SECOND DI VI SI ON

A NDREWS, P. J.

, M I LLER and BRA NCH, 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 /

Jul y 2, 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 59 1 . HOLIDAY v . STATE OF GEORGIA.

A1 5 A0 59 3 . NELSON v

. STATE OF GEORGIA.

M I LLE R , J u d ge.

Fo l l ow i n g a b en ch t ri al

, t h e tri al co u rt co ncl u d ed t hat a t rai l er an d a m o b i l e

h o m e o w n ed b y M i l t o n Ho l i d ay

, as wel l as t h e p ro p ert y o n w h i ch th e t rai l er an d t h e

m o bi l e h o m e s a t, an d a v eh i cl e o wn ed b y Ro s a Nel s o n were su b ject t o fo rfei t u re

b ecau s e t h e t rai l er, t h e m o b i l e h o m e an d t he v eh i cl e h ad b een u s ed b y An d rew

Ho l id ay t o s el l m et h am p h et am i n e. 1 In Cas e No

. A1 5A0 5 9 1

, Mi l t o n ap p e a l s

,

co n ten d in g t h at t h e tri al co u rt erred i n ( 1 ) fai li n g t o fi n d t h at h e was an i n n o cen t

o wn er p urs u an t t o OCGA § 1 6-1 3 -4 9 (e) (1 ), an d (2 ) ho l di n g t h at t h e fo rfei tu re o f h i s

p ro p ert y w a s n o t an ex ces s i ve fi n e. In Cas e No

. A1 5 A0 5 9 3

, N el s on ap p eal s

,

1 An d rew Ho l i d ay

i s M i lt o n ’ s s o n an d Nel so n ’ s b ro t h er.co n ten d in g t h a t t h e t r i al co u rt erred i n fi n d i n g t h at sh e was n o t an i n n ocen t o wn er.

Si n ce t he ev i d en ce s h o wed t hat b o t h M i l t o n an d N el s o n k n ew or co u ld reas o n ab l y

h av e k n o wn t h at t h ei r p ro p ert y w a s b ei n g u s ed i n a m an n er t o faci l it at e d ru g

t r a f f i c k i n g an d t h e fo rfei t u re o f Mi l t o n’ s p ro p ert y was n o t an ex ces s i v e fi n e, we

affi rm

.

In ren d eri n g ju dg m en t o n a co m p l ai nt fo r fo rfei t u re, t h e t ri al co u rt

i s req ui red t o m ak e m i x ed fi n di n g s o f fact an d l aw, wh i ch t h i s Co u rt

m u s t accep t u nl es s th ey are cl earl y erro n eo u s

. W e d efer t o t he t ri al

co u rt ’ s ju d g m en t as t o wi t n es s cred ib i li t y an d wi l l affi rm t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s

fi nd in g s i f t h ere i s an y

ev i d en ce s u pp o rt i n g t h em

.

(Ci t at i o n s an d fo o t n o t es o m i tt ed .) Li t t l e v. S t a t e o f Ga

., 2 7 9 Ga. Ap p

. 3 29

, 33 0 (6 3 0

SE2 d 9 0 3) (2 0 0 6).

In No vem

b er 2 0 1 1, p o l i ce o ffi cers b eg an i n v es t i g at i ng An d rew fo r n arco ti cs

t raffi ck i ng

. An d rew h ad p rev i o us l y b een arres t ed i n 2 0 0 9 an d s p en t fi v e t o s i x m o n t h s

i n jai l b efo re en t eri n g g u i lt y p l eas t o po s s es s i o n o f m et h am p h et am in e wi t h i n t en t to

d i s t ri b u t e, p o s s es si o n o f co cai n e wi t h i n t en t t o d i s t ri b u t e an d p o s s es s i on of m ari ju an a

wi t h i n t en t t o d i s t ri b ut e.

An d rew, M i lt o n an d Nel s o n l i v ed n ear o ne an o th er. An d rew l i ved wi t h a

ro o m m at e i n a m o b i l e h o m e l ocat ed o n M il t o n ’ s p ro p ert y

. Nel s o n l i ved n ex t d o or to

2An d rew. M i l to n l i v ed i n a h o u s e ap p ro x i m at el y 3 0 0 y ard s away

. M i l to n al so o wn ed

a p i n k trai l er t h at was l o cat ed t wo t o t h ree m i l es away

.

An d rew an d h is ro o m

m at e s o l d d ru g s o u t o f t h e p in k t rai l er. An d rew al s o s o ld

d ru g s o u t o f h is m o b i l e h o m e an d M i l t o n ’ s ho m e. Po l i ce o ffi cers o bs erv ed An d rew

an d h i s ro om m at e d ri v e fro m t h ei r m ob i le h o m e t o th e p i n k t r a i l er t o m eet wi th

b u y ers

. Po li ce o ffi cers al s o st o p p ed b u ye r s a f t er t hey h ad l eft t h e p i n k t rai l er an d

fo u n d t h em

t o b e i n p o s s es s i o n o f m et h am p h et am in e.

In J an u ary 2 0 1 3

, p o l ice o ffi cers ex ecu t ed a s earch w a r r a n t o n An drew’ s an d

M i l to n ’ s res i d en ces

. A t An d rew’ s m o b i l e h o m e, p o l i ce o ffi cers reco v ered a p ack ag e

co n tai n i n g m et h am

ph et am i ne, t wo h an d gu n s , an d a p res cri p t i o n b o tt l e, i n Nel s o n ’ s

n am e, fo r h y d ro co d o n e. Po l i ce o ffi cers al s o reco v ered cas h fro m t h e t ru n k o f

An d rew’ s v eh icl e. A s m al l am o u n t o f m et h am ph et am i n e was al s o fo u n d i n M i l t o n ’ s

h o u s e. A s earch of a t ru ck park ed o u ts i d e M i l t o n ’ s res i d en ce rev eal ed ap p ro x i m at el y

1 3 0 gram s o f m et h am

ph et am i n e a n d an o t h er p res cri pt i o n b o t t l e, al s o i n Nel s o n ’ s

n am e, fi l l ed wi t h o xy co d o n e t ab l et s

. Po l i ce o ffi cers al s o d i s co v ered m ari ju an a b ei n g

g ro wn i n s i de M i l to n’ s g ran ds o n ’ s t rai l er, w h i ch was l o cat ed n ex t t o Mi l t o n’ s h o u s e.

Th e s m el l o f m ari

j u an a was n o t i ceab l e o u t s i d e t h e t rai l er. T he p i nk t rai l er co n t ai n ed

3o n l y a fo l d i n g ch ai r, a m ari ju an a p i p e, an d a s m al l d i g it al s cal e. Po l i ce o ffi cers h ad

p rev i o u s l y o bs erv ed M i l t on en ter t h e p i n k t rai l er.

In s i d e Nel s o n ’s Ho n d a A cco rd

, p o l i ce o ffi cers fo u n d a sm al l b ag co n t ai n i n g

m et h am p h et am i ne res i d ue, as wel l as $ 60 ,0 0 0 i n cas h i n t h e t ru n k o f t h e car, s o m e o f

wh i ch An d re w ad m i t t ed were p ro ceed s fro m d ru g s al es

. Po li ce o ffi cers o b s erv ed

An d rew an d h i s g i rl fri en d d ri v i n g Nel s on ’ s H o n d a A cco rd d u ri ng d ru g t ran s act i o n s

,

an d An d rew ad m i t t ed us i ng t h e v eh i cl e t o d el i v er m et h am p het am i n e.

Fo l l owi n g t h e s ear c h

, polic e of f ic e r s a r r es t ed An d rew an d h e s u b seq u en t l y p l ed

g u i l t y t o m et h am

p h et am i n e t raffi ck i ng an d s el l i ng m et h am p h et am i ne. Th e St at e t h en

fi led a co m

p l ai n t p u rs u an t t o OCGA § 1 6 -1 3 -4 9 (d ), s eek in g fo rfei t u re o f An d rew’ s

m o bi l e h om e, th e pi n k t rai l er an d t h e real p ro p ert y u po n wh i ch t h ey were l o cat ed

, al l

o f wh i ch were o wn ed b y M i l t o n

. Th e St at e al so s o u g h t fo rfei t u re o f Nel s o n ’ s Ho n d a

Acco rd

.

At t h e fo rfei tu re h eari n g

, t h e St at e p res en t ed ev i den ce t h at M il t o n was aware

o f An d rew’ s 2 0 0 9 d ru g arres t an d t h at Nel so n was al s o aware o f An d rew’ s 20 0 9 d ru g

arres t an d s u b s eq uen t co n v ict i o n

. Nel s o n h ad warn ed A nd rew ab o u t t h e p res en ce o f

p o l i ce o ffi cers o n M i l t o n’ s p ro p ert y t h ro ug h o u t t h e y ears . An d rew h ad u n res t ri ct ed

4a c c e s s t o b o t h t h e m o b i l e h o m e an d t he p in k t rai l er. An d rew al s o h ad a k e y t o

Nel s o n ’ s Ho n d a Acco rd an d co u l d u s e i t wh en ev er h e wi s h ed

.

Fo l l owi n g th e heari n g

, t h e t ri al co urt fo u n d t h at A n d rew s o l d d ru g s ou t o f t h e

p i n k t rai l er, t h e m o b i le h o m e h e l i v ed i n

, an d N el s o n ’ s Ho n da Acco rd an d t hat Nel so n

an d Mi l t o n k n ew o r sh o u l d reas o n ab l y h av e k n own o f An d rew’ s d ru g t raffi ck i n g

. Th e

t ri al co u rt o rd ered t h at t h e t rai ler, t h e m o b i l e h o m e an d t h e v eh i cl e b e fo rfei t ed

.

Ca s e No . A1 5

A0 5 9 1

1

. M i l t o n co n t en d s t h at t h e t ri al co u rt erred i n fi n d in g t h at he k n ew o r s h o u ld

h av e k n o wn o f An d rew’ s d ru g s al es . W e d i sag ree.

Un d er t h e d ru g fo rfei t u re s t a t u t e, OCGA § 1 6 -1 3 -4 9

, p ro p ert y s u b ject to

fo rfei t u re i n cl u d es th at wh i ch i s, d irect l y o r i n d i rect l y

, us ed o r i nt en d ed fo r u s e i n an y

m an n e r t o f

a c i l i t at e a v i o lat i o n o f t h e d ru g l aws

. “ [O] nce t h e St at e h as p res en t ed a

p ri m a faci e cas e fo r fo rfei t u re, a cl ai m an t as s ert i n g t hat h e i s an i n n o cen t o wn er o f t h e

s u b jec t p r o p e r t y b ears t h e b u rd en o f p ro v in g s u ch s t at u s by a p rep o n d eran ce o f t h e

ev i d en ce.” (Ci t at i on o m i t t ed .) Li t t l e

, s u p ra, 2 7 9 Ga. Ap p. at 33 0

. Th e i n n o cen t o wn er

m u st es t ab l i s h

, am o ng o t h er th i n g s

, t hat h e “ [i ] s n o t l eg al l y acco u nt ab l e fo r t h e

co n du ct g i v i n g ri s e t o i t s fo rfei t u re, d i d n o t co n s en t t o i t

, an d d i d n o t kn ow an d co u ld

5n o t r ea s o n a b l y ha ve kn o wn o

f t h e co n du ct o r th a t i t wa s l i kel y t o o ccu r [.] ” (Em

p h as i s

s u p p li ed .) OCGA § 1 6 -1 3 -4 9 (e) (1 ) (A). 2

2 Pu rs u an t t o O CGA § 1 6-1 3 -4 9 (e) (1 ), an i n no cen t own er m u s t al s o es t ab l i s h

t h at h e o r s h e:

(B) H ad n o t acq u i red an d d i d n o t s t an d t o acq u i re s u b s t an t i al p ro ceed s

fro m t h e co n d uct g i v i n g ri s e t o i t s fo rfei t u r e o th er t h an as an i n t eres t

h o l d er i n an arm ’ s l en g t h co m m erci al t ran s act io n ;

(C) W i t h res p ect t o co n vey an ces fo r t ran s po rt at i o n o n ly

, d i d n ot h o l d th e

p ro p ert y jo i nt ly

, i n c o m m o n

, o r i n co m m u n i t y w i t h a p ers on wh o s e

co n d u ct g av e ri s e t o i t s fo rfei t u re;

(D) D o es no t h o l d t h e pro p ert y fo r t h e b en efi t o f o r as n o m in ee fo r an y

p ers on wh o s e co n d uct g av e ri s e t o i t s fo rfei tu re, an d

, i f t h e o wn er o r

i n t eres t ho l d er acq u i red th e i nt eres t th ro u gh an y s u ch p ers o n, t h e o wn er

o r i n t eres t h o ld er acq u ired i t as a b o n a fi d e pu rch as er fo r v al u e wi t h o u t

k n o wi n g l y t ak i n g p art i n an i l l eg al t ran s act i o n ; an d

(E) A cq u i red t h e i n t eres t : (i ) Befo re t h e co m p l et i o n o f t h e co n d uct

g i v i ng ri s e t o i t s f

o rfei t u re, an d th e pers o n wh o s e co n d u ct g av e ri se t o

i t s fo rfei t u re d id n o t h av e t h e au t h o ri t y t o co n v ey t h e i n t eres t t o a b o na

fi de p urch as er fo r v al u e at t h e t im e o f t h e co n d u ct [.]

6Th e ev i d en ce h ere s h owed t h at M i lt o n h ad v i s i ted t h e p i n k t r a i l er o n a few

o ccas i o n s

. Th e p i n k t rai l er co n t ai n ed al m o s t n o t h i n g b u t d ru g p arap h ern al i a. Po l i ce

o ffi cers fo un d d ru g s al l o v er Mi l t o n ’ s p ro p ert y

, i n cl u d in g i n s i d e M il t on ’ s res i d en ce

an d i n An d rew’ s m o b i l e h o m e. Po l i ce o ffi cers al s o fo u n d a su b s t a n t i a l am o u n t o f

m et h am p h et am i ne in a t ru ck p ark ed o u t s i d e of M i l t o n ’ s res i d en ce. Th e ev i d en ce al s o

s h o wed t h at M i l t o n was aware o f An d rew’ s p ri or d ru g -rel at ed arres t an d y et al l o wed

An d rew fu ll acces s t o th e pi n k t rai l er an d An d rew’ s m o bi l e h om e. See Li t t l e

, s u p ra,

2 7 9 Ga. A p p

. a t 3 3 0 (h o l d i n g t h at p aren t s fai l ed to s h o w t h at th ey w ere i n n o cen t

o wn ers wh en t h ey were aware o f t h ei r s o n’ s pri o r d ru g arres t an d k n ew t h ei r p ro p ert y

co u ld b e s u b

j e c t t o fo rfei t u re i f t h ei r s o n was ag ai n arres t ed an d y et t h ey d i d n ot

r es t ri ct s o n ’ s u s e of a cel l ul ar p h o n e an d on l y lo o s el y res tri ct ed h i s us e of a t ru ck ).

Th e t ri al co u rt al s o sp eci fi cal l y fo u n d t h at M il to n was ev as i v e i n h i s t es t i m o n y wh en

h e cl ai m ed t o no t k no w t h at An d rew s o l d d ru gs

. T h e t ri al co u rt was no t ob l i g at ed to

b el i ev e M i l t o n ’ s t es t i m on y

, ev en i f u n co n trad ict ed

, th at h e had n o reas o n t o k n o w t h at

An d rew was en g ag ed i n s el li n g d ru g s o n h i s p ro p ert y

. See i d

.

2

. Mi l t o n co n t en d s th at t h e t ri al co u rt erred i n fi n d in g t h at t h e fo rfei t u re o f h i s

p ro p ert y was n ot an ex ces s i v e fi n e becau s e he was no t a d i rect p a r t i ci p an t in

An d rew’ s cri m es an d t h us was n o t cu l p ab l e. W e d i s ag ree.

7Th e Ei g ht h Am en d m en t ’ s b ar o n ex ces s i v e fi n es ap p l i es to i n rem fo rfei t u res

.

See Ho wel l v. S t a t e of Ga

. , 28 3 Ga. 2 4

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

. Cl ai m s o f

ex ces s i v en es s are t o b e ev al u at ed i n t erm s o f t h e fo l l o w i n g co ns i d erat i o n s :

(1 ) th e h ars h n es s

, o r gro s s d i sp ro p ort i on al i t y

, o f t h e fo rfei t u re i n

co m p ari so n to t h e g rav i t y o f t h e offen s e

, g i v i n g d u e reg ard t o (a) th e

o ffen s e co m

m i t t ed an d i t s rel at i o n t o o th er cri m i n al act i v i t y

, (b ) wh et h er

t h e cl ai m an t fal l s wi t h i n t h e cl as s o f pers o n s fo r wh o m t he s t at u t e was

d es i gn ed

, (c) t he p u n i s h m en ts av ai lab l e, an d (d ) t h e h arm cau s ed by th e

cl ai m an t ’ s co n d u ct ; (2 ) t h e n ex u s b et ween t h e p ro p ert y an d t he cri m i nal

o ffen s es

, i n cl u di n g t h e d el i b erat e n at u re o f t he u se an d th e t em p o ral an d

s p at ial ex t en t o f t he u s e; an d (3 ) t h e cu l p ab i l i t y o f ea ch cl ai ma n t

.

(Ci t at i o n o m i t t ed ; em

p h as i s s u p p l i ed .) Id

. at 2 6 (1 ).

Here, ap p l y i n g t h e Ho wel l s t an d ard

, t h e t r i a l c o u rt h el d t h at th e fo rfei t u re o f

An d rew’ s m ob i l e h o m e, t h e p i n k t rai l er, an d t h e real p ro p ert y o n wh i ch th ey were

l o cat ed d i d n o t co n s ti t u t e an ex ces si v e fi n e b ecau se (1 ) t he o ffen s es were v ery s eri ou s

wh en co m

p ared to t h e fo rfei t u re; (2 ) th ere was a cl ear n ex u s b et ween th e o ffen s es an d

t h e p ro p ert y s i n ce An d rew w as ru n n i n g an ex t en s i v e d ru g o p erat i o n ou t o f h i s m o b i l e

h o m e an d t h e p i n k t rai l er; an d (3 ) M i l t o n was cu l p ab l e b ecau s e he k new o f An d rew’ s

i n v o l v em en t wi t h dru g s

, an d h e h ad n um ero u s o p p o rt u n i t i es t o o b serv e An d rew

en g ag i n g i n d ru g s al e s a l l o v e r h i s p ro p ert y

. M i l t o n’ s cu l p ab i l i t y

, wh i l e n ot d i rect

,

8s t em

m ed fro m h is “ wi l l fu l b li n d n es s ” t o A n d rew’ s act i v i t i es . Acco rd i n gl y , t h e t ri al

co u rt di d n o t err in d et erm i n i n g t h at t h e fo rfei t u re w as n ot co ns t i t u t i o n al l y ex ces s i ve.

See Ho wel l

, su pra, 2 8 3 Ga. at 27 (1 ) (d en y i n g ex ces s i v e fi n e cl ai m b ecau s e cl ai m an t ’ s

wi l l fu l b l i nd n es s t o h er fat h er’ s i ll eg al act i v i t i es o n h er p ro p ert y m ad e cl ai m an t

cu l p ab l e).

Ca s e No . A1 5 A0 5 9 3

3

. Nel s o n co n ten d s th at t h e t ri al co u rt erred i n fi n d in g t h at s h e w a s n o t an

i n n o cen t o wn er o f t h e fo rfei t ed Ho n da Acco rd . W e d i scern n o erro r.

Sp eci fi cal l y

, Nel s o n arg u es t h at t h ere was n o ev i d en c e t o s u p p ort t h e t ri al

co u rt ’ s f i n d i n g t h a t s h e k n ew her b ro t her w as sel l in g dru g s

. As set fo rt h ab o v e, to

p ro v e t h at sh e i s an in no cen t own e r

, N e l s o n m u s t s h o w, i n ter al i a, t h at sh e d i d n ot

k n o w an d co u l d n ot reas o n ab l y h av e k n o wn o f A n d rew’ s i l l eg al co n d u ct o r th at i t was

l i kel y t o o ccu r. See OCGA § 1 6-1 3 -4 9 (e) (1 ) (A).

Th e ev i d en ce s h o ws t h at p o l i ce o ffi cers fo u n d $6 0

, 0 0 0 i n cas h i n Ne l s o n ’ s

Ho n d a Acco rd

. An d re w a l s o u s ed t he Ho n d a Acco rd t o sel l an d d el i v er

m et h am p h et am i ne. M or e o v e r

, Nel s o n t es t i fi ed at t h e b en ch t ri al t h at sh e k n ew

An d rew h ad b een arres t ed an d co n v i ct ed fo r d ru g o ffen s es

, an d t h ere was ev i d en ce

t h at s h e h ad n ot ifi ed An d rew ab o u t t h e p res e n c e o f p o l i ce o ffi cers at h i s res i d en ce

9t h ro u g h ou t t h e y ears

. Des p i t e h er k n o wl ed g e o f An d rew’ s p ri or arres t an d co n v i ct i o n,

Nel s o n al l o wed An d rew t o us e h er v eh i cl e an y t i m e h e as k ed an d wo u ld o ft en al l o w

An d rew t o k eep t h e v eh icl e fo r d ay s at a t i m e.

An d rew was al s o i n p o s s es s i o n o f a p res cri p t i o n b ot t l e, i n Nel s o n ’ s nam e, fo r

h y d ro co d o ne, an d po l i ce d i sco v ered an o t h er p res cri p t io n b o t t l e, al s o i n N el s o n ’ s

n am e, fi ll ed w i t h ox y co d o ne t a b l et s wi t h An d rew’ s m et ham ph et am i n e s t as h.

Fu rt h erm o re, t h e t ri al co u rt sp eci fi cal l y fo u n d t h at N e l s o n w a s ev as i v e wh en s h e

cl ai m ed t o no t k n o w t h at An d rew s o l d d ru g s

. Acco rd i n g l y

, t h ere was am p le ev i d en ce

t o s u p p o rt t h e t ri al co urt ’ s fi nd i n g t h at N el s o n k new o r sh o ul d h av e k n own o f h e r

b ro t h er’ s d ru g d eal in g . See Li t t l e , s u p ra, 2 79 Ga. Ap p . at 3 3 0

.

Nel s o n al s o arg u es t h at th e t ri al co u rt erred i n fi n d in g t h at s h e h el d th e Ho n d a

Acco rd “ jo i n t l y

, i n co m m o n, an d i n co m m un i t y wi t h ” An drew, as req u i red fo r t h e

fo rfei t u re o f a v eh icl e. See OCGA § 1 6 -1 3 -4 9 (e) (1 ) (C). Th e ev i d en ce sh o wed t h at

Nel s o n al l o wed An d rew to u s e t h e Ho n d a Acco rd wh en ev er h e wi s h e d

, a n d s h e

co n si d ered i t a “ fam i l y car” b ecau s e s h e h ad i n h eri t ed it fro m t h ei r g ran d p aren t s

.

Th u s, t h ere was ev i d en ce t o s u p p ort t he tri al co u rt ’ s fi n di n g t h at Nel s o n h el d t h e

v eh icl e jo i n t l y wi t h An d rew. See W eb b v. S t a t e o

f Ga

., 3 0 0 Ga. Ap p

. 2 9

, 3 1 (1 ) (6 8 4

SE2 d 1 1 5 ) (2 00 9) (cl ai m an t f a i l e d t o p ro v e in n o cen t o w n er s t at u s wh en ev i d en ce

10s h o wed t h at cl ai m an t ’ s h u s b an d d ro v e t hei r “ fam i l y ” veh i cl es

, i n cl u d i n g a t ru ck t i t l ed

i n cl ai m an t ’ s n am e). Acco rd i n g l y

, t h e t r i a l c o u rt d id n o t err i n h o l di n g t h at Nel so n

fai l ed t o es t ab l i sh t h at s h e was an i n n o cen t o wn er un d er OCGA § 1 6 -1 3-4 9 (e) (1 ).

Ju d g men t a f fi r med

. A n d

r ews

, P. J., co n cu rs

. Br a n ch

, J., co n cu r s i n j u d g men t

o n l y.

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