SECOND DI VI SI ON

M I LLER, P. J.

, M ERCI ER and C OOM ER, 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.

P le a s e r e fe r to the S upr e m e C our t of G e or gia Judic ia l

E m e r ge nc y Or de r o f M a r c h 1 4

, 2 0 2 0 for fur the r

infor m a tion a t (https ://w w w

. ga a ppe a ls .us /r ule s ).

A pr i l 20, 2020



# I n th e Co u r t o f

A p p eals o f

G eo r g ia

A2 0 A0 54 2 . W RICE v . THE STATE.

M E R C I E R , J u dg e.

A ju ry fo u n d Ch ri s to p h er J o hn W ri ce g u i l t y o f en t i ci n g a ch i l d fo r i n d ecen t

p u rp os es

, ag g rav at ed s o do m y

, ag g rav at ed ch i l d m o les t at io n

, an d cru el ty t o ch i l d ren

i n t h e fi rs t d eg ree. He n o w ap p eal s fro m t h e den i al o f hi s m o t i o n fo r n ew t ri al

,

arg u i n g t hat t h e t ri al co u rt erred i n ad m it t i n g pri o r act ev i d en ce an d h i s s t at em en t to

p o l i ce. W e affi rm

.

Vi ewed i n t h e l i g ht m o s t fav o rab l e t o t he ju ry ’ s verd i ct

, t h e ev i d en ce s h o wed

t h at W ri ce l i v ed wi th h i s m o th er, wh o wo u ld s om et i m es b ab y si t t he s ev en -y ear-o ld

v i ct i m

. On t wo o ccas i o n s in t h e earl y s u m m er o f 2 0 1 6

, W ri ce pl aced h i s p en i s i n s i d e

t h e v i ct i m ’s a n u s

, t el l i n g hi m t h at i t was a t h erm o m et er. Th e v i ct i m t es t i fi ed t h at i t

fel t “ n eg at iv e” an d “ b ad ” an d i n h i s fo ren s i c i n t erv iew h e s t at ed t h at i t h u rt

. On o n eo f t h e t w o o ccas i o n s

, W ri ce t o o k t h e v i ct i m i n t o W ri ce’ s m o t her’ s b ed ro o m b ecau s e

t h e d o or t o W ri ce’ s ro o m wo u l d n o t l o ck

. On ce i n s i d e t h e ro o m

, W ri ce p l aced an

“ arm y ” s carf o v er t h e v i ct i m ’ s ey es

, b ut t he v i ct i m saw W ri ce’ s p en i s an d t h at h e was

weari n g s t ri p ed u n d erwear.

In Sep tem

b er 2 0 1 6, t h e v i ct i m t o ld h i s o l der s i s t er, an d l at er h is m o t her, wh at

W ri ce h ad do n e. Th e p o l i ce as k ed W ri ce t o co m e t o th e p o l i c e s t at i o n fo r an

i n t erv i ew. W ri ce wai v ed h i s Mi r a n d a ri gh t s an d ag reed t o s p e a k w i t h p o l i ce. He

d en ied an y i n ap pro pri at e co n tact wi t h t h e v i ct i m

, b u t ad m i tt ed t h at h e o w n ed s t ri p ed

u n d erwear an d a g reen b an dan a, an d th at h i s b ed ro o m d oo r wo u ld n o t l ock . Du ri n g

a s earch o f W ri ce’ s h o m e, p ol i ce reco v ered s t ri p ed u nd erwear an d co n fi rm ed t h at

W ri ce’ s b ed ro o m d o o r was at t ach ed i n a way t hat m ad e t he l o ck i n op erab l e.

Th e t ri al co urt al s o al l o wed p ri or act ev i d en ce p urs u an t t o OCGA § 2 4 -4 -4 1 4.

Th e St at e p res en t ed ev i d en ce t h at W ri ce h ad p l ed g u i l t y un d er a fed eral i n d i ct m en t

t o p o s s es s i o n o f ch i l d p o rn o g rap h y an d d i s tri b ut i o n o f ch i l d p o rn o g rap h y

.

A ju ry fo u n d W ri ce g u i lt y o f en t i ci n g a ch i l d fo r i n d ecen t pu rp o s es

, ag g rav at ed

s o d o m y

, 1 ag g rav at ed ch i l d m o l e s t at i o n

, an d cru el t y t o ch il d ren i n th e fi rs t d eg ree.

.

Th e t ri al co u rt d en i ed hi s m o t i o n fo r n ew t ri al , an d t h i s ap p eal fo ll o wed

.

1 Th e ag g rav at ed s o d o m

y co u n t was m erg ed fo r s en t en ci n g

.

21

. In t wo en um erat i o n s, W ri ce co m p lai n s t h at t h e tri al co urt erred i n ad m i t t i n g

ev i d en ce o f h i s fed eral co n vi ct i o n s. Th e t ri al co u rt al l o w e d t h e a d m is si o n o f t h o s e

c o n v i c t i o n s

, en t ered ab o u t a y ear p ri or t o th e s t art o f t ri al i n t h i s cas e, an d t h e

t es t i m o ny o f t wo H o m el a n d S e c u ri t y ag en t s w ho co n d u ct ed t h e i n v es t i g at i o n

res u l ti n g i n h i s arres t i n t h at cas e. Th e ag en t s t es t i fi ed t h at t h ey d i s co v ered th at W ri ce

p o s s es s ed o n h i s c o m

p u t er an d s h ared t h ro ug h t h e In t ern et i m ag es o f y o un g b o y s

en g ag ed i n s ex u al l y ex p l ici t act s

. W ri ce p l ed g u i l t y to o n e co u n t o f d i st ri b u t i o n o f

ch i l d p o rn og rap hy ( 1 8 U S C § 2 2 5 2 (a) (2 )) an d on e co u n t o f p o s s es s io n o f ch i ld

p o rn og rap hy

(1 8 USC § 2 2 5 2 (a) (4 ) (B)).

OCGA § 2 4 -4 -4 1 4 (a) p ro v i des : “ In a cri m i nal proc eed i n g in w h i ch th e accu s ed

i s accu s ed o f an o ffen s e of ch i l d m ol es t at io n

, ev i d en ce o f t h e accu s ed ’ s co m m i s s i o n

o f an ot h er o ffen se o f ch i ld m o l es t at i o n s h al l b e ad m i ss i b l e an d m ay b e co n s i d ered fo r

i t s b eari n g o n an y m at t er to wh i ch i t i s rel ev a n t

. ” A n o t h er “ o ffen s e o f ch i ld

m o les t at i o n ” i n cl u d es co nd u ct t h at wo u l d co ns t i t u te p os s es si on o r d i s t r i b u t i o n o f

ch i l d p o rn o g rap h y in v i ol at i o n o f OCGA § 1 6 -1 2 -1 0 0 (b ) (5 ) an d (b ) (8 ).

OCGA § 2 4 -4 -4 1 4 creat es “ a ‘ ru l e o f in cl u s i o n,’ th u s p ro vi d in g a s t ro n g

p res u m p t i o n i n fav o r of ad m i ss i b i li t y b y ex p l ai n i n g t h at s uch ev i d en ce ‘ s h a l l b e

ad m i s s i b l e.’ ” McAl l i s t er v. S t a t e

, 3 5 1 Ga. Ap p

. 7 6

, 8 0 (1 ) (8 30 SE2 d 4 4 3 ) (2 0 1 9 )

3(ci t at i o n s o m i tt ed ; em p h as i s i n o ri g i n al ). Ho wev er, ev i d en ce t h at i s ad m i ss i b l e u n d er

t h i s ru l e m ay s t i l l be ex cl u d ed u n d er OCGA § 2 4 -4 -4 03 “ i f i t s p ro b at i v e v al u e i s

s u b s t an t i al l y

o ut wei g h ed by t h e d an g er o f u n fai r p reju d i ce, co n fu si on o f t h e i s s u es

,

o r m i s l ead i n g t h e ju ry o r b y co n s i d erat io n s o f un d u e d el ay

, was t e of t i m e, o r n eed l es s

p res en t at i o n o f cu m

ul at i v e ev i d en ce.” Di

xo n v. S ta t e

, 3 5 0 Ga. Ap p

. 2 1 1

, 2 1 3 (1 ) (8 2 8

SE2 d 4 2 7 ) (2 0 19 ). Th i s Co u rt wi l l n o t d is t urb a t ri al co u rt ’ s ru l i n g t o ad m it o t h er act s

ev i d en ce ab s en t an ab u s e o f d i s cret i o n

. Ch i t wo od v. S t a t e

, 3 5 2 Ga. Ap p

. 2 1 8

, 2 2 4 (3 )

(a) (8 34 SE2 d 3 34 ) (2 0 1 9 ).

Al t h ou g h W ri ce en u m erat es as erro r t h e co u rt ’ s “ g ran t i n g [o f] t h e St at e’ s i n t en t

t o pres en t ev i d en ce o f o t h er act s p u rs u an t t o ” O CGA § 2 4 -4 -4 1 4

, he d o es n o t arg u e

t h at th e ev i d en ce d o es no t qu al i fy as “ an o t h er o ffen s e o f ch i l d m o l es t at i o n ” u n d er t h at

Co d e s ect i o n

. Rat h er, h e arg u es t h at t h e St at e m ay n o t i n t ro d u ce ch aract er ev i d en ce

i f i t s o n l y o b

j ect i v e i s t o d em o n s t rat e h is p ro p en si t y t o c o m m i t th e act s ag ai n s t t h e

v i ct i m

. Ho wev er, “ th e St a t e c a n s e ek t o ad m i t ev i d en ce u n d er [OCGA § 2 4-4 -4 1 4 ]

fo r an y rel ev an t p urp os e, i n cl u d i n g p ro pen s it y .” Di xo n , s u p ra, 3 50 Ga. Ap p

. at 2 1 3

(1 ) (ci t at i o n s an d p u n ct u at i o n om i t t ed ).

W ri ce al s o co m

pl ai n s o f t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s ru l i n g u nd er t h e b al an ci n g t es t o f

OCGA § 2 4 -4 -4 0 3

. He as s ert s t h a t t h e p reju d i ci al i m p act o f t h e ev id en ce m ad e i t

4i m

p o s s ib l e fo r h i m t o hav e a fai r t ri al

. As t h e t ri al co u rt co n cl u ded

, h o wev er, “ t h e

p reju d i ci al i m

p act o f ev i d en ce o f t h es e t y pes o f si m i lar tran s act io n s i n ch i ld

m o les t at i o n cas es i s g en eral l y co n s i d ered t o b e ou t w ei g h ed b y i ts p ro b at i v e v al u e in

d em o n s t rat i n g an accu s ed ’ s di s p o s i ti o n t o ward co m m it t in g a m o l es t at i o n.” S t a t e v.

McPh er s o n , 3 4 1 Ga. Ap p

. 8 7 0 , 8 7 6 (1 ) (8 0 0 SE2 d 3 89 ) (2 0 1 7). Fu rt h er,

we m u s t be m i n d fu l t h at t h e ex cl u si o n o f r e l ev an t ev i d en ce u nd er

OCGA § 24 -4 -4 0 3 i s an ex t rao rd i n ary rem ed y wh i ch s h o u ld b e u s ed

o n l y s p ari n gl y

, s i n ce i t p erm i t s t h e t ri al co u rt t o ex cl u d e co n ced e d l y

p r o b at i v e ev i d en ce. Th u s

, we l o o k at th e ev i d en ce i n t h e l ig h t m o s t

fav o rab le to i t s ad m i s s i o n

, m a x i m i zi n g i t s pro b at i v e v al u e an d

m i n i m izi n g i ts u n d u e p reju d i ci al i m pact

.

McAl l i s t er

, s u pra, 3 5 1 Ga. Ap p . at 8 2 (1 ).

W ri ce’ s m o t h er t es t i fi ed t h at t he v i ct i m n ev er co m p l ai n ed ab o ut “ an y t h i n g

h u rt i n g ” d u ri n g t h e t im e s h e b ab y s at h i m

, an d n ev er o b s erv ed hi m i n d i s t res s

. S h e

al s o ad m i t t i n g t el l i n g d et ect i ves t h at t h e v i ct i m i s “ a l i ar” b ecau s e al l o f t h e d o o rs in

h er h o m e h ad wo rk i n g l o ck s

. Du ri n g cl os i n g arg u m en t

, d efen s e co un s el as s ert ed t h at

t h ere were i n co n s is t en ci es i n t h e v i ct i m ’ s t es t i m on y an d t hat th e accu sat i o n ag ai n s t

W ri ce was n o t m ad e un t i l Sep t em b er. Th e St at e th erefo re h ad a need fo r th e ev i d en ce

b as ed u p o n t h e v i ct im ’ s del ay ed o u t cry an d W ri ce’ s at t ack o n t he v i ct i m ’ s cred i b i l i t y

.

5Un d er t h es e ci rcu m s tan ces

, t h e t ri al co u rt was au t ho r i zed t o co n cl u de t h at W ri ce’ s

fed eral co n v i ct i o n s f

o r p o s s es si o n an d di st ri bu t i o n of ch i l d p o rn og rap h y was “ n ot

u n fai rl y p reju di ci al .” McAl l i s t er

, s u pra, 3 5 1 Ga. Ap p

. at 8 4 -8 5 (1 ) (c) (“ It is t ru e, o f

co u rs e, t h at wh en th e d efen d an t s eek s t o at t ack a v i ct im ’ s cred i b i l i t y

, t h e St at e h as an

i n creas ed n eed t o i n t r o d uce ev i d en ce o f p ri o r act s

. ”). See al s o Ho l z h eu s er v. S t a t e

,

3 5 1 Ga. Ap p . 2 8 6 , 2 9 1 (1 ) (a) (i i i ) (8 28 SE2 d 6 6 4 ) (2 0 1 9 ) (ad m i s s i o n b y d efen d an t

t h at h e h ad v i ewed ch il d p o rn o g rap h y on h i s p h o n e an d t h at search t erm s an d URLs

o n t h e p h o n e rev eal ed s ex u al l y s u g g es t i ve i m a g e s o f y o un g g i rl s

, were rel ev an t to

d efen d an t ’ s i n t en t t o m o l es t y o u n g fem al e v i ct i m an d d i d n o t p res en t a ri s k o f u n d u e

p reju d i ce); Di

xo n v. S t a t e

, 3 4 1 Ga. Ap p

. 2 5 5

, 2 6 2 (1 ) (b ) (8 0 0 SE2 d 1 1 ) (2 0 1 7 )

(“ [T] h e St at e’ s n eed fo r t h e ev i d en ce was g reat bas ed u p on [d efen d an t ] ’ s at t ack s o n

t h e v i ct i m ’ s cred i b i l i ty , t h e l ack o f an y p h y si cal ev i d en ce, an d t h e v i ct i m ’ s d el ay ed

o u t cry .”).

2

. W ri ce ch al l e n g e s t h e ad m i s s i o n o f hi s s t at em en t t o p o li ce. Th e t ri al co u rt

al l o wed t h i s ev id en ce aft er a Ja cks o n -Den no h eari n g at wh i ch t he d e t ect i v e wh o

co n du ct ed W ri ce’ s in t erv i ew t es t i f i e d

. In d eci d i n g t h e ad m i s si bi l i t y of W ri ce’ s

s t at em en t s

,

6t h e t ri al co u rt w as req u i red t o co n si der t h e t o tal i t y o f th e ci rcu m s tan ces

an d d et erm i ne, b y a p rep on d eran ce o f t he e v i d en ce, w h et h er th e

s t at em en t s were k no wi n g l y an d v o l u n t ari l y gi ven

. On ap p eal

, we accep t

t h e t ri al co urt ’ s fi n d i n gs o f fact an d cred ib i l i ty d et erm i nat i on s un l es s

t h ey are cl earl y erro neo u s ; b u t wh ere co n t ro l l i n g fact s are n o t i n di s p u t e,

s u ch as t h o s e fact s d i s cern i b l e fro m a v id eo t ap e, o u r rev i ew i s d e n o v o

.

No r r is v. S t a t e

, 3 0 2 Ga. 8 0 2, 8 0 4 (II) (8 0 9 SE2 d 7 52 ) (2 0 1 8 ).

W ri ce arg u es t h at t h ere was n o ev i d en ce i n tro d u ced to s h ow h i s b ack g ro u n d,

ed u cat i o n

, co m

p et en cy

, or st at e o f m i n d at t h e t i m e h e m ad e th e st at em en t t o p o l i ce.

Th e d et ect i v e t es t ifi ed t h at h e di d n ot recal l hi s n o t at i o ns reg ard i n g W ri ce’ s ed u cat i o n

o r ag e, b u t t h at h e h ad n o co n cern s ab o u t W ri ce’ s l e v e l o f ed u cat i o n

, i n t el l ect

, o r

ab i l i t y t o u n d ers t an d t h e q u es t io n s h e pl an n ed t o as k

. Th e d et ect i v e ex p l ai n ed t h at h e

an d W ri ce d i s cu ss ed W ri ce’ s h ob b i es

, p l ace of em p l o y m en t

, an d t h e fact t h at h e h ad

s t ud i ed a fo rei g n l an g u ag e. In fi n d i n g th at W ri ce’ s s t at em en t w a s f reel y an d

v o l u n t ari l y g i v en

, t h e t ri al co u rt fo u n d th at t h e d e t e ct i v es ’ s “ co m m u n i cat i o n wi th

[W ri ce] s h o wed an u n d e r s t a n d i n g an d t h at t h ere were n o co n cern s wi t h reg ard to

i n t el l ect .” W ri ce h as p o in ted t o n o t h i n g i n t h e reco rd to sh o w th at hi s l ev el o f

ed u cat i o n o r i nt el l ect req u i red a fi n di n g t h at h i s s t at em en t was n o t k n o wi n g l y an d

7v o l u n t ari l y g i v en

. Bas ed u p o n t h e e v i d en ce p res en t ed

, 2 we can n o t s ay t h at t h e t ri al

co u rt cl earl y erred i n fi n d i ng th at h i s s t at em en t was k n o wi ng l y an d v o l u n t ari l y g i v en

.

See Ho p wo o d v. S t at e

, 3 07 G a. 3 0 5

, 3 0 6 (2 ) (8 35 SE2 d 6 2 7) (2 0 19 ) (co u rt d i d n o t err

i n ad m i t t i n g d efen d an t ’ s st at em en t t o p ol i ce wh ere reco rd d id n o t s h o w s h e s u ffered

fro m an y m en t al i n cap aci t y at t h e t i m e s h e m ad e t h e st at em en t ); Pa l mer v. S ta t e

, 2 7 7

Ga. 1 2 4, 1 2 5 (2 ) (5 8 6 S E 2 d 1 ) ( 2 0 03 ) (co u rt d id n o t err i n ad m i t t i n g d efen d an t ’ s

s t at em en t s t o p o l i ce wh ere, al t h o u g h d efen d an t p o in t ed t o ev i d en ce t h at h e h ad b een

i n s p e c i a l ed ucat i o n cl as ses s i n ce ch i l d h o o d

, s p en t ti m e in m en tal in s t i t u ti o n s

, an d

s u ffered fro m a p s y ch o t i c d i s o rd er, o t h er ev id en ce sh o w ed t h a t h i s i l l n es s was

co n tro l l ed b y m ed i cat i o n an d t h at h e was m en t al l y co m p et en t w h en h e g av e

s t at em en t s t o p o l i ce).

Ju d g men t a f f i r m ed . Mi l l er

, P. J., a n d

Co o mer , J., co n cu r

.

2 W e n o t e t h at th e v i d eo reco rd i n g o f W ri ce’ s i n t erv i ew wi t h p o l i ce rev eal s n o

i s su e reg ard in g h i s i n t el l ect o r co m p et en cy

.

8