Court Opinion

ID: 9589654
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-21 23:47:05.950021+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T13:27:42.109562
License: Public Domain

McMurray, Presiding Judge,
dissenting.
I am compelled to dissent as I cannot go along with the majority’s conclusion that claimant Ruby Lockett does not have an interest in certain property seized by the State, i.e., a parcel of land known as the Dixon Road property (comprising over 101 acres) and a “Mazda pick-up truck.” In fact, an examination of the forfeiture hearing transcript reveals an admission by the State’s sole witness that Ruby Lockett has an interest in the Dixon Road property. With this aside, I believe that the State failed to establish a prima facie case for forfeiture of Ruby Lockett’s property.
To begin, I believe the majority incorrectly states that Ruby Lockett failed to demonstrate standing to contest forfeiture of the Dixon Road property and the “Mazda pick-up truck.” Ruby Lockett filed an answer claiming an interest in this property, and she later verified her answer, deposing that her claims to ownership of the Dixon Road property and the “Mazda pick-up truck” were true and correct. This verification related back to the time when Ruby Lockett’s answer was filed, OCGA § 9-11-15 (c), and thus placed the burden upon the State (if standing really had been an issue) to come forward with evidence at the forfeiture hearing that Ruby Lockett had no interest in the Dixon Road property and the “Mazda pick-up truck.” See Smith v. Maner, 171 Ga. App. 363 (319 SE2d 532). However, the record shows that standing was not an issue at the forfeiture hearing. In fact, the State not only did not contest or challenge Lockett’s standing (i.e., claims of ownership) at the forfeiture hearing, it even presented testimony supporting Lockett’s claim that she inherited an interest in the Dixon Road property. Specifically, Narcotics Agent George W. Haliburton, Jr., of the Crawford County Sheriff’s Department testified that “I feel [Ruby Lockett] has an interest in the [Dixon Road] property because she lives there ...” and because public records indicate that Lockett’s deceased grandmother was the last person to record title to the Dixon Road property. (Narcotics *292Agent Haliburton indicated that this deed was recorded in 1923.) Under these circumstances, I cannot go along with the majority in side-stepping the lack of evidence authorizing the State’s seizure of Lockett’s property.
Decided July 14, 1995
Reconsideration denied July 31, 1995.
Walker L. Chandler, for appellant.
“In a condemnation action the state must first carry its burden of proof by a preponderance of the evidence to establish a prima facie case for the forfeiture of the property. Bloodworth v. State (of Ga.), 185 Ga. App. 880 (336 SE2d 324) (1988).” State of Ga. v. Banks, 215 Ga. App. 828, 831 (2), 832 (452 SE2d 533). To this extent, Georgia’s forfeiture statute specifies that the State must present evidence at the forfeiture hearing establishing “probable cause to believe that: (A) [t]he person has engaged in conduct giving rise to forfeiture; (B) [t]he property was acquired by the person during the period of the conduct giving rise to forfeiture or within a reasonable time after the period; and (C) [t]here was no likely source for the property other than the conduct giving rise to forfeiture.” OCGA § 16-13-49 (s) (3). And contrary to the State’s argument, the burden to present at least some evidence establishing the elements prescribed by this Code subsection is not eased by the more general language in subsections (2) and (6) of OCGA § 16-13-49 (d). Forfeiture is a special statutory proceeding, and as such, courts “are required to strictly construe the forfeiture statute. See Hill v. State, 178 Ga. App. 563, 565 (2) (343 SE2d 776) (1986); Lang v. State, 168 Ga. App. 693, 695 (4) (310 SE2d 276) (1983).” State v. Henderson, 263 Ga. 508 (436 SE2d 209).
In the case sub judice, the State presented no proof that the Dixon Road property was acquired during the period of the conduct giving rise to this forfeiture proceeding or that the conduct giving rise to the forfeiture was the likely source for the Dixon Road property. In fact, the testimony of the State’s only witness, Narcotics Agent Haliburton, indicates that the Dixon Road property was acquired by inheritance, not via the gains of illegal drug activity. Further, Agent Haliburton did not give any indication that Ruby Lockett (or any other person) purchased the “Mazda pick-up truck” with proceeds of the illegal drug transactions which gave rise to this forfeiture proceeding. Under these circumstances, I believe that the State failed to establish a prima facie case for forfeiture of Ruby Lockett’s property. I would therefore reverse that part of the trial court’s order granting the State’s motion for judgment of forfeiture with regard to any interest Ruby Lockett may have in the Dixon Road property and the “Mazda pick-up truck.”
*293Charles H. Weston, District Attorney, Kirby H. Wincey, Jr., Assistant District Attorney, for appellee.