FI RST DI VI SI ON

PHI PPS, C. J.

, ELLI NGTON, P. J.

, and M CM ILLI A N, J.

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

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

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

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

M ar ch 2, 2015



# I n th e Co u r t o f

A p p eals o f

G eo r g ia

A1 4 A2 32 4 . GIBBS v . BRIGHT et al

.

P H I P P S , Ch i ef J u d g e.

In d i ct ed o n n u m ero u s co u n t s o f s ex u al o ffen s es

, Tro y Lee Gi b b s was b ro u g ht

t o t ri al in th e Su p eri o r Co u rt o f W i l k ers o n Co u n t y, wh i ch p ro ceed i n g en d ed by

m i s t ri al aft er t he ju ry fai l ed t o r e a c h a v erd i ct

. 1 At h i s s eco n d t ri al

, t h e ju ry fo u n d

Gi b bs g u i l ty o f ni n e co u n t s o f ch i ld m o les t at i o n

, two co u n ts o f en t i ci ng a ch i l d fo r

i n d ecen t pu rp o s es

, an d t wo co u n t s o f so l i ci t at i o n o f s o d o m y ; G i b b s was s en ten ced to

i m p ri s o n m en t

. 2 Bu t Gi bb s ’ s co n v i ct i o n s were rev ers e d b y t h i s co urt

, 3 an d aft er t h e

cas e was re m i t t e d t o t he s u p eri o r co u rt i n Oct o b er 2 0 07

, an o rd er o f n o l l e p ro s eq ui

1 See Gi b b s v. S t a te , 2 8 7 Ga. Ap p . 6 9 4-6 9 5 (6 5 2 SE2 d 5 9 1 ) (2 0 07 ).

2 See i d

.

3 Id . at 6 9 5

.was en t ered

. Th ereaft er, i n Feb ru ary 2 0 1 4

, Gi b b s p et i t i o n ed t h e Su peri o r C o u rt o f

W i lk ers o n Co u n t y

, p u rs u an t t o Geo rg i a’ s reco rd -res t ri ct i o n sta tute

, O C G A § 35- 3- 37,

t o r e s t ri ct acces s to h i s cri m in al h i s t o ry reco rd i n fo rm at i o n fo r t h e u n d erl y i n g

o ffen s es

, 4 an d t o gran t h i m at t o rn ey fees i n cu rred i n p urs u i n g sai d reco rd res t ri ct i o n.

In hi s p et i t io n

, Gi bb s n am ed as res p o n d en t s t h e W i lk i n s o n Co u n t y D i s t ri ct A t t o rn ey

,

Fred Bri g h t

, as wel l as t h e W i l k i n s o n Co u n t y Sh eri ff’ s Offi ce. T h e s u p e r i o r co u rt

co n du ct ed a h eari n g, t h en d en ied Gi b b s’ s p et i t i o n

. Gi b b s ap p eal s

. Fo r reas o n s t h at

fo l l o w , we affi rm

.

At t h e h eari n g, t h e s tat e arg u ed t h at Gi b b s ’ s p et i t i o n was go v ern ed by

p arag rap h (j) (2 ) o f OCGA § 3 5 -3 -3 7 , wh ich s t at es :

W h en an i n d iv i d u al was co nv i ct ed o f an o ffen s e an d was s en t en ced t o

p u n i s h m en t o t h er t h an t h e d e at h p en al ty

, b u t s u ch co n v i ct io n w as

v acat ed b y t h e t ri al co u rt o r rev ers ed b y an ap p el l at e co u rt o r o t h er p o s t

co n v i ct i o n co u rt

, t h e d eci s i o n of wh i ch h as b eco m e fi n al b y th e

co m p let i o n o f t h e ap p el l at e p ro ce ss, an d t h e p ro s ecu t in g at t orn ey h as n o t

4 OCGA § 35 -3 -3 7 (6 ) p ro v i d es

, “ ‘ Res t ri ct

, ’ ‘ res t ri ct ed ,’ o r ‘ res t ri ct io n ’ m ean s

t h at t h e cri m i n al h i s t o ry reco rd i n fo rm at i o n o f an i n d iv i d u al r e l a t i n g t o a p art i cu l ar

ch arg e s h al l b e av ai l ab l e o n l y t o ju d i ci al o ffi ci al s an d cri m in al ju st i ce ag en ci es fo r

l aw en fo rcem en t o r cri m i n al i nv es t i g at i v e p u rp o s es or t o cri m i n al ju st i ce ag en ci es fo r

p u rp os es o f em

p l o y m en t i n acco rd an ce wi t h p ro ced u res es t ab l i s h ed b y t he cen t er an d

s h al l n o t be di scl os ed o r o t h erwi s e m ad e av a i l ab le t o an y p ri v at e p ers o n s o r

b u s i n es s es p u rs u an t t o Co d e Sect i o n 3 5 -3 -3 4 .”)

2ret ri ed t h e cas e wi t h i n t wo y ears o f t h e d at e t h e o rd er v acat in g o r

rev ers i n g t h e co n v i ct i o n b ecam e fi nal

, s u ch i n d i vi d u al m ay p et i t i o n th e

s u p eri o r co u rt i n t h e co u n t y w h e r e t h e co n v i ct io n o ccu rred t o res t ri ct

ac c e s s t o cri m i n al h i s t ory reco rd i n fo rm at i o n fo r s u ch o ffen s e.

. . . If a

h eari n g i s req ues ted

, . . . [t ] h e co u rt sh al l h ear ev i d en ce an d s h al l

d et erm i ne wh et her g ran t i n g an o rd er res t r i c t i n g s u ch cri m i n al h i s t o ry

reco rd i n fo rm at i o n i s ap p ro pri at e, gi v i n g d u e co n s i d erat i on t o [1 ] th e

reas o n t h e ju dg m en t was rev ers ed or v acat ed

, [2 ] t h e reas o n th e

p ro s ecu t i ng at t o rn ey h as n o t ret ri ed t h e cas e, an d [3 ] th e pu b l i c’ s i n t eres t

i n t h e cri m in al h i s t ory reco rd i nfo rm at i o n b ei n g p ub l icl y av ai l ab l e.

As t o t h e fi rs t o f t h es e t h r e e f a c t o r s

, t he s t at e ci t ed t h at t h e ju d g m en t was

rev ers ed b ecau se Gi b b s ’ s t ri al co u n s el had r e n dered i n effect i ve as s i s t an ce. 5

Reg ard in g t h e s eco n d s u ch fact o r, t h e s t at e p ro ffered th at t h e reas o n i t h ad n o t ag ai n

t ri ed t h e cas e was t h at Gi b b s h ad al read y s erv ed t h ree y ears i n p ri so n aft er h av i n g t wo

o n e-week -l o n g t ri al s

. Th e co urt t h en t u rn ed to t h e as s i s t an t d i s t ri ct at t o rn ey wh o h ad

rep res en t ed t h e s tat e at Gi b b s’ s tri al s

, an d as k ed fo r “ [a ]n yt h in g o n th e s eco n d

[fact o r] ? ” Sh e res p o n d ed

,

[W ] h en th e cas e cam e b ack [fro m t he Co u rt o f Ap p eal s ]

, b ecau s e I h ad

b een t h e o n e t h at h ad b een p ro secu t i ng i t i n b ot h cas es

, t h ere was s o m e

q u es t i o n as t o

, y o u k n o w, was t h e St at e g oi n g t o ret ry t h e cas e. W e g o t

5 Gi b b s , s u p ra at 6 9 6 -7 0 0 (1 ).

3i n t o u ch wi t h th e v i ct i m wh o h ad m o ved an d m arri ed

. Di d n ’ t wan t t o

co m e back an d d o th is fo r a t h i rd t i m e. Very fru s trat ed wi t h t h e s y s t em

.

An d s o I co m

m u n i cat ed t h at t o M r. Bri g h t [t h e d i s t ri ct at t o rn ey ]

. An d he

p u t t hat

, t h e reas on

, t h at h e d i d o n t h ere. Bu t it was no t a recan t ed

, s t at e

t h i s o n t h e reco rd

, s h e d i d n ot recan t

. Sh e di d n o t s ay i t d i d n ’ t h ap p en

.

Sh e d id n ’ t s ay

, y o u k no w o h wel l, y o u k n o w, nev er m i n d

. Sh e ju s t sai d :

I d o n’ t wan t t o g o t hro ug h t h is a t h i rd t i m e. An d

, ad d i t i o n a l l y

, o u r

s i m i l ar t ran s act i o n wi t n es s es d i d n ’ t wan t t o g o t h ro u g h it a t h i rd t i m e.

So

, we h ad t hree v i ct i m s s ay i n g : we d o n ’ t w an t t o d o t h i s ag ai n. A n d s o

o u t o f res pect to t h em , t hey m ad e t h e d eci s i o n t o d i s m i s s t h e cas e. 6

W i th res p ect t o t h e t h ird fact o r, t h e st at e as s ert ed t h at i t was i m p o rt an t t h at t h e “ p u b l i c

k n o w[] t h at [Gi b b s ] h as b een p rev i ou s ly ch arg ed wi t h b ei n g a ch il d m o les t er an d

co n vi ct ed , b u t rev ers ed .”

In ru l i n g u p o n Gi b b s ’ s p et i t i o n , t h e s u p eri o r co u rt s t at ed i n i t s o rd er:

[T] h e Co urt

, p u r s u an t t o OCGA § 3 5 -3 -3 7 (j), fi nd s as fo l l o ws :

Res t ri ct i n g p et i t i o ner’ s cri m i n a l h i s t o ry reco rd i s no t ap p ro p ri at e i n

co n s i d eri ng th o s e fact ors s p eci fi c t o t h is cas e, an d it i s i n t h e p u b l i c ’ s

i n t eres t t h at t he cri m in al h i s t o ry i n fo rm at i o n b e pu b l i cl y av ai l ab l e;

Fu rt her, i t i s t he fi nd i n g o f t h i s Co u rt t h at t h at pu b li c i nt eres t cl earl y

o u t wei g h s t h e h arm res u l t i n g to t h e Pet i t i o n er wi t h t h at i n fo rm at i o n

6 Th e co urt t h en st at ed

, “ O k ay

. An y t h i n g e l s e ? ” A t t h at p o i n t

, co u n s el

rep res en t i n g t h e s t at e i n res p o n s e t o Gi b b s’ s p et i ti o n as ked Gi b b s ’ s co u n sel

, “ Yo u g ot

an y t h i n g fo r h er? ” Gi b b s ’ s co u n s el res p o nd ed t h at s h e d i d n o t

.

4b ei n g p u b l i cl y av ai l ab l e. Pet i t i o n er’ s req u es t s t o res t ri ct

. . . reco rd an d

fo r at t orn ey ’ s fees are t h erefo re DENIED.

In t h i s d i rect ap p eal

, 7 Gi b b s co n t en d s th at t h e s u peri o r co u rt m is ap p l i e d t h e c i t ed

s t at u to ry p ro v i s i o n , OCGA § 3 5 -3 -3 7 (j), ad v an ci ng t wo arg u m en t s

.

1

. Gi b b s co nt en d s t h at t h e s u p eri o r co u rt erred b y d et erm i n i n g t h at s u b s ect i o n

(j) g o v ern ed h i s p et i ti o n . He p o i n t s o u t t h at t h e o rd er o f n o l le p ro seq u i was en t ered

i n M ar c h 2 0 0 9

. Th erefo re, G ib b s m ai n t ai n s i n h i s bri ef, “ W h en t h e p ro s ecu t i n g

at t o rn ey en t ered a n o l l e pro seq ui rat h er t h an wai t i n g t h e two -y ear p eri o d referred to

i n (j) (2 ), t h e (h ) (2 ) (A) p ro v i s i o n was t ri g g ered

, th u s q u al i fy i n g [h im ] au t o m at i cal l y

fo r reco rd res t ri ct i o n rat h er t h an req u i ri n g th e ap p l i cat i o n o f t h e d i scret i o n ary (j) (2 )

b al an ci n g t es t .”

Th e pro v i si o n Gi b b s m ai n t ai n s g o vern s h i s p et i t i o n

, OCGA § 3 5 -3 -3 7 (h ) (2 )

(A), s t at es :

Acces s to an i n d iv i d u al ’ s cri m i n al h i st o ry reco rd in fo rm at io n

, i n cl u d i n g

an y fi n g erp ri n ts o r p h o t o g rap h s o f t h e i n d iv i d ual t ak en i n co nju nct i o n

7 See O CGA § § 3 5 -3 -3 7 (j) (5 ) ( “ A n y p a r t y m ay fi l e an ap p eal o f an o rd er

en t ered p u rs uan t t o t h i s s u bs ect i o n as p ro v i d ed i n Co d e Sect i on 5 -6 -3 4 .”); 5 -6 -3 4 (a)

(1 2 ) (“ Ap p eal s m ay b e t ak en t o t h e Su p rem e Co u rt an d t h e Co u rt o f Ap p eal s fro m t h e

fo l l o w i n g ju d g m en ts an d ru l i n g s o f t h e s u p eri o r co u rt s

. . . [a] l l ju d g m en t s o r o rd ers

en t ered p u rs uan t t o Co d e Sect i o n 3 5 -3 -3 7.”).

5wi t h t he arres t, sh al l b e res t ri ct ed b y t h e cen t er fo r t h e fo ll owi n g t y p es

o f d i s p o s i t i o n s:

. . . (2 ) Aft er i n di ct m en t o r accu s at i o n : (A) Ex cep t as

p ro v i d ed i n s u b s ect i o n ( i ) o f t h i s Co d e s ect i o n,[ 8 ] al l ch arg es were

d i s m i s s ed o r n ol l e p ro s s ed

.

W e can n o t ag ree wi t h Gi b b s t h at h i s p et i ti o n i s g o v ern ed b y OCGA § 3 5 -3 -3 7

( h ) (2 ) (A), as o p p o s ed t o OCGA § 3 5-3 -3 7 (j) (2 ). Th e Gen eral A s s em b l y

, i n

en act i n g p arag rap h (j) (2 ), 9 s et fo rt h d et ai l ed cri t eri a as t o i t s ap pl i cab i l i t y : 1 0

W h en an i n d iv i d u al w as co n v i ct ed o f an offen s e an d was s en t en ced t o

p u n i s h m en t o t h er t h an t h e d eat h p en al ty

, b u t s u ch co n v i ct io n w as

v acat ed b y t h e tri al co u rt o r rev ers ed b y an ap p el l at e co urt o r o t her p o s t

c o n v i ct i o n co urt

, t h e d eci s i o n o f wh ich h as b eco m e fi n al b y t h e

co m p let i o n o f t h e ap p el l at e pr o ces s, an d t h e p ro s ecu t in g at t orn ey h as n o t

8 Nei t h er Gi b b s no r t he st at e h as cl ai m ed t h at s u b -s ect io n (i ) was i m p l i cat ed

.

9 See Ga. L. 2 0 1 2

, p

. 8 9 9

, § § 6 -2 (“ rep eal i n g Co d e Sect i o n 35 -3 -3 7, rel at i n g to

i n s p ect i on

, p urg in g

, m o di fy i n g

, o r s u p p l em en t in g o f cri m i n al reco rd s

, an d en act i n g

a n ew Co d e Sect i o n 3 5 -3 -3 7 ”), 9 -1 (c) ( p r o v i d i ng fo r an effect i v e d at e o f J u l y 1,

2 0 1 3 ); OCGA § 3 5 -3 -3 7 (2 0 1 2) (s et t i n g fo rt h b o t h v ers i o n s o f s t at u t e).

1 0 See gen eral l y Go l d

b er g v. S t at e

, 2 82 Ga. 5 4 2, 5 4 4 (6 5 1 SE2 d 66 7 ) (2 0 0 7 )

(“ In co n s t ru in g a s tat u t e, t h e card i n al ru l e i s t o g l ean t h e i n t en t of t he l eg i s l at u re.

Lan gu ag e i n o n e part o f t h e s t at u t e m u s t b e co n s t ru ed i n th e l i g ht o f t h e l eg i s l at i v e

i n t en t a s f

o u n d i n t h e s t at u te as a wh o l e.”) (ci t at i o n an d p u n ct u at i on o m i t t ed );

Mei nken v. Bu r

g es s

, 2 6 2 Ga. 8 63

, 8 6 5 (2 ) (4 2 6 SE2 d 8 76 ) (1 9 9 3 ) (rei t erat in g t h at

, in

co n st ru i n g a s tat u t e, co u rt s m u s t “ t ry t o effect u at e t h e i n t en t o f t h e l eg i s l at u re as

d i s cern ed fro m

t h e act as a wh o l e”).

6ret ri ed t h e cas e wi t h i n t wo y ears o f t h e d at e t h e o rd er v acat in g o r

rev ers i n g t h e co nv i ct i o n b ecam e fi n al

. 1 1

W h i l e t h e G en eral As sem b l y co u l d h av e carv ed fro m s u ch s p eci fi c p a r a m e t e rs an

ex cep t i o n

, s o as t o ex cl u d e fro m t h at p arag rap h ’ s p u rv i ew i n st an ces w h e r e a n o l l e

p ro s eq u i was en t ere d wi t h i n t h e referen ced t wo -y ear p eri o d

, it d i d n o t

. W h ere, as

h ere, a s tat u t e co n t ai ns b o t h a g en eral p ro vi s i o n an d a s p eci fi c o n e, “ t h e p art i cu l ar

p ro v is i o n m

u s t co n tro l, an d t h e g en eral p ro vi s i o n m us t b e t ak en t o affect o n l y s u ch

cas es wi t h i n i t s g en eral l an g uag e as are n o t wi t h i n t h e p ro v i s i o n s o f t h e p art i cu l ar

p ro v is i o n .” 1 2

In l i g h t o f t he fo reg o i n g, t h e t ri al co urt d i d n o t err i n d et erm i n i n g t h at OCGA

§ 35 -3 -3 7 (j) (2 ) g o v ern ed Gi b b s’ s p et it io n

, 1 3 a s i t i s wi t h o u t q ues t i o n t h at t h e

u n d erl y i n g ci rcu m s t an ces

– i ncl u d i n g t h e co nv i ct i o n

, s en ten ci n g

, rev ers al

, l ack o f a

1 1 OCGA § 3 5 -3 -3 7 (j) (2 ).

1 2 Ma yo r & c. o f Sa va n na h v. S

a va n n ah El ec. & Po wer Co

., 2 0 5 Ga. 42 9

, 4 3 6

-

4 3 7 (5 4 SE2 d 2 60 ) (1 9 4 9 ) (p u nct u at i on o m i t t ed ); s ee g en eral l y Dr a ke v. S t a t e , 1 7 0

Ga. Ap p

. 8 4 6 , 8 47 (1 ) (3 1 8 SE2 d 7 2 1 ) (1 9 84 ) (n o t i n g v ari o u s u s ag es an d effect s o f

an o rd er o f n ol l e p ro s eq u i).

1 3 See g en eral l y Go l d

b er g , s u p ra; Ma

yo r , s u pra.

7s u b s eq u en t ret ri al

, an d t i m i n g o f Gi b b s ’ s p et i t io n t o res tri ct r e c o r d s

– s at is fi ed t h at

Co d e p ro v i s i o n’ s d et ai led ap p l i cab i l i t y cri teri a.

2

. Al t ern at i v el y

, Gi b b s co n t en ds t h at t h e tri al co ur t a b u s e d i t s di s cret i o n in

d et erm i n i n g t h at t h e t hree fact o rs s et fo rt h i n OCGA § 3 5 -3 -3 7 (j) (2 ) wei g hed ag ai n s t

h i m

. 1 4

At t h e h eari n g

, G i b bs ’ s at t o rn ey ad d res s ed each fact o r as fo l l o ws

. Reg ard i n g

t h e fi rs t (t h e reas o n t he ju d g m en t was rev ers ed ), Gi b b s ’ s at t o rn ey p o i n t ed o u t t h at t h e

co n cl u s i o n o f i n effect i v en es s was p rem i s ed

, i n p a r t, u p o n Gi b b s ’ s t ri al co u n sel ’ s

fai l u re t o p res en t to t h e ju ry p o t en t i al l y ex cu l p at o ry ev i d en ce. 1 5 Co un t eri n g t h e s t at e’ s

p ro ffer wi t h res p ect to t h e s eco nd fact o r (t h e reas o n t h e p ro s ecu ti n g at t o rn ey h ad n ot

t ri ed t h e cas e ag ai n ), Gi b b s ’ s at t o rn ey cl ai m ed t h at t h e fact “ t h at [Gi bb s ] had al read y

s erv ed s om e k in d o f p u n i s h m en t fo r a cri m e t h at h e was nev er co n v ict ed o f

. . . s h o u ld

wei g h i n h i s fav o r, rat h er t h an i n t he p ro secu t i o n’ s f a v o r

. ” An d t urn i n g to t h e t h i rd

1 4 See g en er a l l y M

ei nken

, s u p ra at 8 6 6 (2 ) (co nt em p l at i n g a “ bal an ci n g o f

eq u it i es ” b y t h e s u p eri o r co u rt

, an d h ol d in g t h at “ a s u p eri o r co u rt ’ s d eci s i o n o n

ex p un g em en t w i l l no t b e d i s t u rb ed o n ap p eal u n l es s t h ere h as b een a n ab u s e o f

d i s cret i o n ”).

1 5 See Gi bb s

, s u p ra at 6 9 6 -6 9 8 (1 ) (a) (i

- i i ) (ci ti n g ev i d en ce th at t h e al l eg ed

v i ct i m h ad accu s ed o th er m en o f s ex ua l l y m o l es t i ng h er, th en l at er recan t ed t h e

accu s at i on s ).

8fact or (t h e p u b l ic’ s in t eres t i n t he cri m i n al h i s t o ry reco rd i n fo rm at i o n b ei n g p u b l i cl y

av ai l ab l e), Gi b b s ’ s at t o rn ey as s ert ed t h at G i b b s’ s “ p ers o n al p ri v at e i nt eres t i n b ei n g

free fro m t h e reco rd o ut w ei g h s t h e p u b l i c i n t eres t i n h av i ng t h at reco rd av ai l ab l e.”

On ap p eal

, h o wev er

, G i b b s h as ci t ed n o au t h ori t y d em o n s t rat i n g t h at t h e

s u p eri o r co u rt erred i n i ts d et erm i n at i o n t h at res t ri ct in g h is cri m i n al hi s t o ry reco rd

was no t ap p ro p ri at e. T h e reco rd co n fi rm s th at

, up o n Gi b b s ’s pet i t i o n

, t h e co u rt

co n ven ed a h eari n g

, a l l o we d t h e part i es t o pres en t ev id en ce an d arg u m en t

, an d

i n v o k ed th e co rrect leg al st an d ard

. “ [B] ec a u s e p o t en t i al h arm t o i n d i vi d u al s i s t h e

n at u ral co n s eq u en ce o f t h e m ai n t en an ce an d d i ss em i n at i o n o f cri m i n a l r e co rd s

. . .,

t h e b al an ci n g t es t s h o u l d n o t be t i p p ed in t h e d efen d an t ’ s fav o r s ol el y o n t h e b as i s o f

t h e p o t en t i al h arm t h at co u l d accru e t o a d efen dan t i n an y g iv en cas e.” 1 6 H ere, t h e

arg u m en t s an d ev id en ce p res en t ed t o t h e s u p eri o r co u rt d i d no t req u i re a fi n d i n g o f

1 6 M e in ken

, s u p ra; s ee OCGA § 35 -3 -3 7 (j) (2 ) (s et t i n g fo rt h fact o rs t o b e

co n si d ered b y co u rt wh en d et erm i n i n g wh e t h e r res t ri ct i ng cri m i n al h i st o ry reco rd

i n fo rm at i o n i s ap pro pri at e).

9a di m i n i s h ed i n t eres t b y t he p u b l i c i n G i b b s’ s cri m i nal h i st o ry reco rd i n fo rm at i o n ; 1 7

n o r d i d t h ey m an d at e a co n cl u si o n t h at res t ri ct i n g s u ch i n fo rm at i on was ap p ro p ri at e. 1 8

Becau s e Gi b b s has fai l ed t o d em o n s t rat e m eri t i n h i s co n t en t i o n th at t h e t ri al

c o u r t e rred b y d et erm i n in g

, bas ed u p o n it s co n s i d erat i on o f t h e fact o rs s et fo rt h i n

OCGA § 3 5-3 -3 7 (j) (2 ), t h at res t ri ct i n g hi s cri m i n al h i st ory reco rd in fo rm at i o n was

n o t ap p ro p ri at e, G i b b s h as p res en ted n o b as i s fo r d is t urb i n g t he d en i al o f h i s p et i t i o n.

Ju d g men t a f f i r m ed . El l i n g t o n , P. J., a n d McMi l l i a n , J., co n cu r

.

1 7 “ Fo r i ns t an ce, i f an arres t res u l t s fro m an y i l l eg al i t y o r m i s co nd u ct o n t h e p art

o f t he po l i ce, th e a r r e s t r eco rd m ay n o t b e i n d i cat iv e o f t h e i nd i v i d u al ’ s cri m i n al

p ro p en s it y an d t he m ai nt en an ce o f t h e reco rd m ay t h erefo re b e o f l it t l e val u e t o [t h e

p u b l i c] .” Mei n ken

, su p ra (ci t at i o n s o m i tt ed ). See al s o Dr a ke

, su p ra (n o t in g t hat “ m ere

en t ry o f n o l l e p ro s eq u i d o es n o t i n d i cat e an ab s en ce o f t h e co m m i s s i o n o f a cri m i n al

act ”).

1 8 See g en eral ly Mei n ken

, s u p ra at 8 6 5 (2 ) (n o t i n g Geo rg i a’ s “ p u b l i c p o l i cy

fav o ri n g t h e m ai n t en an ce an d d i s s em i n at i on o f s u ch reco rd s ”).

10