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

Nov em ber 18, 2016



# I n th e Co u r t o f

A p p eals o f

G eo r g ia

A1 6 A1 33 9 . W A RD v . THE STATE.

M C F A D D E N , J u d g e.

Aft er a j u ry t ri al

, Lav al i s W ard was co n v i ct ed o f cri m i n al a t t em p t t o co m m i t

arm ed ro b b ery

, t wo co u n t s of bu rg l ary

, p o ss es s i o n o f a f i r e a rm du ri n g t h e

co m m i s s io n o f a cri m e, p o s s e s s i o n o f a t oo l fo r co m m is s i o n o f a cri m e, p o s s es s i o n

o f a co n t ro l l ed s u b s t an ce, an d p o s s es si o n o f a fi rearm b y a co n v i ct ed fel o n

. W ard

ap p eal s

, cl ai m i n g t hat h is t ri al co u n s el was i n effect i v e; h o w ev er, W ard h as fai l ed to

s h o w t h at h i s co u ns el ’ s p erfo rm an ce w a s b ot h d efi ci en t an d p reju d i ci al

. W ard al s o

ch al l en g es t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s ad m i s s i o n o f cert ai n ev i d en ce, b u t h e h as n o t s h o wn t h at

t h e co u rt ab u s ed i ts d i s cret i o n i n i t s ev i d en t i ary ru l in g s. Fi n al l y

, W ard co n t en d s t h at

t h e at t em p t ed arm ed ro b b ery an d b u rg l ary o f f e n s es s h ou l d hav e b een m erg ed fo r

p u rp os es o f sen t en ci n g

. W e ag ree t h at t h e t wo b u rg lary co u n t s

, wh i ch were b as ed o na s i n g l e i l l eg al en t ry i nt o a b u i l d i n g

, s h o u ld h av e b e e n m erg ed ; b u t t h e at t em p t ed

arm ed ro b b ery an d bu rg l ary o ffen s es were n o t b as ed o n t h e s am e co n d u c t a n d t hu s

p ro p erl y were n o t m erg ed f o r s e n t en ci ng

. Acco rd in g l y

, w e affi rm in p art

, v acat e in

p art , an d rem an d fo r res en t en ci n g o n t h e b u rg l ary co u n t s.

“ On ap p eal fro m a cri m i n al co n v i ct i o n

, we v i ew t h e ev i d en ce i n t h e l ig h t m o s t

fav o rab l e t o s u p po rt t h e ju ry ’ s v erd i ct

, an d t h e d efen d an t n o lo n g er en jo y s a

p res u m p t i o n o f in n o cen ce.” Ha l l v. S t a t e

, 3 3 5 Ga. Ap p

. 8 9 5 (7 83 SE2 d 40 0 ) (2 0 1 6 )

(ci t a t i o n o m i t t ed ). So vi ewed

, t h e ev i den ce sh o w s t h at o n J un e 1 9

, 2 0 1 1

, at

ap p ro x i m at el y 2 : 3 0 i n t he m o rn i n g, W ard an d an acco m p li ce wen t t o t h e v i ct i m ’ s

ap art m en t t o st eal m o n ey th at t h ey h ad l earn ed wa s s u p p o s ed l y h i d d en u n d er a

m at t res s

. W ard fo rced h i s way i n t o th e ap ar t m e n t w i t h a h an d g u n wh i l e h i s

acco m pl i ce wai t ed o u t si d e. As W ard ran s ack ed t h e ap art m en t l o o k i n g fo r t h e m o n ey

,

h e t h reat en ed an d h i t t h e v i ct i m wi t h t h e g u n

. Aft er fai l in g t o fi n d t h e m o n ey

, W ard

a n d h i s acco m

p l ice fl ed

. Th e s t at e al s o i n t ro d u ced ev i d en ce o f W ard ’ s p r i o r

co n vi ct i o n s ari s i n g fro m

a s i m i l ar h o m e i n vas i o n.

1

. Ta p e r eco r d i n g

.

W ard co n t en d s t h at t h e t ri al co u rt erred i n al l o wi ng t he s t at e t o p l a y a t ap e

reco rd i n g b ecau s e i t co n t ai n ed s t at e m e n t s fro m a d et ect i v e t h at i n v ad ed t h e ju ry ’ s

2p ro v in ce b y ad d res s i n g an u l ti m at e i s s u e o f fact

. Ho wev er, as W ard n o t es i n h i s b ri ef,

t h i s o bject i o n t o t h e t ap e reco rd i n g w as n o t rai sed at tri al ; rat h er, hi s at t o rn ey rai s ed

o n l y a Mi r a n d

a o b ject i o n t o t h e t ap e. Becau s e n o u l t i m at e i s s u e o bject i o n t o t h e

ev i d en ce was rai s ed at t ri al

, W ard “ m ay no t n o w rai s e i t fo r t h e fi rs t t im e o n ap p eal

.

W h ere an en t i rel y d i fferen t o b ject i o n o r b as is fo r ap p eal i s arg u ed i n t h e b ri ef wh i ch

was n o t p r e s e n t e d at t ri al we wi l l n ot co n s i d er t h at b as i s as we are l i m i ted t o t h o s e

g ro u nd s p res en t e d t o an d ru l ed u po n by t h e t ri al co u rt

. ” Ho l mes v. S t a t e

, 2 7 1 Ga.

Ap p

. 1 2 2

, 1 2 3 (1 ) (6 0 8 SE2 d 7 2 6 ) (2 0 0 4 ) (ci t at i o n an d p u n ct uat i o n om i t t ed ). See al s o

Ba t t en v. S t a t e

, 2 9 5 Ga. 4 4 2

, 44 4 (2 ) (7 6 1 SE2 d 7 0 ) (2 0 1 4) (u l t im at e i s s u e o b ject i o n

t o i nv es t i g at o r’ s t es t i m o n y was n o t p res erv ed fo r ap p el lat e rev i ew).

2

. S o n g l yr i cs

.

W ard co n t en d s t h at th e t ri al co u rt e r r e d b y a l l o w i n g ad m i s s i o n o f red act ed

l y ri cs o f a rap s o n g he h ad wri t ten

, arg u i n g t h at t h e l y ri cs w ere i rrel ev an t an d u n d u l y

p reju d i ci al

. “ T h e ex cl u s io n o f ev i d en ce t h at i s o b ject ed t o o n t h e g ro un d o f rel ev an cy

l i es w i t hi n th e s o u n d d i scret i o n o f t h e tri al co u rt

, wh o s e d eci s i o n wi ll n o t b e d i s t u rb ed

o n ap p ea l a b s e n t a cl ear ab u s e o f di s cret i o n .” Ta yl o r v. S t a t e

, 2 9 7 Ga. 1 3 2, 1 3 5 (3 )

(7 7 2 SE2 d 6 3 0) (2 0 1 5 ) (ci tat i o n an d p u n ct uat i o n o m i t t ed ). Bo t h th is co urt an d o u r

Su p rem e Co u rt h av e h el d t h at a t ri al co u rt d o es no t ab u s e i t s d i scret i o n i n ad m i t t i n g

3ev i d en ce o f a d efen d an t ’ s wri t ten l y ri cs wh en t he ev id en ce is rel ev an t t o s om e i s s u e

i n th e cas e. See Ta

yl o r

, s u pra (n o erro r i n ad m i t t i n g rap l y ri cs referen ci n g a p art i cu l ar

t y p e of g un ); Ca s t i l l o v. S ta t e , 2 8 1 Ga. 5 7 9 (7 ) (a) (6 42 SE2 d 8 ) (2 0 0 7 ) (n o erro r in

ad m i t t i ng s o ng ly ri cs s u g g es t i ng d efen d an t m i g h t be i ncl i ned t o v i o l en ce); Th o ma s

v. S t a t e

, 2 7 0 Ga. A p p. 1 8 1

, 1 8 3 (2 ) (6 0 6 SE2 d 2 7 5 ) (2 0 0 4 ) (n o erro r i n a d m i t t i n g

s o n g l y ri cs s u g g es t i n g th at d efen d an t m i g h t b e i n cl i n ed to e nga g e i n vi o l en t en co u n t er

wi t h p o l i ce). Here, th e s tat e co n t en d ed

, an d p res en t ed ev i d en ce s h o wi n g

, t h at W ard

h ad at t em p t ed t o i n t im i dat e v ari o u s wi t n es s es fro m t es t i fy i n g ag ai n s t h i m i n th i s cas e.

Th e rap l y ri cs i n qu es t io n re feren ced vi o len ce t o ward w i t nes s es an d t h u s were

rel ev an t t o t h e i s s ue o f wi t n es s i n t i m i d at io n

. Acco rd i n g l y

, “ [t ] he t ri al co urt d i d n ot

ab u s e i t s d i s cret i o n b y ad m it t i n g t h i s rel ev an t ev i d en ce.” Ta yl or

, s up ra (ci t at i o n

o m it t ed ).

3

. Dr u g p ar a p her na l i a

.

W ard cl ai m s t h at t h e t ri al co u rt erred i n al l o wi ng t h e s t at e t o i n t ro d uce

ev i d en ce o f d ru g m an u fact uri ng p arap h ern al i a fo u n d d u ri ng a s ear c h o f hi s h o m e

b ecau s e i t i m

p erm is s i b l y p l aced h i s ch aract er i n i ss u e. Bu t ev en i f we as s u m e, wi t h o ut

d eci d i n g

, t h at t h e co u rt erred i n al l o wi n g th e ev i d en ce, “ t h e erro r [was ] h arm l es s

b ecau s e

. . . t h e ev id en ce o f [W ard ’ s ] g u i l t[, in cl ud i n g t h e vi ct i m ’ s ey ewi t n es s

4i d en t i fi cat i o n of W ard

, t h e acco m p l i ce’ s i n cri m i n at i ng t es ti m o n y

, an d t h e s i m i l ar

t ran s act io n ,] w as o v erwh el m i n g an d i t i s t herefo re h i g h l y p ro bab l e t h at t h e ad m i s s i o n

o f t h e ch al l en g ed [ev i d en ce] d i d n o t co nt ri b u t e t o t h e v erd i ct

. [Ci t .] ” Jo h n so n v. S t a t e

,

2 9 2 Ga. 7 8 5

, 78 9 (4 ) (7 41 SE2 d 6 2 7 ) (2 0 1 3) (a n y e r r o r i n al l o w i n g ev i d en ce o f

d efen d an t ’ s i n v ol v em e n t i n a d ru g t ran s act i o n fo r w h i ch h e w as n o t on t ri al was

h arm l es s d u e t o o v er wh e l m i ng ev i d en ce of g u i l t ). Acco rd In g ra m v. S ta t e

, 2 3 2 Ga.

Ap p

. 8 0 2, 8 0 4 (5 0 3 SE2 d 7 0 ) (1 9 9 8 ) (an y erro r i n ad m i t t i n g ev i d en ce of d efen d an t ’ s

co m m i s s io n o f i n dep en den t cri m e was “ h arm l es s g i v en t h e o v erwh el m i n g ev i d en ce

o f [h i s ] g u i l t .”).

4

. In ef f ect i ve a s s i s t a n ce o

f co u n s el

.

To p rev ai l o n h i s cl ai m

o f i n effect i v e as s i s t an ce o f co un s el

, W ard

m u s t s h o w [b o t h ] t h at tri al co u n s el ’ s p erfo rm an ce [was d efi ci en t i n t hat

i t ] fel l b el o w a reas o n ab l e st an d ard of co n d u ct an d t hat [i t w as

p reju d i ci al b ecau s e] t h ere ex i s t ed a reas o n ab l e p ro bab i l i t y t h at th e

o u t co m e o f t h e cas e wo u l d h av e b een di fferen t h ad i t n o t b een fo r

co u n s el ’ s d efi ci en t p erfo rm an ce. If [W ard ] fai ls t o [p ro v e] ei t h er p ro n g

o f t h e [t wo -p art ] t es t

, t h i s rel i ev es t h e rev i ewi n g co u rt o f th e n e e d t o

ad d res s t he o t h er p ro ng

.

S co tt v. S t a t e

, 2 9 0 Ga. 8 8 3

, 8 89 (7 ) (7 2 5 SE2 d 3 05 ) (2 0 12 ) (ci t at i o n s an d pu n ct u at i o n

o m it t ed ). W ard h as fai l ed t o s h o w t h at hi s t ri al co un s el ’ s p erfo rm an c e was b o th

d efi ci en t an d p reju d ici al

.

5a. Mo t i o n f o r d i r ect ed ver d i ct

o f a cq u i t t a l

.

W ard co m

p l ai n s t h at hi s t ri al co u n s el was in effect i v e i n m o v i n g fo r a d i rect ed

v erd i ct o f acq u i t t al o n t h e arm ed ro b bery co u n t

, t h eo ri zi n g th at t h e m o t i o n p ro m p t ed

t h e s t at e t o req u es t a ju ry ch arg e o n at t em pt ed arm ed ro b b ery as a l es s er offen s e. At

t h e m o t i o n fo r n ew t ri al h eari n g , co un s el t es t i fi ed t h at h i s reas o n fo r t h e m o t i o n fo r

a d i rect ed v erd i ct o f acq u i t t al was t h e l ack o f ev i d en ce s ho wi ng t h at an y th i n g was

t ak en fro m t h e v ict i m

. W h en as k ed ab o u t t h e s tat e’ s ab i l i t y t o req u es t at t em p t ed

ar m e d ro b b ery

as a l es s er i n cl u d ed o ffen s e, co un s el res p on d ed

, “ W el l

, I g ues s t h ey

were free t o as s ert an y t h eo ry t h ey h ad t h at was s u p p o rt ed b y t h e ev id en ce.”

Gen eral ly

, d eci s i o n s o n wh et h er t o rai se, an d ho w t o arg ue, m o t io n s are m at t ers

o f tri al st rat eg y

. Ta

yl o r v. S ta te

, 3 3 7 G a. Ap p

. 4 8 6

, 4 92 (4 ) (a) (7 8 8 SE2 d 9 7 ) (2 0 1 6 );

Mi n or v. S t a te

, 3 2 8 Ga. Ap p

. 1 28

, 1 4 2 (8 ) (b ) (7 6 1 SE2 d 5 3 8 ) (2 0 1 4 ). “ As a g en eral

ru l e, m at t ers o f r e a s o n a b l e t act i cs an d s t rat eg y

, wh et h er wi se o r un wi se, d o n ot

am ou n t t o i n effect i v e as s is t an ce o f co u ns el .” Smi t h v. S t a te , 3 3 5 Ga. A p p

. 74 2

, 7 4 6

(3 ) (7 82 SE2 d 8 24 ) (2 0 1 6 ) (ci t at i o n an d p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed ). M o reo v er

Effect i v en es s i s n o t ju d g e d b y h i nd s ig h t o r b y t h e res ul t

. A l t ho u g h

an o t her l awy er m ay hav e co n d u ct ed t h e d efen s e i n a d i fferen t m a nn er

an d t ak en an o t h er co u rs e o f act i o n, th e fact th at defen d an t an d h i s

p res en t co u n s el d i s ag ree wi t h t h e d eci s i o n s m ad e b y t ri al co u n s el d o es

6n o t req u i re a fi n d i n g t h at d efen d an t ’ s o ri g i n al rep res en t at i o n w as

i n ad eq u at e.

Po wel l v. S t a t e

, 19 8 Ga. A p p. 5 0 9

, 5 1 1 -5 1 2 (1 ) (4 02 SE2 d 1 0 8 ) (1 9 9 1 ) (ci t at i o n s an d

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

Here, t ri al co u n s el ’ s d eci s i o n t o m o ve fo r a di rect ed v erd i ct o f acq u i t t al d u e to

i n s u ffi ci en t ev i d en ce was cert ai n l y a reas o n ab l e st rat eg y

, es peci al l y s i n ce th e ju ry d id

n o t fi n d W ard g u i lt y of t h e v ery o ffen s e t h at w as t h e s u b ject o f t h at m o ti o n

. Th e m ere

“ fact t h at [W ard ] n o w fi nd s f a u l t w i t h t ri al co u n s el ’ s st rat eg y d o es n o t req u i re a

fi nd i ng t hat h e r e c e i v ed defi ci en t rep res en t at i o n. [Ci t .] Gi ven [W ard ’ s ] fai l u re to

d em o n s t rat e erro r b y t h e t ri al co u rt

, we wi l l n ot d is t urb i t s d en i al o f [h i s ] m o t i o n fo r

n ew t ri al b as ed o n i neffect i v e as s i s t an ce o f co u n s el

. [Ci t .] ” Za p a t a v. S t a t e

, 2 9 1 Ga.

Ap p

. 4 85 (6 6 2 SE2 d 2 7 1 ) (2 0 0 8 ) (reject i n g cl ai m t h at t ri al c o u n s e l w a s i n effect i v e

i n m o vi n g fo r a d i rect ed v erd i c t o f a c q u i t t al b ecau s e s u ch m o t io n al lo wed t h e s t at e

t o reo p en t h e ev id en ce). See al s o Hi cks v. S t a t e

, 3 37 Ga. A p p

. 5 67

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

5 0 2 ) (2 0 16 ) (fi n d i n g t hat co u n sel ’ s s t rat eg i c d eci s i o n t o m o v e fo r a di rect ed v erd i ct

d i d n o t am o u n t t o i neffect i v e as s i s t an ce).

b

. Bu l l et i n

.

7W ard co nt en d s t h at hi s t ri al co u n s e l wa s i n effect iv e i n fai li n g t o rai s e an

i m p ro p er ch aract er ev i d en ce o bject i o n t o a p o l i ce o ffi cer’ s t es ti m o n y t h at th ere was

a b u l let i n wi t h W ard ’ s i n fo rm at i o n o n i t i n t h e p o l i ce s t at i o n

. Ho wev er, ev en i f s u ch

a ch aract er o b

ject i o n wo u l d h av e b een ap p ro p ri at e, W ard “ has n o t m et h i s b u rd en o f

s h o wi n g p reju d i ce. T h e o v erwh el m i n g ev i d en ce o f h i s gu i l t fo recl o s es t he reas o n ab l e

p ro b ab i l i t y t hat t h e t ri al res u l t wo u l d h av e b een d ifferen t i f tri al co un s el h ad o b ject ed

t o t h e t es t i m o n y .” An d

emi ca l v. S t a t e

, 3 36 Ga. Ap p. 66 1

, 6 67 (4 ) (a) (7 86 SE2 d 2 3 8 )

(2 0 1 6) (ci t at i o n o m i t t ed ).

c. S i m i l ar t ra n sa ct i o n t es t i mo ny.

W ard cl ai m s h i s t ri al co u n s el was i n effect i v e i n fai l i n g t o o b ject t o h e a r s ay

d u ri n g a d et ect i v e’ s t es t i m o n y ab o u t t h e si m i l ar t ran s act i o n

. Ho wev er, i n ad d i t i o n to

t h e d et ect i v e’ s t es ti m o n y

, t h e s t at e al so i n t ro d u ced a cert ifi ed co py o f h i s co n v i ct i on s

ari s in g fro m

t h e p ri o r i n ci d en t an d t h e t es t i m o n y o f h i s acco m

p l i ce i n t h at i n ci d en t

.

An d as n o t ed ab o v e, th e ev i d en ce o f W ard ’ s g u i l t i n t h e i n s t a n t cas e was

o v erwh el m i ng . Co n s eq u en t l y , “ [p ] ret erm i t t i n g wh et h er t ri al co u ns el ’ s p erfo rm an ce

was d efi ci en t fo r fai l i n g t o o b ject o n h ears ay g ro u n d s t o t h e d et ect i v e’ s tes t im o n y at

t ri al

, [W ard ] h as fai l ed t o es t ab l i s h a reas o n ab l e p ro b ab il i t y t h a t

, b u t fo r co u n sel ’ s

[l ack o f an ] o b

ject i on t o t h e t es t i m on y i n q ues t i o n

, th e res u l t o f t he p ro ceed i n g wo u ld

8h av e been d i fferen t .” Jo n es v. S ta t e

, 3 2 9 Ga. A p p

. 4 7 8

, 4 8 3 (4 ) (7 65 SE2 d 6 5 7 )

(2 0 1 4) (ci t at i o n s o m it t ed ).

d

. Th i r d -p a r ty a n d co -i n d i ct ee s t a t emen t s.

W ard cl ai m s t h at hi s t ri al co u n sel was i n effect iv e i n fai l i ng t o o b ject to

s t at em en t s m ad e b y t h i rd -p art i es i n a reco rd ed tel ep h o ne cal l an d t o s t at em en t s o f a

co -i n d i ct ee wh o d i s ap p eared b e f o r e tri al

. Bu t W ard “ d o es n o t p o i n t t o an y s p eci fi c

[s t at em en t s b y t h i rd -p art ies o r t h e co -i n d ict ee] t o wh i ch h i s t ri al co u n s el s h o u l d h av e

o b ject ed [.] ” G i

p s o n v. S t a t e

, 3 3 2 Ga. Ap p . 3 0 9, 3 2 2 (8 ) (d ) (7 7 2 SE2 d 4 0 2 ) (2 0 1 5 ).

Acco rd in g ly

, t h es e cl ai m s p ro v i d e n o b as i s f o r fi n di n g i neffect i v e as s is t an ce o f

co u ns el

. See S t o kes v. S t a t e

, 2 8 1 Ga. 8 2 5

, 8 3 4 ( 8 ) (e) (6 4 2 SE2 d 8 2 ) (2 0 0 7 ) (n o

i n effect i v e as s i s t an ce s ho wn wh ere ap p el l an t fai led t o ci t e s p eci fi c d efi ci en ci es );

Co n wa y v. S t a te

, 2 8 1 Ga. 6 8 5

, 6 9 0 (3 ) (6 4 2 SE2 d 6 7 3 ) ( 2 0 0 7 ) (n o i n effect i v e

as s i s tan ce wh ere ap pel l an t fai l ed t o s h o w s p eci fi c i n st an ces o f co u n s el ’ s al l eg ed

fai l u re t o p rep are fo r t ri al ); Ben n et t v. S t a t e

, 2 89 Ga. Ap p. 11 0

, 1 1 4 (3 ) (6 5 7 SE2 d 6 )

(2 0 0 8) ( a p pel l an t fai l ed t o i den t i fy wi t nes s wh o m h e cl ai m ed co u n sel sh o u l d h av e

cal l ed at t ri al ).

e. Det ect i ve’s r eco r d

ed s t a t emen ts

.

9W ard arg u es t hat h i s t ri al co u n s el was i n effect i v e i n fai l i n g t o rai s e rel ev an ce

an d u lt i m at e i s s u e o bject i o n s t o s t at em en t s m ad e b y a d et ect i v e o n a reco rd i n g wh i ch

i n d i cat ed t he d et ect i ve’ s bel i ef t h at h i s i n v es ti gat i o n p o i n t e d t o W ard ’ s g u i l t

. Bu t

ev en as s u m i n g s u c h o b j ect io n s wo u l d h av e b een ap pro p ri at e, “ g i v en t h e

o v erwh el m i ng ev i d en ce o f g u i l t

, we can n o t s ay [t h es e b ri ef s tat em en t s] i n reas o n ab l e

p ro b ab i l i t y ch an g ed t he o ut co m e o f t h e tri al ; acco rd i n g l y

, [ Ward ] s u ffered n o

p reju d i ce fro m t ri al co un sel ’ s fai l u re t o o b ject t o this [ e v i d en ce] .” Cr a n ks h a w v. S t a t e

,

3 3 6 Ga. Ap p

. 7 00

, 7 0 3 (3 ) (d ) (7 8 6 SE2 d 24 5 ) (2 0 1 6) (ci t at i o n a n d pu n ct u at i o n

o m it t ed ).

5

. Mer g er

.

W ard arg u es t h at t h e t ri al co u rt sh o ul d h av e m erg ed th e at t em p t ed arm ed

ro b b ery an d t h e t wo bu rg l ary o ffen s es fo r s en t en ci n g b ecau s e al l t hree co u n t s were

b as ed o n t h e s am e co n d u ct

. W e ag ree t h at t he t wo co u nt s o f b u rg l ary s h o u l d h av e

b een m erg ed fo r s en t en ci n g ; h o wev er, t h e t ri al co u rt co rrect l y ru l ed t h at t h e at t em p t ed

arm ed ro b b ery

co u n t d i d n o t m erg e wi t h ei t h er o f t h e b u rg l ary o ffen ses

.

a. Bu r g l ar y co u nt s.

Th e t wo co u nt s of b u rg l ary u p o n wh i ch t h e ju ry fo u n d W ard t o b e g u i l t y were

b as ed o n t h e s am e u n l awfu l en t ry i n t o t h e v i c t i m ’ s h ou s e, b u t on e co u n t was

10p red i cat ed o n t h e in t en t t o co m m i t a t heft an d t h e o t h er w as p red i cat ed o n t he i n t en t

t o co m m i t an ag g rav at ed as sau lt

. Th e t ri al co urt i m p o s ed s ep arat e s en t en ces fo r each

b u r g l a r y co u n t. Ho wev er, “ [w] h ere o n e co u rs e o f co n d u ct v i o l at es o ne cri m i n al

s t at u te i n s ev eral way s d e s c r i b e d i n t h e s t at u t e, a d efen d an t i s g u i l ty o f o n l y o n e

cri m e. [Ci t s .] ” S

p ea r s v. S t a t e

, 2 9 6 Ga. 5 9 8

, 60 1 -6 0 2 (2 ) (7 69 SE2 d 3 37 ) (2 0 1 5 ).

Si n ce W ard ’ s o n e en try in t o t h e v i ct i m ’ s h ou s e was co m m i t t ed wi t h a d ual i n t en t to

co m m i t t h eft an d ag g rav at ed as s au l t

, t he tri al co u rt s h o u l d n o t hav e i m p o s ed t wo

s ep arat e s en t en ces an d i n s t e a d s h o u l d h av e m erg ed t he b u rg lary co u n t s fo r

s en t en ci n g

. See An dr ews v. St a t e

, 3 2 8 Ga. Ap p

. 3 4 4

, 34 8 (2 ) (a) (7 6 4 SE2 d 5 5 3 )

(2 0 1 4) (fi n d i ng t wo b u rg l ary co u n ts s ho u l d h av e m erg ed b ecau s e o n l y o n e b u rg l ary

o ccu rred wh ere defen d an t en tered b u i l d i ng wi t h d u al i n t en t o f co m m i t t i n g t h eft an d

rap e). Co m

p are S p ea rs

, su p ra (t wo s ep arat e en tri es au t h o ri zed s ep arat e s en t en ces fo r

t wo b u rg l ary co u n t s ). W e t h erefo re v acat e t h e erro n eous bur g la r y se n ten ces an d d i rect

t h e t ri al co u rt

, o n rem an d, t o m erg e t h e t wo b urg l ar y c o u n ts fo r sen t en ci n g

. See

An d rews , s u p ra.

b

. At t emp t ed

a r m ed r o b b er y.

Co n trary t o W ard ’ s arg u m en t

, t h e t ri al co u rt d i d no t err i n fai li ng t o m erg e t h e

at t em p t ed arm ed ro b b ery

wi t h t h e b u rg l ary

co u n t s fo r s en t en ci ng

.

11W h i l e an accu sed m ay b e p ro secu t ed fo r m o re t h a n o n e cri m e

ari s i ng o u t o f th e s am e cri m i n al co n du ct

, h e m ay n o t b e co n vi ct ed o f

m o re t h an o n e cri m e ari s i n g o u t o f t h e s am e cri m i n al co n d u ct wh ere o ne

cri m e i s i n cl ud ed i n t h e o th er. O CGA § 1 6 -1 -7 ( a ) (1 ). A cri m e i s

i n cl u d ed in t h e o t h er wh en : (1 ) It i s es tab l i s h ed b y p ro o f o f th e s am e o r

l es s t h an al l t h e fact s o r a l es s cu l p ab le m en tal s t at e t han i s req u i red t o

es t ab l i sh t h e co m

m i s s i on o f t h e cri m e ch arg ed ; o r (2 ) It d i ffers fro m th e

cri m e ch arg ed o n l y in t h e res p ect th at a l es s s eri o u s i n ju ry o r ri s k o f

i n ju ry to t h e s am e p ers o n

, p ro p ert y

, or pu b l i c i n t eres t o r a l es s er ki n d o f

cu l p ab i l i t y

s u ffi ces t o es t ab l i s h i t s co m m i s s io n

. OCGA § 1 6-1 -6 . W i t h

res p ect t o s u b s ect i o n (1 ), t he “ req u i red ev i d en ce t es t ” i s u t i l i z ed t o

d et erm i ne w h et h er m

u l t ip l e co n v i ct i o ns are p recl u ded b ecau se o n e o f

t h e cri m es was es t ab l i s h ed b y p ro o f o f t h e s am e o r l es s t h an al l t h e fact s

t h a t were req u i red t o es t ab l i s h t h e o t h er cri m e.

. . . [T] h at [req u i re d

ev i d en ce] t es t i s ex c l u s i ve t o a m erg er an al y s is u n d er OCGA § 1 6 -1 -6

(1 ); h o wev er, th ere are o t h er ci rcu m s t an ces i n wh i ch a m erg er an al y s i s

wi l l n ot en d wi t h t h e req u i red ev i den ce t es t

.

Reg en t v. S t a t e

, 29 9 Ga. 1 7 2, 1 7 5 (7 8 7 SE2 d 2 17 ) (2 0 1 6 ) (ci tat i o n s

, p u n ct u at i o n an d

em ph as i s o m i t t ed ).

In t h e in s t an t cas e, t h e at t em p t ed arm ed ro b bery an d b u rg l ary o ffen s es were n ot

es t ab l i s h ed b y p ro o f o f t h e s am e fact s an d t h us were n o t i n cl u d ed o ffen s es

.

Un d er Geo rg i a l aw, a p ers o n co m m i t s t h e o f

fen s e o f b u rg l ary wh en

, wi t h ou t au t ho 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

, h e en t ers o r rem ai n s wi th i n t h e dwel l i n g h o u se o f a n o t h er. A p ers o n

co m m i t s t h e offen s e o f cri m i n al at tem pt wh en , wi th i nt en t t o co m m i t a

s p eci fi c cri m e, h e p erfo rm s an y act wh i ch co n s t i t u t es a su b st an t i al s tep

t o ward t h e co m

m i s si o n of t h at cri m e. A p ers o n co m m i t s t h e offen s e o f

arm ed ro b b ery wh en

, wi t h i nt en t t o co m m it t h eft

, h e o r s h e t ak es

p ro p ert y o f an o t her fro m t h e p e r s o n o r t h e i m m ed i at e pres en ce o f

an o t her b y u se o f an offen s i v e weap on

, o r an y rep l i ca, art i cl e, o r d ev i ce

12h av i ng t h e ap p earan ce o f s u ch weap o n

. Th u s

, t h e el em en t s of bu rg l ary

an d at tem p t ed arm ed ro bb ery an d t he cu l p ab l e m en t al s t at es req u i red o f

t h es e cri m es are d i fferen t

.

Cu l br ea t h v. St a t e

, 32 8 Ga. Ap p

. 1 5 3

, 1 5 6-1 5 7 (2 ) (a) (7 6 1 SE2 d 5 57 ) (2 0 1 4 )

(c i t at i o n s o m i t t ed ). Becau s e t he b u rg l ary an d at tem p t ed arm ed ro b b ery o ffen s es in

t h i s cas e “ req ui re[d ] p ro o f o f at l eas t o n e fact d i fferen t fro m t h e o t h ers [,] t h es e cri m es

d i d n o t m erg e.” Id . at 1 57 (2 ) (a). See al s o Cr a nks h a w , s u p ra at 7 0 4 (4 ).

M o reo v er, W ard h as n ot s h o wn an d w e d o n o t fi n d an y fu rt h er ci rcu m s t an ces

u n d er wh i ch t h e at t em

p ted arm ed ro bb ery

an d b u rg l ary

o ffen s es i n t h i s cas e s h o u ld

h av e m erg ed

. Co m

p are Reg en t

, s u p ra at 1 75 -1 7 6 (fi n d i ng t h at t he ch arg ed ag g rav at ed

as s au l t an d ag g rav at ed bat t ery o ffen s es s h o u l d h av e m erg ed b ecau s e t h ey d i ff e r e d

o n l y i n t h e s eri o u s n es s o f t h e i n ju ry t o t he v i ct i m ). Th us

, ev en t h o u g h t h e t ri al co u rt

s h o u ld hav e m erg ed t h e b u rg l ary co u n t s

, as d i s cu s sed ab o v e, t h e t ri al co u rt d i d n ot

err i n refu s i n g t o m erg e t he at t em p t ed a r m e d r o b b ery wi t h t h e b u rg l ary co u n t s fo r

s en t en ci n g

.

J u dg men t af

f i r med i n p a r t a n d va ca t ed i n p ar t

, an d ca s e r ema n d

ed w i t h

d i r ect i o n. Mi l l er

, P. J. co n cu r

s. McMi l l i a n , J., co n cu rs i n t h e j u d g m en t o n ly.

13