FOURTH D I VI SI ON

DI LLA R D, C. J.

, D OYLE, P. J.

, and M ERCI ER, J.

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

June 19, 2018



# I n th e Co u r t o f

A p p eals o f

G eo r g ia

A1 8 A0 48 7 . DUNCAN v . THE STATE.

D I LLA R D , Ch i ef J u d g e.

Al fred Du n can ap p eal s h i s co n v i ct i o n s fo r p o ss es s i o n o f m et h am p het am i ne,

p o s s es s i o n o f m et h am

p h et am i ne wi t h i n t en t t o d i s t ri b u t e, t w o co u n ts of p o s s es s i o n

o f d ru g -rel at ed o b

ject s

, an d p o s s es s i o n o f a fi rearm b y a co n v ict ed fel o n

. Sp eci fi cal l y

,

Du n can arg u es t h at (1 ) t h e r e was i ns u ffi ci en t ev i d en ce t o s up p o rt hi s d ru g

co n vi ct i o n s ; (2 ) h i s t r i a l c o u ns el was i n effect i v e fo r fai l i n g t o fi l e a m o t i o n to

s u p p res s ev id en ce; (3 ) t h e t ri al co u r t e r r e d i n d en y i n g h i s p os t -t ri al m o t i o n fo r

fi ng erp ri n t t es t i n g ; an d (4 ) th e t ri al co u rt erred b y d en y i n g h i s m ot i o n fo r a d i rect ed

v erd i ct as t o the fi rearm -rel at ed co n v i ct i o n b ecau s e t h ere was a fat al v ari an ce b et ween

t h e o ffen s e al l eg ed in t he in d i ct m en t an d t h e p ro o f p res en t ed at t ri al

. Fo r t h e reas on s

s et fo rt h i n

f r a , we affi rm

.Vi ewed i n t h e l i g ht m o s t fav orab l e t o t h e ju ry ’ s v erd i ct

, 1 t h e ev i d en ce s h o ws

t h at o n M ay 5

, 20 1 4

, Am

y J oh n s o n an d h er b o y fri en d wen t t o Du n can ’ s ho u se aro u n d

n o o n t o g o fi s h i n g

. At s o m e p o i n t

, J o h n s o n ’ s b o y fri en d l eft

, an d s h e wen t i n s i d e

Du n can ’ s h o m e. J o h n s o n ’ s b o y fri en d di d no t ret u rn t h at d ay

, an d b ecau se Du n can

refu sed t o g i v e Jo h n so n a ri de o r let h er u se h i s p h o n e, s h e was fo rced t o s t ay t h e

n i g h t

. W h i l e J o h n s o n was t h ere, D u n can en tered t h e ro o m w here s h e w as s t ay i n g,

al o n g wi t h t wo ot h er p eo p l e, 2 an d as k ed h er t o h av e s ex u a l i n t erco u rs e o r o ral s ex

wi t h h i m

, b u t s h e refu s ed

. A l t ho u g h J o h n s o n t ri ed t o l eav e s ev eral t i m es

, Du n can t o ld

h er th at s h e “ was n ’ t g o i n g an y wh ere.” An d l at er t h at ev en i n g

, D u n c a n cam e i n to

J o h n so n ’ s ro o m ag ai n

, w av i n g a g u n an d s ay i n g “ s o m et h i n g ab o u t sex u al fav o rs .” On

M ay 7

, 2 0 1 4

, t wo day s aft er J oh n s o n fi rs t arri v ed at Du n can ’ s h o m e, s h e es cap ed an d

ran t o a fri en d’ s h o u se wh i l e h e was i n t h e s h o wer. 3 J o h n s o n t o ld h er fri en d an d h i s

1 S ee, e.g

. , Ha r t

zl er v. S ta t e , 3 3 2 Ga. Ap p . 6 7 4

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

2 H an n ah Gri ffi n tes t ifi ed t h at

, d u ri n g th e rel ev an t t i m e p eri o d (i n earl y M ay

2 0 1 4 ), s h e an d her b o y fri en d

, M i ch ael Bro wn

, v i s i t ed Du n can ’ s ho u s e, wh ere s h e s aw

“ a g i rl ” s h e d i d n o t k n o w. An d al t h o u gh Gri ffi n h ad n o in teract i o n wi t h t he g i rl at t h e

t i m e, s h e reco g n ized J o h n so n at t ri al as t h e p ers o n s h e h ad s een

. Acco rd in g t o Gri ffi n,

Bro w n an d Du n can were fri en d s

, an d t hey wen t to Du n can ’ s h o u s e becau s e t h e t wo

m en “ h ad s o m e d ru g b u s i n es s g o i n g o n

. ”

3 J o h n s o n ’ s t es t i m o n y

was n o t en t i rel y cl ear as t o h o w m an y d ay s an d n i g h t s

s h e s p en t at Du n can ’ s h o us e. Acco rd i n g to Jo h ns o n, h er d ays w e r e “ ru n n i n g

2s o n ab o u t t h e o rd eal an d req u es t ed a ri de h o m e, wh ere s h e l i v ed wi t h h er b o y fri en d

an d hi s p aren t s

. Th ey ag reed

, an d o n ce s h e arri ved h o m e, J o h n s on cal led 9 1 1 t o rep o rt

t h e i n ci d en t

. A s h eri ff’ s d e p u t y r e s p o n d ed t o t he cal l an d es co rt ed J o h n so n t o t h e

s h eri ff’ s d ep art m en t fo r q ues ti o n i n g

.

Aft er i nt erv iew i n g J o h n s o n

, l aw-en fo rcem en t o ffi cers wen t t o Du n can ’ s

res i den ce t o i n v es t i g at e fu rt h er. On ce t h ey arri v ed

, t h e o ffi cers k n ock ed o n t h e d o o r

an d an n o u n ced t h at th ey were fro m t h e s h eri ff’ s d ep art m en t, b u t i n i t i al l y

, th ere was

n o res p o n s e. Th ro u g h a wi n d o w, t h e o f f i cers saw d o o rs b ei n g cl o s ed an d h eard

m o v e m e n t i n th e h o u s e l i k e “ p eo p l e were s h u ffl i n g aro u n d,” wh ich led t h em to

b el i ev e t hat s o m eo ne was h om e. Fo r th i s reas o n

, t h ey co n t i n u ed to k n o ck o n t h e d o o r

an d y el l “ Sh eri ff’ s Offi ce[,] l o u d an d cl ear.” Ev en t ual l y

, ab o u t 2 0 m i n ut es aft er t h e

o ffi cers arri v ed

, Du n can an s wered t h e d o or, b u t h e refu s ed t o co n s en t t o a s earch o f

h i s h om e. As a res u lt

, t he o ffi cers ob t ai n ed a w arran t t o s earch Du n can ’ s h o m e fo r t h e

h an dg u n d es cri b ed b y Jo h n s o n

. An d du ri n g t h e s earch

, t h ey fo u n d a Cro wn Ro y al b ag

t h at co n t ai n ed a s il v er fl as k o r m arg ari t a s h ak er, t wo sm al l b ag g i es of wh at ap p eared

t o g et h er,” t h e en t i re ex p eri en ce fel t “ l i k e o n e b i g l on g d ay [,] ” an d s h e co u l d n o t recal l

t h e p art i cu l ar d at es

. Bu t o t h er wi t n es s t es t i m o n y es t ab l i s h ed t h at J o h n s o n w e n t to

Du n can ’ s h o u se o n M ay 5

, 2 0 1 4

, s p en t t wo n i g h t s th ere, an d es cap ed t h e h o u s e o n

M ay 7 , 2 0 1 4

.

3t o be m et h am p het am i n e, an o t h er s m al l bag wi t h wh at a p p e ared t o b e

m et h am p h et am i ne res i d u e, a “ m et h p i p e[,] ” an d a di g i t al scal e. G i ven t hi s d i s co v ery

,

t h e o ffi cers s o u g h t a s eco n d warran t t o s earch fo r o t her d ru g s an d d ru g parap h ern al i a,

b u t n o o t h er d ru g s w ere fo u n d

. Bu t wh il e w ai t i ng on th e s eco nd w arran t

, t h e o t h er

o ffi cers co n t i n u ed s earch i n g fo r t h e fi rearm

, wh i c h t h ey ev en tu al l y fo u n d “ i n a b ig

b o x b y t h e fro n t d o o r

. . . ” t h at al s o co n t ai n ed “ a b u n ch o f el ect ro n i cs t hat h ad b een

t ak en ap art .” T h e co n t en ts o f t h e Cro wn Ro y al b ag were t hen s en t t o t he cri m e l ab fo r

t es t i n g

, an d ju s t as t h e offi cers s u s p ect e d

, t h e s ub s tan ce i n s id e th e s m al l b ag g i es

t es t ed p o s i t i v e fo r m et h am p h et am i n e.

Th ere a f t er, Du n can was ch arg ed wi t h fal s e i m p ri s on m en t

, po s ses s i o n o f

m et h am p h et am i ne wi t h in ten t t o d i s t ri b u te, p o s ses s i o n o f m et h am p h et am i n e, t h eft by

recei v i ng s t ol en p ro p ert y

, p o ss es si o n o f a fi rearm b y a co n v i ct e d f e l o n

, an d t wo

co u nt s o f p o s s es s i o n o f d ru g -rel at ed o b ject s

. 4 An d fo ll o wi n g a ju ry tri al

, Du n can was

co n vi ct ed o f t h e fo reg o i ng d ru g -an d -fi rearm o ffen s es

, b u t fo u nd n o t g u i l ty o f fal s e

i m p ri s o n m en t an d t h eft b y recei v i n g s t o l en p ro p ert y

. Du n can fi l ed a m o t i o n fo r a n ew

4 Du ncan was al so ch arg ed wi th t w o co u nt s o f ag g rav at ed as sau l t

, bu t t h e t ri al

co u rt g ran t ed h i m

a d i rect ed v erd i ct o f acq u i t t al as t o t h o s e ch arg es

.

4t ri al an d a po s t -t ri al m o t i o n fo r i n d ep en d en t fi n g erp ri nt tes t i n g o f cert ai n ev i d en ce,

b u t aft er a h eari n g , t h e co u rt d en i ed b o t h m ot i o n s . Th i s ap p eal fo l l o ws

. 5

1

. D u n c a n fi rs t arg u es th at t h e tri al co u rt erred i n d en y i n g h is m o t i o n fo r a

d i rect ed v erd i ct as t o al l o f t h e d ru g -rel at ed ch arg es b ecau s e t h ere was in su ffi ci en t

ev i d en ce t o s u p po rt h i s co n v i ct i o n s fo r t h o s e o ffen s es . W e d i s ag ree. 6

5 Th i s i s t h e s eco n d t i m e Du ncan h as ap p eal ed h i s co n v i ct i on s

. W e d i s m i s s ed

h i s fi rs t ap p eal b ecau s e h e fai l ed t o fi l e an ap p el l at e b ri ef, ev en aft er we o rd ered h i m

t o d o s o o n o r b efo re a sp eci fi ed d at e. He th en s o u g h t p erm i s s i o n t o fi l e an o u t -o f

t i m e b ri ef, b ut we den i ed t h at req u es t b ecau s e h e h ad n o t s h o wn g o o d cau s e fo r h i s

fai l u re t o co m

pl y wi t h o u r o r d e r. Nev ert h el es s

, in th e d i s m i s s al o rd er, we ad v i s ed

Du n can t h at h e m i g h t h av e t he ri g h t t o an o u t-o f-t i m e ap p eal

, b u t h e wo ul d h av e t o

req u es t o n e i n t h e t ri al co u rt

. Su b s eq uen t l y

, Du n can fi led a m o t i o n fo r an o u t -o f-t i m e

ap p eal i n t he t ri al co u rt , wh i ch was g ran t ed , res u l t i n g i n t h e i ns t an t ap peal

.

6 A s t o h i s fi rs t cl ai m o f erro r, i n t h e arg u m en t sect i o n o f h i s ap pe l l a t e b r i e f

, Du n can m ak es cu rs o ry as s ert i o n s ab o u t th e ev i d en ce p res en t ed at t ri al

, wi t h o u t ci t i n g

t o t h e reco rd o r an y leg al au t h ori t y

. Un d er su ch ci rcu m s t an ces

, we hav e h e l d t h at a

ch al l en g e t o t h e su ffi ci en cy o f t h e ev i d en ce t o s u p p o rt a co n v i ct io n was ei t h er wai v ed

o r ab an d o n ed

. S

ee McBee v. S t a t e

, 2 9 6 Ga. Ap p

. 4 2

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

(h o l d i n g t h at d efen dan t wai v ed an y ch al l en g es t o t he s u ffi ci en cy o f t he ev i d en ce as

t o t wo of h is co n v i ct i o n s b ecau s e h e fai l ed t o s u p p o rt t h em wi t h co gen t arg u m en t o r

ci t at i o n o f au t h o ri t y ); H

ud s o n v. S t a t e

, 2 4 6 Ga. Ap p

. 3 3 5

, 3 3 5 ( 1 ) ( 53 9 SE2 d 8 6 0 )

( 2 0 0 0 ) (h o l d i ng t h at d efen d an t ’ s ch al len g es t o th e su ffi ci en cy o f t h e ev i d e n c e

p res en t ed at t ri al were ab an d on ed d u e t o h i s fai l u re t o i n cl ud e a st at em en t of fact s in

t h e ap p el l at e b ri ef an d t o ci t e t o

, o r ev en m en t i o n, an y rel ev an t fact s i n t h e arg u m en t

s ect i on o f t h at b ri ef). As ex p l ai n ed b y t h e Su p rem e Co u rt o f Geo rg i a, “ [i ] t i s a s o u n d

ru l e o f ap p el l at e p ract ice t h at t h e b urd en i s al way s o n t h e ap p el l an t i n as s ert i n g erro r

t o s h o w i t affi rm at i v el y b y t h e reco rd ,” a n d “ [i ] t i s no t t h i s Co u rt ’ s jo b t o cu l l t h e

reco rd on b eh al f of t h e p art y t o fi n d al l eg ed erro rs .” W es t mo r el a n d v. St a t e

, 2 8 7 Ga.

6 8 8

, 69 6 (1 0 ) (6 9 9 SE2 d 1 3 ) (2 0 1 0 ) ( punc tua t i o n o m it t ed ). Nev ert hel es s

, b ecau s e t h i s

5W h en a cri m i n al co n v ict i o n i s ap p eal ed

, t h e ev i d en ce m u s t be v iewed “ i n t h e

l i gh t m o s t fav o rab l e t o t he v erd i ct

, an d t h e ap p el l an t n o l on g er en jo y s a p res u m

p t i o n

o f i n no cen ce.” 7 An d

, o f co u rs e, i n ev al uat i n g t h e s u ffi ci en cy o f t he ev id en ce, we d o

n o t “ wei g h t he ev i den ce or d et erm i n e w i t nes s cred i b i li t y

, b u t o n l y d et erm i ne wh et h er

a rat i o n al t ri er o f fact co ul d h av e fo u n d t h e d efen d an t g u il t y o f t h e ch arg ed o ffen s es

b ey o n d a reas o n ab l e d ou b t .” 8 Th u s , we wi l l u ph o l d a ju ry ’ s v erd i ct s o l o ng as t h ere

i s “ so m e co m

p et en t ev i den ce, e v en th o ug h co nt rad i ct ed

, t o s u pp o rt each fact

n eces s ary t o m ak e ou t t h e St at e’ s cas e.” 9 B e a r i n g t h es e g u i d i ng p ri n ci p l es i n m i n d,

we t u rn n o w t o Du ncan ’ s s p eci f i c c h a l l en ge to t h e s u ffi ci en cy of t h e ev i d en ce

s u p p ort i n g h i s co n v i ct i o ns

.

Du n can arg u es t h at t h ere i s i n s u ffi ci e n t e v i den ce t o es t ab l i s h t h at h e was in

act u a l o r co n s t ru ct i v e p o s s es si o n o f t h e Cro wn Ro y al b ag

, wh i ch co nt ai n ed t h e

i s a cri m i n al cas e, an d gi v en t h e rel at i vel y s t rai g h tfo rward n at u re o f t h e ev i d en ce

b efo r e u s

, w e h av e rev i ewed t h e m eri t s o f hi s ch al l en g e t o t h e s uffi ci en cy o f t h e

ev i d en ce t o s u p po rt h i s co n v i ct i o n s

.

7 H a r t zl er

, 3 3 2 Ga. Ap p

. at 6 7 6 (1 ) (p u n ct u at i on o m i t t ed ); s ee Ja cks o n v.

Vi r g i n i a , 4 4 3 U.S. 3 07 , 3 1 9 (III) (B) (9 9 SCt 2 7 81 , 6 1 LE2 d 5 6 0 ) (1 9 7 9 ).

8 Ha r t z l er , 3 3 2 Ga. Ap p . at 6 7 6 (1 ) (p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed ).

9 Id

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

6m et h am

p h et am i ne an d rel at ed p arap hern al i a. 1 0 It i s wel l es t ab li s hed t hat “ p o s s es s i o n

o f dru g s can b e act u a l o r co n s t ru ct i v e, s o l e o r jo i n t .” 1 1 An d a p ers o n has act u al

p o s s es s i o n o f a t h i n g i f “ h e o r s h e k n o w i n g ly h as d i rect p h y s i cal co n t ro l o f i t at a

g i v en t i m e.” 1 2 On t h e o t h er han d

, a p ers o n w h 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 o wi n g l y h as b ot h t h e p ower an d i n t en t i o n at a g i v en t i m e t o ex erci s e do m i n i o n o r

co n tro l o v er a t h in g i s th en in co n s t ru ct i v e p o s s es s i o n o f it .” 1 3 Gen eral l y

, a fi n d i n g o f

co n st ru ct i v e p os s es s io n “ can n o t res t [s o l el y ] u p o n t h e p ers o n ’ s s p at i al p ro x i m i t y t o

1 0 P o s s es s i o n i s an es s en t i al el em en t of each o f Du ncan ’ s d ru g-rel a t e d

co n vi ct i o n s

. S

ee OCGA § 1 6 -1 3 -3 0 (a) (“ [I] t i s un l awfu l fo r an y p ers o n t o p u rch as e,

p o s s es s

, o r h av e u nd er h i s o r h er co n t ro l an y co nt ro l l ed s u b s tan ce.”); OCGA § 1 6 -1 3

-

3 0 (b ) (“ [I] t i s u n l awfu l fo r a n y p e r s o n t o

. . . p os s es s wi t h i n t en t to d i s tri b u t e an y

co n tro l l ed s u b s t an ce); OCGA § 1 6 -1 3 -3 2 .2 (“ It s hal l b e u n l awfu l fo r an y p ers o n to

u s e

, o r p o s s es s wi th t h e in t en t t o u s e, an y o b ject o r m at eri al s o f an y k i nd f o r t h e

p u rp os e o f p l an t i n g

, p ro p ag at i ng

, cu l t i v at i n g

, gro wi n g

, h arv es ti n g

, m an u fact u ri n g,

co m p o u n d i n g

, co n v ert i n g, p ro d u ci n g

, p ro ces s i n g, p rep ari n g

, t es t i n g

, an al y zi n g,

p ack ag i ng

, rep ack ag i ng

, st o ri n g

, co n t ai n i n g

, co n ceal i n g

, i nject i n g

, in g es t i n g,

i n h al i n g

, o r o t h erwi s e i n t ro d u ci n g i n t o t h e h u m an b o dy m ari j u a n a o r a co n t ro l l ed

s u b s t an ce.”).

1 1 Jo n es v

. S t a t e

, 3 3 9 Ga. A p p

. 9 5

, 9 7 (1 ) (a) (7 9 1 SE2 d 6 2 5 ) (2 0 1 6 )

(p u n ct u at i o n o m i tt ed ); acco r d Ma d d o x v. St a te

, 3 2 2 Ga. Ap p

. 8 1 1, 8 1 2 ( 7 4 6 SE2 d

2 8 0 ) (2 0 1 3 ).

1 2 Jo n es

, 3 3 9 Ga. Ap p

. at 9 7 -9 8 (1 ) (a) (p u nct u at i o n o m i t t ed ); a cco r d Ma d d ox

, 3 2 2 Ga. Ap p . at 8 12

.

1 3 Jo n es

, 3 3 9 Ga. Ap p. at 9 8 (1 ) (a) (p u n ct uat i on o m i t ted ); a cco r d Ma d d o x

, 3 2 2

Ga. Ap p . at 8 1 2

.

7t h e o b

ject .” 1 4 Nev ert h el es s, i f t h e St at e pres en t s ev id en ce th at a d efen d an t o wn ed o r

co n tro l l ed p rem i s es wh ere co n t rab an d was fo un d

, “ i t g i v es ri s e t o a reb u t t ab l e

p res u m p t i o n t h a t t h e d efen d an t p o s s es sed th e co n t rab an d.” 1 5 An d wh i l e t h i s

p res u m p t i o n m ay b e reb u t t ed b y s h o wi n g t h at o t h ers h ad acces s t o t h e p rem i s es

, t h e

eq u al -acces s do ct ri n e “ ap p l i es t o reb u t t h e p res u m p t i o n o f p o s s es s i o n o n ly wh ere t h e

s o l e ev i d en ce o f p o s ses s i o n o f co n t rab an d fo u n d o n t h e p rem i s es i s t h e d efen d an t ’ s

o wn ers hi p o r p o s ses s i o n o f t h e p rem i s es .” 1 6 Si g n i fi can t l y

, h owev er, s o l o n g as t h ere

i s “ s l i g ht ev i d en ce o f acces s, p o wer, an d i n t e n t i o n t o ex erci s e co n t ro l o r d o m i n i o n

1 4 Fel ici a n o v. S t a t e

, 3 0 2 G a

. A p p

. 32 8

, 3 3 0 (6 9 0 SE2 d 6 80 ) (2 01 0 ); s ee

H o d g es v. S t a t e

, 27 7 Ga. Ap p

. 1 74

, 1 7 4 (6 2 6 SE2 d 1 3 3) (2 0 0 6 ) (“ A fi n d i n g o f

co n st ru ct i v e p o ss es s i o n m u st b e b as ed u po n s o m e co n n ect i o n b et ween t h e d efen d an t

an d t h e co n t rab an d o t h er th an s p at i al p ro x i m i t y

. Ev i den ce o f m ere p r e s e n ce at t h e

s cen e o f t h e cri m e, an d n o t h i n g m o re t o s h o w p art i ci p at i o n o f a d efen d an t i n t h e

i l leg al act , i s i n s uffi ci en t t o s u pp o rt a co n v i ct i o n .” (p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed )).

1 5 Ba i l ey v. S t a te

, 29 4 G a. A p p

. 4 3 7

, 3 3 9 -4 0 (1 ) (6 6 9 SE2 d 4 53 ) (2 0 0 8 )

(p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed ); s ee Ta yl o r v

. S t a t e

, 3 0 3 Ga. Ap p

. 8 8

, 9 0 (6 93 SE2 d 1 1 8 )

(2 0 1 0) (“ W h i l e i t i s t ru e t h at o wn ers h i p o f t h e prem is es d o es n o t rai s e a p res u m p t i o n

t h at t he o wn er po s s es s ed al l p ro p ert y co n tai n ed t h erei n

, o n ce t h e ju ry d et erm i n ed t h at

[t he d efen d an t ] l i v ed i n th e res i d en ce i n q u es t i o n

, i t co u l d i nfer t h at t h e co n t rab an d

fo u n d i n s i d e b el o n ged t o h i m .” (p u n ct u at i on an d ci t at i o n o m i t t ed )).

1 6 Ba i l ey

, 2 9 4 Ga. Ap p . at 4 40 (1 ) (p u nct u at i o n o m i t t ed ); a cco r d Ta yl o r

, 3 0 3

Ga. Ap p . at 9 0 -9 1

.

8o v er an i n s t ru m en t al it y

, t h e q u e s t i o n o f fact reg ard i ng co n s t ru ct i ve p o s s es s i o n

rem ai n s wi t h in t h e d o m ai n o f t h e t ri er o f fact .” 1 7

Here, t h e St at e p res en t ed am pl e ev i d en ce of Du ncan ’ s co n s t ru ct i v e p o s s es s i o n

o f t h e m et h am

ph et am i n e an d d ru g p arap h ern al ia fo u n d i n s i d e t he Cro wn Ro y al b ag

.

To b eg in wi t h

, t h e co n t rab an d was fo u n d i n Du n can ’ s res i d en ce, wh i ch au t h o ri zes a

ju ry t o p res u m e t h at h e po s s es s ed i t

. Seco n d, Gri ffi n tes t i fi ed t h at Du n can an d Bro wn

h ad a “ d ru g b u s i nes s g oi ng o n .” Gri ffi n fu rt h er t es t i fi ed t h at b o t h Du n can an d Bro wn

“ s m o k ed m et h

, ” an d wh en as k ed wh ere t he dru g s cam e fro m

, s h e s t a t e d t h a t t h ey

“ w e r e s el l i n g i t t og et h er.” An d t h i s t es ti m o n y was co n s i s t en t wi th t h at of a l a w

en fo rcem en t o ffi cer, wh o had ex p eri en ce in n arco t i cs an d t es ti fi ed t h at t h e i t em s

co n tai n ed i n t h e Cro wn Ro y al b ag

, s u ch as s ep arat e b ag g i es an d a d i g it al s cal e, s h o w

an i n t en t t o d i s t ri b ut e d ru g s

. Fi n al l y

, wh en l aw-en fo rcem en t o ff i c e r s kn o ck ed o n

Du n can ’ s d o o r an d rep eat ed l y an n o u n ced t hei r p res en ce, h i s s u s p i ci o u s b eh av i o r al s o

e v in ced a co n n ect io n b et w een h i m s el f an d t h e i ll eg al co n t rab an d

. In d eed

, a s

1 7 Pr a th er v

. S t a t e

, 2 9 3 Ga. Ap p

. 3 1 2

, 3 1 3 (1 ) (6 6 7 SE2 d 1 1 3 ) (2 0 0 8 )

(p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed ); a cco r d Ba i l ey , 2 9 4 Ga. Ap p. at 4 40 (1 ).

9p rev i o u s l y n o t e d

, Du n can refu s ed t o an s wer t h e d o o r fo r ab o u t 2 0 m i n u t es

, d u ri n g

wh i ch t i m e t h e o ffi cers h eard p eo p l e i n s i d e “ s hu ffl i n g aro u n d

. ” 1 8

Du n can ’ s s o l e arg u m en t ap p ears t o be t h at t h e ev i d en ce was i n s u ffi ci en t to

es t ab l i s h t h at h e po s s es s ed t h e Cro wn Ro y al bag b ecau se t he St at e fai l ed t o p ro v e t h at

i t d i d n o t b el o n g to Bro wn

, wh o f l ed t h e s cen e aft er t h e l aw-en fo rcem en t o ffi cers

arri v ed

. W i t h o u t p ro v i d i n g ci t at i on s t o an y s p eci fi c t es t i m o n y or o t h er ev i d en ce,

Du n can m ai n t ai ns t h at

, o t h er t h an t he d i s co v ery o f t he c o n t r a b a n d i n h is ho m e, t h e

o n l y ev i d en ce t h e St at e p res en t ed t o es t ab l is h h i s p o s ses s i o n o f t he Cro w n Ro y al b ag

was Gri ffi n ’ s t es t i m o n y th at “ ev ery b o d y h ad b een d o i n g/ s m o ki n g m et h an d t h at b o th

B r o w n an d D u n can kep t t h ei r m et h am ph et am i n e i n Cro wn Ro y al b ag s .” 1 9 At t r i a l

,

1 8 S e e Vi nes v. S t a t e

, 2 9 6 Ga. Ap p

. 5 4 3

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

(h o l d i n g t hat t h e o d o r o f m ari ju an a co m

b i n ed wi t h

, i n ter a l i a

, t h e d e f e n d a n t ’ s

s u s p i ci o u s

, n erv o u s b eh av i or was s u ffi ci en t to es tab l is h t h e d efen d an t ’ s co n s t ru ct i v e

p o s s es s i o n o f t h e d ru g s ); Ma rs h a l l v. S t a t e , 2 9 5 Ga. Ap p. 3 5 4

, 3 5 5 (6 7 1 SE2 d 8 6 0 )

(2 0 0 8) (h o l di n g t h at t h e d efen d an t ’ s co n s t ru ct i v e p o s s es s i o n o f t h e d ru g s was

es t ab l i s h ed

, i n p art

, b y h is s u s pi ci o u s b eh av i or i n fl eei n g t o t he ro o m w h ere t h e d ru g s

were l o cat ed aft er p o l i ce o ffi cers en t ered h i s ap art m en t ).

1 9 Ev en i f t h e ev id en ce es t ab l i s h ed t hat D u n c a n a n d Bro wn bo t h h ad eq u al

acces s t o an d co n t ro l o ver t h e Cro wn Ro y al b ag

, t h e St at e can “ es t ab l i s h t h e el em en t

o f p o ss es s i o n b y

s h o wi n g t h at [Du n can ] was i n j o i n t co n s tru ct i ve p o ss es s i o n o f t h e

co n trab an d .” E

d wa r d s v. S t at e

, 3 0 6 Ga. Ap p

. 7 1 3

, 7 1 6 (7 0 3 SE2 d 1 30 ) (2 0 1 0 )

(em p h as i s s u p p l i ed ); s ee In t he In t er es t o f D. H.

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

(2 0 0 9) (“ J o i n t co n s t ru ct iv e p o s s es s i o n wi t h an ot h er w i l l s u s t a i n [a co n vi ct i o n ] fo r

p o s s es s i o n o f co n trab an d .” (p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t e d) ) ; W ate rs v

. S tat e

, 2 8 0 G a. Ap p

. 5 6 6,

10Du n can t es t i fi ed i n hi s o w n d efen s e t h at Bro wn fl e d h i s h o m e w h en t h e o ffi cers

arri v ed

, t h at Bro wn o wn ed t h e Cro w n Ro y al b ag co nt ai ni n g t h e co n t rab an d

, an d t h at

Du n can h ad n ev er s een th e b ag b efo re law-en fo rcem en t offi cers d is co v ered i t

. B u t

al t h o u g h Du n can d en i ed an y k no wl ed g e o f t h e co n trab an d

, t h e ju ry was “ n ot

o b l i g at ed t o b el i ev e [h i m ] ev en i f [h i s ] tes t i m on y i s un co n t rad i ct ed an d m ay accep t

o r reject an y po r t i o n o f t h e t es t im o n y

. ” 2 0 Fu rt h erm o re, co nt rary t o Du n can ’ s

arg u m en t

, t h e St at e “ i s n ot req u i red t o d is p ro v e b are po s s i b i l i t i es t h at t h e cri m e co u ld

h av e b een co m

m i t t ed b y s o m eo n e el s e.” 2 1 In su m

, g i v en Du n can ’ s fai l u re to reb u t t h e

5 6 7 (6 34 SE2 d 5 0 8 ) (2 0 0 6 ) (s am e).

2 0 S t a t e v. St a r

ks

, 2 8 1 Ga. Ap p

. 1 5

, 1 6 (6 3 5 SE2 d 3 2 7 ) (2 0 0 6 ); see Ta t e v. S t a t e

, 2 6 4 Ga. 5 3

, 5 6 (3 ) (4 4 0 SE2 d 6 4 6 ) (1 9 9 4 ) (“ Cred i b i l i t y o f wi t n es s es an d t he wei g ht

t o b e gi v en t h ei r t es t i m o n y i s a d eci s i o n -m ak i n g p ower t h at l i es so l el y wi t h t h e t ri er

o f fact

. Th e t ri er o f fact is n o t o b l i g at ed t o b el i ev e a wi t n es s ev en if t h e t es t i m o n y i s

u n co nt rad i ct ed an d m ay accep t o r reject an y po rt i o n o f th e t es t i m o n y .”); S t a t e v.

Br o wn , 2 7 8 Ga. Ap p . 4 57

, 4 6 0 (6 2 9 SE2 d 1 2 3 ) (2 0 06 ) (s am e).

2 1 Na n g r ea ve v. St a t e

, 31 8 Ga. A p p

. 4 3 7

, 4 3 9 (1 ) (7 3 4 SE2 d 2 0 3 ) (2 0 1 2 ); s ee

Ea s on v. S ta t e

, 2 1 7 Ga. 8 31

, 8 42 (4 ) (1 2 5 SE2 d 4 8 8 ) ( 1 9 6 2 ) (“ It [i s ] n o t n eces s ary

[fo r t h e St at e] t o s h o w th at i t w as i m p o s s i b l e fo r th e o ffen se t o h av e b een co m m i t t ed

b y an y b o d y el s e, o r t h at i t m i g h t n o t

, b y bare p o s s i b il i ty

, hav e b een d on e by an o t h er.”

(p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed )); P r a t h er

, 2 9 3 Ga. Ap p. at 3 13 (1 ) (“ [T] o warran t a co n v i ct i o n

o n ci rcu m s t an t i al ev i d en ce, t h e p ro v ed fact s n eed ex cl ud e o n ly r ea s o n a b l e

h y p o t h es es

— n o t bare p o ss i b i l i t i es t h at t h e cri m e co u l d h a v e b een co m m i t t ed by

s o m eo n e el s e. A n d q u es t i o ns o f reas on ab l en e s s a r e g en eral l y deci d ed b y t h e ju ry .”

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

11p res u m

p t i o n t h at h e was i n p o s s es s i o n o f t h e co n trab an d fo u n d i n hi s h o m e, co m b i n ed

wi t h t h e ot h er ev i d en ce det ai l ed s u p r a

, t h e ju ry was au t h o ri zed t o fi n d t h at h e was in

co n st ru ct i v e p o ss es s i o n o f th e d ru g s an d d ru g -rel at ed o b j ect s co n t ai n ed i n t h e Cro wn

Ro y al b ag

. 2 2

2

. Du n can n ex t arg ues t h at h i s t ri al co u n s el w as in effect i v e fo r f a i l i n g t o fi l e

a m o t i o n t o s u p p res s t h e dru gs an d dru g -rel at ed o b ject s fo u n d d u ri n g t h e s earch o f h i s

h o m e. Ag ai n , we d i s ag ree.

In ev al u at i n g cl ai m s o f i n effect i v e a s s i s t an ce o f co u n s el

, we ap p ly t h e two

p ro n ged t es t es t ab l i s h ed i n S t r i ckl a n d v. W a s h i ng t o n

, 2 3 “ wh i ch req u i res [a d efen d an t ]

2 2 S ee E va n s v

. S t a te

, 31 8 Ga. A p p

. 7 06

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

(h o l d i n g t h at t h e p res u m

p t i o n t h e d efen d an t po s ses s ed t h e co n trab an d fo u n d i n s i d e

h i s res i d en ce, co u p l ed wi t h ev i d en ce t h at t h e he was “ b a n g i n g ” o n t h e d o o r o f t h e

p art i cu l ar ro o m wh ere i t was fo u n d

, h i s at t em p t t o fl ee fro m p o li ce, an d h is refu s al to

ad m i t po l i ce i n t o t h e ho u s e, w a s s u f f i ci en t t o s u p p o rt h i s p o s s es s i o n co n v i ct i o n );

Ta yl o r

, 3 0 3 Ga. Ap p

. at 9 0 -9 1 (h o l d i n g th at th ere was s uffi ci en t ev i den ce t o es t ab l i s h

t h e d efen d an t h ad act u al o r co ns t ru ct i v e p o s s es si o n o f d ru g s wh en t h e d efen d an t l i v ed

i n t h e res i den ce wh ere t h e d ru g s w ere fo u n d an d s o l d dru g s fro m t h e res i d en ce);

Tu r ner v. S t a t e

, 2 9 8 Ga. Ap p. 10 7

, 1 09 (6 7 9 SE2 d 1 2 7 ) (2 00 9 ) (h o l d i n g t hat t h e ju ry

co u ld p res um e t h e d efen d an t h ad acces s an d co n t ro l o v er area wh ere t h e d ru g s were

l o cat ed wh en h e res i d ed at t h e h o m e an d i t was u p to th e j u ry t o d et erm i n e wh et h er

t h i s p res u m

p t i o n was o v erco m e b y t h e d efen dan t ’ s t es t i m o ny t h at t h e d ru gs b el o n g ed

t o o t h er p eo p l e wh o were at t h e h ou s e s h ort l y b efo re t h e s earch ).

2 3 4 6 6 U.S. 6 6 8 (1 0 4 SCt 2 0 5 2

, 8 0 LE2 d 6 7 4 ) (1 9 84 ); see a l s o As h mi d v. S t a t e

, 3 1 6 Ga. Ap p . 5 5 0 , 5 5 6 (3 ) (7 30 SE2 d 3 7 ) (2 0 1 2 ).

12t o s h o w t h at h i s t ri al co u n s el ’ s p erfo rm an ce w as defi ci en t an d t h at t h e d e f i c i en t

p erfo rm an ce s o p reju d i ced [h i m ] t h at th ere i s a reas o n ab l e l i k e l i h o o d t h at

, b u t fo r

co u ns el ’ s erro rs

, t h e o u t co m e o f t h e t ri al wo ul d hav e b een d i fferen t .” 2 4 Ad d it i o n al l y

,

t h ere i s a st ro n g p res u m

p t i o n t h at t ri al co un s el ’ s co n d u ct “ fal l s wi t h i n th e b ro ad ran g e

o f reas o n ab l e p ro fes s i o n a l co n d u ct

, an d a cri m i n al defen d an t m u s t ov erco m e t h i s

p res u m p t i o n .” 2 5 Part i cu l arl y rel ev an t to t h i s cas e, “ wh en t ri al co u n s el ’ s fai l u re t o fi l e

a m ot i o n t o s u p pres s i s t h e bas i s fo r a cl ai m o f i n effect i v e as s i s t an ce, t h e d efen d an t

m u st m ak e a s t ro n g s h o wi n g th at t he d am ag i n g ev i d en ce w o u ld h av e b een s u p p res s ed

h ad co u ns el m ad e t h e m ot i o n .” 2 6 Las t l y

, u n l es s cl earl y erro n eo u s

, we wi l l “ u p h o l d a

t ri al co u rt ’ s fact ual d et erm i nat i o n s wi t h res p ect to cl ai m s o f i n effect i v e as s is t an ce o f

co u n s e l ; h owev er, a t ri al co u rt ’ s l eg al co n cl u s i on s i n th i s reg ard are rev i ewed d e

2 4 Ho wa r d v. S t a t e

, 3 4 0 Ga. Ap p. 1 3 3

, 1 3 9 (3 ) (7 9 6 SE2 d 75 7 ) (2 0 1 7 )

(p u n ct u at i o n o m i t ted ); s ee S t r i ckl a n d

, 4 6 6 U.S. at 6 8 7 (III); As h mi d

, 3 1 6 Ga. Ap p

. at

5 5 6 (3 ).

2 5 Ho wa r d

, 3 4 0 G a

. A p p

. at 1 3 9 (3 ); a cco r d Ch a p m a n v. S t a t e

, 27 3 Ga. 3 4 8,

3 5 0 (2 ) (5 4 1 S E2 d 6 3 4 ) (2 0 0 1 ); s ee Ca mmer v. W a l ker

, 2 9 0 Ga. 2 5 1, 2 55 (1 ) (7 1 9

SE2 d 4 3 7 ) (2 01 1 ) (“ A cl ai m o f i n effect i v e as s is tan ce o f co un s el i s ju d g ed b y wh et h er

co u ns el ren d ered reas o n ab l y effect i v e as si s tan ce, no t b y a st an d a r d o f e r ro rl es s

co u ns el o r b y

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

2 6 D a v i s v. S ta t e

, 2 6 7 Ga. Ap p. 24 5

, 2 46 (2 ) (5 9 9 SE2 d 2 3 7 ) ( 2 0 0 4 )

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

13n o vo

. ” 2 7 W i t h th es e g u i d i n g p ri n ci p l es i n m i n d

, we w i l l n ow co n s i d er t hi s cl ai m o f

erro r.

Du n can arg u es t hat h i s t ri al co u n s el was in effect i v e fo r fai l i n g t o fi l e a m o t i o n

t o s up p res s t h e d ru g s an d dru g-rel at ed ev i d en ce b ecau s e th e s earch o f t h e Cro wn

Ro y al b ag ex ceed ed t h e s co p e o f t h e i n i t i al warran t

, wh i c h o n l y au t h o ri zed t h e

o ffi cers t o s earch f

or a fi rearm

. Acco rd i n g t o Du n can

, t h e co n t en t s o f t h e Cro wn

Ro y al bag were n o t read i l y ap p aren t, an d an y o n e p i ck i ng u p t h e b ag

, wh i ch co n t ai n ed

l i gh t w ei g h t it em s

, wo u l d h av e k n o wn t hat i t d i d n o t co n tai n a fi rearm . Bu t we h av e

h el d i n s im i l ar ci rcu m s t a n c e s t h at p ol i ce o ffi cers were au t ho ri zed t o s earch a s m al l

“ Cro wn Ro y al ” fab ri c b ag fo r a f i r e arm wh en on l y d ru g s an d d ru g -rel at ed

p arap h ern al i a were u l t i m at el y f o un d i n s i d e t h e b ag

. 2 8 Fu rt herm ore, as prev i o u s l y

m en t i o n ed

, Du n can t es t i fi ed in h is o wn d efen se, d en y i n g an y k n o w l ed ge o f t h e

Cro w n Ro y al b ag an d co n t en d i n g t h at Bro wn own ed t h e b ag an d i t s co n t en t s

. Un d er

s u ch ci rcu m s tan ces

, Du n can h ad n o l eg i t i m at e ex p ect at i o n o f p ri v acy i n that i t em

, an d

2 7 Ho wa rd

, 3 4 0 Ga. Ap p

. at 1 3 9 (3 ) (p u nct u at i o n o m i t t ed ); a cco r d S o wel l v.

S t a t e , 3 2 7 Ga. Ap p

. 5 3 2 , 5 3 9 (4 ) (7 5 9 SE2 d 6 0 2 ) (2 0 14 ).

2 8 S ee e.g

. , W a d e v. S t at e , 1 8 4 Ga. Ap p . 9 7 , 9 7 -9 8 (3 6 0 SE2 d 6 4 7 ) (1 9 8 7 ).

14t h u s

, h e l ack ed s tan d i n g t o ch al len g e t h e s earch

. 2 9 In d eed

, at t h e m o ti o n -fo r-n ew-t ri al

h eari n g

, D u n can ’ s t ri al co u n s el t es t i fi ed t h at h e h ad n o co ncern s ab o u t t h e

co n st i t u t io n al i ty o f t he s earch

. An d g i v en t h at Du n can lack ed s t an di n g to ch al l en g e

t h e search o f t he Cro wn Ro y al b ag

, h i s co u n s el w as n ot i n effect i v e fo r fai l i n g t o fi l e

a m eri t l es s m o t i o n to s u p p res s t h e d ru g -rel at ed ev i d en ced d i s co v ered i n t h e b ag

. 3 0

2 9 See Na t i o n v. S t a t e

, 2 5 2 Ga. Ap p

. 6 20

, 6 23 (2 ) (5 5 6 SE2 d 1 9 6 ) (2 0 0 1 )

(h o l d i n g t h at w h en a defen d an t d i s av o ws o wn ers hi p o f o r o t h er leg i ti m at e po s s es s o ry

i n t eres t i n t h e it em s earch ed

, h e h as no l eg i t i m at e ex p ect at i o n o f p ri v acy i n t h at i t em

,

t h e s earch v i o l at es n o l eg al ri g h t , an d t h e d efen d an t l ack s s t an d i ng t o ch al l en g e t h e

s earch ); S ca n d r et t v. S ta t e

, 2 4 4 Ga. Ap p. 20 0

, 2 0 1 (5 3 4 SE2 d 9 0 8 ) (2 00 0 ) (“ [W ] h en

t h e accu s ed d i s av ows o wn ers h i p o f o r o t h er leg i ti m at e p o s s es s o ry i nt eres t i n t h e i t em

s earch ed

, h e h as n o l eg i t i m at e ex p ect at i o n o f pri v acy i n t h at i tem

, an d t h u s a s earch

v i o l at es n o ri gh t .” (p u nct u at i o n o m i t t ed ); W a d e

, 1 8 4 Ga. Ap p

. at 9 7 -9 8 (s am e); s ee

a l s o Th oma s v. S t a t e

, 2 7 4 Ga. 1 5 6, 1 5 9 (3 ) 5 4 9 SE2 d 3 5 9 ) (2 0 0 1 ) (“ W h e n a n

i n d i v i d u al h as no own ers h i p o r p o s ses s o ry i n t eres t i n t h e p rem i s es

, t h e i n d i v i d u al h as

n o ex p ect at i o n o f p ri v acy , an d t h erefo re, l ack s s tan d i ng t o ch al l en g e t h e v al i d i t y o f

a s earch .”).

3 0 S ee Lo ckh ea r t

v. S t a t e

, 2 8 4 Ga. 7 8, 8 0 (3 ) (6 6 3 SE2 d 2 1 3) (2 00 8 ) (h o l d i n g

t h at d efen s e co u ns el ’ s fai lu re t o fi l e a m eri t les s m o ti o n t o s u p p res s ev i d en ce d i d n ot

am ou n t to i n effect i v e as si s t an ce); S co t t v. S t a t e

, 2 9 8 Ga. Ap p

. 3 7 6

, 3 80 (4 ) (a) (6 8 0

SE2 d 4 8 2 ) (2 0 0 9 ) (n o t i n g t h a t a t ri al co u n s el i s n o t defi ci en t fo r fai l i n g t o fi l e a

fri v ol o u s m o t i o n an d ho l d i n g t h at t h e d efen d an t ’ s co u ns el was n o t i n effect i v e fo r

fai l i n g t o fi l e a m o t i o n t o su p p res s ev i d en ce wh en t h e d efen d an t h ad n o s t an d i n g t o

ch al l en g e t h e l eg al i t y o f t h e s earch ); Ki n g v. St a t e

, 28 7 Ga. Ap p

. 3 7 5

, 37 7 (2 ) (a) (6 5 1

SE2 d 4 9 6 ) (2 0 0 7) (“ It i s n ot i n effect i v e as s i s t an ce of co u n sel t o refrai n fro m m ak i n g

a fu t i le m o t i o n o r fi l in g a m eri tl es s m ot i o n t o s u pp res s .” (p u n ct uat i o n o m i t t ed )).

153

. Du ncan nex t arg u es t h at t h e t ri al co u rt ab u sed i t s d i s cret i o n i n d en y i n g h i s

p o s t -t ri al m o t i on fo r fi n gerp ri n t t e s t i n g

, w h i ch was n eces s ary t o s u pp o rt o n e o f h i s

i n effect i v e-as si s tan ce-o f-co u n s el cl ai m s

. Bu t Du n can h as pro v i d ed n o leg al au t h o ri t y

(an d we h av e fo u nd n o n e) s u g g es t i n g t h at a t ri al co u rt ab u s es i t s d i s cret i o n by

d en y i n g a p o s t -t ri al r e q u es t fo r fo ren s i c t es ti n g of ev i d en ce, an d t hu s

, h e h as

ab an do n ed h i s ch al l en ge t o t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s ru l i ng i n t h i s reg ard

. 3 1

3 1 S ee B l a n t o n v. S t a te

, 3 2 4 Ga. A p p

. 61 0

, 6 15 (2 ) (a) n

. 1 0 (7 5 1 S E 2 d 4 3 1 )

(2 0 1 3) (fi n d i n g t h at ap p el l an t ab an d o n ed a cl ai m b y fai l i n g t o ci t e an y au t h o ri t y to

s u p p ort i t ); Cl ar ke v. S t at e

, 3 1 7 Ga. Ap p

. 4 71

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

( h o l d i n g t h at arg u m en t was wai v ed b y ap p el l an t ’ s fai lu re t o ci t e l eg al au t h o ri t y i n

s u p p ort t h ereo f); Co u rt o f Ap p eal s R. 2 5 (c) (2 ) (“ A n y en u m erat i o n o f erro r wh i ch i s

n o t s u p p o r t e d i n t h e bri ef b y ci tat i o n o f au t h o ri t y o r arg u m en t m ay b e d eem ed

ab an do n ed .”). Th e s o l e wi t n es s at t h e m o t i o n

- f o r

- n ew-t ri al h eari n g

, Du n can ’ s t ri al

co u ns el

, tes t ifi ed t h at h e d i d n o t req u es t fi n gerp ri n t t es t i n g b ecau s e “ th ere were l aw[-]

en fo rcem en t p eo p l e al l aro u n d h an d li n g s tu ff.” Co un s el al s o t es ti fi ed th at

, b as ed o n

h i s ex p eri en ce, i t i s d i ffi cu l t t o l i ft fi n g erp ri n ts fro m cl o th

, s u ch as th e Cro wn Ro y al

b ag

. A n d Du n can p res en t ed n o t e s t i m o n y o r o t h er ev i d en ce at t he m o t i o n -fo r-n ewt ri al h eari n g t o s h o w th at fi n g erp ri n t t es t i n g o f an y p art i cu l ar p i ece o f ev i d en ce, ei t h er

p ri o r t o t ri al o r at t hi s lat e st ag e i n t h e pro ceed i n g, wo ul d p ro d u ce an y ex cu l p at o ry

ev i d en ce t h at co ul d h av e ai d ed i n hi s d efen s e. S ee Mo o d y v. S t a t e

, 2 77 Ga. 6 7 6

, 6 8 1

(6 ) (a) (5 9 4 SE2 d 3 5 0 ) (2 0 0 4 ) (h o l di n g t h at

, wh en th e ap pel l an t d i d n o t o f f e r wh at

ex cu lp at o ry ev i d en ce an i n v es t i g at o r m i g h t hav e fo u n d o r res u lt s a s ci en t i fi c an al y s i s

wo u l d h av e s h o wn

, h e d i d n ot s h ow h e was preju d iced b y h i s co u n sel ’ s act i o n in

fai l i n g t o h i re an i n v es t i gat o r o r o b t ai n a s ci en t i fi c an al y s i s ); Bu tt s v. S t at e

, 2 7 9 Ga.

Ap p

. 2 8

, 3 0 (2 ) (6 30 SE2 d 1 8 2 ) (2 0 0 6 ) (h ol d in g t h at t ri al co u n s el was n o t i n effect i v e

fo r fai li n g t o o b t ai n cert ai n fo ren s i c ev i d en ce, s u ch as fi n g erp ri n t t es ti n g

, wh en t h e

d efen d an t fai l ed t o s h o w t hat an y s u ch ev i d en ce ex i s t ed o r wo u l d h av e ten d ed to

ex cu lp at e h i m ). Th u s

, t o t h e ex t en t t h at Du n can co n t en d s th at h i s t ri al co un s el was

i n effect i v e fo r n o t req ues ti n g t h e fi ng erp ri n t t es t i n g pri o r t o t ri al

, h i s cl ai m l ack s

164

. Las t l y

, Du n can co n ten d s t h at t he t ri al co u rt erred i n fi n di n g t h at t h ere was

n o fat al v ari an ce b et ween t he co u n t o f t h e in d i ct m en t ch arg i ng h i m wi t h p o s s es s i o n

o f a fi rearm b y a co n vi ct ed fel o n an d t h e ev i d en ce p res en t ed at tri al

. Sp eci fi cal l y

, h e

n o t es t h at t he i nd i ct m en t i d en t i fi ed h i s p ri o r fel o n y co n v i ct io n as o n e fo r p o s s es s i o n

o f a fi rearm b y a co n v i ct ed fel o n

, b u t a t t r i a l

, t h e St at e p res en ted ev i d en ce t h at h i s

p ri o r fel o n y co n v ict i o n s w ere d ru g o ffen ses an d t heft b y recei v i n g s to l en p r o p ert y

.

Th en

, at t h e co n c lu si o n of tri al

, Du n can m o v ed fo r a d i rect ed v erd i ct as t o t h e

fi rearm -rel at ed co u nt o n t h i s b as i s , b u t t h e m ot i o n was d en i ed

.

To t h e ex t en t t h at Du n can h as n ot ab an d o n ed t h i s cl ai m b y

, y et ag ai n

, fai l i n g

t o p ro v i d e an y l eg al au t h o ri t y t o s u p po rt it

, 3 2 w e ag ree wi t h th e t ri al co urt t h at h e was

n o t en t i t l ed to a d i rect ed v er d i c t as t o t h e fi rearm ch arg e. As ex p l ai n ed b y t h e

Su p rem e Co u rt o f Geo rg i a, “ [o ] u r co u rt s n o lo n g er em p lo y an o v er l y t e c h n i cal

ap p li cat io n o f th e fat al vari an ce ru l e, fo cu s i n g i n s t ead o n m at eri al i t y

. ” 3 3 Th u s

, t h e t ru e

m eri t

.

3 2 S ee s u p r a no t es 6 an d 3 1

.

3 3 Ro s co e v. S t a t e

, 2 8 8 G a. 7 7 5

, 7 7 6 (3 ) (7 0 7 SE2 d 9 0 ) (2 0 1 1 ) (p u n ct u at i o n

o m it t ed ); a cco r d Del a cr u z v. S t a t e , 2 8 0 Ga. 3 9 2

, 3 9 6 (3 ) (6 2 7 SE2 d 5 7 9 ) (2 0 0 6 ).

17i n q u i ry i s “ n ot wh et h er t h ere h as b een a v ari an ce i n p ro o f, b u t wh et h er t h ere h as b een

s u ch a v ari an ce as t o affect t h e s u b s t an t i al ri g h t s o f t h e accu s ed .” 3 4 Fu rt h er,

[ i ]t i s t h e un d erl y i n g reas o n s fo r t h e ru l e wh i ch m u st b e s erv ed : 1 ) t h e

al l eg at i o n s m

u s t d efi ni t el y i n fo rm t h e accu s ed as t o t h e ch arg es ag ai n s t

h i m s o as t o en ab l e h i m t o p res en t h is d efen s e an d n o t t o b e t ak en b y

s u rp ri s e, an d 2 ) t h e al l eg at i o n s m us t b e ad eq u at e t o pro t ect t h e accu s ed

ag ai ns t an o th er p ro s ecu t i o n fo r t h e s am e o ffen s e. 3 5

An d o n l y i f t h e al l eg at i o n s “ fai l t o m eet t h es e t es t s i s t h e v ari an ce fat al .” 3 6

Ap p ly i n g t h i s s t an d ard t o ci rcu m s tan ces m at eri al l y i n d i st i ng u i s h ab le fro m t h i s

cas e, o ur Su p rem e Co u rt p rev i o u s l y h el d t hat

, i n t h e ab s en ce o f p ro o f t h at t h e

d efen d an t ’ s ri gh t s w e r e affect ed

, t h ere i s n o fat al v ari an ce wh en an i n d i ct m en t

ch arg ed h i m wi th p o s s es si o n of a fi rearm b y a co n v i ct ed fel o n p red icat ed o n o n e

fel o n y

, b u t t h e St at e pres en ted p ro of o f a d i fferen t p ri o r fel o ny at t ri al

. 3 7 A s Du n can

3 4 Ro s co e

, 2 8 8 Ga. at 7 76 (3 ) (p u n ct u at i o n o m i t ted ); acco rd Del a cr uz

, 2 8 0 Ga.

at 3 9 6 (3 ).

3 5 S ee R o s co e

, 2 8 8 Ga. at 7 7 6 (3 ) (p u n ct u at io n o m i t ted ); a cco rd D el a cr u z

, 2 8 0

Ga. at 3 96 (3 ).

3 6 Ro s co e

, 2 8 8 Ga. at 7 76 (3 ) (p u n ct u at io n o m i t t ed ); a cco r d D el a cr u z

, 2 8 0 Ga.

at 3 9 6 (3 ).

3 7 S ee Ro s co e

, 2 8 8 Ga. at 7 7 5 -7 6 (3 ) (h o l di n g t h at t h ere was n o fat al v ari an ce

wh en t h e i n d i ct m en t ch arg ed t h e defen dan t wi t h p o s s e s s i o n o f a fi rearm b y a

co n vi ct ed fel o n y b as ed o n a 1 9 9 7 co n v i ct i on fo r t h eft b y tak i n g

, an d at t ri al

, t h e St at e

18h as fai l ed t o p res en t an y ev i den ce t h at t he al l eg ed v ari an ce affect ed hi s ri g h t s

, h i s

arg u m en t o n ap p eal i s fo recl o s ed b y t h e fo reg o i n g p reced en t

.

Fo r al l t h es e reas o n s , we affi rm Du n can ’ s co n v i ct io n s

.

Ju d g men t a f f i r m ed . Do yl e, P. J., a n d

Mer ci er , J., co n cu r

.

p res en t ed ev i d en ce t h at h e h ad a p ri o r 20 0 1 fel o n y f o r po s ses s i o n of co cai n e); s ee

a l s o Mi l l er v. S t a t e

, 2 8 3 Ga. 4 1 2

, 4 1 6 (4 ) (a) (6 5 8 SE2 d 7 6 5 ) (2 00 8 ) (“ [I] t i s

i rrel ev an t t o a ch arg e u n d er OCGA § 1 6 -1 1 -1 3 1 (b ) wh at fel o n y fo rm ed t h e b as i s o f

t h e p ri o r co n vi ct i o n

, an d s p eci fi cat i o n o f t h e u n derl y i n g fel o n y in th e in di ct m en t i s

u n n eces sary .”).

19