THI RD DI VI SI ON

ELLI NGTON, P. J.

, DI LLA RD and M C FA DDEN, 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 14, 2015



# I n th e Co u r t o f

A p p eals o f

G eo r g ia

A1 5 A1 44 2 . BARGHI v

. THE STATE.

D I LLA R D , J u dg e.

Fo l l owi n g a b en ch tri al

, Gl o ri a Barg h i was co n v ict ed o f dri v i n g u n d er t h e

i n fl u en ce o f al co ho l t o t h e ex t en t i t was l es s s afe fo r h er to d o s o (DUI l es s s afe),

d ri v i ng u n d er t h e i n fl uen ce o f al co h ol wi t h an ex ces s i v e b l o o d -al co h o l co n cen t rat i o n

(DUI p er s e), an d fai lu re t o ob ey a traffi c-co nt ro l d ev i ce. On ap p eal

, Barg h i co n t en d s

t h at t h e t ri al co u rt erred i n d en y i n g h er p l ea i n b ar, in wh i ch s h e c l a i m e d t h at h er

p ro s ecu ti o n fo r t h e DUI ch arg es was b arred b y t h e st at ut e o f l i m it at io n

. Barg h i al s o

m ai n t ai n s t hat t h e co u rt erred i n p ro ceed i ng wi t h t ri al d es p i t e t he fact t h at s h e was n ot

arrai g n ed aft er t h e St at e am en d ed t h e accu sat i on s , an d i n fi n d i n g t h at t h e St at e

p res en t ed s u ffi ci en t ev i d en ce t hat i ts p ro s ecu t i o n was no t t i m e-b arred b y co n s i d eri n g

ev i d en ce fro m t h e p l ea i n b ar du ri ng t ri al

. Fo r t h e reas o n s s et fo rt h i n f r a , we affi rm

.Vi ewed i n t h e l i gh t m o s t fav o rab l e t o t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s fi n d i n g s an d ju d g m en t

, 1

t h e ev i d en ce s h o ws t h at at ap p ro x i m at el y 2 : 0 0 a.m

. o n No v em b er 5

, 20 1 1, a Ci ty o f

Ro s wel l p o l i ce o ffi cer o b serv ed Barg h i’ s v eh i cl e t rav el in g n o rt h bo u n d i n t h e cen t er

l an e of a t h ree-l an e rev ers i b l e h i g h way

. Bu t at t h at t i m e o f n i g ht

, t he o v erh ead t raffi cco n tro l d ev i ce reg u l at i n g t raffi c fl o w cl earl y i n d i cat ed wi t h a red “ X” t h at n o rt h b o u n d

t raffi c was p ro h i b i ted fro m u s in g t h e cen t er l an e. T h e o ffi cer, t h erefo re, f o l l o wed

Barg h i ’ s v eh i cl e an d i n i t i at ed a t raffi c s t o p aft er s h e c o n t i n u ed t rav el i ng i n t h e

p ro h ib i t ed l an e.

Up o n s t op p i n g Barg h i

, t h e o ffi cer ap p ro ach ed h er v eh i cl e an d i m m ed i at el y

d et ect ed an al co h o l i c-b ev erag e o d o r. Th e o ffi cer al s o n o ti ced th at Barg h i ’ s ey es were

g l as s y an d b l o o d sh o t

. Co n seq u en t l y , t he offi cer h ad Barg h i p e r fo rm s ev eral fi el d

s o b ri et y t es t s (al l o f wh i ch i nd i cat ed i m pai rm en t ), an d al so ad m i ni s t ered an al co

s en s o r breat h tes t, wh i ch ret u rn ed a p o s i ti v e res u l t fo r al c o h o l

. T h e o ffi cer t h en

arres t ed Barg h i fo r DUI, read h er t he i m p l i ed -co n s en t n o t i ce, 2 t ran s p o rt ed h er t o t h e

p o l i ce s t at i on , an d ad m in i s t ered a b reat h t es t

, wh i c h i ndic at ed a b l o o d-al co h o l co n t en t

o f 0 .1 2 5

.

1 S ee Ha mmo n t

v. S t a t e , 3 0 9 Ga. Ap p . 3 9 5 , 3 96 (7 1 0 SE2 d 5 9 8 ) (2 0 1 1 ).

2 S ee OCGA § 4 0 -5 -6 7 .1 (b ) (2 ).

2On Oct o b er 2

, 20 1 3

, t h e St at e ch arg ed Barg h i

, v i a accu s at io n s , w i th o n e co u nt

o f d ri vi n g u n d er t h e i n fl u en ce o f al co h o l t o t h e ex t en t th at it was l es s s afe fo r h er to

d o so (DUI l es s s afe), 3 al l eg i n g t h at Barg hi “ d i d o n o r ab o u t 1 1 / 5 / 20 1 1 d ri v e o r h av e

p h y s i cal co n t ro l of a m ov i n g v eh i cl e wh i l e u n d er t h e in fl uen ce o f al co h o l t o t h e

ex t en t i t was l es s s afe”; o n e co u n t o f d ri vi n g u n d er t h e i n fl u en ce o f al co h o l wi t h an

ex ces s i v e b l o od -al co h o l co n cen t rat i o n (DUI p er s e), 4 al l eg i n g t h a t s h e “ d i d o n o r

ab o ut 1 1 / 5 / 2 0 1 1 dri v e o r h av e co n t ro l o f a m o v i n g v eh i cl e wi t h an al co h ol

co n cen t rat io n o f 0 .0 8 g ram s o r m o re”; an d on e c o u n t o f f ai l u re t o o bey a t raffi cco n tro l dev i ce. 5 Su b s eq u en t l y , o n Decem b er 27

, 2 01 3

, Barg h i wai v ed arrai g n m en t

an d p l ead ed n ot g u il t y t o t h e ch arg es

. On t hat s am e d ay , s he al s o fi l ed g en eral an d

s p eci al d em

u rrers t o t h e accu s at i o n s

.

On J an u ary 6

, 2 0 1 4

, t h e St at e s l i g ht l y am en d ed t h e t wo DUI co u n t s i n t h e

accu s at i on s

. Sp eci fi cal l y , in b o t h co u n t s , t h e l an gu ag e al leg i n g th at Barg h i di d “ d ri v e

o r h av e co n t ro l o f a m o v i n g v eh i cl e” was ch an g ed t o al leg e m o re s u cci n ct l y t h at s h e

d i d “ d ri v e a m o v i n g v eh icl e.” Ap p ro x i m at el y o n e m o nt h l at er, Barg h i fi l ed a p l ea in

3 S ee OCGA § 4 0 -6 -3 9 1 (a) (1 ).

4 S ee OCGA § 4 0 -6 -3 9 1 (a) (5 ).

5 S ee OCGA § 4 0 -6 -2 0 (a).

3b ar, arg u in g t h at t h e St at e’ s p ro s ecu t i o n o n t h e DUI co un t s was t i m e-b arred b ecau s e

t h e am en d ed accu s at i o ns were fi l ed aft er t h e ap p l i cab le t wo -y ear s t at u t e o f l i m i t at i o n

h ad ex p i red

. 6 On Feb ru ary 7 , 2 0 1 4

, t h e t ri al co u rt co n d u ct ed a h eari n g o n t h e i s s ue.

An d nearl y t en d ay s l at er, t h e co u rt i s s u ed an o rd er, fi n di n g t h at t h e am en d ed ch arg es

were n o t t i m e-b arred an d , t h u s, d en y i ng Barg hi ’ s p l ea i n b ar.

Th e cas e t h en p ro ceed ed t o a b en ch t ri al

, d u ri n g wh ich on l y t h e a r r e s t i n g

o ffi cer tes t ifi ed

. In fact

, Barg h i p res en t ed n o ev i d en ce i n h er d efen se, b u t a f t e r t h e

St at e res t ed

, s h e rei t erat ed h er arg u m en t t h at th e am en d ed accu s at i o ns were fi l ed aft er

t h e s t at ut e o f l i m i t at i o n ex p i red an d

, t h erefo re, t h e St at e’ s pro s ecu t i o n o f t h o s e co u n t s

was t i m e-b arred

. Barg h i fu rt h er arg u ed t h at

, reg ard l es s o f wh et h er her p l ea i n b ar was

p ro p erl y d en i ed

, t h e St at e fai l ed t o p res en t an y ev i den ce at t r i a l th at i t s p ro s ecu t i o n

was n o t b arred b y th e st at u t e o f l i m it at i o n

. Un p ers u ad ed

, t h e t ri al co u rt res p on d ed t h at

ev i d en ce o f t he St at e’ s co m p li an ce was s uffi ci en t l y p res en t ed d u ri n g th e h eari n g o n

Barg h i ’ s p l ea i n b ar, o v er wh i ch t h e s am e t ri al ju d g e h ad al s o p res i d ed

, an d t h ereaft er,

t h e co u rt fo u n d Barg h i gu i l t y o n al l t h ree co u n t s

. Su bs eq uen t l y , Barg h i fi l ed a m o t i o n

fo r n ew t ri al , wh i ch t h e t ri al co u rt d en i ed . Th i s ap p eal fo l l o ws

.

6 S ee fo rm er O CGA § 1 7 -3 -1 (d ) (2 0 1 1) (“ Pro secu t i o n fo r m i s d em ean o rs m u s t
b e co m m en ced wi t hi n t wo y ears aft er t h e co m m i s si on o f t h e cri m e.”).

41

. Barg h i fi rs t co nt en d s t h at t h e t r i a l c o u rt erred i n d en y in g h er pl ea i n b ar,

arg u i n g t h at t h e p ro secu t io n o n t h e DUI co u n t s w as t i m e-b arred becau s e t h e St at e

f i l e d t h e am en d ed accu s at i o n s aft er th e ex p i rat i o n o f t h e s t at u t e o f l i m i tat i o n

. W e

d i s ag ree.

As p rev io u s l y no t ed

, u nd er fo rm er OCGA § 1 7 -3 -1 (d ), wh ich was ap p l i cab l e

at t h e ti m e of Barg h i ’ s arres t

, 7 t h e “ [p ] ro s ecu t i o n fo r a m i s d em ean o r m u s t b e

co m m en ced wi t hi n t w o y ears aft er t h e o ffen s e was co m m i tt e d .” An d a p ro s ecu t i o n

i s co n s i d e r e d t o c o nt in u e u nt i l t h ere h as b een a fi n al d i s po s i t i on of th e cas e. 8

Im p o rt an t l y , OCGA § 1 7 -7 -7 1 (f) p ro v i d es t h at “ [p ] ri or t o t ri al

, t h e p ro s ecu t i n g

at t o rn ey m ay am en d t h e accu s at i o n , s u m m o n s , o r an y ci t at i o n t o al l eg e o r t o ch an g e

t h e al l eg at i o n s reg ard i n g an y o ffen s e ari si ng ou t o f t h e s am e co n d u ct of t he d efen d an t

wh i ch g a v e r i s e t o an y o ffen s e al l eg ed or at t em p t ed t o b e al l eg ed in t h e o ri g i n al

7 Effect i v e Ju l y 1

, 2 0 1 2, t h e st at u t e was am en d ed s u ch t h at fo rm er s u b s ect i o n (d ) b ecam e s ub s ect i o n (e), wh i ch n o w p ro v i d es th at “ [p ] ro s ecu ti o n fo r m i s d em ean o rs

s h al l b e co m

m en ced w i th i n t wo y ears aft er t h e co m m i s s i o n o f t h e cri m e.” Th u s , in

ad d it i o n t o t h e s u b s ect i o n, t he o n l y o th er ch an g e was t h e rep l acem en t o f “ m us t ” wi th

“ s h al l .” S ee Ga. L. 2 01 2 , Act 7 0 9 , § 4 -1

.

8 S ee OCGA § 16 -1 -3 (1 4 ) (“ ‘ Pro s ecu ti o n ’ m ean s al l l eg al p ro ceed i n g s by

wh i ch a p ers o n’ s l i ab i li t y fo r a cri m e is d et erm i n ed , co m m en ci n g wi t h t h e ret u rn o f

t h e i n d i c t m en t o r t h e fi l i n g o f t h e accu sat i on , an d i n cl u di n g t he fi n al d i s po s i t i o n o f

t h e cas e u p o n ap p eal

. ”).

5accu s at i on , s u m m o n s , o r ci t at i o n .” Fu rt h erm o re, wh et h er a n am en d m en t t o an

a c c u s a t i o n o r i n d i ct m en t aft er ex p i rat i o n o f th e s t at ut e o f l i m i t at io n b ro ad en s o r

s u b s t an t i al l y

am en d s t h e o ri g i n al ch arg e i s u nd o u b t ed l y an i s s u e o f l aw. 9

Here, as m en t i o n ed s up r a , Barg h i was arres t ed fo r D UI o n No v em ber 5

, 2 0 1 1,

an d t h e St at e ch arg e d h e r , vi a accu s at io n s , o n Oct o b er 2

, 2 0 1 3

. Th u s , t h e St at e

co m m en ced p ro s ecu ti o n o f Barg h i o n t h e DUI ch arg es p ri o r t o t h e ex p i rat i o n o f t h e

ap p li cab l e t wo -y ear s t at u t e o f li m i t at i o n

. 1 0 On J an u ary 6

, 2 0 1 4

, m o re t h an a m o n th

b efo re th e s t art o f Barg h i ’ s t ri al

, t h e St at e fi led accu s at io n s am en d in g t he t wo DUI

co u nt s

. Bu t t h e am en d ed accu s a t i o n s g av e t h e sam e d at e o f t h e o ffen s es as t h e

o ri g i nal accu s at i o n , were b as ed o n t h e s am e co n d u ct

, an d

, i n d eed

, m ad e o n l y s l i g ht

ch an ges t o t h e wo rd i n g o f t h e al l eg at i o ns , al t eri n g “ d ri v e o r h av e ph y s i cal co n t ro l o f

a m o v i n g v eh icl e” t o “ d ri ve a m o v i n g veh i cl e.” T hu s , t h e am en d ed accu sat i o n s d id

not c om m en ce a n ew p ro s ecu ti o n , b u t rat h er, co n s ti t u t ed a co n t i n u at i o n o f t h e o ri gina l

9 See Lee v. S t a te

, 2 8 9 Ga. 9 5

, 9 6 (7 0 9 SE 2d 76 2 ) (2 0 1 1 ); a cco rd W o o t en v. S t a t e , 2 4 0 Ga. Ap p

. 7 2 5 , 7 2 6 (2 ) (5 2 4 SE2 d 7 7 6 ) (1 9 99 ).

1 0 S ee fo rm er OCGA § 1 7 -3 -1 (d ).

6p ro s ecu ti o n

. Acco rd i n gl y , t h e tri al co u rt d id n o t err i n d en y i n g Barg h i’ s p l ea i n b ar

o n t h e g ro u n d t h at t h e s t at u te o f l i m it at i on fo r t h e t wo am en ded DUI co un t s ex p i red

. 1 1

2

. Barg h i al s o co n t en d s t h at t h e t ri al co u rt erred in p ro ceed i n g wi t h t ri al d es p i t e

t h e fact t h at s he w as n o t arrai g n ed aft er t he St at e am en d ed t he accu s at i o n s

. A g ai n , we

d i s ag ree.

As p rev i o u sl y no t ed

, o n Decem b er 2 7

, 2 0 1 3

, Barg hi wai v ed arrai g n m en t t o t h e

ch arg es i n t h e o ri gi n al accu s at i o n s

. Aft er t h e accu sat i o n s were am en ded

, t h e St at e

n ev er s o u g h t re-ar rai g n m en t

. A t t ri al

, Barg h i o b ject ed t o t h i s fai l ure an d rei terat es t h i s

o b ject i on o n ap p eal

. Ho wev er, as d i s cu s s ed in Di v i s i o n 1

, s u p r a , u n d er OCGA § 1 7

-

7

- 7 1 ( f ), t h e pro s ecu ti o n m ay am en d an accu s at i o n at an y t im e p ri o r t o t r i a l

.

M o reo v er, Barg h i ci t es no au th o ri t y fo r t h e arg um en t t h at a m i n o r am en d m en t t o an

accu s at i on , as o ccu rred h ere, req u i res t h e St at e t o arrai g n a d efen dan t a s eco n d t i m e. 1 2

1 1 S ee P r i nd l e v. S t a t e , 24 0 Ga. Ap p. 4 6 1

, 46 1 -6 2 (1 ) (5 23 SE2 d 4 4 ) (1 9 9 9 ) (h o l d i n g t h at d efen d an t ’ s pro secu t i o n o n D UI ch arg es was no t t i m e-b arred ev en

t h o u g h am en d ed accu s at i o n s w ere fi l ed m o r e t h an t wo y ears aft er o ffen s es were

co m m i t t ed

, b ecau s e o ri g i n al ci t at i o n s p ert ai n in g t o t h e s am e o ffen s e s a n d co n d u ct

were fi led pri or t o th e s t a t u t e o f l i m i t at i o n ’ s ex p i rat i o n ); Th o ma s v. St a t e , 2 3 3 Ga. Ap p . 2 2 4 , 2 2 5 (1 ) (5 0 4 SE2 d 5 9 ) (1 99 8 ) (s am e).

1 2 S e e V a n o r s d a l l v. S ta te

, 2 4 1 Ga. Ap p

. 8 7 1

, 8 7 4-7 5 (2 ) (a) (5 2 8 SE2 d 3 1 2 ) (2 0 0 0) (h o l d i n g t h at fi l i n g o f am en d ed accu s at io n t h at d i d n o t s et fo rt h n ew o r d i fferen t ch arg e d id n o t req ui re St at e t o a r r a i g n d efen d an t a seco n d t i m e b efo re

p ro ceed in g t o t ri al ). Cf

. S mi t h v. S t a t e , 2 7 9 Ga. 3 9 6

, 3 9 9 (3 ) (6 14 SE2 d 7 9 ) (2 0 0 5 )

7T h u s , t h e t ri al co u rt d i d n o t err i n den y i n g Barg hi ’ s o b j ect i o n reg ard i n g t h e l a c k o f

a s eco n d arrai gn m en t an d p ro ceed i n g wi t h t ri al

. 1 3

3

. Barg hi fu rt h er co n t en d s t h at th e t ri al co u rt erred in fi n d i ng t hat t h e St at e

p res en t ed s u ffi ci en t ev i d en ce t h at i t s p ro s ecu t i o n was n o t t i m e-b arred by co n s i d eri n g

ev i d en ce p res en t ed d u ri n g t h e h eari n g o n h er p lea i n b ar. On ce ag ai n , we d i s ag ree.

Th i s Co u rt has p rev i ou s l y h el d t h at a p ret ri al ev i d en t i ary h eari n g o n a p l ea in

b ar b as ed u p o n t h e s t at u t e o f l i m i t at i o n i s a “ v ery effect i ve, fai r an d ex p ed ien t m et h o d

t o d eal wi t h l i m i tat io n p ro b l em s i n m an y cas e s

. ” 1 4 W e h av e fu rt h er ex p l ai n ed t h at

wh i le t he ap p l i cat i o n o f t h e s t at u t e o f l i m i t at io n can b e a j u ry q u es t i o n , t h e i s s u e can

al s o b e r e s o l v ed wi t h a p ret ri al ev i d en t iary h eari n g an d o rd er. 1 5 An d at t ri al

, t h e

b u rd en is un q u es t i on ab l y o n t h e S t a t e t o “ p ro ve th at a cri m e o ccu rred wi t h i n t h e

s t at u te o f l i m i t at i o n , or, if an ex cep t i o n t o t h e s t at u t e i s al l eg ed

, t o p ro v e t h at t h e cas e

(n o t i ng t h at b ecau s e am en d m en t o f th e accu s at i o n d i d n o t co n s t i t u t e t h e

co m m en cem en t o f a n ew p ro s ecu t i o n , t h e prev i o u s a r r a i g nm en t o f defen d an t was

s u ffi ci en t ).

1 3 S ee Va n o r s d al l , 2 4 1 Ga. Ap p . at 8 7 5 (2 ) (a).

1 4 S t a t e v. Tu z ma n , 1 4 5 Ga. Ap p. 4 8 1

, 4 8 3 (2 ) (2 4 3 SE2 d 67 5 ) (1 9 7 8 ),

a b r o ga t ed o n o th er g r ou n d s b y S t a t e v. Ou ten

, 2 8 9 Ga. 5 7 9, 5 81 (7 1 4 SE2 d 5 8 1 ) (2 0 1 1).

1 5 Tu z ma n , 1 4 5 Ga. Ap p . at 4 8 3 (2 ).

8p ro p erl y fal l s wi th i n t h e ex cep ti o n .” 1 6 N ev ert h el es s, i n Jen ki n s v. S t a t e , 1 7 t h e Su p rem e

Co u rt o f Geo rg ia no t ed t h at “ wh il e i t i s t ru e t h at an ex cep t i o n t o t h e s t at u t e o f

l i m i tat i on s m

u s t b e p l ed in t h e i n d i ct m en t i f t h e St at e i s rel y i n g o n o ne, th e s t at u t e o f

l i m i t a t i o n s i s n o t an el em en t o f t h e cri m e p er s e; i t i s fo un d i n T i t le 1 7 (Cri m i n a l

Pro ced ure) i n t h e ch ap t er en t i t l ed ‘ Li m it at i o n s on Pro s ecu ti o n .’ ” 1 8 Beari n g t h i s in

m i n d , t h e Su p rem e Co u rt fu rt h er ex p l ai n ed i n Jen ki n s t h at t h e p ro p er p ro ced u re fo r

l i ti g at i n g a p l ea i n b ar b as ed up o n t h e s t at u t e o f l i m i t at i o n s h o u l d b e an al og o u s t o a

p r e t r i a l Ja cks o n v. Den n o 1 9 h eari n g. 2 0 Sp eci fi cal l y , t h e Su p rem e Co u rt n o t ed t h at i f

a defen d an t p rev ai l s o n a pret ri al p l ea i n b ar o n t he s tat u t e o f l i m i t at i o n , “ t h e ch arg e

s h o u ld b e d i s m i s s ed ; i f t h e St at e p rev ai l s o n t h i s i s s ue b efo re t ri al

, t h e d efen d an t m ay

s t il l req u i re t he St at e t o p ro v e at t ri al t h at t h e ch arg e i s n o t barred b y t h e s t at u te o f

l i m i tat i on s

. ” 2 1

1 6 Lee , 2 8 9 Ga. at 9 7 (p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed ).

1 7 2 7 8 Ga. 5 9 8 (6 0 4 SE2 d 7 89 ) (2 0 0 4 ).

1 8 Id

. at 60 4 (1 ) (fo o t n o t e o m i t t ed ).

1 9 3 7 8 U.S. 3 6 8 (8 4 SCt 1 7 7 4 , 1 2 LE2 d 9 0 8 ) (1 9 6 4 ).

2 0 Jen ki n s , 2 7 8 Ga. at 6 0 4 (1 ).

2 1 Id

. (fo o tn o t e o m i t t ed ).

9In t h i s m a t t er, t h e t ri al co u rt h el d a h eari ng o n Barg h i ’ s p l ea i n b ar, i n wh i ch

t h e St at e p res en ted ev i d en ce an d arg u m en t t hat t h e o ri g i n al accu s at i o n s were fi l e d

p ri o r to t h e ex pi rat io n o f t h e s t at u t e o f li m i t at i o n an d t h a t p r o s e cu t i o n on t h e DUI

co u nt s i n t h e am en d ed accu s at i o n s , wh i ch were fi l ed aft er t h e s t at u t e’ s ex p i rat i o n,

was n ot t i m e-b arred b ecau s e t h e St at e was p erm i tt ed t o am en d t h e accu s at io n s at an y

t i m e p ri o r t o t ri al

. A t t r i a l

, aft er t h e St at e res t ed

, Barg hi p res en t ed n o ev i d en ce b ut

arg u ed

, y et ag ai n , t h at t h e St at e’ s am en d ed accu s at io n s were t i m e-b arred an d t h at t h e

St at e p res en t ed n o ev i d en ce to t h e co n t rary d u r i n g t r i al

. In reject i n g Barg h i ’ s l eg al

arg u m en t

, th e t ri al co u rt n o t ed t h at t h e s t at u t e-o f-l i m i t at i o n i s s u e h ad al read y b een

d eci d ed ag ai n s t Barg h i wh en i t d en i ed h er p l ea i n b ar, an d in i t s fi n al ju d g m en t

, t h e

co u rt in co rp o rat ed i t s d en ial o f t h e p lea i n b ar i n s u pp o rt o f i t s fi n d i n g t h at t h e St at e’ s

p ro s ecu ti o n was n o t t i m e-b arred

.

On ap p eal

, Barg h i reas s ert s t h at t h e S t a t e d i d n o t act u al l y p ro ve co m p l i an ce

wi t h t h e st at ut e of l i m it at i o n at t h e ben ch tri al an d t h at it was i m p r o p e r f o r t h e t ri al

co u rt t o co n s i d er ev i den ce pres en t e d d u r i n g t he h eari n g o n Barg h i ’ s p lea i n b ar in

s u p p ort o f i t s fi n d i ng t h at th e St at e’ s p ro s ecu t i o n was n o t t i m e-b arred

. W e are n ot

p ers u ad ed b y

t h i s arg u m en t

.

10C ont rary t o t h e s cen ari o co n t em p l at ed i n Jen ki n s , B a r ghi pr e se nte d no e vide nc e

d i s p u t i n g t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s earl i er ru l i n g t h at t he St at e’ s p ro s ecu t i o n was n o t b arred by

t h e s t at u te o f li m it at i o n 2 2 b u t

, rat h er, s i m p l y rei t erat ed her earl i er l e g a l a rg u m en t s

.

Fu rt h erm o re, an d al s o u n l i k e t he s cen ari o co n t em p l at ed i n Jen ki n s , Barg h i el ect ed to

wai v e h er ri g h t t o a ju ry t ri al an d i n s t ead pro ceed ed t o a ben ch t ri al wi t h t h e s am e

fi nd er o f fact wh o p res i d ed ov er h er p l ea i n b ar an d wh o h ad

, t h erefo re, al read y ru l ed

u p o n th e i d en t i cal arg u m en t s l es s t h an t wo week s earl ier. An d gi v en t h at t h e s t at u t e

o f l i m i t at i o n i s n o t an el em en t o f t h e cri m e per s e, 2 3 i t was p erfect l y ap p ro pri at e fo r

t h e t ri al co u rt

, as t h e t ri er o f fact

, t o rel y o n ev i d en ce t h at w a s a l read y a p art o f t h e

cas e reco rd

. 2 4 Acco rd in g l y , t h e t ri al co u rt d i d n o t err i n co n s i d eri n g ev i d en ce

2 2 See i d. (h o ld in g t hat “ i f t h e St at e p rev ai l s o n t h i s i s s ue b efo re t r i al

, t h e d efen d an t ma

y st i l l req u i re t he St at e t o p ro v e at t ri al t hat t h e ch arg e i s n o t b arred by

t h e s t at u t e o f l i m i t at i on s ” (em p h as i s s u pp l i ed )).

2 3 S ee i d

.

2 4 Cf

. S ch a f f v. S t a t e , 2 75 G a. Ap p

. 64 2

, 6 4 5 (3 ) (6 2 1 SE 2 d 5 9 5 ) ( 2 0 0 5 ) (h o l d i n g t h at “ a t ri al co u rt m ay t ak e ju d i ci al co g n izan ce o f reco rd s o n fi l e in i t s o wn

co u rt ” (p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed )); Jo n es v. S t a t e , 3 02 Ga. Ap p

. 1 4 7 , 1 5 0-5 1 (6 9 0 SE2 d

4 6 0 ) (2 0 1 0 ) (n o t i n g d i fferen ces b et ween a ju ry t ri al an d a b en ch t ri al , an d t h at wi th

a ju ry t ri al “ 1 2 p ers o n s [] s i t i n ju d g m en t

. . . , an d [] t h e p ro secu t o r [] b ear[s ] t h e b u rd en o f co n v i n ci n g each o n e o f t h e twel v e p ers o n s o f [t he d efen d an t ’ s ] g u i l t
b ey o n d a reas o n ab le d ou b t ,” an d t h at b y wai v in g t h e ri g h t t o a j u ry t ri al

, a d efen d an t

“ fo rfei t [s ] t h e v o i r d i re p ro ces s an d h i s ri g ht t o h av e t he 1 2 p ers o n s ch o s en t h ro u g h

t h at p ro ces s d eci d e h i s g ui l t o r i n n o cen ce, an d t h at th e ju d g e i n s t ead

. . . m ak [es ] t h at

11p res en t ed d u ri n g t h e p l ea in b ar t o s u p p o rt i t s fi nd i n g at a b en ch tri al t hat t h e St at e’ s

p ro s ecu ti o n was n o t t i m e-b arred

.

Fo r al l o f t h e fo reg o i n g reas o n s , we affi rm Barg h i ’ s co nv i ct i o n s

.

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 McFa d den , J., co ncu r

.

d e t e rm i n at i o n .”); Ho

p ki n s v. S ta t e , 20 9 Ga. Ap p

. 3 3 7

, 3 3 8 (4 3 3 SE2 d 4 2 3 ) (1 9 9 3 ) (p h y s i cal p reced en t o nl y ) (h o l di n g t hat “ i n a b en ch t ri al i t is p res u m ed t h at t h e ju d ge,

as t ri er o f fact

, i s ab l e t o d i s t i n g u i s h b et w een co m p et en t a n d i n c om

p et en t ev i d en ce

an d co n s i d er o n l y

t h at ev i d en ce wh i ch i s ad m i s s ib l e.”).

12