FI FTH DI VI SI ON

M CFA DDEN, P. J.

, BRA NCH and BETHEL, 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

October 17, 2017



# I n th e Co u r t o f

A p p eals o f

G eo r g ia

A1 7 A1 05 3 . J O NES v . THE STATE.

M C F A D D E N , Pres id i n g J u d g e.

Aft er a j u ry tri al

, K i e l J o n es was co n v i ct ed of rap e, ag g rav at ed ch i ld

m o l es t at i o n, an d i n ces t

. J o n es ap p eal s

, ch al l en g i n g t h e s u ffi ci en cy o f t h e ev i d en ce,

t h e d en i al o f an o ral req u es t fo r a p ret ri al co m pet en c y e v al u at i o n

, t h e effect i v en es s

o f hi s t ri al co u n sel

, t he ap po in t m en t o f a pu b l i c d efe n d er t o as s is t h i s v i s u al l y

i m p ai red d efen s e co u n s el

, p u rp o rt ed b i a s b y t h e t ri al co u rt

, t h e t ri al co urt ’ s

p art i ci p a t i o n d u ri n g v oi r d i re, an d t h e s en t en ce i m p o sed fo r i n ces t

. Fi n d i n g n o

rev ers i bl e erro r, we affi rm

.

1

. S u f f ici en cy o f t h e evi d en ce.

In rev i ewi n g t h e s u ffi ci en cy o f t h e ev i d en ce s up p ort i ng a cri m i n al co n v i ct i o n,

we d o n o t wei g h t h e ev i den ce o r res o lv e co n fl i ct s i n wi t n es s t es t i m o n y , b u t i n s t eadd et erm i n e w h e t h er, aft er v i ewi n g t h e ev i d en ce i n t h e l ig h t m o s t fav o rab l e t o t h e

v erd i ct

, an y rat i o n al tri er o f fact co u l d h av e fo u nd th e es s en t i al el em en t s o f t h e cri m e

b ey o n d a reas o n ab le d o u b t

. Ti n s o n v. S ta t e

, 3 3 7 Ga. A p p

. 8 3 (1 ) (7 8 5 SE2 d 9 1 4 )

(2 0 1 6). So v i ewed

, t he ev i d en ce s h o ws t h at w h en J on es ’ n i ece was 1 1 y ears o l d

, h e

fo rci bl y i n sert ed h i s p en i s i n t o h er v ag i n a, p l aced h i s p en i s on h er l i p s, an d ejacu l at ed

o n h e r s t o m a c h

. “ Th e ev i d en ce was s uffi ci en t fo r a rat i o nal t ri er o f fact t o fi n d t h e

es s en t i al el em en ts of t h e cri m es o f [wh i ch J o nes was co n v i ct ed ] b ey o n d a reas o n ab l e

d o u b t .” Id

. at 8 5 -8 6 (1 ). See OCGA § § 1 6 -6 -1 (a) (1 ) (rap e), 1 6 -6 -4 (c) (ag g rav at ed

ch i l d m o l es t at io n b y act o f s od o m y ), 1 6 -6 -2 2 (a) (6 ) (i n ces t b et w een u ncl e an d n i ece).

2

. Co mp et en cy h ea ri n g.

J o n e s co n t en d s t hat t he t ri al co u rt erred i n d en y i n g h i s co u n s el ’ s p ret ri al

req u es t fo r a co m

p et en cy ev al u at i o n o f J o n es . W e d i s ag ree.

Th e reco rd s h ows t h at o n t h e cal l o f t h e cas e fo r t ri al

, J o n es an d t h e s t at e

i n fo rm ed t h e co u rt t h at t h ey h ad n eg o t i at ed a g u i l t y p l ea t o red u ced ch arg es

. Du ri n g

t h e s u b s eq u en t p l ea co ll o q u y

, J o n es to l d t h e co u rt t h at b efo re co m in g to co u rt h e h ad

s m o k ed m ari

ju an a an d h ad t ak en a b l o o d p res s u re m ed i cat i o n an d an an t i d ep res s an t

.

He lat er in fo rm ed t h e co urt t h at h e p rev i ou s ly was d iag n o sed wi t h d ep res s i o n a n d

b i p o l ar d i s ord er, an d t h at i n 2 0 0 9 h e h ad b een h o sp i t al i zed fo r d ep res s io n

. W h en

2as k ed b y bo t h t h e p ro s ecu t i n g at t o rn ey an d t h e j u d ge i f h e un d ers to o d t h e p ro ceed i ng s

an d ev ery t h i n g t h at was hap p en i n g i n co urt

, J on es affi rm ed t h at h e d i d u n d ers t an d t h e

p ro ceed in g s an d w h at was h ap p e n i n g

. U po n fu rt h er in q u i ry b y t h e co u rt

, J o n es

rei t erat ed t h at he was ab le t o un d ers t an d t h e pro ceed i n g s an d co n t i n u e wi t h t h e p l ea.

He al so t ol d t he co u rt t h at t h ere was n o t h i n g ab o u t h is d ep res si on o r bi p o l ar d i s o rd er

t h at i n terfered w i t h h is ab il i t y t o u nd ers t an d t h e p ro ceed i n g s. Defen s e co u n s el s t at ed

t h at h e was “ ab s ol u t el y cert ai n ” t h at J o n es was co m p et en t an d t h at h e was n ot

l ab o ri n g u n d er an y

m en t al d efect

. Th e ju d g e al s o o bs erv ed o n t h e reco rd t h at J o n es

“ l o ok s t h e s am e as h e’ s l o o ked ev ery t i m e h e’ s ap p eared be f o r e t h e [ c ] o u rt

. He

ap p ears t o b e co h eren t

, al ert

, an d d o es n o t ap p ear, at l eas t in m y m i n d

, t o b e l ab o ri n g

u n d er an y t y pe o f p s y ch o t i c o r p s y ch iat ri c i s s u es .”

Aft er fu rt h er d i s c u s s i o n reg ard i n g t h e n eg o t i at ed p l ea, J on es d eci d ed to

wi t h d raw h i s g ui l t y p l ea an d pro ceed wi t h a ju ry t ri al

. A t t h at p o i n t

, defen s e co u n s el

m ad e an o ral req u es t fo r a m en t al h eal t h ev al u at io n o f J o n es . Th e t ri al co u rt d en i ed

t h e req u es t

, ex p lai n i n g

, “ Yo u ’ v e i n d i cat ed t o t h e [ c ]o u r t r e p eat ed l y t h at y o u d o n ’ t

b el i ev e y o u r cl ien t has an y m en t al h eal t h i s s ues an d t h at h e’ s ot h erwi s e co m p et en t to

t ak e t h i s p l ea. An d i f he’ s co m p et en t t o en t er a p l ea o f g u i l t y

, he’ s co m pet en t fo r

t ri al .”

3“ A cri m i n al d efen d an t ’ s d u e pro ces s ri g h t t o a fai r t ri al en co m pas s es t h e ri g ht

n o t t o b e t ri ed o r co nv i ct ed w h i le i n co m p et en t t o s tan d t ri al

. ” Ph el p s v. S t at e

, 2 9 6 Ga.

Ap p

. 36 2

, 3 6 4 (1 ) (6 7 4 SE2 d 6 2 0 ) (2 0 0 9) (ci t at io n o m i tt ed ). Pu rs u an t t o OCGA § 1 7

-

7 -1 3 0 (b ) (1 ), an accu s ed m ay fi l e a m o t i on req u es t i n g t h at t h e t ri al co u rt o rd er a

co m p et en cy ev al u at i o n

. Al t h o u g h n o s uch m o ti o n w as fi l ed i n t h i s cas e,

“ co n s t i tu t i on al g u aran t ees req u i re t h e t ri al co u rt to i n q u i re i n t o co m p et en cy

, ev en

wh ere s t at e p ro ced u res fo r rai s i n g co m p et en cy are n o t fo l l o wed

, i f ev i den ce o f

i n co m pet en ce co m es t o t h e co u rt ’ s at t en t io n .” Ph el p s , s up ra (ci t at i o n s o m i t t ed ).

M en t al co m

p et en cy i s p res u m ed

, s o ab s en t e v i d en ce o f a d efen d an t ’ s

i n co m p et en cy

, a t ri al co u rt n eed n o t co n d u ct a co m p et en cy heari ng

. [Bu t

i ] f t h e co u rt h as s u ffi ci en t i n fo rm at i o n at th e t im e o f t ri al t o rai s e a b o na

fi de d o u b t ab o ut t he d efen d an t ’ s ab il i t y t o u n ders t an d t h e pro ceed i n gs

,

ap p reci at e t h ei r s i gn i fi can c e

, o r as s i s t h i s lawy er i n p res en t i ng h i s

d efen s e, t h e co u rt m

u s t co n d u ct a co m

p et en cy h eari n g

.

Po wer s v. S t a t e

, 3 1 4 Ga. Ap p

. 7 3 3

, 7 3 4 -7 3 5 (1 ) (b ) (7 25 SE2 d 8 4 8 ) (2 0 1 2 ) (ci t at i on s

o m it t ed ). In d et erm i n i n g wh et h er t h e tri al co urt v i o l at ed J o n es ’ p ro ced u ral d u e

p ro ce s s r i g h t s b y fai l i n g t o h ol d a co m p et en cy heari n g

, w e m

u st fo cu s o n t h ree

fact ors : “ ( 1 ) ev i d en ce o f t he defen d an t ’ s i rrat io n al b eh av i o r; (2 ) t h e d efen d an t ’ s

d em ean o r at t ri al ; an d (3 ) p ri or m ed ical op i ni o n reg ard in g t h e d efen d an t ’ s

co m p et en ce t o s tan d t ri al

. Su ch an an al y s i s fo cu s es o n wh at t h e t ri al co u rt d i d i n l i g ht

4o f wh at i t k n e w a t t h e t i m e o f t h e t ri al o r p l ea h eari n g.” Jo h n s o n v. St a t e

, 2 0 9 Ga.

Ap p . 5 1 4 , 5 1 6 (2 ) (4 3 3 SE2 d 7 1 7 ) (1 9 9 3 ) (ci t at i o ns an d p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed ).

No n e o f t h es e t h ree fact o rs ra i s ed a b on a fi d e d o u bt ab o ut J on es ’ ab i l i t y to

u n d e r s t an d t h e pro ceed i n gs an d t h u s t h e t ri al co u rt was no t req ui red t o co n d u ct a

co m p et en cy h eari n g

. Th e reco rd d o es n ot s h o w t h at J o n es en g ag ed in an y i rrat i o n al

b eh av i o r p ri or t o th e s t art o f t h e t ri al o r t hat hi s d em ean o r ex h i bi t ed i n co m p et en ce.

On t h e co n t rary

, t h e t ri al co u rt ex p res s l y n o ted o n t h e r e c o r d t h at J o n es ap p eared

co h eren t an d al ert

, an d a rev i ew o f t h e t ran s cri p t rev eal s t h at h e res p o n d ed

ap p ro p ri at el y t o q u es t i o n s

. See Fl es ch e v. S t a t e

, 25 4 Ga. Ap p

. 3

, 5 (1 ) (5 6 1 SE2 d 1 6 0 )

(2 0 0 2) (t h ro u g h o u t p ro ceed i n g s t h e d efen d an t d i s p l ay ed n o o u t bu rs t s o r ep i s o d es o f

d i s o r i e n t at io n

, an d h e res po n d ed co h eren t ly to q u es t i o n s ). M o reo v er, “ h is at t o rn ey

co n cl u d ed t h at h e was fu l l y co m p et en t t o e n t e r a gu i l ty p l ea, an d t h e co u rt was

a u t h o ri zed t o t ak e t hi s i nt o co n s i d erat i o n i n det erm in in g t h e n eed fo r a m en t al

ev al u a t i o n

. ” P er r

y v. S t a t e

, 2 6 9 Ga. Ap p

. 1 7 8

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

(ci t at i o n o m i t t ed ). Acco rd Fl es ch e

, s u p ra. Al t h o u gh t h e t ri al co u rt was i n fo rm ed t h at

J o n es h ad p rev i o u s l y b een d i ag no s ed wi t h d ep res s i o n an d b i p o l ar d i s o rd er, t h ere was

n o ev i d e n c e o f a p ri o r m ed i cal o pi n i o n t h at s u ch d i ag n o s es ren d ered J o n es

i n co m pet en t to s t an d t ri al

. In d eed

, J o n es hi m s el f t o ld t h e co urt t h at th ere was n o t h i n g

5a b o u t t h o s e co n di t i o n s t hat i n t erfered wi t h h i s ab i l i t y to p art i ci p at e i n t h e

p ro ceed in g s

. See Tr a

yl o r v. S t a t e

, 2 8 0 Ga. 40 0

, 4 0 4-4 0 5 (4 ) (a) (6 27 SE2 d 5 9 4 )

(2 0 0 6). In l i g h t o f wh at t h e t ri al co u rt k n ew at t h e t im e o f t ri al

, we c a n n ot fi n d t h at

i t erred i n p ro ceed i ng wi t h o u t o rd eri n g a m en t al ev al u at io n

. See P er r y

, su p ra at 1 8 2

(2 ); Fl es ch e , s u pra.

3

. In ef f ect i ve a s s i s t a n ce o

f co u n s el

.

J o n es cl ai m s t h a t h i s t ri al co u n s el was i n effect i v e i n s tat i n g h is op i ni o n t h at

J o n es w as co m

p et en t wi th ou t fi rs t s eek in g a p ro fes s i o n al ev al u at i o n o f h i s

co m p et en cy an d in fai l i n g t o req u es t a co n t i nu an ce o n t h e d ay o f t ri al wh en J o n es

cl ai m ed h e h ad s m o ked m ari ju an a an d t ak en an an t i d ep res s an t pri o r t o t ri al

. “ In o rd er

t o p rev ai l o n a cl ai m o f in effect i v e as s i s t an ce o f co u n s el

, [J o n es ] m u s t s ho w [b o t h ]

t h at co u n s el ’ s p erfo rm a n c e was d efi ci en t an d t h at t h e d efi ci en t perfo rm an ce s o

p reju d i ced [J o n es ] th at t here is a reas o n ab l e li k el i h o od t h at

, b u t fo r co u n s el ’ s erro rs

,

t h e o u t co m e o f t h e t ri al wo u l d h av e b een d i fferen t .” R o bi n s o n v. St a t e

, 27 7 Ga. 7 5 -7 6

( 5 8 6 SE2 d 31 3 ) (2 00 3 ) (ci t at i o n o m it t ed ). J o nes h as fai l ed to m ak e t h e req u i r e d

s h o wi n g s

.

(a) Co u n s el ’s s t a t emen t

t h a t Jo n es wa s co mp et en t

.

6At t h e m o t i on fo r n ew t ri al h eari n g

, co u n s el tes t ifi ed t hat h e d i d n o t req u es t an

ev al u at i on o f J o n e s p ri o r t o t h e fi rs t d ay o f t ri al b ecau s e h e “ ap p eared t o b e

co m p l e t e l y co m

p et en t .” Co u n s el h ad rev i ewed J o n es ’ m en t al h eal t h reco rd s

, b ut

ex p l a i n ed t h at h e b el i ev ed J o n es was co m pet en t b ecau s e he h ad s pen t a l o t o f t i m e

wi t h J o n es p rep ari n g fo r t ri al an d J o n es cl earl y u n d ers to o d wh at was g o i n g o n d u ri n g

t h o s e i n t eract i o ns

. Co u ns el t es t i fi ed t h at at th o se m eet i n gs J on es “ was fu n c t i o n i n g

v ery

, v ery wel l

. . . . As I recal l

, he was i n t el l i gen t

. He was art i cu l at e. He was o ri en t ed

t o t i m e an d p l ace. He an s w ered m y qu es ti o ns

. [An d ] h e was a l o t m o re

co m m u n icat iv e t h an m o s t [cl i en t s .] ”

J o n es p res en ted no ev i d en ce co n t rad i ct i n g co u ns el ’ s o b s erv at i o n s an d o p i n i o n

o f J o n es ’ co m

p et en cy t o s t an d t ri al

. At t h e m o t i o n fo r n ew t ri al

, J o n es at t em p t ed to

i n t ro du ce a w ri tt en s tat em en t p u rp o rt i n g t o be fro m a d o ct o r wh o o p i n ed

, b as ed o n

h er al l eg ed rev i ew o f t h e t ri al t ran s cri pt an d J o n es ’ m e d i c al reco rd s, t h at t h e t ri al

co u rt s h o u l d h av e g ran t ed t ri al co u ns el ’ s o ral req ues t fo r an ev al u at i on o f J o n es ’

co m p et en cy t o p ro ceed t o t ri al

. Ho wev er, th e d o ct or’ s s t at em en t di d n ot o p i n e t h at

J o n es was i n co m

p et en t o r t h at co u n s el was wro n g t o s t at e o t h erwi s e, J o n es ’ m ed i cal

reco rd s were n o t at t ach ed t o th e d o cu m en t

, an d t h e d o ct o r d i d n ot tes t ify a t t h e

h eari n g

. M o reo v er, t h e t ri al co u rt ru l ed t h at t h e d o cu m en t was in ad m i s s ib l e an d J o n es

7h as n o t en u m erat ed t h at ru l i ng as erro r. Ev en i f t h e d o cu m en t h ad b een ad m i t t ed

, i t

p ro v id ed n o ev i d en ce t h at J o n es was i n fact in co m p et en t an d d id n o t co n t rad i ct t ri al

co u ns el ’ s p ret ri al o b s erv at i o ns an d o p i n io n t h at J o nes was co m p et en t t o s t an d t ri al

.

Th e b u rd en i s o n t h e defen d an t t o s h o w th at h i s at t o rn e y’ s

o m i s s i o n s h av e preju d iced h i s cas e.

. . . [Ho wev er, J o nes ] d i d no t o ffer

an y ev id en ce at t h e heari n g o n h i s cl ai m o f i n effect i v e as s i s t an ce o f t ri al

co u n s el t o s u p p o rt h i s as s ert i o n th at h i s

. . . co m p et en cy s h o u l d h av e

b een [fu rt h er ev al u at ed b efo re co u n s el s t at ed h e was co m p et en t t o s t an d ]

t ri al

. Acco rd i n g l y, w e co n cl u d e t h at [J o nes ] h as fai l ed t o carry h i s

b u rd en t o p ro v e t he p reju d i ce p ro n g o f h i s cl ai m t h at t ri al co u n s el was

i n effect iv e[.]

Jen n in g s v. S ta t e

, 2 8 2 Ga. 6 7 9

, 68 0 (2 ) (6 5 3 SE2 d 1 7) (2 0 07 ) (ci t a t i o n s an d

p u n ct u at i o n o m i t ted ). Ab s en t a s h o wi ng o f p reju d i ce, t he t ri al co u rt di d no t err in

d en y i n g J o n es ’ cl ai m o f i n effect i v e as si s tan ce of co u n sel o n t h i s g ro un d

. See Hu z z i e

v. S t a t e , 2 3 6 Ga. Ap p . 1 9 2, 1 93 -1 9 4 (2 ) (5 1 2 SE2 d 5 ) (1 9 9 9 ).

(b ) Fa i l u r e t o req ues t a co n t i n u a n ce.

Aft er J o nes cl ai m ed t h at h e h ad s m ok ed m ari j u an a an d t ak en an an t i d ep res s an t

b efo re co m i n g t o co u rt

, t h e ju dg e i m m ed i at el y q ues t i o n ed J o n es t o d et erm i n e wh et h er

h e co u l d co n t in ue wi t h th e co urt p ro ceed i n g s

. D u ri ng t h at i n q u i ry

, Jo n es t o l d t h e

ju d g e t h at h e h ad u n d ers to od ev ery t h i n g t h at had al read y g o n e o n i n co urt

, t h at h e was

ab l e t o u n d ers t an d t h e p ro ceed i n g s

, an d t h at h e w a s ab l e t o co n t i n u e wi t h t h e

8p ro ceed in g s

. Th e ju d g e n ot ed t h at

, co n t rary t o J o n es ’ cl ai m

, h e d id n o t ap p ear t o b e

h eav il y d ru g g ed

, t h at he ap p eared al ert an d co h eren t

, an d t hat s h e bel i ev ed h e w a s

t o y i ng wi t h t h e co u rt

.

At t h e m o t i on fo r n ew t ri al h eari n g

, t ri al co u ns el t es t i fi ed t h at h e d i d n o t k n o w

i f J o n es was b ei ng t ru t h fu l ab o u t th e d ru g s

, t h at h e had no ev i d en ce t h at J o n es h ad

act u al l y s m o k ed m ari

ju an a b efo re co m i n g t o co urt

, an d t h a t he t h o u g h t J o n es was

m erel y t ry i n g t o u n d erm i n e t h e n eg o t i at ed g u il t y p l ea. On ap p eal

, J o n es h as p o i n t ed

t o n o ev i d en ce t h at h e was i n fact i m p ai red a n d un ab le t o co n t i n u e wi t h t h e co u rt

p ro ceed in g s o r t h at t he t ri al co urt wo u l d h av e g ran t ed a m o t i o n fo r a co n t in u an ce o n

t h at b as i s

. “ Th i s [c] ou rt h as h el d t h at i t o b v i o u sl y i s n o t i n effect i ve fo r co u n s el t o fai l

t o req u es t a co nt i n u an ce fo r d el ay o n l y .” Po l k v. S t a t e

, 2 2 5 G a. Ap p

. 2 5 7, 2 5 9 (1 ) (d )

(4 8 3 SE2 d 6 8 7) (1 9 9 7 ) (ci t at i o n an d p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed ). An d “ t h e fai l u re t o m ak e

a m eri t l es s m ot i o n o r o b j e c t i o n d o es no t p ro v id e a b as i s up o n wh i ch t o fi n d

i n effect i v e as s i s t an ce o f co u n s el .” Ha mp t o n v. S t a t e

, 29 5 G a. 6 6 5

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

4 6 7 ) (2 01 4 ) (ci t at i o n o m i t t ed ). Acco rd i n g l y

, t h e tri al co u rt d id n o t err i n d en y i n g t h e

cl ai m o f i n effect i ve as s i s t an ce o f co u n s el

.

4

. Ap p o i n t m en t

o f a s s i s t a n t

.

9Th e t ri al co u rt as s i g n ed an as s i s t an t p u bl i c defen d er t o h el p t ri al co u ns el

, wh o

i s v i s u al l y i m

p ai red

, “ t o en s ure th at [co u n sel had ] th e ben efi t o f s i g h t ed co un s el i n t h e

ev en t t h at t here were i s s u es t h at aro s e d uri n g t ri al reg ard i ng ex h i b i t s an d o t h er

m at t ers [.] ” Th e co u rt cl ari fi ed t h at t h e ap p o i n ted h el per was n o t J o nes ’ l awy er. J o n es

co n ten d s t h at t h e t ri al co u rt erred i n as s i g n i n g t h e as s i s t an t p u b l i c d efen d er t o s erv e

i n t h at cap aci t y

. Ho wev er, h e h as no t s h o wn wh ere i n t he reco rd h e r a i s ed s u ch an

o b ject i on an d t h ereb y pres erv ed t h i s en u m erat i on o f erro r fo r co n si d erat i on

, an d o u r

rev i ew o f t h e t ri al tran s cri p t h as n o t rev eal ed an y s u ch o b ject i on

. See Co u rt o f

Ap p eal s Ru l e 25 (a) (1 ). “ Gen eral l y

, t o p res erv e ap p el l at e rev i ew o f a cl ai m ed erro r,

t h ere m u st b e a co n t em

po ran eo u s o bject i on m ad e o n t he reco rd at t h e earl i es t p o s s i b l e

t i m e. Ot h erwi s e, t h e i s s u e is d eem ed w ai v ed o n ap p eal .” Ben t o n v. S t a t e

, 30 0 Ga. 2 0 2,

2 0 5 (2 ) (7 9 4 SE2 d 9 7 ) ( 2 0 1 6 ) (ci t at i o n an d p u n ct uat i o n o m it ted ). Becau s e J o n es

fai l ed to m ak e a co nt em p o ran eo u s o b

j e c t i o n t o t h e co u rt ’ s ap p o i n tm en t o f t h e

as s i s tan t, h e “ h as wai v ed h i s ri gh t t o ap p el l at e rev i ew o f t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s act i o n .” Id

.

5

. Bi a s

.

J o n es co m

p l ai n s t h at t h e t r i al co urt s h o wed b i as i n fav o r of t h e s t at e by

i n s t ru ct i n g t h e s tat e’ s at t o rn e y t o r e p h ras e t h ree q u es ti o n s d uri n g v o ir d i re an d by

ru l i n g t h at a p ro s ecu to r’ s qu es t i o n d u ri n g t ri al as s u m ed fact s n o t i n ev i d en ce. As an

10i n i t i al o b serv at i on

, “ w e do n o t bel i ev e th at t h e tri al co u rt ex hi b i t ed i m p ro p er b i as o r

fav o ri t i s m t oward o r ag ai n s t ei t h er t h e [s ] t at e o r th e d efen d an t d u r i n g [t h es e]

ex ch an g e[s ] .” S

co t t v. S t a t e

, 3 3 2 Ga. Ap p

. 5 5 9, 5 6 6 (4 ) (c) (7 74 SE2 d 1 3 7 ) (2 0 1 5 ).

Reg ard les s

, J o nes rai sed n o o b ject i o n s t o an y o f t h es e ex ch an g es at t ri al an d t h erefo re

h e can n o t rai s e t h em

fo r t h e fi rs t t i m e o n ap p eal

. Ben t o n , s up ra.

6

. Vo i r d i r e.

J o n es cl ai m s t h at t h e t ri al co u rt erred b y p a r t i c i p at i n g in t h e v o i r d i re

q u e s t i o n i n g o f s ev eral p ro s pect i v e ju ro rs

. On ce ag ai n

, J o n es “ h as fai led to i n d i cat e

wh ere h e rai s ed s uch an o b ject i o n

, an d t h e p ag es o f t h e v o i r d i r e t r a n s cri p t h e ci t es

t o d o n o t c o nt ai n s u ch an o b ject i o n

. [He] t h erefo re h as n o t p res erv ed t h e is s u e fo r

ap p eal .” W

il l i a ms v. S t a t e

, 3 2 6 Ga. Ap p

. 4 1 8

, 4 2 0 (2 ) (7 5 6 SE2 d 6 5 0 ) (2 0 1 4 ) (ci t at i o n

o m it t ed ). M o reo ver, “ [a] b sen t s o m e ab u s e o f d is cret i o n

, wh i ch [J o n es h as n o t s h o wn ]

h ere, part i ci p at i o n b y t h e t ri al ju d g e i n t h e v oi r d i re ex am i nat i o n o f pro s p ect i v e ju ro rs

p ro v id es n o bas i s fo r rev e r s a l .” Cu r r y v. S t a t e

, 2 55 Ga. 2 1 5

, 2 1 9 (2 ) (d ) (3 3 6 SE2 d

7 6 2 ) (1 9 8 5 ).

J o n es al s o co m

pl ai n s t h at t h e co u rt erred i n i n s t ru ct i n g d efen se co u n s el to

m o ve o n fro m q u es t i o n i n g a p ro s p ect i v e ju ro r ab o u t h er u n ders t an d i n g o f t h e En g l i s h

l an g u ag e b ecau s e t h at t o p i c h ad al read y b een co v ered . W e fi n d n o erro r wh ere “ t h e

11t ri al co u r t m erel y p ro h i b i ted d efen s e co u ns el fro m as k in g [t h e j u ro r] rep et i t i v e

q u es ti o n s [.] ” Ch a n cey v. S t at e

, 2 5 6 Ga. 4 1 5

, 4 2 5 (3 ) (B) (b ) (3 4 9 SE2 d 71 7 ) (1 9 8 6 ).

In d eed

, “ [c] o n tro l o f t h e v o ir d i re ex am i n at i o n i s wi t h i n t h e s o u n d d is cret i o n o f t h e

t r i al co u rt an d t h e co urt ’ s di s cret i o n wi l l n ot b e i nt erfered wi t h u nl es s t h e re c o r d

s h o ws a m an i fes t ab u s e o f t h at d i scret i o n .” Br o ckma n v. S t at e

, 29 2 Ga. 7 0 7

, 7 2 0 (8 )

(7 3 9 SE2 d 3 3 2 ) (2 0 1 3 ). Th e reco rd h ere s h o ws n o s u ch ab u s e o f d is cret i o n

.

7

. S en t en ce f o r i n ces t

.

J o n es w as sen ten ced u n d er t h e reci d i vi s t s t at u t e, OCGA § 1 7 -1 0-7

, t o t h e

m ax i m u m 5 0 -y ear s en t en ce fo r i n ces t

. See O CGA § 1 6 -6 -2 2 (b ). J o n es co n ten d s t h at

t h i s s en t e n ce m

u s t b e v acat ed b ecau s e t h e t ri al ju d g e erro n eo us l y d ecl ared t h at s h e

d i d n o t h av e d i s cret i o n t o p ro b at e an y p art o f t hat s en t en ce. W e d i s ag ree.

At t h e s en t en ci n g h eari n g

, t h e ju d g e s t at ed th at s h e w as sen t en ci n g J o nes u n d er

t h e reci d i v i s t s t at u te an d t h en ex p l ai n ed t h at s u b s ect i o n (a) o f t h at s t at u t e “ co m p el s

t h i s [c] o u rt t o i m

p o s e t he m ax i m

u m s en t en ce, even t h o u gh t h er e i s s o m e a u th o r i t y f o r

p o r t i o n s o

f t h a t s en t en ce t o b e s u s p en d ed o r p r ob a ted

. Ho wever

, i n l i g h t o f t h e

o ffen s es wi t h w h ich y o u are ch ar g e d a n d t he p en al t y ran g e, t h e [c] o u rt d o es n ot

b e l i e v e t h a t i t h as an y d i s cret i o n i n t erm s o f t h e s en t en ce t h at i t wi l l im p o s e.”

12(Em

p h as i s s u p p l i e d )

. See OCGA § 1 7 -1 0-7 (a) (“ t h e t ri al ju dg e m ay

, i n h i s o r h er

d i s cret i o n , p ro b at e o r s u s p en d t h e m ax i m u m s en t en ce p res cri b ed fo r t h e o ffen s e”).

Co n trary to J o nes ’ cl ai m

, t h e j u d ge ex p res s l y st at ed t h at un d er 1 7 -1 0 -7 (a) s h e

h ad t h e d i s cret i on t o p ro b at e t h e m a x i m u m s en t en ce p res cri b ed

. Aft er reco g n i zi n g

t h at d i s cret i o n

, i t ap p ears fro m h er en t i re st at em en t t h at s h e s i m p l y b el iev ed t h at in

t h e ex erci s e o f i t

, gi v en th e s ev eri t y o f t h e cri m es

, sh e had n o real ch o i c e b u t t o

i m p o s e t h e m ax im

u m sen ten ce wi t h ou t an y p ro b at i o n. “ Un l es s affi rm at i v e ev i d en ce

s h o ws o t h e r w i s e, t h e t ri al co u rt i s pres u m ed t o h av e ex erci sed i t s d i s cret i o n in

i m p o s i n g [a] s en t en ce.” Co d y v. S t a te

, 3 24 Ga. Ap p

. 8 15

, 8 2 7 (5 ) (b ) (7 5 2 SE2 d 3 6 )

(2 0 1 3) (ci t at io n an d p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed ). Becau se t h ere i s n o affi rm at i ve ev i d en ce

t h at t h e t ri al co u rt d i d n o t k n ow t h at i t co u l d ex erci se i t s d is cret i o n , an d i n s t ead t h e

reco rd s h o ws t h at t he co u rt w as fu l l y co g n i zan t o f t h e d i scret i o n v es t ed i n i t

, we fi n d

n o erro r. Id

. (n o b as is fo r d i s t u rb i n g s en t en ces im p o s ed wh ere t ri al co u rt ex p res s l y

n o t ed t he l an g uag e o f O CGA § 1 7 -1 0 -7 (a) affo rd i n g j u d ici al d i s cret i o n t o p ro b at e

p art o f m ax i m

u m s en t en ce).

Ju d g men t a f f i r m ed . Br a nch a n d

Bet hel , JJ., co n cu r.

13