FOURTH D I VI SI ON

BA RNES, P. J.

, M CM I LLI A N A ND M ERCI ER, JJ.

N O T IC E : M otions for r e c ons i de r a tion m us t be

ph y sic a l ly r e ce iv ed i n our c le r k ’s offic e w ithin te n

da y s of the da te of de c is ion to be de e m ed tim e ly file d.

http://w w w .ga a ppe a l s .us /r ule s

Januar y 13, 2016



# I n th e Co u r t o f

A p p eals o f

G eo r g ia

A1 5 A1 99 0 . NORM AN et al . v . YEAGER.

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

W es l ey Bern ard No rm an

, J r. an d Ri t e Bro kers A ut o Sal es

, LLC ap p eal t h e t ri al

co u rt ’ s o rd er d i s m i ss i n g t h ei r co m p l ai n t t h at s o u g h t t h e ret u rn o f p ers o nal p ro p ert y

s ei zed b y t h e Sh eri ff o f Co w et a Co u n t y

. Becau se t h e s ei zed p ro p ert y d i d n ot

co n st i t u t e co n t rab an d p er s e an d n o s t at u to ry a u t h o ri t y s up p o rt ed i ts co n t i n u ed

ret en t i o n b y t h e Sh eri ff, t h e t ri al co u rt erred i n d i s m i s s i ng t h e co m p lai n t an d fai l i n g

t o o rd er t h e Sh eri ff t o ret u rn t he p ro p ert y . Acco rd in g ly , we rev ers e.

Th e m at eri al fact s are u n d i s p u t ed

. No rm an i s on e o f t h e m an ag i n g m em b ers o f

Ri t e Bro k ers

, a l i m i t ed l iab i l i t y co m p an y t h at i s th e t it l e o wn er o f a 2 00 3 Fo rd t ru ck

.

At th e cen ter o f t h i s cas e are t h ree 1 0 0 -g al l on fu el t a n k s an d a fu el p u m p th at were

at t ach ed t o

, o r co n t ai n ed i n

, t h e t ru ck own ed b y Ri t e Bro k ers (co ll ect i vel y

, t h e “ fu el

eq u ip m en t ”).In D ecem b er 2 0 13

, N o rm an was arres t ed an d ch arg ed wi t h cri m i n al at t em p t to

co m m i t t h eft b y tak i n g b as ed o n h i s al l eg ed at t em pt t o s teal d ies el fu el fro m a

b u s i n e s s

. In J an u ary 2 0 1 4

, No rm an was ch arg ed w i t h t h eft b y t ak in g fo r al l eg ed l y

s t eal in g d i es el fu el fro m a s eco nd b u s i n es s

. No rm an al l eg ed l y u s ed th e Fo rd t ru ck an d

fu el eq u i p m en t in co n nect i o n w i t h t h e t heft o ffen ses

, an d t h e tru ck an d eq u i p m en t

were s ei zed b y

t h e Co w et a Co un t y

Sh eri ff’ s Offi ce u p o n No rm an ’ s arres t

.

In M ay 2 0 1 4

, wh i l e t h e cri m i n al ch arg es rem ai n ed pen di ng

, No rm an an d Ri t e

Bro kers d em an d ed th e ret u rn of t h e t ru ck w i t h t h e f u el eq u i p m en t fro m t h e Sh eri ff

p u rs u an t t o OC G A § 1 7 -5 -5 0, co n t en d i n g t h at t h e t ru ck was n o t co n trab an d o r t h e

s u b ject o f a fo rfei t ure act i o n

, an d t h at p h ot o g rap h s o r v i d eo reco rd i n g s o f t h e t ru ck

wo u l d b e an ad eq uat e s u b s ti t ut e fo r t h e act u al v eh i cl e at t ri al

. See OCGA § 1 7 -5 -5 0

(c). 1 W h en t h e Sh eri ff refu s ed t o ret u rn t h e tru ck

, No rm an an d Ri t e Bro k ers fi l ed a

co m p l ai n t i n t h e Su p eri or Co u rt o f Co we t a C o u n t y seek i n g t he ret u rn o f t h e s ei zed

p ro p ert y

. Th e Sh eri ff an s wered t h e co m p l ai n t

, d en y in g t h at h e was req u i red t o ret u rn

1 OCGA § 1 7-5 -5 0 (c) p ro v i d es : “ Ph o to grap h s

, v i d eo t ap es

, o r o t h er

i d en t i fi cat i o n or an al y s i s o f t h e p ro p ert y i n v o l ved

, d u ly i d en t i fi ed i n wri t i n g b y t h e

l aw en fo rcem en t o ffi cer o ri g i n al l y t ak i n g cu s t o dy o f t h e p r o p e r t y as accu rat el y

rep res en t i n g s u ch p ro p ert y

, s h al l b e ad m i s s i bl e at t ri al i n l i eu o f t h e o ri g i n al

p ro p ert y .”

2t h e t ru ck

. Th e Sh eri ff d id n ot as s ert a co u n t ercl ai m or fi le an i n d ep en d en t fo rfei t u re

act i on

.

In Decem b er 2 0 1 4, No rm an en t ered a pl ea o f g u i l t y u nd er t h e Fi rs t Offen d er

Act

, OCGA § 4 2 -8 -6 0 et s eq

., t o o n e co u n t o f t heft b y t ak i n g

. Th e rem ai n in g co u n t s

o f t h e in d i ct m en t w ere d i s p o s ed o f t hro u g h en t ry o f a n o l l e p ro s eq u i ord er. No rm an

was s en t en ced t o fi v e y ears p ro b at i on t o b e t erm i n at ed u p o n t h e pay m en t o f

res t it u t i o n. No rm an p ai d t h e res t i t u t i o n in fu l l o n t h e d a t e o f t h e p l ea an d was

d i s ch arg ed wi th o u t an ad j u d icat i o n o f g u i l t p u rs u an t t o OCGA § 4 2 -8 -6 2 (a) o f t h e

Fi rs t O ffen d er Act

.

Th e Sh eri ff ret u rn ed t h e Fo rd t ru ck to N o rm an an d Ri te Bro k ers aft er No rm an

p l ed g u i l t y u n d er t h e Fi rs t Offen d er Act

. Ho wev er, b efo re ret u rn i ng t h e t ru ck

, t h e

Sh er i f f rem o v ed t h e fu el eq u ip m en t an d refu s ed t o rel i n q ui s h t h e eq u i p m en t to

No rm an an d Ri t e Bro k ers

.

Th e t ri al co u rt su b seq uen t l y co n d u ct ed a h eari n g o n No rm an an d Ri t e Bro k ers ’

co m p l ai n t seek i ng ret u rn o f t h e s ei zed p ro p ert y

. Th e p art i es s ti p ul at ed t o t h e m at eri al

fact s an d req u es ted fo r t h e t ri al co u rt t o ru l e o n wh et h er th e Sh eri ff h ad t o ret u rn t h e

fu el eq u i p m en t. Th e Sh eri ff d i d n o t rel y u p on a s p eci fi c s t at u t e t o ju s t i fy ret en t i o n o f

3t h e fu el eq u ip m en t

, b u t in s tead arg u ed m o re g en eral l y th at t h e eq u i p m en t c o u l d b e

ret ai n ed as co n t rab an d b ecau s e i t was a t o o l u s ed i n t h e co m m i s s i o n o f a cri m e.

In i t s fi n al o rd er en t ere d a f t e r t h e h eari n g

, t h e t ri al co u rt ack n o w l ed g ed t h at

“ t h ere i s n o cl ear s t at ut o ry au th o ri t y wh i ch ad d res s es t h e p res en t s i t u at i on b efo re t h e

Co u rt wh en a cri m in a l d e f e n d a n t s eek s t h e ret u rn o f fu el t an k s an d a p u m p wh i ch

were u s ed t o co m

m i t t h e cri m e of s t eal i n g fu el .” Bu t t h e tri al co u rt co n cl u ded t h at t h e

fu el eq u i pm en t was “ p ers o n al pro p ert y t h at w as u s ed b y No rm an i n t h e co m m i s s i o n

o f t h e cri m e o f st eal i ng d i es el fu el an d [was ]

, t h u s, co n t rab an d” t h at d i d n ot h av e to

b e r et u rn ed to No rm an an d Ri t e Bro k ers

. Bas ed o n t h i s co n cl u si on

, t h e tri al c o u r t

d i s m i s s ed No rm an an d Ri t e Bro k ers ’ co m pl ai nt fo r ret u rn o f t h e s ei zed p ro p ert y

.

On ap p eal

, N o rm an an d Ri t e Bro k ers co n t en d t h at t he t ri al co u rt erred by

fai l i n g t o r e q u i re t h e Sh eri ff t o ret u rn t h e s ei zed fu el eq u i p m en t o n ce t h e cri m i n al

p ro s ecu ti o n ag ai n st No rm an h ad b een co n cl ud ed

. Th e ap p el l an t s arg u e, an d t h e St at e

co n ced es

, t h at t h ere i s n o s p eci fi c Geo rg i a s tat u te j u s ti fy i n g t h e ret en ti o n o f t h e fu el

eq u ip m en t b y th e Sh eri ff aft er t h e co m p l et i on o f t h e cri m i n al p ro s ecu t i o n. Becau s e

t h e fu el eq u i p m en t is n o t co n t ra b a n d p er s e an d th ere i s n o s t at u to ry b as i s fo r

co n ti n u ed ret en t i o n o f t h e eq u i p m en t , t h e ap p el l an t s arg u e t h at t h e eq u i p m en t m u s t

b e ret urn ed t o i ts ri g h t fu l o wn er, Ri t e Bro k ers . W e ag ree wi t h t h e ap p el l an t s

.

4Fo l l owi n g t h e co n cl u s io n o f a cri m in al p ro s ecu t i on

, p ers o n al p ro p ert y s ei zed

fo r u s e as ev id en ce at t ri al m u s t b e ret u rn ed t o i t s ri g h tfu l o wn er, u n l es s t he p ro p ert y

c o n s t i t u t es co nt rab an d o r i s s u b ject t o fo rfei tu re. See OCGA § 1 7-5 -5 4 (a) (1 ), (d )

(2 0 1 3); 2 Ba ez v. S t a t e

, 2 3 1 Ga. Ap p. 3 7 5

, 3 76 ( 5 0 0 S E 2 d 33 9 ) (1 9 9 8). See al s o

2 OCGA § 1 7 -5 -5 4 (2 0 1 3 ) p ro v i des i n rel ev an t p art t h at

(a) Ex cep t as p ro v i d ed i n C o d e Sect i o ns 17 -5 -5 5 [wh ich ad dres s es

,

am o n g o t her th i n g s

, t h e di s p o s i t i o n o f ev i d en ce d es i g n at ed as d an g ero u s

o r co n t rab an d b y s t at e o r fed eral l aw] an d 17 -5 -5 6 [wh i ch ad d res s es th e

m a inte na nc e of e vide nc e c onta ining bi o l o g i cal m at eri al ] an d s u b s ect i o n s

(d ), (e), an d (f) o f t h i s Co d e se c t i o n

, w h en a l aw en fo rcem en t ag en cy

as s u m es cu s t o d y o f an y p ers o n al p ro p ert y wh i ch i s t h e s ub ject o f a cri m e

o r h as b een a b a n d o n e d o r is o t h erwi s e s ei zed

, a d i s p os i t i o n o f s u ch

p ro p ert y sh al l b e m ad e i n acco r d a n ce w i th th e p ro v i s i o n s o f t h i s Co de

s ect i o n

. W h en a fi n al v e r d i ct an d j u d gm en t is en t ered fi n d i ng a

d efen d an t g u i l t y o f t he c o m m i s s i o n o f a cri m e, an y p ers o n al pro p ert y

u s ed as ev i d en ce i n t h e t ri al s h al l b e ret u rn ed t o t h e ri g h tfu l o wn er o f th e

p ro p ert y wi t h i n 3 0 d ay s fo l l o wi n g t h e fi n al ju d g m en t ; p r o v i d ed

, h o wev er, t hat i f t h e j u d g m e n t i s a pp eal ed o r i f t h e d efen d an t fi l es a

m o t i o n fo r a n e w t r i a l an d i f p h o t o g rap h s

, v id eo t ap es

, o r o t h er

i d en ti fi cat i o n o r an al y s i s o f t he p ers o n al p ro pert y w i l l n o t b e su ffi ci en t

ev i d en ce fo r th e ap p eal o f t h e cas e o r n ew t ri al o f t h e cas e, s u ch p ers o nal

p ro p ert y s h al l b e r e t u r n ed t o t h e ri g h tfu l o wn er w i th i n 3 0 d ay s o f th e

co n cl u s i o n o f t h e ap p eal o r n ew t ri al

, wh ich ev er o ccu rs l as t

. . . . (d ) Th e p ro v i s i on s o f t hi s Co d e sect i o n s hal l n o t a p p l y to p ers o nal

p ro p ert y wh i ch i s t h e s u b j ect o f f o r f e i t u re p ro ceed i n g s as o t h erwi s e

p ro v i d ed b y

l aw.

OCGA § 1 7 -5 -5 4 ( a ) ( 1 )

, ( d ) (2 0 1 3 ). O CGA § 1 7 -5 -5 4 was rev i s ed b y t h e Gen eral

As s em b l y

, effect iv e J u l y 1, 2 01 5

, b u t t he rev i s ed s t at u t e d o es n o t ap p l y i n t h i s cas e.

See OCGA § 1 7 -5 -5 4 (Su p p

. 2 0 1 5 ); Ga. L. 2 0 15

, p

. 69 3

, § 4

- 1 / H B 2 3 3 (“ Th i s Act

s h al l beco m e effect i v e o n J u l y 1

, 2 0 1 5

, an d sh al l ap p l y t o s e i zu res o f p ro pert y fo r

fo rfei t u re t hat occu r on o r aft er t h at d at e. An y s u ch s ei zu re t h at o ccu rs b efo re J u l y 1,

5Ch a

p p el l v. S t a

p l et on

, 5 8 Ga. A p p

. 1 3 8 (1 9 8 SE 1 0 9 ) (1 93 8 ); Pa d g et t v. S t u r

g i s

, 6

Ga. Ap p

. 5 4 4 ( 6 5 SE 3 5 2 ) (1 9 0 9 ). In d et erm i n i n g wh et h er t h e s ei zed p ro p ert y

co n st i t u t es co n t rab an d

, Geo rg ia co urt s d i s t i n g u i s h b et ween co n t rab an d p er se, wh i ch

i s “ i n h eren t l y u n l awfu l ,” an d “ c o n t r a b an d w h i ch m ay o rd i n ari l y b e u s ed i n a

b en efi ci al an d u s efu l m an n er b u t wh i ch b eco m es u n l awfu l u n d e r cert ai n s p eci fi c

ci rcu m s t an ces s et fo rt h b y l aw.” Ba l kco m v. Hep t i n s t a l l

, 15 2 Ga. Ap p

. 53 9

, 5 4 0 (2 6 3

SE2 d 2 7 5) (1 9 7 9).

A p art y has n o ri g h t to t he ret u rn o f o b ject s t h at are co n trab an d p er s e, t h at i s

,

“ p ro p ert y

, t h e p os s es s io n o f wh i ch

, wi t h ou t m o re, co n s t i t u t es a cri m e.” On e 1 9 5 8

Pl ymo u t h S ed a n v. Pen n syl va ni a

, 3 80 U.S. 6 9 3

, 69 9 ( 8 5 SCt 1 2 4 6

, 1 4 LE2 d 1 7 0 )

(1 9 6 5). See W

i n d h a m v

. H a r mo n

, 5 0 Ga. Ap p

. 3 2 2 (1 ) (1 7 8 SE 1 6 0 ) (1 93 5 ) (“ Th e

co u r t s w i l l n o t s us t ai n act i o n s fo r t h e reco v ery o f p ro p ert y t h e p o s ses s i o n o f wh i ch

i s il l eg al .”). A q u in tes s en t ial ex am p l e o f co n t rab an d p er s e i s co cai ne, t h e p o s s es s i o n

o f wh i ch i s u n lawfu l u n d er t h e Geo rg i a Co n t ro l l ed Su b s t an ces Act

, OCGA § 1 6 -1 3

-

3 0 (a)

. On e c a n “ h av e n o p ro p ert y ri gh t s” i n o b ject s t hat are co n t rab an d p er s e,

Bl a ckmo n v. Br o t h er h o o d Pr o tect i ve Or d er o f E l ks

, 2 3 2 Ga. 6 7 1

, 6 7 3 (1 ) (2 0 8 SE2 d

4 8 3 ) (1 9 7 4 ), an d t h e ret urn o f t h i s t y p e o f co n t rab an d t o th e p u rp o rt ed o wn er wo u ld

2 0 1 5 , s h al l b e g o v ern ed b y t h e s t at u t e i n effect at t h e t i m e o f s u ch s ei zu re.”).

6“ fru s t rat e[] t h e ex p res s pu b l i c p o l i c y ag ai ns t th e p o s s es s i o n o f su ch o b ject s .” On e

1 9 5 8 Pl ymo u t h Sed

a n

, 3 8 0 U.S. at 6 9 9

.

A d i fferen t ru l e ap pl i es wh ere t h e m ere p o s s e s s i o n o f t h e s ei zed p ers o n al

p ro p ert y i s n o t i t s el f i l l eg al an d t h e p ro p ert y i n i ts o rd i nary u s e wo u l d b e b en efi ci al

an d us efu l

. In t h at co n t ex t

, t h e s ei zed p ro pert y m u st b e ret u rn ed t o it s ri g h tfu l o wn er

aft er t h e co n cl us i on o f t h e cri m i n al p ro s ecu t i o n, un l es s a “ s t at u t e

. . . p ro v i d es fo r i t s

co n dem n at i o n o r co n fi s cat io n.” (Em p has i s om i t t ed .) Ba l

kco m

, 1 5 2 Ga. Ap p

. at 5 4 1,

q u o t i n g Ch a

p p el l , 5 8 Ga. Ap p

. at 1 3 9

. See S ea ma n v. S ta t e , 1 9 6 Ga. Ap p . 6 3 4 , 6 3 5

(3 9 6 SE2 d 5 2 5 ) (1 9 90 ) (o wn er was en t i tl ed t o ret u rn o f s ei zed vid eo cas set t e reco rd ers

b ecau s e t h e reco rd ers were n o t co n t rab an d p er s e an d n o s t at u t e p ro v id ed fo r t h ei r

co n dem n at i o n o r co n fi s cat i o n ). 3

Th e fu el eq u i p m en t at i s s u e i n t h e p res en t cas e i s n o t co n t rab an d p er s e. Fu el

t an k s an d fu el p u m

p s

, wh en u s ed i n t h e o rd i n ary co u rs e of affai rs

, are l eg al t o p o s s es s

an d are b en efi ci al an d us efu l t o s o ci et y

. Acco rd i n g l y

, Ri t e Bro kers

, as t h e u n d i s p u t ed

t i tl e o wn er o f t he fu el eq ui p m en t

, was en t i t l ed to t h e ret urn o f t h e eq u i p m en t

, u n l es s

3 See al s o Hel t on v. Hu n t

, 3 30 F3 d 2 4 2

, 2 4 8 (4 t h Ci r. 2 0 0 3 ); Co o p er v. Ci t y of

G r e e n w o o d

, 9 0 4 F2 d 3 02

, 3 0 5 (5 t h Ci r. 19 9 0 ); Un it ed S ta t es v. Fa r r el l

, 6 0 6 F 2 d

1 3 4 1

, 1 3 4 4 -1 3 46 (D.C. Ci r. 1 9 7 9 ); S t a t e v. Cu r r a n

, 6 2 8 P2 d 1 1 9 8, 1 2 0 3 (Or. 1 9 8 1 );

Mi ms Amu s emen t Co

. v. S o u t h Ca r o l i na La w E

n f o r cemen t Di v.

, 6 21 SE2 d 3 4 4

, 3 4 9

(S.C. 2 0 0 5 ); S t a t e v. Dr i s co l l , 9 6 4 A2 d 1 1 72 , 1 1 7 7 (Vt . 2 0 08 ).

7a s t at u t e pro vi ded fo r i t s co n d em n at i o n o r co n fi s cat i o n. See S ea m a n

, 1 9 6 Ga. Ap p.

at 63 5 ; Ba l

kco m

, 1 52 Ga. Ap p

. at 5 4 1 ; Ch a p p el l

, 5 8 Ga. Ap p

. at 1 39

. “ Fo rfei t u re o f

p ro p ert y i s d i s fav ored an d t he s tat u t es perm i t t i n g s u ch are to b e s t ri ct l y co n s t ru ed an d

l i m i ted

. ” S

ea ma n

, 1 9 6 Ga. A pp

. at 6 3 5

. An d if th ere i s an y am b i g ui ty as t o wh et h er

p ro p ert y i s s ub

j ect t o fo rfei t u re u n d er a s t at u t e, t he “ s t at u t e m us t b e s t ri ct l y co n s t ru ed

ag ai n s t t h e St at e.” S ta te v. W i l l i a m s , 2 7 8 Ga. 4 4 7 , 4 4 9 (6 0 3 SE2 d 2 7 8 ) (2 0 0 4 ).

Th ere i s n o s t at u t e au t ho ri zi n g t h e co n d em n at io n o r co n fi s cat i o n o f t h e fu el

eq u ip m en t b y th e Sh eri ff’ s O ffi ce u n d er t h e ci rcu m s t an ces o f t h i s cas e, as t h e Sh eri ff

co n ced es o n ap p eal

. No Geo rg i a s t at u t e s p eci fi cal l y ad d res ses th e fo rfei t u re o f fu el

eq u ip m en t u s ed i n co n nect i o n wi t h a t h eft o ffen s e. An d wh i l e Geo rg ia m o re g en eral l y

cri m i n al i zes p o s s es s i o n o f t o o l s “ co m m on l y us ed i n t h e co m

m i s s i o n o f b u rg l ary

,

t h eft

, o r o t h er cri m e wi t h th e i n t en t t o m ak e u s e t h ereo f i n t h e c o m m i s s i o n o f a

cri m e,” OCGA § 1 6 -7 -2 0 (a), t h e s t at u t e d o es no t d ecl are t h o s e t o o l s t o b e co n t rab an d

o r s u bject t o co n dem n at i on o r co n fi s cat i o n

. No t ab ly

, wh en t h e Gen eral As s em b l y h as

i n t en d ed t o d ecl are cert ai n ob ject s as co nt rab an d s u b

ject t o fo rfei tu re, i t h as d o n e s o

ex p li ci t l y

. 4 W e m

u s t pres u m e t h at t h e ab s en ce o f s im il ar l an gu ag e i n OCGA § 1 6 -7

-

4 See, e.g

., OCGA § 3 -2 -3 3 (b ), (c) (al co h o l i c b ev erag es o n w h i ch t ax o r l i cen s e

fee h as n o t b een p ai d ) ; § 1 0

- 1

- 3 5 9 .3 (b ), (c) (p ro p ert y u sed to faci l i t at e t h e t h eft o f

reg u l at ed m et al pro p ert y ); § 1 2 -4 -4 8 (e) (1 ) (i l leg al ly p ro d u ced m i n eral s); § 1 2 -5 -1 3 7

82 0 was a “ m at ter o f co n si d ered ch o i ce” b y t h e Gen eral As s em b l y

. (Pu n ct u at i o n an d

fo o t n o t e o m i t t e d .) Go r d

o n v. S t a t e

, 3 1 6 Ga. Ap p

. 4 2

, 4 6 (1 ) (a) (7 28 SE2 d 7 2 0 )

(2 0 1 2). Acco rd i n g l y

, O CGA § 1 6 -7 -2 0 d i d n o t au t h o ri ze t h e co n dem n at i o n an d

co n fi s cat i o n o f t he fu el eq u i p m en t b y t h e Sh eri ff.

It i s t ru e th at un d er Geo r g i a ’s Rack et eeri n g In fl u en ced an d Co rru pt

Org an i zat i on s Act (t h e “ RICO Act ”), OCGA § 1 6 -1 4 -1 et seq

., “ [a] l l p ro p ert y o f

ev ery k in d us ed o r i nt en d ed fo r u s e i n t he co u rs e o f, d eri ved fro m

, o r real i zed t h ro u g h

a p a tt er n o f r a cket eer i n g a ct i vi t

y s h al l b e su b

j ect to fo rfei t u re t o th e s t at e.” (Em p h as i s

s u p p l ied

. ) OCGA § 1 6 -1 4 -7 (a) (Su pp

. 2 0 1 5 ). 5 A “ pat t ern o f rack et eeri n g act i v i t y”

m ean s en g ag in g i n at l eas t t wo act s o f rack et eeri n g act i v it y

, O CGA § 1 6 -1 4 -3 (4 ) (A)

(a) (eq u i p m en t u s ed b y u n l i c e n s e d w el l dri l lers ); § 12 -8 -2 (c) (m o t o r veh icl es u s ed

t o u nl awfu l l y d u m

p sewag e); § 1 6 -6 -1 3 .2 (b ), (c) (m o t o r v eh icl e us ed i n p i m p i n g );

§ 1 6-1 2-3 2 (b ) (g am

b l in g d ev i ces ); § 1 6-1 2 -8 3 (o bs cen e m at eri al s ); § 1 6 -1 3 -4 9 (b )

(p ro p ert y u s ed i n vi o l at i on o f t h e Geo rg i a Co nt ro l l ed Su bs t an ces Act ); § 1 6 -1 5 -5 (b ),

(c) (p ro p ert y us ed t o faci l i tat e s t reet g an g act iv i ty ); § 16 -1 6 -2 (b ) (c) (m o t o r v eh i cl es

,

t o o l s

, an d weap o n s u s ed i n t h e co m m i s s i o n o f a b u rg l ary

, h o m e i n vas i o n, o r arm ed

ro b b ery ); § 2 5-1 0 -6 (i l leg al fi rewo rk s ); § 40 -6 -3 91 .2 ( a ) (m o to r veh i cl e u s ed by

h ab it u al v i o l at o r); § 4 8 -1 1 -9 (a) (1 ) (u n-s t am p ed ci g ars

, c i g aret tes

, an d l o o s e o r

s m o k el es s t o bacco ).

5 Al t h o u g h a p ri o r v ers io n o f t h e RICO Act was i n effect at t he t i m e o f t h e

s ei z u r e o f t h e f

u e l eq u i pm en t

, s ee Ga. L. 2 0 0 2

, p

. 5 3 2, § 4 ; G a. L. 2 0 1 5

, p

. 6 9 3

, §

4 -1 / HB 2 3 3

, we ci t e t o t h e cu rren t vers io n o f t he Act fo r e a s e o f r e f e ren ce b ecau s e

t h ere w ere n o s u bs t an t i v e ch an ges m ad e t o t h e A ct affect i n g o ur an al y s i s i n t h i s cas e.

9(Su p p. 20 1 5 ), an d “ ‘ rack et eeri ng act iv i t y ’ i s d efi n ed t o m ean t h e co m m i s s i o n o f a

cri m e in an y o f s p eci fi ed cat eg o ri es o f o ffen s es [,]

. . . [wh ich ] are al so k no wn as t h e

p red i cat e o ffen s es .” Al i v. S t at e

, 3 2 8 Ga. Ap p

. 20 3

, 2 0 7 (7 6 1 SE2 d 6 01 ) (2 0 1 4 ). See

OCGA § 1 6 -1 4 -3 (5 ). Fel on y t h eft b y t ak i n g un d er OCGA § 1 6 -8 -2 i s s u ch a

p red i cat e o ffen s e. See O CGA § 1 6 -1 4 -3 (5 ) (A) (x i i ). Here, h o w ev er, t h e St at e d i d n ot

b ri n g a RICO fo rfei tu re act i o n ag ai ns t t h e fu el eq u ip m en t an d h a s n o t al l eg ed

, o r

s o u g ht t o es tab l i s h

, t h at No rm an en g ag ed i n a p at t ern of rack et eeri n g act i v i t y rat h er

t h a n t h e s i n g l e fel o n y t heft t o wh i ch h e p l ed g u i l t y u n der th e Fi rs t O ffen d er Act

.

Co n s eq u en t l y

, t h e Sh eri ff co u l d n o t rel y u po n t he RICO Act as a b as i s fo r ret ai n i n g

t h e fu el eq ui p m en t u n der t h e ci rcu m s t an ces o f t h i s cas e.

Des p i t e t h e ab s en ce o f cl ear s t at u t o ry au t h o ri t y

, th e t ri al co u rt co n cl u d ed t h at

t h e Sh eri ff co u ld ret ai n t h e fu el eq u i p m en t

. Rel y i n g u p o n t h ree o p i n i o n s o f th i s Co u rt

,

t h e t ri al co u rt reas on ed t h at t h e St at e h as t h e in h eren t au t ho ri t y t o ret ai n as co n t rab an d

an y s ei zed p ers o n al p ro pert y u s ed as a t oo l i n t h e co m m is si o n o f a cri m e. See Ba ez

,

2 3 1 G a. Ap p. 3 7 5 ; Gu n t er v. S t a t e

, 1 82 Ga. Ap p

. 5 4 8 ( 3 5 6 SE2 d 2 7 6 ) (1 9 8 7 );

Lo Gi u d i ce v. S ta t e

, 1 6 4 G a

. Ap p

. 7 0 9 (2 9 7 SE2 d 4 9 9 ) (1 9 8 2 ). Bu t t h es e t h ree

o p i n i o n s d o n o t s tan d fo r s u ch a b ro ad p ro p o si t i o n

.

10Gu n ter an d Lo Gi u d i ce b o t h i n v o l v ed th e d i s p os i t i o n o f fi r earm s us ed i n t h e

co m m i s s io n o f a c ri m e. See G u n t er

, 1 8 2 Ga. Ap p. at 54 8 -5 4 9 ; Lo Gi u d ice

, 1 6 4 Ga.

Ap p

. at 7 1 1 (4 ). No t ab l y

, t h ere i s a s peci fi c Geo rg i a s tat u te decl ari n g weap on s u s ed

i n t he co m

m is s i o n o f a cri m e t o b e co n t rab an d s u b j ect to fo rfei t u re. See OCGA § 1 7

-

5 -5 1 (2 0 1 5 ). 6 Nei t h er cas e t h erefo re sup p ort s t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s co ncl u s io n t hat t h e St at e

h as t h e b ro ad i n h eren t au t ho ri t y t o ret ai n an y p ro p ert y u s e d a s a t o o l i n t h e

co m m i s s io n o f a cri m e.

In B a ez

, we h el d t h at th e t ri al co u rt p ro p erl y fo u n d th at g un s an d a d i g i t al s cal e

t h at h ad b een s ei zed d u ri n g a cri m in al i n v es t i g at i o n d i d n o t h av e t o b e ret urn ed t o t h e

d efen d an t , wh ere t h e d efen dan t h ad t es t i fi ed i n h i s cri m i n al t ri al “ th at h e h ad n ev er

s een t he g u n s b efo re, t hat t hey were n o t i n h i s t ru ck , an d t h at h e d i d n o t k no w wh at

6 OCGA § 1 7 -5 -5 1 (Su p p . 2 0 1 5 ) p ro vi des :

An y d ev i ce wh i ch i s u sed as a weap o n i n t h e co m m i s s i o n o f an y cri m e

ag ai ns t an y p ers o n o r an y at t em p t t o co m

m i t an y cri m e ag ai n s t an y

p ers on

, an y weap on th e p o s s es s i o n o r carry i n g of w h i ch co n st i t u t es a

cri m e o r d el i n q u en t act

, an d an y w eap o n fo r wh i ch a p ers o n h as b een

co n v i ct ed o f vi o l at i n g Co d e Sect io n 1 6 -1 1 -1 2 6 are decl a red to be

co n t rab an d an d s h al l b e fo rfei t ed i n acco rd an ce wi t h t h e p ro ced u res s et

fo rt h i n Ch ap t er 1 6 o f T i t l e 9

, n o t wi t h s t an d i n g t h e t i m e fram es s et fo rt h

i n Co d e Sect i o n 9 -1 6 -7

. Th e v ers i o n o f t h e s tat u t e in effect at t h e t i m e o f Gu n t er an d Lo Gu i d i c e l i k ewi s e

p ro v id ed t h at weap on s u s ed i n t h e co m m is s i o n o f an y cri m e ag ai n s t an y p ers o n are

co n trab an d s u bject t o fo rfei t u re. See Ga. L. 1 9 7 7 , p . 1 13 1

, § 1

.

11t h e ob

ject (t h e s cal e) was .” 2 3 1 Ga. Ap p

. at 3 76

. O u r ru l i n g wi t h res p ect t o t h e g un s

an d d ig i t al s cal e was n arro wl y bas ed o n t h e defen d an t ’ s d en i al o f o wn ers h i p o f t h o s e

s ei zed i t em s , an d t h u s h as n o b eari n g o n t h e cu rren t cas e.

W e al s o h el d i n Ba ez t h at t h e cas e wo u ld b e rem an d ed to t h e tri al co u rt fo r a

d e term in at io n as t o wh et h er o t h er p ers o n al i t em s s ei zed fro m a s u i tcas e, i n cl u d i n g

d o cu m en t s

, ch eck s

, a n d c a s s et t es

, were “ co n t rab an d o r s ub ject t o fo rfei tu re,” o r

i n s t ead h ad to b e ret u rn ed t o t h e d efen d an t

. 2 3 1 Ga. A p p

. a t 3 7 6

. Bu t we d i d n ot

s u g g es t t hat t h o se i t em s co u l d b e s ei zed as co n t rab an d bas ed s i m p l y on a fi nd i n g by

t h e t ri al co urt t h at t h ey

were t o o l s u s ed i n t he co m m i s s i o n o f a cri m e.

Fo r t h e s e r e as o n s, t h e t ri al co u rt erred i n rel y i n g u p o n Ba ez

, Gu nt er

, an d

Lo Gi u d i ce t o fi n d t h at t h e Sh eri ff h ad t h e b ro ad i n heren t au t h ori t y t o ret ai n t h e fu el

eq u ip m en t as t o o l s u s ed i n t h e co m m i s si o n o f a cr i m e

. R a t h er, as prev i o u s l y

d i s cu s s ed , t h e Sh eri ff was req ui red t o p o in t t o sp eci fi c s t at u t o ry au th ori t y t o ju s t i fy

h i s ret en t i o n o f th e fu el eq u i p m en t

, g i ven t h at t h e eq ui p m en t was no t co n t rab an d p er

s e. See S ea ma n

, 1 9 6 Ga. A p p. at 6 3 5 ; B a l kco m

, 1 5 2 G a. Ap p

. at 5 4 1 ; Ch a p p el l , 5 8

Ga. Ap p

. at 1 3 9. 7 A n y o t her ru l e wo u l d b e i n co n s i s t en t wi t h t h e p ri n ci p l e em p h as i zed

7 So m e co u rt s hav e reco g n i zed a n arro w p u bl i c p ol icy ex cep t i o n t o t h e g en eral

ru l e t h at co n t i n ued ret en t io n o f t h e s ei zed p ro p ert y m u st b e au t h ori zed b y s t at u t e,

wh ere t h e part y s eek in g ret u r n o f t h e p ro pert y v o l u n tari l y s u rren d ered th e p ro p ert y

12b y ou r Su p rem e Co u rt t h at “ [f] o rfei tu res are n o t fav o red ” an d “ s h o u l d b e e n fo rced

o n l y wh en wi t h i n b o t h [t h e] l et t er an d s p i ri t o f t he law.” Ci s co v. S t at e

, 28 5 Ga. 6 5 6,

6 6 3 (3 ) (6 8 0 SE2 d 8 3 1 ) (2 0 0 9), q u o t i n g Un i t ed S t a t es v. On e 19 3 6 M o d el Fo r d V-8

De Lu xe Co a ch

, 3 07 U .S. 21 9

, 2 2 6 (5 9 SCt 8 61

, 8 3 LEd 1 2 4 9 ) (1 9 3 9 ). Co n s eq u en t l y

,

g i v en t h e ab s en ce o f s peci fi c s t at u t o ry au t h o ri t y ju st i fy i n g ret en t io n o f t h e fu el

eq u ip m en t

, t h e t ri al co u rt erred i n d i s m is s in g t h e ap pel l an t s ’ co m p l ai n t an d i n fai l i n g

t o o rd er t h e Sh eri ff t o ret u rn t he eq u i p m en t

.

Ju d g men t r ever sed . McMi l l i a n a n d

Mer ci er , JJ., co n cu r

.

as p art o f h i s at t em

p t t o v i o l at e t h e l aw. See, e.g

. , Ka r d o h v. Un it ed S t a t es

, 5 7 2 F3 d

6 9 7

, 7 0 0 -7 0 2 (9 t h Ci r. 2 0 0 9 ); M a n t i l l a v. Un it ed

S t a t es

, 30 2 F3 d 1 8 2

, 1 8 6-1 8 7 (3 d

Ci r. 2 0 0 2 ); Un i t ed S t at es v. S mi t h

, 6 5 9 F2 d 9 7

, 1 0 0 (8 t h Ci r.1 9 8 1); Un i t ed S t a t es v.

Fa r rel l

, 6 0 6 F2 d 1 34 1

, 1 3 4 8-1 3 5 0 (D.C. Ci r. 1 9 79 ). An ex am p l e wo u l d b e i n t h e

ci rcu m s t an ce wh ere a d efen d an t p ay s m o ney t o an u nd erco v er g o v ern m en t ag en t fo r

n arco t i cs an d t h en l at er s eek s t o reco ver t he m o n ey fro m t h e g o v ern m en t . See, e.g

., Fa r rel l

, 6 0 6 F2 d at 1 3 48 -1 3 5 0

. In t h at co nt ex t

, so m e co u rt s h av e reas o n ed t h at “ i t i s

co n trary t o p ub l i c p o l icy t o p er m i t t h e co u rt s t o b e us ed by t h e wro n gd o er

. . . to

o b t ai n t h e pro p ert y h e v o l un tari l y s u rren d ered as p art o f h i s at t em p t t o v i o l at e t h e

l aw.” Id

. at 1 3 5 0. W e n eed n o t d eci d e wh et h er Geo rg i a s h o u l d ad o pt s u ch a p u b l i c

p o l i cy ex cep t i o n, gi v en t h at i t wo ul d h av e n o ap p l i cat io n u n d er t h e fact s o f t h i s cas e.

13