Court Opinion

ID: 9585288
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-21 22:58:36.141342+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T15:37:46.583523
License: Public Domain

Carley, Judge,
dissenting.
I simply cannot agree with Division 5 of the majority opinion holding that it was not error to exclude evidence, offered for purposes of impeachment, showing that a state’s witness had been convicted of the misdemeanor offense of escape. The rationale for the holding is, of course, the majority’s conclusion that this misdemeanor did not constitute an offense involving moral turpitude. While I realize that the cases discussing what does and does not involve moral turpitude have been less than clear, I firmly believe that the crime of escape — even if classified as a misdemeanor — always involves “moral turpitude.” In order to be convicted of the offense of escape, one must have “intentionally” escaped “from lawful custody” or confinement. OCGA 16-10-52. At the very least, the commission of this offense results in an “obstruction of justice.” See Lewis v. State, 243 Ga. 443, 445 (254 SE2d 830) (1979). I believe that there was a proper showing that the witness in this case had been convicted of a misdemeanor involving moral turpitude and, therefore, I believe the trial court erred in excluding evidence of the conviction for impeachment purposes. Accordingly, I respectfully dissent.
I am authorized to state that Judge Sognier joins in this dissent.