FOURTH D I VI SI ON

DI L LA RD, P. J.

, M ERCI ER and COLVI N, 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.

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C O U R T. A LL FILIN G S M U ST B E S U B M I TTE D WITH IN

TH E TIM E S S E T B Y

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Jul y 22, 2021



# I n th e Co u r t o f

A p p eals o f

G eo r g ia

A2 1 A0 71 0 . GEE v . THE STATE.

C O LV I N

, J u d g e.

Aft er a ju ry

t ri al , An t o n io M au ri ce Gee was co n v i ct ed o f b u rg l ary in t h e fi rs t

d eg ree, ag g rav at ed b at tery (2 co u n t s), ag g rav at ed as s au l t (4 co u n t s ), arm ed ro b b ery

(2 co u nt s ), ag g rav at ed s tal k i n g

, fal s e i m p ri s o n m en t (2 co u n t s ), cru el t y t o ch i l d ren in

t h e fi rs t d eg ree (2 co u n t s ), an d cru el t y t o ch i l d ren i n t h e t h i rd d eg ree (2 co u n t s ). Gee

ap p eal s fro m th e d en i al of h i s m o t i o n fo r n ew t ri al

, arg u i n g

, i n ter al i a, t h at t h e

ev i d en ce w a s i n s uffi ci en t to s u p p o rt h i s two arm ed ro b b ery co n v i ct i on s

. Fo r t h e

fo l l o w i n g reas o n s, we affi rm Gee’ s arm e d r o b b ery co n v ict i o n u nd er Co u n t 9

, b ut

rev ers e h i s arm ed ro b b ery co n v i ct i o n u n d er Co u n t 8 an d rem an d fo r res en t en ci n g

.

W h en ev al u at i ng t he s uffi ci en cy o f ev i d en ce, t h e pro p e r s tan d ard fo r rev i ew

i s w h et h er a rat i o nal t ri er o f fact co u l d h av e fo u nd t he d efen d an t g ui lt y b ey o n d areas on ab l e d o u b t

. See Ja cks o n v. Vi r g i n i a

, 4 4 3 U.S

. 3 0 7 ( 9 9 SCt 2 78 1

, 6 1 LEd 2 d

5 6 0 ) (1 97 9 ). “ Th i s Co u rt d o es n o t rewei g h ev i den ce o r res o l v e co n fl i ct s i n t es t i m o n y ;

i n s t ead

, ev i d en ce i s rev i ewed i n a l i g h t m o s t fav o rab l e t o t h e v erd ict

, wi t h d eferen ce

t o t h e ju ry ’ s as s es s m en t of t h e wei g h t an d cred i b i l i t y o f t h e ev i d en ce.” (Ci t at i o n an d

p u n ct u at i o n o m i t ted .) Ha

yes v. S t a t e

, 2 9 2 Ga. 5 0 6

, 5 0 6 (7 3 9 SE2 d 3 1 3) (2 0 1 3 ). W h en

a co n vi ct i o n i s b as ed u p o n ci rcu m s t an t i al ev i den ce,

q u es t i o n s as t o reas o nab l en es s are g en eral l y t o b e deci d ed b y t h e ju ry

wh i ch h eard th e ev i d en c e a n d wh ere th e j u ry i s au t h o ri zed to fi n d t hat

t h e ev i d en ce, t h o ug h ci rcu m s t an t i a l

, w a s s u ffi ci en t t o ex cl u d e ev ery

reas o n ab l e h y

p o t h es i s s av e t h a t o f g u i l t

, t h e ap p el l at e co urt wi l l n o t

d i s t u rb t h at fi n d i n g

, u n l e s s t h e v erd ict o f g u i l ty i s i ns u pp o rt ab l e as a

m at t er o f l aw.

(Ci t at i o n s an d p u n ct uat i o n o m i t t ed .) Ki ser v. S t a t e

, 3 2 7 Ga. A p p

. 1 7, 2 1 (3 ) (7 5 5

SE2 d 5 0 5) (2 0 2 1).

So v i ewed

, t h e e v i den ce s h o ws i n D ecem b er 2 0 1 6

, Gee w as rel eas ed fro m

p ri s o n wh ere h e was i ncarcerat ed fo r an ag g r av at ed s t al k i n g co n v ict i o n i nv o l v i n g

J es s i ca Cru t ch fi el d, t he m o th er o f h i s t wo ch i l d ren

. T wo d ay s aft er h i s rel eas e, Gee

s p en t t h e m o rn i ng co m m u n i cat i n g wi t h Cru tch fi el d o v er so ci al m ed i a. Th ei r

co m m u n icat io ns en d ed wh en G ee cal l ed Cru t ch fi el d t o t el l her t h at h e was co m i n g

2t o h er h o m e t o k il l h er. At ab o u t 5 : 0 0 p .m

. th at d ay

, Gee cam e t o Cru t ch fi el d ’ s h o m e,

wh i ch s h e sh ared w i t h h er t wo ch i l d ren an d 7 0 -y ear-o l d gran d m o t h er, J an ice Bau er.

As Cru t ch fi el d d i al ed 9 1 1

, Gee sm as h ed t h ro u g h t h e b ack pat i o d oo r wi t h an u m b rel l a

s t a n d

. A s s o o n as Gee b ro k e i n t h e d o or, t h e t wo w o m en t o o k t h e ch i l d ren u p s t ai rs

wi t h t h em t o h i d e i n a cl os et

. At t h e t i m e, B. C. w as a m ed ical l y frag i l e fo u r-m o n t h

o l d an d A. C. was 1 8 m o n t h s o l d

.

Aft er s earch i ng th e h ou s e, Gee fo u n d t he t wo wo m en an d t h e ch i l d ren h i d i n g

i n t h e cl o s et an d ph y s i cal l y as s au lt ed b ot h w o m e n wh i l e t h ey u s ed t h ei r b o d i es to

p ro t ect t h e ch i l d ren

. Gee b eat C r u t c h fi el d w i t h h i s fi s t s

. W h en t h e cel l p ho n e t h at

B au er was h o l d in g b eg an t o ri n g

, Gee g rab b ed i t an d t h rew i t acro s s t h e ro o m

. H e

t h en as s au l t ed h er b y rep eat ed l y p u n ch i n g h er i n t h e face s o t h at Bau er req ui red faci al

reco n s t ru ct i v e s u rg ery

. Gee b ro k e Bau er’ s jaw i n t wo p l aces

, h er p al at e, b o t h o f h er

ch eek b o n es , an d h er n os e.

Ho p in g t o s p are Bau er fro m fu rt h er i n ju ry

, Cru t ch fi el d t o ld Gee t h at s h e wo u ld

g o wi th h i m

i f h e wo u l d l eav e t h e k i d s wi th h er g ran d m o th er. Gee t o o k Cru t ch fi el d

an d t h e t o d d l er, A. C., d own s t ai rs

. Gee t h en t o o k a t as er fro m Cru t ch fi el d an d t as ered

h er t wi ce, th e s eco n d ti m e ren d eri n g h er u n co n s ci o u s

. Gee t h en wen t u p s t ai rs an d

at t em p t ed t o at t ack Bau er, w h o was h o l d in g t h e i n fan t

, wi th a s m al l b ed s i d e t ab l e.

3Bau er b l o ck ed i t wi t h h er b od y

. Du ri n g t h es e as s au l t s

, G ee al so t as ed Bau er an d t h e

i n fan t

, B. C., ren d eri n g h i m u n co n s ci o u s t o t h e p o i n t t h at o ffi cers th o u g h t t h at h e was

d ead w h en t h ey

arri v ed at t h e s cen e.

W h en Cru t ch fi el d reg ai n ed co n sci o u s n es s

, Gee was s t a n d i n g o v er h er an d

p u n ch i n g h er. Gee th en s t ab b ed Cru t ch fi el d i n t h e arm an d l eg wi t h a b u t t erfl y k n i fe

t h at b e l o n g ed to h er an d was at t ach ed t o h er car k ey s

. Cru t ch fi el d t es t i fi ed t h at s h e

b el i ev ed t h at s h e h ad l eft h er k ey s d o wn st ai rs

, an d t h at at t h e t i m e, t h e b u t t erfl y k n i fe

was at t ach ed t o t he k ey ri ng

. Cru t ch fi el d s cream ed wh e n i t ap p eared t h at Gee was

at t em p t i n g t o s t ab h er d a u g h t er, A. C., b u t h e s t ab b ed h er i n t h e l eg i ns t ead as s h e

m o ved t o p ro t ect t h e ch i l d

. Po l i ce o ffi cers t h e n k i ck ed th e do o r i n

. Cru t ch fi el d an d

A. C. were t ak e n o u t s i d e w h il e o ffi cers cl eared t h e fi rs t l ev el of t h e h ou s e. As t h ey

were ab o u t t o g o u p s t ai rs

, Bau er cam e d o wn s t ai rs wi t h th e u nco n sci o u s i n fan t

, B. C.,

i n h er arm s

. A s a res u l t o f Gee’ s as s au l t s

, Cru t ch fi el d s us t ai n ed a b ro k en n o s e an d a

fract u red jaw, an d l o s t m

u l ti p l e t eet h

.

Aft er t h e v i ct i m s were ev acu at ed

, t h e p o li ce w i t h d rew fro m t h e h o m e an d a

fi ve-h o u r s t an d o ff o ccu rred b efo re G ee s u rren d ered

. Offi cers th en s earch ed t h e h o u s e

a n d d i s c o v ered t h e b u t t erfl y k n i fe o n a co u nt er o f t h e d o wn st ai rs b at h ro o m

. Aft er

4b ei n g Mi r a n d i z ed

, Gee s t at ed t h at h e co ul d n o t rem em b er an y t h i ng t h at h ap p en ed an d

t h at h e s u ffered fro m

b l ack o u t s.

On Decem

b er 13

, 20 1 6

, To n y a Bau er, Cru t ch fi el d ’ s au nt

, fo un d Cru tch fi el d ’ s

car k ey s

, t wo cel l p h o n es b el on g i n g t o Cru t ch fi el d, a cel l ph o n e b el o ng i n g t o Bau er,

t h ree of Bau er’ s cred it card s , Bau er’ s s m art wat ch an d Cru t ch fi el d ’ s Dep art m en t o f

Co rrect i o n s id en t i fi cat i o n card h i d d en u n d ern eat h a h o p e ch es t i n t h e g arag e. Th e

p o l i ce s aw wh at t h ey b el i ev ed was b l o o d o n th e b ack o f a car i n t he g arag e wh en t h ey

arri v ed t o co l l ect t h e ev i d en ce.

Bau er t es t i fi ed t h at s h e g en eral l y k ep t h er car k ey s an d cred i t card s in h er p u rs e i n h er

b ed ro o m an d h er s m art wat ch i n a d res s er d rawer. Bo t h Cru tch fi el d an d Bau er d en i ed

t h at t h ey p l aced t h ei r i t em s i n t h e g arag e. Nei t h er Cru t ch fi el d n o r Bau er s aw Gee t ak e

t h e i t em s . Gee d i d n ot t es t i fy at t ri al

.

1

. In s ev eral rel at ed en u m erat i o n s

, Gee arg u es t h at t he tri al co u rt erred in

d en y i n g h i s m o t io n fo r a d irect ed v erd i ct an d m o t i o n fo r n ew t ri al o n t h e g ro un d s t h at

t h e ev i d en ce was i n su ffi ci en t t o s u p p o rt h i s co n vi ct i o n fo r arm ed ro b b ery (Co u n t 8 ).

Gee arg ues t hat t h ere was n o ev i d en ce t o s h o w t h at G ee us ed t h e k n i fe t o effect u at e

t h e t ak i n g o f t he car k ey s . W e ag ree.

5Gee was ch arg ed wi t h arm ed ro b b ery i n Co u n t 8 o f t h e i n d i ct m en t : “ wi t h t h e

i n t en t t o co m

m it a t h eft

, d i d u n lawfu l l y t ak e car key s

, p ro p ert y o f Jes s i ca Cru t ch fi el d,

fr o m t h e i m m e d i at e p res en ce o f Jes s i ca Cru t ch fi el d

, b y t h e u s e o f a kn i fe, an

o ffen s i v e weap o n .” Arm ed ro b b ery o ccu rs wh en th e d efen d an t

, “ wi t h i n t en t to

co m m i t t h eft

, . . . t ak es p ro p ert y o f an o t h er fro m t h e p ers o n o r t h e i m m ed i at e pres en ce

o f an o t h er b y u s e o f an offen s i v e weap o n

, o r an y rep l i ca, art i cl e, or d ev ice h av i n g t h e

ap p earan ce o f s u ch weap o n.” OCGA § 1 6 -8 -4 1 (a). “ Th e St at e t h erefo re was req u i red

t o pro v e b ey on d a reas on ab l e d o u b t t hat [Gee’ s] us e o f t h e [k n i fe] o ccu rred p ri o r to

o r c o n tem

p oran eo u s l y wi t h t he tak i n g ” o f t he k ey s. (Ci t at i o n an d pu n ct u at i o n

o m it t ed .) Ha r r in g t o n v. S t a t e

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

al s o At t a wa

y v. S t a t e

, 3 3 2 Ga. Ap p

. 3 75

, 3 7 7 (1 ) (a) (7 7 2 SE2 d 8 2 1) (2 0 1 5 ) (ev i d en ce

i n s u ffi c i en t t o s u p p ort an arm ed ro b b ery co n vi ct io n b ecau s e d efen d an t h ad al read y

t ak en p o s s es s i on o f l ap t o p befo re b ran d i s h i n g weap o n t o effect u at e h i s es cap e).

Th e ev i d en ce at t ri al s h o w ed t h at Cru tch fi el d t es t i fi ed th at s h e b el i ev ed t h at s h e

h ad l e f t h er k n i fe, st i l l at t ach ed t o h er car k ey s

, do wn s t ai rs b efo re G ee en t ered t h e

h o m e. Th e ev i d en ce s h owed t h at Gee en ter e d t h e h o m e an d ru m m ag ed aro u n d

d o wn s t ai rs b efo re co m i n g u p s t ai rs t o fi n d Cru t ch fi el d an d Bau er h i d i n g i n a cl o s et

.

Aft er as s au l t i n g t h em u p s tai rs

, Gee t h en t oo k Cru t ch fi el d b ack do wn s t ai rs wh ere h e

6t h en ren dered h er u n co n s ci o u s b y u s e o f a t as er. W h en Cru t ch fi el d reco v ered

co n sci o u s n es s

, Gee was s t an d i n g o v er h er an d pu n ch i n g h er. He th en s tab b ed h er in

t h e arm an d l eg wi t h a b u t t e r f l y k n i fe t h at h ad b een at t ach ed t o h er k ey ri n g

. Th e

reco rd do es n ot co n t ai n t es t i m o n y t h at Cru t ch fi el d s aw Gee t ak e t h e k ey s o r th e k n i fe.

“ Becau s e i t i s at l eas t eq u al ly l i k el y t h at [Gee] t o o k t he [k n ife an d key s ] b efo re rat h er

t h an aft er en co u n t eri n g t h e v i ct i m , t h e ev i d en ce was i n s u ffi ci en t t o s up p o rt b ey o n d

a reas o n ab l e d o u bt t h at ” G ee u s ed a k n i fe t o t ak e th e key s fro m C r u t c h f i el d.

Ha r ri n g t o n

, 3 00 Ga. at 5 7 7 -5 7 8 (2 ) (a) (ev i den ce was i n s u ffi ci en t t o s u p p o rt arm ed

ro b b ery co n v ict i o n wh en i t was eq u al l y p o s s i b l e t o i n fer t h at d efen d an t t o o k

p o s s es s i o n o f a cel l p h on e b ef o r e t h e v i ct i m i n terru p t ed t h e b urg l ary ). Acco rd Fo x v.

S t a t e, 2 8 9 Ga. 34

, 3 6 -3 7 (1 ) (b ) (7 0 9 SE2 d 2 0 2 ) (2 0 1 1 ) (ci rcu m s t an ti al ev i d en ce was

i n s u ffi ci en t t o s u p p o rt t o s u pp o rt an arm ed ro b b ery co n v ict i o n wh en i t co u l d s u p p o rt

t wo eq u al l y reas o n ab le h y p o th es i s

– t h at t h e d efen d an t t o o k t h e i t em s b ef o r e

co n fro n ti n g v ict i m wi t h a w e a p o n o r a f t er co nfro n t i n g v i ct i m ). Acco rd i n g l y

, we

rev ers e G ee’ s arm ed ro b b ery co n v ict i on u n d er Co u n t 8 an d r e m a n d t h i s cas e fo r

res en t en ci n g

.

2

. In s ev eral rel at ed en u m erat i o n s

, Gee arg u es t h at t h e t ri al co u r t erred in

d en y i n g h i s m o t io n fo r a d irect ed v erd i ct an d m o t i o n fo r n ew t ri al o n t h e g ro un d s t h at

7t h e ev i d en ce was i n s u ffi ci en t t o s u p p o rt h i s co n vi ct i o n fo r arm ed ro b bery (Co u n t 9 ).

W e d i s ag ree.

Co u nt 9 o f t h e i n d i ct m en t ch arg ed Gee wi t h arm ed ro b bery as fo l l ows : “ wi th

t h e i n t en t t o co m

m i t a t h eft

, [Gee] d i d u n l awfu l l y t ak e cred i t card s

, a s m art wat ch

, an d

t wo (2 ) cel l p h o nes

, p ro p ert y o f J an i ce Bau er, fro m t he i m m ed i at e p res en ce o f J an i ce

Bau er, b y t h e u se o f a k ni fe, an o ffen s i v e weap on [.] ”

As n o ted ab o v e, “ [a] p ers o n co m m i ts t h e o ffen se o f arm ed ro b bery wh en

, wi th

i n t en t t o co m

m i t t h eft

, h e or s he t ak es pro p ert y o f an o t h er fro m t h e p ers on o r t h e

i m m ed i at e p res en ce of an ot h er b y u s e o f an o ffen s i v e weap o n [.] ” OCGA § 1 6 -8 -4 1

( a )

. Ho w ev er, “ Geo rg i a co u rt s h av e i n t erp ret ed t h e ‘ i m m ed i at e p res en ce’ s t an d a r d

b ro ad l y ; o u r cas e l aw refl ect s t h at

, g en eral l y s p eak i n g

, t h e v i ct im ’ s p h y s i cal pres en ce

at t he t h eft i s n ot req u i red fo r arm ed ro b bery i f wh at was t ak en was u n der hi s co n tro l

o r h i s res p o n s i b i l i t y an d i f h e was n o t t o o far d i s t an t

. ” (Ci t at i o n an d pu n ct u at i o n

o m it t ed .) Ben t on v. S t at e

, 3 0 5 Ga. 2 4 2

, 24 4 -2 4 5 (1 ) (b ) (8 2 4 SE2 d 3 2 2 ) (2 0 1 9 ).

Fu rt h er, Gee “ can n o t b e ab s o lv ed o f arm ed ro b b ery ” s i m p l y b ecau s e h i s act i on s

cau s ed Bau er t o fl ee fro m t h e res i d en ce d u ri n g t h e co urs e o f th e t heft

. Id

. In Ma d d o x

v

. S t at e

, 1 7 4 Ga. Ap p

. 7 28 (3 3 0 SE2 d 9 1 1 ) (1 9 85 ), th i s Co u rt up h el d a n a r m e d

ro b b ery co n v i ct io n wh en a s t ore k e ep er was fo rced t o fl ee h i s s t ore as a res u l t o f

8d efen d an t ’ s ar m e d p res en ce t h ere ev en t h o ug h th e cas h fro m t h e s to re was n ot

act u al l y t ak en fro m t h e s t o rek eep er h i m sel f o r h i s i m m ed i at e p res en ce. Id

. at 7 3 0 (1 ).

See al s o Bo o ker v. S t a t e

, 2 4 2 Ga. Ap p

. 80

, 8 2 (1 ) (a) (5 2 8 SE2 d 8 4 9 ) (2 00 0 ) (m o n ey

fo u n d i n v i ct i m ’ s p ers o n al p o s s es s i o n s i n t h e ap art m en t fro m w h i c h h e l eap ed to

es cap e fro m d efen d an t was wi t h i n h i s “ im m ed i at e p res en ce” wi t hi n t h e m ean i n g o f

OCGA § 1 6 -8 -4 1 (a)); Mer ri t t v. S t a t e

, 35 3 Ga. Ap p

. 3 7 4

, 3 7 6 ( 1 ) (8 3 7 SE2 d 5 2 1 )

(2 0 2 0) (“ wh en p erp et rat o rs fo rci b l y cau s e t h e v i ct i m t o b e away fro m t h e i m m ed i at e

p res en ce o f t h e p ro p ert y at t h e t i m e i t is s t o l en

, t h e o ffen se o f arm ed ro b bery can s t i l l

b e co m m i t t e d

. A v i ct i m ’ s fl i g h t

. . . do es n ot u n d erm in e an arm ed ro b b ery

co n vi ct i o n ”) (ci t at i o ns an d p un ct u at i o n o m i t t ed ).

Here, th e ev i d en ce s h o wed t h at p o li ce o ffi cers were ab le t o rem o v e th e v i ct i m s

fro m t h e h o u se s o o n aft er Gee at t ack ed Cru t ch fi el d wi t h t h e b u t t erfl y k n i fe. A fi v eh o u r s t a n d o ff th en o ccu rred wh ere Gee rem ai n ed i ns i d e th e h o m e befo re h e

s u rren d ered

. Sev eral d ay s l a t e r

, B au er’ s cred i t card s

, cel l p ho n es

, s m art w at ch an d

i d en t i fi cat i o n card were fo u n d h i d d en u n d ern eat h f u rn it u re i n th e g arag e an d

i n v es t i g at i n g o ffi cers n o t i ced b l o o d s t ai n s n earb y

. Bau er t es t i fi ed th at t h es e i tem s h ad

b een i n her b ed ro o m p ri o r to G ee’ s at t ack

. Here, t h e fact s pres en t ed b y t h e ev i d en ce

d o n o t p ro vi d e a reas o n ab le h y p o t h es i s t h at Gee was ab l e t o o b t ai n t h e s t o l en i t em s

9p ri o r to b ran d i s h i n g t h e weap o n

, an d t h ere i s n o co n t en t i o n t h at th es e t h eft s occu rred

b ef o r e t h e u s e of t h e fo rce. “ W h ere, as h ere, t h e ev i d en ce i s s u ffi ci en t t o au t h o ri ze a

f i n d i n g t h at t h e t heft was co m p l et ed aft er fo rce was em p l o y ed ag ai n s t t h e vi ct i m

, a

co n vi ct i o n fo r arm ed ro b b ery i s a u th o ri zed .” (Ci t at i o n an d p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed .)

Ben to n , 3 0 5 Ga. at 24 5 (1 ) (b ). See Mer r it t , 3 5 3 Ga. Ap p

. at 3 7 6 (1 ) (To s up p o rt an

arm ed ro b b ery , “ t h e St at e m u s t p ro v e b ey o n d a reas o n ab le d ou b t t h at t he u s e o f t h e

weap o n occu rred p ri o r t o o r co n t em p oran eo us l y w i t h t h e tak i n g”) (ci t at i o n an d

p u n ct u at i o n o m it t ed ).

3

. As a res u l t o f o u r h o l d in g s in Di v i s i o n 1 an d 2

, Ge e ’s r e m ai n i n g

en u m erat i o n s o f erro r are m o ot

.

Ju d g men t a f f ir med i n p a r t a n d r ever

s ed i n p ar t

. Di l l a r d

, P. J., a n d Mer ci er

, J.,

co n cu r

.

10