Logan v. State

Decision Date04 May 1984
Docket NumberNo. 67706,67706
Citation170 Ga.App. 809,318 S.E.2d 516
PartiesLOGAN v. The STATE.
CourtGeorgia Court of Appeals

Kenneth W. Krontz, Jennifer McLeod, Douglasville, for appellant.

Frank C. Winn, Dist. Atty., for appellee.

SOGNIER, Judge.

Appellant was convicted of the sale and distribution of marijuana in violation of the Georgia Controlled Substances Act. He contends the trial court erred by allowing a witness whose name was not included in the list of state witnesses to testify over appellant's objection.

The record discloses that before Traci Calhoun was called as a State witness appellant objected to any testimony from her on the ground that appellant had submitted a written demand for a list of witnesses, and Calhoun's name was not on the list. Appellant acknowledged receiving oral notification that Calhoun would be a witness, but argued that the statute (OCGA § 17-7-110) requires written lists.

The prosecutor advised the court that under the policy in his office the name of an informant is not listed on the indictment until plea negotiations are ended; that when appellant's counsel was advised of this practice and told that if he felt negotiations had broken down the prosecutor would provide the informant's name to appellant's counsel, he said "O.K."; and that five or six days prior to trial appellant's counsel was given Calhoun's name.

The purpose of OCGA § 17-7-110 is to insure that an accused is not confronted at trial with testimony against him from witnesses whom he has not had an opportunity to interview prior to trial. Hicks v. State, 232 Ga. 393, 399, 207 S.E.2d 30 (1974). Appellant did not claim to be unfairly surprised by Calhoun's appearance and did not allege prejudice of any kind from the fact that the notification was oral. Under such circumstances any defect in the failure of the prosecution to include Calhoun's name on the written list of witnesses is harmless. Newman v. State, 237 Ga. 376, 382(3), 228 S.E.2d 790 (1976).

Although appellant argues for the first time on appeal that five or six days was not sufficient time in which to locate the witness, check her background, etc., five days has been found to be a reasonable time for such purposes. Hicks, supra.

Judgment affirmed.

McMURRAY, C.J., and DEEN, P.J., concur.

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8 cases
  • Harwell v. State
    • United States
    • Georgia Court of Appeals
    • March 12, 1998
    ...on the written list. The court did not abuse its discretion in denying the motion to exclude her testimony. See Logan v. State, 170 Ga.App. 809, 318 S.E.2d 516 (1984) (defendant not prejudiced by oral notification prior to trial); see generally White v. State, 253 Ga. 106, 109-110(3), 317 S......
  • Griffin v. State, 73879
    • United States
    • Georgia Court of Appeals
    • June 19, 1987
    ...any defect in the failure of the prosecution to [timely provide a] written list of witnesses is harmless. [Cit.]" Logan v. State, 170 Ga.App. 809, 810, 318 S.E.2d 516 (1984); Favors v. State, 234 Ga. 80(1), 214 S.E.2d 645 (1975); see Rutledge v. State, 152 Ga.App. 755(1a), 264 S.E.2d 244 (1......
  • Williams v. State
    • United States
    • Georgia Court of Appeals
    • June 1, 1989
    ...statute was not thwarted and that appellant was not harmed by the trial court's allowing the detective to testify. Logan v. State, 170 Ga.App. 809, 318 S.E.2d 516 (1984). Appellant's reliance on Allison v. State, 256 Ga. 851(8), 353 S.E.2d 805 (1987), is misplaced, as that case is distingui......
  • Robinson v. State
    • United States
    • Georgia Court of Appeals
    • January 14, 1992
    ...v. State, 232 Ga. 393, 399, 207 S.E.2d 30 (1974). It has been held that five days before trial is a reasonable time. Logan v. State, 170 Ga.App. 809, 318 S.E.2d 516 (1984). Given that the doctrine of harmless error also applies to the State's compliance with OCGA § 17-7-110, see Clark v. St......
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