FOURTH D I VI SI ON

DI L LA RD, P. J.

, M ERCI ER and PI N SON, 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.

https ://w w w

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

M ar ch 7, 2022



# I n th e Co u r t o f

A p p eals o f

G eo r g ia

A2 1 A1 39 1 . CARR v . THE STATE.

D I LLA R D , Pres i d i n g J u d g e.

Dav i d Carr ap p eal s h i s co n v i ct i o n s fo r nu m ero u s ch i l d -s ex o ffen s es

,

co n ten d in g t h e ev i d en ce was i n s u ffi ci en t t o s u p p o rt t h em an d t h e t ri al co u rt erred in

fai l i n g t o m erg e s o m e o f h i s co n v i ct i on s fo r s en t en ci n g p u rp o s es

. Fo r t h e reas o n s s et

fo rt h in f r a

, we affi rm in part

, v acat e i n p ar t

, an d rem an d t h i s cas e fo r p ro ceed i ng s

co n si s t en t wi t h t h i s o p i ni on

.

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

, 1 t h e reco rd s ho ws t h at

d u ri n g t h e rel ev an t t i m e peri o d

, Ta. C. l i v ed wi t h Carr, h er m o t h er, h er s is t er (Ti

. C.),

an d her b ro t h er. W h en Ta. C. was i n s i x t h grad e, Carr b eg an i ns ert i ng h is fi n g er i n to

h er vag i n a o n n um ero u s o ccas i o n s

. Th en

, wh e n Ta

. C

. w a s i n ei gh t h grad e, Carr

1 S ee, e.g

. , Ca wt h o n v. S ta t e , 3 5 0 Ga. Ap p

. 7 4 1

, 7 4 1 (8 30 SE2 d 2 7 0 ) (2 0 1 9 ).wo u l d s o m et i m es g et i n t o Ta. C.’ s b ed wi t h h er, l ay b eh i n d h er, an d t o u ch h er v ag i na.

Carr al s o t o uch ed T a. C.’ s ch es t area, b o t h u n d er an d o ver h er cl ot h es

. In earl y

J an u ary 2 0 1 6

, Carr cam e i nt o Ta. C.’ s ro o m an d t ou ch ed h er un d er h er cl ot h es o n h er

“ b reas ts an d o n [h er] v ag i n a area[,] ” wh i ch m ad e h er cry

.

Sh o rt l y aft er t h at i n ci d en t

, wh en Ta. C. was u p s et ab o u t n o t b ei n g al l o wed t o

g o o u t wi t h fri en d s

, Carr t o l d h er t h at i t d i d n ot m at t er t o h i m i f sh e w as an g ry

, t h e

s ex u al ab u s e was g oi n g t o en d

, an d h e d i d n o t care i f s h e t o l d her m o m ab o u t t h e

a b u s e o r “ i f [h e] wen t t o jai l t o m orro w.” Aft er th i s co n v ers at i on

, Ta. C. cal l ed h er

b o y fri en d an d t o l d h i m

ab o u t t h e ab u s e sh e s u ffered i n d et ai l, an d h e ad v i s ed h er t o

t el l her m o t h er ab o u t i t. Ta. C.’ s b o y fri en d al s o s ug g es t ed th at s h e t el l h er y o u n g e r

s i st er, T i

. C., b u t i n s t ead

, s h e l et h i m d o i t

. An d wh en Ti

. C. l earn ed Carr was s ex u al l y

ab u si n g her s i st er, s h e “ b ro k e d o w n a n d t o l d [Ta. C.] t h at i t was h ap p en i n g t o h er

t o o .”

Ti

. C. es t i m at ed t h at Carr b eg an s ex u al l y ab u s i n g h er i n fo u rt h g rad e, b u t s h e

was n o t en t i rel y s u re. Carr t o u ch ed Ti

. C. on h er “ l o wer p ri v at e area” o v er t h e cl o t h es

“ m o re t i m es t h an [s h e] co u ld real l y co u n t .” He al s o t o u ch ed Ti . C.’ s “ l o wer p ri v at e

a r e a” u n der th e cl o t h es ap p ro x i m at el y fi v e t i m es

. W hen h e d i d s o

, h e wo u l d p l a c e

p res s u re i n si d e o f t h at area wi t h h i s h an d s

. Carr wo u l d occas i o n al ly s t o p t h e ab u s e fo r

2a m o n t h o r t w o

, an d Ti

. C. d es cri b ed t h e freq u en cy of t h e ab u s e as “ k i nd o f l i k e a

cy cl e.”

On t h e s am e day i n earl y J an uary 2 0 1 6

, wh en T i

. C. l earn ed t h at Carr was al s o

s ex u al l y ab u s i n g Ta. C., t h e g i rl s ’ m o t h er cam e i n t o t h e ro o m an d as k ed Ta. C.— wh o

was cry i n g

— wh y s he was u p s et

. Th e g irl s di d n ot w an t t o t el l t h ei r m o t h er ab o u t t h e

ab u se v erb al l y

, s o t h ey b o t h wro t e n o tes d es cri b i ng wh at h ap p en e d t o t h em

. Ta. C.

wro te t hat s h e w a s i n m i dd l e s ch o o l wh en t he ab u s e fi rs t o ccu rred

, an d t h e m o s t

recen t t i m e Carr ab u s ed h er was earl i er t h at week

. In d eed

, acco rd i n g t o Ta. C., Carr’ s

s ex u al ab u s e co n t i n u ed p eri o d i cal l y u n ti l s h e w as a s o p h o m o re i n h i g h s ch o ol

. Ti

. C.

wro te a s i m i l a r n o t e d es cri b i n g t h e ab u se d et ai l ed ab ov e. Th e g i rl s ’ m o t her react ed

cal m l y

, tel li n g t hem t h ey wo u l d act l i k e ev ery t h i ng was n o rm al an d g o t o t h e p o l i ce

aft er Carr fel l as l eep

. A n d t h at n i g h t

, aft er Carr fel l as leep

, Ta. C., Ti

. C., an d t h e i r

m o th er wen t t o t h e p o l i ce s t at i o n t o rep ort Carr’ s ab u s i v e co n d u ct

.

Th ereaft er, Carr was ch arg ed

, v i a in d i ct m en t

, wi t h ag g rav at ed b at tery

, fo u r

co u nt s o f ch i l d m ol es t at i o n

, fo u r co u n t s o f s ex u al b at tery

, an d t wo co u nt s o f fi rs t

d eg ree cru el t y t o ch i l dren

. An d fo l l o wi n g t r i a l

, he was co n v i ct ed o f al l ch arg ed

o ffen s es . Carr t h en fi l ed a m ot io n fo r a n ew t ri al

, wh i ch was d en i ed aft er a h eari n g.

Th i s ap p eal fo l l o ws

.

31

. I n d es cri b i n g hi s seco n d cl ai m o f erro r (wh i ch we ad d res s fi rs t ), Carr

s u m m ari ly s t a t es t h e ev i d en ce was i ns u ffi ci en t to su p po rt al l el ev en o f h i s

co n vi ct i o n s

. Bu t b ecau s e h e d o es n o t m ak e an y co g n i zab l e arg um en ts t o su p p o rt t h i s

co n ten t i o n , h e h as ab an d o n ed i t

.

Des p i t e arg u i n g t h e ev id en ce was i n s uffi ci en t t o s u pp o rt al l o f h i s co nv i ct i o n s

,

h e d o es n o t d i s cu ss a n y p art i cu l ar co n v i ct i o n

, t h ei r res p ect i v e el em en t s

, o r t h e

ev i d en ce s u pp o s ed l y l a c k i ng at t ri al

. In s t ead

, h e m erel y p ro v id es a lau n d ry l i s t o f

m o st l y i rrel ev an t leg al ci tat i o n s an d s t at ut es w it h n o co rres p on d i n g cl ai m

, d is cu s s i o n,

o r arg u m en t o f an y k i n d. Sp eci fi cal l y

, Carr reci t es t h e law reg ard i ng (1 ) t h e s t an d ard

o f rev i ew fo r s uffi ci en cy

cl ai m s ; (2 ) h i s ri g ht t o an ap p eal ; (3 ) h is ri g h t to effect i v e

ap p el l at e co u n s el ; (4 ) G eo rg ia’ s b an o n ap p el l at e at to rn ey s i n cri m in al cas es fi l i n g

An d er s 2 b ri efs ; an d (5 ) t he req u i r e m e n t t h at d efen d an t s m u s t co m p l y wi t h t ri al an d

ap p el l at e p ro ced u res t o be en t i t l ed t o ha b ea s co r p u s rel ief. Fi n al l y

, h e s t at es t h at h e

i s en t i t l ed t o rev i ew o f “ an y cl ai m wh i ch affo rd s h i m rel i ef,” an d t h u s

, th e ju ry v erd i ct

s h o u ld b e rev ers ed

. U n d er t h es e ci rcu m s t an ces

, C a r r h a s p ro v i d ed u s wi t h n o

2 S ee An d er s v. Ca l i f o r n i a

, 3 8 6 U.S. 7 3 8 (8 7 SCt 1 3 9 6, 1 8 LE2 d 4 9 3 ) (1 9 6 7 );

s ee a l s o H u g ul ey v. S t a te

, 2 53 Ga. 7 0 9

, 7 1 0 (2 ) (3 2 4 SE2 d 7 2 9 ) (1 98 5 ) (“ W e n o w

h o l d th at i n t h e fu t u re An der s m o ti o n s wi l l n o t b e g ran t e d b y t h i s [C] o u rt

. W e

co n cl u d e t hat t h e An d

er s m o t i on i s u n d u ly b u rd en s o m e i n t hat i t t en d s t o fo rce t h e

co u rt t o as su m e t h e ro l e o f co u n s el fo r t h e ap pel l an t .”).

4a r g u m en t rel at ed t o an y of t h e l eg al au t h o ri t i es he l i s t s

, m u ch l es s an y a r g u m e n t

reg ard i n g t h e s u ffi ci en cy o f t h e ev i d en ce u n derl y i ng h i s co n v i ct io n s

. 3

In reach i n g t h e fo reg o i n g co n cl u s io n

, we ack n o wl ed g e t h e s ig n i fi can t l i b ert y

i n t eres t s at s t a k e wh e n rev i ewi ng t h e s uffi ci en cy o f t h e ev i d en ce t o su p p o rt a

3 S e e Fa r mer v. Dep ’t o

f Co rr

. , 3 46 Ga. Ap p. 38 7

, 3 9 4 (2 ) (8 1 6 SE2 d 3 7 6

(2 0 1 8) (“ [M ] ere co n cl u s ory s t at em en ts are no t t h e t y pe o f m ean i n g fu l arg u m en t

co n tem p l at ed b y o u r ru l es .” (p u n ct uat i o n o m it t ed )); W o o d s v. Ha l l

, 31 5 Ga. Ap p

. 9 3,

9 6 (7 2 6 SE2 d 5 9 6 ) (2 0 1 2 ) (“ [A] n as s ert io n of erro r fo l l o wed b y a cas e ci tat i o n i s n ot

l eg al arg u m en t

, w h ich req u i res

, at a m i n i m u m

, a d i s cu s s io n of t he ap p ro p ri at e l aw as

ap p li ed t o t h e rel ev an t fact s ,” (p u n ct u at i o n o m i tt ed )); Ti me W a r n er En tm’t Co

. v. S i

x

Fl a g s Over Ga

. , LLC, 2 5 4 G a. Ap p. 5 9 8

, 60 5 (3 ) (a) (5 6 3 SE2 d 1 7 8 ) (2 0 0 2 ) (d eem i n g

an erro r ab an d o n ed wh en th e ap pel l an t s fai l ed t o ci t e t o an y re l e v a n t fact s

, g i v e

reco rd ci t at i o n s

, o r pres en t an y l eg al an al y s is s u p p o rt i n g t h ei r as s ert i o n ); Reed v. Ci t y

o f At l a n t a

, 1 3 6 Ga. Ap p

. 19 3

, 1 9 4 (4 ) (2 2 0 S E 2 d 4 9 2 ) (1 9 75 ) (h o l d i n g t h at an

en u m erat i o n o f erro r i s n ei th er arg u ed n or b ri efed o n ap p eal i s c o n s i d e r ed

ab an do n ed ); C T

. A P P

. R. 2 5 (c) (2 ) (p ro vi d i n g t h at “ [a] n y en u m erat i on of erro r t h at

i s n o t s u pp o rt ed i n t h e b ri ef b y ci t at i on o f au t h o ri ty o r a r g u men t m ay b e d e e m e d

a ba ndone d” ( e m

p ha sis su p p li ed )); s ee a l

s o St ep h en Lo u i s A. Di l l ard

, O p en Cham be rs

Revi s i t ed : D emys t i

f yi n g t he In n er W

o r ki n g s a n d Cu l t u r e o

f th e G eo r

g ia Co u r t of

Ap p ea l s

, 6 8 M ercer L. Rev

. 1

, 7 (II) (2 0 16 ) (“ Th e q u i ck es t way t o s a b o t a g e y o u r

ap p eal is t o fai l t o s u b s t an t iat e l e g al arg u m en t s or k ey fact u al o r p ro ced u ral

as s ert i o n s .”). Carr h as al s o ab an d o n ed h i s ch al l en g e t o t h e s u ffi ci en cy o f t he ev i d en ce

t o su p p o rt hi s co n v i ct i o n s b ecau s e h e d oes n o t p ro v i d e a s i n g l e ci t at i o n t o th e reco rd

,

m u ch l es s o n e rel at ed t o th e ev i den ce p res en t ed

. S ee Fl emi ng v. Ad

va n ced S t o r es Co

. , 3 0 1 Ga. Ap p

. 7 3 4

, 7 35 (6 8 8 SE2 d 4 1 4 ) (2 00 9 ) (“ It i s n o t t h e fu n ct i o n o f t h i s [C] o u rt

t o cu l l t h e reco rd on b eh a l f o f a p art y i n s earch o f i n st an ces o f erro r.” (p u n ct u at i o n

o m it t ed )); C T

. A P P

. R. 2 5 (c) (2 ) (i ) (“ Each en u m erat ed erro r sh al l b e su p p o rt ed i n t h e

b ri ef b y s p eci fi c referen ce t o th e reco rd o r t ran s cri p t

. In t he ab s en ce o f a s p eci fi c

referen ce, th e Co u rt wi l l n o t sea r ch f o r a n d m a

y n o t co n si d

er t h a t en u mer a t i o n. ”

(em p h as i s s u p p li ed )).

5co n vi ct i o n

. N ev ert hel es s, t h e Su p rem e Co u rt of Geo rg i a recen t l y d i s co n ti n u ed i t s

p ract i ce o f ex am i n i ng s u ch cl ai m s wh en t h e i ss u e is n ei th er bri efed n o r m ean i n g fu l l y

arg u ed o n ap p eal

. 4 In d o i n g s o, o u r Su p rem e Co u rt ad vi s ed th at “ i t i s al m o s t al way s

a b e t t er co urs e t o d eci d e t h e ap p eal t h e p art i es b ri n g us

, rat h er t h an th e ap p ea l w e

m i g h t h a v e bro u g ht were we i n co u ns el ’ s s h o es .” 5 Las t l y

, an d p art i cu l arl y rel ev an t

h ere, fai l i n g to ack n o wl ed g e t h at an ap p el lat e at to rn ey f i l ed an i n s u ffi ci en t b ri ef in

a cri m i n al cas e “ m ay

. . . fru s t rat e fu t u re h ab eas co rp u s rev i ew.” 6 Th us

, we d ecl i n e to

ev al u at e t h i s ab an d o n ed cl ai m o f erro r o n t h e m eri t s

.

4 S ee Da ven p o r t v. S t a t e

, 3 0 9 Ga. 3 85

, 3 9 6 (4 ) (b ) (8 4 6 SE2 d 8 3) (2 0 2 0 ) (“ W e

can n ot n o w i den t i fy a co m p el l i n g reas o n t o ret ai n ou r cu rren t p ract i ce o f s ua s p o n t e

rev i ew o f t h e s u ffi ci en cy o f t h e ev i d en ce i n cas es i n w h i ch t he ap p el l an t i s n ot

s en t en ced t o d eat h

, an d t h ere are g o o d reas o n s t o ab an d o n t h at p ract ice.” (em p h as i s

o m it t ed ).

5 Id

. at 3 98 (4 ) (b ); s ee Ro wl a n d v. S t a t e

, 2 6 4 Ga. 8 7 2, 87 4 (1 ) (4 52 SE2 d 7 5 6 )

(1 9 9 5) (“ Th e at tem

p t s t o p r o v i d e s u a s p o n t e ap p el l at e rev i ew o f cri m i n al ap p eal s

n o t wi t h s t an d i n g in co m

p l et e ap p el l at e fi l i n gs , wh i l e l au d ab l e, d o a d i s s erv i ce t o t h e

co u rt s , t he cri m in al d efen d an t

, an d ap p el lat e co u n s el .”).

6 W o o d y v. S t a t e

, 22 9 Ga. Ap p

. 8 2 3

, 8 2 4 (1 ) (4 9 4 SE 2 d 6 8 5) (1 9 9 7 ); s ee

Ro wl a n d

, 2 6 4 G a. at 87 4 (1 ) (ex p l ai n i n g t h at at t em p t s t o p ro v i d e s u a s

po n t e ap p el l at e

r e v i e w o f cri m i n al ap peal s n o t w i t hs t an di n g in co m p l et e ap p el l at e fi li n g s m ay

“ fo recl o s e fu t u re h ab eas rev i ew o f as s ert i o ns o f erro r o n t h e g ro u n d t h at rev i ew o f t h e

erro rs i s p ro ced u ral ly defau lt ed s i nce t h e y co u l d h av e b een rai s ed i n t h e d i rect

ap p eal ”).

62

. Carr n ex t arg u es t h e t ri al co urt erred i n fai l i ng t o m erg e s ev eral o f h i s ch il d

m o les t at i o n an d sex u al -b at t ery co n v i ct i o n s f o r s en ten ci ng p u rp o s es

. W e ag ree t h e

t ri al co u rt erred i n fai l i n g t o m erg e s o m e o f t h e co u n ts at i s s u e.

Recen t l y

, i n S

co t t v. S t at e 7 ( Sco t t I

), th e Su p rem e Co urt o f Geo rg ia ex p l ai n ed

t h e l aw as t o m erg er an al y s i s

. M erg er u s ual l y o ccu rs wh en “ a d efen d an t i s p ro s ecu t ed

fo r an d d et erm i n ed by t ri al or p l ea t o b e g u il t y o f m u lt i pl e cri m i n al ch arg es bu t t h en

,

as a m at t er o f s u b s t a n t i v e d o u b l e jeo p ard y l aw, can be p u n is h ed

— co nv i ct ed an d

s en t en ced

— fo r o n l y o n e o f th o s e cri m es .” 8 Th e S co t t I Co u rt ex p l ai n ed t h at “ [m ] erg er

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

8 Id

. at 5 0 9 (2 ); acco r d Du k e s v

. S t a t e

, 3 1 1 Ga. 5 61

, 57 1 (4 ) (8 5 8 SE2 d 5 1 0 )

(2 0 2 1); s ee U.S. Co n s t

. Am en d

. 5 (“ No pers o n

. . . s hal l an y p ers o n b e s u b j ect fo r t h e

s am e o ffen ce t o b e t wi ce pu t i n jeo p ard y o f li fe o r l i m b

. . . .”); Ga. Co n s t

. Art . 1 , §

1

, XVIII (“ No p ers o n s h al l be p u t i n jeo p ard y o f l ife o r l i b ert y m o re t h an o n ce fo r t h e

s am e o ffen s e ex cep t wh en a n ew t ri al h as b een g ran t ed aft er co n vi ct io n o r in cas e o f

m i s t ri al .”).

7an al y s i s o ft en i n v o lv es co u n ts ch arg i n g t wo d i f f er en t cri m es

, ” 9 an d m ad e cl ear “ t h at

i s t he co n t ex t i n wh i ch Dr i nka r d ’s [ 1 0 ] ‘ req u i red ev id en ce’ t es t i s ap p l i ed

. ” 1 1

Bu t m erg er q u es t i on s m ay al s o ari s e wh en “ a d efen d an t is ch arg ed wi th

m u lt i p l e co u n t s o f t h e sa me cri m e” 1 2

— wh i ch i s t h e s i t u at i o n h ere b ecau s e Carr was

ch arg ed wi t h an d fo u nd g ui lt y o f fo ur co u n t s o f ch il d m o l es t at i o n an d fo u r co u n t s o f

s ex u al b at t ery

. An d t h i s typ e o f m erg er an al y s i s “ req ui res carefu l i nt erp ret at i o n o f t h e

cri m i n al s t at u t e at i s s u e t o i d en t i fy t h e ‘ u n i t o f p ro s ecu t i o n ’

— ‘ t h e p reci s e act o r

co n du ct ’ t h at t h e l eg i s l at u re cri m i n al i zed

. ” 1 3 In d eed

, wh et h er a p art i cu l ar co u rs e o f

9 S co t t I , 3 0 6 Ga. 5 0 9 (2 ); a cco r d Du kes

, 3 1 1 Ga. at 5 7 1 (4 ).

1 0 Dr i n ka r d v. W

a lker

, 2 8 1 Ga. 2 1 1

, 2 1 4 (6 36 SE2 d 53 0 ) (2 0 0 6); s ee S mi t h v.

S t a t e

, 2 9 0 G a. 7 6 8

, 7 7 2 (3 ) n .4 (7 2 3 SE2 d 9 1 5 ) (2 0 1 2 ) (“ [T] h e ‘ req u i red ev i d en ce’

t es t [o n l y ap p l i es ] wh ere t h e s am e act o r t ran s a ct i o n co n s ti t ut es a vi ol at i o n o f t wo

d i s t i n ct s t at u t o ry

p ro v i s i o n s [.] ” (q u o t i n g Dr in ka r d , 2 81 Ga. at 2 1 5)).

1 1 S co t t I , 3 0 6 Ga. 5 0 9 (2 ).

1 2 Id

. ; a cco r d Du kes

, 3 1 1 Ga. at 5 7 1 (4 ); Ho g g v. S t a t e

, 35 6 G a. Ap p

. 1 1

, 1 7 (2 )

(b ) (8 46 SE2 d 1 83 ) (2 0 2 0 ).

1 3 S co t t I

, 3 0 6 Ga. 50 9 (2 ) (p u n ct u at i on o m it t ed ); a cco r d Du kes

, 3 11 Ga. at 5 7 1

(4 ); s ee S mi t h

, 2 9 0 Ga. at 7 7 3 (3 ) n .4 (ex p l ai n i n g t hat i n s i t u at i o n s wh ere “ a co u rs e

o f co n d u ct can res u lt i n m u l t ip l e v i o l at i o n s of t h e s am e s t at u t e[,] [t ] h e Un i t ed St at es

S u p rem e Co u rt h as h el d t h at t h i s qu es t io n req u i res a d et erm i n at i o n of t h e ‘ u n i t o f

p ro s ecu ti o n ’ o r t h e p reci s e act o r co n d u ct t h at i s b ei n g cri m i n al i zed u n d er th e s t at u t e”

(p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed )).

8co n du ct “ i n v ol v es on e o r m o re d i s t i n ct ‘ o ffen ses ’ un d er t h e s t at u t e d ep en d s o n t h i s

l eg i s lat i v e ch o i ce.” 1 4

In s o m e ch i l d-m o l es t at i o n cas es

, “ wh ere t h e act s

. . . ap p ear t o h av e occu rred

i n d i s cret e i nci d en t s ,” t h e S c o t t I Co u rt ex p lai n ed t h at “ p reci s el y i den t i fy i n g t h e

ap p li cab l e un i t o f pro secu t i o n m ay n o t affect t he m erg er d eci s i o n.” 1 5 On th e o n e h an d,

wh en a rat io n al tri er o f fact co u l d co n c l u d e t h e c r i m i n al act s “ o ccu rred i n d i s cret e

i n ci d en t s o ver a rel at i v el y l o n g p eri o d

, . . . t h e St at e [i s ] au t h o ri zed t o ch arg e t h e t wo

cri m es i n t wo sep arat e u n i t s o f p ro s ecu t i o n .” 1 6 On t h e o t h er h an d

, wh en t h e cri m i n al

act s al l eg ed i n d i fferen t co u n t s o f t he in d ict m en t “ were p art o f a s i n g l e c o u r s e o f

co n du ct o ccu rri n g in a rel a t i v el y s h ort t i m e fram e, t h e u ni t o f p ro secu t i o n co u ld

d et e rm i n e if t h e d efen d an t faces m ul t i p l e, co n s ecu ti v e

. . . s en t en ces o r o n l y o n e

s en t en c e .” 1 7 As a res u l t

, t h e co u rs e-o f-co n d u ct ev al u at i o n “ m ay i nv o lv e ex am i n i n g

1 4 Co a t es v. S ta t e

, 3 04 G a. 3 2 9

, 3 3 0 ( 8 1 8 S E 2 d 6 2 2) (2 0 1 8 ) (p u n ct u at i o n

o m it t ed ); a cco r d Ed

va l s o n v. S t a te , 3 1 0 Ga. 7 , 8 (8 4 9 SE2 d 2 0 4 ) (2 0 2 0 ).

1 5 S co t t I , 3 0 6 Ga. at 5 10 (2 ); a cco r d Ho g g , 3 5 6 Ga. Ap p . at 1 7 (2 ) (b ).

1 6 Ho g g

, 3 5 6 G a. Ap p

. at 1 7 (3 ) (b ) (p u n ct uat i o n o m i t t ed ); acco rd C o b b v

. S t a t e , 3 5 6 Ga. Ap p

. 1 8 7 , 1 9 2 (2 ) (b ) (8 4 3 SE2 d 9 1 2 ) (2 0 2 0).

1 7 S co t t I

, 30 6 Ga. at 51 0 (2 ); s ee Jo h n s o n v. S ta t e

,

_ _ _ Ga.

_ _ _ ,

__ _ (3 ), No

. S2 1 G0 67 3

, 2 0 2 2 W L 1 6 27 9 9

, at * 3 (3 ) (2 0 2 2 ) (“ W h en a d efen d an t en u m erat es a

m erg er erro r aft er b ei n g co nv i ct ed o f m u l t i p l e co u n t s o f th e s am e cri m e, t h e co rrect

9wh et h er t h e d efen d an t act ed wi t h t h e s am e o r di fferi n g in t en t s

, wh et her t h e cri m es

o ccu rred at t h e s am e p l ace, an d wh et h er t he cri m es o ccu rred at t he sam e t i m e o r were

s ep arat ed b y s o m e m ean i n g fu l i n t erv al o f t i m e.” 1 8 Fi n al l y

, wh et h er o ffen s es m erg e i s

“ a l eg al q u es t i on , wh ich an ap pel l at e co u rt rev i ews d e n o v o .” 1 9 W i t h t h i s an al y t i cal

fram ewo rk

i n m in d , we wi l l ad d res s each o f Carr’ s m erg er arg u m en ts i n t u rn

.

m erg er an al y s i s req ui res co u rt s t o as k wh et h er th o s e cri m es aro se fro m ‘ a s i n g l e

co u rs e o f co n d u ct ’ an d

, i f s o

, wh et h er t he d efen d an t can face m u l t i pl e co n v i ct i o n s an d

s en t en ces u n d er a u n it -o f-p ro s ecu t i o n an al y s i s.”).

1 8 Jo h ns on

,

_

__ Ga. at

_

_ _ (2 ), N o

. S2 1 G0 6 7 3

, 2 0 2 2 W L 16 2 7 9 9

, at * 4 (2 ); s ee,

e.g

. , S p ea r s v. S ta t e

, 2 96 G a. 5 9 8

, 6 0 2 (2 ) (7 6 9 SE2 d 3 3 7 ) (2 0 1 5 ) (h ol d i n g t h at t h e

d efen d an t en g ag ed i n t wo s ep arat e co urs es o f co n d u ct an d co ul d be co n vi ct ed o f t wo

b u rg lari es w h en “ t h e ev i d en ce s h o wed h e m ad e o n e en try o f [t h e v ict i m ’ s ] h ou s e wi th

t h e d u al i n t en t t o co m

m i t a t h eft an d t o m

u rd er h er b u t t h at h e t h en l eft t h e v i ct i m ’ s

h o u s e, d ro v e t o a ch u rch

, ret urn ed t o t h e h ou s e aft er real izi n g t h at h e fai l ed t o s t eal

t h e v i ct i m ’ s ci g aret t e cas e co n t ai n i ng m o n ey

, an d reen t ered th e h o u s e wi t h t h e i n t en t

t o co m m i t t h e t h eft o f t h e ci g aret t e cas e an d m o n e y” )

, d i s a p p r o ved o f o n o t h er

g r o u nd s b y W il l is v. S t a t e , 3 0 4 Ga. 6 8 6 (8 2 0 SE2 d 64 0 ) (2 0 1 8); Lu ca s v. S t a t e , 3 2 8

Ga. Ap p

. 7 4 1

, 7 4 3 (1 ) (7 6 0 SE2 d 2 5 7 ) (2 0 14 ) (h o l d i n g t h at t h e d efen d an t ’ s “ act s o f

en t eri n g

, ex i t i n g

, an d reen t eri n g t h e s am e res t a u r a n t t wi ce wi t h i n a fi v e to

t wen t y -m i n u t e p eri o d fo r t h e p u rp o se o f co m m it t in g t h eft ” co u l d n o t be p u n i s h ed as

t wo s ep arat e b u rg l ari es b ecau s e, am o ng o t h er t hi n g s

, “ t he act s w ere co m m i t t ed at t h e

s am e l o cat i o n , were i n s p i red b y t h e s am e cri m i n al i n t en t (t o co m m i t t h eft i n t h e .

. .

res t au ran t b u i l d i n g )

, were p art o f a co n ti n uo u s cri m i n al act sp an n i n g a m at t er o f

m i n u t es [,] [an d] were n o t s ep arat ed b y a m ean i n g fu l i n terv al o f t i m e or wi t h d i s t i n ct

i n t en t i o n s” (p u n ct u at i o n o m i tt ed )).

1 9 W o ma c v. S t a te , 3 0 2 Ga. 6 8 1 , 6 8 4 (3 ) (8 0 8 SE2 d 70 9 ) (2 0 17 ) (p u n ct u at i o n

o m it t ed ).

10(a) Ch i ld Mo l es t a t io n. As t o Carr’ s c h i l d

- m o l es t at i o n ch arg es

, t h i s Co urt ’ s

recen t h ol d i n g in S

co t t v. St at e ( S

co t t II ) 2 0 d et erm i n ed t h e u n i t o f p ro s ect i o n p ro v i d ed

fo r i n OCGA § 1 6 -6 -4 (a) (1 )— “ a s i n g l e u n it o f p r o s ecu t i o n fo r wh i ch [a d efen d an t ]

i s s u b ject t o o nl y o n e co n vi ct i o n an d s en t en ce.” 2 1 In d o i ng s o

, we ex p l ai n ed

t h at

— d es p i t e th e s t at u t e’ s fai l u r e t o s e t fo rt h a un i t of p ro s ecu ti o n —t he Gen eral

As s em b l y h ad n o t

, “ b y cl ear an d u n am b i g u o u s lan g u ag e, p ro v i d ed th at m u l t i p l e

2 0 3 5 6 Ga. Ap p. 1 5 2 (8 4 6 SE2 d 24 1 ) (2 0 2 0 ). In S co t t I

, o ur Su p rem e Co u rt h el d

t h i s Co u rt er r e d in th e u nd erl y i n g ap p eal b y ap p l y i n g t h e req u i red -ev i d en ce t es t

,

rat h er th an t h e u n it -o f-p ro secu t i o n an al y s i s

, i n d et erm in i n g wh et h er t hree ch il d

m o les t at i o n co u n t s m erg ed as a m at t er o f l aw. S ee Sco tt I

, 3 0 6 Ga. at 5 0 9 -1 0 (2 ). S

co t t

I t hen ex p l ai n ed t h e p ro per ap p l i cat i o n o f t h e u n i t -o f-p ro s ecu t io n tes t

, an d rem an d ed

t h e cas e t o t h i s Co u rt to ap p ly it i n d et erm i n i n g wh et h er t h e ch i l d-m o l es t at i o n

co n vi ct i o n s at i s s ue m erg ed

, s ee i d

. , wh i ch we d i d i n S

co t t II

, s ee i n f r a n ot es 2 1 -2 2

& acco m p an y i n g t ex t

.

2 1 S co t t II

, 3 5 6 Ga. Ap p

. at 1 6 3 (5 ) (em p h as i s s u p pl i ed ) ; s e e H

o gg

, 3 5 6 Ga.

Ap p

. at 1 6 -1 7 (2 ) (b ) (“ Bas ed o n th e p l ai n l an g u ag e o f [OCGA § 1 6-6 -4 (a)]

, t h e

g rav am en o f th e o ffen s e is t h e i m m o ral an d i n d ecen t act d o n e t o t h e ch i l d

. Th u s

, each

i m m o ral or i n d ecen t act d o n e t o t h e v i ct i m i n th i s cas e fo rm s a ‘ un i t o f p ro s ecu t i o n ’ ”);

s ee a l s o Fr et t v. S t a t e Fa r m Emp

. W o r ker s ’ Co mp

., 3 0 9 Ga. 4 4

, 5 1 (3 ) (8 4 4 SE2 d

7 4 9 ) (2 0 2 0 ) (“ Gen eral l y

, we ad h ere t o t h e p ri n ci p l e o f s t are d eci s i s

, wh i ch d irect s t h e

co u rt s t o s t an d b y t h ei r p ri o r d eci s i o n s .” (p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed )); W h i t e v. S ta t e

, 3 0 5

Ga. 1 11

, 1 2 1 (3 ) (8 2 3 SE2 d 7 9 4 ) (2 0 1 9 ) (“ T h e o l d e r d eci s i o n s o f t h e Co u rt o f

Ap p eal s are b i n d i n g on p an el s o f t h at co u rt u n t i l rev ers ed or o v erru l ed b y t h e

Su p rem e Co u rt o r o v erru l ed b y t h e Co u rt of Ap p eal s

, an d t h e Co u rt of A p p eal s m u s t

ad h ere to t h e au t h ori ty o f t h o s e cas es wh i ch i t th i n k s s t at e t h e co rrect p ri n ci p le o f l aw.

An y t h in g t o t h e co n t rary wh i ch m ay h av e b een ru l ed b y p an e l s o f t h e Co u rt o f

Ap p eal s in m o re recen t d eci si o ns m u s t y iel d t o t h e o l d er au t h o ri t i es fro m t h at co u rt .”

(p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed )).

11t o u ch es t o a v i ct im

, d u ri n g a s i n g l e u n in t erru pt ed co u rs e o f co n d u ct

, au t h o ri ze

m u lt i p l e p ro s ecu t i o ns an d co nv i ct i o n s fo r s ep arat e act s o f ch i ld m o l es t at i o n .” 2 2 An d

g i v en t h e fo reg o i ng

, we m u s t n o w co n s i der wh et h er t h e cri m i n al act s al l eg ed i n t h e

rel ev an t ch i l d -m o les t at i o n co u n t s “ [w] ere p art o f a si n g le co u rs e o f co n d u ct o ccu rri n g

i n a r e l at i v el y s h o rt ti m e fram e

. . .[,] ” 2 3 o r wh et h er t h o s e act s ap pear “ t o h av e

o ccu rred i n di s cret e i n ci d en t s ov er a rel at i v el y l o n g p eri o d , [s u ch t h at ]

. . . th e St at e

[i s] au t h o ri zed t o ch arg e t h e t wo cri m es i n t wo d i fferen t u n i t s o f p ro s ecu ti o n .” 2 4

2 2 S co t t II , 3 5 6 Ga. Ap p

. at 1 6 2 -6 3 (5 ).

2 3 S co t t I

, 30 6 Ga. at 5 1 0 (2 ); s ee Jo h n so n

,

_ __ Ga. at

_

_ _ (3 ), No

. S2 1 G0 6 7 3,

2 0 2 2 W L 1 6 2 7 9 9

, at * 3 (3 ) (“ W h en a d efen dan t en u m erat es a m erg er erro r aft er b ei n g

co n vi ct ed of m

u l t i p l e co u n t s o f t h e s a me cri m e, t h e co rrect m erg er an al y s i s req u i res

co u rt s t o as k wh et h er t ho s e cri m es aro s e fro m ‘ a si n g l e co u rs e o f co n d u ct ’ an d

, i f s o,

wh et h er t h e d efen d an t can face m u l t i p l e co n vi ct i o n s an d s en t en ces u n d er a

u n i t -o f-p ro s ecu t i o n an al y s i s .”); Co b b

, 3 56 G a. Ap p

. at 1 9 1 (3 ) (b ) (ex p lai n i n g t h at

wh en “ t h e act s o f [ch il d ] m o l es t at i o n al l eg ed i n d i fferen t co u nt s were p art o f a s i n g l e

co u rs e o f co n d u ct o ccu r r i n g i n a r el a t i vel y s h o r t ti m e f

r a m e

, t he un i t o f p ro s ecu t i o n

co u ld d et erm i ne i f th e d efen d an t faces m u l ti p l e co n s ecu t i ve

. . . s en ten ces o r o n l y o n e

s en t en ce” (p u n ct u at i o n o m i t ted )); s ee a l s o Lu ca s

, 32 8 Ga. Ap p

. at 74 4 (“ [W ] i t h o ut

ev i d en ce o f a l eg i s l at i v e i n t en t [as refl ect ed by t h e p lai n m ean in g o f t h e rel ev an t tex t ]

t o al l o w m

u l t i p le pu n i s h m en t s fo r t h e s am e co u rs e o f co n d u ct

, act s th at co n s t i t u t e a

co n ti n u i n g cri m i n al co u rs e o f co n d u ct are n o t p u n i s h ab l e s ep arat el y .”).

2 4 Ho g g , 3 5 6 Ga. Ap p . at 1 7 (2 ) (b ) (p un ct u at i o n o m it t ed ); a cco r d Co b b , 3 5 6

Ga. Ap p. at 1 9 2 (2 ) ( b ) ; s e e S c o t t I

, 3 0 6 Ga. at 5 1 0 (2 ) (“ In s o m e o f t h o s e cas es

,

w h e r e t h e act s o f ch i l d m o l es t at i o n ap p ear t o h av e o ccu rred i n d i scret e i n ci d e n t s

,

p reci s el y i d en t i fy i n g t he ap p l i cab l e u n i t o f p ro s e c u t i o n m ay n o t affect t h e m erg er

d eci s i o n .”).

12(i ) Co u n ts Two a n d Th r ee. Carr fi rs t arg u es co u n ts t wo an d t h ree o f t h e

i n d i ct m en t s h o u l d h av e m erg ed fo r s en ten ci n g p u rp o s es b ecau s e th ey b o t h a l l eg ed

t h at h e co m

m i t t ed th e o ffen se o f ch i l d m o l es t at i o n b y to u ch i n g T i

. C.’ s v ag i n al area

an d h er b reas t s

, res p ect i v el y

, d u ri n g t he s am e t w o -m o n t h p eri o d

. Bu t as ex p l ai n ed by

o u r Su p rem e Co u rt

, “ i t i s an o l d an d s ou n d ru l e t h at erro r to b e rev ers i b l e m u s t b e

h arm fu l .” 2 5 An d h ere, al t ho u g h t h e t ri al co u rt d i d n o t m erg e co u n t t wo wi t h co u nt

t h ree fo r s en t e n ci n g p u rp o s es

, i t d i d m erg e co u n t t wo wi t h co u n t o n e, 2 6 s u ch t h at

Carr’ s co n v ict i o n f

o r c o u n t t wo was ex p u ng ed an d h e was n o t s en ten ced fo r t h at

ch i l d -m o l es t at i o n o ffen s e. Un d er t h es e ci r cu m s t an ces

, Carr can n o t s h o w t h e t ri al

co u rt co m m i t t ed a rev ers i bl e erro r i n m erg i n g co un t two wi t h co un t o n e, rat h er t h an

m erg i n g co u n t t wo wi th co un t t h ree. 2 7

2 5 Mo b ley v. S t at e

, 2 6 5 Ga. 2 92

, 2 9 4 (4 ) (4 5 5 SE2 d 6 1 ) (1 9 9 5 ); a cco r d W yma n

v. S t a t e

, 2 6 7 Ga. Ap p

. 1 1 8

, 1 2 0 (2 ) (5 9 8 SE2 d 85 5 ) (2 00 4 ) (“ Harm an d erro r m u s t b e

s h o wn t o warran t rev ers al .”).

2 6 Co u n t o ne o f t he i n d i ct m en t ch arg ed Ca r r w it h co m

m i t t i ng ag g rav at ed s ex u al

b at t ery ag ai n st Ti

. C. b y “ i n t en t i o n al l y p en et rat [i n g ] t h e s ex u al o rg an o f [Ti

. C.] wi th

h i s fi n ger . . . wi t h o u t [h er] co n s en t

. . . .” Co u n ts o n e t hro u g h t h ree al l eg ed t h at t h e

ch i l d -m o l es t at i o n o ffen s es o ccu rred b et w een Sep tem b er 1, 2 0 1 5

, an d Oct o b e r 3 1,

2 0 1 5

.

2 7 S ee Do s s v. S t at e

, 2 6 2 Ga. 49 9

, 5 0 0 (2 ) (4 2 2 SE2 d 1 8 5 ) (1 9 9 2 ) (h o ld i n g t h at

t ri al co urt ’ s fai l u re t o g i v e a ju ry ch arg e on s el f-d efen s e fo r an u n d e r l y i n g fel o ny

o ffen s e was h arm l es s erro r b ecau s e t h e o ffen s e w as m erg ed w i t h a s ep arat e co u n t fo r

13(i i) Co u n t s Fi ve a n d S i

x. Carr al s o arg ues t h e tri a l c o u r t erred b y fai l i n g to

m erg e co u n t s fi v e an d s i x of h i s i n d i ct m en t fo r s en t en ci n g p urp o s es b ecau s e t h ey b o th

al l eg ed t h at he co m

m i t ted t h e o ffen s e o f ch i l d m o l es t at io n ag ai n s t Ta. C. b y t o u ch i n g

h er v ag i n al area an d b reas t s, res p ect i v el y , d u ri n g t h e s am e t i m e fram e. 2 8

s en t en ci n g p u rp o s es ); Mi t ch el l v. S t a t e

, 3 5 5 G a

. Ap p

. 7

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

(2 0 2 0) (“ [T] h e v eh i cu l ar h o m i c i d e (Co un t 5 ) an d th e reck les s d ri vi n g (Co u n t 6 )

ch arg es at i s s ue were m erg ed i n t o th e fi rs t -d eg ree v eh i cu l ar h o m i ci d e ch arg e i n Co u nt

3 fo r p u rp o s es o f sen ten ci n g

. Co n s eq u en tl y

, an y erro r i n fai l i ng t o g iv e t h e acci d en t

ju ry ch arg e was h arm l es s an d h as n o t b een s h o wn t o h av e co n tri b ut ed to t h e o u t co m e

at t ri al

. ”).

2 8 Th e s en t e n c e s f

o r c o u n t s fi v e t hro u g h t en were al l im p o s ed t o b e s erv ed

co n cu rren t ly wi t h t h e sen ten ce fo r an ot h er co u n t, wh i ch m ay

, as a p ract i cal m at t er,

s e em l i k e an y m erg er erro r w as h arm les s b ecau s e i t d i d n o t l en g t h en o r e n h a n c e

Carr’ s o v eral l s en t e n c e

. B u t u nl i k e co u n t t wo

, Carr wa s co n vi ct ed o f al l t h e cri m es

al l eg ed i n t h o s e co u n t s an d recei v ed s ep arat e sen t en ces fo r each o f t hem

. T h u s

, i f t h e

co u rt erred b y fai l i ng t o m erg e an y o f t h es e co u n ts fo r s en t en ci n g pu rp o s es

, t h en t h e

erro rs wer e h a rm fu l b ecau s e t h e su b st an t iv e bar o n d o u bl e jeo p ard y ap p l i ed

. See

Ma xwel l v. S t a t e

, 3 11 Ga. 67 3

, 6 7 6 (2 ) (8 5 9 SE2 d 5 8) (2 0 2 1 ) (“ Th e rat i o n al e b eh i n d

t h e b ar t o s u cces s i v e p ro s ecu t io n s i s t o p r e v en t h aras s m en t of t h e accu s ed

. Th e b ar

t o m u l t i pl e co n v i ct io ns i s referred t o as t h e s u b s t an t i v e as p ect

. Th e rat io n al e b eh i n d

t h e b ar t o m

u lt i p l e co n v ict i o n s i s t o prev en t m u l ti p l e an d ex ces s i v e p u n is h m en t s .”);

W i l l ia ms v. S t a t e

, 3 0 7 Ga. 7 7 8

, 7 8 0 (1 ) (8 3 8 SE2 d 2 3 5 ) (2 0 2 0 ) (ex p l ai n i n g t h at t h e

s u b s t an t i ve b ar o n d o u bl e jeo p ard y p ro t ect s d efen dan t s ag ai n s t m u l ti p l e co n vi ct i on s

an d s en t en ces fo r cri m es ari s i ng fro m t h e s am e co n d u ct ); s ee a l s o Ja cks o n v. S t a t e

, 3 1 0 Ga. 2 2 4

, 2 2 9 (2 ) (c) (8 5 0 SE2 d 1 3 1) (2 0 2 0 ) (v acat i n g t he d efen d an t ’ s co n vi ct i o n

an d sen t en ce fo r t raffi ck i n g co cai n e wh en t h e t ri al co u rt erro n eo u s l y fai l ed t o m erg e

t h at co nv i ct i o n w i t h a rel at ed fel o n y m u rd er ch arg e, ev en t ho u gh th e s en t en ces fo r

t h o s e co n v i ct i o n s were t o b e s erv ed co n cu rren t l y ).

14Co u nt fi v e o f t he in d i ct m en t ch arg ed Carr wi th co m m i t t i n g ch i l d m o l es t at i o n

b y t ou ch i n g Ta. C.’ s v ag i n al area b et ween J an u ary 1

, 2 0 1 3

, an d Sep t em ber 1

, 2 0 1 5.

An d c o u n t s ix o f t he i n d i ct m en t ch arg ed h im w i t h co m m i t t i n g ch i l d m o l es t at i o n

d u ri n g t he sam e p eri o d b y t o u ch i n g h er b reas t s

. An d as d et ai l ed ab o v e, t h e ev i d en ce

s h o ws t h at Carr co m

m i tt ed t h es e d i s cret e act s o v er a rel at iv el y l o n g p eri o d o f t i m e.

Sp eci fi cal l y

, Ta. C. t es t i fi ed t h at Carr wo u l d g et i n t o h er b ed an d t o u ch h er “ v ag i n a

area” d u ri n g t h e day wh i l e s h e was i n s i x t h g rad e (b efo r e l e f t o n t h e b u s t o g o to

s ch o ol ), b u t d i d s o i n t h e earl y m o rn i n g s— wh i l e i t was s t il l dark o u t si d e— aft er s h e

g rad u at ed s i xt h g rad e. A n d Ta. C. al s o t es t i fi ed t h at h e t o uch ed h er “ ch es t a rea”

m o st l y o n t o p o f h er cl o t h es , b u t s o m et im es u n d er h er cl o t h es

. Si g ni fi can t l y , Ta. C.

t es t i fi ed t h at t h e s ex u al ab u se l as t ed fro m wh en s he was in s i x t h g rad e u n t il s h e was

a s o p h o m o re i n h i g h s ch o o l

. As a res u lt

, a reas o n ab l e ju ry co u l d h av e co n cl u d ed t h at

t h e sex u al ab u s e a l l e g ed i n co u n ts fi v e an d s i x of t h e i n d i ct m en t were d i s cret e,

s ep arat e o ffen ses o ccu rri n g o v er a p eri o d o f y ears

, rat h er t h an du ri n g a s i n g l e co u rs e

o f co n du ct t ak i n g p l ace o v er a rel at i v el y s h o r t p e r i o d o f t i m e. Un d er t h es e

15ci rcu m s t an ces

, t he tri al co u rt d i d no t err i n fai l i n g t o m erg e co u nt s fi v e an d s i x fo r

s en t en ci n g p u rp o s es

. 2 9

(b ) S exu a l Ba t ter

y: Co un t s S even t hr o u g h Ten

. Carr fu rt h er co n ten d s t h at h i s

fo u r sex ual -b at t ery co n v i ct i o ns s h ou l d h av e m erg ed fo r s en t en ci n g p u rp os es b ecau s e

t h e o ffen s es o ccu rre d c l o s e i n t i m e an d co n st it u t ed an “ u n i nt erru p t ed co u rs e o f

co n du ct

. ”

As an i n i t ial m at t er, u n l i k e t h e s t at u t e cri m i n al i zi n g ch il d m o l es tat i o n

, i t d o es

n o t ap p ear t h at ei t her t he Su p rem e Co u rt o f Geo rg i a o r t h i s Co u rt h as y et d et erm i n ed

t h e u n i t o f p ro s ecu t i on p ro v i d ed fo r i n OCGA § 1 6 -6 -2 2 .1 ( b )

— t h e s t at u t e

2 9 S ee Sp i r es v. S t a te

, 35 7 Ga. A p p

. 4 40

, 4 4 9 -5 0 (5 ) (8 5 0 SE2 d 8 5 4 ) (2 0 2 0 )

(h o l d i n g t h at s ev eral ch i l d -m o l es t at i o n ch arg es did not m e r ge f or se n t en ci n g p u rp o s es

wh en “ t h e v ari o u s sex u al co n tac t o c c urred o v er an ex t en d ed p eri o d o f t i m e; [t h e

v i ct i m ] t es t i fi ed t h at th e s ex u al ab u s e occu rred dai l y

, i n cl ud i n g t h e t i m e t hat s h e an d

[t he d efen d an t ] had ‘ ru n away ; t o g et h er, an d th at s h e co ul d no t recal l t h e nu m b er o f

t i m e s t h a t s h e h ad p erfo rm ed o ral s ex o n [t h e d efen d an t ] ”); Co b b

, 3 5 6 Ga. Ap p

. at

1 9 2 (3 ) (c) (h o l d i n g th at t wo ch i l d -m o l es t at i o n co n v i ct io n s di d n o t m erg e fo r

s en t en ci n g p u rp o s es wh en th e in d i ct m en t al l eg ed th e offen ses o ccu rred o v er s ev eral

m o nt h s

, an d ev i den ce s u p p o rt ed a co n cl u s io n th at th e cri m i nal act s o ccu rred o v er 2 0

t i m es ); A n d

er s on v. S ta t e

, 35 0 Ga. Ap p. 36 9

, 3 7 8 (3 ) (8 29 SE2 d 45 3 ) (2 01 9 ) (h o l d i n g

t h at becau s e “ t h e reco rd [d i d ] no t s u p p o rt a fi n d i n g t h at [t he d efen d an t ] was co n v i ct ed

o n m o re t h an o n e co u n t fo r t h e s am e act i o n s co m m i t t ed o n a si n g l e d ay or d u ri n g t h e

s am e p eri o d o f d ay s

, as wo u l d b e req u ired fo r t he co n v i ct i o n s t o m erg e as a m at t er o f

fact [,] ” th e t ri al co u rt d id n o t err i n fai l i ng t o m erg e h i s co n vi ct i o n s (p u n ct u a t i o n

o m it t ed )).

16cri m i n al i zi n g s ex u al b at t ery

. 3 0 As a res u l t

, to res o l v e t h is cl ai m o f erro r, we m u s t

m ak e t h at d et erm i n at io n n o w. To t h at en d

, in i n t erp ret i n g an y s t at u t e, we n eces s ari l y

b eg in o u r an al y s i s wi th “ f a m i l i ar an d b i n di n g can o n s o f co n st ru ct i o n

. ” 3 1 An d in

co n si d eri n g t h e m ean i n g o f a s t a t u t e, o u r ch arg e i s t o “ p res u m e t h at t he Gen eral

As s em b l y m ean t wh at i t s a i d a n d s ai d wh at i t m ean t .” 3 2 Th us

, we m u s t affo rd t h e

s t at u to ry t ex t it s p l ai n an d o rd i n ary m ean i n g

, 3 3 co ns i d er t h e t ex t co n t ex tu al l y

, 3 4 read

t h e t ex t “ i n i t s m os t nat u ral an d reas o n ab l e w ay

, as an o rd in ary s p eak er o f t h e En g l i s h

3 0 S ee OCGA § 1 6 -6 -2 2 .1 (b ) (“ A p ers on co m m i t s t h e offen s e o f s ex u al b at t ery

w h e n h e o r s h e i n t en t i o n al l y m ak es p h y s i cal co n tact wi t h t h e i n t im at e p art s o f t h e

b o d y o f an o t h er p ers o n wi t h o u t t h e co n s en t o f t h at p ers o n.”).

3 1 Ho l co mb v. Lo n g , 3 29 Ga. Ap p . 5 1 5

, 5 1 7 (1 ) (7 6 5 SE2 d 6 8 7 (2 01 4 ).

3 2 Dea l v. Co l ema n

, 2 9 4 Ga. 1 7 0

, 1 7 2 (1 ) (a) (7 5 1 SE2 d 3 3 7 ) (2 01 3 ) (ci t at i o n

& p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed ); a cco r d Ma r t i n ez v. S t a t e

, 3 2 5 G a

. Ap p

. 2 6 7, 2 73 (2 ) (7 5 0

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

3 3 Dea l

, 2 9 4 Ga. at 17 2 (1 ) (a); s ee S i n g l et ar y v. S ta t e

, 3 1 0 Ga. Ap p

. 5 7 0

, 5 7 2

(7 1 3 SE2 d 69 8 ) (2 0 1 1 ) (“ In co n s t ru i n g t h es e s t at u tes

, we ap p l y th e fu n d am en t al ru l es

o f s t at ut o ry co n st ru ct i on t h at req u i re u s t o co n s t ru e t h e s t at u tes acco rd i n g t o t h ei r

t e r m s, [an d ] to gi v e wo rd s t h ei r p l ai n an d o rd i nary m ean i n g [.] ” (ci t at i o n &

p u n ct u at i o n o m it t ed )).

3 4 S e e Dea l

, 2 9 4 Ga. at 1 7 2 (1 ) (a) (“ [W ] e m u s t v i ew t he s tat u t o ry t ex t i n t h e

co n tex t i n wh i ch i t ap pears [.] ”); Ma r t in ez

, 32 5 Ga. Ap p

. at 2 7 3 (2 ) (s am e); s ee a l s o

OCGA § 1 -3 -1 (b ) (“ In al l i nt erp ret at i o n s o f s t at u t es

, t he o rd i n ary s i g n i fi cat i o n s h al l

b e ap pl i ed t o al l wo rd s . . . .”).

17l an g u ag e wo u l d

, ” 3 5 an d s eek t o “ av o i d a co n s tru ct i o n t h at m ak es s o m e l an gu ag e m ere

s u rp l u s ag e.” 3 6 An d wh en t h e l an g u ag e o f a s t at u t e i s p l ai n an d s u s cep t i b l e o f o n l y o n e

n at u ral an d reas o n ab le co n s t ru ct i o n, “ co u rt s m u s t co n s t ru e t h e s t at u t e acco rd i n g l y .” 3 7

Fi n al l y

, as o u r Su p rem e Co u rt h as em p h as i zed “ n u m ero u s t i m es

, t h e t ex t o f t h e s t at u t e

i t sel f b es t refl ect s t h e l eg i s lat i v e ch o i ce o f wh et h er a p art icu l ar co u r s e o f co n d u ct

i n v o l v es o n e o r m o re d i s t in ct ‘ o ffen s es ’ u nd er t h e s t at u t e.” 3 8

Tu rn i n g t o t h e st at u te at i s s u e, OCGA § 1 6 -6 -2 2.1 (b ) pro v i d es th at “ [a] p ers o n

co m m i t s t h e o ffen s e o f s ex u al b at t ery wh en h e o r s h e i n t en t i on al l y m ak es p h y s i cal

co n tact wi t h t h e i n t i m at e part s o f t h e b o d y o f an ot h er p ers o n wi t h ou t t h e co n s en t o f

t h at p ers o n .” 3 9 An d m

u ch l ik e OCGA § 1 6 -6 -4 (a) (1 ), t h e ch i l d-m ol es t at i o n s t at u t e

3 5 Dea l , 2 94 Ga. at 1 7 2 -7 3 (1 ) (a); a cco rd Ma r t i n ez

, 3 2 5 Ga. Ap p . at 2 7 3 (2 ).

3 6 Ga

. Tr a n s mi ss i o n Co r

p

. v. W o r l ey

, 3 1 2 Ga. Ap p. 8 5 5

, 8 5 6 (7 2 0 SE2 d 3 0 5 )

(2 0 1 1); a cco r d

S i n g l et a ry , 3 10 Ga. Ap p

. at 5 7 2.

3 7 Ma r t i nez

, 3 2 5 Ga. Ap p

. at 2 73 (2 ) (p u n ct u at io n o m it t ed ); s ee Dea l

, 2 9 4 Ga.

at 1 73 (1 ) (a) (“ [I] f t h e st at u to ry t ex t i s cl ear an d u n am bi g u o u s

, w e a t t r i b u t e t o t h e

s t at u te i ts p l ai n m ean i n g

, an d o u r s earch fo r s tat u t o ry m ean i n g i s at a n e n d.”

(p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed )).

3 8 Jo h n s o n

, _

_ _ Ga. at

_

_ _ (3 ), No . S2 1 G0 6 7 3 , 2 0 2 2 W L 1 6 2 7 9 9 , at * 4 (3 ).

3 9 S ee OCGA § 16 -6 -2 2.1 (a) (d efi n i ng “ i n t i m at e p art s ” t o m ean “ t h e p ri m ary

g en it al area, an u s

, g ro i n

, i n n er t h i g h s

, o r b u t t ock s o f a m al e o r fem al e an d t h e b reas t s

o f a fem al e”).

18(wh ich cri m i n al i zes “ a n y i mmo r a l o r i n d

ecen t a ct t o or i n t h e pres en ce o f or wi t h an y

ch i l d u nd er t h e ag e o f 1 6 y ears

. . . .”), 4 0 O C GA § 1 6-6 -2 2

. 1 (b ) al s o g en eral l y

cri m i n al i zes an y “

p h ys i ca l c o n t a ct wi t h t h e i n ti m at e p art s o f so m eo n e el s e wi t h o ut

h i s o r h er co n s en t [,] ” 4 1 w i t ho u t s p eci fy i n g t h e ci rcu m s tan ces u n der wh i ch a d efen d an t

i s su b ject t o a s i n g le co nv i ct i o n fo r m u l t ip l e il leg al act s

. In d et erm i ni n g t he ch il d

m o les t at i o n st at u t e p ro v i d es fo r a s i ng l e u n i t o f p ro s ecu t i on

, t h is Co urt reas o n ed t h at

t h e wo rd “ an y ” i n OCGA § 1 6 -6 -4 (a) (1 ) co u l d be co n s t r u e d t o p ro v id e th at “ each

act o f s ex u al co n t act t o a p art o f t h e v i c t i m ’s b o d y co u l d d em o n s trat e an i n t en t to

co m m i t an in dep en den t an d d is t i n ct ab u se o f t h e ch i l d v i ct i m t hat warran t s a s ep arat e

co n vi ct i o n an d s en t en ce, an d s i g n i fi es p reci s el y t h e t y pe o f h arm [t h e s t at u t e] s eek s

t o p rev en t .” 4 2 Bu t we al so ex p l ai n ed t h a t “ an u n in t erru p t ed co u rs e o f co n d u ct

i n v o l v i n g m

u l t i p l e u n au t h o ri zed act s o f m o l es t at i o n co u l d co n s t i t u t e a s i ng l e o ffen s e

[u n d er t he st at u t e] .” 4 3 Ul t i m at el y

, w e co ncl u d ed th at —i n ev al u at i n g t h e l an g u ag e o f

OCGA § 1 6 -6 -4 (a) (1 )— t h e Gen eral As sem bl y “ h as n o t

, b y cl ear an d u n am b i g u ou s

4 0 (Em p has is s u pp l i ed ).

4 1 (Em p has is s u pp l i ed ).

4 2 S co t t II , 3 5 6 Ga. Ap p

. at 1 5 8 (5 ).

4 3 Id

. (em p h as i s s u p p l ied ).

19l an g u ag e, p ro v i ded t h at m u l t i pl e t o u c h e s t o a v i ct i m

, d uri n g a s i n g l e u n i n t erru p t ed

co u rs e of co n d u ct

, au t h o ri ze m ul t i p l e p ro s ecu t i o n s an d co n v ict i o n s fo r s ep arat e act s

o f ch i l d m ol es t at i o n.” 4 4 T h u s, we co n st ru ed t h e st at ut e i n fav o r o f t h e d efen d an t

,

fi nd i ng t h at i t d i d n o t au t h o ri ze m u lt i p l e ch i l d -m o l es tat i on o f f e n s e s u n d er t h e

ci rcu m s t an ces

. 4 5

Al t h ou g h OCGA § 1 6-6 -2 2 .1 (b )— u n l i k e OCGA § 1 6-6 -4 (a) (1 )— d o es n ot

i n cl u d e t h e wo rd “ an y ,” i t l i k ewi s e fai l s t o in d i cat e wh et h er i t au t h ori zes m u l t i p l e

co n vi ct i o n s f

o r s ep arat e p ro h ib i t ed “ p hy s i cal t ou ch es ” o ccu rri n g d u ri n g a s i n g l e

u n i n t erru p t ed co u rs e o f co n d u ct

. Si g n i fi ca n t l y, u n l i k e t h e ch i l d -m o l es t at i o n an d

s ex u al -b at tery s t at u t es

, t h e Gen eral As s em bl y h a s e l s ewh ere “ em

p l o y ed cl ear,

u n am b i g u o u s l an g u ag e wi t h res p ect t o t h e ap p l i cab le un i t o f p ro secu t i o n i n nu m ero u s

o t h er co n t ex t s t h ro u g h o u t t h e Geo rg i a Co d e.” 4 6 W e m u s t p res u m e, t h en

, t h at t h e

4 4 Id

. at 1 6 2 -6 3 (5 ); s e e Ho g g

, 3 5 6 Ga. Ap p

. at 1 6 -1 7 (2 ) (b ) (“ Bas ed o n t h e

p l ai n l an g u a g e o f [ O CGA § 1 6 -6 -4 (a)]

, t h e grav am en o f th e o ffen s e [o f ch i ld

m o les t at i o n ] i s t he i m

m o ral an d i n d ecen t act d o n e t o t h e ch i l d

. Th u s, each i m m o ral

o r i n d ecen t act s d on e t o t h e v i ct i m i n t h i s cas e fo rm s a ‘ u ni t o f p ro s ecu t i on .’ ”).

4 5 S ee S co t t II

, 3 5 6 G a. Ap p

. at 1 6 2-6 3 (5 ); i nf r a n o te 4 9 & acco m

p an y i n g t ex t

.

4 6 Sc o t t II

, 35 6 Ga. Ap p

. at 1 5 9 (5 ); s ee O CGA § 1 6 -1 1 -1 06 (e) (“ A n y cri m e

co m m i t t ed i n v io l at i o n o f s u b s ect i on s (b ) an d (c) o f t h i s Co d e s ect i o n s h al l b e

co n si d ered a sep arat e o ffen s e.”); OCGA § 12

- 9

- 5 5 (d ) (“ Each d ay of co n t i n u ed

u n l awfu l reg is t r a t i o n s h al l b e a s ep arat e o ffen s e.”); OCGA § 3 4 -8 -2 5 6 (b ) (“ Each

20Gen eral A s s em b l y’s f a i l u re t o d o s o in OCGA § 1 6 -6 -2 2 .1 (b ) was “ a m at t er o f

co n si d ered ch o i ce.” 4 7

As we ex pl ai n ed in S

co t t II

, i f t h e Gen eral As s em

b ly “ fai l s t o d en o t e t h e u n i t

o f p ro s ecu t i o n i n t h e s tat u t e, as i s t h e cas e h ere, [t h en ] co u rt s m u s t res o l v e t h e

am bi g ui t y an d are co ns t rai n ed t o d o s o i n fav o r o f t h e d efen dan t ch arg ed wi t h h av i n g

v i o l at ed t h e s tat ut e.” 4 8 In d e ed

, o u r Su p rem e Co u rt h as m ad e cl ear t h at “ a cri m i n al

s t at u te m u s t b e co n st ru ed s t ri ct ly ag ai n s t t he St at e, an d i f reas o nab l e m in d s d i s ag reed

as t o wh et h er t h e s t at u t e i s, i n fact

, am b i g u o us

, t h e ru l e o f l en i ty

. . . req u i re[s ] u s to

s u ch act [o f m ak i n g a fal s e s tat em en t or rep res en t at i o n] s h al l co n s t it u t e a s ep arat e

o ffen s e.”); OCGA § 4 3 -5 0 -4 5 (c) (“ [E] ach act o f an u nl awfu l p ract i ce s h al l co n s t i t u t e

a d i s t i n ct an d s ep arat e o ffen s e.”).

4 7 Kemp v. Kemp

, 3 37 Ga. Ap p

. 6 27

, 6 3 6 (7 8 8 SE2 d 5 1 7) (2 01 6 ) (p u n ct u at i o n

o m it t ed ); s ee Fa i r v. S t a t e , 2 8 4 Ga. 1 6 5 , 1 6 8 (2 ) (b ) (6 6 4 SE2 d 2 2 7 ) (2 0 0 8 ) (“ If t h e

Gen eral As s em

b ly h ad i n t en d ed t o req u ire k n o wl ed g e of t he v ict i m ’ s s t at u s as a p eace

o ffi cer i n o rd er fo r t h e [s t at u t e] t o ap p l y

, t h e s tat u t o ry h i s to ry s h o ws th at i t k n ew h o w

t o d o s o

. W e m

u st pres u m e t h at i t s fai l u re to d o so w as a m at t er o f co n s i d ered

ch o ice.” (ci t at io n & p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed )); A vi l a v. S t a t e

, 3 33 Ga. A p p

. 6 6

, 6 9 -7 0

(7 7 5 SE2 d 5 5 2 ) (2 0 15 ) (n o t i n g t h at t h e Gen eral A s s em b l y ’ s u s e o f th e p h ras e “ d u ri n g

t h e co m m i s s io n o f t h e o ffen s e” i n cert ai n s u b s ect i o ns of a cri m i n al s t at u t e m ad e cl ear

t h at i t k n ew h o w t o sp eci fy t h at a d i s q u al i fy i n g ev en t m u s t o ccu r wh i l e t h e cri m e was

i n p ro ces s , an d t h e s u b s ect i o n at i s s u e d i d n o t i n cl u de s u ch a l i m i t at i o n ).

4 8 S co t t II , 3 5 6 Ga. Ap p

. at 1 6 0 (5 ).

21i n t erp ret i t i n fav o r o f t he d efen d an t .” 4 9 An d wh il e t h e St at e co n ced es OCGA § 1 6 -6

-

2 2 .1 d oes n o t ex p li ci t l y id en t i fy t h e u n i t o f p ro s ecu t i o n ap p l i cab l e t o s ex ual b at t ery

,

i t n ev ert h el es s co n t en ds t he s t at u t e u n am b ig u o u s l y p ro v i d es t h at “ ea ch i n d i vi d u al

t o u ch to ea ch d i s cr et e b od y p a r t [co n s ti t ut e s ep arat e cri m in al offen s es ]

, ev en i f t h e

t o u ch es are cl o s e t o g et h er i n t im e.” Th e St at e co nt en d s t hi s i s s o b ecau s e— u n l i k e t h e

ch i l d -m o l es t at i o n s t at u t e— O CGA § 1 6 -6 -2 2 .1 s p eci fi cal l y d efi nes t h e b o d y

p art s a

d efen d an t i s p ro h i b i t ed fro m to u ch i n g

. 5 0 Bu t reg ard l es s o f t h e d ifferen t bo d y p art s at

i s su e, ju st l i k e OCGA § 1 6 -6 -4 (a) (1 ), OCGA § 1 6-6 -2 2

. 1 cri m in al izes cert ai n t y p es

o f co n d uct wi t h o ut i n d icat i n g wh et h er a d efen d an t m ay b e c o n v i c t ed o f m u l t i p l e

o ffen s es fo r each t o u ch of t h e v i ct i m wh en t h ey occu r du ri n g a co n t in u o u s co u rs e o f

co n tact

. 5 1 An d i m

po rt an t l y

, S

co t t II ex p res s ly h el d t h at wh en t h e Gen eral As s em b l y

4 9 Ed va ls o n , 3 1 0 G a. at 8 -9 (p u nct u at i o n & ci t at i o n o m i t t ed ); a cco r d Co a t es

, 3 0 4 Ga. at 3 3 2 n .4

.

5 0 S ee s u p r a n o t e 3 9

.

5 1 Th e St at e co n t en d s OCGA § 1 6 -6 -2 2

. 1 i s si m il ar t o a fo rm er vers i o n o f

OCGA § 1 6 -7 -1 (a), t he b u rg lary s t at u t e at i s s u e i n Co r dl e v. S ta t e

, 3 4 5 Ga. Ap p

. 5 8 4

(8 1 4 SE2 d 5 6 9 ) (2 0 1 8 ). In Co r d l e

, we n o t ed t h at t h i s v ers i o n of t h e s t at u t e p ro v i d ed

t h at “ a p ers o n co m

m it s t h e o ffen s e o f b u rg l ary w h en

, wi t h o u t au t h o ri t y an d wi t h t h e

i n t en t t o co m

m i t a fel on y o r t h eft t h erei n

, he en t ers o r rem ai n s wi t h i n

. . . an y b u i l d i n g

. . . or an y ro o m o r an y p art t h ereo f.” Id

. at 5 8 5 (p u n ct u at io n o m i t t ed ). Ul t i m at el y

, we

h el d t h at t h e d efen d an t co u l d b e co n v i ct ed f o r t wo bu rg l ary o ffen s es wh en h e

“ s ep arat el y en t ered t w o di st i n ct b u s i n es s es wi t h th e i n t en t t o co m m i t t h eft i ns i d e each

22fai l s t o d en o te th e u n i t o f p ro s ecu t i o n i n t h i s t y pe o f s t at u t e, th ere i s an am b i g u i t y in

t h e s t at u t e as t o th e u n it o f p ro s ecu t i o n

, w h i ch m u s t be res o l v ed in fav o r o f t h e

d efen d an t

. 5 2 In s u m

, i n t erp ret i n g OCGA § 16 -6 -2 2 .1 (b ) i n fav o r o f Carr, as we m us t

,

we h o l d t h e st at u t e p ro v id es fo r a si n g l e u n it o f p ro secu t i o n

, s u ch t h at he m ay n o t b e

co n vi ct ed o r s en t en c e d f o r m u l t ip l e s ex ual -b at t ery offen s es co m m it ted d u ri n g an

u n i n t erru p t ed co u rs e o f co n d u c t

. Wi t h t h i s i n m in d

, w e t u rn no w t o Carr’ s s p eci fi c

s ex u al -b at tery co n v i ct i o ns

.

(i ) Co u n t s S even a n d Ei

g h t

. Co u nt s s ev en an d ei g h t ch arg ed C a r r w i th

co m m i t t i n g s ex u al bat t ery ag ai n s t Ta. C. b y m ak i n g p h y s i cal co n t act wi t h h er b reas t s

an d v ag i na, res p ect i v el y

, wi t h ou t h er co n s en t

. Bo t h co un t s al l eg ed t he s ex u al ab u s e

o ccu rred o n o r ab o u t D ecem b er 3 1

, 2 0 1 5

. Al t h ou g h Ta. C. t es t i fi ed t h at Carr s ex u al l y

s h o p [,] ” t h e b u s i n es s es were own ed an d co n tro l l e d b y d i fferen t i n d i vi d u al s

, an d

al t h o u g h t h ey were ho u s ed in t h e s am e o v eral l s t ru ct u re, t h ey occu p i ed d i fferen t

areas

, were d i v i ded b y a wal l

, an d h ad d o o rs lead i n g t o t h e ou t s id e. S ee i d

. at 5 8 5 -8 6.

Bu t i n S co t t II

, we d i s t i n g u is h ed t h e b u rg l ary st at u t e at is s u e i n Co r d l e fro m OCGA

§ 1 6 -6 -4 (a) (1 ) b y ex p lai n i n g t h at

, u n l i k e th e b u rg l ary s t at u t e, t he ch i l d-m o l es t at i o n

s t at u te “ d o es n o t co nt ai n an y q ual i fy i n g l an g u ag e w i t h res p ect t o act s of m o l es t at i o n

i n v o l v i n g d i fferen t en u m erat ed p art s o f a v i ct i m ’ s b o d y d u ri n g a s i n g l e u n i n t erru p t ed

co u rs e o f co n d u ct .” S

ee S co t t II

, 3 0 6 G a. Ap p. at 1 6 0 (5 ). Here, OCGA § 1 6 -6 -2 2

. 1

(b ) al s o d o es n o t i n cl ud e s u ch q u al ify i ng l an g u ag e, s o we di s ag ree wi t h t h e St at e t h at

Co r d l e h as an y

b eari n g o n t h e o u t co m e o f t h is ap p eal

.

5 2 S ee s u p r a n o t e 4 8 & acco m

p an y i ng t ex t

23ab u sed h er o v er a p eri o d o f y ears

, s h e d i d n o t p ro vi d e an y s p eci fi cs reg ard i n g t h e

ab u se t hat o ccu rred o n th at p art i cu l ar day

. In deed

, t h e St a t e f a i l e d t o p res en t an y

ev i d en ce as t o h o w m

u ch t i m e el ap s ed b et ween t he cri m i n a l a c t s

, an d it is u n cl ear

w h et h er t h ey o ccu rred d u ri n g t h e s am e i n t eract i on wi t h Ta. C. As a res u lt

, t h e t r i a l

co u rt erred i n fai l i n g t o m erg e co u n ts s ev en an d ei g h t fo r s en t en ci n g p u rp o s es

, 5 3 an d

we v acat e Carr’ s co n v i c t i o n s an d s en t en ces fo r co u n ts s ev en an d ei g h t an d rem an d

5 3 S ee S co t t II

, 3 56 Ga. Ap p

. at 1 6 0 -6 3 (5 ) (h ol d i n g t h at t hree ch i l d-m o l es t at i o n

co n vi ct i o n s m erg ed fo r s en ten ci n g pu rp o ses wh en t h e d i fferen t s ex act s o ccu rred in

t h e ch i l d ’ s b ed ro o m o n t he sam e d ay i n a s i n g l e co urs e o f co n d u ct o v er a s h o rt p eri o d

o f t i m e an d no t i n g t hat t h e v ict i m d i d n o t t es t i fy h as t o ho w m u ch t i m e el ap s ed

b et ween t o u ch es ); Ho g

g , 3 56 Ga. Ap p

. at 1 7 (2 ) (b ) (h o l d i n g t h at t wo co u n t s o f t h e

i n d i ct m en t m erg ed wh en t hey b o t h ch arg ed t h e d efen d an t wi t h t o uch i n g t h e v i ct i m ’ s

g en it al s i n s o m e way an d ev id en ce s h o wed t h at t hes e t o u ch es o ccu rred d u ri n g a

s i n g l e i n ci den t ); G i b bs v. S t a t e

, 3 4 0 G a. Ap p

. 7 2 3

, 7 3 2 (4 ) (7 9 8 SE2 d 3 0 8 ) ( 2 0 1 7 )

(“ Becau s e b o t h Co u nt s 3 an d 4 ch arg ed [t h e d efen dan t ] wi t h fl eei ng fro m [t h e s am e

l aw-en fo rcem en t o ffi cer o n t he s am e d ay ] aft er h av i n g b een g i v en a p ro p er s i g n al to

s t op

. . ., t h e u ni t o f p ro s ecu t i o n u n d er b ot h co u n t s i s th e s a m e a n d t h e co u n t s

m e r g e d .”); McKee v. S t a t e

, 2 7 5 Ga. Ap p

. 6 4 6

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

(h o l d i n g t h at cri m i n al co n d u ct co n s t i t u t ed a single c our se of c on d u ct s p an n i n g s ev eral

d ay s

, n o t a s ep arat e o f

f e n s e o f cru el t y to ch i l d ren fo r each d ay

, wh en t h e u n i t o f

p ro s ecu ti o n was cau s i n g a ch i l d ex ces si v e p h y s i cal o r m en t al p ai n); s ee a l s o S co t t II

, 3 5 6 Ga. Ap p

. at 1 6 1 (5 ) (n o ti n g t h at

, i n co n s i d eri n g wh et her t h e ch arg ed cri m i n al

co n du ct co n s t i t u t es t w o s ep arat e cri m in al act s , “ t h e q u es ti o n o f t i m e m o re t h an an y

o t h er ci rcu m s t an ce s eem s t o perm eat e al l o f t h e f act o rs [,] [an d ] [i ] t h as i t s g reat es t

v al u e wh en i t i s a fram e o f referen ce fo r co n s i d erat i o n o f each of t h e o t h er fact o rs an d

el em en t s ” (p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed )).

24t h e cas e fo r t he t ri al co u rt t o c o n v i ct an d res en t en ce hi m o n o n ly o n e o f t h o s e

co u nt s

. 5 4

(i i) Co u n t

s Ni n e a n d Ten

. Fi n al l y

, co u n ts n in e an d t en o f t h e i n d i ct m en t

ch arg ed Carr wi t h co m

m i t t i n g s ex u al b at t ery o n Ta. C. i n t he s am e m an n er al l eg ed

i n co un t s s ev en an d ei g ht

, res p ect i v el y

, ex cep t t h ey al l eg ed t h e s ex ual ab u s e occu rred

t h e n ex t d ay

, o n J an u ary 1

, 2 0 1 6

. Si m i l arl y to co u n ts s ev en an d ei gh t

, t h es e s ep arat e

al l eg at i o n s o f s ex u al b at tery al l eg ed ly o ccu rred o n t h e s am e day

, Ta. C. d i d n o t t es t i fy

reg ard i n g t h e l en g t h o f t i m e t h at el ap s ed bet ween Carr to u ch i n g h er b reas ts an d h i m

t o u ch i n g h er v ag i n a, an d i t i s u n cl ear wh et her th o s e cri m i n al act s o ccu rred d u ri n g a

s i ng l e i n teract i o n

. 5 5 Th u s

, we m u s t al s o rem an d t h is cas e fo r t h e t ri al co u rt t o v acat e

o n e o f t h es e co n v ict i o n s an d m erg e t h em fo r s en t en ci n g p u rp os es

. 5 6

5 4 S ee Co a t es

, 3 0 4 Ga. a t 3 3 2 (v acat i n g t h e d efen d an t ’ s fo u r co n v i ct i o n s fo r

b ei n g a fel o n i n p os s es s io n of a fi rearm wh en t h e t ri al co u rt erred i n fai l in g t o m erg e

t h em fo r s en ten ci n g p urp o s es an d rem an d i n g t h e cas e fo r t h e t ri al co u rt t o co n v i ct an d

res en t en ce h i m o n o nl y o n e of t h o s e co u nt s); S co t t II

, 3 56 Ga. Ap p

. at 1 6 0 -6 3 (5 )

(v acat i ng t h e d efen d an t ’ s th ree ch i ld -m o l es t at i on co nv i ct i o ns an d se n t e n ces

, an d

rem an di n g t h e cas e t h e fo r res en t en ci n g o n a s i n g l e co u n t b ecau s e t h o s e co n v i ct i on s

m erg ed as a m at t er o f l aw).

5 5 S ee s u p r a n o t e 5 3

.

5 6 S ee s u p r a n o t e 5 4

.

25Fo r al l t h es e reas o n s

, we affi rm in part

, v acat e i n p a rt

, an d rem an d t h i s cas e

fu rt her p ro ceed i n g s co ns i st en t wi t h t h i s o p i n i on

.

Ju d g men t a f f ir med i n p a r t

, va ca t ed in pa r t

, a n d ca s e rema n ded wi t h d i r ect i o n.

Mer ci er a n d Pi n s o n

, JJ., co n cu r

.

26