FIFTH DIVISION RICKMAN, C. J., MCFADDEN, P. J., and SENIOR APPELLATE JUDGE PHIPPS
NOTICE: Motions for reconsideration must be physically received in our clerk’s office within ten days of the date of decision to be deemed timely filed. https://www.gaappeals.us/rules
DEADLINES ARE NO LONGER TOLLED IN THIS COURT. ALL FILINGS MUST BE SUBMITTED WITHIN THE TIMES SET BY OUR COURT RULES.
October 14, 2021
In the Court of Appeals of Georgia A21A0879. SMITH v. THE STATE.
MCFADDEN, Presiding Judge.
After a jury trial, Deanta Marcell Smith was convicted of numerous sexual
offenses against 15-year-old C. M. : rape, aggravated sexual battery, and several
counts of child molestation and sexual battery. On appeal, he challenges the
sufficiency of the evidence as to some of those counts, but the evidence authorized
his convictions. He also argues that the trial court erroneously instructed the jury on
the crime of aggravated sexual battery, but he did not object to the jury charge on that
ground and has not shown plain error. Finally, he argues that his trial counsel was
ineffective, but he has not shown both deficient performance and prejudice. So we
affirm.
1. Sufficiency of the evidence. Smith challenges the sufficiency of the evidence on six of the eleven counts on
which he was convicted: Count 1 (rape); Count 2 (child molestation); Count 3 (child
molestation); Count 7 (aggravated sexual battery); Count 8 (child molestatation); and
Count 11 (sexual battery). When evaluating the sufficiency of the evidence to support
a conviction, “the relevant question is whether, after viewing the evidence in the light
most favorable to the prosecution, any rational trier of fact could have found the
essential elements of the crime beyond a reasonable doubt.” Jackson v. Virginia, 443
U. S. 307, 319 (III) (B) (99 SCt 2781, 61 LE2d 560) (1979) (emphasis omitted). “On
appeal, this [c]ourt does not reweigh the evidence or resolve conflicting testimony.”
Gobert v. State, 311 Ga. 305, 308 (1) (857 SE2d 647) (2021) (citation and
punctuation omitted). “As long as there is some competent evidence, even though
contradicted, to support each fact necessary to make out the [s]tate’s case, the jury’s
verdict will be upheld.” Atkins v. State, 342 Ga. App. 849, 851 (1) (805 SE2d 612)
(2017) (citation and punctuation omitted).
The trial evidence, viewed in the light most favorably to the jury’s verdict,
showed that in August 2016, Smith was the boyfriend of C. M.’s mother and he lived
near them and sometimes spent the night at their house. On August 3, 2016, 15-year-
old C. M. was babysitting some younger family members at the house when Smith
2 arrived. No other adults were in the house at the time and C. M. was alone in one of
the bedrooms. Smith entered that room and asked C. M. if she would “jack him off,”
which she understood to mean putting her hand on his penis. C. M. felt the question
was inappropriate and she left the room without replying, locked herself in the
bathroom, and took a shower. When she emerged from the shower she thought Smith
was asleep.
Later that evening, Smith entered a bedroom where C. M. was sleeping. He
began touching C. M.’s “private area” beneath her clothing and sucking on her
breasts. Smith then picked up C. M. and took her to another bedroom, where he
pulled down both his and her pants. In a forensic interview, C. M. stated that Smith
“was sticking his private part in [her] private area.” At trial, she testified that, as she
lay on her back, Smith rubbed his penis “on” and around her vagina. Smith’s actions
hurt C. M. and made her feel “nasty” and “dirty.” Smith then got up, thanked C. M.,
and pulled up his pants. C. M. fled the bedroom and went into the bathroom, crying.
At that time she was too scared to tell anyone what had happened.
On a subsequent evening, C. M. was asleep on a couch in the living room of
the house and all of the other people in the house were also asleep when Smith
entered the room and laid behind C. M. on the couch. Smith touched C. M.’s “butt”
3 and put his finger in her vagina, hurting her. He also sucked her breasts again. He
then gave C. M. five dollars and left. C. M. did not like what had happened, but at the
time she did not tell anyone about it.
In late September 2016, C. M. made an outcry about these events to two of her
cousins, and one of them immediately reported the conversation to C. M.’s aunts.
This led to a conversation between C. M., her aunts, and her mother about what had
happened. Afterward, C. M. spoke with the police, gave a forensic interview, and had
a medical examination. Due to the passage of time, the medical examination resulted
in no physical evidence.
(a) Rape (Count 1).
Smith challenges the sufficiency of the evidence authorizing his conviction for
rape, arguing that there was no evidence of penetration. “[P]enetration of the female
sex organ by the male sex organ” is a required element of the offense of rape. OCGA
§ 16-6-1 (a). But the necessary penetration “need be only slight; it is not necessary
that the vagina shall be entered, but an entering of the anterior of the organ, known
as the vulva or labia, is sufficient.” Loyd v. State, 288 Ga. 481, 491 (4) (c) (705 SE2d
616) (2011) (citations and punctuation omitted).
4 At trial, C. M. testified that Smith did not put his penis inside her vagina. But
she testified that he “rubb[ed] his penis around [her] vagina,” and she answered
affirmatively when the prosecutor asked her if Smith put his penis “on [her] vagina.”
C. M. also stated in her forensic interview (which was played for the jury at trial ) that
Smith “laid [her] on the bed” and “was sticking his private part in [her] private area,”
hurting her. (Emphasis supplied.)
From this evidence, the jury could infer that Smith’s penis had entered the
anterior of C. M.’s sex organ, which was sufficient to authorize a finding of the
penetration necessary for Smith to be convicted of rape. See Martin v. State, 298 Ga.
259, 265 (1) (b) (779 SE2d 342) (2015) (victim’s testimony that defendant had
“started to have sex” with her but was unable to “keep an erection” was sufficient to
show penetration), disapproved in part on other grounds by Willis v. State, 304 Ga.
686, 706 (11) (a) n. 3 (820 SE2d 640) (2018); Skillern v. State, 240 Ga. App. 34, 35
(1) (521 SE2d 844) (1999) (“[t]he victim’s testimony that defendant tried to force
himself into her and that this hurt her private authorizes the rational inference that
defendant penetrated the victim’s vulva or labia with his sex organ, hurting the
sensitive hymenal ring, without entering the vagina[,]” which was sufficient to
authorize the jury to find the defendant guilty of rape).
5 (b) Aggravated sexual battery (Count 7).
Smith challenges the sufficiency of the evidence authorizing his conviction for
aggravated sexual battery. A person commits that offense by “intentionally
penetrat[ing] with a foreign object the sexual organ or anus of another person without
the consent of that person.” OCGA § 16-6-22.2 (b).
The state accused Smith of committing aggravated sexual battery by
intentionally penetrating C. M.’s sexual organ with his finger. Smith argues on appeal
that the evidence did not support a finding that he used his finger to penetrate her. He
points to C. M.’s trial testimony that Smith inserted “something” in her vagina but
that she did not know what that object was. In her forensic interview, however, C. M.
stated that the object was Smith’s finger and the jury was permitted to credit C. M.’s
statement in the forensic interview over her trial testimony. See Atkins, 342 Ga. App.
at 851 (1).
Smith also argues that it was not clear from the evidence whether he inserted
the object into C. M.’s vagina or into her anus. But “[i]t is not for us to determine or
question how the jury resolved any apparent conflicts or uncertainties in the evidence.
Rather, on appeal, we indulge every contingency in favor of the verdict.” Baker v.
State, 273 Ga. App. 297, 299 (1) (614 SE2d 904) (2005) (citation omitted). The
6 evidence authorized the jury to find that Smith inserted his finger in C. M.’s vagina,
as alleged in the indictment.
Smith also argues, summarily, that there was no evidence that C. M. did not
consent to Smith’s act. “[T]he [s]tate is not exempt from proving lack of consent at
trial merely because the victim is under the age of sixteen when establishing a
violation of the aggravated sexual battery statute.” State v. Williams, 308 Ga. 228,
232 (2) (838 SE2d 764) (2020). But this does not mean that C. M. was required to
testify that she did not consent. Rather, the jury could infer that fact from other
evidence. See Nembhard v. State, __ Ga. App. __, __ (1) (859 SE2d 118) (2021)
(where a rational juror could find from the evidence that the victim did not consent,
the evidence was sufficient to show the lack of consent required for sexual battery
even though the victim did not testify that she was scared or told the defendant to
stop). C. M.’s depiction of the event in this case — Smith approaching her as she was
asleep on the couch, removing the covers from her, and inserting his finger in her
vagina, hurting her — was sufficient to show the necessary lack of consent.
(c) Child molestation (Counts 2, 3, and 8).
Smith challenges the sufficiency of the evidence authorizing three of his
convictions for child molestation. A person commits that offense, among other ways,
7 when he or she “[d]oes any immoral or indecent act to or in the presence of or with
any child under the age of 16 years with the intent to arouse or satisfy the sexual
desires of either the child or the person[.]” OCGA § 16-6-4 (a) (1). In Count 2, the
state charged Smith with committing child molestation “by touching [C. M.’s] vagina
[on August 3, 2016], with the intent to arouse and satisfy [his] sexual desires[.]” In
Count 3, the state charged him with committing that offense “by asking [C. M. on
August 3, 2016] to place her hands on his penis, with the intent to arouse and satisfy
his sexual desires[.]” And in Count 8, the state charged him with committing that
offense “by touching [C. M.’s] vagina [on a later date], with the intent to arouse and
satisfy [his] sexual desires[.]”
As to Counts 2 and 8, Smith argues that the evidence was insufficient because
it showed only that he touched C. M.’s vulva, not her vagina. But C. M. testified that
Smith touched her “private area” on August 3. When asked if by “private area” she
meant her vagina, C. M. replied, “Uh-huh.” And in her forensic interview she stated
that, on the second occasion, Smith “touched [her] private area again.” The jury could
reasonably infer from this testimony that Smith committed the offense of child
molestation in the manner set forth in the indictment. See Hernandez v. State, 319 Ga.
App. 876, 877-878 (1) (738 SE2d 701) (2013) (“Although the victim did not use the
8 specific term ‘vagina’ during her testimony, the jury could reasonably infer that she
was referring to her vagina when she stated that the contact was with her ‘lower
private area.’”). Moreover, Smith’s sufficiency challenge as to Count 8 is moot
because that conviction was merged for sentencing purposes into his conviction for
aggravated sexual battery. See Lupoe v. State, 284 Ga. 576, 577 (1) n. 2 (669 SE2d
133) (2008).
As to Count 3, Smith argues that the evidence was insufficient because C. M.
testified that she did not touch Smith’s penis when he asked her to do so and,
therefore, no “immoral or indecent act” occurred. But the state was not required to
prove that C. M. actually touched Smith’s penis. The indictment alleged only that
Smith asked C. M. to touch his penis. The “act” required for child molestation under
OCGA § 16-6-4 (a) “may be merely verbal.” Hicks v. State, 254 Ga. App. 814, 816
(2) (563 SE2d 897) (2002). See also Craft v. State, 324 Ga. App. 7, 8 (a) (749 SE2d
16) (2013) (evidence was sufficient to authorize child molestation conviction where
the defendant exposed his penis to the minor victim and asked her to touch it, asked
the victim if she had pubic hair, and tried to touch her vaginal area and kiss her). The
evidence here that Smith asked C. M. to “jack him off,” which she understood to
9 mean to touch his penis, authorized a finding that Smith had engaged in an immoral
and indecent act with C. M. with the intent to arouse and satisfy his sexual desires.
(d) Sexual battery (Count 11).
Smith challenges the sufficiency of the evidence authorizing one of his
convictions for sexual battery, but the trial court merged that conviction into his
conviction for aggravated sexual battery for sentencing purposes. So this challenge
is moot. See Lupoe, 284 Ga. at 577 (1) n. 2.
2. Jury charge.
Smith argues that the trial court plainly erred in charging the jury because the
charge “implied the [s]tate did not have to prove lack of consent for aggravated
sexual battery.” See generally Williams, 308 Ga. at 232 (2) (holding that state is
required to prove lack of consent to show aggravated sexual battery, regardless of the
victim’s age). While charging on the offense of rape, the trial court instructed the jury
that “a person under the age of 16 is legally incapable of giving consent to sexual
intercourse.” Later, the trial court instructed the jury on the elements of the offense
of sexual battery and stated that “lack of actual consent, not lack of consent implied
by age, is a specific element of the crime.” Immediately thereafter, the trial court
instructed the jury on the elements of aggravated sexual battery, which included
10 informing the jury that the state must prove a lack of consent. But the trial court did
not repeat the instruction that this element requires lack of actual consent, not lack
of consent implied by age.
Smith argues that this omission rendered the charge on aggravated sexual
battery erroneous. Because he did not object to the charge at trial, we review this
claim only for plain error. See White v. State, 291 Ga. 7, 8 (2) (727 SE2d 109) (2012)
(“[T]he failure to object to the charge as given precludes appellate review ‘unless
such portion of the jury charge constitutes plain error which affects substantial rights
of the parties.’”) (quoting OCGA § 17-8-58 (b)). Under plain error review,
[r]eversal is authorized if all four prongs of the standard adopted in [State v.] Kelly[, 290 Ga. 29 (1) (718 SE2d 232) (2011),] are met: the instruction was erroneous, the error was obvious, the instruction likely affected the outcome of the proceedings, and the error seriously affects the fairness, integrity or public reputation of judicial proceedings.
White, supra at 8 (2).
Smith has not shown that the trial court’s failure to specifically instruct on
actual consent in relation to aggravated sexual battery was an obvious error beyond
reasonable dispute. The charge given by the trial court was correct as a whole; the
trial court gave the jury the correct statutory definition for the offense, which included
11 the requirement that the act must occur “without the consent of th[e other] person.”
OCGA § 16-6-22.2 (b). And at the time of trial in late 2018, the suggested pattern
jury instructions did not yet propose that a charge on lack of actual consent be given
in connection with aggravated sexual battery. Compare Suggested Pattern Jury
Instructions, Vol. II: Criminal Cases, § 2.38.70 (January 2019 update) (containing
instruction on lack of actual consent only in connection with sexual battery) with
Suggested Pattern Jury Instructions, Vol. II: Criminal Cases, § 2.38.70 (August 2019
update) containing instruction on lack of actual consent in connection with both
sexual battery and aggravated sexual battery).
Where a charge as a whole is correct, a trial court is not required to give an
additional, clarifying charge. See Williams v. State, 298 Ga. 208, 218 (7) (779 SE2d
304) (2015). Whether or not to do so is a matter within the trial court’s discretion. See
Bennett v. State, 262 Ga. 149, 153 (10) (a) (414 SE2d 218) (1992). Because in this
case the charge on aggravated sexual battery was correct and the trial court was not
compelled to give an additional charge clarifying the lack of consent element, there
was “no error in the trial court’s charge . . ., plain or otherwise.” Williams, 298 Ga.
at 218 (7). See also Leeks v. State, 296 Ga. 515, 520-521 (4) (769 SE2d 296) (2015)
(where the trial court gave the jury the correct statutory definitions for the offenses
12 at issue and the instruction as a whole did not prevent the jury from considering a
lesser included offense, the trial court did not abuse its discretion by failing to give
a jury charge on the lesser included offense and the appellant did not show that such
failure was plain error).
Smith also has not shown that the trial court’s failure to instruct on lack of
actual consent in relation to aggravated sexual battery likely affected the outcome of
the proceedings. Smith speculates that the jury might have improperly believed that
the instruction that “a person under the age of 16 is legally incapable of giving
consent to sexual intercourse,” which the trial court gave earlier in connection with
rape, also applied to aggravated sexual battery. But Smith has “provided no evidence
that the jury was either misled or confused [on this point].” Martin v. State, 310 Ga.
658, 664 (3) (852 SE2d 834) (2020) (rejecting the defendant’s speculative argument
that the jury was misled by the charge, and so finding that the defendant had not
demonstrated plain error). Moreover, the state did not argue to the jury that C. M.’s
age alone could supply the lack-of-consent element for aggravated sexual battery. To
the contrary, in closing argument the state asserted that, as to aggravated sexual
battery, “we do actually have to prove that it was without her consent.” In closing
argument the state also equated the lack of consent needed for aggravated sexual
13 battery with that needed for sexual battery. Under these circumstances, we are not
persuaded that the outcome of the trial likely was affected by the trial court’s failure
to repeat the lack-of-actual-consent instruction specifically in connection with
aggravated sexual battery.
For these reasons, Smith has not shown the plain error needed to reverse on this
ground.
3. Ineffective assistance of trial counsel.
Smith argues that his trial counsel rendered ineffective assistance in several
respects. To prevail on this claim, Smith
must show both that his trial counsel’s performance was deficient and that he suffered prejudice as a result. An appellant must satisfy both prongs of [this] test, and if he fails as to one prong, it is not incumbent upon this [c]ourt to examine the other prong. To establish deficient performance, an appellant must overcome the strong presumption that his counsel’s conduct falls within the broad range of reasonable professional conduct and show that his counsel performed in an objectively unreasonable way in light of all the circumstances and prevailing norms. To establish prejudice, an appellant must show that there is a reasonable probability that, but for counsel’s unprofessional errors, the result of the proceeding would have been different. In reviewing either component of this inquiry, all factual findings by the trial court will be affirmed unless clearly erroneous.
14 Hughes v. State, __ Ga. __, __ (2) (__ SE2d __) (Case No. S21A0730, decided July
7, 2021) (citations and punctuation omitted).
(a) Failure to object to jury instruction on aggravated sexual battery.
Smith argues that his trial counsel was deficient for failing to object to the
failure of the trial court’s charge to the jury to include an instruction on actual lack
of consent in connection with aggravated sexual battery. But for the same reasons
discussed above in Division 2, we find no reasonable probability that the result of the
proceeding would have been different but for this omission in the jury charge. So
even if we assume without deciding that trial counsel was deficient in failing to object
to the charge, Smith has not shown he was prejudiced.
(b) Failure to object to questions posed by the prosecutor during C. M.’s direct
examination.
Smith argues that his trial counsel was deficient in failing to object during C.
M.’s direct examination, when the following exchanges occurred:
A. He was touching me by my private area.
Q. Your private area? And, [C. M.], when you say your private area, do you mean your vagina?
A. Uh-huh.
15 ...
A. . . . I was laying on my back. He started rubbing his private area around my — my private area.
Q. Okay. And, [C. M.], when you say his private area, are you talking about his penis?
...
Q. Okay. And when he was rubbing his penis on your vagina, did he put his penis inside your vagina? You’re going to have to say it out loud.
A. No.
Q. Okay. Now, did he put your – his penis on your vagina?
In his appellate brief, Smith contends that this series of questions was
objectionable because it was “leading, assumed facts not in evidence, and was
illogical and nonsensical in its use of [the word] ‘vagina.’” The questions, however,
were not leading, because they were not “framed as to suggest to the witness the
16 answer which is desired. . . . Rather, the state propounded . . . yes-or-no question[s]
regarding [Smith’s acts].” Milner v. State, 258 Ga. App. 425, 429 (1) (574 SE2d 457)
(2002) (citations and punctuation omitted). See Wiggins v. State, 338 Ga. App. 273,
276 (2) (787 SE2d 357) (2016) (holding that the question “did he ever get his private
part inside of your vagina” was not leading). The questions also do not assume facts
not in evidence; the question about Smith “rubbing his penis on [C. M.’s] vagina”
refers to C. M.’s prior testimony. And to the extent the use of the term “vagina” in
these questions was anatomically incorrect, as Smith contends, that matter could be
clarified through further examination or cross-examination; Smith has cited no
authority for the proposition and we are not persuaded that such imprecision would
be ground for a meritorious objection.
“(T)he failure to make a meritless objection is not deficient performance.
Because [Smith] has not shown that his counsel performed deficiently by failing to
raise th[ese] objection[s], this claim of ineffective assistance fails.” Sawyer v. State,
308 Ga. 375, 383 (2) (a) (839 SE2d 582) (2020) (citation and punctuation omitted).
(c) Failure to object to the recording and transcript of C. M.’s forensic
interview.
17 At trial, a recording of C. M.’s forensic interview was played to the jury during
the interviewer’s testimony, and as it was played the jury was allowed to look at a
transcript of the interview. The transcript, however, did not go out with the jury.
Smith argues that his trial counsel was deficient in failing to object to the admission
of the recording and the use of the transcript on two grounds: as inadmissible hearsay
and as a Confrontation Clause violation. We disagree.
The recording of the forensic interview was admissible under Georgia’s Child
Hearsay Statute, which provides:
A statement made by a child younger than 16 years of age describing any act of sexual contact or physical abuse performed with or on such child by another or with or on another in the presence of such child shall be admissible in evidence by the testimony of the person to whom made if the proponent of such statement provides notice to the adverse party prior to trial of the intention to use such out-of-court statement and such child testifies at the trial, unless the adverse party forfeits or waives such child’s testimony as provided in this title, and, at the time of the testimony regarding the out-of-court statements, the person to whom the child made such statement is subject to cross-examination regarding the out-of-court statements.
OCGA § 24-8-820 (a). Contrary to Smith’s argument, the Child Hearsay Statute can
encompass the admission of a recording or transcript of a forensic interview. See
18 Shaum v. State, 355 Ga. App. 513, 516-517 (2) (844 SE2d 863) (2020); Robinson v.
State, 342 Ga. App. 624, 629 (1) (805 SE2d 103) (2017). And the requirements of this
statute were met in this case. The state gave notice of its intention to introduce the
evidence, C. M. was 15 years old when she was interviewed, her statements in the
interview described acts of sexual contact performed on her, C. M. testified at trial,
and the evidence was introduced during the testimony of the forensic interviewer, to
whom C. M. made the statements.
Smith’s Confrontation Clause argument fails because C. M. was present at trial.
It is true that even if evidence is admissible under the Child Hearsay Statute it
may still be inadmissible as a violation of the accused’s rights under the Confrontation Clause[, which] provides that, in all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to be confronted with the witnesses against him. The Confrontation Clause imposes an absolute bar to admitting out-of-court statements in evidence when they are testimonial in nature, and when the defendant does not have an opportunity to cross-examine the declarant. But when the declarant appears for cross-examination at trial, the Confrontation Clause places no constraints at all on the use of his prior testimonial statements. The Clause does not bar admission of a statement so long as the declarant is present at trial to defend or explain it.
19 Cornell v. State, 349 Ga. App. 883, 884-885 (2) (827 SE2d 63) (2019) (citations,
punctuation, and emphasis omitted). See also DeVaughn v. State, 296 Ga. 475, 478
(3) (769 SE2d 70) (2015) (holding that a Confrontation Clause objection would be
frivolous where the witness testified at trial and the defendant had the opportunity to
cross-examine him).
Because C. M. was present at trial and was subject to cross-examination by
Smith, the Confrontation Clause did not bar the admission of her forensic interview
statements. See Cornell, 349 Ga. App. at 885 (2). Although Smith argues that we
should treat C. M. as a “different person” in her forensic interview because her
statements in that interview differed in some respects from her trial testimony, he
points to no authority to support this argument and we know of none.
For these reasons, Smith did not have a meritorious objection to the admission
of the recorded forensic interview on either hearsay or Confrontation Clause grounds.
And he offers no argument or supporting authority for the proposition that it is
improper to permit the jury to look at a transcript during the playing of an otherwise-
admissible recording. Consequently, trial counsel was not deficient for failing to
object to either the recording or the transcript on hearsay or Confrontation Clause
grounds. See Campos v. State, 263 Ga. App. 119, 121 (587 SE2d 264) (2003) (trial
20 counsel’s failure to pursue futile objection against admission of child’s recorded
interview did not constitute ineffective assistance).
We note that, at the end of the Confrontation Clause argument in Smith’s
appellate brief, he includes the following sentence: “Trial counsel admitted that she
did not object to [a] line of questioning [directed to two witnesses who were qualified
as experts in forensic interviewing] and that it was not a matter of trial strategy for her
failure to do so.” This sentence suggests that Smith asserted such failure as a separate
ground to support his claim of ineffective assistance before the trial court. But he did
not make such an assertion in his motion for new trial. Moreover,
the trial court made no ruling on whether trial counsel was deficient in failing to [object to that “line of questioning” of the expert witnesses], indicating that the trial court did not treat the failure to [make such an objection] as one of [Smith’s] asserted grounds of ineffectiveness. This means that there is no ruling on this issue for this court to review.
Clark v. State, __ Ga. App. __, __ (3) (c) (858 SE2d 519) (2021) (citations and
punctuation omitted). To the extent that Smith now claims on appeal that his trial
counsel was ineffective for failing to make such an objection during the questioning
of the expert witnesses, the claim “was neither raised in the motion for new trial nor
ruled upon by the trial court [and] is procedurally barred.” Id.
21 (d) Failure to object to other instances of alleged hearsay.
Smith argues that trial counsel was deficient in failing to object to several other
instances of alleged hearsay. He has not shown ineffective assistance as to any of
these instances.
(i) Testimony from the outcry witnesses about statements made by C. M.
Smith argues that trial counsel should have objected, on hearsay grounds, when
C. M.’s cousins testified about her outcry. He contends that the testimony did not fall
within the Child Hearsay Statute because they did not repeat C. M.’s “description of
sexual contact or physical abuse.” OCGA § 24-8-820 (a). We disagree. One of these
witnesses testified that C. M. told her Smith “touch[ed] her, he was touching on her,
and he offered her $5 to jack him off.” The other testified that C. M. told her Smith
“was touching her inappropriately” and “in ways that she didn’t want to be touched,”
and that Smith “tried to force hi[m]self inside of her.” Because the Child Hearsay
Statute authorized this testimony, an objection to it on that ground would have been
futile, so trial counsel was not deficient in failing to make that objection. See
Campos, 263 Ga. App. at 121.
(ii) Other testimony about C. M.’s statements.
22 Smith argues that trial counsel should have objected on hearsay grounds to
testimony from other witnesses that they heard C. M. had said Smith touched her
inappropriately. And he argues that Smith should have made a hearsay objection
when a police officer repeated statements made by C. M. in her forensic interview.
Assuming without deciding that trial counsel was deficient in these respects, Smith
has not shown a reasonable probability that, but for these alleged errors, the result of
the proceeding would have been different, as required to establish prejudice. Instead,
these alleged errors were
harmless because [Smith] was afforded the opportunity to cross-examine [C. M. and the other witnesses] about [their] out-of-court statements, and the complained[-]of testimony was cumulative of other evidence adduced during trial[, including the admissible evidence of C. M.’s outcry and the recording of C. M.’s interview].
Kelly v. State, 197 Ga. App. 811, 814 (3) (399 SE2d 568) (1990) (citation and
punctuation omitted).
(e) Failure to act in response to the state’s anatomically incorrect terminology.
Smith asserts that, throughout the trial, the prosecution used the term “vagina”
in an anatomically incorrect manner, by equating the term with the entire genital area,
particularly the vulva. Smith contends that by equating the terms “vagina” and
23 “vulva,” the state created confusion about precisely what evidence was required to
show the penetration required for his rape conviction. He argues that his trial counsel
was deficient in failing to take steps to alleviate that confusion, such as alerting the
jury to the issue during opening statements, insisting that witnesses and the state use
correct terminology, or seeking a mistrial after the jury sent the judge a note asking
whether “the mons pubis and general pubic area [are] considered part of the anterior
of the vagina.”
But as discussed above in Division 1 (a), the vagina itself need not be entered
for the crime of rape to occur; penetration of the vulva or labia is sufficient. Loyd, 288
Ga. at 491 (4) (c). So even if the jury were confused about the state’s use of the term
“vagina” to mean the vulva, that confusion would not have mattered to the
determination of whether the evidence established the element of penetration. For this
reason, Smith has failed to prove that his trial counsel acted deficiently in not taking
steps to address this supposed confusion.
(f) Failure to request a jury charge on statutory rape.
Smith argues that his trial counsel was deficient in failing to request a jury
charge on statutory rape as a lesser included offense of forcible rape. There is no
merit to this argument, because “statutory rape is not a lesser included offense of
24 forcible rape.” Stuart v. State, 318 Ga. App. 839, 841 (734 SE2d 814) (2012) (citation
and punctuation omitted). Accord Brown v. State, 319 Ga. App. 680, 683 (2) (738
SE2d 132) (2013).
(g) Cumulative prejudice.
“[T]he effect of prejudice resulting from counsel’s deficient performance is
viewed cumulatively.” Jackson v. State, 306 Ga. 69, 90 (9) (829 SE2d 142) (2019)
(citation and punctuation omitted). “Recognizing this, we conclude that the
cumulative prejudice from any deficiencies assumed in this (division) is insufficient
to create a reasonable probability that the results of the proceedings would have been
different in the absence of the deficiencies alleged.” Franklin v. State, 351 Ga. App.
539, 555 (4) (d) (831 SE2d 186) (2019) (citation and punctuation omitted).
Judgment affirmed. Rickman, C. J., and Senior Appellate Judge Herbert E.
Phipps concur.