James v. State, A90A0485

• Decision Date: 13 July 1990
• Docket Number: No. A90A0485,A90A0485
• Parties: JAMES v. The STATE.
• Court: Georgia Court of Appeals

Page 306

396 S.E.2d 306

196 Ga.App. 569

JAMES v. The STATE.

No. A90A0485.

Court of Appeals of Georgia.

July 13, 1990.

Rehearing Denied July 30, 1990.

Certiorari Denied Sept. 4, 1990.

W. Keith Davidson, Lawrenceville, for appellant.

Thomas C. Lawler III, Dist. Atty., Debra K. Turner, Asst. Dist. Atty., for appellee.

COOPER, Judge.

Appellant and two co-indictees, Hagler and Jones were charged with cocaine trafficking, possession of cocaine and possession of diazepam. Hagler entered a plea of guilty and Jones was tried before a jury and convicted on all counts. See Jones v. State, 191 Ga.App. 332, 381 S.E.2d 575 (1989). In a separate trial, appellant was tried before a jury and found guilty of possession of cocaine. She appeals from the judgment of conviction and sentence entered by the trial court. On appeal, appellant contends the trial court erred in allowing the prosecution to introduce the convictions of the co-indictees at trial.

The record reveals that during opening statements when referring to Hagler's anticipated testimony, the prosecutor mentioned his earlier plea of guilty and sentence. Appellant objected and requested a mistrial, which was denied. Appellant made several other objections to references to the plea during the trial and renewed her motion for mistrial at the close of the State's case, all of which were overruled. Hagler testified as to the full circumstances of his arrest, plea and sentence; the court also allowed him to testify that Jones had gotten a heavy sentence despite appellant's timely objection.

Appellant argues that the remarks made by the prosecutor and Hagler's testimony were so prejudicial to appellant that she was deprived of the presumption of innocence and the right to a fair trial. Appellant relies on Mindock v. State, 187 Ga.App. 508, 370 S.E.2d 670 (1988), in which we held the testimony of a state witness as to the pleas entered by appellant's co-defendants inadmissible as proof of appellant's guilt. The facts in Mindock are different from the facts in the instant case, however, in Mindock we recognized an exception to OCGA § 24-3-52, which restricts the admissibility of a confession of a co-defendant to use only against himself. We concluded that the rule does not apply where the co-defendant "is present and testifies as a witness subject to cross-examination.... [Cit.]" Mindock, supra at 509, 370 S.E.2d 670. In this instance, the co-defendant "is held to be a competent witness to testify as to any relevant matter concerning the charge...." Brown v. State, 132 Ga.App. 200(2), 207 S.E.2d 682 (1974). We recognize the danger of prejudice to an individual on trial if his co-defendant's conviction is introduced, however, where that co-defendant testifies as to matters other than the conviction, there is ample opportunity to challenge his credibility. Unlike the co-defendant in Dorminy v. State, 178 Ga.App. 653, 344 S.E.2d 475 (1986) also cited by appellant, Hagler testified extensively about matters other than his guilty plea, specifically the activities of all three defendants for a period of approximately twelve hours immediately preceding their arrest. Under these circumstances no prejudice to appellant resulted from references made to Hagler's plea and sentence or by Hagler's testimony. There is also no error in the State introducing this evidence during its direct examination of Hagler; appellant had the opportunity to challenge Hagler's credibility on cross-examination.

Hagler, referring to co-indictee Jones, during his testimony stated, "He got a heavy sentence." This statement was non-responsive to the question asked by the prosecutor and appellant's timely objection to the testimony was sustained. " '[I]t is well-settled that a sustained objection to [an improper...