u ed b y no t i n g t h at i n l i g h t of t h e o verwh el m i n g ev i d e n c e an d

M o t o n ’ s arro g an ce, l ack o f rem o rs e, a n d l a c k o f cred i b il i t y , it d i d n o t b el iev e t h at

fi rs t -o ffen d er treat m en t was ap p ro p ri at e. Co n s eq uen t l y, t h e co urt s en t en ced M o t o n

t o t en day s o f i n carcerat i o n wi t h cred i t fo r on e day s erv ed

. Gi v en t h es e ci rcu m s t an ces ,

t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s rem ark s d u ri n g s en t en ci n g d i d n ot “ in d i cat e ei t h er a l ack of awaren es s

t h at t h e co urt had t h e d i s cret i on t o s en ten ce [M o t o n ] u nd er th e fi rs t o ffen d er s t at u t e,

t h at t h e co urt was ap p l y in g a m ech an i cal p o li cy th at p rev en t ed p ro p er co n s i d erat i o n

o f t he req u es t

, o r t h at t h ere was an o ut ri g h t r efu sal t o co n s i d er t h e req u es t .” 1 3

Acco rd in g ly

, t h e tri al co u rt d id n o t ab u s e i t s d i s cret i on i n d ecl i n i n g Mo t o n ’ s req u es t

fo r fi rs t -o ffen d er t reat m en t

. 1 4

3

. M o t o n fu rt h er co n t en ds t h at th e t ri al co u rt erred i n d en y i n g h is m o t i o n fo r

a co n ti n u an ce o f t h e h eari n g o n h i s m o t i o n fo r n ew t ri al . Yet ag ai n , we d i sag ree.

1 3 McCu l l o ug h

, 3 1 7 Ga. Ap p

. at 8 55 ; s ee S t eel e v. S t a t e , 2 7 0 Ga. Ap p

. 4 8 8

, 4 9 2 (6 0 6 SE2 d 6 6 4 ) (2 0 0 4 ) (h ol d i n g t h at co u rt ’ s an n o un cem en t t h at i t wo u l d d en y fi rs t

o ffen d er s t at u s “ [b ] as ed o n t h e n at u re o f t h e o ffen s e” d i d n o t i n d i cat e m ech an i cal

s en t en ci n g p o l i cy ).

1 4 S ee M cCu l l o u g h

, 3 1 7 Ga. Ap p. at 8 5 5 -5 6 (h ol d i n g t h at ev i d en ce s ho wed t h at

t ri al co u rt ’ s refu s al t o affo rd d efen dan t fi rs t o ffen d er t r e a t m e n t was b as ed o n d el i b erat e co n s i d erat i o n o f th e cas e an d s en t en ci n g o p t i o n s an d

, t h erefo re, was n o t an ab u se o f d i s cret i o n ); G r a

yd on , 3 1 3 Ga. Ap p

. at 5 8 1 (s am e).

7Gen eral ly

, th e ap pel l at e co u rt s o f t h i s St at e wi l l n o t “ rev ers e a t ri al co urt ’ s

d eci s i o n t o d en y a m o t i o n fo r a co n t i n u an ce a b s e n t a s h o wi n g o f a cl ear ab u s e o f

d i s cret i o n .” 1 5 M o re s p eci fi cal l y , a m o t i o n fo r a co n t i n u an ce o f t h e heari ng on m o t i o n

fo r n ew tri al i s “ ad d res s ed t o t h e s o u n d d i s cret i o n o f t h e t r i a l j u d g e, an d i n t h e

ab s en ce o f a cl ear s h owi n g t o t h e co n trary

, i t w i l l b e p res u m ed t h at su ch d i s cret i o n

was n o t ab us ed .” 1 6 Im

p o rt an t ly

, t o b e en t i tl ed t o a new t ri al b as ed u p o n t h e d en i al o f

a m o t i o n fo r a co n ti nu an ce, a d efen d an t h as t h e b u rd en o f s h o w i ng t h at “ h e was

h arm ed b y

t h at d en i al .” 1 7

Here, as n ot ed s u

p r a , ap p ro x i m at el y o n e week befo re t h e s ch ed u l ed h eari n g o n

h i s m o t i o n fo r n ew t ri al

, M o to n fi l ed a m o t i o n fo r co n t i n u an ce, arg u i ng , i nt er a l i a ,

t h at h e h ad n o t recei v ed a t ran s cri p t of h i s tri al

. Bu t i n i t s o rd e r d en y i n g M o t o n ’ s

req u e s t fo r a co nt in u an ce, t h e t ri al co urt n o t ed t hat Mo to n h ad act u al ly recei v ed an

el ect ro ni c co p y o f t h e t ran scri p t fo u r d ay s b efo re req u es t i ng t h e c o n t i n u an ce.

M o reo v er, M o t o n h ad t he b u rd en o f d em o n s t r a t i n g t hat h e was h arm ed b y t h e t ri al

1 5 Gei g er v. S t a te , 2 9 5 Ga. 6 4 8 , 6 5 1 (3 ) (7 6 3 SE2 d 4 5 3 ) (2 0 1 4 ).

1 6 Gr a h a m v. S t a t e , 1 0 7 Ga. Ap p

. 3 3 2

, 3 3 3 (1 ) (1 3 0 SE2 d 1 6 6 ) ( 1 9 6 3 ) ; s ee

g en er a l l y Bo a t wr i

g h t v. S t a t e , 9 1 Ga. 1 3 , 1 3 (1 6 SE 1 0 1 ) (1 8 9 2).

1 7 Gei g er , 2 9 5 Ga. at 6 5 1 (3 ) (p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed ).

8co u rt ’ s d en i al

, an d h av i n g rev i ewed t h e reco rd

, we can n o t co n cl u d e t h at h e h as m ad e

s u ch a s h o wi n g

. Th us , t h e t ri al co u rt d i d n o t ab u s e it s d i s cret i o n i n d en y i n g M o t o n ’ s

m o ti o n fo r a co n t i n uan ce. 1 8

4

. Fi n al l y , M o to n co nt en d s t h at t h e t ri al co urt erred i n d en y i n g h i s m ot i o n fo r

n ew t ri al

, arg ui ng t h at a p o l l o f t h e j u r y s ho wed t h at t h e g ui l t y verd i ct was n ot

u n an im o u s . On ce ag ai n , we d i sag ree.

Un d er Geo rg i a l aw, t he p ri v i l eg e o f p o l l i n g a ju ry i n cri m i nal cas es i s “ t h e l eg al

ri gh t of t h e d efen d an t , an d d o es n o t d ep en d u p o n t h e d i s cret i o n o f t h e co u rt .” 1 9 Th e

p u rp os e o f p o l l i ng i s t o en s u re t h at “ each m em b er o f t h e ju ry

as s en ts t o t he v erd i ct

,

an d fo r t h e co u rt t o d is cern p o s s i b l e co erci o n

. ” 2 0 Th u s , a n eg at i ve res p o n s e t o a p o l l

q u es t i o n i s “ en o u g h t o rai s e t h e i n feren ce t h at t h e fi n di n g o f t h e ju ry was n ot

1 8 S ee Co l u mb u s v. S t a te

, 2 7 0 Ga. 6 5 8

, 6 6 4 -6 5 (4 ) (5 1 3 SE2 d 4 9 8 ) ( 1 9 9 9 ) (h o l d i n g th at t ri al co u rt d i d n o t ab u s e i t s d i s cret i o n i n d en y i n g d efen dan t ’ s m o t i o n fo r

a co n t i n uan ce wh en reco rd s h o w ed t hat

, co n t rary t o d efen d an t ’ s co n t en t i o n , St at e d id

n o t fai l t o co m

p l y wi t h d i s co v ery d u t i es an d t h at d efen d an t fai l ed t o s h o w t h at d en i al

res u l ted i n h arm

t o h is cas e).

1 9 Ben ef iel d v. S t a t e , 2 7 8 Ga. 4 6 4

, 4 6 6 (6 0 2 S E2 d 6 3 1 ) (2 0 0 4 ) (p u n ct u at i o n

o m it t ed ); a cco r d Ma dd

o x v. S t a t e , 2 3 3 Ga. 8 74 , 8 76 (2 ) (2 1 3 SE2 d 6 54 ) (1 9 7 5 ).

2 0 Ben ef i el d , 2 7 8 Ga. at 4 6 6

.

9co n cu rred i n b y each o f t h e ju ro rs , an d

, t h i s b ei n g t ru e, t h ere w as n o l eg al v erd i ct .” 2 1

In d eed

, wh en a p o l l o f t h e ju ry d i s cl o s es t h at t h e ju ry was n o t a u n an i m o u s v erd i ct

,

t h e p ro p er p ro ced u re i s fo r “ t h e t ri al co urt t o ret urn t h e j u ry t o t h e ju ry ro o m fo r

fu rt her d el i b erat i o n s i n an effo rt t o arri v e at a u n a n i m o u s verd i ct .” 2 2 An d i t i s n ot

“ i n cu m b en t u p o n co u n s el t o m o v e t h e co u rt fo r fu rt h er d el i b erat i o n s .” 2 3

Fo l l owi n g t h e v erd i ct i n t h i s m at ter, M o t on req u es t ed t hat t h e t ri al co u rt p o l l

t h e ju ry , an d t h e co u rt ag reed t o d o s o

. Th e fi rs t fo u r ju ro rs q ues t i o n ed al l i n d i cat ed

t h at t hey freel y an d v ol u n t ari l y ag reed wi t h th e g u i l t y v erd i ct

. Th e co u rt t h en en g ag ed

i n t he fo l l o wi n g co l l o q u y wi t h J u ro r Fi v e.

Th e Co u rt : “ J u ro r [Fi v e] was t h e v erd i ct o f g u i l t y as t o b o t h co u n t s y o u r

v erd ict wh en y o u were i n t h e ju ry ro o m ? ”

J u ro r [Fi v e] : “ T h e fi rs t o n e was , y es , b u t n o t t h e s eco n d o n e.”

Th e Co u rt : “ An d as t o t h e s eco n d i s s u e, d id y ou v o t e t o co n v i ct o n t he

s eco nd co u nt ? ”

2 1 Id

. (p u n ct u at i on o m i tt ed ); a cco r d Po n der v. S ta t e , 1 1 Ga. A p p

. 6 0

, 6 1 (7 4 SE

7 1 5 ) (1 9 1 2 ).

2 2 Ben ef i el d , 2 7 8 Ga. at 4 6 5

.

2 3 Id

. at 46 6

.

10J u ro r [Fi v e] : “ Y es .”

Th e Co u rt : “ Is t h at y o ur v erd i ct n o w ? ”

J u ro r [Fi v e] : “ Y es .”

Th e Co urt : “ Is i t freel y a n d v o l u n t ari l y m ad e b y y o u as y o u s it h ere

n o w?

J u ro r [Fi v e] : “ Y es .”

Th e Co u rt : “ So y o u are g o o d wi th t he v erd i ct as i t s t an d s ?

J u ro r [Fi v e] : “ W el l

, can y o u ex p l ai n b ecau s e — “

Th e Co u rt : “ Yo u ju s t n eed t o an s wer t h e q u es ti o n

. ”

J u ro r [Fi v e] : “ Y es .”

On ap p eal

, M o t o n arg ues t h at J u ro r Fi v e’ s in i t i al res p o ns e t o t h e t ri al co u rt

i n d i cat es t h at t h e v erd ict was n o t u n an i m o us an d

, t herefo re, t h at t h e t ri al co u rt erred

b y fai l in g t o i ns t ru ct t h e ju ry t o co n t i nu e i ts d el i b erat i o n s. Bu t wh i l e n o t en t i rel y cl ear,

t h e m os t l o g ical i n terp ret at io n o f Ju ro r Fi v e’ s res p o n s e t o t he co u rt ’ s fi rs t q u es t i o n

s h o ws t h at s h e m a y n o t h a v e i n i t i al l y v o t ed to co nv i ct o n t h e s eco n d co u n t at t h e

11b eg in n i n g o f d el i b erat i o n s. Nev ert h el es s , up o n fu rt h er q u es t i o n i n g , s he r e s p o n d ed

affi rm at i v el y wh en as k ed wh et h er s h e d i d v o te t o co n v i ct ( i .e. , i n t he pas t t en s e an d,

t h u s , in th e ju ry ro o m ), wh et h er s h e ul t i m at el y ag reed w i t h t h e v erd i ct i n i t s en t i ret y ,

an d wh et h er s h e di d s o freel y an d v o l u nt ari l y

. An d gi v en her s u b s eq uen t affi rm at i on s

o f t h e v erd i ct

, t h e ju ro r’ s i ni ti al eq u i v o cat i on reg ard i n g th e seco n d co u n t d o es n ot

s u p p ort an in feren ce th at t h e v erd i ct was l es s t h an un an i m ou s

. 2 4 A cco rd i n g l y , t h e t ri al

co u rt was n o t req u i red t o i n s t ru ct t h e ju ry t o co n t i n ues i t s d el i b erat i o n s

.

Fo r al l o f t h e fo reg o i n g reas o n s , M o t o n’ s co n v i ct i o n s are affi rm ed

.

Ju d g men t a f f ir med

. McF

a d d en

, J., co n cu r

s

. El l i n g t o n

, P. J., co n cu r s in

j u d g men t o n l y.

2 4 See W es b y v. S t a t e , 3 0 0 Ga. Ap p

. 5 9 7

, 6 0 0 ( 3 ) ( 6 85 SE2 d 4 9 5 ) (2 0 0 9 ) (h o l d i n g t h at t ri al co u rt was n ot req u i red t o i ns t ru ct t h e ju ry t o co n t i n u e d el i b erat i on s b ecau s e d es p i t e ju ro r’ s i n i ti al i n d i cat i o n t h at th e v erd i ct was no t h ers , s h e

u n eq ui v o cal l y

affi rm ed t h e v erd i ct i n res p o ns e t o ad d i t i o n al q u es t i o ns ).

12