FI FTH DI VI SI ON

REESE, P. J.

, M A RKLE 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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. ga a ppe a ls .us /r ule s

D E A D LIN E S A R E N O LO N G E R TO LLE D IN T

H I S

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

O U R C O U R T R U LE S

.

Januar y 14, 2021



# I n th e Co u r t o f

A p p eals o f

G eo r g ia

A2 0 A1 82 1 . HAM BY v . THE STATE.

C O LV I N

, J u d g e.

Aft er a ju ry tri al

, Ky l e J o rd an Ham b y was co n v ict ed o f o n e co u n t of ag g rav at ed

ch i l d m o les t at i o n

, o n e co u n t o f ag g rav at ed s o do m y

, o ne co u n t o f cru el ty t o ch i l d ren

,

an d t wo co u n t s o f ch i l d m o l es t at i o n

. 1 He ap p eal s fro m th e d en i al o f h is m o t i o n fo r

n ew t ri al

, arg u in g t h at h is ag g rav at ed so d o m y co n v i ct i o n wa s n o t s u p p o rt ed by

s u ffi ci en t ev i den ce at t ri al

, or al t ern at i v el y t h at i t s h o u l d h av e b een m erg ed wi t h t h e

ag g rav at ed ch i l d m o l es tat ion co n v i ct i o n fo r th e p u rp o se o f s en t en ci n g. He al s o arg u es

t h at t h e t ri al co u rt erred b y al l o wi n g p reju d i ci al ev i d en ce at tri al . Fo r t h e fo l l o wi n g

reas on s , we affi rm

.

1 Ham b y was acq u it t ed o f t h ree co u n t s o f ch i l d m o l es tat i o n an d o n e co u n t each

o f rap e, ag g rav at ed ch i l d m o l es t at i o n , an d ag g rav at ed s od o m y

.“ On ap p eal fro m a cri m i n al co n v i ct i o n

, we v i ew t h e ev i d en ce i n t h e l ig h t m o s t

fav o rab l e to t h e v erd i ct

, w i t h t h e d efen d an t n o l o n ger en jo y i n g a p res u m

p t i o n o f

i n n o cen ce.” (Ci t at i on o m i tt ed .) Rees e v. S t a t e

, 27 0 Ga. Ap p

. 5 2 2

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

(2 0 0 4 ). W e n ei t h er wei g h t h e ev i d en ce no r ju d g e t he cred i b i l i t y o f wi t n es s es

, b ut

d et erm i n e o n l y wh et h er, aft er v i ewi n g th e ev i d en ce i n t h e l ig h t m o s t fav o rab l e t o t h e

p ro s ecu ti o n

, “ an y rat io n al t ri er o f fact co u l d h av e fo u n d t h e es s en t i al el em en t s o f t h e

cri m e bey o n d a reas o nab l e d o ub t .” (Em p h as is o m i t t ed

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

, 4 4 3 U.

S. 3 07 , 3 1 9 (III) (B) (9 9 SCt 2 7 8 1 , 6 1 LE2 d 5 60 ) (1 9 7 9).

So v i ewed , t h e ev i d en ce s h o ws t h at E. G. was b o rn i n Ju n e 1 9 9 9

. In 2 0 0 5 , E.

G., al o n g wi t h h er s is t er T. G. an d t h ei r m o t her, m o ved i n t o a t rai l er wi t h Ham b y an d

h i s s o n i n Hal l Co u nt y

, wh ere t h e g ro u p l i v ed u nt i l 20 0 7

. Ham b y wat ch ed E. G. an d

t h e ot h er ch i l d ren wh i le E. G.’ s m o t h e r w o r k ed t h e n i g h t s h ift at W al -M art

. It was

d u ri n g t h i s t i m e t h at Ham b y b eg an m o l es t i n g E

. G. E. G. t es ti fi ed t h at wh en s h e l i v ed

i n t h e Hal l Co un t y t rai l er, Ham b y wo u l d w ai t u n t i l ev ery o ne el s e i n t he h o u s e was

as l eep an d wo u l d tak e h er i n t o t h e l i v i ng ro om an d p erfo rm o ral s ex on h er, an d o nce

s h o wed h er n ak ed b o d y

t o an o t h er m an o v er a web cam era.

In 2 0 0 7

, E. G .’ s m o t h er m o v ed t o a n e w h o u se o n Cab o t s Co u rt i n Au b u rn

,

Geo rg i a. Ham

b y l i v ed wi t h t h em fo r a s h o rt p eri o d o f t i m e b efo re m ov i n g t o an o t h er

2h o m e. Du ri n g t h i s t i m e, Ham b y b ab y s at fo r fo r E. G. an d h er si s t er. In 2 00 9

, E. G.’ s

m o th er g o t m arri ed an d m o v ed wi t h h er dau g h t ers t o a y et an ot h er h o m e, ren t i n g t h e

Cab ot s Co u rt h o m e t o H am by an d h i s fam i l y

. E. G. an d her s i s t er w o u ld o ft en s p en d

t h e n i g h t wi t h Ham

b y

, d u ri n g wh i ch ti m e Ham b y co n t i n ued t o m o l es t E. G

. wh i l e t h e

o t h er ch i l d ren were as l eep

.

E

. G

. te stifi ed ab ou t s ev eral s p eci fi c i nci d en t s o f m o l es t at i o n t h at occu rr e d a f te r

2 0 0 7

. E. G. d es cri b ed a t i m e wh en Ham b y sh av ed her pu b i c area an d p erfo rm ed o ral

s ex on her. E. G. al s o t es t i fi ed t h at Ham b y o r d e r ed po rn og rap h y o v er t h e p h o n e to

wa t c h w i t h h er an d g av e h er u n d erwear an d a s ex t o y

. E. G. d es cri b ed an o t h er

o c c as io n i n wh i ch Ham

b y to o k h er cl ot h es off an d rap ed her on e m o rn i n g b e f o r e

s ch o ol

, b u t s t o p p ed b ecau s e E. G. was c r y i n g d u e t o th e “ i m m en s e p ai n .” E. G.

t es t i fi ed t h at s h e d i d no t wan t t o d o t h es e act s

, an d ev ery t i m e o n e h ap p en ed

, Ham by

wo u l d m ak e h er “ pi n k y

p ro m i s e” t h at s he wo u ld n o t t el l an y o ne.

E. G.’ s m o t h er t es ti fi ed t h at i n 2 0 1 1

, E. G. s t o p ped wan t i n g t o g o t o Ham b y ’ s

h o u s e. Aro u n d th at s am e t i m e, E. G .’ s b eh av i o r b eg an t o ch an g e. E. G. b ecam e

wi t h d rawn an d b eg an cu t t in g h ers el f. In Oct o ber 2 0 12

, E. G.’ s m o t h er ap p ro ach ed E.

G. ab o u t h er b eh av i o r, an d E. G. d i s cl o s ed t h e ab u s e. E. G.’ s m o t h er t h en co n t act ed

t h e p o li ce.

3In v es t i g at or M i ch ael Fu g et t h ad E. G

. an d h er m o t h er p ro vi d e wri t t en

s t at em en t s

. He s ch ed u l ed a fo ren s ic i n t erv iew o f E. G. wi th B e c k y L e e at t h e

Treeh o us e, a ch i ld ren ’ s ad v o cacy cen t er. D u ri ng th e fo ren s i c i n t erv iew, E. G.

d i s cl os ed t h at Ham

b y h ad m o l es t ed h er an d des cri b ed t h e in ci d en t s s h e t es ti fi ed t o at

t ri al

. At t ri al

, Lee t es t i fi ed t hat E. G. ex h i bi t ed co n s i s t en cy t h ro u g h ou t h er in t erv i ew

an d t hat s h e wo ul d co rrect Lee ab o ut d et ai l s

, w h i ch i l l u s t rat es a res i s t an ce to

s u g g es t i b i l i t y

.

Th e St at e cal l ed Al i ci a Ch an d l er as an ex p ert i n f o r e n s i c i n t erv i ewi n g.

Ch an d l er t es t i fi ed t h at

, b as ed u p o n h er re v i e w o f E. G.’ s fo ren s i c i n t erv i ew an d

wri t ten s t at em en t s o f E. G. an d h er m o t h er, t h at s he b el ie v e d t h a t L e e co n d u ct ed a

“ s o u n d

, cred i b l e i nt erv i ew.” Ch an d l er al s o ex p l ai n ed t h at a m ajo ri t y o f s ex u al ab u s e

d i s cl os u res are d el ay ed

, an d t h a t c h i l d r e n d o n o t rem em b er ev ery d et ai l o r d at e o f

ab u se i n fl i ct ed u p o n t h em

.

Ham b y t es t i fi ed at t ri al . He cl ai m ed t h at E. G. h ad n ev er s p en t t h e n i g h t wi th

h i m wh en he wo u l d hav e b een al o n e wi t h h er. Ham b y

, as wel l as h i s w i f

e an d h i s

m o th er, t es t i fi ed t h at E. G. was n ev er al o n e wi th Ham b y . Th ey fu rt h er t es t i fi ed t h at

an o th er m an li v ed i n Ham b y ’ s ho u s e, an d t h at h e was al s o p res en t an y t i m e t h at E. G.

wo u l d h av e h ad t h e o p p o rt u n i t y t o b e al o n e wi t h h i m

.

41

. Ham b y arg u es t h at t here was i n s u ffi ci en t ev i d en ce t o s u p p ort h is co n v i ct i o n

fo r ag g rav at ed s o d o m

y b ecau s e t here was n o ev i d en ce o f fo rce. W e fi n d n o erro r.

Co u nt 5 o f t he i n d i ct m en t ch arg ed Ham b y wi t h ag g rav at ed s od o m

y

, al l eg i n g

t h at h e “ d i d co m

m i t an act o f so d om

y wi t h fo rce an d ag a i n s t t h e w i l l of [E. G.]

, a

ch i l d

, wh en [h e] p laced hi s m o u t h o n t h e s ex o rg an o f s ai d ch i l d [.] ” “ A p ers o n

co m m i t s t h e offen s e o f ag grav at ed s o d o m y wh en h e o r s h e c o m m i t s s o d o m y wi th

fo rce an d ag ai n s t t h e wi ll of t h e o t h er p ers o n o r wh en h e o r s h e co m m i t s s o d o m

y wi th

a p ers o n wh o is l es s th an t en y ears o f ag e.” OCGA § 1 6 -6 -2 (a) (2 ). T h e St at e b ears

t h e b u rd en o f pro v i ng t he el e m e n t o f fo rce to s u p p o rt an ag g rav at ed s o d o m y

co n vi ct i o n wi t h a ch i l d v i ct i m

. Br ewer v. S t a t e

, 2 7 1 Ga. 6 0 5, 6 0 6 (5 2 3 SE2 d 1 8 )

( 1 9 9 9 ). Ho wev er, t h e “ q u an t u m o f ev i d en ce t o p ro ve fo rce ag ai n s t a ch i l d i s

m i n i m al .” (Ci t at i on o m i tt ed .) Ma d i s o n v. S t a t e

, 3 2 9 Ga. A p p

. 8 56

, 8 6 7 (4 ) (7 6 6 SE2 d

2 0 6 ) (2 0 1 4 ). Fo rce “ m ay b e p ro v ed b y d i rect or ci rcu m s t an ti al ev id en ce. Lack o f

res i st an ce, i n du ced b y fear, i s n o t l eg al l y co g n i zab l e co n s en t b u t i s fo rce.” (Fo o t n o t e

an d p un ct u at i o n o m i tt ed .) S ch n ei d er v. S t a te

, 26 7 Ga. Ap p. 5 0 8

, 5 10 (6 03 SE2 d 6 6 3 )

(2 0 0 4). Fu rt h er, fo rce “ m ay be i n ferred b y ev i den ce o f i n t i m id a t i o n a ri s in g fro m a

fam i l i al rel at i o n sh i p .” Id

.

5Al t h ou g h t h ere is n ot t es t i m o n y t h at Ham b y h el d E. G. d o wn ag ai n s t h er wi l l

,

t h ere was t es ti m o n y t h at Ham b y was a fat h er-fi g u re t o E. G. wh o ex h i bi t ed a “ k i n d

o f p o w er o v er h er.” Fu rt her, E. G. t es t i fi ed t hat H am by cam e to h er wh en s h e w a s

“ h al f as l eep ” an d un d res s ed h er b efo re p erfo rm i n g o ral s ex o n h er an d rap i n g h er. See

S ch nei d er

, 2 6 1 Ga. Ap p

. at 5 1 0 (1 ) (s u ffi ci en t ev id en c e o f fo rce t o s u s t ai n an

ag g rav at ed s o d o m

y co nv i ct i o n wh en ch i l d v ict i m t es t i fi ed t h at h e s aw th e d efen d an t

as a fat her-fi g u r e a nd t o ld hi m t o s t o p ). Ham b y al s o i n t i m id at ed E. G. i n t o n ot

d i s cl os i n g t h e ab u s e b y m ak in g h er “ p i n k y -p ro m i s e” t h at s he wo ul d n o t t el l aft er each

i n ci d en ce o f ab u s e. E. G. t es t i fi ed th at s h e d i d n ot d i s cl o s e t h e m o l e s t at i o n earl i er

b ecau s e s h e w as afrai d “ wh a t w o u l d h ap p en i f [s h e] d i d t el l.” T hi s was su ffi ci en t

ev i d en ce o f fo rce fo r t h e ju ry t o fi n d t h at Ham b y co m m i t t ed ag g rav at ed s o d o m y

. See

Bo i l ea u v. S ta t e

, 2 8 5 Ga. Ap p

. 2 2 1

, 2 23 (1 ) ( a) (6 4 5 SE2 d 5 7 7 ) (2 0 0 7 ) (ev i d en ce

s u ffi ci en t t o co n v i ct fo r ag g rav at ed s o d o m y b ecau se d efen d an t ’ s act o f p u l l in g d o wn

v i ct i m ’ s p an t s an d u n d erwear wh i l e s h e was as leep was ev i d en ce o f p h y s i cal fo rce).

2

. Ham b y arg u es t h at t h e t ri al co u rt s h ou l d h av e m erg ed his ag g rav at ed s o d o m y

an d ag g rav at ed ch i l d m ol es t at i o n co n v ict i o ns

. “ W h et h er o ffen s es m erg e i s a l eg al

q u es ti o n

, wh i ch we rev i ew d e n o v o .” (Ci tat i o n an d p u n ct u at io n o m i t t ed .) Met ca l f v.

S t a t e , 3 4 9 Ga. Ap p

. 4 0 8 , 4 1 4 (2 ) (c) (8 2 5 SE2 d 9 0 9 ) (2 0 1 9 ).W e fi n d n o erro r.

6It i s tru e t h at if o n l y a s i n g l e act o f s o d o m y w as p ro v ed d uri n g t ri al

, t h e s i n g l e

act wo u l d b e “ n eces s ary t o pro ve t h e ag g rav at ed s od o m y co u n t o f t he i n d i ct m en t

, s o

t h ere [i s ] n o rem ai n i n g ev i d en ce u p o n wh i ch t o b as e [a d efen dan t ’ s ] co n vi ct i o n fo r

an ad d i t io n al co un t o f ag g rav at ed ch i l d m o l es t at i o n.” Met ca l f

, 3 4 9 Ga. A p p

. at 4 1 7

-

4 1 8 (2 ) (c) (referen ci n g OCGA § 1 6 -1 -7 (a)). 2 Ho wev er, i n t h i s cas e, O CGA § 1 6 -1 -7

(a) d o es n o t ap p l y b ecau se th ere was ev i d en ce o f t wo sep a r a t e i n c i d en t s o f o ral

s o d o m y

. E. G. des cri bed an i n c i d e n t w h ere h e s h av ed h er p u b i c area an d t h en

p erfo rm ed o ral sex u p o n h er, an d a s ep arat e i n c i d e n t w h ere h e fo u n d h er s l eep i n g,

u n d res s ed h er an d p erfo rm ed o ral s ex o n h er b efo re rap i n g h er. Gi v en th at t h ere were

t wo s ep arat e an d d i s t i n ct act s o f s o d o m y

, th e p ro o f o f ag grav at ed so d o m y d i d n ot

“ u s [e] u p” t h e ev i d en ce t h at co n s t i t u t e d t h e s o d o m y rel at ed t o t h e ag g rav at ed ch i ld

2 OCGA § 1 6 -1 -7 (a) p ro v i d es :

W h en th e s am e co n d u ct o f an accu s ed m ay es t ab l i s h th e co m m i s s i o n o f

m o re t h an o n e cri m e, t h e accu s ed m ay b e p ro s ecu t ed fo r each cri m e. He

m ay n o t

, h owev er, b e co n v i ct ed o f m o re t h an on e cri m e i f: ( 1 ) O ne

cri m e i s i n cl u d ed i n t h e o t h er; o r (2 ) T h e cri m es d i ffer o n l y i n t h at o ne

i s d efi n ed t o p ro h i bi t a d es ig n at ed k i nd o f c o n d u ct g en eral l y an d th e

o t h er t o p ro h ib i t a s p eci fi c i ns t an ce o f s u ch co n du ct

.

7m o les t at i o n ch arg e. Met ca l f , 3 4 9 Ga. Ap p

. at 4 1 7 (2 ) (c). T h e tri al co u rt d i d n o t err

b y fai l i n g t o m erg e t h e t wo co n v i ct i on s

.

3

. H a m b y a r g u e s t h at t h e t ri al co u rt erred i n d en y in g h i s m ot i o n i n l i m i n e to

ex cl u d e ev i d en ce t h at h e m ad e E. G. p art i ci pat e i n o n l i n e s ex u al p erfo rm an ces . W e

fi nd n o rev ers i b l e erro r.

Al t h ou g h th e i n d i ct m en t o ri g i n al l y ch arg ed Ham b y fo r cri m es ari s in g fro m t h e

i n ci d en t s t h at o ccu rred i n Hal l Co u n t y

, t h e St at e n o ll e p ro s s ed t h es e co u nt s b ecau s e

t h ey t o o k p l ace i n a d i fferen t v en u e. Ham b y fi l ed a m o t i o n i n l i m i n e t o ex cl u d e

referen ce t o t h es e no l l e p ro s s ed co u n t s i n th e i n d ict m en t

. T h e St at e o b ject ed to

Ham b y ’ s m o t i on i n li m in e an d s o u g h t t o i n t ro du ce t h e in ci d en t wh ere Ham b y s h o wed

E. G.’ s nak ed b o d y to o t h ers u s i n g a web cam as a p ri o r bad act o r d i ffi cu l ty p u rs u an t

t o OCGA § 2 4-4 -4 0 4 (b ). Th e t ri al co u rt d en i ed Ha m b y’s m o t i o n

, b u t i s s u ed a

cu rat i v e i n s t ru ct i o n o n p ri o r d i ffi cu l t i es p ri o r t o t h e ad m i s s i o n o f t he ev i d en ce.

Al t h ou g h t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s o ral ru l in g d o es n o t s t at e wh i ch co d e sect i o n i t rel i es

u p o n wh en d en y in g t h e m o t i o n i n l i m i n e, t h e St at e s o u g ht t o ad m i t t h e ev i d en ce u n d er

OCGA § 2 4 -4 -4 0 4 (b ) (“ R u l e 4 0 4 (b )”). 3 It i s t ru e th at u n der Geo rg i a’ s fo rm er

3 O C G A § 2 4 -4 -4 0 4 (b ) (“ Ru l e 4 0 4 (b )”) p ro v i d es 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 al l n ot b e ad m is s i b l e t o pro v e t h e ch aract er o f a p ers o n t o

s h o w i n act i o n i n c o n f

o rm it y t h erewi t h

. It m ay

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

8Ev i d en ce Co d e, th i s ev i d en ce wo u l d h av e b een ad m i s s ib l e u n d er Ru l e 4 0 4 (b )

b ecau s e t h e ev i d en ce w as rel ev an t t o es t ab l i s h Ham b y ’ s pl an an d p rep arat i o n o f t h e

co n ti n u ed ch i l d m o l es t at i on

, Ham b y ’ s g ro o m i n g o f E. G

. , an d t o ex p l ai n wh y s h e

d el ay ed h er d i scl os u re. See, e. g

., Po l l o ck v. S t a t e

, 1 6 2 Ga. Ap p

. 7 5 7 (2 9 3 SE2 d 3 8 )

(1 9 8 2) (d eci ded u n d er Geo rg i a’ s fo rm er Ev i d en ce Co d e) (In p ro s ecu t io n fo r ch i ld

m o l es t at i o n

, t ri al co u rt d i d n o t err i n p erm i t t i n g a ch i l d wi tn es s to t es t i f y t o a c t s o f

d efen d an t fo r w h ich h e h ad been acq u i t t ed in earl i er t ri al t o e s t a b l i s h i d en t i t y an d

m o ti v e).

Ho wev er, we n o t e t h at al t h o ug h i t ap p ears t h at t h e t ri al co u rt rel i ed up o n Ru l e

4 0 4 (b ) i n ad m i t t i ng th e co n t es t ed ev i d en ce, t h e pro p er st at ut o ry au t h o ri t y t o ad m i t

s u ch ev i d en ce u n d er Geo rg i a’ s n ew Ev i d en ce Co d e is OCGA § 2 4 -4 -4 1 4 (a) (“ Ru l e

4 1 4 (a)”). Un der Geo rg i a’ s n ew Ev i d e n ce Co d e, OCGA § 2 4-4 -4 1 3 an d 2 4 -4 -4 1 4

“ s u p ers ed e t h e p ro v i s i o n s o f OCGA § 2 4

- 4

- 4 0 4 (b ) i n s ex u al as s au l t an d ch i ld

m o les t at i o n cas es .” (Fo o tn ot e an d ci t at i o n s o m it t ed .) Di xo n v. S t a te

, 3 4 1 Ga. Ap p.

2 5 5

, 2 6 1 (1 ) (8 0 0 SE2 d 11 ) (2 0 1 7). Th e t ri al co u rt ’ s ap p aren t rel i an ce o n Ru l e 4 0 4

(b ) i n i t s d eci si o n t o ad m i t t h e ev i d en ce i s no t rev ers ib l e erro r. See McCo r d v. S t a t e

,

p u rp os es

, in cl u d i n g

, b u t no t l im i t ed t o : p ro of o f m o t iv e, o p p o r t un i ty

, p rep arat i o n,

p l an , k no wl ed g e, i d en t i t y o r ab s en ce o f m i s t ak e o r acci d en t .”

93 0 5 G a

. 3 1 8

, 3 2 4 (2 ) (a) (i i ) (8 2 5 SE2 d 1 22 ) (2 0 1 9 ) (ev en i f th e t ri al co u rt err e d i n

ad m i t t i ng h ears ay ev id en ce as a p res en t s en se i m pres s i o n

, s uch ev i d en ce was

n e v e rt hel es s ad m i s s i bl e u nd er t h e ex ci t ed u t teran ce ex cep t i o n an d t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s

d eci s i o n t o ad m i t t h e ev i d en ce was n o t i n erro r).

Th e co n tes t ed ev i d en ce was ad m i ss i b le un d er Ru le 4 1 4 (a). Un d er OCGA § 2 4

-

4 -4 1 4 (a), “ [i ] n a cri m i n al p ro ceed i n g i n wh i ch t h e accu s ed i s accu s ed o f an o ffen s e

o f ch i l d m o l es t at i o n

, ev id en ce o f t h e accu s ed ’ s co m m i s s i o n o f an o t h er o ffen s e o f

ch i l d m o l es t at io n s h al l b e ad m i s s i b l e an d m ay be co n s i d ered fo r i t s b eari n g o n an y

m at t er to wh ich i t i s rel ev an t.” W e rev i ew t h e ad m i s s io n of o t h er act s ev i d en ce u n d er

Ru l e 41 4 fo r ab u s e of d i scret i o n

. Ki n g v. S t a te

, 3 4 6 G a. A p p

. 3 6 2

, 3 6 4 (1 ) (8 1 6 SE2 d

3 9 0 ) (2 0 1 8 ). Ru l e 4 1 4 creat es

a ru l e o f i n cl u s i o n

, wi t h a s t ro n g p res u m pt i o n i n fav o r o f ad m i s s i b i l i t y

,

an d t h e St at e can seek t o ad m i t ev i d en ce u nd er t h es e pro v i si on s fo r an y

rel ev an t p u rp o s e, i n cl ud i n g p ro p en s i t y

. N ev ert h el es s ev i d en ce th at i s

ad m i s s i b l e un d er t h es e ru l es m ay s ti l l b e ex cl u d ed i f i t s p ro b at i v e v al ue

i s s u b s t an t i al l y ou twei g h ed b y t he d an g er o f u nfai r p reju di ce, co n fu s i o n

o f t h e i ss u es

, o r m i s l ead i ng t h e j u ry o r by co n s i d erat i o ns o f u n du e d el ay

,

was t e o f t i m e, or need l es s p res en t at io n of cu m u l at i v e ev i d en ce. OCGA

§ 2 4 -4 -4 0 3 [(“ Ru le 4 0 3”)]

.

10(Ci t at i o n s an d p un ct u at i on o m i t t ed .) Di xo n v. S t a te

, 3 5 0 Ga. A p p

. 2 1 1

, 2 13 (1 ) (8 2 8

SE2 d 4 2 7) (2 0 1 9).

Th e t ri al co u rt m

u s t co n d u ct a Ru l e 4 0 3 b al an ci n g t es t wh en co n s i d eri n g

wh et h er ev i d en ce i s ad m i s s i b le u n d er Ru le 4 1 4

. Ja cks o n v. S t a t e

, 3 42 Ga. A p p

. 6 8 9,

6 9 2 (8 05 SE2 d 4 5 7 ) (2 01 7 ). “ Th i s det erm i n at i o n l i es wi t h i n t he d i scret i o n o f t h e t ri al

co u rt an d cal ls fo r a co m

m o n s en s e as s es s m en t o f al l t h e ci rcu m st an ces su rro u n d i n g

t h e ex t ri n s i c o ff

e ns e, in cl u d in g p ro s ecu t ori al n eed

, o v eral l s i m i l ari t y b et ween t h e

ex t ri ns i c act an d t he ch arg ed o ffen s e, as wel l as t em p o ral rem o t en es s.” D i

xo n

, s u p ra,

3 5 0 Ga. Ap p . at 2 14 (1 ).

U p o n rev i ew, we co ncl u d e th at th e tri al co urt di d n o t ab u se i ts di s cret i o n i n

ad m i t t i ng t h e tes ti m on y reg ard i n g Ham b y ’ s p ri o r act s

. Th e ev i d e n c e was cl earl y

rel ev an t t o Ham

b y ’ s i n t en t, i d en t i t y

, an d p ro p en si ty to co m m i t t he cri m es ag ai n s t t h e

v i ct i m

. Fu rt h er, t h e p ro b at i v e v al u e o f t h e ev i d en ce is g reat becau s e it pro v i d es a

n arrat i v e o f h o w E. G.’ s ab u s e b eg an

, h ow t he g ro o m i n g p ro ces s beg an

, an d wh y E.

G. d el ay ed h er d i scl os u re. Al t h o u g h Ham b y arg u es t h at t h e ev i d en ce i t s o u g h t t o

ex cl u d e i n i t s m ot i o n i n li m in e was t o o t em p o ral l y rem o te t o b e p ro b at i ve ev i d en ce,

t h e rem o ten es s o f t i m e g o es t o t h e wei g h t an d c r ed i b i l i t y of t h e ev i den ce, n o t t o i t s

11ad m i s s i b i l i t y

. See Hen d er s o n v. S t a t e

, 3 0 3 Ga. Ap p

. 5 3 1

, 5 3 5 (2 ) (6 9 4 SE2 d 1 8 5 )

(2 0 1 0).

W i t h reg ard t o t h e Ru l e 4 0 3 b al an ci n g t es t

, H am by co rrect l y n o t es t hat t h e t ri al

co u rt d i d n o t m ak e an ex p l i ci t fi n d i n g reg ard in g t h e b al an ci n g t es t i n i t s oral ru l i n g

o r i n i t s o rd er o n t h e m ot i o n fo r n ew t ri al

. 4 Bu t

, t h e t ri al co u rt en g ag ed i n d i s cu s s i o n

wi t h bo t h p art i es reg ard i n g Ru l e 4 0 3 d u ri ng th e m o t io n i n l im i n e h eari n g p ri o r to

i s su i ng i t s ru l i n g

. “ Al th o u g h th e t ri al co u rt d i d n o t ex p l i c i t l y m en t i o n Ru l e 4 0 3,

ab s en t s o m e ex p res s s ho wi n g th at t he t ri al co u rt d i d n o t u nd ers t an d i t s ob l i g at i o n to

co n du ct t h e b al an ci ng t es t , we wi l l n o t read s u ch erro r i n t o t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s ru l i n g.”

D i x o n

, 3 5 0 Ga. Ap p

. at 2 14 (1 ). Acco rd Ho r nb u ckl e v. S t at e

, 3 0 0 G a. 7 5 0

, 7 5 3 ( 2 )

(7 9 7 SE2 d 1 13 ) (2 0 17 ) (“ In t h e ab s en ce o f an y ex p li ci t ru l i n g b y t h e t ri al co u rt [,] we

can n ot as s um e t h at i t i m p r o p e r l y ap p l i ed t h e l aw i n t h e m an n er p o si ted b y [t h e

ap p el l an t ] ”).

4

. Ham b y arg u es t h at t he t ri al co u rt erred i n al lo w i n g t he ex p ert t es t i m o n y o f

Al i ci a Ch an d l er an d Beck y Lee t o i m p ro perl y b o l s t er E. G.’ s t es t i m o n y

. Becau s e

4 In i t s o rd er o n Ham

b y ’ s am en d ed m ot i o n fo r n ew t ri al

, t h e t ri al co urt n o t es

t h at i t h eard t es t i m o n y at a h eari n g an d “ set a b ri efi n g s ch ed u le, bu t defen s e co u n s el

l at er n ot i fi ed t h e [t ri al co u rt ] th at M r. Ham b y d o es n ot w i s h t o pres s t he cl ai m s i n t h e

Am en d ed M o t i on

. In s t ead

, h e req u es t s t h a t t h e Am en d ed Mo t i o n fo r New Tri al b e

res o l ved s o t h at h e m ay

p ro ceed wi t h o u t d el ay

t o ap peal [.] ”

12Ham

b y d i d n o t o bject t o t h i s t es t i m o n y at t h e t i m e o f t ri al

, we rev i ew i t u n d er t h e

“ p l ai n erro r” s t an d ard o f OCGA § 2 4 -1 -1 0 3 (d ). To co n s t it u t e pl ai n erro r, s u ch erro r

“ m u s t h av e b een cl ear an d no t o p en t o reas o n ab l e d is p u t e [,]

. . . m u s t h av e affect ed

h i s s u b s tan t i al ri gh t s

, an d t h e erro r m u s t h av e s eri ou s l y affect ed t h e fai rn es s

, i n t eg ri t y

o r p u b l ic rep ut at i o n o f s u ch ju di ci al pro ceed i n g s

. ” ( Ci tat i o n o m i t t ed .) McKi n n ey v.

S t a t e , 3 0 7 Ga. 1 29 , 1 3 4 (2 ) (8 3 4 SE2 d 7 4 1 ) (2 0 1 9 ). W e fi n d n o s u ch erro r.

“ In Geo rg i a, t h e cred ib i l i t y o f a wi t n es s i s t o b e det erm i n ed b y t h e ju ry

, an d t h e

cred i b i l i t y o f a v ict i m m ay n o t b e b o l s t ered b y t h e t es t i m o n y o f an o t her wi tn es s

. Th u s

,

a wi t n es s m ay n o t g i v e an o p i n i o n as to wh et h er t h e vi ct im i s t el l i n g t he t r u t h.”

(Ci t at i o n an d p u n ct u at i o n o m i tt ed .) McCo wa n v. S t a t e

, 3 0 2 G a. Ap p. 5 5 5

, 5 5 7 (1 )

(6 9 1 SE2 d 3 6 0 ) (2 0 1 0 ).

Ham b y arg ues t hat t h e tri al co u rt erred i n ad m it ti n g t h e tes t im o n y o f Al i ci a

Ch an d l e r

, t h e St at e’ s ex p ert wi t n es s o n fo ren s i c in t erv i ewi n g

, becau s e i t

i m p erm i s s i b ly b o l s t ered E

. G.’ s t es t i m o n y

. Sp eci fi cal l y

, h e o b j ect s t o C h an d l er’ s

t es t i m o ny t h at s h e b el iev ed t h at t h e fo ren s ic in t erv i ewer co n d u ct ed a “ s o u n d

, cred i b l e

i n t erv i ew.” Ho wev er, i n t h e co nt ex t o f t he q u es t i o n s as k ed

, t h i s tes t im on y was cl earl y

d i s cu s s i n g t h e qu al i t y o f t h e i n t erv i ewer an d n o t t h e an s wers p ro vi d ed by th e v i ct i m

.

13Ham

b y n ex t arg u es t h at Ch an dl er, wh en as k ed ab o u t s ig n s o f l ack o f co ach i n g,

d es cri p t io n o f E. G. a s “ h o n e s t ” i n h er fo ren s i c i n terv iew w as a co m m en t ary o n E.

G.’ s i n teg ri t y

. Ch an d l er’s an s wer, h o wev er, was i n res p on s e t o a q ues t i o n ab o ut

wh et h er s h e s aw s i gn s t hat E. G. w as co ach ed du ri n g t he i n t erv i ew. Ch an d l er

ex p lai n ed t h at E. G. was h o n es t i n t h at s h e wo ul d t el l t h e i n terv iewer i f sh e d i d n ot

k n o w o r d id n o t r e c a l l an an swer an d “ d i d n o t ex ag g erat e d et ai l s

, wh i ch we s ee

co m m o n ly i n co ach i n g

. Sh e was ab l e t o recal l s en s o ry t h in g s

, wh i ch are o ft en l eft o ut

i n c o ach i n g

. . . [an d ] s he co rrect s t h e i n terv iewer i f t h e i n terv i ewer d o es n ’ t s ay

s o m et h in g co rrect ly o r t h e way s h e recal l s i t .” Ham b y al s o arg u es t h at t h e t es t i m o ny

o f Beck y Lee, wh o co n d u ct ed E

. G.’ s fo ren s i c i n t erv iew, i m p erm i s s ib ly b o l s t ered E.

G.’ s t es t i m o n y wh en s h e d i s cu ss ed E. G.’ s lev el o f d et ai l

, co n s i s t en cy

, an d res i s t an ce

t o s u gg es t i b i l i ty d uri ng t h e i n t erv i ew. Ho wev er, t h es e d es cri p t io n s b y b ot h wi t n es s es

were n o t t i ed t o t h e s u b s t an ce o f E. G.’ s i n t erv i ew as a wh o le o r us ed t o d es cri b e t h e

s u b s t an ce o f E. G .’ s al l eg at i o n s

. See Bo wma n v. S t a t e

, 3 3 2 G a

. A p p

. 7 6 6

, 7 7 1 (3 )

(7 7 4 SE2 d 8 0 5 ) (2 0 1 5 ) (ex p ert i n fo ren si c i n t erv i ewi n g t ech n i q u es di d no t ren d er an

i m p ro p er o pi ni o n wh en s h e s t at ed t h at t h e ch i l d v i ct i m w as “ res i s t an t to

s u g g es t i b i l i t y ”); McCo wa n v. St a t e

, 3 0 2 G a. Ap p. at 5 56 (1 ) (v i ct i m ’ s m o t h e r a n d

t reat i n g d o ct o r d i d n o t ex p res s th ei r b el i efs as t o t h e v eraci t y o f t he v i ct im wh en t h ei r

14t es t i m o ny w as ad d res s ed t o th e i s s ue o f wh et h er t hey s aw an y i n d icat i o ns t h at t h e

v i ct i m was co ach ed ).

Bas ed o n t h e ab o v e, we fi n d t h at n o p l ai n erro r i n t h e ad m i s s i o n o f t h e

ch al l en g ed t es t i m o ny

.

Ju d g men t a f f i r m ed . Rees e, P. J., a n d

Ma rkl e, J., co n cu r

.

15