FOURTH D I VI SI ON

DI L LA RD, P. J.

, RA Y and SELF, JJ.

N O T IC E : M otions for r e c ons i de r a tion m us t be ph y sic a l ly r e ce iv ed i n our c le r k ’s offic e w ithin te n da y s of the da te of de c is ion to be de e m ed tim e ly file d.

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

June 5, 2017



# I n th e Co u r t o f

A p p eals o f

G eo r g ia

A1 7 A0 61 5 . M O RRIS v . THE STATE.

D I LLA R D , Pres i d i n g J u d g e.

Fo l l owi n g tri al

, a ju ry co n v i ct ed Dav i d M o rri s o n o n e co un t each of ag g rav at ed

ch i l d m o l es t at io n , c h i l d m o l es t at i o n, an d ag g rav at ed s ex u al b at t ery

. M o rri s n o w

ap p eal s h i s co n vi ct i o n s an d t h e d en i al o f h i s m o t i o n fo r n ew t ri al

, arg u i n g t h at t h e

t ri al co u rt erred in (1 ) g ran t i n g t h e St at e’ s m ot i o n i n l i m i n e t o p ro h i b i t cro s s

ex am i n at i o n o f t h e v i ct i m ’ s fat h er as t o wh et h er h e s u ffered s ex u al ab u s e as a ch i l d,

(2 ) fai l i ng t o l i m it t wo wi t n es s es ’ ch il d -h ears ay t es t i m o n y to t he sp eci fi c fact s to

wh i ch t h e v i ct i m t es t i fi ed at t ri al

, an d (3 ) ad m it t in g in t o ev i den ce a d rawi n g m ad e by

t h e v i ct i m d u ri ng a co u n s el i n g s es s i o n t h at th e St at e d i d n ot pro d u ce d u ri n g

d i s co v ery . Fo r t he reas o n s s et fo rt h in f r a , we affi rm

M orri s ’ s co n v ict i o n s

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

, 1 t h e reco rd s ho ws t h at

i n 20 1 2

, M o rri s was l i v in g i n Sen o i a, Co wet a Co u n ty

, Geo rg i a , wi t h h i s wi fe,

J en n ifer, h is d au g h t er fro m a p rev i o u s rel at i o n s h i p , an d Jen n i fer’ s t wo ch i l dren fro m

a p rev i o u s rel a t i o n s h i p , n i n e-y ear-o l d B. A. an d h er y o u n ger b ro t h er, H. A. On

Feb ru ary 1 0 , 2 0 1 2 , a fri en d o f J en n ifer’ s was b ab y s i t ti n g B. A. an d H. A. aft er t h ey

arri v ed h o m e fro m s c ho o l

, an d at so m e p o i n t th at aft ern o o n , t h e ch i l d ren b eg an

fi gh t in g

. Co n s eq u e n t l y , th e b ab y s i t t er co nt act ed J en n ifer an d M o rri s , an d b o t h t o ld

h er t o s en d B. A. an d H. A. t o t hei r b ed ro o m s

. Th e ch i l d ren co m p l i ed

, b u t aft er a few

m i n u t es , H. A. wal ked i nt o B. A.’ s b ed ro o m an d t he t wo b eg an t al k i ng

. Du ri n g t h i s

co n vers at i on , B. A. co n fi d ed t o h er b ro t h er t h at M o rri s h ad b een to u ch in g h er p ri v at e

p art s

. W i t h B. A.’ s p erm is s i o n , h er b ro t h er to l d t h e b ab y s i tt er ab o u t t h e s ex ual ab u s e,

an d wh en t h e b ab y si t t er as k ed B. A. i f t h i s was t ru e, s h e co n fi rm ed i t

.

Im m ed i at el y t h ereaft er, t h e b ab y s i t t er cal l ed J en n i fer, wh o ru s h ed h o m e an d

b eg an q u es t i o n i n g B. A. ab o u t h er al l eg at io n s

. In i t ial l y , B. A. d en i ed th at M o rri s h ad

s ex u al l y ab u s ed h er, b u t u l ti m at el y , s h e t o ld h er m o t h er th at wh at s h e h ad rel ay ed to

h er b ro th er an d t h e b ab y si t t er was t ru e. Al t h ou g h v i s i b l y u ps et

, J en n i fer to ld B. A. n ot

t o tel l h er fat h er ab o u t th e s ex u al ab u s e, w h en s h e an d her b ro t h er wen t t o h er fat h er’ s

1 S ee, e.g

. , Po wel l

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

2h o u s e l at er t h a t d a y fo r t h ei r week en d v i s i t at i o n

. Th e b ab y si t t er t h en d ro v e t h e t wo

ch i l d ren to t he Pi k e Co u n ty Sh eri ff’ s Offi ce, as req ui red b y a co u rt -o rd ered cu s t o dy

s et t l em en t

, wh ere t hei r fat h er an d hi s g irl fri en d were wai ti n g fo r t h em

. At th i s t i m e,

n ei t h er t h e b ab y s it t er n o r J en n i fer i n fo rm ed l aw en fo rcem en t ab o u t B. A.’ s o u t cry

.

Th at s am e n i g h t

, H. A. t o l d h i s fat h er ab o u t th e s ex u al ab u s e B. A. h ad

d i s cl os ed t o h i m earl ier i n t h e aft ern o o n

. T h e ch i l d ren ’ s fat h er t h en as k ed B. A. i f

wh at h er b ro th er h a d t o l d h i m was tru e, an d al t h o u g h B. A. in i t i al ly d en i ed i t

, s h e

ev en tu al l y ad m i t ted t o h er fat h er t h at M o rri s h ad

, i n fact

, t o u ch ed h er p ri v at es

.

Im m ed i at el y , t h e fat h er cal l ed l o cal l aw en fo rcem en t

. An d wh i le h e was rep o rt i n g t h e

i n ci d en t t o t he au t h o ri t i es , B. A. r e c o u n t e d d et ai l s o f Mo rri s ’ s ab u se t o t h e fat h er’ s

g i rl fri en d an d al s o cl ai m ed t h at h e r m o t h e r wa rn ed h er t h at if s he t o l d an y o n e el s e

ab o ut h er al l eg at i on s , Mo rri s wo u l d g o t o jai l an d h er s t ep s is t er wo u l d h av e t o m o v e

b ack to Tex as

.

Th e fo l l o w i n g d ay , a d et ect iv e wi t h th e Sen o i a Po l ice Dep art m e n t b eg an an

i n v es t i g at i o n o f B. A .’ s al l eg at i o n s an d arran g ed fo r t h e ch i l d to b e i nt erv i ewed by

a fo ren s i c s o ci al wo rk er a few day s l at er. Du ri n g t h at i n terv iew, B. A. d is cl os ed o n l y

o n e in ci den t

, i n wh i ch M o rri s s ex u al l y ab u s ed h er b y p l aci ng h i s h an d on her p ri v at es ,

an d s he cl ai m ed t h at t h i s i n ci d en t o ccu rred wh en t hey l i v ed i n Pi k e Co u n t y

p ri o r t o

3m o vi n g t o S e n o i a. L at er, t h e i n v es t i g at i ng det ect i v e al s o i n t erv i ewed B. A., b ut

b el i ev i n g t h at t he in c i d e n t s o f s ex u al ab u s e o ccu rred i n Pi k e Co u n t y (rat h er t h an

Co wet a Co u n t y ), h e cl o s ed h is i n v es t i g at i o n aft er l es s t h an o n e m o n th

.

Des p i t e t h e fact t h at l aw-en fo rcem en t au t h ori t ies h ad cl o s ed t h ei r i n v es t i g at i o n

o f h er al l eg at i o n s ag ai n s t M o rri s , B. A. b eg an at t en d in g reg u l ar co u n s el i n g s es s i on s

wi t h a fam i l y th erap i s t

. An d o v er t h e co u rs e o f th e n ex t s ev eral m o n th s d uri n g t h o s e

s es s i on s , B. A. d i s cl o s ed th at M o rri s h ad s ex u al l y ab u sed her on m u l t i p le occas i on s

wh en t h e fam i ly l i v ed i n Pi k e Co u n t y an d aft er t h ey h ad m ov ed t o Sen o i a (l o cat ed in

Co wet a Co u n t y ). Sp eci fi cal l y , B. A. d es cri b e d m u lt i pl e i n ci d en t s i n wh i ch M o rri s

e n t e red h er b ed ro om

l at e at n i g h t an d t h en ei t h er p u t h i s fi n gers i n s i d e her p ri v a t e s

an d b o t t o m , p u t h i s m o u t h o n h er b reas t s an d her p ri v at es , or p u t h i s p en i s i n h er

m o ut h

. Du ri n g o n e of t h es e t h erap y s es s io n s , B. A. drew a p i ct u re an d d es cri b ed i t to

t h e t h erap i s t as d ep ict i n g h er cry i n g wh i l e M orri s w as p ut t i n g h is p en i s i n h er m o u t h.

In Ju l y 2 0 1 2, B. A .’ s fat h er sh o wed t h e n o t es fro m t h e ch i l d ’ s t h erap y s es s i on s

t o t h e Sen o i a d et ect iv e, an d

, as a res ul t

, t h e det ect i v e reo p en ed hi s in v es t i g at i o n

. As

p art of t h e i nv es t i g at i o n , t he d et ect i v e arran g ed fo r B. A. t o b e i n t e r v i e wed b y a

l i cen sed p sy ch o l o g i s t

, wh o h ad s i g n i fi can t ex p eri en ce i n co n d u ct in g f o ren s i c

i n t erv i ews o f ch i l d s ex u al ab u s e v i ct i m s

. Du ri n g t h o se t wo Sep t e m b e r 2 0 1 2

4i n t erv i ews , B. A. reco u n t ed m an y o f th e s am e det ai l s t h a t s h e h ad d i s cl o s ed t o t h e

fam i l y th erap i s t reg ard i n g M orri s ’ s se xual ab u se o f h er, in cl u d i n g th e al l eg at io n s t h at

,

o n m ul t i p l e o ccas io n s , M o rri s p l aced h i s fi n g ers i n s i d e h er p ri vat es an d b ut t o ck s an d

p u t h i s p en i s i n h er m o u t h

. Fo l lo wi n g t hes e s es s io n s , t he p s y ch o l o g i s t di ag n o s ed B.

A. as s u fferi ng fro m p os t -t rau m at i c s t res s d i so rd e r a n d o pi ned t hat her d i s cl o s u res

were co ns i s t en t wi t h a ch i l d wh o h ad b een s ex u al l y ab u s ed

.

Sh o rt l y t h ereaft er, t h e d et ect iv e arres t ed M o rri s, an d u l t i m at e ly

, t h e St at e

ch arg ed h i m , v i a i n d i ct m en t

, wi t h o n e co u n t e a c h o f ag g rav at ed ch il d m o l es t at i o n,

ch i l d m o l es t at i o n, an d ag g rav at ed s ex u al b at t ery

. Th e cas e t h en p ro c eed ed t o t ri al

,

d u r i n g wh i ch t h e ev i d en ce referen ced s up r a w as in t ro d u ced

, an d at t h e t r i a l ’s

co n cl u s i o n , t h e ju ry co nv i ct ed M orri s on al l t h ree co u n t s

. Su b s eq u en t l y , M o rri s

o b t ai n ed n ew co u ns el an d fi led a m o t i o n fo r new t ri al

, wh i c h t h e t ri al co u rt d en i ed

fo l l o w i n g a h eari n g o n t h e m at t er. Th is ap p eal fo l lo ws

. 2

2 A l t h o ug h M o rri s d i d n o t ch al l en g e t h e s u ffi ci en cy o f t h e ev i d en ce ag ai ns t
h i m , t h e ev i d en ce o ut l i n ed ab o v e was s u ffi ci en t fo r a rat i o n al t ri er of fact t o fi n d h i m

g u i l t y b ey o n d a reas o n ab le d o u b t o f t h e ch arg ed o ffen s es

. S ee Ja c k s o n v. Vi r g i n i a , 4 4 3 U.S. 3 0 7 , 3 1 9 (III) (B) (9 9 SCt 2 78 1 , 6 1 LE2 d 5 6 0 ) (1 9 7 9 ).

51

. M o rri s fi rs t co n ten d s t h at t h e t ri al co u rt erred i n g ran ti n g t h e St at e’ s m o t i o n

i n li m i n e t o p ro h i b i t hi m fro m cro s s -ex am in i n g B. A.’ s fat h er reg ard in g wh et h er h e

s u ffered s ex ual ab u s e as a ch i l d. W e d i s ag ree.

It i s , o f co u rs e, w el l es t ab l i s h e d t h at “ a d efen d an t h as t h e ri g h t t o a t h o ro u g h

an d s i ft i n g cro s s -ex am i n at i o n, b u t t h e d i s cret i o n o f t he t ri al co u rt to d et erm i n e i t s

s co p e an d th e rel ev an cy o f t h e s o u g h t t es ti m o n y i s b ro ad [.] ” 3 An d i n d eed

, t h e co urt ’ s

d i s cret i o n wi l l n ot b e di st u rb ed o n ap p eal u n l es s i t h as b een ab u s ed

. 4 Beari n g t h es e

g u i d i n g p ri n ci p l es i n m i n d , we t u rn n o w t o M orri s’ s s peci fi c cl ai m o f erro r.

Here, p ri o r t o t ri al , t h e St at e m o v ed t o p ro h i b i t M o rri s fro m cro s s -ex am i n i n g

B. A .’ s fat h er reg ard in g w h e t h e r h e w as s ex u al l y m o l es t ed as a ch i l d

. No t i n g t h at

t h ere was s o m e ev i d en ce i n t h e d i sco v ery m at eri al s , in wh i ch B. A.’ s fat h er cl ai m ed

t o h av e s u ffered s ex u al ab u s e, t h e St at e, n ev ert h el es s , arg u ed th at s u ch ev i d en ce was

i rrel ev an t

. Bu t M o rri s m ai n t ai ned t h at t he ev i d en ce ex p l ai n ed t h e zeal wi t h wh i ch B.

A.’ s fat h er fo u g ht t o h av e t h e cas e reo p en ed aft er t h e Sen o ia d et ect i v e in it i al ly cl o s ed

3 Fu n ck v. S t at e , 2 9 6 Ga. 3 7 1

, 37 5 (3 ) (7 6 8 SE2 d 4 6 8 ) (2 0 1 5 ); s ee Hu g h es v. S t a t e , 2 9 7 G a. A p p

. 5 8 1

, 5 8 4 (3 ) (6 7 7 SE2 d 6 7 4 ) (2 0 0 9 ) (n o t i n g t h at “ th e s co p e o f

cro s s -ex am i n at i o n is wi t h i n t h e s o u n d di s cret io n o f t h e t ri al co u rt

, a n d i rrel ev an t

m at t er s ho u l d b e ex cl u d ed ” (p u n ct uat i o n o m i t t ed )).

4 S ee Fu n ck , 2 9 6 Ga. at 3 7 5 (3 ).

6i t

. At t h e co n cl u s i o n o f t h e p ret ri al h eari n g , t h e c o u r t t o o k t h e m at t er u n d er

a d v i s em en t

. Lat er, at t ri al (ju s t b efo re B. A.’ s fat h er t es t i fi ed ), t h e St at e s o u g h t a

ru l i n g o n t h e i s s u e, an d aft er h e a r i n g m o r e a rg u m en t

, t h e t ri al co u rt ag reed t h at t h e

ev i d en ce was i rrel ev an t

, as wel l as co n fu s in g an d p o ss ib l y p reju d i ci al

.

Un d er OCGA § 24 -4 -4 01

, 5 t h e t erm “ rel e v a n t ev i d en ce” m ean s “ ev i d en ce

h av in g an y

t en d en cy t o m ak e t h e ex i st en ce o f an y fact t h at i s o f co ns eq u en ce t o t h e

d et erm i n at i o n o f t h e act i o n m o re p ro b ab le o r les s p ro b ab l e t han it w o u l d b e wi t h o ut

t h e ev i d en ce.” In ad d i t i o n , OCGA § 2 4 -4 -4 0 2 p ro v i des :

Al l rel ev an t ev i d en ce s h a l l b e ad m i s s i b l e, ex cep t as l i m i t ed b y

co n s t i t ut i o n al req u i rem en t s o r as ot h erwi s e p ro vi d ed b y l aw o r b y o t h er

ru l es , as p res cri b ed p urs u an t t o co n s t i t u t io n al o r s t at u t o r y a u t h o ri t y ,

ap p l icab l e i n t h e co urt i n wh i ch t h e m at t er i s p en d i n g

. Ev id en ce wh ich

i s n o t rel ev an t s h al l n o t b e ad m is s i b l e.

An d wh i l e o u r Su prem e Co u rt has h el d t h at t h e rel ev an ce s t an d ard co di fi ed b y t h es e

s t at u tes i s a fo rg i v i n g o n e, 6 i t i s n o t l i m i t l es s

. 7

5 M o rri s was t ri ed in J u ly 2 0 1 4

, an d t herefo re, G eo rg i a’ s n ew Ev i d en ce Co d e

was ap p l i c a b l e. S

ee Ga. Law 2 0 1 1

, p

. 9 9

, 2 1 4 § 1 01 (p ro v i d i n g th at G eo rg i a’ s n ew Ev i d en ce Co d e ap p l i es “ to an y m o t i o n m ad e o r h eari n g o r t ri al co m m en ced o n o r aft er” J an u ary

1 , 2 01 3).

6 S ee St a t e v. Jo n es , 2 9 7 Ga. 15 6

, 1 5 9 ( 2 ) n

. 2 (7 7 3 SE2 d 1 7 0 ) (2 0 1 5 ) (“ Reg ard l es s o f h o w on e v i ews t h e l an gu ag e o f Ru l e 4 0 1

, h o w ev er, it i s cl ear t h at t h e

7Here, i n arg u i n g t h at t h e t ri a l c o u r t e r red

, M o rri s’ s co n t en ti o n res ts u p o n t h e

as s u m pt i o n t h at B. A.’ s cred i b il i t y wo u l d b e p l aced i n q u es ti o n b y ev i d en ce t h at h er

fat h er s u ffered s ex u al ab u s e as a ch il d

, an d th u s , was o v erzeal o u s i n en s u ri n g t h at l aw

en fo rcem en t i n v es t i g at ed t h e al l eg at i o n s

. Bu t t here i s n o l o g i cal l in k b et ween t h e fact

t h at t h e v i ct i m h ad a fat her wh o al s o cl ai m ed t o b e a v ict i m o f s ex u al ab u s e an d “ a

co n cl u s i o n t h at t h e v i ct i m m i g h t t h erefo re b e an un rel i ab l e wi tn es s wh o s e t es t i m o ny

reg ard i n g [M o rri s ’ s ] act i o ns was n o t wo rt h y of b el i ef.” 8 Acco rd i ng l y , t h e t ri al co u rt

rel ev an ce st an d ard co d i fi ed t h erei n i s a l i b eral o n e.”); a cco r d Un i t ed S t a t es v. Gl a ss er , 7 7 3 F2 d 1 55 3 , 1 5 6 0 n .4 (1 1 t h Ci r. 1 9 85 ).

7 S ee S mi t h v. S t a t e , 2 9 9 Ga. 4 2 4 , 4 27 -3 0 (2 ) (a) - (c) (7 8 8 SE2 d 4 3 3 ) (2 0 1 6 ) (h o l d i n g t h at St at e’ s l i n e o f q u es t i o n i n g reg ard i n g wh y an d w h ere d efen d an t g o t h i s

t at t o o s d u ri n g cro s s -ex am i n at i o n o f d efen d an t was n o t rel ev an t t o d et erm i n e i d en t i t y

o r an y o t h er p u rp os e); S

mi t h v. S t a t e , 3 3 5 Ga. Ap p

. 49 7

, 49 9 -5 0 0 (2 ) (7 8 2 SE2 d 3 0 5 ) (2 0 1 6) (h o l d i n g t hat t es t im o ny o f a wi tn es s , wh o defen d an t s o u g h t t o p res en t at

m o ti o n fo r n ew t ri al reg ard in g h e r g en eral ex p eri en ce u s i n g s o ci al m ed i a, was n ot

r e l e v a n t t o es t ab l i s h t h at t h e rem o v ed j u ro r, d i s co v ered t o b e l i s t ed as a fri e n d o f

d efen d an t ’ s o n a s o ci al m ed i a web s i t e, m ay n o t h av e act u al l y k n o wn d efen d an t
b ecau s e tes t im o n y reg ard i n g t h e wi t n es s ’ s ex p eri en ce wi th s o ci al m ed i a w a s n ot
rel ev an t t o t h e rem ov ed ju ro r’ s ex peri en ce wi t h s am e).

8 Per s o n v. Mea ch u m , 7 7 2 FSu p p 6 9

, 7 5 (II) (B) (D. Co n n

. 19 9 1 ) (p u n ct u at i o n

o m it t ed ). Becau s e o u r n ew Ev i d en ce Co d e was b as ed

, i n l a r g e p art

, o n t h e Fed eral

Ru l es o f Ev i d en ce, w h en “ t h e n ew Geo rg i a ru l es m i rro r t h ei r fed eral co u n t erp art s , i t
i s cl ear t h at t h e Gen eral As sem b l y i n t en d ed fo r G eo rg i a co urt s t o l o ok t o th e fed eral

ru l es an d h o w fed eral ap p el l at e co u rt s h av e i n t erp ret ed th o s e ru l es fo r g u i d an ce.”

Pa r ker v. S t a t e , 29 6 Ga. 5 8 6, 5 9 2 (3 ) (a) (7 6 9 SE2 d 3 2 9 ) (2 01 5 ); see Br oo ks v. S t a t e , 2 9 8 G a. 7 2 2

, 7 24 (2 ) n

. 8 ( 7 83 SE2 d 8 9 5 ) (2 0 16 ) (n o t i n g t hat wh en t he Gen eral

8d i d n o t ab u s e i t s di scret i o n i n fi n d i n g t h at an y ev i d en ce t h at B. A.’ s fat h er s u ffered

s ex u al ab u s e was i rrel ev an t

. 9

2

. Mo rri s al s o co n t en d s t h at t h e tri al co urt erred i n f a i l i n g t o l i m i t t h e ch il d

h ears ay t es t i m o n y o f b o t h th e fam i ly t h erap i st an d t h e p s y ch o l o g i s t to t h e s p eci fi c

d i s cl os u res o f sex ual m o l es t at i o n t o wh i ch B. A. tes t ifi ed at t ri al

. Ag ai n, we di s ag ree.

As s em b l y i n c o r p o r a t ed t h e l an g u ag e o f th e Fed eral Ru l es o f Ev i d en ce i n t h e n ew Ev i d en ce Co d e, i t i nt en d ed t o a d o p t t h e Fed eral Ru l es as i n t erp ret ed by t h e fed eral

co u rt s t o t h e ex t en t th e i n t erp ret at i o n i s co n s i s t en t wi t h th e Co n s ti tu t io n of Geo rg i a);

S a mu el s v. S ta t e , 3 3 5 Ga. Ap p

. 8 1 9

, 8 2 3 (1 ) (7 8 3 SE2 d 34 4 ) (2 0 1 6 ) (n ot i ng th at g i v en

t h e s i m i l ari t y bet ween Geo rg i a’ s n ew Ev i d en ce Co d e an d t h e Fed eral Ru l es o f

Ev i d en ce “ i t i s p ro p er t h at we g i v e co n s id erat i o n an d g reat wei gh t t o co n s t ru c t i on s

p l aced o n t h e Fed eral Ru l es b y t h e fed eral co u rt s ”).

9 S ee Per s o n , 7 7 2 FSu p p at 7 5 -7 6 (II) (B) (h o l d i ng t h at ev i den ce t hat s e x u a l

ab u se v i ct i m ’ s fri en d h ad p rev i o u s l y m ad e s i m il ar sex u al ab u s e al l eg at i o n s ag ai n s t
h er fat h er was pro perl y ex cl u d ed as i rrel ev an t i n p ro s ecu ti o n ag ai n s t v i ct i m ’ s fat h er); cf

. Hu g h es , 2 9 7 Ga. Ap p

. at 58 4 -8 5 (3 ) (h o l d i n g u n d er t h e o l d Ev i d en ce Co d e t h at

ev i d en ce t h at v i ct im ’ s m o t h er h ad m ad e al l eg at i o ns th at s h e h e r s el f h ad b een

m o les t ed as a ch i l d was i rrel ev an t i n p ro s ecu t i o n fo r ch i ld m o l es t at i o n ); Ma n n v. S t a t e , 2 4 4 Ga. Ap p

. 7 5 6 , 7 6 0 (6 ) (5 3 6 SE2 d 6 0 8 ) (2 0 00 ) (s am e).

9Un d er t h e fo rm er 1 0 v ers i o n o f Geo rg i a’ s Ch i l d Hears ay St at u te, OCGA § 2 4 -3

-

1 6

,

[a] s tat em en t m ad e b y a ch i l d u n d er t h e ag e o f 1 4 y ears d es cri b i n g an y

act o f s ex u al co n t act o r p h y si cal ab u s e p erfo r m e d wi t h o r o n th e ch i l d

b y an o t h er o r p erfo rm ed wi t h o r o n an o t h er i n th e p res en ce o f t he ch i l d

i s ad m i s s i b l e i n ev id en ce b y t h e t es t i m o n y o f t he p e r s o n o r p ers o n s t o

wh o m m ad e if t h e ch i l d i s av ai l ab l e t o t es t i fy i n t h e p ro ceed i ng s an d th e

co u rt fi n d s t h at t h e ci rcu m s t an ces o f t he s t at em en t p ro v i d e s u f f i ci en t

i n d i ci a o f rel iab i l i t y

.

An d co ns t ru i n g t h i s p r e v i o u s v ers i o n o f t h e s t at u t e, t h e Su p rem e Co u rt o f Geo rg i a

h el d t h at

, i n o rd er t o co m p o rt wi t h t h e Co nfro n t a t i o n C l a u s e o f th e Un it ed St at es

Co n s t i t u t i o n an d t h e Geo rg i a Co n s t i t u t i o n , 1 1 t h e ch i l d wh o s e s t at em en t s are at i s s u e

1 0 Becau se t h e o ffen s es at i s s u e i n t hi s m at t er o ccu rred p ri o r t o J u l y 1, 2 0 1 3

, t h e fo rm er v ers i o n o f t he Ch i l d Hears ay St at u t e ap p l i es

. S

ee OCGA § 2 4 -8 -8 2 0 ; Ga. L.

2 0 1 3

, p

. 22 2

, § 2 1 (“ Th i s Act s h al l beco m e effect i v e o n J ul y 1

, 2 0 1 3

, an d s h al l ap p l y

t o o ffen ses wh i ch o ccu r o n o r aft er t h at d at e. An y o ffen s e o ccu rri n g b efo re J u l y 1

, 2 0 1 3

, sh al l b e g o v ern ed b y t he s t at u te i n effect at t h e ti m e o f su ch o f f e n s e

. ” )

. T h e

cu rren t v ers i o n o f t h e s t at u t e ch an g ed t h e ag e o f t h e ch i l d t o wh i ch i t wo u l d ap p l y to

t h o s e “ y o u n g er t h an 1 6 y ears o f ag e, rem o v ed t h e “ i nd i ci a o f rel i ab i li t y l an g u ag e, an d

ad d ed

, in t er

a l ia , a n o ti ce p ro v i s i o n. S ee OCGA § 2 4 -8 -8 20 ; Ga. L. 2 0 1 3 , § 1 3

.

1 1 S ee U.S. Co n s t

. am en d

. VI (“ In al l cri m i n al pro s ecu t io n s , th e accu s ed s h al l

en jo y t h e ri g h t

. . . t o b e co n fro nt ed wi t h t h e wi t n es s es ag ai n s t h i m .”); Ga. Co n s t

. art

. 1

, § 1

, ¶ XIV (“ Ev ery p ers o n ch arg ed wi t h an o ffen s e ag ai n st t h e l aws of th i s s t at e

.

. . s h al l b e co n fro n t ed wi t h t h e wi t n es s es t es t ify i n g ag ai n s t s u ch p ers o n .”).

10m

u st act u al l y t es t i fy at t ri al

. 1 2 Nev ert h el e s s , t h e t ri al co u rt h as b ro ad d i s cret i o n in

“ d et erm i ni n g t h e ad m is s ib i l i t y o f ch i l d h ears ay ev id en ce, an d we wi l l rev ers e a t ri al

co u rt ’ s ru l i n g o n t he ad m i s s i b i l i t y o f s t at em en t s u nd er fo rm er OCGA § 2 4 -3 -1 6 o n l y

i f t h e t ri al co u rt ab u s ed i t s d i scret i o n.” 1 3

Here, p ri o r t o t h e St at e cal l i n g t h e fam i l y t herap i s t an d t h e p s y ch ol o g i st as

wi t n es s es , M o rri s m o v ed t o l im i t t h ei r t es t i m on y t o t h e s peci fi c fact s reg ard i n g s ex u al

ab u se t o wh i ch B. A. t es t i fi ed

, arg u i ng t h at h i s ri g h t t o a fai r t ri al wo u l d b e preju d i ced

i f t h es e wi t n es ses w ere al l owed t o p ro v i d e great er d et ai l s ab o u t M o rri s’ s s ex u al ab u s e

o f B. A

. t h an th e ch i l d h ers el f p ro v i d ed at tri al

. T he t ri al co u rt d en i ed t h i s req u es t

, an d

M o rri s n o w cl ai m s t h at i t erred i n d o i n g s o . M o rri s i s m is tak en

.

Co n trary t o M o rri s ’ s co n ten t i on , fo rm er OCGA § 2 4 -3 -1 6 do es n o t “ req u i re t h e

ch i l d t o co rro bo rat e t h e h ears ay t e s t i m o n y .” 1 4 In d eed

, M o rri s fai l s t o p ro v i d e an y

1 2 S ee Ha t l ey v. S ta te

, 2 9 0 Ga. 4 8 0

, 4 8 3-8 4 (I) (7 2 2 SE2 d 6 7 ) (2 0 1 2 ) (h o l d i n g

t h at u n d er t h e fo rm er OCGA § 2 4 -3 -1 6

, if th e d efen d an t o b ject s t o t h e St at e’ s i n t en t

t o i n t ro d u ce a ch i l d vi ct i m s ’ s h ears ay s t at em en t s , t h e S t a t e m u s t p res en t t h e ch i ld

wi t n es s at t ri al ).

1 3 M a u r er v. S t a te

, 3 2 0 Ga. Ap p

. 5 8 5

, 5 8 8 (2 ) (7 4 0 SE2 d 3 1 8 ) (2 0 1 3 ) (p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed ); a cco r d E s t r a d a v. S t a t e , 3 19 Ga. A p p

. 7 62

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

3 4 4 ) (2 0 1 3 ).

1 4 Ma u r er , 3 2 0 Ga. Ap p . at 5 8 9 (2 ) (p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed ).

11au t h o ri t y , an d we h av e fo un d no n e, req u i ri n g t h at B. A. be co m p el l ed t o t es t i fy in

d et ai l ab o u t t h e s e x u a l ab u s e sh e s u ffered

. 1 5 Th is fai lu re is h ard l y s urp ri s in g g i v en

t h at “ o n e o f th e reas o n s fo r al lo wi n g a ch il d vi ct i m ’ s hears ay s t at em en t t o co m e i n to

ev i d en ce i s s o ci et y ’ s des i re t o s p are ch i l d ren wh o are s u b ject ed t o ab u s e fro m fu rt h er

u n n eces sary t rau m a i n th e co u rt ro o m .” 1 6 A cco rd i n gl y , t h e t ri al co u rt di d n o t ab u s e i t s

d i s cret i o n i n d en y i n g M o rri s ’ s m o ti o n t o l im i t t h e ch i l d-h ears ay t e s t i m on y o f t h e

fam i l y t h erap i st an d t h e p s y ch o l o g i st

. 1 7

3

. M o rri s fu rt h er co n ten d s t h at t h e t ri al co u rt erred i n ad m i t t in g a d rawi n g m ad e

b y B. A

. d u ri n g a co u n s el i ng ses s i o n wi t h t h e fam i l y t h erap i s t

, wh i ch t he St at e d i d n ot

p ro d uce d u ri n g d i s co v ery

. On ce ag ai n , we d i sag ree.

1 5 See i d

. (h o l d in g t h at t h ere i s n o l eg al au t h o ri t y , p urs u an t t o fo rm er OCGA §

2 4 -3 -1 6

, req u i ri n g t h at t h e ch i l d v i ct i m t es t i fy ab o u t t h e al l eg ed s e x u a l ab u s e

p erp et rat ed b y

d efen dan t ).

1 6 Id

. (p u n ct u at i o n o m it t ed ); a cco r d Bu n n v. S t a t e , 2 9 1 Ga. 1 8 3

, 1 87 (2 ) (b ) (7 2 8 SE2 d 5 6 9 ) (2 0 1 2 ).

1 7 S ee Ki r kl a n d v. S t a t e , 3 3 4 G a. Ap p. 2 6

, 3 2 (2 ) (7 7 8 SE2 d 4 2 ) (2 0 1 5 ) (“ Th e fact t h at a ch i l d wi t n es s i s u n res p o n s i v e o r ev as i v e i n res p o n s e t o cert ai n q u es t i on s

o n th e wi t n es s s t an d d o es n o t ren d er t h e ch i l d’ s o ut -o f-co u rt s t at em en t s in ad m i s s i b l e

u n d er t h e Ch i l d Hears ay St at u t e o r vi o l at e t he Si x t h Am en dm en t co n fro n t at i on ri g h t s

o f th e d efen d an t .”); Ma u rer , 32 0 Ga. A pp

. at 5 8 9 (2 ) (h o ld i n g t h at Si x t h Am en d m en t
d i d n o t co m

p el v i ct i m t o co rro b o rat e ch i l d h ears ay ev i d en ce p ro v i d ed b y fo ren s i c i n t erv i ewer).

12OCGA § 1 7 -6 -4 (a) (3 ) (A) p ro v i d es , i n p art , t h at

. . . t h e p ro s ecu t i n g at to rn ey s h al l

, n o l at er t h an t en d ay s p ri o r t o tri al

,

o r as ot h erwi s e o rd ered b y t h e co u rt

, perm i t t h e d e f e n d a n t at a t i m e

ag reed t o b y t h e p art i es o r o rd ered b y t h e co u rt t o i n s p e c t a n d co p y o r

p h o t o g rap h b o o ks

, p ap ers , d o cu m en t s , p h o t o g rap h s , t an g i b l e o b ject s ,

au d i o an d v is u a l t a p es , fi l m s an d reco rd i ng s , o r co p i es o r po rt i o n s

t h ereo f an d t o in sp ect an d p h o t o g rap h b u i ld i n g s o r p l aces wh i ch are

wi t h in t h e p o ss es s i o n , cu s t o d y , o r co n tro l o f t h e s tat e o r p ro s ecu t i on an d

are i n t en d ed f

o r u s e by t h e p ro s ecu t i ng at t o rn ey as ev i d en ce i n th e

p ro s ecu t i on ’ s cas e-i n -ch i ef o r reb u t t al at t h e tri al o r were o bt ai n ed fro m

o r b el on g t o t h e d efen dan t

.

An d u n d er OCGA § 1 7-1 6 -6

,

[i ] f at an y t i m e d u ri ng t h e co u rs e of t h e p ro ceed i n gs i t is b ro u g h t t o th e

at t en t i o n o f t h e co u rt th at t h e s t at e h a s f a i l e d t o co m

pl y wi t h th e

req u irem en ts o f t h i s art i cl e , t h e co u rt m ay o rd er th e st at e t o p erm i t th e

d i s co v ery o r i n s p ect i o n , i n t erv i ew o f t h e wi t n es s , g ran t a co n t i n u an ce,

o r, u p on a sh o w i n g o f p r e j u d i ce an d b ad fai t h

, p ro h i b i t t h e s t at e fro m

i n t r o d u c i n g t h e ev i d en ce n ot d i scl o s ed o r pres en t i n g t h e wi t n es s n o t

d i s cl o s ed

, or m ay en t er s u ch o t h er o rd er as i t d eem s ju s t u n d e r t h e

ci rcu m s t an ces

.

13Im

p o rt an t l y , t h i s Co u rt rev i ews a tri al co u rt ’ s ru l i n g i n t h i s reg ard fo r ab u s e o f

d i s cret i o n

. 1 8

In th i s cas e, b efo re cal l in g t h e fam il y t herap i s t as a wi t n es s , t he St at e i n fo rm ed

M o rri s an d t he t ri al co u rt t h at t he t h erap i s t b ro u g h t t o co u rt a p i ct u re B. A. h ad d rawn

d u ri n g on e o f h er th erap y s es s i o n s

. Th e d rawi ng , as p rev i o u s ly n o t ed

, d ep i ct ed B. A.

cry in g wh i l e M o rri s w a s p l aci n g hi s p en i s i n h er m o u t h

. T h e St at e t h en s o u g h t to

a d m i t th e d rawi n g an d ex p l ai n ed t h at al t h o ug h t h e drawi n g was n ev er i n i t s

p o s s es s i o n an d

, t hu s , was no t i n cl u d ed i n t h e d o c u m en t s p ro v i d ed i n d i s co v ery , i t

n o n e t h el es s sh o u ld b e ad m i t t ed b ecau s e t h e t h erap i s t ’ s n o t es , wh i ch wer e in c l u d e d

i n d i s co v ery , d es cri b ed t h e d rawi n g i n co n s i d erab l e d et ai l. M o rri s o bject ed , b u t t h e

t ri al co u rt co n cl u d ed t h at th e St at e h ad n o t act ed i n b ad fai t h an d ru led t h at i t wo u ld

ad m i t t h e d rawi n g aft er g i v i n g M o rri s t im e t o rev iew i t

.

On ap peal

, M o rri s arg u es t h at t h e ad m i s s i o n of B. A.’ s d rawi n g p reju d i ced h i s

ri gh t t o a fai r t ri al

. Th i s arg u m en t i s a n o n s t art er. Al t h o ug h M orri s ap p aren tl y h ad n ot

s een t h e d rawi ng p ri o r to t ri al

, h e u n d i s p u t ed l y h ad acces s t o t h e St at e’ s d i s co v ery ,

1 8 Ad a ms v. S t a t e , 3 4 0 Ga. Ap p

. 1

, 7 (2 ) (7 9 5 SE2 d 33 0 (2 01 6 ); s ee Bu r t o n v. S t a t e , 3 3 0 Ga. A p p

. 5 0 3

, 5 0 6 (7 6 7 SE2 d 5 1 0 ) (2 0 1 4 ) (h o l di n g t h at t h e tri al co urt ’ s

ru l i n g o n a rem ed y fo r t h e St at e’ s fai l ure to co m p l y wi t h d i s co v ery o b li g at i o n s i s

s u b ject t o rev i ew fo r an ab u s e o f d i s cret i o n ).

14wh i ch co n t ai n ed th e t h erap i st ’ s n o t es d es cri b i n g t h e d rawi n g i n s i g n i fi can t d et ai l

.

Fu rt h erm o re, M o rri s di d n o t p res en t an y ev i d en ce of b ad fai t h o n t h e p art o f t h e St at e

wi t h reg ard to t h i s drawi n g

. In fact

, wh i l e arg u i n g ag ai n s t t h e d rawi n g ’ s ad m i s s i o n,

M o rri s ’ s t ri al co u n s el ex p l i ci t l y s t at ed th at h e was n o t cl ai m i n g t h at t h e St at e h ad

act ed i n b ad fai th

. M o reo v er, t h e d rawi n g an d t h e act d ep i ct ed i n i t were cu m u l at i v e

o f t h e t es t i m o n y gi ven b y t h e fam i l y t h erap i s t an d t h e p s y ch o l o gi s t

, b o th o f wh o m

t es t i fi ed t h at B

. A

. cl ai m ed M o rri s p laced hi s p en is i n s i d e h er m o u t h

. Gi v en t h at

M o rri s h as fai l ed t o s h o w t hat t h e St at e act ed i n b ad fai t h b y n ot i n cl ud i n g t h e

d rawi n g i n t h e d i s co very m at eri al s o r t h at h e s u ffered p reju di ce as a res u l t

, t h e t ri al

co u rt d i d n o t ab us e i t s d i s cret i o n i n ad m i t ti n g t h e d rawi n g ov er Mo rri s ’ s o b ject i o n s

. 1 9

1 9 S ee Ad a ms , 3 4 0 G a

. A p p

. at 7 -8 (2 ) (h o l di n g t h at ev en i f th e St at e was

req u i red t o d i s c l o s e 9 11 t ap e p ri o r t o t ri al

, t h e ad m i ss i on o f t he ev i d en ce d i d n ot

co n st i t u t e rev ers i b l e erro r gi v en t h at t h e p ro s ecu t o r d i d no t kn o w ab o u t t he ex i s t en ce

o f t h e 9 1 1 t ap e p ri o r t o t h e s t art o f t ri al

, an d t h u s , t he St at e d i d n o t act i n b ad fai t h in

fai l i n g t o p ro v i d e t he 9 1 1 reco rd i n g p ri o r t o t ri al ); McMo r r is v. St a t e , 2 63 Ga. Ap p. 6 3 0

, 6 33 -3 4 (2 ) (a) (5 8 8 SE2 d 8 1 7 ) (2 0 03 ) (h o ld i n g t h at tri al co u rt d i d n o t ab u s e i t s d i s cr e t i o n i n ad m i t t in g p ri n to u t o f co l p o s co p e im ag e o f v i ct im ’ s in ju ri es o n t h e

g ro u nd s t h at St at e fai l ed t o p ro d u ce i m ag e p u rs uan t t o reci p ro cal d i s co v ery g i v en t h e fact t h at St at e h ad o p en fi l e p o l i cy , d efen d an t was p ro v i d ed wi t h p h y si ci an ’ s rep o rt
wh i ch m en t i o n ed p ri nt o u t , an d p ri n t o u t was cu m u l at i v e o f p h y s i ci an ’ s t es ti m o n y )

15Fo r al l t h es e reas o n s , w e affi rm M o r ri s ’ s co nv i ct i o n s an d t h e d en ial o f h i s

m o ti o n fo r n ew t ri al

.

Ju d g men t a f f i r m ed . Ra y a n d S el f , JJ., co n cu r

.

16