THI RD DI VI SI ON

DI L LA RD, P. J.

, GOBEI L and HODGES, 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

Januar y 14, 2020



# I n th e Co u r t o f

A p p eals o f

G eo r g ia

A1 9 A1 37 4 . DODSON v

. THE STATE.

H O D G E S , J u d g e.

On t h e fo u rt h d a y o f a j u ry t ri al

, J o h n D o l l an Do ds o n ch an g ed h i s p l ea an d

en t ered p l eas o f gu i l t y t o o n e co u n t each of ag g rav at ed as s au l t wi t h i n t en t to co m m i t

rap e (OCGA § 1 6 -5 -2 1 (a) (1 )), k i d n ap p i ng (OC G A § 1 6

- 5 -4 0 (a)), ag g rav at ed

as s au l t (OCGA § 1 6-5 -2 1 (a) (2 )), an d m ak i n g fal s e s t at em en t s (OCGA § 1 6 -1 0 -2 0 ).

T h e S u p e ri o r Co u rt o f Sem i n o l e Co u n t y d en i ed Do d s o n ’ s s u b s eq u en t m o t i o n to

wi t h d raw h i s g u i l t y p l ea, an d Do d s o n ap p eal s

, as s ert i n g th at h e recei v ed i n effect i v e

as s i s tan ce o f p o s t -co n v i ct i o n co u n s el . W e fi n d n o erro r an d affi rm

.

A gran d ju ry in d i ct ed Do d s o n fo r t wo co u n t s o f ag grav at ed s ex ual bat t ery an d

o n e co u nt each o f rap e, k i d n ap p i n g wi th b o d i l y i n j u r y, ag grav at ed as s au l t, m ak i n g

fal s e s ta t em en t s

, cri m i n al at t em p t t o co m

m i t s ub o rn at i o n o f p erju ry an d fal s es weari n g

, an d cri m i n al at t em p t to co m

m i t i n fl u en ci n g w i t nes s es

. In a p re-t ri al

h eari n g

, t h e St at e reci t ed t h e m ax i m u m p en al ty fo r each o ffen s e an d o ffered t o al l o w

Do d s o n t o en t er a p l ea o f g u i lt y t o rap e an d s erv e 2 5 y ears fo l l o wed b y p ro b at i o n fo r

l i fe; t h e rem ai n i n g s ev en co u n t s o f t h e i n di c t m en t wo u l d b e d i s m i s sed

. Do d so n

reject ed t h e St at e’ s o ffer d u ri n g t h e h eari n g :

[COUNSEL] : Ju d ge, I h av e co n v ey ed [t he] o ffer t o Mr. Do ds o n. W e’ ve

g o n e o v er th e sp eci fi cs o f i t

. We ’ v e tal k ed ab o u t th e p ro s an d co n s o f

g o i n g t o t ri al an d I’ v e an s w ered an y q u es t i o n s h e h as

, an d h e h a s

i n d i cat ed t o m e t h at h e i s n o t i n t eres t ed i n p l ead i n g g u il t y an d h e wi s h es

t o p ro ceed t o t ri al

.

THE COURT: M r. Do d s o n

, t he on l y t h i ng I’ m i n t eres t ed i n i s t h at y o u

u n d ers t an d wh at y o u co u l d b e s ub ject ed t o as far as p u ni s h m en t an d t hat

an y p l ea o ffers t h at hav e b een m ad e t h at y ou h av e a cl ear un d ers tan d i n g

.

Th e ch o i ce i s y o u rs o n wh at t o do wi t h t h at an d t h at i s n o t a co n cern o f

m i n e. I ju s t wan t t o m a k e s u r e t h at y o u h av e b een co n v ey ed t h at o ffer

an d t h at t h at i s wh at y o u u n d ers t an d.

[DODSON] : Yeah

, h e m ad e m e aware o f t h e o ffer an d I t o l d [co u n s el ]

t h at I was

–

I wan t t o g o t o t ri al

.

THE COURT: Ok ay

. Al l ri g h t

.

2Th e t ri al co urt co n fi rm ed th at

, d es p i t e Do d s o n ’ s rej e c t i o n

, t h e St at e’ s p l ea o ffer

wo u l d “ st i l l [b e] o n t h e t ab l e[.] ” Th ereaft er, t h e cas e p ro ceed ed t o t ri al

.

On t h e fo u rt h d ay o f t ri al

, aft er t h e St at e h ad p res en t ed 2 0 wi t n es ses as p art o f

i t s cas e-i n -ch i ef an d

, i n p art icu l ar, aft er Do d s o n ’ s g i rl fri en d tes t ifi ed

, Do d so n

ap p eared “ fearfu l ” an d as k ed t ri al co u n s el if “ t h e p l ea [was ] s t i l l o n t h e tab l e[.] ” Tri al

co u ns el th en d i s cu ss ed a p o t en t i al pl ea b arg ai n wi t h th e p ro s ecu ti n g at to rn ey an d,

aft er recei v i ng a n o f

f e r, t ri al co u n s el rev i ewed th e offer wi th D o d so n

. Do d s o n al s o

d i s cu s s ed t h e p l ea o ffer wi t h h is g i rl fri en d an d u l t i m at el y d eci ded t o en t er a p l ea o f

g u i l t y

.

As t h e fact u al b as i s fo r t he p l ea, t h e ev i d en ce d em o ns t rat ed t h at D o d so n wai t ed

fo r t h e v i ct i m

i n s i d e a d ark en ed m o bi l e h o m e, am bu s h ed h er b y

t h ro wi n g a b l an k et

o v er h er h ead an d g rab b i n g h er, an d carri ed her t o t h e m as t er b ed ro om o f t h e h o m e.

D o d s o n l ai d t he v i ct im o n t h e b ed

, p art i al l y rem o ved th e v i ct im ’ s p an t s an d

, as t h e

v i ct i m s t ru g g l ed to g et away

, fo rci b l y i n s ert ed h i s p e n i s in t o h er v ag i n a. Th e St at e

o ffered t o al l o w Do d s o n t o p l ead g u i l t y t o t h e l es s er i n cl u ded o ffen s es o f ag g rav at ed

as s au l t wi t h i n t en t to co m m i t rap e an d k i d nap p i n g

, as wel l as t o ag g rav at ed a s s a u l t

an d m ak in g fal s e s t at em en t s ; t h e rem ai n in g fo u r ch arg es

, as wel l a s a d d i t i o n al

3u n i n d i ct ed ch arg es

, wo u l d b e d i s m i s s ed

. A t t he b eg i nn i n g o f t h e g u i l t y p l ea h eari n g,

t h e fo l lo wi n g ex ch an g e o ccu rred :

[TRIAL COUNSEL] : An d M r. Do d s o n

, let t h e Ju d ge fi n i s h h is wh ol e

q u es t i o n fi rs t

—

THE COURT: An d I d i d a p o o r jo b i n

—

[DODSON] : I’ m hard o f h eari n g

.

THE COURT: Ok ay

.

[TRIAL COUNSEL] : Yeah , i f y o u d on ’ t m i n d, h e i s h ard o f h eari ng

.

THE COURT: Ok ay

. W el l , wh at I wan t y o u [t o ] d o

, i f I s ay s o m et h i n g

an d y o u d o n ’ t hear i t an d y o u d o n ’ t u n d ers t an d i t

, l et m e k n o w an d we’ l l

g o o v er i t u n t i l y o u d o ; o k ay ?

[DODSON] : Yes , s i r.

At n o p o i n t t h ereaft er d i d Do d s o n ex p res s an y d i ffi cu l ty i n h eari n g o r u n d ers t an d i n g

t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s st at em en t s

. 1 A ft er ex am i n i n g D o d s o n an d rev i ewi n g t h e t erm s o f t h e

1 On t wo o ccas i on s du ri n g t h e g u i l t y p l e a heari ng

, t he tri al co u rt rep eat ed a

q u es ti o n wh en i t recei v ed n o res p o n s e fro m Do d so n

.

4p l ea o ffer, in cl u d i n g th e s en t en ces Do d s o n faced , t h e t ri al co u rt s t at ed t h at i t wo u ld

al l o w Do d s o n t o wi t h draw h i s p l ea i f h e s o d es i red :

THE COURT: Do y o u wan t t o wi t h d raw y o ur p l ea o r s tan d b y y o u r p l ea?

[DODSON] : St an d b y

i t

.

THE COURT: Al l ri g h t

.

Th e t ri al co u rt t h en en t ered ju d g m en t ag ai n s t Do d s o n i n acco rd an c e wi t h t h e t erm s

o f t h e p l ea ag reem en t . At t h e cl o s e o f t h e h eari n g

, t h e fo l l o w i n g t ran s p i red :

THE COURT: If y ou are n o t s at i s fi ed

, o n ce ag a i n

, I wi l l g i v e y o u an

o p p o rt un i t y

t o wi t h d raw y o u r p l ea, b u t i f y o u d o y o u wi ll l o se t he p l ea

b arg ai n . Do y ou wan t to wi t h d raw y o u r p l ea o r s t an d b y y o u r p l ea?

[DODSON] : St an d b y

i t

.

THE COURT: M y

o ffer t o l et y o u wi t h d raw y o u r p lea i s t erm i n at ed

.

Th e t ri al co u rt en t ered a ju d g m en t o f c o nv i ct i o n ag ai n s t D o d s on fo r ag g rav at ed

as s au l t wi t h in ten t t o co m m i t rap e as a l es s er i n cl ud ed offen s e o f rap e, k i d n ap p i n g as

a l es s er i n cl ud ed offe n s e of k i d n ap p i n g wi t h b od i l y in j u ry

, ag grav at ed as s au l t

, an d

m ak i n g fal s e s t at em en t s

. 2

2 Ul t i m at el y

, t h e t ri al co u rt s en t en ced D o d s on to an ag g reg at e t erm o f 2 5 y ears

t o s erv e fo l l o wed by 2 0 y ears o n p ro b at io n

. As a res u l t

, th e t erm o f i n carcerat i o n d id

5Les s t h an t hree week s l at er, Do ds o n fi l ed a p ro s e m o t i o n t o wi t h d raw h i s

g u i l t y p l ea, arg u i n g t h at h e w as “ n o t g u il t y of t h e ch arg es ,” t h at h e was p res s u red an d

ru s h ed i n t o en t eri n g a g u i l t y p l ea b y hi s co u n s el

, t h a t h e d i d n ot u n d ers t an d t h e

m ax i m u m s en ten ces fo r t h e o ffen s es

, t hat he was “ v ery h ard o f h eari n g[,] ” an d t h at

i t “ tak es [h i m ] a wh i l e

. . . to hear an d un d ers tan d wh at i s b ei n g s ai d .” Th e t ri al co u rt

ap p oi n t ed p o s t -co nv i ct i on co u n s el fo r Do d s o n

, wh o t h en fi l ed an am en ded m o t i o n to

wi t h d raw Do d s o n ’ s g u il t y p l ea ad o p t i n g t h e arg u m en ts i n Do d s o n ’ s p ro s e m o t io n

. 3

Du ri n g t h e h eari n g o n Do d s o n ’ s m o t i o n, 4 t ri al co u n sel t es t i fi ed t h at

n ev er o n ce d u ri n g m

y rep res en t at i o n di d M r. Do d s o n ev er i n d i cat e t hat

h e h ad a h eari n g p ro b lem

. An d I t al k ed t o h im m an y t i m es in t h e jai l an d

n o t i n creas e fro m

t he St at e’ s p re-t ri al p l ea o ffer.

3 W h i l e h i s m o t i on t o wi t h d raw h i s g ui l t y p l ea rem ai n ed p en d i n g

, Do d s o n al s o

fi led a p ro s e m o t i o n f

o r an o u t -o f-t i m e ap p eal

. Ho wev er, b ecau s e Do d s o n was

rep res en t ed b y co u n s el at t h e t i m e h e f i l e d t h e p ro s e m o t i o n

, t h e t ri al co u rt

d e t e r m i n ed t hat t h e fi l i n g was a n u ll i t y an d d is m i ss ed Do d s o n ’ s m o t i o n

. See, e.g

., To l b er t v. To ol e

, 2 9 6 Ga. 3 5 7

, 3 6 3 (3 ) (7 67 SE2 d 2 4 ) (2 0 14 ) (“ A cri m i n al d efen d an t

i n Geo rg i a d oes no t h av e t h e ri gh t t o rep res en t h i m s el f an d al s o b e rep res en t ed b y an

at t o rn ey

, an d p ro s e fi l i n g s b y rep res en t ed p art i es are t h erefo re ‘ u nau t h o ri zed an d

wi t h o u t effect .’ ”) (ci t at i o n o m i t t ed ).

4 Al t h o u gh h e was t h en rep res en t ed b y n ew po s t -co nv i ct i o n co u n s el

, Do d so n

al s o fi l ed a p ro s e req u es t t o w i t h d r a w h i s m o t i o n t o wi th d raw h i s gu i lt y p l ea. Th e

reco rd d o es n o t i n d i cat e t h at t h e t ri al co u rt ru l ed o n Do ds o n ’ s req u es t, b ut Do d s o n d id

el ect t o p ro ceed wi t h th e m o t i on t o wi t h d raw h i s g ui l t y p l ea fo l l owi n g a d i s cu s s i o n

wi t h p os t -co n v i ct io n co u n s el at t h e h eari n g

.

6. . . n ev er o n ce d id i t co m e u p

. It n ev er cam e u p o n ce d u ri n g t he t ri al

, th e

en t i ret y o f t h e t ri al

, t hat h e i n d i cat ed t o m e h e c o u l d n ’ t hear an y t h i n g

.

He n ev er i n d i cat ed d u ri n g o u r d i scu s s i o n o f t h e p l ea d eal t h e he d i d n ’ t

— co u l d n ’ t h ear wh at I was s ay i n g t o hi m

. So n o

, th at n ev er cam e u p .[ 5 ]

In fa c t

, tri al co u n s el ag reed t h at Do d so n had b een “ s m irk i ng an d l au g h i n g ” d u ri n g

t ri al co u n s el ’ s t es t i m o n y

, an d Do d s o n h i m s el f h ad an o u t b urs t at o n e p o i n t d u ri n g t h e

h eari n g i n wh i ch he co n t rad i ct ed t ri al co u n s el ’ s t es t i m o n y :

Q: An d wh at was p urch as ed i n Bai nb ri d ge was wh at h e a l w a ys p u rch as ed

, M arl b o ro ci g aret t es , I t h i n k , an d a M o u nt ai n Dew.

A: Yes

.

Q: An d s o ---

[DODSON] : Th ere was n o reco rd s ay in g t h at i t was M o u n t ai n Dew.

THE COURT: Si r —

M r. Do d so n

, y o u ’ re n ot o n t h e s tan d , t h i s

i s n ’ t Co u rt TV, y ou ’ v e go t n o t h i n g t o s ay un l es s y o u r at t o rn ey p u t s y o u

5 Do d s o n ret ai n ed tri al co u n sel p ri o r t o h i s arrai g n m en t

, an d tri al co u n s el

rep res en t ed Do d s o n fro m t h at p o i n t th ro u g h an d i ncl u d i n g Do d s o n ’ s t ri al an d g ui l t y

p l ea h eari n g

— a s p a n o f a l m o s t s i x m o n t h s d u ri n g w h i ch t ri al co u n s el m et wi th

D o d s o n m o re th an t en t i m es

. Al t h o u g h t ri al co u n s el ’ s t es t i m o n y co n t rad i ct ed hi s

s t at em en t t o t he tri al co u rt d u ri n g Do ds o n’ s g u il t y p l ea h eari n g t h a t Do ds o n was

“ h ard o f h eari n g [,] ” as d i s cu s s ed b el ow, t h i s d i s c r ep an cy do es n ot al t er o u r

co n cl u s i o n s

.

7o n t h e s tan d

. If y o u d o h av e a q ues t i o n ab o u t s o m et hi n g

, y ou n eed t o ad d res s

i t wi t h [p o s t -co n v ict io n co u n s el ]

. No m o re o u t bu rs t s

, n o m o re co m m en t s

. An d I

wo u l d s ay

t h e s am e t o an y

o t her wi t n es s t hat was h ere.

Th e p ro s ecu t i n g at t o rn ey l i k ewi s e s t at ed t h at Do d s on ’ s “ h eari n g was n ev er a p ro b l em

t h at s o m e Defen d an t s d o hav e. It n ev er w as an i s s u e. W e d i d n’ t h a v e t o m ak e an y

arran g em en t s fo r hi m t o s i t i n a cert ai n p l ace o r

— wh ere h e co ul d n ’ t h ear wh at was

g o i n g o n

. ” Aft er a d i s cu s si o n wi t h p o s t-co nv i ct i o n co u ns el

, D o d s o n el ect ed n o t to

t es t i fy at t h e h eari n g.

In i t s o rd er den y i n g Do d s o n’ s m o t io n

, t he t ri al c o u r t f o u n d t h at Do d so n

“ en t ered h is p l ea k n o wi ng ly

, i n t el l i g en t ly

, an d v o lu n tari l y .” T h e t ri al co u rt al s o

rev i ewed Do d s o n ’ s v erb al r e s p o n ses t o th e t ri al co urt ’ s qu es t io n s d u ri n g t h e p l ea

co l l o q u y . Fi n al l y , t h e t ri al co u rt n o t ed t h at Do d s o n s t at ed

t h at h e h as h eari n g pro bl em s an d t h at th i s co n t ri b u t ed to a s u p p o sed lack

o f awaren es s o r u n d e r s t a n d i ng of t h e p lea b arg ai n

. Ho w ev er, at th e

h eari n g o n Au g u s t 22

, 20 1 8

, t h ere was n o ev i d en ce p res en t ed reg ard i n g

[ D o d s o n ’ s] h eari n g

. [Do d so n ] d i d n o t t ak e t h e s t an d

. Th ere was n o

m ed i cal ev i d en ce p res en t ed fro m an ENT o r au di o lo g i s t

. Bas ed o n t h i s

,

t h e co u rt d o es n o t fi n d an y ev i d en ce t o s u p p o rt [Do d s o n ’s ] s u p p o s ed

h eari n g p ro b l em s an d d

oes n o t f i n d t h a t t h i s wo u l d h ave l ed t o a la ck o f

u n d er s t a n d i n g r eg a r d in g

t h e p l ea

.

8(Em

p h as i s s u p p l i ed .) Th e t ri al co u rt d en i ed Do d s o n ’ s m o t i o n t o wi t h d raw h i s g ui l t y

p l ea, co ncl u d i n g th at th e St at e “ m et i t s b urd en an d [Do d s o n ]

. . . e n t ered h i s p l ea

k n o wi n g l y

, i n tel l i g en t ly , an d v o l u n tari l y [.] ” Th i s ap p eal fo l l o wed

.

In a s i ng l e en um erat i o n o f erro r, Do d s on s u g g es t s t h at he recei v ed i n effect i v e

as s i s tan ce o f po s t -co n v i ct i o n co u n s el d u e to co u n sel ’ s fai l u re t o cal l an ex p ert wi t n es s

o n h eari n g l o s s in s u pp o rt o f h is m o ti o n t o w i th d raw h is g u i l t y p l ea. Becau s e t h i s i s

t h e fi rs t o p p o rt u n i ty fo r Do d s o n t o ch al l en g e po s t -co nv i ct i o n co un s el ’ s act i o n s o r

i n act io n

, Do d s o n req u es t s th at we rem an d t h i s cas e t o t h e tri al co u rt fo r an ev i d en ti ary

h eari n g t o d ev el o p h i s cl ai m o f i n effect i v e as s i s t an ce. Ho wev er, fo r t h e fo l l o wi n g

reas on s , we co n cl u d e t h at a rem an d i s u nn eces s ary

.

Un d er Geo rg ia l aw,

wh en th e ap p eal p res en t s t h e earl ies t p ract i cab l e op p o rt u n i t y t o rai se an

i n effect iv en es s cl ai m

, an d t h e cl ai m i s i n d eed rai s ed fo r t h e fi rs t t i m e o n

ap p eal

, w e rem an d t h e cas e t o t h e t ri al co u rt fo r an ev i d en ti ary h eari n g

o n t h e i s s u e. Rem an d i s n o t m an d at ed

, h o wev er, i f we can d et erm in e

fro m t h e reco rd t h at [t h e d efen d an t ] can n o t s at is fy t h e t wo -p ro n g t es t s et

fo rt h i n S t r i ckl an d v. W

a s h i n g t o n [4 6 6 U. S. 6 6 8 (1 0 4 SCt 2 0 5 2

, 8 0

LE2 d 6 7 4 ) (1 9 8 4 )]

.

9(Ci t at i o n s o m i tt ed .) S t u ar t v. S ta t e

, 2 7 4 Ga. Ap p . 1 2 0 , 1 21 (6 1 6 SE2 d 8 5 5 ) (2 0 0 5 );

s ee al so Go d

f r ey v. S t a t e , 2 7 4 Ga. Ap p . 2 3 7 , 2 4 1 (2 ) (6 1 7 SE2 d 2 1 3 ) (2 0 0 5 ). 6

Th erefo re, t o ev al u at e Do d s o n ’ s cl ai m

, we l o o k t o t h e reco rd an d to t h e t es t “ s et

fo rt h i n S t r i ckl a n d v. W

a s h i n g to n

. . . t o d et erm i n e wh e t h e r co u n s el ’ s p erfo rm an ce

was d efi ci en t

, an d

, if so

, wh et h er [Do d s o n ] was p reju d i c e d b y th e d efi ci en cy .”

(Ci t at i o n s o m i t t ed .) Co l ema n v. S t a t e

, 3 3 7 Ga. Ap p

. 73 2

, 7 3 4 (1 ) (7 8 8 SE2 d 8 2 6 )

(2 0 1 6); see al s o Mo o r e v. S t a t e

, 2 4 6 Ga. Ap p. 1 6 3

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

“ I n o rd er t o s h o w p reju d i ce, a d efen d an t m u s t es t ab li s h th at

, b u t fo r t h e i n ad eq u at e

p erfo rm an ce o f co u ns el

, t h ere i s a reas o n ab le pro b ab i l i t y t h at t he res ul t wo u l d h av e

b een d i fferen t .” (Ci tat i o n an d p un ct u at i o n o m it t ed .) Mo o r e

, 2 4 6 Ga. A p p

. at 16 9 (1 0 ).

In o t her wo rd s

, “ t h e d efen d an t m u s t s h ow t h at t h ere i s a reas o n ab l e pro b ab il i t y t h at

,

b u t fo r t h e i n effect iv e as s i s t an ce o f m o t i o n co u n s el

, [h i s m o t i o n t o w i t hd raw h i s

g u i l t y p l ea] w o u l d h a v e b e e n g ran ted .” Ha yes v. S ta t e

, 2 62 Ga. 8 81

, 8 8 3 (3 ) (4 2 6

SE2 d 88 6 ) (1 9 9 3 ). “ If t h e d efen d an t i s u n ab l e t o s at is fy ei th er th e d e f i ci en cy o r

p reju d i ce p ro n g of t h e tes t, h i s i n effect i v e as s i s t an ce cl ai m fai l s .” (Ci t at i o n o m i t t ed .)

Co l ema n , 3 3 7 Ga. Ap p . at 7 34 (1 ).

6 As a res u l t

, co n t rary t o D o d s o n ’ s req u es t

, th ere i s n o Pav l o v i an res p o n s e t h at

an ap p eal is au t o m at i cal l y rem an d ed wh e n a n ew, b u t t i m el y

, cl ai m o f i n effect i v e

as s i s tan ce o f co u n s el i s rai s ed o n ap p eal

.

10In t h i s cas e, th e reco rd es t ab l i s h es n o reas o nab l e p ro bab i l i t y t hat Do d s o n ’ s

m o ti o n t o wi t h d raw h i s gu i l t y pl ea wo u l d h av e b een g ran t ed b u t fo r po s t-co n v i ct i o n

co u ns el ’ s al l eg ed erro rs . Un d er Geo rg i a l aw,

[w] h en a d efen d an t ch al len g es t h e val i d i t y of h is g u i l t y p l e a

, t h e St at e

b ears t h e b u rd en o f s h owi n g t h at t h e p l ea was en t ered v ol u n t ari l y an d

i n t el l i g en tl y

an d t h at t h e d efen d an t h ad an u n d ers t an d i n g of t he n at u re

o f t h e ch arg es ag ai ns t h im an d t h e co n s eq u en ces o f t h e p l ea. Th e St at e

m ay m eet i t s bu rd en i n t wo way s : (1 ) s h owi n g o n t h e reco rd of t h e g u i l t y

p l ea h eari n g th at t h e d efen d an t was co g n i zan t of al l t h e r i g h t s h e w as

wai v i n g an d t h e p os s i b l e co n s eq u en ces o f h i s p l ea; o r (2 ) fi ll i ng a s i l en t

reco rd by u s e o f ex t ri n s i c ev i d en ce t hat affi r m at iv el y s h o ws t h at th e

g u i l ty p l ea was k n o wi n g an d v o l un t ary

.

( C i t a t i o n o m it t ed .) Zel l m er v. S t a t e

, 2 7 3 Ga. A p p

. 6 0 9

, 6 1 1 (2 ) (6 1 5 SE2 d 6 5 4 )

(2 0 0 5). It i s wel l -s et t led t h at t h e p ro p er en t ry o f a g u i l t y p l ea “ i n v o lv es t h e wai v er o f

t h r e e f e d e r a l c o n s t i t u t i o n a l r i g h t s : t h e p r i v i l e g e a g a i n s t c o mp u l s o r y

s el f-i n cri m i n at i o n

, t h e ri gh t t o t ri al b y j u ry

, an d t h e ri g h t t o co nfro n t on e’ s accu s ers

,

an d t h e t ri al co u rt h as a d u t y to en s u re t hat t h e d efen d an t un d ers tan d s t h e

co n st i t u t io n al ri g h t s b ei n g wai v ed .” (Ci t at i on s om i t t ed .) S ta t e v. Co o p er

, 2 81 Ga. 6 3,

6 4 (1 ) (6 3 6 SE2 d 4 9 3) (2 00 6 ).

11As a t hres h o l d m at t er, i n a d d i t i o n t o t h e t es t i m on y fro m th e p ro s ecu t i n g

at t o rn ey an d

, i n p art i cu lar, Do d s o n ’ s t ri al c o u n s e l t h at Do ds o n n ev er m an i fes t ed

h eari n g l o s s s u ffi ci en t t o req u ire an y acco m m o dat i o n s , ev i d en ce i n t h e reco rd fro m

Do d s o n ’ s g u i l t y p l ea h eari n g d o es n o t s u pp o rt a rem an d

. Th e t ru e t h ru st of Do d s o n ’ s

arg u m en t i s th at

, du e t o hi s heari n g l o s s

, h e “ d i dn ’ t u nd ers t an d wh at was g oi n g o n at

t h e t i m e, an d t h erefo re co u l d n o t en t er a v o l u n tary

, k n o wi n g

, an d i n t el l i g en t pl ea.

. . .”

In th i s cas e, t h e reco rd i n cl u des t h e t ran scri p t o f D o d s o n ’ s g u i l t y p l ea heari ng as wel l

as wri t t e n p l e a wai v er fo rm s

. In b o t h

, D od s on co nfi rm ed t h at h e was aware o f h i s

ri gh t s t o a t ri al by j u r y a n d t o co n fro n t ad v ers e w i t nes s es as wel l as t h e p ri v i l eg e

ag ai n s t s el f-i n cri m i n at i o n, an d t h at h e wo u ld wai v e t ho s e ri g h t s b y en t eri ng a p l ea o f

g u i l t y

. M o reo v er, Do d so n affi rm ed t h at n o o n e h ad t h reat en ed h i m an d t hat h i s g ui l t y

p l ea w as en t ered “ o f [h i s ] o wn free wi l l.” He al s o ag reed t h at he h ad “ ad eq u at e t i m e

t o co n fer wi t h [h is ] at t o rn ey ” an d t h at h e h ad read t h e i nd i c t m en t ; u nd ers t o o d t h e

ch arg es an d t h e p o t en t i al s en t en ces h e faced ; an d di s cu ss ed h i s cas e an d t h e p l ea o ffer

wi t h t ri al co u n s el . As a res u l t , t h e t ri al co u rt fo u n d t h at Do d s o n “ fu l l y [u n ders t oo d ]

t h e n at u re o f t h e ch arg es , t h e co n s eq u en ces o f [h i s ] p l ea, [an d ] t h at [h i s ] p l ea [was ]

freel y

, v o l u n t ari l y

, k n o wi ng l y an d in t el li g en t l y en t ered [.] ” Ev en s o, o n t wo occas i on s

12d u ri n g t h e h eari n g, t he tri al co u rt o ffered Do ds o n t h e o p p o r t u n it y t o wi t h d raw h i s

p l ea; Do ds o n d ecl i ned

.

Fu rt herm o re, as we p rev i ou s l y s t at ed

, t h e reco rd i n cl u d es d o cu m en t ary

ev i d en ce d em o n s t rat i n g t h at D o d s o n u n d ers t o o d t h e ch arg es an d s en ten ces h e faced

.

Fi rs t

, Do d s o n ex ecu t ed a “ Pl ea Pet i t i o n an d W ai v er o f Ri gh t s ” fo rm th at o u t l i n ed h i s

ri gh t s, in cl u d in g t he ri g h t t o t ri al b y ju ry

, t h e ri gh t t o co n fro n t ad v ers e wi t n es s es

, an d

t h e p ri v i l eg e a g a in s t sel f-i ncri m i n at io n

, an d t h at h e wo u l d wai ve t h o s e ri g h t s by

en t eri n g a g u i l t y pl ea. Seco n d, Do d s o n s ig n ed a “ Pl ea Reco m m en d at i o n ” fo rm t h at

l i st ed t h e ch arg es Do d s o n faced

, t he ran g e o f p u ni s h m en t fo r each ch arg e, an d t h e

St at e’ s reco m

m en d at i o n fo r a p l ea b arg ai n ; each l i ne i t em a c c u rat el y refl ect ed t h e

p l ea o f fer ten d ered t o Do d s o n

. Of n o t e, t h e fo rm i n cl u d ed t h e fo l lo wi n g p ro v i s i o n,

wh i ch Do d s o n ack n o wl ed g ed :

I c a n r e ad an d h av e read b o t h p ag es o f t h e ab ov e an d cert i fy t h at i t i s

t ru e an d co rrect

. I h av e al s o rev i ewed ev ery l in e o f t h i s d o cu m en t w i t h

m y at t o rn ey , I fu l l y u n ders t an d i t , an d I p et i t i o n t he co u rt t o accep t m y

p l ea an d t o accep t t h e ab o v e p l ea ag r e e m e n t an d t o i m p o se th at pl ea

ag reem en t an d t h e ab o v e p ro b at io n co n d i t i o n s as m y s en t en ce i n t h i s

cas e.

By o u r s i g n at ures b el o w, m y at t o rn ey an d I b o t h fu rt h e r c e r t i fy t o th e

co u rt th at t h e co n t e n t s o f t h i s fo rm are t ru e an d co rrect

, t h at we h av e

13d i s cu s s ed th e el em en t s of t h e ch arg ed o ffen se(s ), al l t he fact s o f t h i s

cas e, an y p o t en t i al d efen s es

, t h e m ax i m u m p o s s i b l e s en t en ce, th e

co n s eq u en ces o f p l ead i n g g u i l t y

, an d t h at m y d eci s i on t o p l e a d g u i l t y

was freel y , v o lu nt ari l y , an d u n d ers tan d ab ly m ad e b y m y s el f.

Th i rd

, Do d s o n ex ecu t ed a p l ea o f gu i l t y fo rm wh i ch l i st ed t h e ch arg es t o w h i c h h e

agr e e d to p l ead g u i l ty

. Fo u rt h

, Do d s o n si g n ed an “ Ad d i t i o nal Co n di ti o n s o f Pro b at i o n

- Sex O ffen d ers ” fo rm reci t i n g t h e co n d i t i o n s o f h i s s en t en ce o f p ro b at i o n.

Acco rd in g ly, n o t wi t h s t an di n g wh at ev er h eari n g d efi ci en cy Do d s o n m ay h av e h ad

,

d o cu m en t ary ev i d en ce, wh i c h Do d s o n ack n o wl ed g ed an d s ig n ed

, rev eal ed t h at h e

u n d ers t o o d t h e ch arg es an d t he t erm s o f t h e p l ea o ffer h e accep t ed

. 7

M o reo v er, i n ad d it i on t o t h e reco rd ev i d en ce d is cu s s ed ab ov e, b ecau se Do d so n

d i d n o t t es t i fy at t h e h eari n g o n h is m o ti o n t o wi t h draw h i s g u il ty p lea, h e h as n ot

7 Nei t h er H

i l ls v. S t a t e

, 2 96 Ga. Ap p

. 1 01

, 1 02 -1 0 3 (6 7 3 SE2 d 6 14 ) (2 0 0 9 ), n o r

Go d f r ey

, 2 7 4 Ga. Ap p

. at 2 4 2

, req u i r e a d ifferen t res ul t

. In bo t h cas es

, p o s t

co n vi ct i o n c o u n s e l fo r t h e defen d an t s d i d n o t cal l th e d efen d an t s ’ tri al co u n s el as

wi t n es s es

. Hi ll

s

, 2 9 6 Ga. Ap p

. at 10 1

, 1 0 3 ; Go d f r e y

, 2 7 4 Ga. A p p

. at 2 4 2.

Acco rd in g ly

, t h ere w as n o ev i d en ce o f t ri al co un s el s ’ i n t eract i on wi t h t h e d efen d an t s

co n cern in g t h e en t ry o f t h e d efen dan t s ’ g u i l t y p l eas

. In co n t ras t

, th e reco rd i n t h i s

cas e co n t ai n s t e s t i m o n y fro m t h e p ro s ecu t i ng at t o rn ey an d

, m o re i m p o rt an t l y

, Do d s o n ’ s t ri al co u n s el reg ard i n g Do d s o n ’ s g u i l t y p l ea an d h i s l ev el of u n d ers t an d i n g

o f t h e p l ea. M o reo v er, th e wri t t en g u i l t y p l ea d o cu m en ts fu rt h e r a m el i o rat ed an y

i m p act fro m Do d s o n ’ s al leg ed h eari n g l o s s

. A s a r e s u l t

, n ei t h er Go d f r ey no r Hi l l

s

al t er o ur an al y s i s

.

14reb u t t ed th e St at e’ s ev i d en ce an d can n o t sh o w wh at effect

, i f an y

, h i s al l eg ed h eari n g

d i ffi cu l t y h ad o n h i s u nd ers t an d i n g o f t h e p l e a offer. Cf. S t even s v. S t a t e

, 3 2 9 Ga.

Ap p

. 9 1, 9 3 (6 ) (7 6 2 SE2 d 8 3 3 ) (2 0 1 4 ); Ja co b s v. S t a t e , 2 9 9 Ga. Ap p

. 3 6 8, 3 7 1 (1 )

(6 8 3 SE2 d 6 4) (2 0 0 9 ). Fi n al l y

, i n i t s o rd er d en y i n g Do d s o n’ s m o t i on t o wi th d raw h i s

g u i l t y p l ea, t he t ri al co u rt s p eci fi cal l y fo u n d t h at Do d so n ’ s “ s u p p o s ed h eari n g

p ro b lem s . . . wo u l d [n o t] h av e l ed t o a l ack o f u nd ers t an di n g reg ard i ng t h e p l ea.”

In cl o s i n g

, t he s u m o f t h i s ev i d en ce, tak en fro m t h e reco rd o n ap p eal

, b el i es

Do d s o n ’ s arg u m en t th at h i s h eari n g s o affect ed h is u n ders t an d in g of th e p l ea o ffer

t h a t h i s p l ea was n o t k n o wi ng l y an d v o l u n tari l y en t ered

. As a res u l t

, d es p i t e a n y

al l eg ed h eari n g l o s s

, t h ere i s n o i nd i cat i o n t h at t h e res u l t o f h i s m o t io n t o wi t h d raw

h i s g u i l t y p l ea wo u l d h av e b een d i fferen t h ad p o s t-co n v ict i o n co u ns el p res en t ed an y

ad d i tio n al wi tn es s es i n v i ew o f t h e wri t t en p lea wai v er fo rm s Do d s o n si g n ed

. Becau s e

t h e reco rd d em o n st rat es t h at Do d so n “ can n o t s at is fy t he t wo -p ro n g t es t s et fo rt h in

S t r i ckl a nd

v. W a s h in gt o n [,] ” a rem an d i s u n n eces s ary

. S tu a r t , 2 74 Ga. Ap p . at 1 2 1.

Acco rd in g ly , we affi rm

t h e ju d g m en t o f t h e t ri al co u rt d en y i n g Do d s on ’ s m o t i o n t o

wi t h d raw h i s g u i lt y

p l ea.

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

, P. J., Go b ei l

, J., co n cu r

.

15