FOURTH D I VI SI ON

DI L LA RD, P. J.

, M ERCI ER and PI N SON, JJ.

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

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

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

https ://w w w

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

Januar y 20, 2022



# I n th e Co u r t o f

A p p eals o f

G eo r g ia

A2 1 A1 67 5 . THE STATE v . M CCLENDON.

P I N S O N

, J u d g e.

Rh o nd a Dee M cCl en do n

, an acco u n t an t

, was i n d i ct ed o n 1 3 co u n t s o f t h eft by

t ak i n g fo r wi th d rawi n g fu n ds fro m a cl i en t ’ s b an k acco un t s . Sh e fi l ed a p l ea i n b ar,

c o n t en d i ng t h at th e ch arg es were b arred b y t h e s t at u t e o f li m i t at i o n becau s e t h e

i n d i ct m en t i s s u ed m o re t h an fo u r y ears aft er t h e al l eg ed cri m es were co m m i t t ed

. Th e

t ri al co u rt g ran t ed t h e p l ea i n bar, an d t h e St at e no w ap p eal s u n d er OCGA § 5 -7 -1 (a)

(3 ). Th e S t a t e arg u es th at t h e l i m i t at i o n p eri o d was t o l l ed b ecau s e M cCl en d o n ’ s

i d en t i t y as t h e t h i ef was n o t k n o wn u n t i l s ev eral y ears aft er t h e al l eg ed cri m es were

c o m m it t ed

. W e co n cl u d e, h o wev er, t h at t h e St at e was ch arg eab l e w i th k no wl ed ge,

m o re t h an fo u r y ears b efo re McCl en d o n was i n d i ct ed

, o f fact s s u ffi ci en t t o s u p p o rtp ro b ab l e cau se to arres t M cCl en d o n fo r t h e t h eft s

. M c C l e n d o n’ s i n d i ct m en t t hu s

i s su ed aft er t he l i m it at i o n p eri o d ex p i red , s o we affi rm

.

Back gro u n d

Th e i n d i ct m en t h ere i s su ed o n No v em b er 1 3, 2 0 20

. In i t, Rh o n d a McCl en d o n,

a cert i fi ed p u b li c acco u n t an t

, was ch arg ed wi t h w i th d rawi n g fu nd s

, “ u n l awfu l l y an d

i n breach o f h er fi d u ci ary o b l ig at i o n ,” fro m acco un t s b el o n g i n g to J o h n Bo n e an d h i s

co m p an y

, M ari t i m e Sal es Leas i n g

, In c., o ver a p eri o d o f a few m o n t hs fro m M arch

t o J u l y 2 0 1 5

.

W h en t h es e al l eg ed t h eft s o ccu rred

, t h e un d i s p u ted ev i d en ce s h ows t h at

M cCl en d o n was act i n g as Bo ne’ s p ers on al an d co rp orat e acco u n t an t

. Th e p art i es h ad

a l on g st an d i n g b u s in es s rel at io n s h i p , d at i n g b ack ab o u t 1 5 y ears

.

In J u n e 20 1 5

, Bo n e was co n t a c t e d b y h i s ban k ab ou t i rreg u l ar t ran s act i on s

i n v o l v i n g ch eck s ap p aren t ly s i g n ed b y M cCl en d o n an d m ad e p ay ab l e t o b u s i n es s

en t i t i es as s o ci at ed wi t h h er. Al t h o u g h M cCl en d o n h ad s i g n at u re au t ho ri t y o n Bo n e’ s

acco u nts, the w ithdr a w a ls— w hic h total ed n earl y $ 30 0 ,0 0 0— were u n us u al ly l arg e fo r

t h e t i m e p eri o d t h ey s p an ned

. Lat er i n v es t i g at i o n rev eal ed t h at m an y o f t h es e ch eck s

d i d n o t m at ch u p wi t h an y co rres po n d i n g i n v o i ce fro m M cCl en do n ’ s fi rm

.

2Aft er t h e b an k co nt act ed Bo n e, h e co n t act ed M cCl en d o n

. McCl en d on d en i ed

an y k no wl ed ge ab o u t t h e t ran s act i o n s

. Sh e t o ld Bo n e t h at s h e h ad s i g n ed a n u m b er

o f b lan k ch eck s o f h i s an d p u t t h em i n h er fi rm ’ s s afe, to b e u s ed o n l y i f a ch eck was

n eed ed at a t i m e wh en n ei t h er Bo n e n o r M cCl en do n was av ai l ab le t o s i g n

. Sh e

p o s i t ed t h at o n e o f her em p l o y ees m

us t h av e “ g o t t en t h o s e ch eck s o u t of t h e s afe an d

m ad e t h em o ut an d d ep o s i t ed t h em i n h er vari o u s acco u n t s t o co v er up so m e o t h er

fo rm o f t h eft t h at was tak i n g p l ace i n h er o ffi ce.” Sh e p ro m i sed t o fi nd o u t w h o was

res p o n s i b l e an d t o rep ay

Bo n e al l fu n d s t h at were n o t p ay m en t fo r s erv i ces

.

M cCl en do n ’ s d en i al s

, ap o l o g i es

, an d p ro m i s es are d o cu m en t ed i n a s eri es o f

em ai l s ex ch an g ed b et ween M cCl en do n an d Bo n e i n J u ly 2 0 1 5

. In an em ai l o n J u l y

1 4

, 2 0 1 5

, s h e wro t e th at s h e h ad “ d i s co v ered wh o t h e t hi ef [was ] ” an d t h at t h i s

em pl o y ee “ was t ak i n g m

y m o ney

, an d wh en th ere was n’ t en o u g h

, s h e wen t t o t h e s afe

an d to o k p res i g n ed ch eck s fro m y o u r acco u n t t o p ro v i d e wh at s he n eed ed t o co v er h er

t h eft

. ” McCl en d o n wro t e t h a t s h e h ad fi red t h e em p l o y ee an d in t i m at ed t h at s h e

p l an n ed t o p res s ch arg es

. Sh e co n t i n ued p ro m i si n g s h e w o u l d “ d o wh at ev er i t t ak es ”

t o res o l ve t h e s i tu at i o n

. In a l at er em ai l

, M cCl en d o n s ai d s he had “ t u rn ed ev ery t h i n g

o v er t o [ a ] f

o r e n s i c acco u n t an t” i n At l an t a an d ret ai n ed on e o r m o re fi rm s “ i n D C”

3“ t o g et t o t h e bo t t o m o f t h i s .” Sh e al s o s ai d sh e “ [was ] no t accu si ng o r p o s i t i n g

an y t h i n g u n t i l [s h e had ] fact s ” bu t t h at s h e “ fu l ly i n t en d[ed ] t o m ak e [Bo n e] wh o l e.”

Bo n e was s k ep t i cal . In a J u l y 2 1, 2 0 1 5 , em ai l , Bo n e t o l d M cCl en d o n :

Th e bo t t o m l in e h ere i s th at t h es e ch eck s were m ad e o u t t o y o u

, si g n ed

b y y o u an d d ep o si t ed i n t o y o u r acco u n t

. Al m os t 3 0 0k i n fi v e m o n t h s o u t

o f m y acco un t i n t o y o u r acco u n t

. . . . W h at ev er h ap pen ed i n y o ur o ffi ce

i s no t m y co n cern an d i s y o ur res p o ns i b i l it y

. I fi n d i t hard t o b el i ev e t hat

y o u l eft p re-s i gn ed ch eck s o n a l l f o u r o f m y acco u n t s w h ere s om eo ne

el s e h ad acces s t o t h em an d t h en th at s om eo n e m ad e t h em o u t t o y o u o r

y o u r fi rm an d th en d ep o s i t ed t h em i nt o y o ur acco u n t. It ’ s l i k e rev ers e

frau d o r s o m et hi n g . Do es n ’ t m ak e s en s e.

Bo n e wen t on i n t h e em ai l t o t el l M cCl en do n t h at s he sh o u l d b e fo cu s i n g o n “ h o w

an d wh en y o u are g oi n g t o p ay t h i s b ack

. . . as I d o n ot t h i n k t h at y o u wo ul d wan t to

f a ce a l eg al ch al l en g e o n t h is m es s .” Des p i t e t h e s i t u at i o n, h owev er, M cCl en d o n

co n ti n u ed t o wo rk

fo r Bo n e fo r s o m e p eri od o f t i m e t h ereaft er.

M o re t h an a y ear aft er t h e wi t h d rawal s were d i s co v ered

, Bo n e h i red co u n s el

.

In J u n e 2 0 1 7

, Bo ne su ed McCl en do n an d s ev eral co rp o rat e en t i t i es o s t en s i b l y

as s o ci at ed wi t h h er. In J u n e 20 1 8

, M cCl en d o n was d ep o s e d

, a n d Bo n e an d h i s

co u ns el

, Dav i d M eck l i n

, l earn ed t h at M c C l e n d o n h ad wi t h hel d d ocu m en t s an d

i n fo rm at i o n ab o u t cert ai n b an k acco u n t s s h e h el d

. Aft er M cCl en d o n c o n t i n u ed to

4res i st p ro d u ci n g th es e b an k reco rd s

, M eck l i n o b t ai n e d t h em t h ro u g h t h i rd -p art y

d i s co v ery i n Sep t em

b er an d Oct o b er 2 0 1 8

. M eck l i n ’ s rev i ew rev eal ed t h at s o m e o f

Bo n e’ s fu n d s h ad u l t i m at el y b een t ran s ferred in t o a p e rs on al acco u n t b el o n g i n g to

M cCl en d o n. Bas ed o n t h i s rev el at i o n an d o t h er i n fo rm at i o n gai n ed d u ri n g d i s co v ery

,

M eck l i n rep ort ed t h e m at ter t o l aw en fo rcem en t i n Oct o b er 2 0 1 8

.

M cCl en do n was i ni ti al l y i n d i ct ed o n Sep t em b er 4

, 2 0 1 9

, o n t wo co u n t s o f t h eft

b y t ak i n g

. M cCl en d o n fi l ed a p l ea i n b ar, co n t en d i n g t h a t t h e i n di ct m en t w as t i m eb arred b y th e fo u r-y ear s tat u t e o f l i m i t at i o n f o r t heft b y t ak i n g b y a fi d u ci ary

. 1 In

No v em b er 2 01 9

, fo l l o wi n g a h eari n g

, t he t ri al co u rt d en i ed th e p lea i n b ar. 2 Bu t in

Ap ri l 2 0 2 0

, t h e t ri al co u rt g ran t ed a d em u rrer an d q u as hed th e i n d i ct m en t

, fi n d i n g t h at

t h e ch arg es were n o t p l ed wi th s u ffi ci en t s p eci fi ci t y

.

M c C l e n d o n w as re-i n d i ct ed o n No v em b er 1 3

, 2 0 2 0

. Each of th e 1 3 co u n t s

al l eg ed a s ep arat e u n au t h o ri zed wi t h d rawal

, t h e fi rs t o ccu rri ng on M arch 9, 2 0 1 5

, an d

t h e las t o ccu rri n g o n J ul y 6

, 2 0 1 5

. As t o each co u n t

, th e i n d i ct m en t al l eg ed t h at “ t h e

1 S e e OCGA § § 1 7 -3 -1 (c) (p ro v i d i ng fo r l i m i t at i o n p eri o d o f fo ur y ears fo r

fel o n i es o t her t h an t h o s e s p eci fi cal l y l i st ed o r o th erwi se ex cl u d ed ); 1 6-8 -1 2 ( a ) (3 )

(cl as si fy i n g t h eft b y t ak i n g a s a f e l o n y i f co m

m i t t ed “ by a fi d u ci ary i n b reach o f a

fi du ci ary o b l ig at i o n ”).

2 Th i s Co urt d en i ed M cCl en d on ’ s ap p l i cat i o n fo r i n t erl o cu t ory ap p eal o f t h i s

ru l i n g. McCl en d

o n v. S t at e , Cas e No . A2 0 I0 1 2 4 (Dec. 1 3

, 2 01 9 ).

5s t at u te o f l i m i tat io n s

. . . was to l l ed p u rs u an t t o OCGA § 1 7-3 -2 (2 ) in t h at t he p ers o n

co m m i t t i n g t he cri m e was u n k n o wn u n t i l 2 0 1 8 .”

M cCl en do n ag ai n fi l ed a p l ea i n b ar o n s t at u t e o f l i m i t at i on g ro u n d s

. Fo l l o wi n g

a h e a r i n g

, t h e co u rt co n cl u d ed t h at th e in d i ct m en t h ad no t i ss u ed u n t i l aft er t h e

l i m i tat i o n p eri o d h ad ex p i red

. In reach i n g t hi s co n cl u s i o n

, t h e co u rt reject ed t h e

St at e’ s as s ert i on t h at t h e l i m i t at i o n p eri o d h ad b een t o l l ed un t il 2 0 1 8

, wh en Bo n e was

fo r t he fi rs t t i m e ab l e to t race h i s fu n ds t o M cCl en do n ’ s p ers o nal acco u n t

. In st ead

, t h e

co u rt fo u n d t h at

, “ as o f at l eas t J u l y 2 1

, 2 0 1 5

, ” B o n e “ h ad s u ffi ci en t s u b ject i v e

k n o wl ed g e t h a t w o ul d l ea[d ] a reas o n ab l e p ers o n t o b el i ev e t h at [M cCl en d o n ] h ad

co m m i t t ed [t h e t h eft s ] .” Becau s e t h at d at e was m o re t han fo u r y ears p ri o r to t h e d at e

o f t h e i n d i ct m en t

, 3 t h e co u rt g ran t ed t he p l ea i n b ar.

3 T h e t ri al co u rt l o ok ed t o t h e d at e o f t h e o ri g i nal i n d i c t m e n t

— S ep t em b er 4,

2 0 1 9

— as t h e o perat iv e d at e fo r l i m i t a t i o n p u rp o s es

, an d t he St at e ag rees o n t h i s

p o i n t

. Ho wev er, n ei t h er t h e t ri al co u rt n o r t h e St at e h as ex p l ai ned wh y t h e t i m el i n es s

o f t h e s eco nd i n di ct m en t wo u l d d ep en d o n th e d at e o f t h e o ri g i n al

, q u as h e d

i n d i ct m en t

. To b e s ure, u n d er cert ai n ci rcu m s t an ces an i nd i ct m en t m ay “ rel at e b ack ”

t o a p rev i o u s i n d i ct m en t fo r l i m i t at i on pu rp o s es

, b ut t h at d o ct ri n e do es n o t ap p l y h ere,

wh ere t h e o ri g in al i n di ct m en t i s n o l o n g er p en d i n g . See S t a t e v. Ou t en

, 2 96 Ga. 4 0,

4 5 (3 ) (7 6 4 SE2 d 84 8) (2 0 1 4) (rel at i o n-b ac k d o ct ri n e ap p l i es w here, am o n g o t h er

t h i n g s

, “ t h e p ri o r i n d i ct m en t i s s t i l l pen d i ng ”). Th u s

, t h e dat e o f t h e s eco n d

i n d i ct m en t

—No v em b er 1 3

, 2 0 2 0

— i s t h e o p erat i v e d at e fo r p u rp o s es o f cal cu l at i n g

t h e l i m it at i o n p eri o d

. Th at s ai d

, i t u l t im at el y d oes n o t m at t er wh i ch of t h es e d at es i s

u s ed

. Bo t h dat es are (a) m ore t h an fo ur y ears lat er t h an J u l y 2 0 1 5 —t h e t i m e

M cCl en d o n arg u es t h e l i m i t at i o n cl o ck b eg an

— an d (b ) l es s t h an fo u r y ears l at er t h an

6Di s cu ss i o n

In cri m i n al cas es

, t he s t at u t e o f l im it at i o n ru n s “ fro m t h e t i m e o f t h e cri m i n al

a c t t o th e t i m e o f in d i ct m en t .” Ri l ey v. S t a te

, 3 0 5 Ga. 16 3

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

(2 0 1 9) (p u n ct u at i o n om i t t ed ). Cri m i n al s t at u t es o f l i m i t at i o n are s u p p os ed t o p ro t ect

p eo pl e fro m h av i n g t o defen d ag ai n s t ch arg es fo r lo n g -p as t co n du ct as t o wh i ch t h e

“ b as i c fact s m ay h av e b eco m e o b s cu red b y t h e pas s ag e o f t i m e,” s o t h ey are co n s t ru ed

“ l i b eral l y

. . . i n fav o r o f rep o s e.” Id

. (p u nct u at i o n o m i t t ed ). Acco rd Co un t r yma n v.

S t a t e

, 3 5 5 Ga. A p p

. 5 7 3

, 5 78 (1 ) (8 4 5 SE2 d 3 1 2 ) (2 0 2 0 ). An d t h e St at e b ears t h e

b u rd en t o p ro v e t h at t h e i n d i ct m en t i s s u ed wi t h i n t he ap p l i cab l e l im i t at i o n p eri o d o r,

i f i t d id n ot

, th at a t o l l i n g ex cep t i o n ap pl i es

. Ri l ey

, 3 0 5 Ga. at 1 6 7 (3 ); Lewi s v. S t a t e

,

3 0 6 Ga. 4 5 5

, 4 6 2– 6 3 (4 ) (8 3 1 SE2 d 7 7 1) (2 01 9 ).

Here, th e St at e arg u es t h at t h e s o -cal l ed “ p ers on -u n k n own ” ex cep t i o n ap p l i es

.

See Lewi s

, 3 06 Ga. at 4 6 3 (4 ). Th i s ex cep t i o n ap p l i es wh en t h e i d en t it y o f t he p ers o n

wh o co m m i t t ed t h e cri m e i s u n k n own

, an d i t t o l ls t h e l i m i t at i o n p eri o d fro m t h e t i m e

t h e cr i m e wa s c om m i t t ed un ti l t h at p ers o n ’ s i d en t i ty b eco m es k n o w n to t h e St at e.

Oct o b er 2 0 1 8, wh i ch i s wh en t h e St at e co nt en d s t h e l i m i tat i on p eri o d b eg an t o ru n.

In o t her wo rd s, i f McCl en d o n ’ s t h eo ry p rev ai l s an d n o to l l i n g o ccu rred

, b o t h t h e

o ri g i nal an d seco n d indict m en t s were u n ti m el y

, an d i f t he St at e’ s th eo ry p rev ai l s

, b o th

i n d i ct m en t s i s s u ed t i m el y fro m t h e d at e t h e t o l l i n g en d ed

.

7OCGA § 1 7 -3 -2 (2 ) (“ [t ] h e p eri o d wi t h in wh i ch a p ro s ecu t i o n m us t b e co m

m en ced

. . . d oes n o t i n c l u d e an y peri o d i n w h i ch

. . . [t ] h e p ers o n co m m it t i n g t h e cri m e i s

u n k n o wn ”); Ri l ey , 3 0 5 Ga. at 1 6 8

– 6 9 (3 ).

W h en d o es t h e i d en t i ty o f t h e p erp et rat o r b eco m e “ k n o wn ” t o t h e St at e i n t h i s

c o n t e x t ? U l t i m at el y

, it is wh en t h e St at e b eco m es aware o f fact s t h at g i v e ri s e t o

p ro b ab l e cau s e t o arres t t h at pers o n fo r t h e cri m e. Ri l ey

, 3 0 5 Ga. at 16 9 (3 ) (s t at u t e

o f l i m i t at i o n is t o l l ed “ u n t i l t he S t at e p o s s es s es s uffi ci en t ev i d en ce to au t h o ri ze t h e

l awfu l arres t o f t h at p ers o n fo r t h e cri m e ch arg ed ”). Pro b ab l e cau s e ex is ts wh en t h e

fact s k n o wn t o t h e St at e co u ld l ead a reas o n ab l y p ru d en t p ers on t o co n cl u de t h at t h ere

i s a “ p ro b ab i l i t y ”

— m o re t h an m ere s u s p i ci o n

, bu t les s t h an ab s o l ut e cert ai n t y

— t h at

t h e d e f e n d a n t co m

m i t t ed t h e offen s e. Hu g h es v. S t a t e

, 2 9 6 Ga. 74 4

, 7 4 9 (2 ) (7 7 0

SE2 d 6 3 6 ) (2 01 5 ); see R i l ey

, 3 0 5 Ga. at 1 69 (3 ) (“ [t ] h e t es t o f p ro b ab l e cau s e req u i res

m e r e l y a p ro b ab i l i t y ”). In t hi s co n t ex t

, t h e St at e i s ch arg ed wi t h k n o wl ed ge o f t h e

fact s act ual l y k n own b y th e v ict i m

. Ja n n u z zo v. S ta t e

, 3 22 Ga. Ap p

. 76 0

, 76 2 (1 ) (7 4 6

SE2 d 2 3 8) (2 0 1 3). Acco rd Ri l ey , 3 0 5 Ga. at 1 6 8 (3 ).

Th u s

, t o es t ab li s h t h at t h e p ers o n -u n k n o wn ex cep ti o n ap pl i es , t he St at e m u s t

s h o w t h at t h e fact s wi th i n i t s k n o wl ed g e— in cl ud i n g k no wl ed g e i m pu t e d f r o m t h e

v i ct i m

— were n o t en o u g h t o l ead a reas o n ab l y pru d en t p e r s o n t o i den t i fy t h e

8d efen d an t as t h e p erp et rat o r u n t i l a t i m e t h at

, rel at i v e t o t h e i n d i ct m en t

, was wi t h in

t h e li m i t at i o n p eri o d

. See Ri ley

, 3 0 5 Ga. at 1 6 9 (3 ) (“ [T] he St at e h as t h e b u rd en o f

p ro v in g t h at it l ack ed p ro b ab l e cau s e t o arres t t h e d efen dan t fo r a t i m e s uffi ci en t t o

d eem t h e i nd i ct m en t o r o th er ch arg i n g d o cu m en t t i m e l y.”); Co u nt ryma n

, 3 5 5 Ga.

Ap p

. at 5 8 0 (1 ). Acco rd Lewi s

, 3 0 6 Ga. at 4 6 3 (4 ) ( t o l l in g ap p li es wh ere “ t h e St at e

h as n ot o b t ai ned s u ffi ci en t i n fo rm at i o n t o es t ab l i s h p ro b a b l e c a u s e t o arres t a

p art i cu l ar s u s p ect ”). If t h e k n own fact s wo ul d al lo w p ru d en t p ers o ns to d raw d i fferi n g

co n cl u s i o n s o n t h i s p o i n t

, p ro bab l e cau s e ex i s t s

. S e e Hu g h es

, 2 9 6 Ga. at 7 4 9 (2 );

S t a t e v. Cu l l er

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

Here, M cCl en d on m ad e a p ri m a faci e cas e t h at t h e N o v em b er 1 3

, 2 0 2 0

i n d i ct m en t i s su ed b ey o n d t h e fo u r-y ear l i m i t at i o n p eri o d

, co u nt i n g fro m each o f t h e

d at es i n M arch t hro ug h J u l y 2 0 1 5 wh en t h e t heft s o ccu rred

. So

, t o carry i t s b u rd en to

p ro v e t h at th e p ers o n -u n k n o wn ex cep t i o n ap p l ies

, t h e St at e had t o s h o w t h at Bo n e’ s

k n o w l e d g e as o f J ul y 2 0 1 5 was n ot en o u g h t o s u p p o rt p ro bab le cau s e t o arres t

M cCl en d o n fo r t h e t h eft s

.

Th e tri al co u rt co n cl u d ed t h at t h e St at e had n o t m et th i s b u rd en

. Bas ed o n t h e

ev i d en ce p res en ted at th e t wo p l ea-i n -b ar h eari n g s, t h e t ri al co u rt fo u n d t h at

, as o f

J u l y 20 1 5

, Bo n e h ad b een i n fo rm ed ab o u t t h e su s p i ci ou s t ran s fers

, wh ich were l arg er

9t h an n o rm al an d n o t as s o ci at ed wi t h i n v oi ced fees ; Bo n e b el iev ed M cCl en d o n h ad

b een t he p ers o n wh o s i gn ed t h e ch eck s t h at e f f e c t u at ed t h es e t ran s fers ; an d Bo n e

k n ew t h at t h e recei v i n g acco u n t s were h el d b y M cCl en d o n an d h er b us i n es s en t i t i es

.

Th es e fact u al fi n d i ng s, t h e co u rt h el d

, s u p po rt ed t h e co ncl u s io n t h at

, as o f Ju l y 2 0 1 5,

“ [Bo n e] h ad s u ffi ci en t s ub ject i v e k n o w l ed g e t h at wo u l d lea[d ] a reas o n ab l e p ers o n

t o b el i ev e t h at [M cCl en d o n ] h ad co m m i t t ed t h es e cri m i n al act s .”

W e ag ree wi t h t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s an al y s i s

. 4 As o f J u l y 2 0 1 5, Bo n e k new t h at

n earl y $ 3 0 0 ,0 0 0 h ad b een wi t h d rawn fro m h i s acco u n t s wi t h o u t hi s au t h o ri zat i o n o r

an y d o cu m en t ed b u s i nes s ju s t i fi cat i on

. Th e wi t h d rawal s h ad b een acco m p li s h ed wi th

ch eck s m ad e o ut t o M cCl en d o n

, s i gn ed b y M cCl en d o n, an d d ep os i t e d i n t o h er

acco u n t s. Al t h o u gh McCl en d o n d en i ed h av i n g k no wn ab o u t th e w i t h d rawal s an d

ad v an ced t h e t heo ry t h at o n e o f h er em p l o y ees was t o b l am e, a re a s o n a b l y p ru d en t

p ers o n u n d er t ho s e ci rcu m s t an ces wo u l d hav e b een ju s t ifi ed i n d i s b el i ev i n g

4 I n r e v i ewi n g a ru l i ng o n a p l ea i n b ar o n st at ut e o f li m i t at i o n g ro u n d s

, “ w e

accep t th e tri al co u rt ’ s fi n d i n gs o n d is p u t ed fact s an d wi t n es s cred i bi l i t y u n l es s t h ey

are cl earl y erro n eo u s

, bu t i n d ep en d e n t l y ap p l y t he l aw t o t h e fact s .” S t a t e v.

Ca mp b el l

, 3 5 8 Ga. Ap p

. 3 8 9

, 3 9 2 (2 ) (8 5 5 SE2 d 40 1

, 40 4 ) (2 0 21 ) (p u n ct u at i o n

o m it t ed ). So we m

u s t u p ho l d t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s fact u al fi n d i n g s i f th ere is an y ev i d en ce

t o s u pp o rt t h em

, b ut we o we n o d eferen ce t o t he co u rt ’ s co ncl u s i o ns o f l aw bas ed o n

t h o s e fact s

. Id

. (“ an y ev i d en ce” s t an d ard ap pl i es t o t ri al co u rt ’ s fact -fi n d in g s

, b ut

rev i ew o f l eg al co n cl u s i on s i s d e n o v o ).

10M cCl en d o n’ s ex p l an at i o n an d co n cl u d i n g th at s he w as res p o n si bl e fo r t h e t h eft s

.

Bo n e’ s em ai l o f J u l y 2 1, 20 1 5

— i n wh i ch he t el ls M cCl en d o n t h at h er s t ory “ [d ] o es n ’ t

m a k e s en s e” —cl earl y refl ect s h i s s k ep t i ci sm ab o u t h er ex p l an at i o n

. W h i l e n ot

d i s p o s i t i ve, Bo n e’ s d ou b t ab o u t t h e t ru t h o f M c C l en d o n ’ s d en i al s su p p o rt s t h e

d et erm i n at i o n t h at a reas o n ab l y p ru d en t p ers o n u n der th e ci rcu m s t an ces wo u l d h av e

b el i ev ed th at i t was p ro b ab l e— t h o u g h n o t n eces s ari l y cert ai n

— t h at M cCl en d o n was

t h e t h i ef. See Ri l ey , 3 0 5 Ga. at 1 6 9 (3 ); H u g h es , 2 9 6 Ga. at 7 4 9 (2 ). 5

Th e St at e res i s ts t h i s co n cl u s io n an d co n t en d s t hat i t l ack ed p ro bab l e cau se to

arres t M cC l e n d o n u n t i l 2 0 18

. T h e St at e p o i n t s o u t t h at Bo ne co n t i n u ed t o em p l oy

M cCl en d o n as h i s acco un t an t b e yo n d J u l y 2 0 1 5 an d t h at M eck l i n

, a “ l eg al

t ech n i ci an

, ” t es t i fi ed t h at h e d i d n o t “ [feel ] co m fo rt ab l e i n s ay i n g [M cCl en d o n ] was

t h e o n e ” u n t i l h e rev iewed M cCl en d o n ’ s p rev i o us l y u n d is cl o s ed b an k reco rd s in

Oct o b er 2 0 1 8.

Th es e p o in t s d o n o t un d erm i n e th e t ri al co u rt ’ s fi n d i n g o f p ro b ab l e cau s e in

J u l y 20 1 5

. Th e fact t h at Bo n e d i d n o t i m m ed i at el y t erm i n at e M cCl en do n ’ s s erv i ces

5 A l t h o u g h Bo n e t es t i fi ed at b o t h p l ea-i n-b ar heari n g s t h at h e had b el i ev ed

M cCl en d o n’ s ex p l an at i o n u n ti l M cCl en d o n’ s b an k reco rd s were p ro d u ced i n 2 0 1 8,

, h e was i m

p each ed o n t h i s p o i n t at th e s e c o n d heari ng t h ro u g h h i s d ep o s i t i o n

t es t i m o ny fro m th e ci vi l cas e, wh ere h e t es t i fi ed t h at he h ad n o t b el i ev ed McCl en d o n.

11d o es n o t p ro v e t h at Bo n e d i d n o t b el i ev e M cCl en d o n w as res p on s i bl e fo r t h e t h eft s

, 6

m u ch l es s th at a reas o n ab ly p ru d en t p ers o n wo u l d n o t h av e bel i ev ed a s m u c h

. An d

wh i le M eck l i n m ay n ot h av e “ fel t co m fo rt ab l e” rep ort i n g M cCl en d o n t o p o l i ce u n t i l

Oct o b er 2 0 1 8

, “ t h e s t an dard o f pro b ab l e cau s e i s an o b ject iv e o ne, an d t h e s u b

ject i v e

t h i n k i n g o f [t h o se in vo l v ed ] i n a p art icu l ar cas e i s n o t i m po rt an t

. ” Hu gh es , 2 9 6 Ga.

at 7 4 9 (2 ). Bas ed o n t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s f a c t u a l fi n d i ng s

, a reas o n ab l y pru d en t p ers o n

wo u l d h av e b een ju st i fi ed i n co ncl u di n g wel l b efo re t h en t h at M cCl en d o n w as l i k el y

t h e t h i ef.

In s u m

, we co n cl u de th at

, as o f J ul y 2 0 1 5

, t h e St at e was c h a r g eab l e wi th

k n o wl ed g e o f fact s th at gav e ri s e t o p ro b ab l e c a u s e t o arres t M cCl en d o n fo r t h e

t h eft s

. S e e Ca mp b el l

, Ga. A p p. at 39 1

– 9 2 (2 ) (h o l d i n g t h at

, wh ere t he St at e h ad

k n o wl ed g e, w i t h i n t h e l i m i t at i on p eri o d

, of m an y fact s i nd i cat i n g t he d efen dan t was

t h e p erp et rat o r, t h e fact t hat a DNA m at ch w as n o t d i s co v ered u n t i l y ears l at er d i d n ot

ju s t ify to l l i n g t he s t at u t e o f li m it at i o n ). Th e fo u r-y ear s tat u t e o f l im it at i o n t h us b eg an

t o ru n in J u ly 2 0 1 5

, an d t h e o p erat i v e No v em ber 2 0 2 0 i n d i ct m en t is s u ed wel l b ey o n d

6 It i s p o s s i b l e, fo r ex am p l e, t h at Bo n e m ay h av e d eci d ed b ecau se o f t h e

co m p l ex i t y o f h i s fi n an ces t h at h e n eed e d t o a l l o w t i m e t o t ran si t i o n t o an o t h er

acco u n t an t

.

12t h e ex p i rat io n o f t h e li m i tat i o n p eri o d

. Th e pl ea in b ar was t h erefo re p ro p erl y g ran t ed

,

s ee i d . at 3 92 (2 ).

Ju d g men t a f f i r m ed . Di l l ar d

, P. J., a n d

Mer ci er , J., co n cu r

.

13