SECOND DIVISION MILLER, P. J., RICKMAN and REESE, JJ.
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. http://www.gaappeals.us/rules
March 5, 2020
In the Court of Appeals of Georgia A19A2458. PHILLIPS v. THE STATE.
MILLER, Presiding Judge.
A jury found Walter David Phillips guilty of three counts of criminal attempt
of enticing a child for indecent purposes (OCGA §§ 16-4-1; 16-6-5). The trial court
sentenced Phillips to 45 years’ imprisonment, with the first 30 years to be served in
confinement and the remainder to be served on probation.1 Phillips appeals from the
trial court’s order denying his motion for new trial, arguing that (1) the evidence was
insufficient to support his convictions; (2) the trial court erred by denying his motion
to suppress statements he made during a police interview; (3) the trial court erred by
admitting hearsay evidence of witness statements contained in a police report; and (4)
1 The trial court also imposed a $50 fine. the trial court erred by refusing to charge the jury on the definition of “indecent acts.”
For the reasons that follow, we reverse Phillips’ convictions.
Viewing the evidence in the light most favorable to the verdicts,2 the record
shows that on December 14, 2013, Kenneth Banks, Sr., along with his girlfriend and
his two children, M. B., and K. J., were at a friend’s house for a cookout. Kenneth
briefly left the cookout to retrieve his stereo while his daughter remained at his
friend’s house. While M. B. and her friend stood in front of the house, a man, whom
M. B. later identified as Phillips, drove by in a black truck and made a “money”
gesture to her.3 M. B. said that Phillips did not say anything to her and that he did not
stop the truck once he reached her, but that he continued to drive past her at
“medium” speed. When Kenneth returned to the house, M. B. told him what had
happened. After speaking with M. B., Kenneth and his friend drove in search for
Phillips and found him nearby. When Kenneth exited his car and walked up to
Phillips’ truck, Phillips sped off. Kenneth saw that the passenger side-view mirror of
Phillips’ truck had fallen off, and he picked it up placed it in the trunk of his car, and
2 Jackson v. Virginia, 443 U. S. 307 (99 SCt 2781, 61 LE2d 560) (1979). 3 M. B. demonstrated the gesture Phillips made for the jury.
2 chased Phillips while on the phone with police, but stopped chasing Phillips after he
lost sight of his truck.
On December 19, 2013, Kelly Banks, M. B.’s mother, was driving in her
vehicle with her son K. J., when K. J. told her, “Mama, there’s the guy’s truck[.]”
When Kelly asked her son who he was referring to, K. J. replied, “[t]he one that tried
to get [M. B.].” Kelly called the police and told them that she was following Phillips’
truck.4 The police subsequently arrived on scene and conducted a traffic stop of
Phillips’ truck.
After the traffic stop of Phillips’ vehicle, Kenneth arrived on scene along with
the side-view mirror that had fallen from Phillips’ truck. The officers spoke with
Phillips about the side-vew mirror and Phillips told the officer that he did not know
how Kenneth came into possession of the mirror and that his truck was “falling
apart.” The officers took the mirror and matched it to Phillips’ vehicle. The officers
were subsequently met by several parents and children who had called the police to
complain about Phillips. Phillips told the police that he did not know any of the
parents or children at the scene and that he had no knowledge of any incident
involving children. Phillips then agreed to go to the police station for an interview.
4 The 911 call was entered into evidence and played for the jury.
3 While at the police station, officers investigated Phillips and his vehicle and
found reports of other incidents involving Phillips. Specifically, on August 23, 2013,
C. H. and her friends had been walking down a street into a yard when she noticed a
black truck following her. As the truck passed her, the driver, whom she did not know
but later identified as Phillips, pointed at her and gestured for her to enter his truck
and sit on the passenger seat. On October 4, 2013, J. D. was riding her bike when a
truck began to follow her. As the truck reached J. D., the driver, whom J. D. later
identified as Phillips, stopped the truck, rolled down his window, and told her that he
liked her hair. Phillips then asked her if she wanted “to put [her] bike in the back of
[his] car and go[.]”
Phillips was indicted on four counts of criminal attempt of enticing a child for
indecent purposes (OCGA §§ 16-4-1; 16-6-5). The jury found Phillips guilty of three
counts of criminal attempt of enticing a child for indecent purposes for the offenses
involving C. H., J. D., and M. B.,5 and Phillips was sentenced to 45 years’
imprisonment, with the first 30 years to be served in confinement and the remainder
5 The jury acquitted Phillips of Count One in the indictment which involved another minor victim, M. M., where the State alleged that Phillips had also tried to entice M. M. to enter his vehicle.
4 to be served on probation. Phillips filed a motion for new trial, which the trial court
denied. This appeal followed.
1. First, Phillips argues that the evidence was insufficient to sustain his
convictions. We agree that the evidence was insufficient to sustain Phillips’
convictions.
On appeal from a criminal conviction, we view the evidence in the light most favorable to the verdict and an appellant no longer enjoys the presumption of innocence. This Court determines whether the evidence is sufficient under the standard of Jackson v. Virginia, and does not weigh the evidence or determine witness credibility. Any conflicts or inconsistencies in the evidence are for the jury to resolve. As long as there is some competent evidence, even though contradicted, to support each fact necessary to make out the State’s case, we must uphold the jury’s verdict.
(Citation omitted.) Harvey v. State, 344 Ga. App. 761, 763 (811 SE2d 479) (2018).
A person commits the offense of enticing a child for indecent purposes “when he or
she solicits, entices, or takes any child, under the age of 16 years to any place
whatsoever for the purpose of child molestation or indecent acts. . . . A conviction
for enticing a child requires evidence of a joint operation of the act of [enticing] a
child and the intention to commit acts of indecency or child molestation.” (Citations
5 and punctuation omitted; emphasis supplied.) Garza v. State, 347 Ga. App. 335, 336-
337 (1) (a) (819 SE2d 497) (2018). Here, Phillips was convicted of three counts of
criminal attempt of enticing a child for indecent purposes. “A person commits the
offense of criminal attempt when, with intent to commit a specific crime, he performs
any act which constitutes a substantial step toward the commission of that crime.”
OCGA § 16-4-1.
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SECOND DIVISION MILLER, P. J., RICKMAN and REESE, JJ.
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. http://www.gaappeals.us/rules
March 5, 2020
In the Court of Appeals of Georgia A19A2458. PHILLIPS v. THE STATE.
MILLER, Presiding Judge.
A jury found Walter David Phillips guilty of three counts of criminal attempt
of enticing a child for indecent purposes (OCGA §§ 16-4-1; 16-6-5). The trial court
sentenced Phillips to 45 years’ imprisonment, with the first 30 years to be served in
confinement and the remainder to be served on probation.1 Phillips appeals from the
trial court’s order denying his motion for new trial, arguing that (1) the evidence was
insufficient to support his convictions; (2) the trial court erred by denying his motion
to suppress statements he made during a police interview; (3) the trial court erred by
admitting hearsay evidence of witness statements contained in a police report; and (4)
1 The trial court also imposed a $50 fine. the trial court erred by refusing to charge the jury on the definition of “indecent acts.”
For the reasons that follow, we reverse Phillips’ convictions.
Viewing the evidence in the light most favorable to the verdicts,2 the record
shows that on December 14, 2013, Kenneth Banks, Sr., along with his girlfriend and
his two children, M. B., and K. J., were at a friend’s house for a cookout. Kenneth
briefly left the cookout to retrieve his stereo while his daughter remained at his
friend’s house. While M. B. and her friend stood in front of the house, a man, whom
M. B. later identified as Phillips, drove by in a black truck and made a “money”
gesture to her.3 M. B. said that Phillips did not say anything to her and that he did not
stop the truck once he reached her, but that he continued to drive past her at
“medium” speed. When Kenneth returned to the house, M. B. told him what had
happened. After speaking with M. B., Kenneth and his friend drove in search for
Phillips and found him nearby. When Kenneth exited his car and walked up to
Phillips’ truck, Phillips sped off. Kenneth saw that the passenger side-view mirror of
Phillips’ truck had fallen off, and he picked it up placed it in the trunk of his car, and
2 Jackson v. Virginia, 443 U. S. 307 (99 SCt 2781, 61 LE2d 560) (1979). 3 M. B. demonstrated the gesture Phillips made for the jury.
2 chased Phillips while on the phone with police, but stopped chasing Phillips after he
lost sight of his truck.
On December 19, 2013, Kelly Banks, M. B.’s mother, was driving in her
vehicle with her son K. J., when K. J. told her, “Mama, there’s the guy’s truck[.]”
When Kelly asked her son who he was referring to, K. J. replied, “[t]he one that tried
to get [M. B.].” Kelly called the police and told them that she was following Phillips’
truck.4 The police subsequently arrived on scene and conducted a traffic stop of
Phillips’ truck.
After the traffic stop of Phillips’ vehicle, Kenneth arrived on scene along with
the side-view mirror that had fallen from Phillips’ truck. The officers spoke with
Phillips about the side-vew mirror and Phillips told the officer that he did not know
how Kenneth came into possession of the mirror and that his truck was “falling
apart.” The officers took the mirror and matched it to Phillips’ vehicle. The officers
were subsequently met by several parents and children who had called the police to
complain about Phillips. Phillips told the police that he did not know any of the
parents or children at the scene and that he had no knowledge of any incident
involving children. Phillips then agreed to go to the police station for an interview.
4 The 911 call was entered into evidence and played for the jury.
3 While at the police station, officers investigated Phillips and his vehicle and
found reports of other incidents involving Phillips. Specifically, on August 23, 2013,
C. H. and her friends had been walking down a street into a yard when she noticed a
black truck following her. As the truck passed her, the driver, whom she did not know
but later identified as Phillips, pointed at her and gestured for her to enter his truck
and sit on the passenger seat. On October 4, 2013, J. D. was riding her bike when a
truck began to follow her. As the truck reached J. D., the driver, whom J. D. later
identified as Phillips, stopped the truck, rolled down his window, and told her that he
liked her hair. Phillips then asked her if she wanted “to put [her] bike in the back of
[his] car and go[.]”
Phillips was indicted on four counts of criminal attempt of enticing a child for
indecent purposes (OCGA §§ 16-4-1; 16-6-5). The jury found Phillips guilty of three
counts of criminal attempt of enticing a child for indecent purposes for the offenses
involving C. H., J. D., and M. B.,5 and Phillips was sentenced to 45 years’
imprisonment, with the first 30 years to be served in confinement and the remainder
5 The jury acquitted Phillips of Count One in the indictment which involved another minor victim, M. M., where the State alleged that Phillips had also tried to entice M. M. to enter his vehicle.
4 to be served on probation. Phillips filed a motion for new trial, which the trial court
denied. This appeal followed.
1. First, Phillips argues that the evidence was insufficient to sustain his
convictions. We agree that the evidence was insufficient to sustain Phillips’
convictions.
On appeal from a criminal conviction, we view the evidence in the light most favorable to the verdict and an appellant no longer enjoys the presumption of innocence. This Court determines whether the evidence is sufficient under the standard of Jackson v. Virginia, and does not weigh the evidence or determine witness credibility. Any conflicts or inconsistencies in the evidence are for the jury to resolve. As long as there is some competent evidence, even though contradicted, to support each fact necessary to make out the State’s case, we must uphold the jury’s verdict.
(Citation omitted.) Harvey v. State, 344 Ga. App. 761, 763 (811 SE2d 479) (2018).
A person commits the offense of enticing a child for indecent purposes “when he or
she solicits, entices, or takes any child, under the age of 16 years to any place
whatsoever for the purpose of child molestation or indecent acts. . . . A conviction
for enticing a child requires evidence of a joint operation of the act of [enticing] a
child and the intention to commit acts of indecency or child molestation.” (Citations
5 and punctuation omitted; emphasis supplied.) Garza v. State, 347 Ga. App. 335, 336-
337 (1) (a) (819 SE2d 497) (2018). Here, Phillips was convicted of three counts of
criminal attempt of enticing a child for indecent purposes. “A person commits the
offense of criminal attempt when, with intent to commit a specific crime, he performs
any act which constitutes a substantial step toward the commission of that crime.”
OCGA § 16-4-1. To constitute a substantial step, an act must be
done in pursuance of the intent, and more or less directly tending to the commission of the crime. In general, the act must be inexplicable as a lawful act, and must be more than mere preparation. Yet it can not accurately be said that no preparations can amount to an attempt. It is a question of degree, and depends upon the circumstances of each case.
(Citation omitted.) Dennard v. State, 243 Ga. App. 868, 871 (1) (a) (534 SE2d 182)
(2000).
Although a conviction under OCGA § 16-6-5 need not be based upon evidence that an act of indecency or child molestation was accomplished or even attempted, a conviction under OCGA § 16-6-5 must nevertheless be based upon some evidence that an act of indecency or child molestation was the intended motivation for the enticement.
(Citation omitted; emphasis in the original.) Lasseter v. State, 197 Ga. App. 498, 499
(1) (399 SE2d 85) (1990).
6 Here, Count 2, Count 3, and Count 4 of the indictment all alleged that Phillips
committed the offenses of criminal attempt of enticing a child for indecent purposes
in that he attempted to entice each of the three victims into his vehicle for an indecent
purpose. C. H. testified that as she walked down a street, she noticed a black truck
coming towards her. When the truck reached her, C. H. said that Phillips, whom she
did not know, pointed at her and gestured for her to come and sit in the passenger’s
seat of his truck. J. D. testified that as she was riding her bike, a man in his truck,
whom she later identified in court as Phillips, began to follow her. Phillips stopped
the truck, rolled down his window, and told her that he liked her hair. Phillips then
asked her if she wanted “to put [her] bike in the back of [his] car and go[.]” M. B.
testified that as she and her friend stood in front of her friend’s house, Phillips drove
past her in a black truck and made a money gesture to her. Significantly, M. B. said
that Phillips did not say anything to her and that he did not stop the truck once he
reached her, but that he continued to drive past her at “medium” speed.
Therefore, we conclude that the evidence was insufficient to sustain Phillips’
convictions for these offenses. The State had the burden to prove each element of the
offense beyond a reasonable doubt, and in this case, the State failed to present any
evidence to show that an act of indecency or child molestation was the intended
7 motivation for Phillips’ attempted enticement of the victims as required to sustain a
conviction under OCGA § 16-6-5. See Lasseter, supra, 197 Ga. App. at 498-499 (1)
(holding that the evidence was insufficient to sustain the defendant’s convictions
under OCGA § 16-6-5 where there was no evidence that an act of indecency or child
molestation was the motivation for the enticement and the record only showed that
the defendant extended “innocuous invitations” to the victims). Compare Carolina
v. State, 276 Ga. App. 298, 301 (1) (a) (623 SE2d 151) (2005) (holding that the
evidence was sufficient to sustain conviction under OCGA § 16-6-5 where the
defendant asked the victim to go home with him to charge his cell phone, and after
arriving home, the defendant asked the victim sexually suggestive questions); Moore
v. State, 291 Ga. App. 270, 272 (661 SE2d 868) (2008) (holding that the evidence
was sufficient to sustain defendant’s conviction under OCGA § 16-6-5, where the
defendant asked the victim to accompany him to his residence to retrieve an item, and
then subsequently kissed the victim after arriving at his house); Peavy v. State, 159
Ga. App. 280, 280-281 (283 SE2d 346) (1981) (holding that the evidence was
sufficient to support defendant’s convictions under OCGA § 16-6-5 where the
defendant drove up to the minor child and asked her if she knew anyone “that takes
dirty pictures”). Accordingly, in the absence of evidence showing that an act of
8 indecency or child molestation was the intended motivation behind Phillips’ apparent
attempts to entice the victims into his vehicle, we must reverse his convictions for
these offenses.
2. Phillips also argues that the trial court erred in denying his motion to
suppress the statements he made during a police interview, that the trial court erred
by admitting hearsay evidence contained in a police report, and that the trial court
erred by refusing to charge the jury on the definition of “indecent acts.” In light of our
holding in Division 1 reversing Phillips’ convictions, we do not address these
enumerations of error.
Accordingly, for the reasons stated above, we reverse Phillips’ convictions for
the offenses.
Judgment reversed. Rickman and Reese, JJ., concur.