PLUMMER v. THE STATE (2012)

Following a jury trial, Kelly Clark Plummer was convicted of aggravated child molestation (OCGA § 16–6–4(c)), two counts of child molestation (OCGA § 16–6–4(a)(1)), and cruelty to children in the first degree (OCGA § 16–5–70(b)).  Plummer filed a motion for new trial, which the trial court denied.   In his sole enumeration of error on appeal, Plummer contends that the trial court erred in giving the pattern jury charge regarding conflicts in testimony.¹  We discern no error and affirm.

The record reflects that the trial court charged the jury, in pertinent part, as follows:

When you consider the evidence in the case, if you find a conflict, you should settle this conflict[,] if you can[,] without believing that any witness made a false statement.   If you cannot do so, then you should believe that witnesses or those witnesses whom you think are best entitled to belief.   You must determine what testimony you will believe and what testimony you will not believe.

Plummer objected to the foregoing charge at trial, and he contends that the charge was an improper comment on the evidence and witness veracity.

Plummer's contention in this regard was rejected by this Court in Johnson v. State, 296 Ga.App. 112, 113(2) (673 S.E.2d 596) (2009).   As stated in Johnson,

[t]he charge given by the court was taken verbatim from the Suggested Pattern Jury Instructions, Vol. II:  Criminal Cases, p. 13 (3rd ed.2003).   We are unpersuaded that this charge somehow comments on the evidence[.]  ․ It does not suggest ․ that an unimpeached witness must be believed, but merely urges the jury to attempt to reconcile conflicting evidence before considering the credibility of witnesses.

(Citation and punctuation omitted.)  Id.;  see also Pena v. State, 247 Ga.App. 211, 218–219(8) (542 S.E.2d 630) (2000).   We further note that the charge was not a “presumption of truthfulness” charge, which was disapproved in Noggle v. State, 256 Ga. 383, 385–386(4) (349 S.E.2d 175) (1986).   See Mallory v. State, 271 Ga. 150, 151(2) (517 S.E.2d 780) (1999);  Hopkins v. State, 309 Ga.App. 298, 300–301(2) (709 S.E.2d 873) (2011).   Applying the binding precedents, we find no error in the charge as given.

Judgment affirmed.   Mikell, P. J., and Blackwell, J., concur.

FOOTNOTES

FN1. Notably, Plummer's appellate contention does not challenge the sufficiency of the evidence supporting his convictions.   We therefore refrain from reciting the trial evidence regarding the offenses, and we focus on the facts necessary to address Plummer's enumeration of error..  FN1. Notably, Plummer's appellate contention does not challenge the sufficiency of the evidence supporting his convictions.   We therefore refrain from reciting the trial evidence regarding the offenses, and we focus on the facts necessary to address Plummer's enumeration of error.

Miller, Judge.