Fоllowing a jury trial, Benjamin F. Perry was convicted of sale of cocaine (OCGA § 16-13-30 (b)). The trial court denied Perry’s motion for new trial. On appeal, Perry contends that (i) the trial court erred in admitting his prior convictions for possession of cocaine as similar transaction evidence; (ii) the trial court erred in admitting his prior drug convictions since the State’s similar transactions notice was untimely and failed to list witness names and сontact information; and (iii) his trial counsel was ineffective. We discern no reversible error and affirm.
On appeal from a criminal conviction, the evidence must be viewed in the light most favorable to the verdict, and the appellant no longer enjoys the presumption of innocence; moreover, an appellate court does not weigh the evidence or determine witness credibility but only determines whether the evidence is sufficient under the standard of Jackson v. Virginia,443 U. S. 307 (99 SC 2781, 61 LE2d 560) (1979). Conflicts in the testimony of the witnesses, including the State’s witnesses, are a matter of credibility 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 jury’s verdict will be upheld.
(Punctuation and footnote omitted.)
Brown v. State,
So viewed, the trial evidence showed that on July 28, 2008, narcotiсs agents with the Chattooga County Sheriffs Office conducted an undercover drug investigation and coordinated a controlled buy using a confidential informant. Prior to the controlled buy, the informant and her vehicle were searched. The officers confirmed that she did not have any drugs or other contraband in her possession. The officers then gave the informant funds for her use in consummating the controlled buy and equippеd her with surveillance equipment to record the transaction.
The confidential informant drove to an area known as “the *576 block” and made contact with Perry, whom she had known for approximately two years. During the encounter, Perry sold the informant what was later confirmed to be crack cocaine weighing less than one gram.
After completing the transaction, the informant delivered the crack cocaine to the narcotics agents. The narcotics agents downloaded the audiotape recording of the controlled buy. Perry was later arrested and charged with the sale of cocaine offense.
At the ensuing trial, the informant testified and described the controlled buy transaction that she had consummated with Perry. The audiotape recording of the controlled buy transaction was played for the jury. In addition, the State presented similar transaction evidence of Perry’s 2002, 1999, 1998, and 1994 prior convictions for sale of cocaine and possession of cocaine. At the conclusion of the trial, the jury returned a verdict finding Perry guilty as charged of the sale of cocaine offense.
1. Perry contends that the trial court erred in admitting his prior convictions for possession of cocaine as similar transaction evidence where only the certified convictiоns were offered to prove similarity.
Before evidence of prior crimes is admissible, the State must show at a pretrial hearing held pursuant to Uniform Superior Court Rule [“USCR”] 31.3 that (1) it intends to introduce evidence of the prior crime for an appropriate purpose; (2) there is sufficient evidence to establish the defendant committed the independent offense or act; and (3) there is a sufficient conneсtion or similarity between the independent offense or act and the crime charged so that proof of the former tends to prove the latter.
(Citations and punctuation omitted.)
Jones v. State,
The State in this case did not present any testimony at trial establishing Perry’s prior convictions for possession of cocaine. Rather, the State’s evidence was limited to the introduction of copies of Perry’s guilty pleas and convictions for the two prior drug
*577
possession offenses. Significantly, “the [SJtate’s establishment of a prima facie case of similarity does not satisfy its obligation to present proof on that issue at trial.”
Stephens v. State,
Notwithstanding the error, however, we are not required to reverse Perry’s instant conviction since it was highly probable that the error did not contribute to the guilty verdict. It is axiomatic that to constitute reversible error, the appellant must show harm as well as error. See
Bowdry v. State,
2. Perry next claims that the trial court erred in admitting his prior drug convictions as similar transaction evidence since the State’s notice was untimely and failed to provide the names and contact information for the witnesses involved in the similar transactions. Again, we discern no reversible error.
“Notices of the [SJtate’s intention to present evidence of similar transactions or occurrences . . . shall be given and filed at least ten [10] days before triаl
unless the time is shortened or lengthened by the judge.”
(Emphasis supplied.) USCR 31.1. “We have interpreted this rule as clothing the trial court with discretion which will not be controlled absent abuse. Even if the time was shortened in this case, the rule permits it.” (Citation and punctuation omitted.)
Bryant v. State,
The record in this case shows that the State filed its notice of intent to introduce similar transaction evidence four days prior to trial. The State’s notice requested the trial court to shorten the time for giving its notice and indicated that no prejudice resulted to the defense since the State had previously discussed its intent to introduce the similar transactions with Perry’s counsel one year prior to the trial. In addition, the State had notified Perry’s counsel of Perry’s criminal history and its intent to introduce the similar transactions in aggravation of punishment several months prior to trial. Notably, four days prior to trial, Perry filed his jury charge requests that included a charge on similar transaction evidence, which reflected his awareness of the State’s intent to introduce the similar transaction evidence. Based upon the circumstances presented, the trial court granted the State’s request to shorten the time for the State’s notice. No abuse of the trial court’s discretion has been shown. See
Caraway v. State,
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Perry further argues that the State’s notice was deficient in that it failed to include the witnesses’ names, their contact information, and the jurisdictions where the prior convictions arose. His argument, however, is unavailing. Significantly, the State’s notice referenced the indictments from the prior cases, which contained the pertinent information identifying the witnesses and showing that each case had been prosecuted in Chattooga County. The State had also filed a notice of intent to introduce Perry’s prior convictions in aggravation of punishment, whiсh contained the same references identifying the similar transactions. Moreover, the State had provided Perry’s criminal history during discovery. The State’s notice referencing the prior indictments sufficiently provided the required information. See
Collier v. State,
3. Perry further contends that his trial counsel provided ineffеctive assistance.
In order to prevail on a claim of ineffective assistance of counsel, a criminal defendant must show that counsel’s performance was deficient and that the deficient performance so prejudiced the client that there is a reasonable likelihood that, but for counsel’s errors, the outcome of the trial would have been different. Strickland v. Washington,466 U. S. 668 (104 SC 2052, 80 LE2d 674) (1984). The criminal defendant must overсome the strong presumption that trial counsel’s conduct falls within the broad range of reasonable professional conduct. The trial court’s determination with respect to effective assistance of counsel will be affirmed unless the trial court’s findings are clearly erroneous.
(Citations and punctuation omitted.)
Turner v. State,
(a) Perry first argues that trial counsel was ineffective in failing to object to the agent’s testimony identifying the male voice on the *580 audiotape as belonging to Perry. Notwithstanding Perry’s argument, no reversible error has been shown.
Although voice identification testimony is generally considered to be direct evidence, Georgia courts have construed such testimony to be opinion evidence, which, of course, is inadmissible unless the witness discloses the basis for his opinion. We also note that a witness may identify a dеfendant by voice recognition even though his knowledge of the accused’s voice was acquired after the event to which the witness testified. And the probative value to be accorded such evidence is a matter for the jury’s determination.
(Citations and punctuation omitted.)
Thomas v. State,
Nevertheless, prior to the playing of the audiotape, the informant testified that she was equipped with an electronic recording device during the controlled buy transaction, and the informant identified Perry as being the person who sold her the cocaine during the transactiоn. To the extent that the agent’s inadmissible testimony was merely cumulative of the informant’s competent testimony identifying Perry as the individual who sold her the cocaine during the recorded operation, the trial court’s error in admitting the agent’s testimony was harmless. See generally
Scott v. State,
(b) Perry further argues that trial сounsel was ineffective due to a conflict of interest. In this regard, Perry points to evidence that trial counsel previously represented the informant in her criminal drug action. Although the informant’s case was later reassigned to another public defender in the circuit prior to Perry’s trial, Perry argues that trial counsel nevertheless operated under a non-waivable *581 imputed conflict. We disagree and cоnclude that Perry has failed to make the requisite showing that an actual conflict of interest existed.
Included within the constitutional right to counsel is the right to representation that is free from conflicts of interest. In order for appellant to prevail on his claim that his attorney was operating under a conflict of interest that violated his right to counsel, he must show an actual conflict of interest that adversely affected his attorney’s performance. . . . Where, as here, the alleged conflict of interest is based upon defense counsel’s prior representation of a prosecution witness, we must examine the particular circumstances of the representations to determine whether counsel’s undivided loyalties remain with the current client, as they must.
(Citations and punctuation omitted.)
Turner,
supra,
(1) concern that the lawyer’s pecuniary interest in possible future business may cause him or her to avoid vigorous cross-examination which might be embarrassing or offensive to the witness; . . .
(2) the possibility that privileged information obtained from the witness in the earlier representation might be relevant to cross-examination[; and]
[(3)] . . . whether the subject mаtter of the first representation is substantially related to that of the second.
(Punctuation and footnotes omitted.)
Hill v. State,
Here, application of the aforementioned factors militate against Perry’s claim of a conflict of interest. As an initial matter, the record shows that trial counsel had only represented the informant at the time of her arraignment, and thereafter, her case was reassigned to another public defender. Trial counsеl had no conversations or involvement in the informant’s case after the reassignment, which occurred over a year and a half before Perry’s trial. There is no evidence that trial counsel held any hope of future pecuniary gain from the informant, since trial counsel was a public defender and was not being paid by the informant for representation. Moreover, there was no evidence suggesting that triаl counsel obtained privi
*582
leged information from the informant in the earlier representation that would have been relevant to cross-examination. Nor was there evidence suggesting that trial counsel was prevented from conducting a thorough cross-examination of the informant regarding the drug transaction in this case. To the contrary, the trial transcript reflects that trial counsel did in fact challenge the informant’s credibility in a thorough cross-examination by introducing testimony and evidence that she had a pending drug charge and was possibly assisting the prosecutor with a motive toward helping her own case. In addition, the informant’s drug charges were wholly separate and distinct from those involved in the instant case against Perry. “These factors, considered together with the remoteness of trial counsel’s earlier reprеsentation of [the informant], lead us to reject [Perry’s] claim that [his] trial counsel was impermissibly conflicted.” (Punctuation omitted.)
Hill,
supra,
We likewise discern no merit in Perry’s argument that, under Georgia Rules of Professional Conduct, Rule 1.10 (a) (2001),
3
a non-waivable imputed conflict of interest arose when the informant’s case was reassigned to another public defender. In the absence of
an
actual conflict of interest, however, counsel from the same public defender’s office are not automatically disqualified from representing multiple defendants.
See Abernathy,
supra,
Furthermore, we note that trial counsel raised this issue prior to the commencement of trial. At that time, Perry confirmed that he had discussed the conflict with trial counsel, and expressed his desire to waive the possible conflict and to proceed to trial with the representation of his trial counsel.
[W]here a defendant states on the record that he has discussed the case with counsel, that there is no conflict of interest and that he is satisfied to proceed, any error was induced by the defendant’s statements, and induced error is impermissible. A party can not during the trial ignore what he thinks to be an injustiсe, take a chance on a favorable verdict, and complain later.
(Punctuation and footnote omitted.)
Gardner v. State,
Judgment affirmed.
Notes
The State argues that in certain types of cases, such as those involving child sexual abuse, a certified copy of the defendant’s prior conviction alone is sufficient to establish the required similarity. It is truе that we have held that “because of the liberal admission of similar transaction evidence in cases involving sexual offenses, especially those against children or teenagers, a certified copy of a prior conviction for a sex crime against a child may, with no other evidence, sufficiently prove that the prior crime is similar to the current crime.” (Punctuation and footnote omitted.)
Washington v. State,
After conducting a USCR 31.3 hearing, the trial court ruled that Perry’s prior convictions for sale of coсaine were admissible as similar transaction evidence to show Perry’s course of conduct and intent. See
Mangum v. State,
Georgia Rules of Professional Conduct, Rule 1.10 (a) (2001), provides that “[w]hile lawyers are associated in a firm, none of them shall knowingly represent a client when any one of them practicing alone would be prohibited from doing so by” the rules governing conflicts of interest.