FOURTH D I VI SI ON

BA RNES, P. J.

, RA Y, and M CM I LLI A 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.

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

June 8, 2015



# I n th e Co u r t o f

A p p eals o f

G eo r g ia

A1 5 A0 00 9 . W Y

NN v . THE STATE.

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

A ju ry co n v i ct ed An t h on y W y n n of arm ed ro b b ery an d p o s s es s io n o f a fi rearm

d u ri n g t h e co m

m i s s io n o f a cri m e, an d h e was s en t en ced as a reci d i v i s t t o l i fe wi t h o ut

p aro l e p l u s t en y ears

. On ap peal

, h e a r g u es th at t h e ev i d en ce ag ai n s t h i m was

i n s u ffi ci en t

, t h at t he t ri al co urt erred i n d en y i ng h i s m o t i o n s fo r m i s t ri al

, th at h e was

d ep ri v ed o f h i s ri g h t t o a fai r t ri al b ecau s e o f b ad ch aract er referen ces

, t h at h i s t ri al

co u ns el was i neffect i v e fo r fai l i n g to o b ject to ch aract er ev i d en ce, an d t h at hi s

s en t en ce was i m

p ro p er. Fo r t h e reas o n s t h at fo l l o w, we affi rm

.

1

. Vi ewi n g t h e ev i d en ce i n t h e l i g h t m os t fav o rab l e t o t h e v erd i ct

, t h e reco rd

s h o ws th at o n J u n e 2 9, 20 0 7

, t h e v i ct im

, wh o wo rk ed fo r C a s h A m e r i ca Pawn

,

n o t i ced a m an s tan d i n g an d s t ari n g at h er wh i le sh e wai t ed i n l i n e at a l o cal b an k t o

cas h a $ 3 ,0 0 0 ch eck fo r t h e s t o re. Sh e cal l ed h er m an ag er as s h e was l e a v i n g t h e

b an k, an d h e w as wat ch i ng t h e b ack p ark i n g l o t wh en h e s aw h er pu l l i n

, fo l l o wed bya b l ack J eep t h at cam e u p fas t an d p ark ed b eh i n d h er. Th e m an ag er i m m e d i a t e l y

cal l ed 9 1 1 an d wat ch ed as a m an g o t o u t o f t h e J eep

, p oi n t ed a g un at t h e v i ct i m

, t o o k

t h e b an k m o n ey b ag fro m h er, an d g o t b ack i n t he J eep

, wh i ch l eft

. Th e m an ag er g av e

t h e 91 1 op erat o r d et ai l s ab o u t t h e ro b b er’ s cl o t h in g, t h e g u n

, t h e v eh i cl e, wh i ch h ad

n o l i cen s e tag

, an d t h e v eh i cl e’ s d i rect io n o f t rav el

. T h e v i ct i m s u bs eq u en t l y

d es cri b ed t h e ro bb er’ s cl o t h es t o t he res p o n d in g o ffi cers , d es cri b i ng h i s h at as d ark

wi t h s o m e o ran g e o n i t

.

An o ffi cer res po n d ed t o t h e d i s p at ch ab o u t an arm e d r o b b ery b y p ark i n g h i s

v eh icl e i n t h e t u rn l an e of t h e ro ad faci n g t h e d irect i o n wh ere t h e ro b b ers were

rep o rt ed l y h ead i n g

. He s aw a b l ack J eep co m e t o w ard h i m an d b eg an t o fo l l o w i t

, b ut

t h e wi n d ows were t in t ed d ark an d t h e v eh i cl e h ad a l i cen s e t ag

, s o t he o ffi cer was n ot

s u re i f h e was fo l l owi ng t h e ro b b ers o r no t

. Th e Jeep ’ s d ri v er p u l l e d i n t o a

co n ven i en ce s t o re l o t

, p au s ed b y t he gas p u m p s

, t hen p ark ed b y t h e fro n t d o o r. T wo

m en g o t o u t

, n ei th er of wh o m m at ch ed th e des cri p t i o n o f t h e ro b b er, a n d w e n t i n to

t h e s t o re. Th e o ffi cer ran t h e t ag an d wai t ed fo r b a c k u p r a t h e r t h an fo l l o w t h e m en

i n s i d e, b u t b l o ck ed t he J e e p wi t h h i s pat ro l car. Ju s t b efo re b ack u p arri v ed

, a t h i rd

m an wh o m at ch ed t h e ro bb er’ s d es cri p t i o n g o t o ut o f th e J eep an d al s o wen t i n t o t h e

s t ore. Th e offi cer w ai t ed u n t i l t he m an

, l at er id en t i fi ed as San ch ez J o n es

, cam e o u t o f

2t h e s to re an d b eg an t o w al k away an d t h en arres t ed h i m

, b u t b y t h e t i m e t h e o ffi cers

s e a r c h e d t h e s t o re t h e t wo m en wh o h ad g on e i n s i d e earl i er had left th ro u g h a s i d e

d o o r

. A K 9 o ffi cer an d h i s d o g t rack ed t h e t w o m en fo r s o m e d i s t an ce b ut d i d n o t

cat ch t h em

.

Back at t h e co n v en ien ce s t o re, t h e offi cers s aw t h at t h e l i cen se tag on t h e J eep

was creas ed al o n g i t s t o p e d g e

, wh i ch in d i cat ed i t h ad b een ben t u p ward as i f to

co n ceal t h e t ag n u m

b ers

. At t h e p o l i ce s t at i o n

, Jo n es wai v ed h i s Mi r a n d a ri g h t s an d

co n fes s ed t h at h e h ad ro bb ed t h e v i ct i m

, i d en t ify i n g th e o t her t wo m en i n v o l v ed as

“ An t ” an d “ Po och y .” J o nes ’ s cel l p h o n e i n cl u d ed co n t act n u m b ers fo r A n t an d “ P,”

wh o J o n es s ai d w as Po o ch y

, an d s h o wed t h at A n t an d J o nes h ad ex ch an g ed cal l s

earl ier t h at d ay

.

Th e n ex t d ay

t h e g ran d d au g h t er o f t h e b lack J eep ’ s o wn er cam e t o t h e p o l i ce

s t at i o n an d t o l d th e d et ect i v e t h at s h e had l o an ed t h e bl ack J eep t o W y n n, k n o wn as

“ An t ,” t h e d ay b efo re. Sh e ex p lai n ed t h at s h e h ad l i ed t o t h e det ect i ve t h e d ay b efo re

wh en h e cal l ed to as k i f s h e kn ew J o n es becau s e s h e had b een s t u ck at W y n n ’ s h o u s e

wi t h o u t h er v eh icl e an d h ad b een afrai d t o s ay an y t hi n g

. Sh e s ai d t h at Jo n es was h er

b o y fri en d an d wo rk ed fo r W y nn i n W y n n ’ s l awn care b u si nes s

, t hat h er rel at i v e l i v ed

acro s s t h e s t reet fro m W y n n

, an d t h at s h e ag reed to ex ch an g e veh i cl es wi t h W y n n t h e

3d ay o f t h e ro b b ery b ecau s e W y n n s ai d he n eed ed t o u s e t he t rai l er h i t ch o n t h e b l ack

J eep

. Sh e l eft t h e b l ack J eep wi t h W y n n an d d ro v e away i n h i s b l ue J eep

. Lat er t h at

d ay

, W y n n cal l ed t h e n ei g hb o r an d as ked h er t o cal l t h e w o m an wh o h ad lo an ed h i m

t h e b l ack J eep an d t el l h er t o rep o rt i t s t o len

. W h en t h e n ei g h b o r as k ed W y n n wh ere

h e was , h e s ai d “ I’ m

i n t h e wo od s . Bu t San ch ez was s l ow ab o u t g et t i n g o u t [o f] t h e

car, s o h e g o t cau g ht

. ”

W h en t h e wo m an wh o l en t W y nn h er b lack J eep cal l ed h im back

, h e t o l d h er

s o m et h in g h ad h ap p en ed an d as k ed h er t o co m e p i ck h i m u p

. Sh e m et hi m i n a s t o re

p ark i n g l o t an d d ro v e h i m h o m e i n t h e bl u e J eep h e h ad l o an ed h er. W y n n d et ai n ed

t h e w o m an fo r a ti m e b u t e v en t u al l y l et h er l eav e i n an o t h er car t hat b el o n g ed to

W y n n

. T h e n ex t d ay t h e w o m an d ro ve W y n n’ s car t o t h e p o l i ce s t at i o n t o t al k t o t h e

l ead d et ect i v e, wh o t o o k h er s t at em en t

, co n fi s cat ed t h at car, an d t h en d ro ve h er t o t h e

i m p o u n d l o t wh ere s h e ret ri ev ed h er b l ack J eep

. A cri m e scen e t e c h n i ci an t es t i fi ed

t h at wh en h e e x e c u t e d a s earch warran t o n t h e b l ack J eep

, h e fo u n d a b an k b ag

co n tai n i n g $ 3 ,0 0 0 in fi v e- an d t wen t y -d ol l ar b i l l s

, two p is t o l s

, su n gl a s s es

, a d en i m

b al l cap wi t h o ran g e s t i t ch i n g

, o t h er cl o t h es

, a p res cri p t io n b o t t l e w i th t h e n am e

Ti m o t h y W y n n on t h e l ab el

, an d a cel l p h on e. Th e m ag azi nes o f b o t h p i s t o l s were

fu l l y l o ad ed an d o n e o f th em h ad a b u l l e t i n th e ch am b er. Th e det ect i v e o b t ai n ed a

4s earch warran t fo r t h e cel l p ho n e fo u n d i n th e b lack J eep an d ev en t u al ly i d en t i fi ed i t s

o wn er, wh o tes ti fi ed t hat th e p h o n e had b een s to l en fro m h i s car at a g as s t at i o n o n

t h e d ay o f t h e ro b b ery

.

San ch ez J o nes pl ed g u i l t y t o o n e co u n t o f arm ed ro b b ery a n d o n e c o u n t o f

p o s s es s i o n o f a fi rearm d uri n g t h e co m m i ss i o n o f a cri m e, an d t es ti fi ed t h at h e was

t h e o n e wh o ro b b ed t h e v i ct i m u s i n g h i s l o ad ed

, co ck ed .4 0 cal i b er h an d g un

, wh i ch

h ad b een reco v ered fro m

t h e b l ack J eep . W y n n h ad b een d ri v i n g t h e car, an d i t was

W y n n ’ s i d ea t o g o t o t h e b an k b u t b o t h of th em h ad th e i d ea t o ro b s o m eo n e. W y n n e

wen t in t o t h e b an k fo r a w h il e

, c a m e o u t

, an d s ai d

, “ I go t o ne,” t h en fo l l o wed t h e

v i ct i m t o t h e p awn st o re p ark i n g l o t

. As J o n es g o t o u t t o ro b t h e v i ct i m

, W y n n s ai d,

“ Go g et h er.” W h en as k ed w h y h e p u t a g un t o t h e v ict i m

, J o nes rep l i ed

, “ Becau s e i t

were [s i c ] m y t u r n .” He i den t i fi ed t h e o t h er g un reco v ered fro m t h e bl ack J eep as

b el o n g i n g t o W y n n

.

Aft er n o t i ce an d a h eari n g

, t h e t ri al co urt al l o wed t h e St at e t o i nt ro d uce s i m i l ar

t ran s act io n ev i d en c e t h at W y n n co m m i t t ed a si m i l ar ro b b ery a m o nt h l at er, i n J u l y

2 0 0 7

, an d was arres t ed i n Au g u s t 2 0 0 7 a f t e r a s t ak eo u t at an o t h er b an k l ed t o a

l en g t h y ch as e an d ap p reh en s io n

. Th e J u l y 20 0 7 ro bb ery v i ct im t es t i fi ed t h at as s h e

l eft th e b an k wi t h a b an k b a g c o n t ai n i n g cas h

, o n e m an s i g nal ed an ot h er wh o t h en

5p u s h ed h er u p ag ai ns t h er car an d t o o k h er m o n ey bag

. T h e t wo m en t h en ran away

,

an d t h e v i ct i m l at er i d en t i fi ed W y n n i n a ph o t o g rap h i c l i n eu p as t h e m an wh o ro b b ed

h er.

Si x o ffi cers fro m t he Fo res t Par k P o l i ce Dep art m en t t es t i fi ed reg ard i n g t h e

ch as e t h at u l t i m at el y l e d t o Wy n n ’ s arres t o n Au g u s t 2

, 2 0 0 7

. Th e o ffi cers were

co n du ct in g a s u rv ei l lan ce o p erat i on o n t wo d i fferen t b an k b ran ch e s t h a t d ay aft er

recei v i ng rep o rt s o f p eo pl e bei n g fo l l owed fro m t h e b an k s an d h av i n g m o n ey s t o l en

fro m t h ei r veh i cl es

. Th ere was al s o an arr e s t warran t ou t fo r W y n n an d th e o ffi cers

were l o o k i n g fo r a m an m at ch i n g W y n n ’ s d es cri p t io n an d dri v i n g a b l u e J eep

. An

u n d erco ver o ffi cer s aw W y n n g et o u t o f a b l u e J eep i n a b an k p ark i n g l o t an d al ert ed

t h e u n i fo rm ed p at ro l o ffi cers

, wh o p u ll ed i n t o t h e l o t

. W y n n d ro v e o u t o f t h e l o t an d

t h e o ffi cers u n s u cces s fu ll y at t em p t ed a t raffi c st o p

. W y n n ev en t u al l y d ro ve i n t o a cu l

d e-s ac an d fl ed h i s car, l e a d i n g t o a fo o t ch as e t h at fi n al l y en d ed aft er an o ffi cer

s u b d ued W y n n w i t h a T a s e r an d t h en g rap p l ed wi th h i m u n t i l b ack u p arri v ed an d

s ecu red h i m

.

1

. W y n n co n ten d s t h at t h e ci rcu m st an t i al ev i den ce pres en t ed w as in su ffi ci en t

fo r a ra t i o n al ju ry t o fi n d h i m g u i l t y o f arm ed ro b b ery an d p o s s es s io n o f a weap o n

d u ri n g t h e co m

m i s s i o n o f a cri m e, arg ui n g t hat t h e St at e p res en t ed o n l y t h e t es t i m o ny

6o f a co -d efen d an t

, co rro b o rat ed “ o n l y ” b y t h e co -d efen d an t ’ s g i rl fri en d an d s i m i l ar

t ran s act io n ev i d en ce, t h u s fai l i n g t o p ro v e h e was “ an acces s o ry b efo re t h e fact .” T h at

co rro b o rat io n wo u ld be su ffi ci en t

, b u t t h e St at e al s o p res en t ed th e t es t i m o n y o f

W y n n ’ s nei g h bo r ab ou t W y n n ’ s i n cri m in at i n g p h o n e cal l o n t h e day o f t h e ro b b ery

,

d u ri n g w h i ch h e s ai d t h at he was i n th e wo o d s an d J o n es h ad b een cau g ht b ecau s e h e

was t o o sl o w. Th e ev i d en ce was s u ffi ci en t u n der t he s t an d ard s o f Ja cks o n v. Vi r g i n i a

,

4 4 3 U. S. 3 0 7 (9 9 SCt 27 8 1

, 6 1 LE2 d 5 6 0) (1 9 7 9 ). See Al a t i s e v. S t a te

, 2 91 Ga. 4 2 8,

4 3 2 (5 ) (7 2 8 SE2 d 5 92 ) (2 0 1 2 ).

2

. In t wo s ep arat e en u m erat i o n s o f erro r, W y n n co n t en d s t h at t h e t ri al co u rt

erred i n d en y i ng hi s m o t i o ns fo r m i s t ri al aft er wi t n es ses f o r t h e St at e im

p ro p erl y

i n ject ed b ad ch aract er ev i d en ce t h ree t i m es

, an d erred i n d en y i n g h i s m o t i o n fo r n ew

t ri al o n t h at an d d u e p ro ces s g ro u nd s

.

Th e t ri al co urt g av e cu rat i v e i n s t ru ct i on s t wi ce aft er wi t n es s es i n t erject ed b ad

ch aract er ev i d en ce. Th e fi rs t s et o f cu rat i v e i n st ru ct io n s co v ered t wo i n ci den t s

. In t h e

fi rs t

, th e l ead d et ect i v e i n t h e cu rren t cas e s ai d o n r ed i rect ex am i n at i o n t h at t h e

DeKal b Co u n t y

p ol i ce h ad b e e n in v es t i g at i n g W y n n fo r an o t h er cri m e, aft er W y n n

b ro u gh t o u t i n cro ss -ex am i n at i on th at t h e d et ect iv e had no t s p o k en d i rect l y t o W y n n ’ s

n ei g h b o r, b u t h ad tal k ed t o D eKal b Co u n t y p o l i ce o ffi cers ab o u t t h e n ei g h b o r’ s

7s t at em en t s

. Th e co u rt h el d an un rep o rt ed si d eb ar at t h at t i m e, an d W y n n s u bs eq u en t l y

p erfect ed t he reco rd reg ard i n g t h e s u bs t an ce of t hat s i d eb ar, wh i ch ad d res s ed h i s fi rs t

m o ti o n fo r m i s t ri al

. W y n n m o v ed fo r a m i s t ri al ag ai n aft er a Fo res t Park p ol i ce o ffi cer

t e s t i f i e d t h at aft er W y n n was arres t ed

, h e wai v ed hi s Mi r an d a ri g h t s an d s ai d t h e

p o l i ce were “ al way s accu s i n g h i m o f co m m i t ti n g cri m es b ecau se o f h i s p as t cri m i n al

h i s t o ry

. ”

Th e t ri al co u rt d en i e d t h e m o t i o n s fo r m i s t ri al

. As t o t he d et ect iv e’ s an s wer

ab o ut DeKal b Co un t y cri m es

, t h e co u rt n o t ed t hat W y n n ’ s n ei gh b or h ad prev i o u s l y

t es t i fi ed ab o ut t h e m at t er an d t h u s t h e ev id en ce w as cu m u l at i v e. T h e co u rt d en i ed t h e

m o ti o n fo r m i st ri al as to t h e Fo res t Park o ffi cer’ s tes t i m on y becau s e i t was n ot

d i rect l y res p o n s i v e t o t h e q u es t i o n as ked an d b ecau se t h e o ffi cer was d es cri b i n g

W y n n ’ s v o l u n t ary

, ad m i s s i bl e s t at em en t, b u t g av e ex ten s i v e cu rat i v e in s t ru ct i o n s to

t h e j u ry

. Th e co u rt ex p lai n ed t h at W y n n was o n t ri al o n l y fo r t h e arm ed ro bb ery an d

fi rearm p o s s es s i o n ch arg es i n th e in d i ct m en t

, t h at t h e s i m i l ar tran sact i on ev i d en ce

s h o u ld be co n s id ered o n l y t o t h e ex t en t i t m i g h t s h o w i d en ti t y

, s t a t e o f m i n d,

k n o wl ed g e, o r i n t en t, an d th at an y referen ces to o t h er i n v es t i g a t i o n s were t o t al l y

i rrel ev an t

.

8Th e n ex t m o ti o n f o r m i s t ri al cam e aft er a d et ect i v e s erg ean t wi th th e Fo res t

Park Po l i ce Dep art m en t wh o was ex pl a i n i n g h i s ro l e i n th e s i m i l ar t ran s act i o n

i n v es t i g at i o n s ai d

, “ I h ad a p ri o r cas e wi t h M r. W y nn wh ere h e was i n v o l v ed i n a t h eft

i n t h e ci t y o f Fo res t Par k

. ” Wyn n o b j ect ed an d m o v ed fo r a m i s t ri al aft er t h e t ri al

co u rt s en t t h e ju ry o ut

. Aft er t h e wi t n es s m ad e a pro ffer ab o u t wh y h e b ro ug h t u p t h e

p ri o r t h eft

, t h e t ri al co u rt hel d t h at t h e s tat em en t was arg u ab l y ad m is s ib l e t o ex p l ai n

t h e d et ect i v e’ s co n d u ct b u t t hat i t s preju d i ci al n a tur e out w ei g h ed i t s b en efi t. Th e co u rt

t h u s d en i ed t h e m o ti o n fo r m i s t ri al

, s u st ai n ed t h e o bject io n

, an d i n s tru ct ed t h e ju ry

ag ai n t h at t h ey were t h ere t o fo cu s o n t h e cu rren t ch arg es an d were t o c o n s i d er t h e

Fo res t Park s i m i l ar t ran s act i o n o n l y fo r t h e l i m i t ed p u rp o ses st at ed

, an d were to

d i s reg ard o t her as p ect s o f t h e i nv es t i g at i o n rel at in g t o o t h er o ccu rren ces

.

Th e St at e co nt en d s t hat W y n n wai v ed h i s ri g ht t o a s s e r t e r r or o n ap p eal fo r

f a i l i n g t o m ov e fo r m i s tri al co n t em p o ran eo us l y i n t h e fi rs t i ns t an ce an d fai l i n g to

ren ew h i s m o t io n fo r m i s t ri al fo l l o wi n g t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s cu rat i v e i n s t ru ct i o n s

. It i s

g en eral l y t ru e t h at t o pres erv e ap p el l at e rev i ew o f t h e d en i al o f a m o t i o n fo r m i s t ri al

,

t h e m ot i o n m

u s t b e ren ewed fo l l o wi n g cu rat i v e i n s t ru ct i o n s o r t h e is s u e i s wai v ed

.

Th e reas o n i n g b eh i n d t h e wai v er ru l e i s b ecau s e “ [i ] f t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s cu r a t i v e

i n s t ru ct i o n s are n o t s u ffi ci en t

, d efen d an t s h o u l d s e e k ad d i t i o n al rel i ef.” (Ci t at i o n

9o m it t ed .) S t u b bs v. S t a t e

, 3 1 5 Ga. A p p

. 4 82

, 4 8 4 ( 2 ) ( 7 2 7 SE2 d 2 2 9 ) (2 0 1 2 ). In

S t u b b s

, h o wev er, t he d efen d an t s p eci fi cal l y ap p ro ved of t h e cu rat i v e in s t ru ct i o n s to

b e g i v e n a n d d i d n o t ren ew h i s m o t i o n fo r m i s t ri al aft erward

, an d t h u s wai v ed

ap p el l at e rev i ew. In co n t ras t

, h ere t he t ri al co u rt s peci fi cal l y s t at ed o n t h e reco rd o n

b o t h o ccas i o n s t h at W y n n was ex cep ti n g to t h e d en i al o f h is m o t i o n fo r m i s t ri al an d

was n ot w ai v i ng i t b y h i s res p o n s e wh en th e co u rt as k ed i f h e h ad s u g g es ti o n s fo r t h e

p ro p os ed cu rat i v e i n s t ru ct i o ns . Th u s t h e i s s u e was n o t wai v ed

.

Co n si d eri ng t h e m eri ts o f W y n n ’ s en u m erat i o n o f erro r, we n o t e t h at

“ [w] h et h er t o g ran t a m o t i o n fo r m i s t ri al i s wi t h i n t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s s ou n d d i s cret i o n,

an d th e t ri al co u rt ’ s ex erci s e o f t h at d is cret i o n wi l l no t b e d i s tu rb ed o n ap p eal u n l es s

a m i s t ri al i s es s en t i al to p res erv e t h e d efen d an t ’ s ri g h t t o a fai r t ri al

. ” Ot t i s v. S t a t e

,

2 7 1 Ga. 2 0 0

, 2 0 1 (3 ) ( 5 1 7 S E2 d 5 2 5 ) (1 9 9 9 ). W h en d et erm i n i ng wh et h er t h e t ri al

co u rt ab u s ed i t s d i s cret i o n, we co n s i d er t h e st at em en t i t s e l f, o t h er ev i d en ce ag ai n s t

t h e a c c u s e d

, an d th e act i on s o f th e t ri al co u rt an d co u n s el d eal i n g wi t h t h e

i m p ro p ri et y

. Ma r t i n v. St at e

, 24 0 Ga. Ap p. 9 0 1

, 9 0 2 (1 ) (5 2 5 SE2 d 7 2 8 ) (1 9 9 9 ).

Co n s i d er i n g al l o f t h es e fact o rs

, we co n cl u d e t h at t he t ri al co u rt d id n o t ab u s e i t s

d i s cret i o n i n d en y i n g W y n n ’ s m o t i o n fo r m i st ri al

.

103

. W y n n co nt en d s t h at th es e an d o t h er b ad ch aract er referen ces d u ri ng t h e t ri al

v i o l at ed h i s d u e p ro ces s ri g h t t o a fai r t ri al

. Fo r ex am p le, t h e o wn er o f t h e b l ack J eep

t es t i fi ed th at W y n n was cau g ht i n an o t h er arm ed ro b b ery cas e, aft er w hi ch t h e St at e

red i rect ed h er res p on s es b y co n fi rm i n g t hat “ t h is [was ] t h e o n l y ro b b ery [s h e h ad ]

i n fo rm at i o n o n .” Th e St at e t h en as k ed i f s h e fel t s afer o n ce sh e k n ew h e was cau g h t

,

an d wh en s he an s wered no

, t h e St at e as k ed wh y no t

. Th e wi tn e s s r e s p o n d ed

,

“ Becau s e I k n ew h i s en t o u rag e h e

— t h o se are t h e p eo pl e t h at h e h ad t o d o h i s wo rk .”

W y n n o bject ed

, t h e t ri al co urt su s t ai n ed t h e o b ject i o n

, t h en i n res p o n s e t o a q u es t i o n

ab o ut wh et h er s he k n ew i f W y n n h ad s o m et h i n g t o d o wi t h wh at ev er m ad e h er feel

u n s afe, s h e an swered

, “ W el l

, act u al l y h e h ad h i s b ro t her an d h i s n ep h ew co m e t o m y

jo b

. Befo re h e was cau g h t fo r t h is p art i cu lar ro b b ery

. .. I was th reat en ed .” W y n n

o b ject ed ag ai n an d th e t ri al co u rt s us t ai n ed t h e o b ject i o n

, n o t i n g t h at t h e wi t n es s

co u ld t es ti fy th at p eo p l e cam e t o h er jo b b u t “ [t ] h at ’ s ab o u t as far as s h e can g o wi th

t h at .” Th e w i t nes s t hen d es cri b ed ru n n i n g i n t o W y n n ’ s rel at iv es i n t h e p ark in g l o t at

h er jo b

, wh ere t h ey fo l l o wed h er i n s i d e t h e b u i l di n g

. Sh e h i d i n t h e bat h ro o m u n t i l

t h ey l eft , t h en i m

m ed i at el y l eft wo rk an d n ev er wen t b ack

.

Sev eral o f t he s i m il ar tran s act i on o ffi cers referred t o W y n n ’ s o u t s t an d i n g

warran t s t o ex p lai n wh y th ey h ad b ee n wat ch i n g t h e b an k s an d wh y th ey ch as ed

11W y n n d o wn t h e d ay h e was arres t ed

. On e tes t ifi ed t h at th ey were lo ok i ng fo r W y n n

b ecau s e “ h e h ad warran t s fo r ro b b ery ,” an d an o t h er ex p l ai n ed t h at h e co nfi rm ed t h at

h e was ch as i n g t h e ri g ht v eh i cl e b ecau s e he “ k n ew t h at t h e

. . . d ri v er o f t h at v eh i cl e

was g oi n g t o b e wan t ed o u t o f Co b b Co u n t y an d Cl ay t on Co u n t y

fo r ro b b ery .”

Th at W y n n was arres t ed b ecau s e o f an o t h er arm ed ro b b ery was ad m i s s i b l e as

p art o f t h e s i m i l ar t ran sact i o n, an d t h e J eep o wn er’ s grat u i t o u s referen ce t o t h at arres t

was s i m pl y cu m u l at iv e. Fu rt h er, t h e tri al co u rt s u st ai ne d t h e o b j ect i o n t o h er

t es t i m o ny ab o u t t h e ch aract er o f W y n n ’ s en t ou rag e. Th e si m i lar tran s act io n o ffi cers ’

s t a t e m e n t s ab o u t w h y t h ey were l o o k i n g fo r W y n n “ [were] n o t en o u gh t o u n d u l y

p reju d i ce t h e ju ry .” Hen s l ey v. S t a te

, 30 0 Ga. Ap p

. 1 3 6, 1 3 7 (6 8 4 SE2 d 67 3 ) (2 0 0 9 ).

“ Th e ex is t en ce o f t h e u n d erl y i ng warran t[s ] was t h e reas o n t h e p o l ice were ch as i n g

[W y n n] an d wi t h o ut k n o w i n g t h at

, t h e co n t ex t o f t he i n ci d en t wo u l d h av e b een

i n co m pl et e an d co n fu s i n g .” Id

.

Th e t ri al co u rt ’ s fi n al ch arg e t o t h e ju ry i n s t ru ct e d i t t h a t t he i n di ct m en t an d

p l ea fo rm ed t h e is s u e t h e ju ry was t o d eci d e, t h at W y n n was p res u m ed in n ocen t u n t i l

p ro v en g u i l t y , t h at th e St at e carri ed t h e b urd en of p ro v in g ev ery m at eri al al l eg at i o n

i n t h e i n d ict m en t an d ev ery es s en t i al el em en t o f t h e cri m e ch arg ed b e yo n d a

reas on ab l e d o u b t

, an d t h at t h e St at e h a d t h e b u rd en t o n eg at e o r d i s p ro v e b ey o n d a

12reas on ab l e d o u b t an y defen s e rai s ed b y th e ev i d en ce. It i n s t ru ct ed t h e j u ry o n t h e

el em en t s o f t he cri m es o f arm ed ro b b ery w i t h i n t en t t o co m m i t th eft an d p o s s es s i o n

o f a fi rearm d u ri n g t h e co m m i s si o n o f a cri m e, an d on t he es s en ti al el em en t o f i n t en t

.

Th e t ri al co u rt al s o g av e a len g t h y ch arg e reg ard i n g t h e l im i t ed p u rp o s e fo r wh i ch

ev i d en ce o f ot her o ffen s es co ul d b e co n s i d ered b y t h e ju ry

, an d rei t erat ed th at W y n n

was o n t ri al o n l y fo r t h e p art i cu l ar o ffen s es ch arg ed i n t h e b i l l o f i n d i ct m en t

.

Co n s i d eri n g t he t ri al co u rt ’ s i n st ru ct i o n s t o th e ju ry

, i n cl u di n g t h e cu rat i v e

i n s t r u c t i o n s d i s cu s sed in Di v is i o n 2

, t he fact th at ev i den ce rel at ed t o t h e ev en t s

l ead i ng to W y n n ’ s arres t was p ro p erl y b efo re t h e ju r y

, a n d t h e o v erwh el m i n g

ev i d en ce o f W y nn ’ s g u i l t

, we can n o t ag ree t h at W y n n ’ s ri g h t t o d u e p ro ces s was

v i o l at ed b y

t h e ad m i s s i o n o f b ad ch aract er ev i d en ce.

4

. W y n n co n ten d s t h at h i s t ri al co u n s el was i n effect i ve fo r fai l i n g to o b ject to

s ev eral o f t h e b ad ch aract er referen ces d i s cu s s ed ab o v e.

[T] o es t ab l is h i n effect i v en es s o f t ri al co u n s el

, ap p el lan t m us t s h ow b o t h

t h at co u n s el ’ s p erfo rm an ce was d efi ci en t an d t h a t t h e d efi ci en t

p erfo rm an ce p reju d i c ed t h e d efen s e. Fai l u re t o s at i s fy ei t h er pro n g o f

t h i s tes t i s su ffi ci en t t o d efeat a cl ai m of i n effect iv e as s is tan ce, an d i t i s

n o t in cu m

b en t u p o n t h i s Co u rt t o ex am in e t h e o t h er p ro n g

. Th ere i s a

s t ro n g p res u m

p t i o n t hat t h e p erfo rm an ce o f t ri al co u n s el fal l s wi t h in th e

wi d e ran g e o f reas on ab l e p ro fes s io n al as s i s t an ce. Th e reas o n ab l en es s o f

13t h e co nd u ct i s v i ewed at t h e t i m e o f t ri al an d u n der t h e ci rcu m s t an ces o f

t h e cas e. In rev i ewi n g a l o wer co u rt ’ s det e r m i n at i o n o f a cl ai m o f

i n effect iv e as s is t an ce o f co u n s el , we g i v e d eferen ce t o t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s

f a ct u al fi n d i n g s

, wh i ch are u p h el d o n ap p eal u n les s cl earl y erro n e o u s ;

h o wev er, we rev i ew t h e l o wer co u rt ’ s l eg al co n cl u s i o n s d e n ov o

.

(Ci t at i o n s an d p u n ct uat i o n o m i t t ed .) Br o wn v. S ta t e

, 3 2 1 Ga. Ap p

. 7 6 5

, 7 6 6 ( 7 4 3

SE2 d 4 5 2) (2 0 1 3).

In h i s arg u m en t

, wh i l e W y n n ci t es t o t h e t ran s cri p t at s ev en l o cat i on s

, h e d o es

n o t d i scu ss wh at t ran sp i red t h ere o r ex p l i cat e wh y co u n s el s h o u ld hav e o bject ed

. Th e

t es t i m o ny at s om e o f t he ci t ed p a g es i s n o t b ad ch aract er ev i d en ce. In an o t h er

i n s t an ce, p rev i ou s ly ad d res s ed i n Di v is i on 3, t he St at e red i rect ed t h e wi tn es s aft er s h e

t es t i fi ed t h at W y n n w as cau g h t i n an o th er arm ed ro b bery cas e. T h e fi n al t wo ci t at i on s

i n W y n n ’ s b ri ef are t o s i m i l ar t ran sact i o n t es t i m o n y we al s o ad d res s ed in Di v i s i o n 3.

Fu rt h er, W y n n el ici ted n o t es t i m o n y i n h i s m o t i o n fo r new t ri al h eari n g fro m h i s t ri al

co u ns el reg ard i n g t h e th ou g h t p ro ces s b eh i n d t hes e al l eg ed fai l u res to o b ject

, as k i n g

o n l y w h et h er i t was co un s el ’ s u s u al s t rat eg y n o t t o o b ject to an y of a St at e’ s wi t n es s ’ s

t es t i m o ny . Co u ns el res p o nd ed

,

No r m a l l y, y o u k n o w

, o n ev ery cas e an d ev ery wi t n es s t h at co m es u p I

m ak e a det erm in at i o n wh et h er or n o t I b el i ev e wh at th ey had was ei t h er

i m p o rt an t o r n eed ed fo r m e t o cro s s ex am i n e t h em

, an d i f I ch o o s e n o t

14t o cro s s

- e x a m i n e s o m eb o d y

... [i t ] co u l d b e s t rat eg y t o d e-em p has i ze

t h e i r t es ti m o n y

, act l i k e t h ey ’ re n o t real l y im p o rt an t an d h o p e t h e ju ry

g et s t h at s am e feel i n g

.

“ [ A ] t a ct i cal o r s t rat eg i c d eci s i o n m ad e by co u ns el can n ot fo rm a b as i s f o r

i n effect i v e as s i st an ce o f co u n s el u n l e s s i t was so p at en t ly u n reas o n ab l e t h at n o

co m p et en t at t orn ey wo u l d h a v e ch o s en i t .” (Ci t at io n an d pu n ct uat i on o m i t t ed .)

McNa i r v. S ta t e

, 2 9 6 Ga. 1 8 1

, 1 8 3 ( 2 ) (7 6 6 SE2 d 4 5 ) (2 0 1 4 ). Here, W y n n h as n ot

s h o wn t hat h i s t ri al co u n s el ’ s fai l u re t o o b ject t o t h e t es t i m o n y d is cu s s ed ab o v e was

p at en t l y u n reas o n ab l e an d a d eci s i o n t h at n o co m pet en t at to rn ey wo u l d h av e m ad e.

“ No r, g i v en t h e ev i den ce p res en t ed

, can [W y nn ] s h o w [a reas o n ab l e p ro b ab i l i t y ] t h at

t h e o u t c o m e o f h i s tri al wo u ld hav e b een d i fferen t h ad t h i s

. . . t es t i m o n y b een

ex cl u d ed .” Id

. at 1 8 4 (2 ) (b ). Un d er t h e ci rcu m s t an ces

, W y n n h as fai l ed t o s h o w t h at

h i s t ri al co u n s el was i n effect i v e. Acco rd in g l y

, we fi n d n o m eri t t o t h is en u m erat i o n.

5

. Fi n al ly

, W y

n n arg u es t h at t h e t ri al co u rt e r r e d i n s en t en ci n g h i m t o l i fe

wi t h o u t p aro l e, arg u i n g th at t he l o n g es t p eri o d o f t i m e p res cri b ed fo r p u n is h m en t o f

arm ed ro b b ery is l i fe i m

p ri s o n m en t , an d t h at l i fe wi t h o u t p aro l e i s n o t a s en t en ci n g

o p t i o n . Hi s arg u m en t l ack s m eri t

.

15OCGA § 1 6 -8 -4 1 (b ) p ro v i d es t h at a p ers o n co n v i ct ed o f t h e o ffen s e o f arm ed

ro b b ery s h al l b e p u ni s hed b y i m p ri s o n m en t fo r l i fe o r fo r n o t l es s t h an 1 0 o r m o re

t h an 2 0 y ears

. O CGA § 16 -8 -4 1 (d ) p ro v i d es t h at a p ers o n c o n v i c t e d o f arm ed

ro b b e r y is s u b

ject t o t h e reci d i v i s t pro v i s io ns o f OCGA § § 17 -1 0 -6 .1 an d 1 7 -1 0 -7

.

OCGA § 1 7 -1 0 -7 (a) p ro v i d es t h at

, u p o n a seco n d fel o ny co n v i ct i o n, a p ers o n s h al l

b e sen ten ced t o t he l on g es t p e r i o d o f t im e p res cri b ed fo r p u n i sh m en t o f t h e s eco n d

o ffen s e, al t h o u gh t h e s en t en ci n g co u rt m ay p r o b a t e o r s us p en d t h e m ax i m u m

s en t en ce. Un d er OCGA § 17 -1 0 -7 (c), u p o n a fo urt h fel o n y co n v i ct io n

, a pers o n m u s t

s erv e t he m ax i m

u m t i m e s en t en ced “ an d s h al l n o t b e el i gi b l e fo r p aro l e u n t i l t h e

m ax i m u m s en t en ce h as been s erv ed .”

Th e St at e s erv ed W y

n n wi t h n o t ice o f i t s in t en t t o s eek reci d i v i s t p u n i s h m en t

,

an d at s en t en ci n g i n t ro d uced ev i d en ce o f W y n n ’ s t hree p ri o r fel on y co n v i ct i o n s

. Th e

t ri al co u rt th u s pro p erl y s en t en ced h i m to l ife i m p ri so n m en t wi th o u t p aro le o n h i s

arm ed ro b bery co n vi ct i o n, an d i n fact h ad n o d i s cret i o n t o d o o t h erwi s e. Les t er v.

S t a t e , 3 0 9 Ga. Ap p

. 1 , 4 -5 (2 ) (7 1 0 SE2 d 1 6 1 ) (2 0 1 1 ).

Ju d g men t a f f i r m ed . Ra y a n d McMi l l i a n , JJ., co n cu r

.

16