THI RD DI VI SI ON

M I LLER, P. J.

, M CFA DDEN and M CM I LLI A N, JJ.

N O T IC E : M otions for r e c ons i de r a tion m us t be

ph y sic a l ly r e ce iv ed i n our c le r k ’s offic e w ithin te n

da y s of the da te of de c is ion to be de e m ed tim e ly file d.

http://w w w .ga a ppe a l s .us /r ule s

Jul y 14, 2016



# I n th e Co u r t o f

A p p eals o f

G eo r g ia

A1 6 A0 59 5 . ANDERSON v . THE STATE.

M C M ILLI A N , J u dg e.

M arcu s An d ers o n ap p eal s t h e d en i al o f h i s m o ti o n fo r new t ri al fo l l o wi n g h i s

co n vi ct i o n fo r t raffi ck in g in co cai n e. On ap p eal

, A n d ers o n as s ert s t h at t h e t ri al co u rt

e r r e d b y (1 ) q uas hi n g h i s s u b po en a o f a defen s e wi t n es s ; (2 ) ex cl u d i n g a d efen s e

w i t n es s ’ p ri o r s t at em en t ; (3 ) ex cl ud i n g i m peach m en t ev i d en ce reg ard i n g a St a t e

wi t n es s ; an d (4 ) refu s i n g t o o v e r tu rn hi s co n v i ct i o n d u e t o t h e St at e’ s fai l u re to

d i s cl os e h i s co -d efen d an t ’ s p l ea d eal

. An d ers o n al s o ch al l en g es t h e s u ffi ci en cy o f t h e

ev i d en ce. Fo r t h e reas o n s t h at fo l l o w, we fi nd n o erro r an d affi rm

.

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

o n t h e ev en i n g o f Au g u s t 1 1

, 2 0 0 8

, An d ers o n b o rro wed a Si l v er Ch ev ro l et Im p al a

1 Ja cks o n v. Vi r

gi n i a , 4 4 3 U.S. 3 0 7 (9 9 SCt 2 7 8 1 , 6 1 LE2 d 5 6 0 ) (1 9 7 9 ).fro m a fri en d o f h i s g irl fri en d

, T awn y a A n d ers o n

, 2 t o m eet Tawn y a’ s s i s t er i n By ro n,

ap p ro x i m at el y t wo h o u rs fro m wh ere t hey l i v ed i n M o u l t ri e. An d ers o n s at i n t h e fro nt

p as s en g er s eat wh i l e Tawn y a d r o v e

. On t h ei r way b ack h om e fro m By ro n

, Tawn y a

was p u l l ed o v er b y Serg ean t Cl ay Ch am b ers o f th e Ho u s t o n Co u nt y Sh eri ff’ s Offi ce

aft er h e o b s erv ed a t i n ted t ag co v er b l o ck i n g h i s ab i l i t y t o read t h e v eh i cl e’ s l i cen s e

p l at e. 3

Ch am

bers ap pro ach ed t h e p as s en ger s i d e o f t h e v eh i cl e an d as k ed Tawn y a fo r

h er d ri v er’ s li cen s e. A t t h at p o i n t

, h e n o t i ced th at An d ers o n s t art ed m o v in g aro u n d

an d act in g ab n orm al l y

, s u ch as “ r a i s i n g h i s h an d s ab o v e h i s h ead ” an d “ rai s i n g h i s

s h i rt an d p u l l i n g u p h i s p an ts .” Ch am b ers t o ld An d ers o n t o rel ax an d as ked Tawn y a

t o st ep to t h e rear o f t h e v eh icl e s o he co u l d ex p lai n t o h er t h at t h e t i n ted l i cen s e p l at e

co v er was a v i ol at i o n o f Geo rg i a l aw. Tawn y a t o l d h im t h at t h ey h ad go n e t o By ro n

t o r et u rn h er n i ece t o h er si s t er. Ch am bers th en as k ed Tawn y a fo r h er i n s u ran ce

i n fo rm at i o n

, wh i ch s h e ret u rn ed t o t h e v eh i cl e t o ret ri ev e. A s s h e was lo ok i ng fo r t h e

i n s u ran ce i n fo rm at i o n

, Ch am b ers s aw An d ers o n “ m o v i n g al l aro u n d i n t h e v eh i cl e,

2 Fo r t h e s ak e o f cl ari ty o n l y

, we wi ll refer t o T awn y a A n d ers o n as “ Tawn y a.”

3 Th e s t op o ccu rred o n I

- 7 5 i n Ho u st o n Co un t y

, Geo rg i a. An d ers o n i s n ot

co n tes t i ng t h e v al i d i t y o f t h e t raffi c s t o p o n ap p eal

.

2l i ft i n g u p h is leg s

, t ry i n g t o s h o w [h i m ] di fferen t t h i n g s i n si d e t h e v eh i cl e.” Ch am b ers

b el i ev ed An d ers o n “ ap p eared v ery

, v ery n erv ou s

. ” An d ers o n t o l d C h am b ers t h ey

were ret urn i n g fro m By

ro n wh ere t h ey h ad m et Tawn y a’ s s is t er at a M cDo nal d ’ s to

g et a s m al l Han n ah M o n tan a t o y

, wh i ch Ch am b ers saw l ay in g o n t h e b ack s eat o f t h e

v eh icl e. Al t h o u g h h e ag ai n as k ed An d ers o n w h et h er t h ere was an y o t h er reas o n fo r

t h ei r t ri p t o By ro n , An ders o n n ev er m en t i o n ed ret u rn i n g Tawn y a’ s n i ece. An d o n l y

wh en Ch am

b ers co n fro n ted Tawn y a ab o u t t he d ifferen ces i n t h ei r s t o ri es

, d i d Tawn y a

s ay s o m et h i n g ab o u t a t oy

.

Bas ed o n wh at h e o bs erv ed

, i n cl u d in g An d ers o n ’ s n erv ou s nes s

, Ch am b ers

as k ed Tawn y a fo r h er co n s en t t o s earch th e v eh i cl e, wh i ch s h e g ran t ed

. Serg ean t

W ay n e M i t ch el l arri v ed t o p ro v i d e b ack u p an d s aw An d ers o n m an i p ul at in g a wh i t e

p l as t ic b ag b efo re h e rem o ved h i m fro m t h e v eh i cl e. Du ri ng h i s search

, Ch am b ers

l o cat ed a p u rs e t hat was ag ai n s t t h e cen t er co n so l e, an d wh en h e un zi p ped t h e p u rs e,

h e fo u nd a cl ear p las ti c b ag co n t ai n i n g a wh i t e p o w d er s ub s t an ce, wh i ch fi el d -t es t ed

p o s i t i ve fo r co cai ne. Ch am b ers al s o l ocat ed a w h i t e p las t ic s h op p in g b ag o n

An d ers on ’ s seat t h at h e had n o t s een w h i l e An d ers o n was s eat ed i n t he v eh i cl e.

3An d ers on an d Tawy n a were b o t h p l aced u n d er arres t an d s u b s eq uen t l y ch arg ed wi th

o n e co u n t o f t raffi ck i n g co cai n e. 4

An d ers o n ’ s t ri al co m

m en ced i n J an u ary 2 0 1 3

. Tawn y a was cal l ed by t h e St at e

t o t es t i fy

. Sh e s t at ed t h at wh en An d ers o n arri v ed h o m e o n t h e n i g h t i n qu es t i o n

, h e

as k ed i f s h e wo u l d ri d e wi t h hi m t o By ro n to p i ck u p a d o l l fro m h er s i s t er t o g i v e to

h er g ran d ch i l d

. Tawn y a ag reed an d s t art ed t o g et in s i d e A n d e rs o n ’ s car i n t h e

d ri v eway

, b u t he t o l d h er t h ey were g o in g t o t ak e h er fri en d ’ s car i ns t ead an d as k ed

h er t o d ri v e. W h en t h ey ev en t u al l y m et h er s i s t er at M cDo n al d ’ s

, s h e s t ay ed in t h e car

wh i le A n d ers o n go t o u t an d ret ri ev ed a l i g h t co lo red b ag fro m h er s i s t er. Tawn y a

t es t i fi ed th at as s o o n as t h e p o l ice p u ll ed h er o v er o n t he way h o m e, An d ers o n s t art ed

“ h o l l e r i n g

, I can ’ t g o t o p ri so n fo r 30 y ears

. I can ’ t g o t o p ri s o n fo r 3 0 y ears .”

An d ers on t h en to l d her t o l i e ab o u t w hy t h ey w en t t o By ro n

. An d a f t er t h e p o l i ce

fo u n d t h e co cai n e, s he real i zed h er s i s t er m us t h av e g iv en t h e d ru g s t o An d ers o n i n

t h e bag

. Sh e d en i ed s eei n g t h e d ru g s in h er p u rs e wh en s h e reach ed i n to g et h er

d ri v er’ s l i cen s e fo r Ch am b ers

. A ft er t h ey were b o th arres t ed an d p l aced in t h e p o l i ce

car, A n ders o n wh i s p ered t o h er t o t el l t h e p o l i ce t h at t h e d ru g s d i d n o t bel o n g t o h i m

.

4 T awy n a ev en t ual l y en t ered a g u i l t y p l e a t o t h i s ch arg e an d i s n o t a p art y to

t h i s ap p eal

.

4A v i d eo reco rd i n g o f t h e t raffi c s to p was al s o p l ay ed f o r t h e j u r y, an d a

fo ren s i c ch em i s t fro m t h e G eo rg i a Bu reau o f In v es t ig at io n t es ti fi ed t hat t h e su b s t an ce

fo u n d i n t h e cl ear p l as t i c b ag was d et erm i n ed t o b e c o c a i n e w i t h a p u ri t y o f 4 7

. 9

p ercen t an d a n et wei g h t o f 2 0 1 .6 2 g ram s

. Th e ju ry fo u n d An d er s o n g u i l ty o n o n e

co u nt o f t raffi ck in g c o cai n e. An d ers o n t im el y fi l ed a m o t i o n fo r n ew t ri al

, an d

fo l l o w i n g a h eari n g , t h e t ri al co u rt d en i ed h i s m o t i o n . Th i s ap p eal fo l l o w ed

.

1 . In h is fi rs t en u m erat i o n o f erro r, An d ers o n as s ert s t h at t he t ri al co u rt erred

i n q u as h i n g h i s s ub p o en a o f Vi ck i An d ers o n, 5 Tawn y a’ s s i s t er. W e di s ag ree.

An d ers on su b p o en aed Vi ck i t o t es ti fy o n h i s beh al f b ecau s e, in a st at em en t m ad e to

h i s i nv es t i g at or i n 2 0 12

, Vi ck i d en i ed b ri n g i ng an y d ru g s wi t h her t o M cDo nal d ’ s t h at

n i g h t

. Vi ck i ap p eared at t ri al wi t h h er at t o rn ey

, wh o n o t i fi ed t he t r i a l c o u r t t h at

,

b ecau s e h i s cl i en t feared her t es t i m o n y wo u l d p lace h er in jeo p ard y o f i n cri m i n at i n g

h ers el f, s h e wi s h ed t o i n v o k e h er F i f t h Am en d m en t p ri v i l eg e. Th e t ri al co u rt

s ep arat el y as k ed Vi ck i i f s h e wi s h ed t o as sert h er Fi ft h Am en d m en t ri g h t

, an d Vi ck i

res p o n d ed

, “ Co rrect .” An d ers o n n o n et h el es s arg u ed t h at h e s h o ul d be en t i t l ed t o cal l

h er as a wi t n es s t o s u g g es t t h at s h e an d Tawn y a “ co n co ct ed a s t o ry t o t ry t o p ro t ect

b o t h o f t h em .” Th e t ri al co u rt fo u n d t h at in o rd er t o an s wer An d ers o n ’ s q u es t i o n s

,

5 Ag ai n , fo r t he s ak e o f cl ari t y , we wi l l refer t o Vi ck i An d ers o n as “ Vi ck i .”

5Vi ck i wo u l d face t h e ri s k o f s el f-i n cri m i n at i o n , an d t h u s ru l ed t h at h e wo ul d n o t b e

ab l e t o cal l h er as a wi t n es s

.

On ap p eal

, An d ers o n arg u es th at t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s re fu sal t o al l o w h i m t o cal l

Vi ck i as a wi t n es s fo r t h i s reas o n v i o l at ed h i s Si x t h Am en dm en t ri gh t t o cal l

wi t n es s es i n h is d efen s e. 6 Ho wev er, a cri m i n al d efen d an t ’ s Si x t h Am en d m en t “ ri g ht

t o p res en t a d efen s e i s n o t ab s o l ut e. Th e ri g h t m ay

, i n ap pro p ri at e cas es

, b o w to

acco m m o d at e ot h er l eg i t i m at e i n t eres t s i n t he cri m i n al t ri al p r o c e s s

. ” (Ci t at i o n an d

p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed

. ) Ter r y v. S t a t e

, 3 0 8 Ga. Ap p

. 4 2 4, 4 2 6 -2 7 ( 7 0 7 S E2 d 6 2 3 )

(2 0 1 1). An d i t i s wel l s et t led t hat

i f it ap p ears t h at a w i t nes s i n ten d s t o cl ai m t h e p ri v i l eg e a g a i n s t sel fi n cri m i n at i o n as t o es s en t i al l y al l q u es ti o n s

, t h e co urt m ay

, i n i t s

d i s cret i o n

, refu s e t o al l o w h i m t o t ak e t h e s t an d

. Nei th er s i d e h as th e

ri gh t t o b en efi t fro m an y i n feren ces t h e ju ry m ay d raw s im p l y fro m th e

wi t n es s ’ as s ert i on o f t he p ri v i l eg e ei th er al o n e o r i n co n ju n ct i o n w i t h

q u es t i o n s t hat h av e b e e n p u t t o h i m

. On e reas o n fo r t hi s ru le i s t hat

rel i ab l e i n feren ces d o n o t o rd i n ari l y fo l lo w fro m

a wi t n es s ’ i n v o cat i o n

o f t h e Fi ft h Am en d m en t

.

6 An d ers o n al s o arg u es th at t h e St at e s h o u l d h av e o ffered Vi ck i t ran s act i o n al

i m m u ni t y an d t hat t h e t ri al co u rt s h o u l d h av e fo u nd t h at t h e St at e’ s refu s al t o d o s o

d en ied h i m a fai r tri al

. H owev er, o u r Su prem e Co urt h as h el d t h at “ Geo rg i a l aw d o es

n o t au t h ori ze a t ri al co u rt to g ran t u s e i m m u n i t y t o a w i t n e s s at t h e req u es t of a

d efen d an t .” Br o wn v. S t a te , 2 9 5 Ga. 8 0 4 , 8 1 1 (5 ) (b ) (7 6 4 SE2 d 3 76 ) (2 0 1 4 ).

6(Ci t at i o n an d p u nct u at io n o m i t ted .) Bi l l in g s v. S t a te

, 27 8 Ga. 8 3 3

, 83 4 (2 ) (6 0 7 SE2 d

5 9 5 ) (2 0 0 5 ). We d o n o t f i n d t h at t h e t ri al co u rt ab u s ed i t s d is cret i o n i n refu s i n g to

al l o w Vi ck i t o t ak e t he s t an d

. 7 Acco rd i n g l y

, t h is en u m erat i on o f erro r fai l s

.

2

. Al t h o u gh An d ers o n en u m erat es as erro r th e t ri al co u rt ’ s ex cl u s i o n o f Vi ck i ’ s

o u t -o f-co u rt

, u n s wo rn s t at em en t t o h i s i n ves t i g at o r, h e h as fai l ed t o s u p p o rt t h at

en u m erat i o n wi t h arg u m en t o r ci t at i o n t o au t h o ri ty

, an d t h u s t h i s en u m erat i o n i s

d eem ed ab an d o n ed

. See Co u rt o f Ap p eal s Ru l e 2 5 (c) (2 ); An d er so n v. S t at e

, 3 3 5 Ga.

Ap p . 7 8 , 8 0 (3 ) (7 7 8 SE2 d 8 2 6 ) (2 0 15 ).

3

. An d ers on al s o as s ert s t h at t h e t r i a l co u rt erred i n d en y i n g h is at t em p t to

i m p each Mi t ch el l wi t h ev i d en ce o f p ri o r b ad act s. A n d ers o n arg u ed du ri n g a p ret ri al

h eari n g th at h e s h o ul d b e p erm i t t ed t o i n t ro d uce ev i d en ce t h at i n 2 0 09

, fo rm er d ep u t y

M i t ch el l h ad b een ch arg ed wi t h p ro v id i n g fu n ds an d i n fo rm at io n t o a p ro b at i o n er

w ith a n outsta n di n g warran t an d s u b s eq uen t l y p l ed g u i l t y t o m i s d em ean or o bs t ru ct i o n

u n d er th e fi r s t o ffen d er act

. Th e reco rd rev eal s t hat Mi t ch el l ’ s ad ju d i cat i o n o f g u i l t

was l at er d is ch arg ed u n d er t h e fi rs t o ffen d er s t at u t e. Fo l l owi n g t h e h eari ng

, t h e t ri al

7 W e al s o reject A n ders o n ’ s cl ai m t h at Vi ck i d i d n o t hav e “ reas on ab le cau s e to

ap p reh en d d an ger fro m a di rect an s wer” b ecau s e Geo rg i a’ s s t at u t e o f l i m i t at i o n fo r

an y d ru g -rel at ed offen s e h ad al read y ru n

. As no t ed b y t h e t ri al co u rt

, t h e s t at u te o f

l i m i tat i on fo r a fed eral d ru g ch arg e h ad n o t ru n at t h at ti m e. See 1 8 USC § 3 2 8 2 (a).

7co u rt en t ered an o rd er den y i n g An d ers o n ’ s req u es t

, ex p l ai n i n g tha t h e i s n o t p erm i t t ed

t o i n t ro d u ce ev i d en ce of a fi rs t o ffen d er co n vi ct io n an d t h at t h e u n d erl y i n g fact s were

n o t i n “ an y

way rel ev an t o r ad m i s s i b l e.”

Un d er Geo rg i a l aw, “ [b ] ecau s e fi rs t o ffen d er s t at u s is n o t co n s i d ered an

ad ju d i cat i o n o f g ui l t

, a fi rs t o ffen d er p lea can no t b e u s e d to im p each a wi t n es s o n

g en eral cred i b i l i t y g ro u nd s .” Ri ver s v. S t a t e

, 2 9 6 Ga. 3 96

, 4 0 1 (5 ) (7 6 8 SE2 d 4 8 6 )

(2 0 1 5). See al s o Cl a r

k v. S t a t e

, 3 3 5 Ga. Ap p

. 7 4 7, 7 4 7 -4 8 (1 ) (7 82 SE2 d 8 2 8) (2 0 1 6 )

(p h ys i c a l p reced en t on l y ); OCGA § 24 -6 -6 0 9 (c) (n ew Ev i d en ce Co de p ro v i s i o n

l i kewi s e m an d at i n g t h at ev i d en ce o f fi rs t o ffen d er ad ju di cat i o n s h al l n o t b e u s ed to

i m p each an y wi t n es s ). M o reo v er, b as ed o n t h e reco rd b efo re u s

, we fi n d n o ab u s e o f

d i s cret i o n in t he t ri al co urt ’ s ex cl u s io n o f t h e i m p each m en t ev i d en ce, wh i ch was n ot

p ert i nen t t o t h e t raffi c s t o p o r M i t ch el l ’ s su b seq u en t i n v es t i g at i o n

. See R i ver s

, 2 9 6

Ga. at 4 01 (5 ).

4 . In h is fo urt h en u m erat i o n o f erro r, An d ers o n as s ert s th at h e i s en ti t l ed t o a

n ew t ri al b ecau s e t h e St at e fai l ed t o di s cl o s e a p l ea d eal p ro m i s e d t o Ta w n y a.

An d ers on es s en t i al l y arg ue s tha t, de spite Tawn y a’ s ex p res s tes t im on y

– b ot h o n d i rect

an d cro s s -ex am i n at i o n

– t h at s h e was n o t p ro m is ed an y t h in g b y t he St at e in ex ch an g e

8fo r h er t es t i m o n y at tri al

, “ th ere cl earl y w a s a p re-t ri al u n d ers t an d i n g t h at t h e St at e

wo u l d red u ce” t h e ch arg e ag ai ns t Tawy n a. Th i s en u m erat i o n wh o l l y fai l s

.

In o rd er t o s h o w rev ers i b l e erro r o n t h i s gro u n d

, a cri m in a l d efen d an t m u s t

s h o w:

t h at th e St at e p o s s es sed ev i d en ce of t h e d eal ; t h at t h e d efen d an t d i d n o t

p o s s es s th e ev id en ce n o r co ul d he o b t ai n i t h i m s el f wi t h an y reas o n ab l e

d i l i g en ce; t hat t h e St at e s u p pres s ed ev i den ce o f t h e d eal ; an d t hat

, h ad

t h e ev i d en ce o f th e d eal b een d i s cl o s ed t o t h e d efen d an t

, t h ere ex is ted

a reas on ab l e p ro b ab i l i t y t h at t h e res u l t at t ri al wo u l d h av e b een di fferen t

.

(Ci t at i o n s o m i t t ed .) Fo rd v. St a t e

, 27 3 Ga. Ap p

. 2 9 0

, 2 91 (6 1 4 SE2 d 9 0 7 ) (2 0 0 5 ).

Here, t h e o n l y t es t i m o n y th e t ri al co u rt h ad t o rel y o n was Tawn y a’ s t ri al t es t i m o ny

d en y i n g t h at t h ere was a d eal as s h e d i d n ot t es t i fy at t he m o t i o n fo r n ew tri al h eari n g.

Th u s, we can n o t s ay

t h at th e t ri al co u rt erred i n co n cl u d i n g t h a t An ders o n fai l ed to

m eet h i s b u rd en . Id . at 2 9 2

.

5

. In h i s fi n al t wo en u m erat i o n s o f erro r, An d ers o n ch al l en g es t h e s u ffi ci en cy

o f t h e ev id en ce. An d ers o n fi rs t arg u es t h at hi s m ere p res en ce an d s p at i al p ro x i m i t y

t o t h e d ru g s was i n s u ffi ci en t t o s u s t ai n h i s co n vi ct i o n

. H o wev er, t h e ev i d en ce s h o wed

t h at An d ers o n was m o re t h an m erel y p res en t n ear th e co cai n e. Tawn y a tes t ifi ed t h at

i t was An d ers o n ’ s i dea t o d ri v e t o By ro n t h at ni g ht

, ap p ro x i m at el y t w o h o urs away

,

9t o p i ck u p a s m al l t o y

. He g o t ou t o f t h e car an d ret ri ev ed a l i g h t co l o red pl as t i c b ag

.

W h en t h e p o l i ce p u l l ed t h em o v er, h e y el l ed t hat h e co u l d n o t g o t o p ri s o n an d t o ld

Tawn y a t o l i e t o t h e p o l i ce. T h e p o l i ce o b s erv ed An d ers o n ’ s ex trem e n erv o us n es s an d

h i s d ifferi n g s t ory as to t h ei r wh ereab o u ts t h at ev en i n g

. Th e po l i ce al s o o b serv ed h i m

m an i p ul at i ng a w h it e p las ti c b ag b efo re t h ey l o cat ed o v e r 20 0 g ram s o f co cai n e

wi t h i n h i s reach i n t h e veh i cl e. An d T awn y a t es t i fi ed t h at s he real i zed her s i s t er m u s t

h av e g i v en t h e d ru g s t o An d ers o n an d t h at h e m u s t h av e p u t th em i n h er p u rs e wh i l e

s h e was s t an d i n g at t h e b ack o f t h e v eh i cl e.

M o reo v er,

[i ] t is n o t n eces s ary t h at a d efen d an t h av e act u al an d ex cl u s iv e

p o s s es si o n of t he co n t rab an d ; p o ss es s io n m ay b e j o i n t an d co n s t ru ct i v e.

A p ers o n wh o

, t h o u g h n o t i n act u al p o s s es s i o n

, k n owi n g l y has b o th th e

p o wer an d i n ten t i o n at a gi v en t i m e t o ex erci s e d o m in i o n or co n t ro l ov er

a t h in g i s t h en i n co n s t ru ct i v e p os s es si o n o f i t

, an d i f t w o or m o re

p ers on s sh ared co ns t ru ct i v e p o s s es si o n o f a t h i ng

, p o s s es s i o n i s j o i n t

. So

l o n g as t h ere i s s l i g h t ev i d en ce of acces s, po wer, an d i n t en t io n t o

ex erci s e co n t ro l o r d om i n i o n o v er t h e co n t rab an d

, t h e q u es ti o n o f fact

reg ard i n g jo i n t co n s t ru ct iv e p o s s es s i o n r e m a ins w i t h i n t h e d o m ai n o f th e

t ri er o f fact

.

(Ci t at i o n s an d p u nct u at io n o m it t ed .) Ga r ci a -Ma l d o n a d o v. S t at e

, 3 2 4 Ga. Ap p

. 5 1 8,

5 2 0 (7 51 SE2 d 1 4 9 ) (2 0 1 3 ).

10W h i l e An d ers o n arg u es v eh em en t ly t h at t h e ev id en ce m o re s tro n g ly i n d i cat es

Tawn y a’ s g u i l t

, 8 i n rev i ewi n g t h e s u ffi ci en cy o f t h e ev i d en ce, we d o n o t “ w ei g h t h e

ev i d en ce o r d et erm i n e wi t n es s cred i b i l i t y

. An y co n fl i c t o r i n co n s i st en ci es i n t h e

ev i d en ce are fo r t h e ju ry

t o res o l v e.” (Ci t at i o n o m i t t ed .) Fer gu s on v. S t a t e , 3 3 5 Ga.

Ap p

. 8 6 2

, 8 6 3 (1 ) (7 8 3 SE2 d 38 0 ) (2 0 1 6 ). An d, “ [a] s l o n g as t h ere i s s o m e co m p et en t

ev i d en ce, ev en t h ou g h co n tra d i ct ed

, t o s u pp o rt each fact n eces s ary t o m ak e o u t t h e

St at e’ s cas e [we] m

u s t u p h o l d t he j ur

y ’ s v erd i ct .” 9 (Ci tat i o n om i t ted .) Id

. An d wh et h er

t h e ci rcu m s t an ces are s u ffi ci en t t o ex cl u d e ev ery reas on ab le h y p o t h es i s i s a q u es t i o n

fo r t h e ju ry

, an d “ t h a t f

i n d i n g wi ll n o t b e di s t u rb ed u n l es s t h e v erd i ct o f g u i l t i s

i n s u p p o rt ab l e as a m at ter o f l aw.” (Ci t at io n o m i t t ed .) W r ig h t v. S t a t e

, 3 0 2 Ga. Ap p.

3 3 2 , 3 3 3 (6 9 0 SE2 d 65 4 ) (2 0 1 0 ).

An d fi nal l y

, An ders o n arg u es t h at th e St at e fai l ed t o p ro v e t h at h e k n o wi n g l y

p o s s es s ed a t raffi ck in g wei g h t o f co cai n e. At t he t i m e o f t h e offen s e co m m i t t ed h ere,

fo rm er OCGA § 1 6 -1 3 -3 1 (a) (1 ) p ro v i d ed , i n rel ev an t p art :

8 An d ers o n al s o as s ert s th at t h e t ri al co u rt fai l ed t o ap p l y t h e co rrect s t an d ard

o f rev i ew i n s i t t i n g as t h e “ 1 3 t h ju ro r” fo r h i s m o t i o n fo r n ew t ri al

. Th i s as s ert i o n i s

d i rect l y co n t rad i ct ed b y t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s o rd er, reci t in g t h e co rrect s t an d ard

.

9 W e n ot e t h at t h e t ri al co u rt i n st ru ct ed t h e j u ry o n

, i n t er al i a, m ere p res en ce,

as s o ci at io n wi th o t h er p ers o n s i n v o l v ed i n a cri m e v ers u s p art ici p at in g as a p art y to

a cri m e, act u al v ers u s co n s t ru ct i v e p o s s es s io n , an d s o l e v ers u s jo i n t p os s es s i o n

.

11An y p ers o n wh o k n o wi n g l y s el l s

, m an u fact u res

, d el i v ers

, o r b ri ng s i n t o

t h i s st at e o r wh o i s k n o wi n g l y i n p o s s es s i o n o f 2 8 g ram s o r m o re o f

co cai n e o r o f an y m i x t u re wi t h a p u ri t y of 1 0 p ercen t o r m o re o f co cai n e,

as d es cri b ed i n Sch ed u l e II, i n v i o l at io n o f t h i s art i cl e co m m i t s th e

fel o n y o ffen s e o f t raffi ck i n g i n co cai n e. 1 0

In det erm i n i n g wh et h er a d efen d an t h ad t he req u i si t e k n o wl ed g e, a ju ry is au t h o ri zed

t o co n s i d er “ t he wo rd s

, co n du ct

, d em ean o r, m ot i v e, an d al l o t h er c i r c u m s t a n ces

co n nect ed w i t h t h e act fo r wh i ch t h e accu s ed i s p ro secu t ed

. In d eed

, b o t h k n o wl ed g e

an d p o ss es s i on m ay b e p r o v e d

, l i k e an y o t h er fact

, b y ci rcu m st an t i al ev i d en ce.”

(Ci t at i o n o m i t t ed .) S

u mmer vi l l e v. S ta t e

, 3 3 2 Ga. Ap p

. 6 1 7

, 6 1 9 (1 ) (7 7 4 SE2 d 1 9 0 )

(2 0 1 5).

An d h ere, t h e ev i den ce n o t ab l y s h o ws t h at An d ers o n m ad e a fo u r-h ou r ro u n d

t ri p d ri v e at n i g h t fo r a bri ef s t o p b e f o r e p o li ce fo u n d ov er 2 0 0 g ram s o f co cai ne,

wh i ch i s m o re t h an s ev en t i m es t h e am o u n t req u i red t o co n st i tu t e t raffi ck i n g . Up o n

b ei n g s t o p p ed b y t h e p o l ice, An d ers o n i m m ed i at el y ex p res s ed t o T a w n ya t h at h e

co u ld n o t g o t o p ri s o n fo r 3 0 y ears

, wh i ch s up p ort ed h i s k n o wl ed g e o f t h e seri o u s n es s

o f t h e p os s i b l e ch arg es

. T h u s, we co ncl u d e t h at t he ju ry w as au th o ri zed t o fi n d

1 0 I n 20 13

, t h e G en eral As s em b l y d el et ed “ kn o wi n g ly ” t h ro u g h ou t OCGA § 16-

1 3 -3 1, an d t h e am en d ed s t at u t e b ecam e effect i v e o n J u l y 1

, 2 0 1 3

. See Ga. L. 2 0 1 3,

p . 2 22 , § § 4 , 2 1

.

12An d ers on was k n o wi n gl y i n p o s s es s i o n o f t h e t raffi ck i n g wei g h t of co cai n e fo u n d in

t h e v eh i cl e d ri v en b y h i s gi rl fri en d at h i s d i rect i o n . See S u mmer vi ll e , 3 3 2 Ga. Ap p.

at 6 2 0 (1 ) (ev i d en ce o f s h o rt t urn aro u nd t i m e o n ro u n d -t ri p t rav el i s co n s i s t en t wi th

d ru g t raffi ck i n g an d

, co u p l ed wi t h an am o u n t o f d ru g s m o re t h an t w i ce t h e req u i si t e

t raffi ck i ng wei g ht

, was s u ffi ci en t t o s h o w d efen d an t ’ s k n o wl ed g e o f d ru g q u an t it y ).

See al s o Br o wn v. S t a t e

, 3 3 4 Ga. Ap p

. 6 7 4

, 6 7 8 (7 8 0 SE2 d 37 2 ) (2 0 1 5 ) (i n l i g h t o f

t o t al i t y o f ev id en ce, i n cl u di ng d efen d an t’ s b eh av i o r at t h e s cen e an d fact t h at am o u nt

o f d ru g s was o v er 1 5 t im es th e t h res h o l d t raffi ck i n g am o u n t

, tri er o f fact co u l d i n fer

d efen d an t ’ s k n o wl ed g e t h at h e p o s s e s s ed 2 8 g ram s or m o re) (p h y s i cal p reced en t

o n l y ). Co m

p are Ch il d

s v. S t a t e

, 3 3 0 Ga. Ap p

. 7 2 7

, 7 3 0 -3 1 (1 ) (7 6 9 SE2 d 1 4 7 ) (2 0 1 5 )

(ev i d e n c e i n s u ffi ci en t wh ere q u an t i t y was j u s t i n ex ces s o f 2 8 g ram s an d t h ere was

n o o t h er ev i d en ce i n di cat i n g d efen d an t h ad k n o wl ed ge o f i ts wei g h t ).

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

, P. J., a n d

McFa d d en , J., co n cu r

.

13