Court Opinion

ID: 9853999
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-09-24 05:58:59.82311+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:22:52.373392
License: Public Domain

Pannell, Presiding Judge,
dissenting.
I cannot agree with the majority opinion in this case. Appellant urges error in the trial court’s overruling his motion to suppress and in admitting the marijuana into evidence. Appellant admitted possession of the marijuana during the trial of the case. The defendant was not forced to take the stand and explain his possession of the marijuana. Rather, he made a voluntary election to testify, admit his possession, and attempt to explain his possession to the satisfaction of the jury. I do not believe that a defendant should be allowed to admit his possession and then seek a reversal based on the fact that the evidence which established possession was improperly admitted. The defendant made an election and should now be bound by it; whether his election was a wise one is not for this court to decide. Accordingly, even if the court committed error in admitting the marijuana into evidence, it was harmless. Taylor v. State, 134 Ga. App. 79, 80 (213 SE2d 137); Cadle v. State, 136 Ga. App. 232, 234 (221 SE2d 59).
I am authorized to state that Judge Marshall concurs in this dissent.