FI RST DI VI SI ON

BA RNES, P. J.

, M C M I LLI A N and M ERCI ER, 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

M ay 4, 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 42 2 . M ILTON GIBBS v . THE STATE.

B A R N E S , Pres i d i n g J ud g e.

M i l t on Gi b b s ap p eal s h i s co n v i ct i o n s o f DUI
- l es s s afe an d fai l u re to m ai n t ai n

l an e. He arg u es t h at t h e tri al co u rt e r r e d b y ad m it t i n g ev i d en ce of h i s p ri o r DUI

co n vi ct i o n an d t h at h i s l awy er ren d ered i neffect i v e as s i s t an ce b y fai l i ng t o o b ject to

t h e ad m is s i o n o f t h at ev i d en ce. W e fi n d n o erro r an d affi rm

.

V i e wed i n a li g h t fav o rab l e t o t h e ju ry v erd ict

, 1 t h e reco rd s h o ws t h at a t

ap p ro x i m at el y 3 : 0 0 a.m

. o n Ap ri l 2 0

, 2 0 1 4

, Gi b b s d ro v e h i s SUV o ff t h e ro ad way

aro u n d a cu rv e o n a t wo -l an e ro ad i n Do u gl as Co u n t y

. Th e SUV s t ru ck a tel ep h o n e

p o l e l ocat ed ap p ro xi m at el y 3 0 feet o ff th e ro ad

, break i n g i t i n hal f, an d cam e t o res t

i n a d it ch

. Gi b b s, wh o was no t i n ju re d

, c a l l ed h i s b ro t h er-i n -l aw fo r h el p rem o v i n g

t h e SUV fro m t h e d i t ch

. Aft er h i s b ro t h er-i n -l aw arri v ed at th e s cen e, Gi b b s cal l ed h i s

i n s u ran ce co m

pan y , wh i ch su m

m o n ed a t o w t ru ck

. Th e t ow t ru ck d ri v er arri v ed an d

1 See Ma s o o d v. S t a t e , 3 13 Ga. Ap p . 5 4 9 , 5 5 0 (7 2 2 SE2 d 1 4 9 ) (2 0 12 ).d i al ed 9 1 1 aft er s eei n g t h e d am ag e t o t h e t el ep h o n e p o l e. A co u n t y s h eri ff’ s d ep u t y

w a s d i s p at ch ed t o t h e s cen e, an d s h e req u es t ed t h at a Geo rg ia St at e Pat ro l t ro o p e r

i n v es t i g at e t h e acci d en t

.

Th e t ro o p er arri v ed at 5 :4 2 a.m

. a n d s p o k e wi th Gi bb s , wh o t o l d h i m t h at h e

h ad swerv ed t o av o i d hi tt i n g a d eer t h at h ad ru n i n t o t h e ro ad

. T h e t ro o p er, h o wev er,

s aw n o y aw o r s ki d m ark s o r an y o t h er ev i d en ce t h at Gi b b s h ad s werv ed o r b rak ed

.

Th e t ro o p er co n cl ud ed th at Gi b b s ’ s v eh i cl e h ad s i m p ly “ p ro ceed ed o ff t h e ro ad way

. . . go i n g s t rai gh t t o ward s t h e p o l e.” Th e t ro op er n o t i ced a “ s l i g ht o d o r o f al co h o l i c

b ev erag e co m i n g fro m [Gi b b s ’ s ] p ers o n an d s aw t h at h i s ey es were w at ery an d

b l o o d s h o t

. Th e t ro o p er as k ed G i b b s m u l t ip l e t i m es i f h e h ad b een d ri n k i n g , b u t Gi bb s

s ai d n o

. Gi b b s al s o d en ied s p i l l i n g al co h o l o n h i s cl o t h i n g o r b ei n g aro u n d an y o n e

t h at n i gh t wh o h ad b een d ri n k i n g

. W h e n t h e tro o p er g o t cl o s er t o Gi b b s , h e

d et erm i n ed t h at t he al co h ol i c s m el l was o n Gi b b s ’ s b reat h

. Th e t ro o p er p erfo rm ed a

h o ri z o n t a l g aze n y st ag m u s (“ HGN”) t es t o n G i b b s, wh i ch s h o wed s i x o u t o f s ix

p o s s i b l e cl u es of i m

p ai rm en t

. G i b b s t o ld t h e tro o p er t h at h e h ad an as t i gm at i s m an d

weak m u s cl e i n on e ey e. T h e t ro o p er res p on d ed t h at t h o s e co n di t i o n s wo u l d n ei t h er

cau s e n y s t ag m

u s n o r affect t h e HGN tes t

, an d t h e t ro o p er l at er ch e c k e d wi th a

2s u p erv i s o r t o co n fi rm t h at as s es s m en t

. Th e t ro op er was u n ab l e t o ad m i ni s t e r o t h e r

fi el d so b ri et y

t es t s b ecau se t h e t errai n was u n su i t ab l e.

Th e tro op er as k ed Gi b b s t o t ak e a p o rt ab l e b reat h t es t t h at wo u l d i n d i cat e t h e

p res en ce o r ab s en ce o f al co h o l

, b u t Gi b b s refu s ed

. Gi bb s t o l d th e t ro o p er t h at h e was

afrai d t h e t es t wo u l d d et ect m ed i cat i o n , b u t t h e tro o p er as s u red h i m t h at it w o u l d n o t

.

Th e t ro o p er as k ed wh et h er G i b b s was o n m ed i cat i on , an d h e s ai d n o

. Th e tro o p er t h en

arres t ed Gi b bs

, read h i m h is i m p l i ed co ns en t ri g h t s , an d as ked h i m t o s u b m i t t o a

s t at e-ad m i n i s t ered t es t o f hi s bl o o d

. Ag ai n , G i b b s refu sed

. A vi d eo o f t h e en co u n t er

t ak en fro m

a cam era i n t h e t ro o p er’ s p at ro l car was p l ay ed fo r t h e ju ry

.

Gi b b s was ch arg ed wi t h fai l u r e to m ai n t ai n l an e an d DUI
- l es s s afe. Befo re

t ri al

, t h e St at e n o t i fi ed Gi b b s t hat i t i n t en ded t o i n t ro du ce ev i d en ce o f h i s p ri o r DUI

co n vi ct i o n

. Defen s e co u n sel di d n o t ob ject t o t h e ad m i ss i o n o f t h i s ev i d en ce. 2 At t ri al

,

a Co b b Co u n t y p ol i ce o ffi cer t es t i fi ed t h at h e s t o pp ed Gi b b s aft er s eei n g h i m weav i n g

o n I-7 5 l at e o n e n i g ht i n 2 0 0 9; t h at h e s m el l ed al co h ol o n Gi b b s ’ s p ers o n b u t Gi bb s

d en ied dri n k i n g ; t h at he ad m i n i s t ered t h e HGN tes t

, wh i ch s h o wed s ix o u t o f s i x cl u es

2 Co u n s el i n i t i al l y as k ed t h e co u rt t o res t ri ct t h e St at e fro m m en t i o n i n g t h e p ri o r

co n v i c t i o n i n op en i n g s t at em en t s “ s i n ce t he s i m i l ar t ran s act io n o ffi cer i s n o t h ere

y et

, ” bu t co u n s el s t i p ul at ed t o t he ad m i s s i b i l i t y o f t h e ev i d en ce aft er l earn i n g t h at t h e

o ffi cer was p res en t i n co u rt

.

3o f im

p ai rm en t ; t h at Gi b bs ag reed t o t ak e a p o rt ab l e b reat h t es t

, wh i ch s h o wed h e h ad

b een dri n k i n g ; an d th at Gi b b s l at er co n s en t ed t o a s t at e-ad m i n i s t ered In t ox i ly zer tes t

o f h i s b reat h

, w h i ch g av e a read i n g o f .1 1 0

. Gi b b s was arres t ed an d l at er p led g ui l t y

t o DUI. A cert i fi ed co p y

o f t h e co n v i ct i o n was en t ered i n t o ev id en ce.

Gi b b s to o k t he s t an d i n h i s o wn d efen s e. He ag ai n cl ai m ed t h at h e h ad n o t b een

d ri n k i n g o n th e n i g ht o f Ap r i l 2 0

, 2 0 1 4 an d t h at t h e acci den t h ad o ccu rred b ecau s e

h e s werv ed t o av o i d a d eer. H e al s o s t at ed th at h e h ad a “ l azy ey e” t h at “ wan d er[ed ] ,”

b u t h e offered no p ro o f t h at th es e co n d i t i o ns w o u ld h av e affect ed h i s p erfo rm an ce o n

t h e HGN t es t

. He tes ti fi ed th at h e refu s ed t o t ak e t he p o rt ab l e b reat h t es t b ecau s e h e

“ d i dn ’ t feel t h at [h e] n eed ed t o . [He] was n ’ t d ri nk i n g .”

Th e ju ry fo u n d G i b b s g u i l t y o f b o t h ch arg es

. H e l at er fi l ed a m o t i o n fo r n ew

t ri al

, m ak i n g t h e s am e a r g u m en t s h e m ak es h ere – t h at t h e t ri al co urt erred by

ad m i t t i ng t h e ev i d en ce o f h is p ri o r DUI an d t h at h i s t ri al co u n s el was i neffect i v e fo r

fai l i n g t o o b

ject t o t hat ev i d en ce u nd er OCGA § 2 4-4

- 40 3 (“ Ru l e 4 0 3 ”). T h e t ri al

c o u r t d en i ed t h e m ot io n , ru l i n g t h at t h e p ri o r DUI was ad m i s si b l e u n d er OC G A § §

2 4 -4 -4 0 4 (b ) (“ Ru l e 4 0 4 (b )”) an d 2 4 -4 -4 1 7 (“ Ru l e 41 7 ”) an d t hat i t w as n ot u n d u l y

p reju d i ci al u n d er Ru l e 4 0 3

. Gi b b s ap p eal s

.

41

. It i s u n di s p u t ed t h at Gi b b s ’ s t ri al co u n s el d i d n o t o b ject t o t h e ad m i s s i o n o f

ev i d en ce co ncern in g t he p ri o r DUI. T h erefo re, Gi b b s wai ved an y o b je ct i o n t o t h e

a d m i s s i b i l i t y o f t h at ev i d en ce. See Jo h n s o n v. S t a t e , 2 7 6 Ga. Ap p

. 50 5

, 5 09 (3 ) (a)

(6 2 3 SE2 d 7 0 6) (2 0 0 5 ) (“ a d efen d an t wai v es an o b j ect i on t o s i m i l ar t ran s act i o n

ev i d en ce b y

n o t p ro t es t i ng i t s i n t ro d u ct i o n at t ri al ”).

2

. Gi b b s al s o ar g u e s t h at h i s t ri al co u n s el ren d ered i neffect i v e as s i s t an ce by

fai l i n g t o o b

j ect t o ev i d en ce o f t h e p ri o r DUI. To prev ai l o n a c l a i m o f i n effect i v e

as s i s t a n c e o f t ri al co un s el

, t h e d efen d an t m u st s h o w t h at hi s l awy er’ s p erfo rm an ce

was defi ci en t an d th at h e w as p reju d i ced b y t h e defi ci en t p erfo rm an ce. A i ken s v.

S t a t e , 2 9 7 Ga. 2 2 9, 2 3 1 (3 ) (7 7 3 SE2 d 2 2 9 ) (2 0 15 ). Becau s e “ [t ] here i s n o d efi ci en t

p erfo rm an ce wh en an at t o rn ey fai l s t o ob ject t o ad m i s s i b l e ev i d en ce,” i d

., q u o t i n g

Per er a v

. S t a t e , 2 9 5 Ga. 8 8 0

, 8 8 4

– 8 8 5 (3 ) (b ) (7 6 3 SE2 d 6 8 7 ) (2 0 1 4) (ci t at i o n an d

p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed ), we beg i n b y ad d res s in g wh et h er t he ev i d en ce i n qu es t i o n was

ad m i s s i b l e.

Ru l e 4 1 7, en act ed i n 20 1 1 as p art o f Geo rg i a’ s n ew Ev i d en ce Co d e, 3 p ro v i d es

i n rel ev an t p art t h at i n D U I p r o s ecu t i o n s , ev i den ce t h at t h e accu s ed co m m i t t ed

an o th er DUI o n a d i fferen t o ccas i o n “ s h al l ” b e ad m i s s i b l e wh en “ [ t ] h e accu s ed

3 See S t a t e v. Fr o s t , 2 9 7 Ga. 2 9 6, 2 9 9 (7 7 3 SE2 d 7 00 ) (2 0 1 5).

5refu sed i n t h e cu rren t cas e t o t ak e t he s tat e a d m i n i s t ered t es t req ui red

. . . an d s u ch

ev i d en ce i s rel ev an t t o p ro v e k n o wl ed g e, p l an , o r ab s en ce o f m i s t ak e o r acci d en t .”

OC G A § 2 4 -4 -4 1 7 (a) (1 ). Bas ed o n t h e pres en ce o f t h e w ord s h a l l

, t h e Su p rem e

Co u rt co n cl u d ed th at Ru l e 4 1 7 “ co n t ai n s a p res u m p t i o n i n fav o r of t h e ad m i s s i o n o f

s u ch ev i d en ce.” (Ci t at io n o m it t ed

. ) S t at e v. F ro s t

, 29 7 Ga. at 7 0 4. Th e Co u rt fu rt h er

ru l ed t h at ev i d en ce o f a pri or DUI “ co ul d s t ren g t h en t he i n feren ce t h at t h e fact fi n d er

co u ld d raw fro m [t h e accu s ed ’ s ] refu s al t o t ak e t h e s t at e-ad m in i s t ered t es t th i s t i m e,

t h at h ad h e d o n e s o , it w ou l d h av e s h o wn t h e p res en ce of al co h ol .” Mo n r oe v. S t a t e ,

3 4 0 G a. Ap p. 3 7 3 (2 ) (_

_ SE2 d

_ _ ) (Cas e No

. A1 6 A1 9 3 2

, d eci ded Feb ru ary 2 3,

2 0 1 7 ), ci t i ng Fr o st , 2 9 7 Ga. at 3 0 4

.

Sp eci fi cal l y , p ro o f of Gi bb s ’ s p ri o r D UI co u l d al l o w t h e fact fi n d er t o i n fer t h at

[Gi b b s ] had an awaren es s t h at h i s i n g es t i o n of an in to x ican t i m p ai red h i s

ab i l i t y t o d ri v e s afel y

. Su ch awaren es s , i n tu r n , w o u l d o ffer an

ex p l an at i on fo r wh y [Gi bb s ] refu s ed th e t es t o n t h i s o ccas i o n , n am el y ,

t h at he w as co n s ci o u s o f h i s g u i l t an d k n ew t h at t h e t es t r e s u l t s l i k el y

wo u ld ten d t o sh o w t h at he was , i n fact

, u n d er t h e i n fl u en ce of [al co h o l ]

.

Fr o st

, 2 9 7 Ga. at 3 0 5

, c i t i n g S t a t e v. Jo n es , 2 9 7 Ga. 1 5 6

, 1 5 9 (2 ) (7 7 3 SE2 d 1 7 0 )

(2 0 1 5). Ev id en ce o f t h e p ri or DUI al s o co u l d s h o w t h at Gi b b s

6h ad acq ui red k n o w l ed g e ab o u t th e m e a n s b y wh i ch l aw en fo rcem en t

o ffi cers d e t e r m i n e wh et h er an d t o wh at ex t en t a d ri v er i s u nd er th e

i n fl u en ce o f an i n t o x i can t

, an d s u ch awaren es s l i k ewi s e m i g h t h el p t o

ex p l ai n a refu s al i n t h e p res en t cas e t o s ub m i t t o a t es t

.

Fr o st

, 2 9 7 Ga. at 3 0 5

. Acco rd i n g ly

, t h e ev i d en ce of Gi b bs ’ s p ri o r DUI was

ad m i s s i b l e u n d er Ru l e 4 1 7

. 4

Gi b b s arg u es t hat ev en i f h i s pri o r DUI was ad m i s si bl e u n d er Ru l e 41 7

, co u n s el

n ev e rt h el es s was i n effect i ve fo r fai l i n g t o o b ject t h at t h e ev i den ce was u n d u l y

p reju d i ci al u n d er Ru l e 4 03

. Ru le 4 0 3 p ro v i d es , p ert i n en t l y , th at “ [r] el ev an t ev i d en ce

m ay b e ex cl u d ed i f i t s p ro b at i v e v al ue i s s u b s tan t i al l y o ut w ei g h ed b y t h e d an g er o f

u n fai r p reju d ice.” In F

r o s t

, th e Su p rem e Co u rt ex p l i ci t l y d ecl in ed t o ad d res s wh et h er

e v i d en ce o t h erwi s e ad m i s s i b l e u n d er Ru l e 4 17 m ay b e ex cl ud ed as t o o preju d i c i a l

u n d er Ru l e 4 0 3 :

W e h av e n o o ccas i o n i n th i s cas e t o deci d e wh et h er Ru le 4 0 3 ap p l ies t o

ev i d e n ce t h at “ s h al l be ad m i s s i b l e” u n der Ru l e 4 1 7

. Th e Co u rt o f

Ap p eal s d i d n o t b as e i t s d eci si o n o n Ru l e 4 0 3

, an d t h e p art i es d o n o t

4 Hav i n g fo u n d t h at t he ev i den ce was ad m i ss i bl e u n d er Ru le 4 1 7

, we n eed n ot

c o ns i der wh et h er i t al s o m ay h av e b een ad m i s s i b l e un d er Ru l e 4 0 4 (b ), wh i ch

p ro v id es t h at ev i d en ce o f “ o t h er cri m es , wro ng s , o r act s ” m ay b e ad m i s s i b l e t o s h o w

“ p ro o f o f m o t i v e, op p o rt u n it y , i n t en t

, p rep a r a t i o n , p lan

, k n o wl ed g e, i d en t i t y , o r ab s en ce o f m i s t ak e o r acci d en t.”

7m ak e an y arg u m en t ab o u t R u le 4 0 3 i n t h ei r b ri efs

. Acco rd in g l y , we

l eav e q u es t i o n s ab o u t th e ex t en t to wh i ch Ru l e 4 0 3 ap p l i es t o Ru l e 4 1 7

ev i d en ce fo r an o t h er d ay

.

2 9 7 Ga. at 3 0 1 -3 0 2 n.6

. Th o s e q u es t i o n s rem ai n o p en , as n ei t h er t h i s Co u rt n o r t h e

Su p rem e Co u rt h as y et d et erm i n ed wh et h er Ru l e 4 0 3 ap p li es t o Ru l e 4 1 7

.

In Ki m v. S t a t e , 33 7 Ga. Ap p

. 1 5 5 (7 8 6 SE2 d 5 3 2 ) (2 0 16 ), d eci d ed aft er Fr os t

,

t h e d efen d an t arg u ed o n ap p eal t h at t h e t ri al co u rt h ad erred b y ad m it t in g e v i d e n ce

o f hi s p ri o r DUI co n v i ct i o n un d er Ru l e 4 1 7 b ecau s e “ t h e fact s o f t h e p ri o r co n v i ct i o n

w e r e m o re p reju d i ci al t h an p ro b at i v e u n d er Ru l e 4 0 3 .” Id

. at 15 7

. W e p res u m e d

wi t h o u t d eci d i n g t h at Ru l e 4 0 3 ap p l i ed t o ev i den ce ad m i s s i b l e u n d er Ru l e 4 1 7 , b ut

we co n cl u d ed t h at th e t ri al co urt h ad p r o p e r l y a d m i t t ed t h e p ri or co n v i ct io n

. Id

. at

1 5 7 -1 5 8

. As we di d i n Ki m , we wi l l as s u m e wi t h o u t d e c i d i ng h ere t h at Ru l e 4 0 3

ap p li es t o Ru l e 4 1 7

. A cco rd i n g l y , we t u rn t o t h e q u es t i o n o f w h e t h er t h e fai l u re o f

Gi b bs ’ s t ri al co u n sel t o m ak e a Ru l e 4 0 3 o bject i o n co n s ti t ut ed d efi ci en t p erfo rm an ce.

Ru l e 4 0 3 [i s ] an ex t rao rd i n ar y r e m ed y wh i ch t h e co u rt s s h o u l d

i n v o k e s p ari n g l y , an d t h e b al an ce s h ou l d b e s t ru c k i n f av o r o f

ad m i s s i b i l i t y

. Ob v io us l y , t h e reas o n fo r s u ch cau t i o n i s t h at rel ev an t

ev i d en ce i n a cri m i n al t ri al i s i n h ere n t ly p reju d i ci al

, an d, as a res u l t

, Ru l e 4 0 3 p erm i ts ex cl u s i o n o n l y wh en un fai r p reju d i c e su b s t an t i al l y

o u t wei g h s pro bat i v e v al ue. Th e p ri m ary f u n c t i o n o f Ru l e 4 0 3

, t hen

, i s

8t o ex cl u d e ev i d en ce o f s can t o r cu m u lat i v e pro b at i v e fo rce, d rag g ed i n

b y t h e h eel s fo r t h e s ak e o f i t s p reju d i ci al effect

.

(Pu n ct u at i on an d fo o t n o t es o m i t t ed .) Wi l l i a m s v

. S t a t e , 3 2 8 G a. Ap p. 8 7 6

, 8 7 9 (1 )

(7 6 3 SE2 d 2 6 1 ) (2 01 4 ). A t ri al co u rt h as “ co n s id erab l e d i s cret i o n i n d et erm i n i n g

wh et h er t h e p o t en t i a l fo r p reju d i ce s u b s t an t i al l y o ut wei g h s an y p ro b at iv e v al u e.”

Mo s s v. St a t e , 2 9 8 Ga. 61 3

, 6 1 8 (5 ) (b ) (7 8 3 SE2 d 6 5 2 ) (2 0 1 6 ); s ee al s o O l ds v. S t a t e ,

2 9 9 Ga. 6 5

, 7 0 (2 ) (7 8 6 SE2 d 63 3 ) (2 0 1 6 ) (“ [t ] h e ap p l i cat i o n o f th e Ru l e 4 0 3 t es t i s

a m at t er co m

m i t t ed p ri n ci p al l y

t o t h e d i s cret i o n o f t h e t ri al co u rt s ”).

In i t s o rd er d e ny i n g Gi bb s ’ s m o t i o n fo r n ew t ri al

, t h e t ri al co u rt ru l ed t h at

Gi b bs ’ s p ri o r DUI was “ p ro p erl y i n t ro d uced b y t h e St at e t o s h o w k no wl ed g e o r

awaren es s o n [Gi b b s ’ s ] p art ,” was n o t o ffered s o l el y fo r i t s p reju d i ci al effect

, an d was

n o t m erel y o f “ s can t o r cu m u l at i v e” p ro b at i ve v al ue. T h u s , t he co urt co n cl ud ed t h at

ev en i f co u n sel h ad l o d g ed a Ru l e 4 0 3 o b ject i o n t o t h e ev i d en ce, s u c h o b j ect i o n

“ wo u l d n o t h av e b o rn e fru i t .” W e ag ree t h at t h e p ri o r DUI was h i g h l y p ro b at i v e o f

t h e reas o n s fo r Gi b b s ’ s refu s al o f t h e p o r t ab l e b reat h an d s t at e-ad m in i s t ered b l o o d

t es t s b ecau s e i t t en d ed t o sh o w h i s k no wl ed ge o f t h e effect s o f al co h o l co ns u m p t i o n

o n h i s dri v i n g an d o f l aw en fo rcem en t ’ s u s e o f tes t in g t o d e t e rm i n e i m pai rm en t

.

Fu rt h er, th e t ri al co u rt d i d n o t ab u s e i t s d i s cre t i o n b y co n cl u di n g t h at th e ev i d en ce

9wo u l d h av e s u r v i v e d a Ru l e 4 0 3 o b ject i o n b ecau s e i t s p ro b at i v e v al u e was n ot

s u b s t an t i al l y o u t wei g h e d b y t he d an g er o f u nfai r p reju d i ce. Tri al co u n s el was n ot

i n effect i v e fo r fai l i n g t o m ak e a n ev id en t i ary o bject i o n t hat wo u l d n o t h av e

s u cceed ed . See P er er a , 2 95 Ga. at 8 8 4 -8 8 5 (3 ) (b ).

Ju d g men t a f f i r m ed . McMi l l i a n a n d

Mer ci er , JJ., co n cu r

.

10