FI FTH DI VI SI ON

M C FA DDEN, C. J.

, M CM ILLI A N, P. J.

, and SENI OR A PPELLA TE JUDGE PHI PPS

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

Januar y 30, 2020



# I n th e Co u r t o f

A p p eals o f

G eo r g ia

A1 9 A2 15 1 . IN THE INTEREST OF P. T., a ch i l d

.

P H I P P S , Sen i o r Ap p el l at e J u d g e.

P

. T., a 1 5-y ear o l d m al e, ap p eal s fro m an Ad ju d i cat i o n Ord er fi n d i n g h i m

d el i n q u en t i n t wo cas es fo r h i s co m m i s s i o n of p u b l i c i n d ecen cy an d fel o n y s ex u al

b at t ery (Cas e No

. 1 8DL0 1 4 9 8, al s o referred t o as t h e “ Fi r s t Cas e”) an d a s eco n d

co u nt o f fel o n y s ex ual b at t ery (Cas e No

. 1 8 DL0 2 8 5 9

, al s o referred to as t h e “ Seco n d

Cas e”). 1 H e co nt en d s t h at t h e ju v en i l e co u rt erred i n ad ju d i cat i n g h i m del i nq u en t fo r

t h e o ffen s e o f ei t h er fel o ny s ex u al b at t ery i n s tead o f t h e l e s s er o ffen s e o f

1 Pu rs u an t t o t h e St at e’ s el ect i o n , t h e t ri al o f t h e Seco nd Cas e o ccu rred fi rs t

. Aft er P. T. was fo u n d del i n q u en t o f t h e f e l o n y s ex u al bat t ery ch arg e i n t h e Seco n d

Cas e, h e ch o s e t o en t er a p l ea u n d er Al f o r d v. No r t h Ca r o l i n a , 4 0 0 U. S. 2 5 (9 1 SCt

. 1 6 0

, 2 7 LE2 d 1 6 2 ) (1 9 7 0 ), as t o t h e ch arg es i n t h e Fi rs t Ca s e

. P

. T. ’s co u n s el

req u es t ed t h at t h e ju v en i l e co urt en t er a s i n g l e di s p os i t i o n o f b o t h cas es

. Th e ju v en i l e

co u rt en t ered i t s Ad

ju d i cat i on Ord er acco rd i ng l y

.m i s d em ean o r ch i l d m o l es t at io n o r m i s d em ean o r s ex u al b at t ery

. Fo r t h e reas o n s t h at

fo l l o w , we d i s cern n o erro r an d affi rm

.

Vi ewed i n t h e l i g h t m o s t fav o rab l e t o th e ju v en i l e co u rt ’ s d e l i n q u en cy

ad ju d i cat i o n , 2 t h e tri al ev i d en ce s h o wed t h at P. T., t h e 1 5 -y ear o l d fem al e v ict i m (“ M

.

N.”), an d t h e 1 4 -y ear o l d fem al e v i ct i m (“ B. D.”) at t en ded t h e sam e h ig h s ch o o l

. On

M arch 1 5

, 2 0 1 8

, P. T

. an d M

. N. s k i p ped t h e l un ch p eri o d a n d e n t ered an em p t y

cl as s ro o m t o “ h an g ou t .” W h i l e i n t h e cl as s ro o m , P. T

. g rab b ed M. N.’ s b u t t o ck s an d

t r i e d t o r em o v e h er l eg g in g s

. M

. N. t es t i fi ed t h at P. T

. ’ s i n t en ti o n al act o f t o u ch i n g

h er b u t t o ck s was wi t h o u t h er co n s en t

. M. N. fu rt h er s t at ed t h at s h e t o l d P. T. t o s t o p

an d t ri ed t o p u s h P. T. away fro m h er, b u t P. T. h el d h er ag ai ns t a wal l an d refu s ed to

l et h e r leav e. P. T. t h en p ul l ed d o wn h i s p an t s an d u nd erwear, ex p o s i n g h i s p en i s

.

W h en t he s ch o o l b el l ran g fo r t h e n ex t cl as s , M. N. was ab l e to es cap e an d ran fro m

t h e cl as s ro o m

.

2 See In t h e In ter es t o

f J. L. B.

, 2 8 0 Ga. Ap p

. 5 5 6

, 5 5 9-5 6 0 (5 ) (6 34 SE2 d 5 1 4 ) (2 0 0 6) (wh en co n si d eri n g t h e s u ffi ci en cy o f t h e ev i d en ce s u pp o rt i n g an ad ju d i cat i o n

o f d el i n q u en cy , “ we v i ew t h e ev id en ce i n fav o r o f t h e j u v en i l e co u rt ’ s fi n d i n g, d et erm i n i n g o n l y if a reas o n ab l e fi n d er o f fact co ul d h av e fo u n d b ey o n d a reas o n ab l e d o u b t t h at t h e ju v en i le co m m i tt ed t h e act s ch arg ed .”) (ci t at i o n o m i t ted ).

2Lat er t h at n ig ht

, M. N. recei v ed m es s ag es fro m P. T.’ s In s t ag ram acco u n t

,

as k i n g h er n o t t o t el l an y o n e ab o u t t h e i n c i d en t

. On e o f P. T.’ s m es s ag es s t at ed

, “ I

d i d n ’ t rap e y o u. It was m o re l i k e a s ex u al as s au l t .”

A s eco n d fem al e vi ct i m , B. D., t es t i fi ed t h at P. T

. h ad al s o s ex u al l y as s au l t ed

h er at s ch o o l

. 3 B. D. s t at ed t h at i n No v em b er o f 2 0 1 7

, P. T. ap p ro ach ed h er aft er

l u n ch an d s ai d t h at h e w an t e d t o t a l k to h er ab o u t s o m et h i n g

. P. T. l ed B. D. t o a

s ch o ol l o ad i ng d o ck

. B. D. d es cri b ed t h at wi t h o u t h er co n s en t, P. T. beg an t o u ch i n g

h er b et ween h er t hi g h s

. P. T

. t h en p u s h ed B. D. ag ai n st a w al l

, u n b uck l ed hi s p an t s ,

an d ex p o s e d h i s p e n i s wh i l e B. D. s t ru gg l ed to g et away fro m h i m

. B. D. fu rt h er

t es t i fi ed t h at s he rep eat ed ly t o l d P. T. t o s to p , b u t h e refu s ed to d o s o. P. T. rel eas ed

B. D. o n l y wh en a n earb y el ev at o r o p en ed

, at wh i ch t i m e B. D. was ab l e t o l eav e t h e

l o ad i n g d o ck area.

M

. N. di s cl o s ed t h e i n c i d en t to h er b oy fri en d. Th e b o y fri en d al s o was aware

o f P. T.’ s p ri o r s ex u al as s au l t o f B. D. W h en t h e b o y fri en d co n fro nt ed P. T. ab o u t t h e

i n ci d en t i n v o l v i n g M

. N., P. T. ad m i t ted t o t h e s ex ual as sau l t

. An al tercat i o n b et ween

3 Pri o r t o t ri al

, th e St at e fi l ed a n o t i ce o f it s i n t en t t o pres en t ev i d en ce of P. T.’ s

p ri o r bad act s p urs u an t to OCGA § § 2 4

- 4

- 4 0 4 (b ), 2 4 -4 -4 1 3

, an d 2 4 -4 -4 1 4

. B. D.

t es t i fi ed as a p ri o r b ad act s wi t n es s d u ri n g t h e t ri al o f t h e Seco n d Cas e.

3t h e b oy fri en d an d P. T. o ccu rred

, an d t h ey h ad t o rep o rt to s ch o ol ad m i n i s t rat o rs , wh o

o p en ed an i n ves ti g at i o n reg ard i n g t h e m at t er.

Du ri n g th e s ch o o l i n v es t i g at i o n, t h e as s i s t an t p ri n ci p al an d t h e s ch o ol res o u rce

o ffi cer recei ved s t at em en t s fro m b o t h v i ct i m s reg ard i n g t he s ex u al as sau l t s

. Th e

s ch o ol res o u rce offi cer o b t ai ned warran t s ag ai n s t P. T. fo r s ex u al b at t ery an d p u b l i c

i n d ecen cy b as ed o n t h e i n ci den t i nv o l v i n g M

. N. Th e s ch o o l r e s o u rce o ffi cer

s u b m i t t ed a ju v en i l e co m p l ai n t t o p ro ceed wi t h t h e s ex u al b at t e ry an d p u b l i c

i n d ecen cy

ch arg es ag ai n s t P. T. b as ed o n t h e i n ci d en t i nv o lv i n g B. D.

On M ay 4 , 2 0 1 8

, a d el i n qu en cy p et i t io n was fi l ed i n t he Fi rs t Cas e, Cas e No

.

1 8 DL0 14 9 8, al l eg i n g t h e P. T. h ad co m m i t t ed s ev e r a l o f

f en s es rel at ed t o P. T.’ s

s ex u al as s au lt o f B. D

. Th e p et i t i o n i n t h e Fi rs t Cas e w as l at er am en d ed t o ch arg e o n e

co u nt each o f p u b l i c i n decen cy an d fel o n y sex u al b at t ery

. Th ereaft er, o n Au g u s t 1 7,

2 0 1 8

, a s eco nd d el in qu en cy p et i t i o n was fi l ed i n t h e Seco nd Cas e, Cas e No

.

1 8 DL0 28 3 9, al l eg i n g th at P. T. h ad co m m it t ed fel o n y s e x u a l b at t ery ag ai n s t M

. N.

wh en h e i n t en ti o n al l y

m ad e p h y s i cal co n tact wi t h M . N.’ s b u t t ock s

.

Pri o r to t ri al

, P. T. fi l e d a m o t i o n t o di s m i s s t h e d el in q uen cy p et i t io n s

. Th e

m o t i o n s o u g ht d i sm i s s al o f t h e fel o n y s ex u al b at t ery ch arg es b as ed o n t h e ru l e o f

l en i t y , wh i ch P. T

. cl ai m ed req u i red a p ro secu t i o n fo r m is dem ean o r ch i ld m o l es t at i o n

4o r m i s d em ean o r s ex u al b at t ery i n s tead

. Fo l l o wi n g a h eari n g , t h e t ri al co u rt d en i ed t h e

m o ti o n

.

Th e t ri al s ub s eq u en t l y en s ued

. Aft er h eari n g th e wi tn es s t es t im o n y an d

rev i ewi n g th e t ri al ex h i b i ts

, t he ju v en il e co u rt fo un d t h at t h e to t al i t y o f t h e ev i d en ce

es t ab l i s h ed bey on d a reas on ab l e d o u b t t h at P. T. h ad co m m it t ed t h e f

el o n y s ex u al

b at t ery o ffen s e as al l eg ed in t h e p et i t i o n fo r t h e Seco n d Cas e. Aft er th e d el i n q u en cy

ru l i n g i n t h e Seco nd Cas e, P. T

. en t ered a p l ea p u rs u an t t o Al f o r d v. No r t h Ca r o l i n a ,

4 0 0 U. S. 2 5 (9 1 SCt

. 1 6 0

, 27 LE2 d 1 6 2 ) (1 9 7 0 ), as to t h e ch arg es i n t h e Fi rs t Cas e.

Th e ju v en i le co u rt en t ered an o rd er ad ju d i cat i n g P. T. d el i n q u en t an d p l aced h i m o n

p ro b at i o n f

o r o n e year fo r b o t h cas es

. P. T. t h ereaft er fi led t h e i n s t an t ap p eal to

ch al l en g e t h e fel o n y d i s po s it i o n

.

1 . P. T. co n t en ds t h at t he ru l e o f l en i ty req u i res t hat he o n l y b e s en t en ced fo r

m i s d em ean o r ch i ld m ol es t at i o n , no t fel o n y s ex ual b at tery

, b eca u s e th e ev i d en ce

es t a b l i s h ed b o t h o ffen s es

. A l t ern at i v el y , h e arg u es t h at h e s h o ul d h av e b een

ad ju d i cat ed fo r t h e l es s er o ffen s e m i s d em ean o r s ex u al b at t ery . W e d i s ag ree.

(a) As an i n i ti al m a t ter, P. T.’ s en t ry o f an Al f o r d p l ea i n t h e Fi rs t Cas e

p recl u d es h i m fro m pu rs u in g h i s cl ai m s co n cern i n g t h at cas e. P. T

. ’s a rg u m en t s

s eek i n g ap p l i cat i o n o f t h e ru l e o f l en i t y fi rs t were p res en t ed i n h i s p ret ri al m o t i o n to

5d i s m i s s , w h i c h t h e t ri al co u rt d en i ed

. Th ereaft er, wh en en t eri ng h is p lea, P. T.

ack n owl ed ged t h at h e u n d ers t o o d t h e ch arg es o f t h e p et i t io n ag ai n s t h i m , an d t h at h e

was wi l l i n g t o b e fo u n d d el i n q uen t o f t h e fel o n y s ex u al b at tery ch arg e. P. T. h as n ot

s o u g ht t o wi t h d raw h i s p l ea, an d h e d o es no t co n ten d t hat h i s p l ea was in v o l u n t ari l y

en t ered

. As s u ch

, hi s cl ai m ch al l en g i n g h i s d el i n qu en cy ad ju d i cat i o n i n t h e Fi rs t Cas e

h as b een wai v ed

. See McKeeve r v

. S t a t e ,

_ _ Ga. Ap p

.

_

_ , * 1 (4 ) (Cas e No

.

A1 9 A1 41 7

, d eci d ed No v . 1 5

, 2 0 1 9 ) (d efen dan t ’ s Al f o r d p l ea wai ved cl ai m s o f t ri al

co u rt erro rs u nrel at ed t o th e vo l u n t ari n es s o f t h e p l ea); La Fet t e v. S t a t e , 2 8 5 Ga. Ap p.

5 1 6

, 5 1 8 (3 ) (6 4 6 SE2 d 72 5 ) (2 0 07 ) (d efen d a n t ’s Al f o r d p l ea wai ved ch al l en g es to

t ri al co u rt ’ s d eci s i o ns an n o un ced b efo re en t ry o f t h e p lea).

(b ) W e no w t u rn t o ad d res s P. T .’ s cl ai m s eek i n g t o ap p l y t h e ru l e o f l en i t y in

t h e co n t ex t o f h is Seco n d Cas e, i n w h i ch he was ad j u d icat ed d el i n q u e n t o f fel o ny

s ex u al b at t ery fo l l o wi n g t r i a l

. We co n cl u de t h at P. T.’ s cl ai m pro v i d es n o b as i s fo r

rev ers al

.

[T] h e ru l e o f l en i t y fi nd s i t s ro ot s i n th e vag u en es s d o ct ri n e,

wh i ch req u i res fai r warn i n g as t o wh at co n d u ct i s p r o s c ri bed

. M o re

s p eci fi cal ly, t h e r u l e o f l en i t y en s ures t h at i f an d wh en an am b i g ui t y

ex i s ts i n o n e or m o re s t at u t es , s u ch t h at t h e l aw ex act s vary i n g deg rees

o f p u n i sh m en t fo r t h e s am e o ffen s e, t h e a m b i g ui t y wi l l b e res o l ved i n

fav o r o f a d e f

e n d a n t

, wh o wi l l t h en recei v e t h e les s er p u n i sh m en t

. Of

6co u rs e, if i t i s d et erm i ned aft er ap pl y i n g t h e t rad i t i o n al can o ns o f

co n s t ru ct io n t h at t h e rel ev an t s t at u t o ry t ex t i s u n am b i g u o u s , t h e n th e

ru l e o f l en i t y wi l l n ot ap pl y

. Th e fu nd am en t al i n q u i ry wh en m ak i n g t hat

as s es s m en t i s wh et h er th e i d en t i cal co n d u ct wo u ld s u p p o rt a co nv i ct i o n

u n d er ei t h er o f t wo cri m es wi t h d i fferi n g p en al t ies

. Pu t an o t h er w ay , th e

o p e r a t i v e q u es t io n i s wh et h er [P. T.’ s ] co nd u ct

, as ch arg ed

, su b ject ed

h i m t o p ro s ecu t i o n an d s en t en ci n g u n d er b o t h s t at u t es

.

(Ci t at i o n s an d p un ct u at i o n o m i t t ed .) Ko r oma v. S ta t e , 3 50 Ga. Ap p

. 5 30

, 5 31 (2 ) (8 2 7

SE2 d 9 0 3 ) (2 0 1 9 ). In ex am i n in g t h i s i s s u e, ou r Geo rg i a Su p rem e Co u rt an d t h i s Co u rt

h av e cau t i o n ed t h at s i m

p l y b ecau s e “ a s i n g l e act m ay , as a f a c t u al m at t er, v i o l at e

m o re t h an o n e p en al st at u te do es n o t i m p l i cat e t h e ru l e o f l en i t y .” Ba n t a v. S t a t e , 2 8 1

Ga. 61 5

, 6 1 8 (2 ) (6 4 2 SE2 d 5 1 ) (2 0 0 7 ); Go rd o n v. St a t e , 3 3 4 Ga. Ap p

. 63 3

, 6 3 5 (7 8 0

SE2 d 3 7 6) (2 0 1 5).

Th e d el i n q u en cy

p et i t i o n i n Cas e No

. 1 8 D L 0 2 8 5 9 accu s ed P.T. o f o n e co u nt

o f fel o n y s ex u al b at tery b as ed o n h i s act s o f “ i n t en t i o n al l y m ak [i n g ] p h y s i cal co n t act

wi t h t he b u t t o ck s of t h e b o d y o f [t h e v i ct i m , M

. N.]

, a ch i l d u n der t h e ag e o f 1 6 y ears ,

wi t h o u t h er co n s en t .” Un d er OCGA § 1 6 -6 -2 2 .1 (b ), “ [a] pers o n co m m it s t h e o ffen s e

o f s ex u al b at t ery wh en h e or s h e i n t en t io n al l y m ak es p h y s ical co n t act wi t h t h e

i n t i m at e p art s o f th e b o d y o f an o t h er p ers o n wi t h o u t t h e c on s en t of t h at p ers o n.”

Su b s ect io n (a) o f t he s t a t u t e i ncl u d es t h e b u t t o ck s o f a v i ct i m i n t h e defi ni t i o n o f

7“ i n ti m at e p art s .” See OCGA § 1 6 -6 -2 2 .1 (a). Su bs ect i o n ( d ) o f t h e st at u t e p ro v i d es

t h at wh en t h e vi ct i m i s u n d er t h e ag e o f 1 6 y ears , th e p erp et rat o r o f a s ex u al b at t ery

o ffen s e sh al l b e g u il t y o f a fel o n y

. See OCGA § 1 6-6 -2 2

. 1 (d ). Here, t h e al l eg at i on s

o f t he d el i n q u en cy p et i t i o n an d t h e v i ct i m ’ s t es ti m o ny at t h e d el in q uen cy h eari n g

es t ab l i s h t h at P. T.’ s act s fel l sq u arel y wi th i n t h e d efi n i t io n o f fel o ny s ex u al b at t ery

.

P. T. n ev ert h el es s arg u es t h at h e s h o u l d h av e b een ad j u d i c a t ed fo r t h e l es s er

o ffen s e of m i s dem ean or ch i l d m o l es t at i o n u n d er OCGA § 1 6 -6 -4 (a) (1 ) an d (b ) (2 ).

“ A p ers o n co m

m i t s t he o ffen s e o f ch i l d m o les t at io n wh en s u ch p ers o n

... [d ] o es an y

i m m o ral o r i n d ecen t act t o o r in t h e p res en ce o f o r wi t h an y ch i l d u n d er th e ag e o f 1 6

y ears wi t h t h e i n t en t t o aro u s e o r s at i s fy t h e s ex u al d es i res o f ei t h er t h e ch i l d o r t h e

p ers o n .” OCGA § 1 6 -6 -4 (a) (1 ). Su b s ect i o n (b ) (2 ) o f t h e ch i l d m ol es t at i o n s t at u t e

p ro v id es t h at “ [i ] f t h e v i ct i m i s at leas t 1 4 b ut l es s th an 16 y ears o f ag e an d t h e p ers o n

co n vi ct ed o f ch i l d m o l es t at io n is 1 8 y ears o f ag e or y ou n g er an d i s n o m ore t h an fo u r

y ears o l d er t han t h e v i ct i m , su ch p ers o n s hal l b e g ui l t y o f a m i sd em ean o r[.] ” OCGA

§ 1 6 -6

- 4 ( b ) (2 ). Th e fact t hat P. T.’ s co n d u ct al s o m ay h av e v i o lat ed t h e ch i ld

m o les t at i o n pen al s t at ut e do es n o t i m p l i cat e t h e ru l e o f l en i ty . See, e.g

., Ba n t a , 2 8 1

Ga. at 6 18 (2 ). Th i s Co u rt h as p rev i o u s l y ex p l ai n ed t hat t h e ru le o f l en i t y d o es n ot

ap p ly b et ween t h e s t at u t es cri m i n al i zi n g s ex u al bat t ery an d ch i l d m o l es t at i o n b ecau s e

8t h e o ffen s e o f ch i l d m o l es t at i on req u i res ad d it i on al p ro o f o f d efen d an t s eek i n g to

aro u s e h i s o wn s ex u al d es i res , w h i ch i s n o t req u ired fo r t h e o ffen s e o f s ex ual b at t ery

.

See Ko r o ma , 3 5 0 Ga. Ap p

. at 5 3 2

- 5 3 3 ( 2 ) ; Pa r fen u k v. S t a t e , 3 3 8 Ga. A p p

. 9 5,

1 0 0 -1 0 1 (3 ) (7 89 SE2 d 3 3 2 ) (2 0 1 6 ). Li k ewi s e, t h e offen se o f s ex u al b at tery req u i res

p ro o f o f ph y s i cal co n t act an d t h e v i ct i m ’ s l ack o f co n s en t

, wh i ch are n o t req u i red fo r

t h e o ffen s e o f ch il d m o l es t at i on

. Co m p are OCGA § § 1 6 -6 -2 2 .1 (b ), 1 6 -6 -4 (a) (1 ). As

s u ch

, t h e t wo s t at u tes d o n o t co n fl i ct an d t h ere i s n o u n cert a i n t y a s t o wh i ch p en al

cl au s e i s ap pl i cab l e i n t h i s cas e. Th e d el i n q u e n c y p et i t i o n’ s al l eg at i o n s an d t h e

ev i d en ce o f t hi s cas e es t ab l i s hed t h at P. T. i n t en t i o n al l y m ad e p h y si cal co n t act wi th

t h e b u tt o ck s o f t h e b o d y

o f t h e v i ct i m , wh o was u n d er t h e ag e o f 1 6 y ears , 4 wi t h o ut

t h e v i ct i m ’ s co n s en t

. Th u s , fe l o n y s e x u al b at t ery u n der OCGA § 1 6 -6 -2 2 .1 (b ) an d

(d ) were t h e ap p li cab l e p en al cl au s es

.

P. T.’ s r e l i a n c e u p o n D i xo n v. St a t e , 2 7 8 Ga. 4 (5 96 SE2 d 1 47 ) (2 0 0 4 ), i s

m i s p l aced

. In Di

xo n , t h e Geo rg i a Su p rem e Co u rt h el d t h at d u e t o t h e co n fl i ct i n g

n at u re of t h e m i s d em ean o r s t at u to ry rap e an d fel on y ch i l d m o l es t a t i o n s t at u t es

cri m i n al i zi n g sex b et ween t een ag ers wh o s e ag es were l es s th an t h ree y ears ap art

,

4 It i s u n d is p u t ed t h at t h e v i ct i m o f t h e sex u al b at t ery was 1 5 y ears o f ag e o n

t h e d at e o f t h e i n ci d en t

.

9u n cert ai nt y d ev el op ed as t o w h ich p en al cl au se was ap p li cab l e; t hu s , t h e ru l e o f l en i t y

req u i red t h at t h e d efen d an t o n l y b e s e n t e n ced fo r t h e m i s d em ean o r. Id

. at 7 (1 ) (d ).

B u t D i xo n i s d i s t i n g u i sh ed fro m t h e i n s t an t cas e i n t h at Di xo n i nv o lv ed co n fl i ct i n g

d efi n i t i o n s o f t he “ ex act s am e co n d u ct as ei th er m i s d em ean o r s t at u to ry rap e o r fel o ny

ch i l d m o l es t at i o n.” Id

. at 6 (1 ) (a). Un l i k e Di xo n , as ex p l ai n ed ab o v e, th e s ex u al

b at t ery an d ch i l d m o les tat io n s t at u t es at i s su e in t h i s cas e d o n ot i n v o l v e co n fl i ct i n g

d efi n i t i o n s an d d o n o t defi n e t h e ex act s am e co nd u ct

. See Pa r f en uk

, 3 3 8 Ga. Ap p

. at

1 0 0 -1 0 1 (3 ). 5 Th e ru l e o f l en it y t h erefo re d o es n ot ap p l y h ere.

W e l i k e wi s e r e

j ect P. T.’ s arg u m en t t h at h e was en t i t l ed t o a d el i n q u en cy

ad ju d i cat i o n fo r m is d em ean o r s ex u al bat t ery u n der OCGA § 1 6 -6 -2 2 .1 (c).

Su b s ect io n (c) o f th e s t at u t e st at es t h at “ [e] x cep t as o t h erwi s e p ro v i d ed i n th i s Co d e

s ect i on , a p ers on co n v i ct ed o f t h e o ffen s e o f s ex u al b at tery s h al l b e p u n i sh ed as fo r

a m i s de m e a n o r o f a h i g h an d ag g rav at ed n at ure.” OCGA § 1 6 -6 -2 2 .1 (c). Th e

ex cep t i o n fo r m is d em ean o r p u n i s h m e n t i s set fo rt h in s u b s ect i o n (d ) o f t h e s t at u t e,

5 Di xo n ot h erwi s e ack n o wl ed g es t h at t h e l eg is l at i v e i nt en t t o p ro v id e a l es s er

p u n i s h m en t fo r act s of s ex u al i n t erco u r s e b et ween teen ag ers d id n o t ap pl y t o act s i n v o l v i n g fo rci b l e rap e, i .e., act s p erp et rat ed wi t h o u t t h e v i ct i m ’ s co n sen t

. Di xo n , 2 7 8

Ga. at 6 (1 ) (a). Un l i k e m i s d em ean o r s t at u t o ry rap e o r m i s d em ean o r ch i ld

m o les t at i o n , t h e sex u al b at t ery o ffen s e req u i res pro o f o f t h e v i ct i m ’ s l ack of co n s en t

. See OCGA § 1 6 -6 -2 2.1 (b ).

10wh i ch cl earl y an d p ert i nen t l y p ro v i d es t h at “ [a] p ers o n co n v i ct ed o f t h e o ffen s e o f

s ex u al b at t ery ag ai n s t an y ch i l d u n d er t h e ag e of 1 6 y ears s h al l b e g u i l t y o f a

fe l o n y [.] ” OCGA § 1 6 -6 -2 2 .1 (d ). T h e en h an ced s en t en ci n g p ro vi s i o n fo r s ex u al

b at t ery fo cu s es u p o n t he ag e o f t h e v i ct im , n o t t h e ag e o f t h e d efen d an t

.

If t h e Leg is l at u re had i nt en d ed t o p ro v id e m o re len i en t t reat m en t fo r teen ag ers

wh o co m m i t s ex u al b at t ery ag ai n s t an o t her m i n o r, i t co u l d hav e am en d ed t he s t at u t e

i n t he s am e m an n er as t h e s t at u t es fo r st at u t o ry rap e an d ch il d m o l es t at i o n

. See Ga.

L. 2 0 0 6

, p

. 3 7 9

, Sect i o n 1 0 (ad d i n g m i s d em ean o r s en t en ci n g pro v i si o n fo r st at u t o ry

rap e u n d er OCGA § 1 6-6 -3 (c) b as ed o n t h e r e l a t i ve ag es o f t h e d efen d an t an d t h e

v i ct i m , s t at i n g t h at “ [i ] f t h e v i ct i m i s at l eas t 14 b u t l es s t h an 1 6 y ears o f ag e an d t h e

p ers o n co n v i ct ed o f s t at u t o ry rap e i s 18 y ears o f ag e o r y o u n g er an d i s no m o re t h an

fo u r ye a r s o l d er t h an t h e vi ct i m [.] ”; Ga. L. 2 0 0 6

, p. 3 7 9

, Sect i o n 11 (ad d i n g

m i s d em ean o r s en t en ci ng p ro v is i o n fo r ch i l d m o l es t at i o n u n d er OCGA § 1 6-6 -4 (b )

(2 ) b as ed o n t h e res p ect i v e ag es o f t h e d efen d an t an d t he vi ct im

, s tat i n g t h at “ [i ] f t h e

v i ct i m i s at l eas t 1 4 bu t l es s t h an 1 6 y ears o f ag e an d t h e p ers o n co n v i ct ed o f ch i ld

m o les t at i o n i s 1 8 y ears o f ag e o r y o u n g er an d is n o m o re t h an fo u r y ears o l d er t h an

t h e vi ct i m [.] ”). Bu t t h e Leg i s l a t u re d i d n o t d o s o

. An d w e reject P. T .’ s s u g g es t i o n

t h at t h i s Co u rt s ho u l d ap p l y a ju d i ci al co n s t ru ct io n t h at wo u l d ad d an ex cep t i o n to

11fel o n y s en t en ci ng u n d er OCGA § 1 6 -6 -2 2 .1 (d ) b as ed up o n t h e rel at i v e ag es o f t h e

p e r p et rat o r an d t h e v i ct i m

. In t h i s reg ard

, we rem ai n m i n d fu l o f o ur o b l i g at i o n i n

ap p ly i n g t h e ru l es o f s tat u t o ry co n s t ru ct i o n

.

It i s ax i o m at ic t h at wh en t h e l an g u ag e o f a s t at u t e i s p l ai n an d

s u s cep t i b le t o o nl y o n e n at u ral an d reas o n ab l e co n st ru ct i o n , co u rt s m u s t

co n s t ru e t h e s t at u t e acco rd i n g l y

. I n f a c t

, ju d i ci al co n s t ru ct i on of th e

l an g uag e o f an u n am

b i g u o u s s t at ut e i s n o t o n l y un n eces sary b u t

fo rb id d en

. Th e d o ct ri n e o f s ep arat i on o f p o w e r s i s an i m m u t ab l e

co n s t i t ut i o n al pri n ci p l e wh i ch m us t b e s t ri ct l y en fo rced

. Un d er t hat

d o ct ri n e, s t at u t o ry co n s t ru ct i o n b el o ng s t o th e co u rt s, leg i s l at i o n t o th e

l eg i s l at u re.

(Ci t at i o n s an d p un ct u at i on o m i t t ed .) Ga

. Dep t

. o f Ju ven i le Ju s ti ce v. El l er , 3 3 8 Ga.

Ap p

. 2 4 7

, 2 4 8 (7 8 9 SE2 d 4 1 2) (2 0 1 6 ). W e w i l l n o t us u rp t h e ro l e o f t h e Leg i s l at u re

t o p res cri b e a d i fferen t s en t en ci n g s ch em e w h en th e s t at u t e co n t ro l l i n g t h e o ffen s e fo r

wh i ch a d efen d an t i s ad

j u d icat ed o r co n v i ct ed pl ai n ly an d u n am b ig u o u s l y d i ct at es t h e

p ro p er p u n i s h m en t t h at s hal l b e i m p o s ed

. Becau se t h e ev i d en ce es t ab l i s h es t h at P.

T.’ s act o f s ex u al b at t ery

was co m m i t t ed ag ai n s t t he v i ct i m , wh o was u n d er t h e ag e

o f 16 y ears , fel o n y p u n i s h m en t u n d er OCGA § 1 6-6 -2 2 .1 ( d ) was req u i red

. See

Her na n d ez v. S ta t e , 3 0 0 G a. Ap p

. 7 9 2

, 7 9 4-7 9 5 (2 ) (6 8 6 SE2 d 3 7 3 ) (2 0 0 9 ) (d efen d an t

12was p r o p e rl y s en t en ced fo r fel o n y s ex u al b at t ery bas ed o n u n co nt es t ed an d

o v erwh el m i ng ev i d en ce d em on s t rat i n g t h at t h e v i ct i m was u n d er th e ag e o f 1 6 y ears ).

2

. P. T. fu rt h er arg u es th at t h e s en t en ci n g d is p ari t y b et w e en fel o n y s ex u al

b a t t e ry an d m i s d em ean o r ch i l d m o l es t at i o n v i o lat es eq u al p ro t ect i o n

. Becau s e t h i s

co n st i t u t io n al cl ai m w as n o t rai s ed an d ru l ed u p o n i n t h e t ri al pro ceed i n g s b el o w, i t

h as b een wai v ed

. See Da r b y v. S t a t e , 2 39 Ga. Ap p

. 4 9 2

, 49 5 (2 ) (b ) (5 2 1 SE2 d 4 3 8 )

(1 9 9 9) (Th i s Co u r t i s precl ud ed fro m rev i ewi n g co n s t i t u t i o n al i s s u es n o t ex p l i ci t l y

ru l ed o n b y t h e t ri al co urt ); Fi n ch er v. S t a te

, 23 1 G a. A p p

. 4 9

, 5 1 (1 ) (4 9 7 SE2 d 6 3 2 )

(1 9 9 8) (“ arg u m en ts reg ard i n g co n s t i t u t i o nal i ss u es wh i ch were no t rai s ed o r ru l ed o n

b el o w wi l l n o t b e co ns i d ered o n ap p eal ”) (ci t at i o n o m i t t ed ).

Ju d g men t a f f i r m ed . McFa d

d en , C. J., a nd

McMi l l i an , P. J., co n cu r

.

13