Strickland v. State

• Decision Date: 13 November 2009
• Docket Number: No. A09A0988.,A09A0988.
• Citation: 300 Ga. App. 898,686 S.E.2d 486
• Parties: STRICKLAND v. The STATE.
• Court: Georgia Court of Appeals

686 S.E.2d 486

300 Ga. App. 898

STRICKLAND v. The STATE.

No. A09A0988.

Court of Appeals of Georgia.

November 13, 2009.

Rand J. Csehy, Atlanta, for Appellant.

Rosanna M. Szabo, Solicitor-General, Mihae Park, Karen M. Seeley, Asst. Solicitors-General, for Appellee.

BARNES, Judge.

Shana Strickland appeals the denial of her plea in bar based upon double jeopardy. She contends the imposition of certain bond conditions was punishment, and that any further criminal prosecution is prohibited under the double jeopardy clause of the Fifth Amendment of the United States Constitution. For the following reasons, we disagree and affirm the trial court's ruling.

"The appellate standard of review of a grant or denial of a double jeopardy plea in bar is whether, after reviewing the trial court's oral and written rulings as a whole, the trial court's findings support its conclusion." Simile v. State, 259 Ga.App. 106, 107, 576 S.E.2d 83 (2003). The double jeopardy clause of the Fifth Amendment to the United States Constitution provides that no person shall "be subject for the same offence to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb." The Georgia Constitution also guarantees protection against double jeopardy, providing that "[n]o person shall be put in jeopardy of life or liberty more than once for the same offense." Ga. Const. of 1983, Art. I, Sec. I, Par. XVIII. Additionally, OCGA §§ 16-1-6, 16-1-7, and 16-1-8 place limitations on multiple prosecutions, convictions, and punishments for the same criminal conduct. Stone v. State, 166 Ga.App. 245(1), 304 S.E.2d 94 (1983). "Double jeopardy protects against three types of abuses: (1) a second prosecution for the same offense after acquittal, (2) a second prosecution for the same offense after conviction, and (3) multiple punishments for the same offense." Nolen v. State, 218 Ga. App. 819, 820, 463 S.E.2d 504 (1995), citing North Carolina v. Pearce, 395 U.S. 711, 717, 89 S.Ct. 2072, 23 L.Ed.2d 656 (1969).

Generally, "a defendant is not placed in jeopardy until, in a court of competent jurisdiction with a sufficient indictment, he has been arraigned, has pled, and a jury has been impaneled and sworn." Fletcher v. State, 213 Ga.App. 401, 404(2), 445 S.E.2d 279 (1994). Therefore, as the record shows that Strickland has not been placed in jeopardy before, neither of the first two abuses identified in North Carolina v. Pearce concerning second prosecutions is present in this case. Consequently, we must consider whether the modification of Strickland's bond conditions constituted punishment¹ for allegedly driving while under the influence of alcohol which would implicate a double jeopardy claim. See Agee v. State, 276 Ga. 536, 537, 579 S.E.2d 730 (2003).

In this case, Strickland was before the trial court on the State's motion to amend the conditions of her bond imposed following a five-count charge of driving under the influence of alcohol to the extent that it was less safe, driving under the influence of alcohol with an unlawful concentration of alcohol, improper driving on a one-way street, impeding traffic, and disorderly conduct. After Strickland waived arraignment, the trial court granted the State's motion that showed Strickland had been convicted in Georgia three times for driving under the influence, and after her most current arrest, she had a blood alcohol level of 0.326. The State's motion sought to restrict her driving privileges to going to work, going to the hospital for substance abuse treatment, going to school, or going to court proceedings. The State further requested that Strickland only operate a motor vehicle with an ignition interlock device and that she submit to a DUI court evaluation. After the trial court granted these modifications, Strickland filed a "Plea in Bar Based Upon Procedural Double Jeopardy," which was denied by the trial court.

Because "[t]he purpose of a pretrial bond is to prevent punishment before a conviction and to secure the appearance of the [accused] in court for trial," Ayala v. State, 262 Ga. 704, 705(1), 425 S.E.2d 282 (1993), in this State, courts are

authorized to release a person on bail if the court finds that the person: (1) Poses no significant risk of fleeing from the jurisdiction of the court or failing to appear in court when required; (2) Poses no significant threat or danger to any person, to the community, or to any property in the community; (3) Poses no significant risk of committing any felony pending trial; and (4) Poses no significant risk of intimidating witnesses or otherwise obstructing the administration of justice.

OCGA § 17-6-1(e). Moreover, trial courts have the inherent authority to impose conditions upon bail and the court may impose reasonable restrictions on a defendant's behavior. Clarke v. State, 228 Ga.App. 219, 220(1), 491 S.E.2d 450 (1997).

In Bozzuto v. State, 276 Ga.App. 614, 624 S.E.2d 166 (2005), this court considered whether bond conditions restricting Bozzuto's contact with the victim and others, requiring him to stay out of certain counties, and requiring him to undergo a mental and physical evaluation were punishment for double jeopardy purposes. In finding that the conditions were not punishment, we held that the conditions were reasonably related to public safety. Id. at 616(1), 624 S.E.2d 166. See also Clarke v. State, supra, 228 Ga.App. at 220(1), 491 S.E.2d 450 (the trial court was authorized to require the defendant charged with battery to avoid any contact with victim as a condition of remaining free pending trial). For bond conditions to constitute punishment for double jeopardy purposes, the conditions must punish the defendant. Further, whether a sanction constitutes punishment is not determined from the defendant's point of view; in fact, the Supreme Court of Georgia has held, "the fact that a statute designed primarily to serve remedial purposes incidentally serves the purpose of punishment as well does not...