JONES v. THE STATE
A15A1142
Court of Appeals of Georgia
June 9, 2015
773 SE2d 408
A Hall County jury found Brandon Jones guilty beyond a reasonable doubt of driving under the influence of a drug to the extent that it was less safe to drive,
1. Jones contends that the only officer who observed him driving did not see any unsafe driving. In addition, he contends that, to the extent there was evidence that he was impaired to the extent he was a less safe driver, the evidence does not show that the substance he ingested as “synthetic marijuana” had any effect on his ability to drive. As a result, he contends, the evidence was insufficient to sustain his conviction.
On appeal from a criminal conviction, the appellate court view[s] the evidence in the light most favorable to the verdict[,] and an appellant no longer enjoys the presumption of innocence. [The appellate court] determines whether the evidence is sufficient under the standard of Jackson v. Virginia, 443 U. S. 307 (99 SC 2781, 61 LE2d 560) (1979), 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, [the appellate court] must uphold the jury’s verdict.
(Citations omitted.) Rankin v. State, 278 Ga. 704, 705 (606 SE2d 269) (2004).
Viewed in the light most favorable to the verdict, the record shows that, on July 4, 2012, a patrol officer observed Jones driving without a seat belt and initiated a traffic stop. Jones told the patrol officer that he was wearing his seat belt, although he was not; his speech was very slurred; and his movements were lethargic. A second officer arrived to help with the stop. That officer had extensive training in detecting impairment by alcohol and other drugs, including drugs that are classified as synthetic marijuana. In addition, that officer was personally acquainted with Jones and had had the opportunity to observe Jones when he was sober. The second officer took over the DUI investigation.
The investigating officer observed that Jones was sweating heavily and speaking in a jittery manner. The officer asked Jones what drugs he had been using, and Jones responded that he had smoked synthetic marijuana and had taken his prescription Thorazine. Jones agreed to take field sobriety tests. The officer administered the horizontal gaze nystagmus test; that test specifies six possible clues (three types of movement, observed in each eye), and the officer observed all six. The officer testified
The officer testified that the term “synthetic marijuana” is used to describe the result of a manufacturer spraying a psychoactive drug, such as a stimulant, a depressant, or a hallucinogen, on some leafy plant matter that can be smoked as the means of ingesting the drug. He also testified that Thorazine is a central nervous system depressant that can cause horizontal gaze nystagmus.
The offense of driving while under the influence to the extent that it is less safe to drive has three elements: “(1) driving, (2) under the influence of alcohol, (3) to the extent that it is less safe for the person to drive.” (Footnote omitted.) Lee v. State, 280 Ga. App. 706, 707 (634 SE2d 837) (2006). The State is not required, however, to adduce evidence that the defendant “actually committed an unsafe act while driving[.]” Id. See also Yglesia v. State, 288 Ga. App. 217, 218 (653 SE2d 823) (2007) (accord); Shaheed v. State, 270 Ga. App. 709, 710 (1) (607 SE2d 897) (2004) (Proving that a driver is impaired to the extent that it is less safe for the person to drive “requires proof of impaired driving ability, but not an actual unsafe act.“) (punctuation and footnote omitted; emphasis supplied). There was ample evidence that Jones was driving while his ability to drive safely was impaired. To the extent Jones contends that the evidence was insufficient because there was no evidence that he committed an actual unsafe act while driving, this argument lacks merit.
Moreover, by Jones’ own admission, he had smoked synthetic marijuana that day, and the State adduced evidence that, by smoking synthetic marijuana, Jones had ingested a psychoactive drug, although that drug was not identified. By Jones’ admission, he had also taken another psychoactive drug, prescription Thorazine.
2. Jones contends that Count 1 of the accusation fails to charge him with any offense under Georgia law. Jones failed to include in his appellate brief a statement of the method by which this claim of error was preserved for consideration on appeal as required by Court of Appeals Rule 25 (a). A claim that a charging instrument fails to charge the defendant with any offense under Georgia law can be
raised in a general demurrer3 or a motion in arrest of judgment.4 Coleman v. State, 318 Ga. App. 478, 479 (1) (735 SE2d 788) (2012). The record shows that Jones did not file a general demurrer before trial or a motion in arrest of judgment within the term of court in which judgment was entered. “The failure to file a general or special demurrer, or a timely motion in arrest of judgment, waives any claim that could have been raised in a general or special demurrer.” Id.
Even if Jones could challenge the validity of the accusation on appeal, we see no fatal flaw in it. Count 1 accused Jones of committing the offense of driving under the influence of drugs to the extent it was less safe to drive because he “did drive a moving vehicle, while under the influence of a drug, to wit: synthetic marijuana, to the extent that it was less safe for him to drive.” As the arresting officer explained, synthetic marijuana denotes, not a single chemical compound, but a category of drugs, with the common element that the drug is ingested by smoking leafy plant material sprayed with the drug. Jones could not admit the charge as made and still be innocent of violating
We note that Jones also contends that, while the accusation charged him with driving under the influence of synthetic marijuana, the evidence was fully consistent with the theory that his impairment actually resulted from his prescribed medication, Thorazine. This argument invokes the “fatal variance” argument he made in the trial court.
[A] variance between the indictment and the evidence at trial is fatal if the allegations fail to meet these two tests: (1) the allegations must definitely inform the accused as to the charges against him so as to enable him to present his defense and not be taken by surprise by the evidence offered at
trial, and (2) the allegations must be adequate to protect the accused against another prosecution for the same offense.
(Citations and punctuation omitted.) In the Interest of J. H. M., 295 Ga. App. 483, 485 (672 SE2d 411) (2008). As explained in Division 1, supra, an accusation charging a violation of
Judgment affirmed. Dillard and McFadden, JJ., concur.
Decided June 9, 2015.
Leonard C. Parks, Jr., for appellant.
Stephanie D. Woodard, Solicitor-General, Daniel P. Sanmiguel, Assistant Solicitor-General, for appellee.