THI RD DI VI SI ON

M C FA DDEN, C. J.

, D OYLE, P. J.

, and HODGES, 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.

https ://w w w

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

D E A D LIN E S A R E N O LO N G E R TO LLE D IN T

H I S

C O U R T. A LL FILIN G S M U ST B E S U B M I TTE D WITH IN

TH E TIM E S S E T B Y

O U R C O U R T R U LE S

.

M ar ch 4, 2021



# I n th e Co u r t o f

A p p eals o f

G eo r g ia

A2 0 A1 64 8 . BERNAL v

. THE STATE.

H O D G E S , J u d g e.

Fo l l owi n g a ju ry t ri al

, t h e Su p eri o r Co urt o f Ch ero k ee Co u n t y en t ered a

ju d g m en t o f co n v i ct i on ag ai n s t Es t u ard o Bern al on o n e c o u n t each o f ch i ld

m o les t at i o n (OCGA § 1 6 -6 -4 ), rap e (OCGA § 1 6 -6 -1 ), an d t erro ri s t i c t hreat s (OCGA

§ 1 6-1 1-3 7 ). Bern al ap p eal s fro m t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s d en ial o f h i s m o t i o n fo r n ew t ri al

as am en d ed

, arg ui n g t h at : (1 ) th e t ri al co u rt erred i n d en y i n g h i s s p e c i al d em u rrer,

m o ti o n t o s ev er, an d m o t i on t o su p p res s; (2 ) th e ev i d en ce was i n s u ffi ci en t t o s u p p o rt

h i s co n v i ct i on s ; an d (3 ) h e recei v ed in effect i v e as s i s t an ce o f t ri al co u n s el at

s en t en ci n g

. Becau s e we co n cl u d e t h at t h e t ri al co urt fai l ed t o ex erci s e d i scret i o n in

rev i ewi n g Bern al ’ s arg u m en t s b as ed u po n OCGA § § 5 -5 -2 0 an d 5 -5 -2 1, we v acat e

i n part t h e tri al co urt ’ s o rd er d en y i n g Bern al ’ s m o t io n fo r n ew t ri al an d rem an d t h i scas e fo r fu rt h er p ro ceed i n gs co n s i s ten t wi t h th i s o p i n i o n

. 1 To t h e ex t en t Bern al ’ s

en u m erat i o n s co ncern in g t h e tri al co u rt ’ s p re-t ri al ru l i n g s affect t h e u n i v ers e o f

ev i d en ce t o b e co n s i d ered b y t h e t ri al co urt o n rem a n d

, w e h a v e rev iewed t h o s e

arg u m en t s an d fi nd n o erro r. Th erefo re, we affi rm t h e rem ai n d er o f t h e t ri al co urt ’ s

o rd er.

Vi ewed i n a l i g h t m o s t fav o rab l e t o t h e verd i ct

, 2 th e ev i d en ce rev eal ed t h at

Bern al l iv ed wi t h h i s l o n g -t i m e g i rl fri en d (“ t h e ad ul t v i ct i m ”), t h ei r t wo ch i l d ren

, an d

t h e ad u l t v i ct i m ’ s d au g h t er, J

. G

. (“ t h e ch i l d v i ct i m ”), i n Can t o n

, Ch ero k ee Co u n t y

.

Bern al ’ s rel at i o n s h ip wi t h t h e ad u l t v i ct i m was o ft en t u rb u l en t, an d t h e ch i l d v i ct i m

freq uen t l y h eard t h e p ai r fi g h t i n g an d h er m o t h e r c r y i n g

. T h e ch i l d v i ct i m al s o

wi t n es s ed Bern al hi t t h e ad u l t v i ct i m rep eat ed l y

. By 20 1 5

, t h e ad u lt v i ct i m at t em p t ed

t o av o id Bern al b y ret reat i n g to t h ei r ch i l d ren s ’ ro o m wh en h e a r r i v ed ho m e fro m

wo rk

. Ho wev er, t h e a d u l t v i ct i m d es cri bed an i n ci d en t i n wh i ch Bern al ch as ed h er

d o wn s o m e s t ai rs

, cau g h t h er o n a co u ch

, an d fo rci b l y had s ex ual in t erco urs e wi t h h er

as s h e fo ug h t h i m an d t ol d h i m t o st o p. Sh e rel ay ed an o t h er occas i o n i n w h i ch Bern al

1 Fo r t h i s reas o n, we n eed n o t co n si der Bern al ’ s al le g a t i o n o f i n effect i v e

as s i s tan ce o f t ri al co u n s el d u ri n g s en t en ci n g a t t h i s t im e. See, e.g

., W a l ker v. S t a t e

, 2 9 2 Ga. 2 6 2

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

2 See, e.g

., Pi ckl es i mer

v. S t a t e , 3 5 3 Ga. Ap p . 7 1 8 (8 3 9 SE2 d 2 1 4 ) (2 0 2 0 ).

2s t orm ed t h e ch i l d ren s ’ ro om

, d rag ged t h e ad u l t v ic t i m fro m th e ro o m

, an d ag ai n

fo rced h i m s el f o n h er ag ai n st h er wi l l

.

Th e d ay aft er Bern al d rag g ed t h e ad u l t v i ct i m fro m t h ei r ch i l d ren s ’ ro o m

, s h e

wen t t o t h e Can t o n p o l i ce st at io n t o rep ort t h e as s a u l t

. An o ffi cer di rect ed h er t o a

l o cal h o s p i tal fo r t es t i n g

, w h i ch rev eal ed t h e p res en ce o f sp erm

, b ru i s in g

, an d a ras h.

Th e n ex t d ay

, t he ad u l t v ict i m vi s i t ed t h e s t at i o n ag ai n an d i nd i cat ed s h e d i d n o t wan t

t o p urs ue ch arg es ag ai n s t Bern al

. Sh e su g ges t ed th at s h e d i d n ot wan t t o p ro ceed

b ecau s e a m an wi t h wh o m s h e h ad recen t rel at i o n s was n o l o n g er i n t h e co u n t ry an d

t h at , i f Bern al fo u n d o u t ab o ut h i m , Bern al wo ul d h av e k i l l ed h er.

In No v em

b er 2 0 1 5

, Bern al m o v ed ou t o f t h e fa m i l y ’ s ap art m en t

, b u t b eg g ed

t h e a d u l t v i c t i m t o reco n ci l e i n Feb ru ary 2 0 1 6

. Th e t wo b eg an d at i n g ag ai n

, an d

Bern al s u p e r v i s ed th e ch i l dren wh en t h e ad u l t v i ct i m wo rk ed at n i g ht

. Th ereaft er,

Bern al t wi ce v i s i t ed t h e ad u l t v i ct i m at h er jo b aft er t ak in g h er ch i l d ren t o h er s i s t er’ s

h o u s e. Du ri n g t h e s eco n d vi s i t, wh i ch o ccu rred aft er t h e ad ul t v i ct i m i n fo rm ed Bern al

t h at s h e n o l o n g er wi s h ed t o d at e h i m

, Bern al t o l d h er t hat s h e “ was g o in g t o d i e an d

. . . s o m et h in g was go i n g t o h ap p en t o [h er] i n on e week i f [s h e] di d n ’ t g o b ack wi th

h i m .” As t h e ad u lt v i c t i m p l e a ded fo r Bern al t o ex p l ai n h i m s el f, h e ret u rn ed t o h i s

3t ru ck an d s ai d

, “ I’ m g o i ng t o ki l l y o u” as h e d ro ve away

. W h en t h e ad u l t v i ct i m wen t

t o ret ri ev e t h ei r ch il d ren

, t h ey ex cl ai m ed , “ dad d y ’ s g o i n g t o k i ll y o u.” 3

Th at n i g h t, t h e ad u l t vi ct i m ag ai n cal l ed t h e po l i ce. As t h e ad u l t v i ct im ran to

h er d o o r to ad m i t a res po n d i n g p o l i ce o ffi cer, t h e ch i l d v i ct i m st op p ed h er an d s ai d,

“ M om m y

, I’ ve g o t s o m et h i n g t o t el l y o u .” Th e ch i l d v i ct i m t hen t ol d t h e ad u l t v i ct i m

t h at

, o n e ev en i n g wh en s h e was s leep i n g i n t h e s am e b ed a s B e r n a l

, Bern al b eg an

p u l l i ng h er h ead t o ward h i s pen i s as s h e t ri ed t o p u s h h i m away

. T h e ch i l d v i ct i m al s o

rep o rt ed t h e i n ci d en t t o t h e res p o n d i n g o ffi cer.

A Ch ero k ee Co u n t y gran d ju ry i n d i ct ed Bern al fo r o n e co u n t e a c h o f c h i ld

m o les t at i o n (ag ai ns t t h e ch i l d v i ct i m ), rap e (ag ai n s t t h e ad u l t v i ct im ), an d terro ri st i c

t h reat s

. Bern al d i d n o t t es t i fy at t ri al

. Th e t ri al ju ry ret u rn ed v erd ict s o f g ui l t y ag ai n s t

Bern al o n each co u n t o f t h e i n d ict m en t

, an d t h e t ri al co urt d en i ed Bern al ’ s m o t i o n fo r

n ew t ri al as am en d ed . Th i s ap p eal fo l l o wed

.

3 Th e ch i l d v i ct im ’ s s is t er t es t ifi ed t h at

, as s he an d h er s ib l i n g s d ro v e t o a

res t au ran t w i t h Bern al

, s h e s aw a g u n h id d en i n th e cen t er co n so l e o f Bern al ’ s t ru ck

wh i ch Bern al th reat en ed t o u s e o n t h e ad u l t v i ct i m i f sh e d id n o t g et b ack t o g et h er

wi t h h im

.

41

. Co n s i d eri n g Bern al ’ s fo u rt h en u m erat i o n fi rs t

, 4 h e i ni t i al l y s t at es t h at t h e

ev i d en ce was i ns u ffi ci en t t o s u p p o rt h is co n vi ct i o n s

. Ho wev er, Bern al ’ s act u al

arg u m en t i s t h at t he su cces s o r ju d g e wh o co ns i d ered h i s am en ded m o ti o n fo r n ew

t ri al “ decl i n ed t o m ak e a ru l i n g o n t h e cred i b il i ty o f wi t n es s es or co n fl i ct s i n wi t n es s

t es t i m o ny .” Pro p erl y co n s i d ered

, t h en

, Bern al co n t en d s t h at t h e t ri al c o u r t f a i l ed to

p ro p erl y ap p l y OCGA § § 5 -5 -2 0 an d 5 -5 -2 1

. Becau se we co ncl u d e t h at t h e s u cces s o r

ju d g e fai l ed t o ex erci s e d i s cret i o n i n t h e rev i ew o f Bern al ’ s “ g en eral g ro u n d s ”

arg u m en t

, we v acat e t h at p o rt i o n o f t h e tr i a l c o u rt ’ s o rd er an d rem an d th i s cas e to

al l o w t h e t ri al co u rt t o ex erci s e i t s d i s cret i o n i n co ns i d eri n g Bern al ’ s arg u m en t

.

It is wel l s et t l ed t h at

[e] v en wh en t he ev id en ce i s l eg al l y s u ffi ci en t t o s u s t ai n a co nv i ct i o n

, a

t ri al ju d g e m ay gran t a n ew t ri al i f t h e verd i ct o f th e ju ry i s “ co nt rary t o

t h e p ri n ci p l es of ju s t i ce an d eq u i t y, ” O C G A § 5 -5 -2 0

, o r i f t h e v erd i ct

i s “ d eci d ed l y

an d s t ro n g l y ag ai n s t t h e wei g h t o f t h e ev i d en ce.” OCGA

§ 5 -5 -2 1

. W hen p ro p erl y rai s ed i n a t im el y m o ti o n

, t h es e g ro u nd s fo r a

n ew t ri al

—

co m m o n l y k n o w n as t h e “ g en eral g ro u n d s ” — req u i re t he

t ri al ju d g e t o ex erci se a b ro ad d i s cret i o n t o si t as a “ t h i rt een th ju ro r.” A

t ri al co u rt rev i ewi ng a m o t i o n fo r n ew t ri al bas ed o n th es e g ro un d s h as

4 See Al li s o n v. S ta te

, 3 5 6 Ga. Ap p

. 2 5 6

, 2 5 8 (1 ), n

. 2 (8 4 6 SE2 d 2 2 2 ) (2 0 2 0 )

(“ Fo r co n v en i en ce o f d is cu s s i o n

, we h a v e tak en t h e en u m erat ed erro rs o u t o f t h e

o rd er i n wh i ch [Bern al ] h as l i s t ed t h em .”) (ci t at io n an d p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed ).

5a d u t y to ex erci s e i t s d i s cret i o n an d wei g h t h e ev i d en ce an d co n s i d er th e

cred ib i l i t y o f t h e wi tn es s es

. If t h e t ri al co u rt p erfo rm s t hi s d u t y

, t h en we

h av e n o b as i s fo r rev i ewi n g th e co u rt ’ s deci s i o n

, as s u ch a d eci s i o n i s

o n e t h at i s s o l el

y wi t h i n t h e d is cret i o n o f t h e t ri al co u rt

.

(Ci t at i o n s an d p un ct u at i o n o m i t t ed ; em p h as i s s u p p l i ed .) Lu n dy v. S ta t e

, 3 4 1 Ga. Ap p.

7 6 7

, 7 6 9 (2 ) (8 0 1 SE2 d 62 9 ) (2 0 1 7 ). To t h at en d

, “ [i ] t i s

. . . t ru e t hat wh ere, as i n t h i s

cas e, t he ju d g e wh o h ears t h e m o t i o n fo r a n ew t ri al i s n o t t h e sam e ju d g e as t h e o n e

wh o p res i d ed o v er t h e ori gi nal t ri al

, t h e d i s cret i on of t h e su cces s o r j u d ge i s n arro wer

i n s co p e.” S t a t e v. Ha r ri s

, 2 92 Ga. 9 2

, 9 5 (7 3 4 SE2 d 35 7 ) (2 0 1 2 ). Ho wev er, “ aft er a

t h o ro u g h rev i ew o f t h e cas e, ev en a s u cces s or ju d g e m a y e x erci s e a s i g n i fi can t

d i s cret i o n t o g ran t a new tr i a l on t h e g en eral g ro u n d s.” (Ci t at i o n o m i t t ed .) W i g g i n s

v. S t a t e

, 3 3 0 Ga. A p p

. 2 0 5

, 2 1 1 (c) (7 6 7 SE2 d 7 9 8 ) (2 0 1 4 ); s ee al s o W h i t e v. S t a t e

,

2 9 3 Ga. 5 2 3

, 5 2 5 (2 ), n . 4 (7 53 SE2 d 1 1 5 ) (2 0 1 3 ).

Here, t h e ju d g e wh o p res i d ed o v er Bern al ’ s t ri al ret i red b efo re t h e h eari n g fo r

Bern al ’ s m o t i o n fo r n ew t ri al

, at wh i ch t h e s u cces so r ju dg e p res i d ed

. Du ri n g t h e

m o ti o n fo r n ew t ri al h eari n g

, t h e s u cces s o r ju d g e ci t ed OCGA § § 5 -5 -2 0 an d 5 -5 -2 1

an d s tat ed t h at

i t wo u l d b e i nap p ro p ri at e fo r t h i s Co u rt t o m ak e a ru l i ng s i t t i n g as a 1 3 t h

ju ro r. Becau s e t h i s Co u rt d i d n o t co n du ct t h e t ri al

, t h i s Co u rt can n ot ru l e

6o n t h e cred i b i l i ty o f t h e wi t n es s es n o r c o n s i d e r

. . . t h e co n fl i ct s i n th e

t es t i m o n y o f t h e wi tn es s es at t ri al

, b ecau s e I was n o t t h e Tri al J u dg e. So

I’ m n o t g o i n g t o co ns i der t h at g ro u n d. I t h i n k i t wo u l d b e i nap p ro p ri at e

an d i t wo u l d b e u nfai r. I was n o t t h e Tri al J u d g e an d I t h i n k t h at y o u

h av e t o b e th e Tri al J ud g e t o b e ab l e t o ru l e as a 1 3 t h ju ro r. Un l es s I’ m

wro n g

, wh i ch I d o n’ t t h i n k I am

, I can ’ t j u d g e t he cred i b i l i t y o f th e

wi t n es s es

. I was n ’ t t h ere.

In h i s wri t t en o rd er, t h e s u cces s o r ju d g e st at ed on l y t h at h e co u l d n o t “ m ak e a ru l i n g

o n th e cred i bi l i t y of w i t nes ses an d co n fl i ct s i n tes t im on y g i v en t h e w i t n e s s e s ’

t es t i m o ny was n o t o b s erv ed by t h e Co u rt

. ” Ho w ev er, t h e s ucces s o r ju d g e d i d rev i ew

t h e tran s cri p t s fro m Bern al ’ s t ri al

, an d co ncl u d ed t h at t h e ju ry ’ s v erd ict was n ot

“ co n t rary t o l aw” an d th at “ [t ] h ere was su b st an t i al ev i d en ce to s u pp o rt ” t he v erd i ct

.

M o reo v er, t h e s u cces so r ju d g e c o n cl u d ed t hat “ a rat i o n al t ri er o f fact co u l d fi n d

[Bern al ] g u i l t y b ey on d a reas o n ab l e d ou b t o f th e cri m es fo r wh i ch h e was ch arg ed .”

As a res u l t

, t h e s u cces s o r ju d g e d en i ed Bern al ’ s m o t io n fo r n ew t ri al as am en d ed

.

In v iew o f t h e s ucces s or ju d g e’ s s t at em en t s d u r i n g B e r n al ’ s m o t i o n fo r n ew

t r i a l h e ari n g an d t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s rel i an ce u p o n t h e s t an dard i n Ja cks o n v. Vi r g i n i a

,

4 4 3 U

. S. 30 7 (9 9 SCt 2 7 81

, 6 1 LE2 d 5 6 0 ) (1 97 9 ) i n i t s o rd er d en y i n g Bern al ’s

m o ti o n

,

7t h e re i s n o ev i d en ce t h at t h e s u cces s o r ju d g e ex erci s ed d i s cret i o n

,

wei g h ed t h e ev i d en ce, an d d et erm i n ed as th e ‘ t h i rt een t h j u ro r’ wh et h er

t h e v erd i ct w as ag ai n s t t h e g reat wei g ht o f t h e ev i d en ce o r o ffen d ed th e

p ri n ci p l es o f

j u s t i ce an d eq u i ty

. Th e ord er d en y i n g [Bern al ’ s ] m o t i o n fo r

n ew t ri al sh o ws t hat t h e t ri al c o u r t m a d e o n l y t h e l eg al d et erm i nat i o n

t h at t h e ev i d en ce was s u ffi c i e n t u n d er t h e s t an d ard s o f Ja cks o n v.

Vi r g in ia

.

W i g gi n s

, 3 30 Ga. Ap p

. at 2 1 1 (c). T o t h e co n t r a r y, t h e s u cces s o r ju d g e s peci fi cal l y

reject ed an y n o t i o n t hat h e co ul d ex erci s e di s cret io n i n ev al u at i n g Bern al ’ s g en eral

g ro u nd s arg u m en t

. T h i s was erro r. See W h it e

, 2 9 3 G a. at 5 25 (2 ), n

. 4 ; W i g g i n s

, 3 3 0

Ga. Ap p . at 2 1 1 (c).

W h ere, as h ere, th e reco rd refl ect s t h at t h e t ri al co u rt ap p li ed an

i n co rrect s t an d ard o f rev i ew an d, i n s o do i n g

, fai l ed t o e x e r c i s e i t s

d i s cret i o n an d wei g h t h e ev i d en ce i n ru l i n g on t h e m eri ts o f cl ai m s

u n d er OCGA § § 5 -5 -2 0 an d 5 -5 -2 1, th e ap p el l at e co u rt m us t v acat e th e

ju d g m en t an d rem an d t h e cas e t o t h e t ri al co u rt fo r co n s i d erat io n o f th e

m o t i o n u n d er t h e p ro p er s t an d ard o f rev i ew.

W a l ker v. S t a t e

, 2 9 2 Ga. 2 6 2

, 2 6 4 -2 6 5 (2 ) (7 3 7 SE2 d 3 1 1 ) (2 0 1 3 ). Th erefo re, we

v acat e t h at p ort io n o f t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s o rd er d en y in g Bern al ’ s m o t i o n fo r n ew t ri al o n

t h e “ gen eral g ro u nd s ” an d rem an d t h i s cas e t o t h e t ri al co u rt t o al l o w i t t o ex erci s e i t s

d i s cret i o n i n m an n er co n si s t en t wi t h O C G A § § 5-5 -2 0 an d 5 -5 -2 1

. See Ha r t l ey v.

8S t a t e

, 2 9 9 G a. Ap p. 5 3 4

, 54 1 (3 ) (6 8 3 SE2 d 1 0 9 ) (2 0 0 9 ) (v acat i n g t ri al co u rt o rd er

o n a si n g le g ro un d an d rem an d in g ); R u t la n d v. St a t e

, 2 9 6 Ga. Ap p

. 4 7 1, 4 7 6 (3 ) (6 7 5

SE2 d 5 0 6) (2 0 0 9) (s am e).

2

. Becau s e Bern al ’ s rem ai n i n g arg um en t s i n v o l v e p re-t ri al m at t ers

, i n cl u d i n g

t h e ad m i s s i o n o f ev i den ce th at t h e t ri al co u rt wi l l rev i ew o n rem an d

, we tu rn n ex t to

a rev i ew o f Bern al ’ s r e m a ining en u m erat io n s as ap pro p ri at e. See, e.g

., W i l s o n v. S t a t e

,

3 4 9 G a. A p p

. 38 6

, 3 8 8

- 3 8 9 (2 ) (a), (b ) (8 2 5 SE2 d 8 4 3 ) (2 0 1 9 ) (co n s i d eri n g t ri al

co u rt ’ s ev i d en t i ary ru li n g s p ri or t o rem an d f o r r e v i e w o f t h e “ g en eral g ro u n d s ”);

McGi l v. S t a t e

, 3 3 9 Ga. A p p

. 1 30

, 13 1 -1 33 (2 ), (3 ) (7 9 3 SE2 d 4 4 2 ) (2 0 1 6 ) (d eci d i n g

ev i d en t i ary i s s u es an d i n effect i v e as s i s t an ce o f t ri al co un s el al l eg at i o n s b as ed u p o n

m at t ers o f ev id en ce b efo re rem an d in g fo r “ g en eral g ro u n d s ” an al y s i s ); Ru t l an d

, 2 9 6

Ga. Ap p

. at 4 7 6 (3 ) (rev i ewi ng d efen d an t ’ s p h o t og rap h i c l i neu p a r g u m en t p ri o r to

rem an d fo r co n si d erat i o n o f t h e “ g en eral g ro u n d s ”).

(a) S p eci a l Demu r r er

. Bern al as s ert s t h at t h e t ri al co u rt erred i n d en y i n g h i s

s p eci al d em

u rrer to t h e ch il d m o l es t at i o n an d rap e co u n t s of t h e i n d i ct m en t

.

Sp eci fi cal l y

, Bern al co n t en ds t h at h e was en t i t l ed t o m o re i n fo rm at i o n co n cern i n g t h e

s p eci fi c d at e t h e al l eg ed cri m es were co m m i t t ed . W e fi n d n o erro r.

9O C G A § 1 7 -7 -5 4 p ro v i d es t h at an in d ict m en t m u st s tat e wi t h “ s u ffi ci en t

cert ai n ty ” t h e d at e o f t h e al l eg ed o ffen se.

Gen eral ly , an i n d ict m en t wh i ch fai l s t o al l eg e a s p eci fi c d at e o n wh ich

t h e cri m e was co m

m i t ted i s n o t p erfect i n fo rm an d i s s ub ject t o a t i m el y

s p eci al dem

u rrer. Ho wev er, wh ere t h e St at e can s h o w t h at t h e ev i d en ce

d o e s n o t p erm i t i t t o al l eg e a sp eci fi c d at e o n wh i ch t h e offen s e

o ccu rred

, th e St at e i s p erm i t t ed t o al l eg e t h at t he cri m e occu rred b et w een

t wo part i cu l ar d at es

. T o t h at en d

, i n m eet in g i t s b u rd en o f s h o wi n g t hat

i t i s u n ab l e ei t h er t o i d en t i fy a s p eci fi c d a t e on wh ich an offen s e

o ccu rred o r t o n arro w t h e ran g e o f p o s si b l e d at es

, t h e St at e i s req u i red

t o p res en t s o m e ev i d en ce an d m ay n o t rel y s o l el y u p o n arg u m en t b y

co u n s el o r m ere s p ecu l at i o n

.

(Ci t at i o n s an d p un ct u at i on o m i t t ed .) W a t ki n s v. S t at e

, 3 3 6 Ga. Ap p

. 1 4 5, 1 4 7 -1 4 8 (2 )

(7 8 4 SE2 d 1 1 ) (2 0 1 6 ); s ee al s o Ro wl a n d v. S t a t e

, 3 4 9 Ga. Ap p

. 6 5 0, 65 3 (3 ) (8 2 5

SE2 d 6 5 0 ) (2 0 19 ). “ W e co n d u ct a d e n o vo rev i ew o f a t ri al co u rt ’ s ru li n g o n a s p eci al

d em u rrer i n o rd er t o d et erm i n e wh et h er th e al l eg at i o n s i n t h e in d i ct m en t are l eg al l y

s u ffi ci en t .” (Ci t at i o n an d p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed .) Ro wl a n d , 3 4 9 Ga. Ap p . at 6 5 3 (3 ).

In t h i s cas e, th e St at e i n d i c t e d Bern al fo r ch i l d m o l es tat i on al l eg i n g t h at h e

p l a c e d t h e ch i l d vi ct i m ’ s h an d o n h i s pen i s an d fo rced h er h ead t o ward h i s p en i s

“ b et ween t h e 1 st d ay o f Ju l y

, 2 01 5

, an d t h e 1 0 t h d ay o f Ap ri l

, 20 1 6

, t h e ex act d at e o f

t h e o ffen s e b ei n g u n kn o wn t o th e Gran d J u ry [.] ” Si m i l arl y , Bern al ’ s i n d i ct m en t fo r

10rap e al l eg ed t h at h e as s au l t ed t h e a d u lt v i ct i m “ b et ween t h e fi rs t day o f May

, 2 0 1 5

an d t h e 3 0 t h d ay o f No vem b er, 2 0 1 5

, t h e ex act d at e o f t h e o ffen s e b ei n g u nk n o wn to

t h e G ran d J u ry [.] ” As a res u l t

, Bern al fi l ed a sp eci al dem u rrer, arg u i n g t h at t h e

i n d i ct m en t was i m

p erfect becau s e i t fai l ed to “ al leg e a s p e c i fi c d at e o n wh i ch t h e

al l eg ed cri m e[s ] [we r e ] c o m m i t t ed ” an d wo u l d p reju di ce h i s ab i l it y t o p rep are a

d efen s e t o t h e cri m es

.

Th e t ri al co u rt h el d a h eari n g on Bern al ’ s d em u rrer p ri o r t o t r i a l

, i n wh i ch

Bern al as k ed t h at “ t h e d at e ran g e

. . . b e n arro wed .” Du ri n g t h e h eari n g

, an

i n v es t i g at o r t es t i fi ed t h at h e at t en d ed t h e ch i l d v i ct i m ’ s fo ren s i c i n t erv i ew in wh i ch

s h e st at ed t h at t he m o l es t at i o n o ccu rred “ awh il e ag o” bu t t h at s h e was “ s t i l l 1 0 y ears

o l d at t h e t i m e.” Th e i n v es t ig at o r es tab l i s h ed th e ch i l d v i ct i m ’ s b irt h d at e as J u l y 1 4,

2 0 0 5

, b u t t h e ch i l d v i ct i m di d n ot o ffer an y o t h er d et ai ls co n cern i n g t h e ti m i n g o f t h e

m o les t at i o n

. Acco rd i n g l y

, t he i n v es t i gat o r t es ti fi ed t h at h e “ co u ld n ’ t real l y p i n p o i nt

i t m u ch m o re t h an t h at ” b ecau s e t h at w as t h e o n ly i nfo rm at i on h e had rel at i v e t o t h e

d at e t h e cri m e o ccu rred

. Li k ewi s e, i n a s t at em en t t ak en b y t h e i n ves t i g at o r, t h e ad u l t

g i rl fri en d s t at ed t h at Bern al rap ed h er i n 2 0 1 5 an d was “ p ret t y s ure

. . . t h at i t was t h e

en d o f t h e s u m m e r .” Th e t ri al co u rt fo u n d t h at t h e d at es al l eg ed i n t h e i n d i ct m en t

11were n o t o verl y b ro ad an d t h at “ t h e S t a t e h a s

. . . s h own th at t h e ev i d en ce d o es n ’ t

p erm i t i t t o al l eg e a s p eci fi c d at e[,] ” an d d en ied Bern al ’ s d em u rrer.

Bas ed u p o n o u r de n o v o rev i ew, we co n cl u d e th at t h e ev i d en ce p res en t ed

d u ri n g t h e heari n g o n Bern al ’ s d em u rrer “ co n fi rm ed t h at t h e [S] t at e was u n ab l e ei t h er

t o i d en t i fy a s p eci fi c dat e o n wh i ch t he o ffen s es o ccu rred o r t o fu rt h er n arro w t h e

ran g e o f p o s s i b l e d at es

. ” (Ci t at i o n an d p u n ct u at i on om i t t ed .) Ro wl a n d

, 3 4 9 Ga. Ap p.

at 6 5 4 (3 ); s ee al s o W

a t ki n s , 3 3 6 Ga. Ap p

. at 1 4 8 (2 ). Th erefo re, we fi n d n o erro r.

(b ) Mo t i o n t o S

ever

. Bern al al s o arg u es t h at t h e t ri al co u rt erred i n d en y i n g h i s

m o ti o n t o s ev er h i s t ri al b as ed u p o n t h e v i ct i m s . W e are n o t p ers u ad ed

.

Un d er Geo rg ia l aw,

i f m u l t ip l e offen s es are n o t jo i n ed s o lel y becau s e t hey are o f t h e sam e o r

s i m i l ar ch aract er, an d ev i d en ce o f o n e c h a r g e d o ffen s e wo u l d be

ad m i s s i b l e as a s i m i l ar t ran s act i on d u ri n g t ri al o n a n o t h er ch arg ed

o ffen s e, t h e t ri al co urt i s v es t ed wi t h d i s cret i o n i n d eci d i n g wh et her t o

g ran t a m o t i o n t o sev er. In m ak i n g th i s d eci si o n

, t h e co u rt m u s t co n s i d er

t h e n u m ber o f o ffen s es ch arg ed

, t h e co m p l ex i t y o f t h e ch arg es

, an d th e

co m p lex i t y o f t h e ev i d en ce an d d et erm in e wh et h er th e ju ry wi l l be ab l e

t o fai rl y an d i nt el l i g en t l y p ar s e t h e ev i d en ce an d ap p l y t he l aw w i t h

reg ard t o each ch arg e. W h ere i n t h e s o u n d d i s cret io n o f t h e t ri al co u rt

,

t h e n u m b er o f o ffen s es ch arg ed an d t h e co m p lex i t y o f t h e ev i den ce d o

n o t reas o n ab l y i m

p i n g e u p o n a fai r d et erm i n at i o n o f th e d efen d an t ’s

12g u i l t o r i n n o cen ce as t o each o ffen s e ch arg ed

, a s ev eran ce n eed n o t b e

g ran ted

.

(Ci t at i o n s a n d p u n c t u at i o n o m i t t ed .) Lo ve v. St a t e

, 3 4 9 Ga. Ap p

. 7 4 1

, 7 4 4 (2 ) (8 2 4

SE2 d 7 4 5 ) (2 0 1 9 ). “ W e rev i ew a t ri al co urt ’ s d en i al o f a m o ti o n to s ev er t h e t ri al o f

s ep arat e ch arg es fo r an ab u s e o f d i s cret i o n[.] ” An d

, t o t h at en d

, we h av e hel d t h at “ t h e

t ri al co u rt d o es n o t ab u s e i t s d i scret io n b y d en y i n g a m o t io n to s ev er i f t h e ev i d en ce

o f o n e o ffen s e wo u l d b e ad m i s si b l e as a s i m il ar act i n t h e t ri al o f t h e o t h er o ffen s e.”

(Ci t at i o n s an d p u nct u at i o n om i t t ed .) Id .; see al so Al g ren v. S t a t e , 3 3 0 Ga. Ap p . 1

, 3

(1 ) (7 6 4 SE2 d 6 1 1 ) (2 0 1 4 ) (fi n d i n g t h at “ offen s es h av e n o t b een jo i n ed s o l el y b ecau s e

t h ey are o f t h e s a m e o r s i m i l ar ch aract er wh en t he ev i d en ce o f o ne o ffen s e can b e

ad m i t t ed as s i m i l ar t ran s act i o n ev i d en ce d uri n g t h e t ri al of t h e o t h er o f f e n s e a n d

s ev eran ce i s n o t m an d at o ry i n s u ch a cas e”) (ci t at i o ns an d p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed ;

em ph as i s i n o ri g i nal ).

In th i s cas e, Bern al faced ch arg es o f rap e ag ai n s t t he ad u l t v ict i m

, wh o was h i s

l o n g -t i m e g i rl fri en d

, an d ch i l d m o l es t at i o n ag ai n s t t h e ch i l d v ic tim

, h i s st ep -d au g h t er.

Du ri n g a p re-t ri al h eari n g

, Bern al ’ s tri al co u n s el as k ed t h at Bern al ’ s ch arg es b e

s ev ered b ecau se “ we h av e an accu s at i o n o f ad u l t rap e an d a s ep arat e a c c u s a t i o n o f

13ch i l d m o l es t at i o n ” an d t o red uce t h e p o ten t i al fo r “ a sm ear effect [.] ” Lat er, Bern al ’ s

co u ns el cl ai m ed t hat

we h av e t h ree u n rel at ed ch arg es

. Th ey d o

, an d I b el i ev e t h e St at e wi l l

referen ce t h i s

, t h e y d o h av e o v erl ap p i n g

. . . wi tn es s es

, b u t t h ey ’ re

d i s co n nect ed en t i rel y i n t h ei r n at u re, i n t h ei r ch ro no l o g y

, an d in wh ich

wi t n es s es are m o s t i n cl i n ed t o t es t i fy reg ard i n g wh i ch act s

.

Th e t ri al co u rt d en i ed Bern al ’ s m o t i o n t o s ev er, n o t i n g “ t h e co n nect i on o f th e p art i es

[an d ] t h e co n n ect i on o f t he act s

, i n t erm s o f t he n at u re

. . . o f th e al l eg ed act s an d t h ei r

co n nect io n t o t h i s fam i l y u n i t .” 5

Al t h ou g h t h e t wo cri m es i n v o l v ed d i fferen t v i c t i m s

, b o t h cri m es occu rred in

Bern al ’ s h o m e an d i ncl u d ed s ex u al ab u s e ag ai n st m em b ers o f h i s f

a m i l y u n i t

. As a

res u l t, ev en h ad t h e ch arg es b een s ev ered as Bern al req u es t ed

, ev i d en ce o f o n e cri m e

wo u l d h av e b een ad m i ss i b l e as a p ri o r act i n t h e t ri al o f t h e o t h er. See, e.g

., Pa yn e v.

S t a t e

, 2 8 5 Ga. 13 7

, 1 3 8-1 39 (6 7 4 SE2 d 2 9 8 ) ( 2 0 0 9), o v erru l ed i n p art o n o t h er

g ro u nd s

, Reed v. St at e

, 2 9 1 G a. 1 0

, 1 4 (3 ) (7 27 SE2 d 1 1 2 ) (2 0 1 2 ); s ee al s o OCGA § §

2 4 -4 -4 0 4 (b ) (o th er act s ev id en ce g en eral l y ), 2 4 -4 -4 1 3 (s i m i l ar tran s act i o n ev i d en ce

5 Th e t ri al co urt al s o fo u nd t h at “ t h e p reju d i ci al effect o f g o i n g fo rward o n al l

t h ree o f [Bern al ’ s ch arg es ]

, g i v en th ei r rel ev an ce, ou t wei g h s th e

. . . pro b i ty o f t h ei r

b ei n g t ri ed t o g et h er.”

14i n s ex u al as s au l t cas es ), 2 4 -4 -4 1 4 (s i m i l ar t ran s act i o n ev i d en ce i n ch i l d m o l es t at i o n

cas es ). It fo l l ows t h at t h e t ri al co u rt d i d n ot ab u se i t s d i s cret i o n i n d en y i n g Bern al ’ s

m o ti o n t o s ev er. See, e.g

., Lo ve , 3 4 9 Ga. Ap p

. at 7 4 4 (2 ).

(c) Mo t i o n t o S

u pp r es s

. Bern al n ex t co n t en ds t h e t ri al co u rt erro n eo u s l y d en i ed

h i s m o t io n t o s u p p res s cert ai n s t at em en t s m ad e d u ri n g a no n -cu st o d i al i n t erv i ew wi th

t h e Can t o n Po l i ce Dep art m en t

. Al t h o u gh Bern al i n i t ial l y i d en t i fi es s ev eral arg u m en t s

ad v an ced at t r i al

, t h e tru e t h ru s t o f Bern al ’ s arg u m en t i n t h i s Co u rt i s t h at t h e

t r a n s l a ti o n o f Bern al ’ s s t at em en t s

, o ffered t hro u g h a p o l i ce o ffi cer s erv in g as an

i n t erp ret er, was s o in accu rat e t h at t h e s t a t e m en t s were act u al l y th e t ran s l at i n g

o ffi cer’ s s t at em en t s an d n ot Bern al ’ s . W e d i s ag ree.

At t he o u t s e t

, we n o te t h at Bern al ’ s arg u m en t co n cern i n g t h e m o t i o n to

s u p p res s i s an am al gam at i o n of d i s p arat e i s s u es

, i n cl u d i n g ch i efl y t h e v ol u n t ari n es s

o f h i s st at em en t

, wh et h er Mi ra n d a 6 warn i n g s were neces s ary

, an d t h e i n accu racy o f

t h e t r a n s c r i p t o f h i s s t at em en t

. Al t h o u gh n on e are m eri t o ri o u s, w e ad d res s each in

t u rn

.

(i ) Mi r a n d

a W a rn i ng s a n d Vo l u n t ar i n es s

. “ A s u s pec t i s n o t en t i t l ed to

warn i n gs u n d er [ Mi r a nd

a ] un l es s t h at s u s p ect h as b een t ak en i nt o p o li ce cu s t o d y o r

6 Mi r a n d a v. Ar iz o n a , 3 8 4 U. S. 4 3 6 (8 6 SCt 1 6 0 2 , 1 6 LEd 2 d 6 9 4 ) (1 9 6 6 ).

15h as b een d ep ri v ed o f freed om o f act i o n i n an o t h er s ig n i fi can t way .” (C i t a t i o n

o m it t ed .) S

a ms v. S t a te

, 2 3 9 Ga. Ap p

. 7 1 5

, 7 1 7 (2 ) (5 2 1 SE2 d 8 4 8 ) (1 9 9 9 ); s ee al s o

Pi n ckn ey v. S t a t e

, 2 59 G a. Ap p

. 3 0 9

, 3 1 2 (1 ) (5 76 SE2 d 5 7 4 ) (2 0 0 3 ) (co n cl u d i n g t h at

i f defen d an t “ was no t ‘ i n cu s t o d y ’ fo r Mi ra n da p u rp o s es u n t i l aft er h e m ad e h i s

[s t at em en t ]

, t h ere are n o g ro u n d s fo r s u pp res s i n g t he s tat em en t ”). As a r e s u l t

, “ [i ] n

d eci d i n g wh et h er a d efen dan t was i n cu s t o d y

, a co u rt m u s t ex am i n e al l o f t h e

ci rcu m s t an ces s u rro u n d i n g t h e i n t erro g at i on

, b u t th e u l t i m at e i n q u i ry is s i m p l y

wh et h er t h ere was a fo rm al arres t o r res t rai n t o n freed o m o f m o vem en t o f t he d eg ree

as s o ci at ed wi th a fo rm al arres t.” (Ci t at i o n a n d p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed .) M ea d o ws v.

S t a t e

, 2 6 4 G a. Ap p

. 1 6 0

, 1 6 7 (6 ) (5 9 0 SE2 d 1 7 3 ) (2 0 0 3). To t h at en d

, “ [a] t a h eari n g

h el d p u rs u an t t o Ja cks on v. Den no ,[ 7 ] t h e tri al co u rt ex am i nes t h e to t al i t y o f t h e

ci rcu m s t an ces t o d et erm i n e wh et h er a p rep o nd eran ce of th e ev i d en ce s ho ws t h at [a]

s t at em en t was vo l u n t ary

. ” (Ci t at i o n an d p un ct u at io n o m i t t ed

. ) Bea u d o i n v. S t a t e

, 3 1 1

Ga. Ap p

. 9 1, 9 3 (3 ) (7 1 4 SE2 d 6 2 4 ) (2 01 1 ). “ Th e s t an dard o n ap peal i s t h at t h e t ri al

co u rt ’ s fi n d i n g s as t o fact u al d et erm i n at i o ns an d cred ib i l i t y rel at in g t o t h e

ad m i s s i b i l i t y o f s t at em en t s wi l l b e u p h el d o n ap peal u n l es s t h ey are cl earl y

7 3 7 8 U. S. 3 68 (8 4 SCt 1 7 7 4 , 1 2 LEd 2 d 9 08 ) (1 9 6 4 ).

16erro neo u s .” Lo b del l v. S t a t e

, 2 5 6 Ga. 7 6 9, 7 73 (6 ) (3 5 3 SE2 d 7 99 ) (1 9 8 7 ); s ee al s o

Bea ud o i n , 3 1 1 Ga. Ap p . at 9 3 (3 ).

In t h i s cas e, Bern al fi l ed a p r el i m i n ary m o t i o n t o s u p p res s at t ack i n g

, am o n g

o t h er t h i n g s, an “ i l l eg al i n t erro g at i on [.] ” Du ri n g a h eari n g o n t h e ev e o f t ri al

, t h e St at e

an n ou n ced t h at Bern al wo ul d pro ceed wi t h a m o t i o n t o s u p pres s

, “ b u t i t ’ s o s t en s i b l y

a Ja cks o n /

Den n o h e a r i n g ,” a d es cri p t i o n t h at Bern al ’ s co u n s el ch aract eri zed as

“ accu rat e.” Th e d e t e c t i v e wh o t o o k Bern al ’ s s t at em en t t es t i fi ed t h at

, aft er m eet i n g

wi t h t he ad u lt v i ct im

, h e as k ed Bern al i f Bern al wo u l d v is i t t h e p o li ce s t at i o n t h e n ex t

d ay t o t al k

. Bern al was n ot u nd er arres t at t h e t i m e o f h i s in t erv i ew, was free t o l eav e

t h e s t at i o n at an y ti m e d uri ng t h e in t erv i ew, l eft t h e s t a t i o n aft er t h e 45 -m i n u t e

i n t erv i ew, an d was no t arres t ed aft er t h e i n t erv i ew. M o reo v er, t h e d et ect i v e t es t i fi ed

t h at h e d i d n o t s eek a warran t fo r Bern al aft er t h e i n terv i ew.

Fo l l owi n g t h e d et ect i v e’ s t es ti m o n y , Bern al ’ s t ri al co u n sel s t at ed t hat

I’ m n o t cert ai n t h i s fal l s u n d er Ja cks on / Den n o

, v o l u n t a ri n es s o f

s t at em en t s

, b u t it do es fal l u n d er a g en eral i zed m o ti o n t o s u p p res s

. T he

St at e i s n o w s eek in g t o i n t ro d u ce s t at em en t s t h at p rev i o u s l y t h e St at e,

t h ro ug h i t s o ffi cer, d i d n ’ t b el i ev e m et an y t h r es h o l d o f p ro b ab l e cau s e

fo r arres t

.

17If t h ere’ s an y t h i n g t h e St at e s eek s t o i n t ro d u ce fro m t h i s st at em en t

, I’ m

g o i n g t o o bject at t ri al t h at m y c l i e n t was n o t p ro p erl y ad v is ed of h i s

ri gh ts at t h e t i m e t h at t h es e s t at em en t s were m ad e.

If t h e St at e d o es n ’ t bel i ev e t h at an y t h i n g was rel ev an t or creat es

p ro b ab l e c a u s e

, th en I d o n ’ t k n o w wh y we’ re g o i n g th ro u gh t h i s

ex erci s e.

Aft er rev i ewi n g a t ran scri p t o f Bern al ’ s i n t erv i ew, t h e t ri al co u rt fo u n d th at t h ere was

n o “ s u g g es t i o n of an i n v ol un t ary s t at em e n t i n t h i s tran s cri p t.” As a res u lt

, t h e t ri al

co u rt d ecl i n ed “ t o ru l e [t h e s t at em en t ] i nad m is si b l e. . . .”

W e co n cl u d e t hat t h e ev i d en ce ad d u ced du ri n g th e pre-t ri al m o t i o n t o s u p p res s

h eari n g “ s u p p o rt s t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s fi n d i n g s th at [Bern al ’ s ] s t at em en t s w ere freel y an d

v o l u n t ari l y m ad e, u nd er n o ncu s t o d i al ci rcu m s t an ces .” S a ms

, 2 3 9 Ga. A pp

. at 7 1 7 (2 );

s ee al so Bea ud

o i n

, 31 1 G a. Ap p

. at 9 4 (3 ); Ba s s v. S t a t e

, 2 8 2 Ga. Ap p

. 1 5 9, 1 6 0 (2 )

(6 3 7 SE2 d 8 6 3 ) (2 0 0 6 ); Ta yl o r v. S t a t e

, 2 5 9 Ga. Ap p

. 4 5 7 , 4 5 9 (1 ) (5 76 SE2 d 9 1 6 )

(2 0 0 3).

(i i) Accu r a cy o

f Tr a n s cr ip t of S ta t emen t

. As a t h res h o l d m at ter, Bern al d i d n ot

rai s e t h is s p eci fi c arg u m en t

— t h at t he t ran s lat i on o f h i s i n t erv i ew wi t h t h e d et ect i v e

18was i n accu rat e

— i n s u pp o rt o f h i s m o t i on to s u p p res s i n th e t ri al co u rt

. 8 Acco rd i n g l y

,

o rd i n ary ap p e l l at e rev i ew o f t h e arg u m en t h as b een wai v ed

. See, e.g

., S t a t e v.

Her rer a-Bu s t a ma n te

, 3 0 4 Ga. 2 5 9

, 2 6 3 (2 ) (a) (8 1 8 SE2 d 5 5 2 ) (2 01 8 ) (“ t h e g en eral

ru l e [ i s ] t h at o b

ject i o ns to t h e ad m i s s io n o f ev i d en ce m u s t b e rai s ed i n a t i m el y

fas h i on at t ri al fo r t he o b

ject i on t o b e p res erv ed fo r o rd in ary ap p el l at e rev i ew.”); s ee

al s o D a vi s v. S t a t e

, 3 0 5 Ga. 6 4 0

, 6 4 3 (2 ) (8 2 7 SE2 d 2 65 ) (2 0 1 9 ) (fi n d i ng t h at cl ai m

co u ld o n ly b e rev iewed fo r p l ai n erro r d u e to fai l u re “ t o m ak e a co n t em p o ran eo u s

o b ject i on i n t h e t ri al co u rt ”).

Ho wev er, “ [t ] he u n av ai l ab i l i t y of o rd i n ary rev i ew d o es n o t en d o u r an al y s i s o f

[Bern al ’ s ] ev i d en t i ary cl ai m

, ” Her r er a -Bu s t a ma n te

, 3 0 4 Ga. at 2 6 3 (2 ) (b ), b ecau s e

“ o u r n ew Ev i d en ce Co d e p erm i t s p l a i n erro r rev i ew o f cert ai n u n p res erv ed

ev i d en t i ary erro rs affect i n g s u b s t a n t i al ri g h t s .” (Ci t at i o n an d p u n ct u at io n o m i t t ed .)

Ad a m s v. S t a t e

, 3 0 6 Ga. 1

, 3 (1 ) (8 2 9 SE2 d 1 2 6 ) (2 0 1 9 ); s ee al s o OCGA § 2 4 -1 -1 0 3

(d ). To s h o w p lai n erro r,

8 A l t h ou g h t h e t ri al co u rt o v erru l ed Bern al ’ s o b j ect i o n to th e i n t ro du ct i o n o f

t h e i n t erv i ew t ran s cri p t at t ri al

, , t h at ru l i n g i s n o t en u m erat ed as erro r. See, e.g

., Da y

v. St a te

, 3 0 2 Ga. Ap p

. 8 83

, 8 8 4 (1 ) (6 91 SE2 d 9 2 0) (2 0 1 0 ) (“ [M ] at t e r s n ot

en u m erat ed as erro r wi l l n o t b e co n s i d ered o n ap p eal .”).

19t h ere m u s t [fi rs t ] b e an erro r o r d efect

— s o m e s o rt of dev i at i o n fro m a

l eg al ru le

— t h at h as n o t b een i n t en t io n al l y rel i n q u is hed o r ab an d o n ed

,

i .e., affi rm at i v el y w ai v ed

, b y t h e ap p el l an t

. Seco n d

, th e l eg al erro r m u s t

b e cl ear o r o b v i o u s

, rat h er t h an s u b ject t o reas o n ab l e d i sp u te. Th i rd

, th e

erro r m u s t h av e affect ed t h e ap p el l an t’ s s u b s t an t i al ri g h t s

, wh i ch i n th e

o rd i nary cas e m ean s h e m u s t d em o n s t rat e t hat it affect ed t h e o u t co m e o f

t h e t ri al co u rt p ro ceed i n gs

. Fo u rt h an d fi n al l y

, i f t h e ab ov e t h ree p ro n g s

are s at i s fi ed

, t h e a p p el l at e co u rt h as t h e d i s cret i o n t o rem ed y t he erro r

— d i s c r e t i o n wh i ch o u gh t to b e ex erci s ed on l y i f t h e erro r s eri o us l y

affect s t h e fai rn es s, i n t eg ri t y or p u b li c rep u t at i o n o f ju d i ci al

p ro ceed i n g s

.

(Ci t at i o n , em

p h as i s

, an d p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed .) S ta t e v. Kel ly

, 2 9 0 Ga. 2 9

, 3 3 (2 ) (a)

(7 1 8 SE2 d 2 3 2 ) (2 0 1 1 ); s ee al s o Her r er a -Bu s t ama n t e , 3 0 4 Ga. at 2 6 4 (2 ) (b ).

Pret erm it t i n g t he rem ai n in g p ro n gs o f t h e p l ai n -erro r a na ly sis, w e c onc lude t h at

Bern al can no t d em o n s t rat e t h e t h i rd p ro n g : t hat th e erro r “ affect ed t h e o u t co m e o f t h e

t ri al co urt p ro ceed i n g s

. ” (Pu n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed .) Kel l y

, 2 9 0 Ga. at 3 3 (2 ) (a); s ee al s o

An t h on y v. S t at e

, 3 0 3 Ga. 3 9 9

, 4 1 2 (1 1 ) (8 1 1 SE2 d 3 9 9 ) (2 0 18 ) (n ot i n g t h at d efen d an t

“ h as n o t ev en al l eg ed t h at th e o u t c o m e o f h i s t ri al was li k el y affect ed b y [t h e]

ad m i s s i o n [o f ch al l en g ed ev i den ce] ”). Of p ri m ary i m p o rt an ce, b o t h v i ct i m s o ffered

d i rect ev i d en ce o f, an d were s u b ject ed t o cro s s -ex am i n at i on co n cern i n g, t he d et ai l s

o f Bern al ’ s ab u se. See OCGA § 2 4 -1 4-8 (“ Th e t es ti m o n y o f a s i n g l e wi t n es s i s

20g en eral l y s uffi ci en t t o es t ab l i s h a fact .”); Br o wn v. S t a te

, 3 2 4 Ga. Ap p

. 7 1 8

, 7 2 0 (1 )

(7 5 1 SE2 d 5 1 7 ) (2 0 1 3 ); Rei d v. S t a t e

, 3 1 9 Ga. Ap p

. 7 8 2

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

( 2 0 1 3 ) ( “ t h e t es t i m o n y o f a s i n g l e wi tn es s i s g en eral l y s u ffi ci en t t o p ro v e a fact

,

i n cl u d i n g ch i l d m o les t at io n ”). Th erefo re, we c a n n o t s ay t h at t he ad m i s s i o n o f

Bern al ’ s no n cu s t o di al st at em en t “ affect e d the outc om e o f t he tri al co u rt p ro ceed i n g s .”

(Pu n ct u at i on om i tt ed .) Kel l y

, 2 9 0 G a

. at 3 3 (2 ) (a). As a res u l t

, we co n cl u d e t h at

Bern al h as fai led t o d em o n st rat e p l ai n erro r.

3

. Fi n al l y

, Bern al as s ert s t h at h e recei v ed i n effect i v e as s i s t an ce o f t ri al co u n s el

d u e t o co u n s el ’ s fai l u re t o ad v i s e h i m o f h i s ri g ht t o p res en t ev i d en ce at sen t en ci n g.

In v i ew o f o u r d eci s i o n i n Di v i s i o n 1

, s u p ra, we n eed n ot co ns i d er Bern al ’ s arg u m en t

at t h i s t i m e. See, e.g

. , W a l ker

, 29 2 Ga. at 2 6 2

, 2 6 5 (2 ) (d ecl i n i n g t o co n s i d er

i n effect i v e as s i s t an ce o f t ri al c o u n s el i n v i ew o f rem an d fo r co n s i d erat i o n o f t h e

“ g en eral g ro u n d s ”).

In s u m

, we co n cl u d e t h e tri al co u rt fai l ed t o ex erci s e i t s d is cret i o n i n rev i ewi n g

Bern al ’ s arg u m en t b as ed u p o n OCGA § § 5 -5 -2 0 an d 5 -5 -2 1. Th erefo re, we v acat e in

p art t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s o rd er den y i n g Bern al ’ s m ot i o n fo r n ew t ri al an d rem an d t h i s cas e

fo r fu rt h er p ro ceed i n g s co n si s t en t wi t h t h is o p i n io n ; as a res u l t, we n eed n o t co n s i d er

21Bern al ’ s al l eg at io n of i n effect i ve as s i s t an ce o f tri al co un s el du ri n g s en t en ci ng at t h i s

t i m e. Fi n d i n g n o o t h er erro r, we affi rm t h e rem ai n d er o f t h e t ri al co urt ’ s o rd er.

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

, va ca t ed i n p ar t

, a n d ca s e r ema n d

ed

. McFa d

d en

, C.

J., a n d Do

yl e, P. J., co n cu r

.

22