FI FTH DI VI SI ON

M CFA DDEN, P. J.

, RA Y and RI CKM 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 l s .us /r ule s

October 5, 2018



# I n th e Co u r t o f

A p p eals o f

G eo r g ia

A1 8 A1 10 6 . GARR v . THE STATE.

M C F A D D E N , Pres id i n g J u d g e.

Crai g Garr ap p eal s fro m

h i s co n v i ct i on s fo r ro b b ery an d s i m p le as sau l t . Garr

c h a l l e n g es t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s ru l in g s co n cern in g a ju ry ch arg e o n s im

pl e ro b b ery as a

l es s er i n cl u d ed o ffen se o f arm ed ro b b ery ; b ut h e h as fai l ed t o sh o w rev ers i b l e erro r.

Garr al s o cl ai m s t hat h i s t ri al co u n s el was i n effect i v e; h owev er, h e h as fai l ed t o s h o w

t h at co u n s el ’ s p erfo rm an ce was b o t h d efi ci en t an d p reju di ci al

. Fi n al ly , h e co n t en d s

t h at t h e t ri al co u rt im

p ro p erl y fai l ed t o co n s i d er hi s req u es t fo r fi rs t o ffen d er s t at u s ;

h o wev er, t h e t ran s cri p t s h o ws t h at t h e co u rt d i d i n fact co n s i d er, an d ex erci s e i t s

d i s cret i o n i n reject i ng , t h e req ues t . Acco rd i n gl y , we affi rm

.

1

. Fa ct s a n d p r o ced

ur a l p o s t u r e.Vi ewed i n t h e l i g h t m o s t fav o rab l e t o t h e v erd i ct

, s ee Ja cks o n v. Vi rg i n i a , 4 4 3

U. S. 30 7 (9 9 SCt 2 7 8 1

, 61 LE2 d 5 6 0 ) (1 9 7 9), t h e ev i d en ce s h o ws t h at G arr arran g ed

t o b u y a p ai r o f b as k et bal l s h o es fro m t h e vi ct im

. Bu t acco rd i n g to t h e v i ct i m ’s

t es t i m o ny , wh en Garr arri v ed at t h e v i ct i m ’ s ap art m en t

, Garr had a g u n an d

, wi t h an

acco m pl i ce, s to l e t h e s h o es an d m o n ey fro m t h e v i ct i m

. Aft er Garr an d h i s

acco m pl i ce l eft t h e ap art m en t

, t h e v i ct i m fo l lo wed t hem to th e p ark i n g l o t wi t h a g u n.

Th e vi ct i m t es t i f

i e d t h at as Garr an d hi s acco m p l i ce were d ri vi n g away fro m t h e

s cen e, t h ey fi red g u n s h o t s at h i m an d h e ret urn ed fi r e

. Th e v ict i m rep o rt ed t h e

i n ci d en t t o t h e p o li ce, an d Garr was ev en t u al l y ap preh en d ed i n Fl o ri d a.

Garr was i n d i ct ed fo r arm ed ro b bery

, ag grav at ed as s au l t

, an d po s ses s i o n o f a

fi rearm d u ri n g t h e co m

m i ss i o n o f a fel on y

. He was t ri ed b efo re a ju ry , wh i ch fo u n d

h i m g u i l ty o f t h e l es ser i n cl ud ed o ffen s es o f ro b b ery an d s i m p l e as s au lt

, an d n ot

g u i l t y o f t h e fi rearm o ffen s e. Th e t ri al co u rt i m p o s ed a 2 0 -y ear sen t en ce fo r t h e

ro b b ery an d a co n cu rren t 1 2 -m o n t h s en ten ce fo r t h e s i m p l e as s au lt

. Garr’ s m o t i o n fo r

a n ew t ri al was d en i ed , an d t hi s ap p eal fo l l o wed

.

2

. Req u es t

t o i n s t r u ct

j u ry o n r o b b er

y a s a l es s er

i n cl u d ed o f f en s e.

Garr co nt en d s t h at t h e t ri al co u rt erred i n refu s i n g t o g i v e h i s req u e s t e d j u ry

i n s t ru ct i o n o n ro b b ery

as a l es s er i n cl u d ed o ffen s e o f arm ed ro b bery

. G arr fai l ed t o

2o b

ject t o t he t ri al co u rt ’ s d eci s i o n d u ri n g t h e ch arg e co n feren ce an d al so fai l ed to

o b ject aft er t h e co u rt ch arg ed t h e ju ry

.

Acco rd i ng l y , we m ay o n l y rev iew t h e m at t er fo r p l a i n erro r. In

d et erm i ni n g wh et h er p lai n erro r ex i s t s , [o u r Su p r em e] Co u rt h as s et
fo rt h t h e fo ll owi n g t es t : Fi rs t

, t h ere m u s t b e an erro r o r d efect

— s o m e

s o rt o f d ev i at i o n fro m a l eg al ru le

— t h a t h a s n ot b een in t en ti o n al l y rel i n q u i s h ed o r ab an d o n ed

, i .e., affi rm at i vel y wai v ed

, b y t he ap p el l an t

. Seco n d

, t h e l eg al erro r m u s t b e cl ear o r o b v io u s, rat h er t h an s u b ject t o

reas o n ab l e di s p u t e

. Th i rd

, t h e erro r m u s t h av e affect ed t h e ap p el lan t ’ s

s u b s t an t i al ri gh t s , wh i ch i n t h e or din ary cas e m ean s he m u st d em on s trat e

t h at i t affect ed t he ou t co m e o f t he t ri al co u rt p ro ceed i ng s

. Fo u rt h an d

fi nal l y , i f t h e ab o v e t h ree p ro n g s are s at i s fi ed

, t h e ap p el l at e co u rt h as th e d i s cret i o n t o rem ed y t h e erro r

— d i s cret i o n wh ich o ug h t t o b e ex erci s ed

o n l y i f t h e erro r seri o u s l y affe ct s t h e fai rn es s , i n t eg ri t y o r pu b l i c

rep u tat i o n o f ju d i ci al p ro ceed i n g s.

Ru s sel l v. S t a te

, 3 03 Ga. 4 7 8, 4 8 0-4 8 1 (2 ) (8 1 3 S E 2 d 38 0 ) (2 0 1 8 ) (ci t at io n s an d

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

In t h e i n s t an t cas e, Garr h as n o t d em o n s t rat ed t h at t h e al leg ed erro r affect ed t h e

o u t co m e o f t h e t ri al

. A s G arr h as ack n o wl ed g ed i n hi s ap pel l at e b ri ef, t he tri al co u rt

act u al l y g av e G arr’ s req ues t ed i n s t ru ct i o n as pa r t o f a rech arg e to t h e ju ry

. Du ri n g

d el i b erat i o n s , t h e ju r y s en t a n o t e to t h e ju d g e as k i ng i f arm ed ro bb ery co u l d b e

ch an ged t o ro bb ery . In res p o ns e, t h e t ri al co urt rech arg ed t h e ju ry o n t h e o ffen s e o f

arm ed ro b b ery an d i ncl u d ed t h e req u es t ed ju ry in s t ru ct i o n on ro b b ery as a l es s er

i n cl u d ed o ffen se.

3Garr arg u es th at th e co u rt ’ s i n i t i al refu s al t o ch arg e on t he l es s er i n c l u d ed

o ffen s e co n s t rai n ed h i s d efen s e b ecau s e h is co u n s el wo u ld hav e h ad t h e o p p o rt u n i t y

t o ex p l ai n t o t h e ju ry t h e d i fferen ce b et w een arm ed ro b b ery an d s i m p le ro b b ery

.

Ho wev er, t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s rech arg e ad eq u at el y ex p l ai n ed t hat d i fferen ce. M o reo v er,

as reco u n t ed ab o v e, t h e ju ry ret u rn ed a v erd i ct fi n d i n g g u i l t as t o t h at l es s er i n cl u d ed

o ffen s e, n o t t h e g reat er o ffen s e o f arm ed ro b b ery

. So ev en i f t h e t ri al co u rt erred in

i n i t i al l y o m i tt i ng t h e req u es t ed ju ry ch arg e o n ro b b ery as a les s er i n cl u d ed o ffen s e,

an y erro r was cu red wh en “ t h e ju d g e co rrect ed t h e o m i s s i o n [d u ri n g t h e rech arg e.] ”

S h ep her d v. S t at e , 2 36 Ga. 7 8 7

, 7 8 9 (2 ) (2 2 5 SE2 d 3 12 ) (1 9 7 6 ). Acco rd Ro b er t so n

v. S t a t e , 2 2 5 Ga. Ap p

. 3 8 9, 3 9 0 (2 ) (4 8 4 SE2 d 1 8 ) (1 9 9 7 ) (rech arg e cu red an y erro r

i n th e o ri g i n al ch arg e). Becau s e t h e t ri al co u rt co rrect ed an y erro r i n i n i t i al l y refu s i n g

t o g i v e t h e req u es t ed ch arg e an d t he ju ry fo u n d g u i l t o n l y as t o t h e l es s er i n cl u d ed

o ffen s e, t h e p u rp o rt ed erro r d i d n o t affect Garr’ s s u b s tan t i al ri g h t s

.

3

. Rech a r g e o n r o b b er

y a s a l es s er i n cl u d

ed o f f en s e.

Garr arg u es t h at s i nce t h e t ri al co u rt d i d no t g i v e t he req u es ted ch arg e o n

ro b b ery as a l es s er i n cl u d ed offen s e d u ri ng t h e o ri g i n al ju ry ch arg e, th e co u rt erred

i n s u b s e q u en tl y g i v i n g i t as p art o f t h e ad d it i on al in s t ru ct i o ns to t he j u ry

. Th e

arg u m en t i s wi t h o u t m eri t

.

4Th e o n l y ev i d en ce t h at Garr u s ed a g u n d u ri n g t h e i n ci d en t was t he t es t i m o ny

o f t h e v i ct i m

. T h e p o l i ce n ev er fo u n d t h e al l eg ed g u n an d, al t h o u g h t h e v i ct i m

cl a i m e d t h a t h e h ad en gag ed i n a s h o o t o u t wi t h Garr an d h i s acco m p l i ce i n t h e

p ark i n g l ot

, t h e p o l i ce fo u nd o n ly s h el l cas i n g s fro m t he v i ct i m ’ s g u n at t he s cen e an d

d i d n o t fi n d an y p h y s i cal ev i den ce o f Garr’ s al l eg ed weap o n

. Th e j u ry , as t h e fi n d er

o f fact an d ju d g e o f w i t nes s cred i b i l i t y, w a s t h u s au th o ri zed to reject t h e v i ct i m ’ s

t es t i m o ny an d fi n d fro m t h e ev i d en ce t h at Garr d i d n o t u s e a g u n d u ri n g t h e i n ci d en t

.

See Pi t t ma n v. S t a t e , 3 0 0 Ga. 89 4

, 8 9 7 (1 ) (7 9 9 S E 2 d 2 1 5) (2 0 1 7 ) (ju ry al l o wed to

d i s b el i ev e tes ti m o n y b ecau s e r e s o l v i n g ev i d en t i ary co n fl i ct s an d as s es s i n g wi t n es s

cred i b i l i t y

are m at t ers wi t h i n t h e p ro v i n ce o f t h e fact fi n d er).

“ W h ere a cas e co n t ai ns s o m e ev i den ce, n o m at t er h ow s l ig h t

, t h at s h o ws t h at

t h e d efen d an t co m

m i t t ed a l es ser o ffen se, t h en t he co u rt sh o u l d ch arg e t h e ju ry o n t h at

o ffen s e.” Tu r n er v. St a t e , 3 4 2 Ga. Ap p. 88 2

, 8 8 5 (2 ) (8 0 5 SE2 d 6 24 ) (2 0 1 7 ) (ci t at i o n

o m it t ed ). Becau s e “ [t ] hi s cas e co n t ai ned s o m e ev id en ce [fro m wh i ch t h e ju ry

co u ld

fi nd t h at Garr] d i d n o t u s e a weap on t o t ak e p ro p ert y fro m t h e vi ct i m [, t h e co u rt ] was

t h erefo re [au t h o ri zed ] t o [g i v e] a ch arg e o n th e l es ser i n cl u ded o ffen s e.” Ed wa r d s v.

S t a t e , 26 4 Ga. 1 3 1

, 13 3 (4 42 SE2 d 4 4 4 ) (1 9 9 4). An d i t w as wel l wi t h i n t h e t r i al

5co u rt ’ s d i s cret io n to gi v e su ch a ch arg e d u ri ng i t s ad di t i o n al i n st ru ct io n s res p o n d i n g

t o a q u es t i on fro m

t h e ju ry

.

[T] h e n eed

, b read t h

, an d fo rm at i o n o f ad d i t i on al ju ry i n s t r u ct i o n s are l eft

t o th e s o u nd d i s cret i o n o f t h e tri al co u rt

. In d eed

, wh ere t h e j u ry req u es t s fu rt h er i ns t ru ct i o n s u po n a p art i cu l ar p h as e o f t he cas e, t h e co u rt i n i t s d i s cret i o n m ay rech arg e t h em i n fu l l

, o r o n l y u p o n t h e po i n t or p o in t s

req u es t ed

. Here, b ecau s e t h e t ri al co u rt g av e ad d it i on al i n s t ru ct i o n s t o

t h e j u ry wh i ch ad dres s e d o n l y t h e j u ry ’ s s peci fi c q u es t i o n [ ab o u t
wh et h er t he arm ed ro b b ery co u l d be ch an g ed t o r o b b e ry ]

, we fi nd n o ab u s e o f d i s cret i o n

.

Da vi s v. S t at e , 2 87 Ga. 1 7 3, 1 7 5 ( 3 ) (6 9 5 SE2 d 2 5 1 ) (2 0 1 0 ) (ci tat i o n s an d

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

. Ac c o r d Peeb l es v. S t a t e , 26 0 Ga. 16 5

, 16 7 (5 ) (a) (3 9 1 SE2 d

6 3 9 ) (1 9 9 0 ).

4

. In ef f ect i ve a s s i s t a n ce o

f co u n s el

.

Garr cl ai m s t h at h is tri al co u n sel was i n effect i ve i n fai l i n g t o o bject t o t h e t ri al

co u rt ’ s refu s al t o g i v e th e req u es t ed ju ry ch arg e o n ro bb ery as a l e s s e r i n cl u d ed

o ffen s e. To p rev ai l o n t h i s cl ai m , Garr “ m u s t s h o w b ot h t h at [h i s ] co u n sel ’ s

p erfo rm an ce was d efi ci en t an d t h at t h e d efi ci en t p erfo rm an ce s o p reju d i ced [h i m ]

t h at

, b u t fo r th e d efi ci en cy , t h ere i s a reas o nab le p ro b ab i l i t y t hat t h e o u t co m e o f t h e

t ri al w o u l d h av e been d i f f e r e n t

. ” Reeves v. St a te

,

_ _ _ Ga. Ap p

.

_

_ _ (3 ) (8 1 6 SE2 d

4 0 1 ) (2 0 18 ) (ci t at i o n o m i t ted ). “ Fai l u re t o m ak e t h e req u i red s h o wi n g o f ei t h er

6d efi ci en t p e r f o r m an ce or su ffi ci en t p reju d i ce d efeat s t he i n effect i v en es s cl ai m ”

McAl l i s t er v. S t at e , 3 4 3 Ga. Ap p . 2 1 3 m 2 1 7 (3 ) (8 0 7 SE2 d 14 ) (2 01 7 ) (ci t at i o n an d

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

Here, Garr h as fai l ed t o m ak e t h e req u i red s h owi n g o f p reju d i ce. As d i s cu s s ed

ab o ve, t h e t ri al co u rt act u al l y gav e Garr’ s req ues t ed i n s tru ct i on o n ro b b ery as a l es s er

i n cl u d ed o ffen s e d u ri n g i t s rech arg e an d t h e j u r y f o u nd g ui l t o n ly as t o t h at l es s er

o ffen s e, n o t t h e g reat er arm ed ro b b ery o ffen s e. Acco rd i n gl y , t h ere i s n o reas o n ab l e

p ro b ab i l i t y t hat t h e o u tco m e o f t h e t ri al wo u l d h av e b een d ifferen t i f Garr’ s co u n s el

h ad o b ject ed t o t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s i n i t i al fai l ure t o g i v e t h e req u es ted ju ry ch arg e.

5

. Fi r s t o ff en d er

.

Garr co nt en d s t h at t h e t ri al co u rt fai l ed t o ex erci s e i ts d i s cret i o n an d co n s i d er

h i s req u es t t o b e s en t en ced as a fi rs t o ffen d er. W e d i s ag ree.

Refu sal t o co n si d er fi rs t o ffen d er t reat m en t as p art o f a s en t en ci n g fo rm u l a o r p ol icy o f au t o m at i c d en i al co n s t i t u t es an ab u s e o f d i scret i o n

an d co n s ti t u t es rev ers i b l e erro r

. H o w e v er, t h ere m u s t b e a cl ear

s t at em en t i n t h e reco rd t h at co n s t i t u tes ei t h er a g en eral refu s al t o

co n s i d er s u ch t reat m en t o r an erro n eo u s ex pres s i o n of b el i ef t hat th e l aw d o es n o t p erm it t h e ex erci s e o f s u ch d i s cret i o n

.

Po wel l v

. S t a t e , 2 71 G a. Ap p

. 5 5 0

, 5 5 1 -5 52 (6 10 SE2 d 1 7 8 ) (2 0 0 5 ) (ci t at i on s

o m it t ed ).

7At t h e sen t en ci n g h eari n g i n t h i s cas e, aft er Garr’ s co u ns el h ad as k ed fo r fi rs t

o ffen d er t reat m en t , t h e t ri al ju d g e s tat ed :

I wi l l n o t co n s id er fi rs t o ffen d er t reat m en t i n t h e cas e. Fo r t wo reas o n s :

o n e, a g a i n , n o accep t an ce o f res po n s i b i l i t y ; b u t

, t wo , b ecau s e i t is a

s e n t en ce o n co n fi n em en t

— y o u kn o w , t h e b en efi t o f fi rs t o ffen d er

g en eral l y is t h at th ere is u s u al l y a s p li t s en t en ce, an d y ou can co m e b ack

an d res en t en ce. Bu t b ecau s e I am i m p o s i n g t h e m ax i m

u m s en ten ce i n th e

cas e t h ere i s n o d irect b en efi t

.

Co n t rary t o Garr’ s co n ten t i o n s , t he ju d g e’ s s t at em en ts d i d no t i n d i cat e a g en eral

refu sal t o co n s i d er fi rs t o ffen d er t reat m en t o r an erro n eo u s ex pres s i on o f b el i ef t h at

t h e l aw d id n o t p erm i t t h e ex erci s e o f s u ch d i s cret i o n i n Garr’ s cas e. Rat h er, t h e ju d g e

cl earl y co n s i d ered Garr’ s req u es t an d ex erci s ed h er d i scret i o n t o d en y t he req u es t fo r

t h e s t at ed reas o n s

. See Th r el ke l d v

. S ta t e , 2 5 0 Ga. Ap p. 4 4, 4 6 (2 ) (5 5 0 SE2 d 4 5 4 )

(2 0 0 1) (n o erro r wh ere co u rt art i cu l at ed reas on s fo r d en y in g fi rs t o ffen d er t reat m en t ).

W e d o n o t fi n d, as Garr s u g g es t s , th at t he ju d g e’ s st at em en t s ab o u t t h e

m ax i m u m s en t en ce o f co n fi n em en t s h o wed a m i s un d ers t an d i ng ab ou t t h e l a w

al l o wi n g fi rs t o ffen der t reat m en t i n cas es in v o l v i n g co n fi nem en t. See OCGA § 4 2 -8

-

6 0 (a) (Th e co u rt m ay , “ w i t ho u t en t eri n g a ju dg m en t o f g u i l t an d wi t h t h e co n s en t o f

t h e d efen d an t

, d efer fu rt h er p ro ceed i n g s an d : (1 ) Pl ace t h e d efen d an t o n p ro b at i o n;

o r (2 ) Sen t en ce t h e d efen d an t t o a t erm o f co n fi n e m e n t

. ” ). In s t ead

, th e ju d g e’ s

8s t at em en t s m erel y s ho wed t hat s h e d i d n o t b el i ev e f i r s t o ffen der t reat m en t was

ap p ro p ri at e i n t h i s cas e si n ce s h e w as i m po s i n g t h e m ax i m

u m s en t en ce o f 2 0 y ears

i n co n fi n em en t

.

Th ere i s a p r e s u m

p t i o n t h at a t ri al co urt h as reg u l arl y an d

co rrect l y co n d uct ed t h e p ro ceed i n g s. Ab s e n t cl ear, i .e., u n am b i g u o us ,

s t at em en t s i n t he reco rd s h o wi ng

. . . a fai l u re t o ex erci s e d is cret i o n as

ev i d en ced b y a m i s u n d ers t an d i n g o f t h e l aw o r a g en eral p ol i cy ag ai n s t
Fi rs t Offen der Act t reat m en t

, we wi l l affi rm t he s en t en ce as p ro n o u n ced

b y t h e t ri al co u rt

.

Po wel l

, s u p ra at 5 52 -5 5 3 (p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed ). In t h i s cas e, b ecau s e t h ere i s n o cl ear

an d u n am

b i g u o u s s t at em en t sh o wi n g t h at t h e t ri al co u rt fai l ed t o ex erci s e i t s

d i s cret i o n i n d en y i n g th e req u e s t f o r f i rs t offen d er s t at u s , “ we d is cern no b as i s fo r

reco n s i d erat i on o f [t h e] s en t en ce.” M cCu ll o u gh v. St a t e , 3 1 7 Ga. Ap p

. 8 53

, 8 5 6 (7 3 3

SE2 d 3 6 ) (2 0 1 2 ). See al s o Gr a yd o n v. S ta te

, 3 1 3 Ga. Ap p

. 5 8 0

, 5 8 1 -5 8 2 (7 2 2 SE2 d

1 7 3 ) (2 0 1 2 ); S t eel e v. S t at e , 2 7 0 Ga. Ap p . 4 88 , 4 92 (6 0 6 SE2 d 6 6 4 ) (2 0 0 4 ).

Ju d g men t a f f i r m ed . Ra y a n d Ri ckma n , JJ., co ncu r

.

9