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

p h 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

June 28, 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 37 0 . M cGLYNN v . THE STATE.

B E T H E L , J u d g e.

J a m es Haro l d M cGl y

n n

, J r. ap p eal s fro m t h e d en i al o f h i s m o t i o n fo r a n e w

t ri al fo l lo wi n g h i s co n v i ct io n fo r o n e co u n t o f m i s d em ean or p os s es s i o n of m ari ju an a. 1

On ap p eal

, h e en um erat e s fo u r erro rs

. Fi rs t

, h e cl ai m s t h at t he t ri al co u rt erred by

d en y i n g h i s m ot i o n t o d i s q u al ify t h e d is t ri c t a t t o r n e y ’ s o ffi ce fro m pro s ecu t i n g h i s

cas e b a s e d o n an al l eg at i o n t h at p ro s ecu t o ri al m i sco n d u ct h ad d ep ri v ed h i m o f h i s

ri gh t t o d u e p ro ces s

. Seco n d, h e cl ai m s t h e t ri al co u rt erred by d en y i n g h i s s p eci al

d em u rrer t o th e m ari

ju an a po s s es s i o n co u nt i n th e i n d i ct m en t

. Th i rd

, h e cl ai m s t h e

t ri al co u rt erred by ad m i tt i n g ev i d en ce rel at i ng t o hi s p u rch as e an d u s e o f m ari ju an a

t h e d ay b efo re h i s arres t fo r p o s s es s i o n p u r s u an t t o OCGA § 2 4 -4 -4 0 4 (b ) an d as

1 S ee OCGA § 1 6 -1 3 -3 0 (j) (1 ).i n t ri n s i c ev i den ce o f t h e o ffen s e. Fo u rt h

, he cl ai m s t h a t t h e t ri al co u rt erred by

d en y i n g h i s m o t io n fo r a di rect ed v erd i ct o n t h e m ari ju an a p o s s es s i o n ch arg e b as ed

o n t h e eq u al acces s d oct ri n e. As each o f t h es e cl ai m s are wi t h o ut m eri t

, we affi rm h i s

co n vi ct i o n

.

On ap pe a l

, t h e d e fen d an t “ i s n o l o n g er p res u m ed i n n ocen t an d al l o f t h e

ev i d en ce i s to b e v i ewed i n t h e l i g h t m o s t f a v o rab le t o t h e ju ry v erd i ct

. ” Ba t t en v.

S t a t e

, 2 9 5 Ga. 44 2, 44 3 (1 ) (7 6 1 SE2 d 7 0 ) (2 0 1 4 ) (ci t a t i o n s o m i tt ed ). So v i ewed

,

M cGl y n n an d a co -d efen d an t 2 were s t o p p ed b y a d ep ut y s h eri ff f o r s p e e d i n g an d

fai l u re to m ai n t ai n l an e. Th e co -d efen d an t was d ri vi n g t h e v eh i cl e, an d M cGl y n n was

s eat ed i n t h e fro n t p as sen ger s eat

.

A f t e r i n it i at i n g t h e t raffi c s t o p

, t h e d ep u t y ap p ro ach ed t h e p as s en g er si d e

wi n do w, wh i ch w as ro l l e d d o wn

. He i m m ed i at el y d et ect ed t h e s m el l o f m ari ju an a,

an d h e as k ed t h e co -d efen d an t t o ex i t t h e v eh i cl e. W h en as k ed b y t h e d ep u t y ab o ut

t h e m ari ju an a s m el l, t h e co -d efen d an t d e n i ed kn o wi n g ab o u t an y m ari ju an a i n t h e

v eh icl e.

2 Th e co -d efen d an t is n o t a part y t o th i s ap p eal

. M cGl y n n w as ch arg ed wi t h a

s i ng l e co u n t o f p o s s es s i o n o f m ari ju an a, an d t h e co -d efen d an t was ch arg ed wi t h fi v e

o ffen s es

, wh i ch al s o i n cl u ded p o s s es s i o n o f m ari ju an a. Th e co -d efen d an t p l ed g ui l t y

t o a n u m b er o f th os e o ffen s es

, an d h i s c as e was co m p l et ed by t h e t i m e M cGl y n n ’ s

t ri al b eg an . Th e co -d efen d an t was cal l ed b y M cGl y n n t o t es t i fy

at t ri al

.

2M cGl y n n was i n s t ru ct ed t o ex i t t h e veh i cl e, an d t h e d ep u ty beg an s earch i n g t h e

v eh icl e. Un d er t h e fro n t p as s en g er s eat (wh ere M cGl y n n h ad b een s eat ed ), th e d ep u t y

l o cat ed a b l u e co n t ai n er wh i ch h el d a g reen l eafy s u bs t an ce w h i ch l at er t es t ed p o s i t i v e

as m ari ju an a. Bo t h M cGl y n n an d t h e co -d efen dan t d en i ed o wn i n g t h e b l ue co n t ai n er.

Un d er th e sam e s eat

, h e al s o l o cat ed a p o tat o ch i p b ag i n w h i ch w as h el d a s m o k i n g

p i p e co n t ai n i n g m ari

ju an a res i d u e.

Th e dep u t y th en b eg an s earch i n g i n t h e rear co m p art m en t o f t h e v eh i cl e, wh ere

h e lo cat ed an ad di ti o n al b ag co n t ai n i n g b o th m ari ju an a an d d ri ed m

u s h ro o m s - a

Sch ed u l e I co n t ro l l ed su b st an ce. Aft er t h e s earch was co m

p l et ed , M cGl y n n an d t h e

co -d efen d an t were arres t ed an d t ran s p o rt ed t o t h e co un t y jai l

.

M cGl y n n was i n t erv i ewed b y a p o l i ce i n v e st i gat o r l at er th at day

. In t h at

i n t erv i ew, h e t ol d t h e i n v es t ig at o r t h at h e had p u rch as ed an d s m o k ed s om e m ari ju an a

t h e d ay b efo re t h e arres t

. M cGl y n n al s o t o l d t h e in v es t i g at o r t h at t h e b l u e co n t ai n er

an d t h e o ra n g e s m o k i n g p i p e fo u n d b y th e offi cers du ri n g t h e s earch o f t h e v eh i cl e

b el o n g ed t o h i m

b u t d en i ed t h at t h e m ari

ju an a was h i s

.

M c G l y n n an d h i s co -d efen d an t were i nd i ct ed

. In p re-t ri al p ro ceed i n g s

,

M cGl y n n fi l ed a s p eci al d em u rrer as t o t h e s o l e co u n t ag ai ns t h im fo r p o s s es s i o n o f

m ari ju an a. Th at co u n t al leg ed t h at

, o n t h e day of h is arres t

, McGl y n n “ d i d u n l awfu l l y

3h av e u n der h is co n t ro l l es s t h an an o u nce o f m ari ju a n a i n v i o l at io n o f t h e Geo rg i a

Co n t ro l l e d Su b s t an ces Act .” At t h e h eari n g o n t h e dem u rrer, McGl y n n o ffered

t es t i m o ny reg ard i n g t h e th ree l o cat i o n s i n t h e v eh i cl e wh ere m ari ju an a had b een

l o cat ed (t h e bl ue co n tai n er, t h e o ran g e p i p e, an d t h e bag i n t h e rear co m p art m en t ). He

arg u ed t h at th e t erm s o f t he in d i c t m en t fai l ed t o g i ve M cGl y n n n o t i ce as t o wh i ch

m ari ju an a t h e St at e al l eg ed hi m t o h av e been i n p o ss es s i o n o f at t h e t i m e of t h e t raffi c

s t op

, as bo t h McGl y n n an d t h e c o

- d e f e n d an t were ch arg ed wi t h th e ex act s am e

o ffen s e i n t wo d i fferen t co u n t s o f t h e i n d i c t m e n t

. Th e St at e co u n t ered t h at b ecau s e

M c G l y n n h ad ad m i t t ed t o o w n i n g t h e b l u e co nt ai n er an d t h e o ran g e p ip e i n h i s

i n t erv i ew w i t h t h e i n v e s t i g a t o r an d b ecau s e h e ad m i t t ed t o recen t p u rch as e an d

co n su m p t i o n o f m ari

ju an a, he h ad b een pl aced o n s u ffi ci en t n o ti ce o f t h e ch arg e. Th e

t ri al co u rt d en i ed t h e s p eci al d em u rrer.

M c G l yn n a l s o fi led a m o t i on i n l i m i n e t o ex cl u d e ev i den ce of h is u s e an d

p u rch as e o f m ari

ju an a o n t h e d ay b efo re t he t raffi c s t o p. Th e t ri al co u r t d e n i e d t h i s

m o ti o n

, ru l in g t h at M cGl y nn ’ s i n t erv i ew w i t h t h e p ol i ce i n v es t ig at o r w h i c h c ont ai n ed

t h i s ev i d en ce co u l d b e p l ay ed fo r t h e j u r y at t ri al

. M cGl y n n al s o ch al l en g ed t h e

ad m i s s i o n o f t h e ev i d en ce o n t h e b as i s t hat h e had n o t recei v ed ad eq uat e n o ti ce fro m

t h e St at e t h at i t i nt en d ed t o in t ro d u ce t h i s ev i d en ce ag ai ns t h i m pu rs u an t t o Ru l e 4 0 4

4(b ). Th e t ri al co u rt al s o reject ed t h i s arg um en t

, n o ti n g t h at M cGl y n n recei v ed a co py

o f th e reco rd ed i n terv i ew an d a t ran s cri p t ei g h t o r n i n e m o nt h s p ri o r t o t ri al

. In

ad d it i o n

, t h e tri al co u rt d et erm i n ed t h at n o t i ce was n o t req u i red b ecau se, p u rs u an t to

Ru l e 4 0 4 (b ), n o n ot i ce i s req u i r e d w h en t h e ev i d en ce p ert ai ns t o “ ci rcu m s t an ces

i m m ed i at el y su rro u n d i ng t h e ch arg ed cri m e.” Th e co u rt t h erefo re d et erm i n ed t h at t h e

ev i d en ce co u l d b e pres en t ed b o t h a s i n tri n si c ev i d en ce an d t o s h ow in t en t

, m o t i ve,

an d k n o wl ed g e p u rs u an t t o Ru l e 4 0 4 (b ).

On t h e m o rn i ng t h e t ri al was t o b eg i n, M cGl y n n m ad e an o ral m o t i o n t o recu s e

an y m em b er of t h e d i s t ri ct at to rn ey ’ s o ff i c e fro m p ro s ecu t in g th e cas e, al l eg i n g

p ro s ecu to ri al m i s co n d u ct

. He al l eg ed th at an as s i s t an t di s t r i c t a t t o rn ey (ADA) h ad

“ co n fro n t ed ” t h e co -d efen d an t

, wh o M cGl y n n p l an n ed t o ca l l as a wi tn es s at t ri al

.

M cG l y nn al l eg ed t hat t h e ADA “ t h reat en ed ” an d “ i nt i m i d at ed ” t h e co -d efen d an t

,

s u g g es t i n g t h at th e co -d efen dan t w o u l d b e p r o s ecu t ed fo r p erju ry i f he el ect ed to

t es t i fy in t h e t ri al o n M cGl y n n ’ s b eh al f. Cl ari fy i n g t h e fact s s u rro u n d i ng th i s cl ai m

,

M cGl y n n ’ s at t o rn ey st at ed t h at t h e A DA wh o h ad h an d led t h e co -d e f e n d a n t ’ s cas e

fo r t h e St at e h ad sp o ken t o t h e co -d efe n d a n t i n a ro o m o u t s i d e t h e co u rt ro o m an d

as k ed h i m wh at hi s t es t i m on y wo u l d b e i n M cGl y nn ’ s tri al

. T h e co -d efen dan t t o l d t h e

ADA th at h e pl an n ed t o cl ai m o w n e r s h i p o f al l o f t h e m ari ju an a s ei zed fro m t h e

5v eh icl e. Th e ADA rep l i ed t h at sh e d i d n o t b el i ev e h i m an d i n d icat ed t o h i m t h at fal s e

t es t i m o ny co u l d s u b

ject h im t o a p erju ry ch arg e, t h at it wo u l d v i o l at e t h e t erm s o f h i s

Fi rs t Offen d er p ro b at i o n

, an d t h at h e co ul d be s en t to jai l

. Th e co -d efen d an t s p o k e

wi t h h i s co u n s el

, w h o ad v i s ed hi m t h at h e co u l d b e s u bject t o i n d i ct m en t fo r p erju ry

i f h e t es t i fi ed fal sel y i n t h e t ri al

. Th e co -d efen d an t was ad v i s ed b y h i s co u n s el t h at h e

s h o u ld as s ert h i s Fi ft h Am en d m en t ri g ht ag ai n s t s el f-i ncri m i n at i o n

.

Th e t ri al co u r t d en i ed M cGl y n n ’ s m o ti o n t o d i s q u al i fy

. At t ri al

, t h e co

d efen d an t w as cal l ed as a wi t n es s

, an d h e t es t i fi ed reg ard i ng h i s back g ro u n d

, h i s

b u s i n es s

, h i s co nn ect i o n to M cGl y n n

, an d t he reas o n t h ey were t rav el i ng at t h e t i m e

o f t h e t raffi c s t op

. He al s o tes ti fi ed reg ard in g t h e ch arg es h e faced s t em m i n g fro m t h e

t raf f i c s t o p

, i n cl u d i n g h i s g ui l t y p l ea to p o s s es s io n o f m ari ju an a. Ho wev er, h e

as s ert ed h i s Fi ft h Am en dm en t p ri v i l eg e, an d h e refu s ed t o t es t i fy wi th reg ard t o wh o

o w n e d t h e b l u e co n t ai n er an d t h e o ran g e p i p e fo u n d i n t h e v eh i cl e o r wh et h er h e

b ro u gh t m ari

ju an a i n t o t h e v eh i cl e.

M cGl y n n was fo u n d g u i l t y o n t h e s o l e co u n t ag ai n s t h i m f o r m i s d em ean o r

p o s s es s i o n o f m ari

ju an a, fo r wh i ch h e was s en t en ced to o n e y ear o f p ro bat i o n

, a fi ne,

an d co m m u n i t y serv i ce. Hi s m o t i o n fo r a n ew t ri al

, al l eg i n g t h e s a m e e r r o rs h e

en u m erat es o n ap p eal , was d en i ed , an d t h i s ap peal fo l l owed

.

61

. W i t h reg ard t o M cGl y n n ’ s m o t i o n to d i s q u al i fy t h e d i s t ri ct at t o rn ey ’ s o ffi ce

fro m p ro s ecu t i n g th e cas e, we n o t e at t h e o u t s et t h at t h i s Co u rt t ak es s eri o u s l y i t s ro l e

b o t h in ad d res s i n g at to rn ey m i s co n d u ct an d i n h ol d i n g t h o s e w h o al l eg e s u ch

m i s co n du ct t o a h i g h s tan d ard o f p ro o f. In t hi s cas e, M c G l y n n rel i es o n th e Un i t ed

St at es Su p rem e Co u rt ’ s d eci s i o n i n W eb b v. Texa s

, 40 9 U .S. 9 5 (9 3 SCt 3 5 1

, 3 4 LE2 d

3 3 0 ) (1 9 7 2 ) 3 t o s u g g es t t h at h i s ri g h t s to d u e pro ces s were v i o l at ed

. M cGl y nn arg u es

t h at t he ADA’ s d i s cu s s io n wi th t h e co -d efen d an t b efo re t ri al u lt i m at el y res u l t ed i n h i s

d eci s i o n

, o n t h e ad v i ce o f h i s o w n co u n s el

, t o as s ert h is Fi ft h Am en d m en t pri v i l eg e.

W h i l e W eb b d eal t s p eci fi cal l y wi t h s t at em en t s m ad e by a t ri al ju d g e, th i s Co u rt

h as p rev i o u s l y n o t ed t h at ei th er “ ju d i ci al o r p r os ecu t or i a l i n t im id at io n t h at d i s s u ad es

a p o t en t i al d efen se wi t n es s fro m t es t i fy i n g fo r t he d efen s e c a n

, un d er cert ai n

ci rcu m s t an ces

, vi ol at e th e d efen d an t’ s ri g h t t o p res en t a d efen s e.” Ter ry v. S t a t e

, 3 0 8

Ga. Ap p

. 4 2 4

, 4 2 6 ( 7 0 7 SE2 d 6 2 3 ) (2 0 1 1 ) (em p h as i s su p p l i ed ). Ho wev er, s u ch

an al y s i s m

u s t b e u n d ert ak en o n a cas e-b y -cas e bas i s

. Id

. at 42 7

. Here we n o te, as d id

3 In W eb b

, a t ri al ju d g e d i rect ed a nu m b er o f s t at em en t s t o t h e d efen d an t ’ s o n l y

wi t n es s

, es s en ti al l y t h reat en i ng t h e wi t n es s wi t h p erju ry ch arg es

. W eb b

, 40 9 U.S. at

9 7

. Th e ju d g e al s o i m

p li ed h i s p ers o n al v i ew t h at t h e w i t nes s w o u l d t es t i fy fal s el y an d

t h at a co n v i ct i o n fo r perju ry wo u l d affect h i s s u p erv i s ed rel eas e o n a sen t en ce fro m

a p ri o r co n vi ct i o n. Id

. Th e Su p rem e Co urt fo u n d t h at t h es e s tat em en t s

, wh i ch

p ro m p t ed t he wi t n es s to refu s e t o t es t i fy

, dep ri v ed t h e defen d an t of d u e p ro ces s an d

req u i red rev ers al o f h i s co n v i ct i o n

. Id . at 9 8

.

7t h e t ri al co u r t

, t hat n o t h i n g i n t h e reco rd s u g g es t s t hat t h e s t at em en t s m ad e b y t h e

ADA t o t h e wi t n es s were l eg al l y i n accu rat e o r m i s l ead i n g

. I n f a c t

, t h e ADA’ s

co m m en t s s eem t o h av e been co n fi rm ed b y th e wi tn es s ’ s own at to rn ey

, wh o

, u n l i k e

t h e ADA, i s ch arg ed w i t h act i n g o n t h e w i tn es s ’ s b eh al f an d p ro t ect i n g h i s ri g h t an d

i n t eres t s

. As we o b s erv ed i n Ter r y

, “ t h e po t en ti al fo r u n co n s t it u t i on al co erci o n b y a

g o v ern m en t act o r d i m i n i s h es wh en a d efen d an t ’ s wi t n es s h as co n s u l t ed wi t h an

i n d ep en den t at t o rn ey .” 3 0 8 G a. Ap p

. at 4 2 8

. Th at t h es e s t at em en ts b y t h e ADA were

l at er p ercei v ed b y t h e wi t n es s as t h reat en i n g is wh o l l y i rrel ev an t t o o u r co n s i d erat i o n

o f t h i s m at t er. Th i s Co urt h a s h e l d t h at t h e St at e “ [i s ] d u t y b o u n d to i n fo rm [t h e

wi t n es s ] o f t h e p o ss i b l e co ns eq u en ces o f ad m i t t i n g u n der o at h ” fact s t h at co ul d p l ace

t h e wi t n es s i n l eg al jeo p ard y

, “ i n cl u d i n g n ot i fy in g [t h e wi t n es s ] th at t h e cri m i n al l aw

wo u l d b e fu l l y en fo rced t o t h e fu l l es t ex t en t ag ai n s t th o s e wh o vi o l at e i t

. ” Mu r r a y v.

S t a t e , 1 5 7 Ga. Ap p

. 5 9 6 , 5 9 8 (2 ) (2 7 8 SE2 d 2 ) (1 9 8 1 ).

M o reo v er, w e fai l t o s ee h o w M cGl y n n ’ s d u e p ro ces s ri g h ts a r e i n a n y way

ab ri d g ed b y t h e wi t n es s ’ s d eci s i o n t o as s ert h i s Fi ft h Am en d m en t p ri v il eg e fo l l o wi n g

h i s co n v ers at i o n wi t h t h e A DA an d h i s own co u ns el

. As we d i s cu s s ed i n Ter r y

, 3 0 8

Ga. Ap p

. at 4 2 6 -2 7

, a cri m i n al d efen d an t ’ s ri g h t to p res en t h i s d efen s e i s n ot ab s o l u t e,

as i t m u s t g i v e way to o t he r c o n s i d erat i on s in th e ju d i ci al p ro ces s, i n cl u d i n g a

8wi t n es s ’ s r i g h t t o as sert t es t im o n i al p ri v il eg es

. Al t h ou g h McGl y n n’ s d efen s e m ay

h a ve b een h am

p ered b y t he wi t n es s ’ s ev e-o f-t ri al deci s i o n n o t to t es t i fy reg ard i n g

o wn ers hi p o f t h e m ari

ju a n a an d as s o ci at ed p arap h ern al i a, M cGl y n n was o b l i g ed to

fi nd o t her m ean s o f m ak i n g t h e arg u m en t t o t h e j u ry t h at h e d i d n o t o w n

, an d was n ot

i n p o s s es s i o n o f, t h os e m at eri al s at t h e t im e o f t h e arres t

.

Fo r t h es e reas o n s

, we ag ree wi t h t h e t ri al co u rt t h at t h e reco rd b efo re u s d o es

n o t es t ab l i s h s an ct i o n ab le co n d u ct on t h e p art of t h e A DA an d affi rm t h e t ri al co urt ’ s

d en ial o f M cGl y n n’ s m o t i o n t o d i s q u al i fy

.

2

. M cGl y n n n ex t arg ues t h at t he t ri al co u rt erred b y d en y i ng h i s s p eci al

d em u rrer wi t h reg ard to t h e m ari ju an a p o s s es s i o n ch arg e. He arg ues t h at b ecau s e

m ari ju an a was fo u n d i n v ari o u s l o cat i on s an d co n t ai n ers t h ro u g h o u t t he v eh i cl e an d

b ecau s e t h e co -d efen d an t was al s o ch arg ed wi t h m ari ju an a p os s es s i on i n a s ep arat e

co u nt u s i n g i d en ti cal lan g u ag e, t h e i n d i ct m en t fai led t o ad eq u at el y ap p ri s e McGl y n n

o f wh ich m ari

ju an a t h e St at e cl ai m ed h e p o s s es s ed at t he t im e o f t h e t raffi c s t o p.

“ In rev i ewi ng a ru l i n g o n a s p eci al d em u rrer, we ap p l y

a d e n o v o s t an d ard o f

rev i ew, b ecau s e i t i s a q ues ti on o f l aw wh et h er t h e al l eg at i o n s i n t h e i n d ict m en t are

l e g a l l y s u ffi ci en t .” S t a te v. Co rh en

, 3 0 6 Ga. A p p

. 4 9 5

, 4 9 7 (7 0 0 SE2 d 91 2 ) (2 0 1 0 )

(ci t at i o n o m i ted ).

9[W ] h en d et erm i n i n g wh et h er an i n d ict m en t i s s u ffi ci en t t o wi t h s tan d a

s p eci al d em

u rrer, t h e ap p l i cab l e st an d ard i s n ot wh et h er t h e i n d i ct m en t

co u l d h av e been m ad e m o re d efi n i te an d cert ai n

, b u t wh et h er i t co n tai n s

t h e el em en t s o f th e o ffen s e i n t en d ed t o b e ch arg ed

, an d s u ffi ci e n t l y

ap p ri s es t he defen d an t o f wh at h e m u st b e p rep ared t o m eet

. . . . W h en

p res en t ed wi t h a s p eci al d e m u r r e r, t h e co u rt s h o u l d ex am i n e th e

i n d i ct m en t fro m t h e p ers p ect i v e th at t h e accu sed i s i nn o cen t

, fo r t h i s i s

wh at t h e l aw p res u m es . Nev ert h el es s, t h e l an g u ag e o f an i n d i ct m en t i s

t o b e i n terp ret ed l i b eral l y in fav o r o f t h e S t a t e, wh i l e t h e accu s ed ’ s

o b j ect i o n s to t h e i n di ct m en t

, as p res en t ed in a s p eci al d em u r r e r

, a r e

s t ri ct l y co n s t ru ed ag ai n s t t h e accu s ed

.

Id . at 4 9 7 (ci t at i on s an d p u n ct u at i o n o m it t ed ).

M cGl y n n ’ s arg u m en t es s en t i al l y as k s u s to re q u i r e

, i n d ru g p o s s es s i o n cas es

wh ere m ul t i p l e i t em s o f co n t rab an d are sei zed fro m m u l t i p l e d efen d an t s

, t h at t h e

l an g u ag e o f an i nd i ct m en t i d en t i fy wi t h s p eci fi ci ty t h e ex act i t em s o f co n t rab an d t h e

St a t e b el i ev es a p art i cu lar defen d an t to hav e p o s s es s ed

. W e fi n d no su p p o rt i n o u r

cas e l aw fo r t h i s p ro po s i t io n

.

Ap p ly i n g t h e Co r h en tes t

, we fi nd t h at t h e l an g u ag e o f t h e i n d i ct m en t

ad eq uat el y d es cri b ed t he el em en t s o f t h e ch arg ed o ffen s e, as i t s p eci fi cal l y i d en t i fi ed

t h e s p eci fi c co d e s ect i o n u n d er wh i ch M cGl y n n was ch arg ed

.

10W e al s o fi n d t h at t h i s l an g u ag e s u ffi ci en t ly ap p ri s ed McGl y n n o f th e ch arg e h e

wo u l d be req u i red t o m eet at t ri al

. Un d er o u r st at e’ s l aws

, p o s s es si o n o f an y am o u nt

o f m ari ju an a i s pu n i s hab l e as an o ffen se. 4 Th u s

, a ju ry ’ s fi n d in g t h at M cGl y n n was

i n po s s es s i o n o f an y o f t h e m ari ju an a fo u n d i n t h e veh icl e w o u ld h av e b een su ffi ci en t

t o co n v i ct h i m

, an d hi s o n l y v i ab l e d efen s e was t o d en y p o s s es s io n o f a l l o f t h e

m ari ju an a fo u n d i n t h e veh i cl e. In t h e reco rd an d hi s b r i e f s befo re th i s Co u rt

,

M cGl y n n i n di cat es t h at h e p l an n ed t o d efen d t h e al l eg a t i o n s o f t h e i nd i ct m en t by

cl ai m i ng t h at al l o f th e m ari ju an a fo u n d in th e v eh i cl e bel o n g ed t o t h e co -d efen d an t

.

M cGl y n n cal led t h e co -d efen dan t t o t h e s t an d wi t h t h e i n t en t i o n o f h av i n g h i m cl ai m

res p o n s i b i l i t y

fo r, an d o wn ers h i p o f, t h e m ari ju an a an d t o ex o n erat e M cGl y n n . Th e

co -d efen d an t ’ s ch o i ce t o ex erci s e h i s Fi ft h Am en d m en t p ri v i l eg e an d n o t res p o n d to

q u es ti o n s o n t h es e i s su es d o es n o t ch an g e t h e fu n d am en t al s trat eg y t h at McGl y n n

em pl o y ed

. W e t h u s fai l to s ee h o w ad d i t i o nal cl ari fi cat i o n o f t he i n d i ct m en t wo u ld

h av e al t ered M cGl y n n ’ s d efen s e.

4 OCGA § 1 6 -1 3-3 0 (j) (1 ) p ro v i des t hat “ [i ] t s h al l b e u n l awfu l fo r an y p ers o n

t o po s s es s

, h av e u nd er h i s o r h er co n t ro l

, m an u fact u re, d el i v er, d i s t ri b ut e, d i s p en s e,

ad m i n is t er, p u rch as e, s el l

, o r p o s s es s wi t h i n t en t t o d i st ri b ut e m ari ju an a.” OCGA §

1 6 -1 3-2 (b ) p ro v i d es t hat “ an y p ers o n wh o i s ch arg ed w i th p o s ses s i o n o f m ari ju an a,

wh i ch p o s s es s i o n i s o f o n e o u n ce o r l es s

, s h al l b e g u i l t y o f a m i sd em ean o r an d

p u n i s h ed b y i m

pri s o n m en t fo r a p eri o d n o t t o e x ceed 1 2 m o nt h s o r a fi ne n o t to

ex ceed $ 1,0 0 0 .0 0

, o r b o t h , o r p u b l i c wo rk s n ot t o ex ceed 1 2 m o n t h s .”

11Becau s e t h e l an g u ag e i n t h e i n d ict m en t m eet s b o t h p r o n g s o f t h e t es t we

o u t l i ned i n Co r h en , we affi rm t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s d en i al o f t h e s p eci al d em urrer.

3

. M cGl y nn al s o arg u es t h at t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s d eci s i o n t o ad m i t ev id en ce fro m

h i s i n terv i ew wi th t h e i n v es t i gat o r i n wh i ch h e ad m i t t ed t o p urch as i n g an d s m o k i n g

m ari ju an a t h e day b efo re h i s arres t v i o l at ed Ru l e 4 0 4 (b ). McGl y n n fi l ed a m o t i o n in

l i m i ne t o ex cl u d e s u ch ev i d en ce, arg u i ng t h at t h e St a t e c o u l d n o t s at i s fy t h e

req u i rem en t s o f Ru le 4 0 4 (b ). H e al s o ch al l en g ed t h e ad m i s si o n o f t he ev i d en ce o n

t h e b as i s t h at h e h ad n o t recei v ed ad eq u at e n o t i c e f r o m th e St at e t h at i t i nt en d ed to

i n t ro du ce t h i s ev i den ce ag ai n s t h i m p u rs u an t t o Ru l e 4 0 4 (b ). Th e t ri al co u rt reject ed

t h i s arg u m en t

, n ot i n g t h at M cGl y n n recei v ed a co p y o f t h e reco rd ed i n t erv i ew an d a

t ran s cri p t ei g h t o r n i n e m o n t h s p ri or t o t ri al

. In ad di t i o n

, t h e t ri al co u rt d et erm i n ed

t h at n ot i ce was n o t req u ired b ecau s e, p u rs u an t t o Ru l e 4 0 4 (b ), n o n o t i ce i s req u i red

wh en t h e ev i d en ce p ert ai n s t o “ ci rcu m s t an ces i m m ed i at el y s u rro un d in g t h e ch arg ed

cri m e.” T h e t ri al co u rt ru l ed t h at t h e ev i d en ce c o u l d b e p res en t ed b o t h as i n t ri n s i c

ev i d en ce an d fo r t h e p urp os e o f s h o wi n g i n t en t , m o t i v e, an d k n o wl ed g e.

Ru l e 4 0 4 (b ) p ro v i d es , i n p ert i n en t p art

, t h at

[e] v i d en ce o f o t h er cri m es

, wro n g s

, o r act s s h a l l n o t b e ad m i s s i bl e t o

p ro v e t h e ch aract er o f a p ers o n i n o rd er to s h o w act io n i n c o n fo rm i t y

12t h erewi th

. It m ay

, h o wev er, b e ad m i s s ib l e fo r o t h er p urp o s es

, i n cl ud i n g

,

b u t no t l im i t ed t o

, p ro o f o f m o ti v e, o p p o rt u n i t y, i n t en t

, . . . [o r]

k n o wl ed g e

. . . . Th e p ro s ecu t i o n i n a cri m i n al p ro ceed in g s hal l p ro v id e

reas o n ab l e no t i ce to t he d efen s e i n ad v an ce o f t ri al

, un l es s pret ri al n o t i ce

i s ex cu s ed by th e co u rt u p o n g o o d cau s e s h own

, o f t h e gen eral n at ure o f

an y s u ch ev i d en ce i t i n t en d s t o i n t r o d u ce at t ri al

. No t i ce s h al l n o t be

req u ired wh en t h e ev i d en ce o f p ri or cri m es

, wro n g s

, o r act s i s o ffered t o

p ro v e t h e ci rcu m s t an ces i m m ed i at el y su rro u n d i n g t h e c h a r g ed cri m e,

m o t i v e, or p ri o r d i ffi cu l t i es b et ween t h e accu s ed an d t he al l eg ed v i ct i m

.

O C G A § 2 4

- 4 -4 0 4 (b ). Deci s io n s by t h e t ri al co u rt wi t h reg ard t o ad m i s s i o n o f

ev i d en ce u n d er Ru l e 40 4 (b ) are rev i ewed fo r ab u s e o f d i s cret i o n

. Reeves v. S t a t e

, 2 9 4

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

Here, t h e t r i a l c o u r t was wi t h i n i t s d i scret i o n to d et erm i ne th at M cGl y n n ’ s

s t at em en t s reg ard i n g h i s p urch as e an d u s e o f m ari j u an a th e d ay b efo re th e t raffi c s t o p

were in t ri n s i c t o t h e ch arg ed o ffen s e o f p os s es si ng m ari ju an a. Th e t rad i t i o n al co n cep t

o f r es g es t a e p ro v i d ed t h at al l t h e act s an d ci rcu m s t an ces s u rro u n d i n g t h e ch arg ed

o ff e n s e w ere ad m i s s i bl e ev en i f t h ey refl ect ed up o n t h e d efen d an t ’ s ch aract er.

Ba u gh n s v. S t a t e

, 3 3 5 Ga. Ap p

. 6 0 0

, 6 0 2 (1 ) (7 8 2 SE 2 d 4 9 4 ) (2 0 1 6 ). Th i s ru l e o f

ad m i s s i b i l i t y h as b een carri ed fo rward t o t h e n ew ru l es o f ev i d en ce “ u n d er t h e

co n cep t of ‘ i n tri n s i c’ ev id en ce, as o pp o s ed t o ‘ ex t ri n s i c’ ev i d en ce, i .e., ev id en ce o f

13‘ ot h er cri m es

, w ro n g s, o r act s ,’ wh i ch i s s u b ject t o t h e ad m i s s i b i l i t y req u i rem en t s o f

OCGA § 2 4 -4 -4 0 4 (b ).” S a t t er f i el d v. S t a t e

, 3 3 9 Ga. Ap p. 1 5

, 1 9 (1 ) (a) (7 9 2 SE2 d

4 5 1 ) (2 0 16 ) (fo o t n o te o m i t t ed ). “ Ev id en ce i s i n t ri n s i c ‘ i f i t i s (1 ) an u n ch arg ed

o ffen s e wh i ch aro s e o u t o f t h e s a m e t ran s act io n o r s eri es o f t ran s act i o n s as t h e

ch arg ed o ffen s e, (2 ) n eces s ary to co m p let e t h e st o ry of t h e cri m e, o r (3 ) in ex t ri cab l y

i n t ert wi ned wi t h t he ev i d en ce reg ard in g t h e ch arg ed o ffen s e.’ ” Br o oks v. S t a t e

, 2 9 8

Ga. 7 22

, 72 6 (2 ), n .1 1 (7 8 3 SE2 d 8 9 5 ) (2 0 16 ) (ci t at i o n o m it t ed ). Here, b ecau s e o f t h e

cl o s e t em p o ral co n n e c t i o n b et ween M cGl y n n ’ s p u rch as e an d u se o f m ari ju an a (t h e

p ri o r d ay ) an d th e t raffi c s t o p at wh i ch h e was fo u n d t o b e i n p os s es si o n o f m ari ju an a,

t h e t ri al co u rt d i d n o t ab us e i ts d i s cret i o n i n d et erm i n i n g t h at s u ch ev i den ce was

i n t ri n s i c t o t h e ch arg ed o ffen s e.

As t h e t ri al co u rt was wi t h i n i t s d i s cret io n t o ad m i t t hes e s t at em en t s as i n t ri n s i c

ev i d en ce o f t h e o ffen se, it i s n ot n eces s ary fo r u s to co n s i d er wh et h er s u ch st at em en t s

were p ro p erl y ad m i t ted to s h o w M cGl y nn ’ s i n t en t

, m o t i ve, an d k n o wl ed g e p u rs u an t

t o Ru le 4 0 4 (b ) o r wh et h er t h e St at e p ro v i d ed M cGl y n n wi t h s uffi ci en t n ot i ce o f i t s

i n t en t i o n t o i nt ro d u ce t h e ev i d en ce p u rs uan t t o Ru l e 4 0 4 (b ).

4 . M cGl y n n n ex t arg u es t h at t h e t ri al co u rt erred b y d en y i n g h is m o t i o n fo r a

d i rect ed v erd ict bas ed on t h e eq u al acces s d o ct ri ne. McGl y n n arg u es t h at t h e l o cat i o n

14o f t h e m ari

ju an a i n th e v eh i cl e was i n a l o cat io n t h at was o p en

, n o t o ri o u s

, an d eas i l y

acces s i b l e b y t h e co -d efen d an t an d t h at t h e St at e fai l ed t o i n t ro d u ce ev i d en ce t o t h e

c o n t rary

. M cGl y n n s im i l arl y arg u es t h at t he St at e d i d n o t p res en t ev i d en ce t h at t h e

area wh ere t h e m ari

ju an a was lo cat ed was u n d er M cGl y n n ’ s ex cl us i v e co nt ro l

.

Fo r t h e e qu al acces s ru le t o reb u t t h e i n feren ce o f p o s s es s io n

, affi rm at i v e

ev i d en ce m

u s t s h ow t h at a p ers o n o t h er t h an t h e defen d an t h ad e q u al acces s t o t h e

s p eci fi c l o cat i o n wh ere th e co n t rab an d was fo u n d. Co ch r a n v. S t a t e

, 1 9 0 Ga. Ap p.

8 8 4

, 8 8 5 -8 6 (1 ) ( 3 8 0 S E 2 d 3 1 9 ) (1 9 8 9 ) (p h y s i cal p reced en t o n ly ). Ho wev er, wh en

ev i d en ce o f eq u al acces s i s s h o wn b u t “ t h ere i s ev i d en ce co n n ect i n g t h e d efen d an t to

t h e co n t rab an d o t h er t h an h i s o wn eq u al acces s,” t h e ju ry m u s t res o lv e t h e q u es t i o n

o f g u i l t o r i n n o cen ce. S i n g v. S t a t e

, 2 1 7 Ga. Ap p

. 5 9 1

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

(ci t at i o n o m i t t ed ). In S i n g

, t h e d efen d an t ’ s eq u al acces s d efen s e was a ju ry i s s u e

b ecau s e, al t h o u g h he t es t ifi ed t h at h e h a d n o k n o wl ed g e of t h e d ru g s fo u n d i n h i s

res i den ce, h e h ad ad m i t t ed t o i nv es t i g at o rs th at he kn ew d ru gs were b ei ng s o l d t h ere

an d t h at h e k n ew wh o was s el l i n g t h em

. Id

.

In t h i s cas e, th e l o cat i o n at i s s u e i s t h e area b en eat h th e p as s en g er s eat wh ere

M cGl y n n was seat ed at t h e t i m e o f t h e traffi c s t o p

. A s earch o f th at area rev eal ed a

b l u e co n t ai n er co n t ai n i n g m ari ju an a a s w e l l a s a p o t at o ch i p bag wi t h a p i p e

15co n tai n i n g m ari ju an a res id u e. It ap pears t hat b o t h M cGl y n n an d t he co -d efen d an t h ad

acces s t o t h at area an d t h at i t was n ot u n der M cGl y n n ’ s ex cl us i v e co n t ro l

. H o wev er,

b ecau s e M cGl y n n ad m i tt ed t o t h e i n ves t i g at o r t hat h e o wn ed t h e b l u e co nt ai n er an d

t h e p i p e, t h ere i s ad d i t i on al ev id en ce i n t h e reco rd co n nect i ng McGl y n n t o th o s e i t em s

o t h er t h a n h i s acces s t o t h e area wh ere t h ey were fo u n d

. Al t h o u g h h e d en i ed

o wn ers hi p o f t h e m a r i

j u an a co n t ai n ed i n t ho s e i t em s

, h e ad m i t t ed t h at h e h ad

p u rch as ed an d s m ok ed m ari ju an a t h e d ay befo re. 5 Acco rd i n g l y

, as i n S i n g

, McGl y n n

was free t o rai se eq u al acces s as a d efen s e, bu t b ecau s e o th er ev i den ce co n n ect ed h i m

t o t h o s e i t em s

, i t w a s t h e p r o v i n ce o f t h e ju ry

, an d n o t t h e tri al j u d ge, t o d et erm i n e

wh et h er t h e fact s s u p p o rt t h e d efen s e. W e th erefo re affi rm t h e tri al co u rt ’ s d en i al o f

M cGl y n n ’ s m o t i o n fo r d i rect ed v erd i ct

.

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

d en , P. J., a n d

Br a n ch , J., co n cu r

.

5 A s we d i s cu s s ed in Di v i s i on 3

, t h e t ri al co u rt h ad d i s c r et i on t o ad m i t t h i s

s t at em en t b efo re th e ju ry as in t ri n s i c t o t he cri m e an d as ex t ri n s i c ev i d en ce o f h i s

m o ti v e, i n t en t

, an d k n owl ed g e t o p o ss es s m ari ju an a at t h e t i m e o f t h e t raffi c s t o p

.

16