Tanner v. The State., 239 Ga. App. 731, 521 S.E.2d 898 (1999)

Georgia Court Of Appeals, (August 30, 1999)

Docket number: A99A1199
DECIDED Permanent Link: http://vlex.com/vid/20426235
Id. vLex: VLEX-20426235

Click here to download this article in graphic format (Acrobat Reader)

Search in this document

Sponsored Ads:


Summary:

Judgment affirmed. McMurray, P. J., and Andrews, P. J., concur.

Citations:

Text:

Convicted of two counts of selling cocaine in violation of OCGA 16-13-30, Bryant Tanner appeals on grounds of insufficiency of the evidence and improper admission of a similar transaction. We affirm.

1. Claiming that only one witness (Georgia Bureau of Investigation Agent Waters) testified regarding Tanner selling cocaine on the two dates in issue, Tanner argues that this evidence was insufficient to convict him. Tanner also contends that his alibi witnesses testified that he was not in Butts County on the two dates and therefore he could not have sold the cocaine to Agent Waters.

The appropriate standard for appellate review of a criminal case is whether, construing the evidence in favor of the State, any rational trier of fact could have found Tanner guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. Jackson v. Virginia, 443 U. S. 307 (99 SC 2781, 61 LE2d 560) (1979). Agent Waters' testimony that on two separate occasions he purchased cocaine from Tanner met this standard. Ivory v. State, 234 Ga. App. 858, 859 (1) (508 SE2d 421) (1998). "The testimony of a single witness is generally sufficient to establish a fact." OCGA 24-4-8. Moreover, Police Chief Riley placed Tanner in Butts County at the location in question, contrary to the testimony of Tanner's witnesses. The jury resolves conflicts in trial testimony and assesses the credibility of the witnesses. Griffith v. State, 234 Ga. App. 326, 328 (1) (506 SE2d 676) (1998).

2. Tanner also argues that the trial court erred by admitting evidence of a prior similar transaction into evidence. Specifically, Tanner argues that the State failed to show the prior transaction was sufficiently similar to the crimes charged as required by Williams v. State, 261 Ga. 640, 642 (2) (b) (409 SE2d 649) (1991).

Agent McManus testified that during the night of March 4, 1989, he purchased cocaine from Tanner in Butts County. The State also presented a certified copy of Tanner's guilty plea and subsequent 1989 conviction for this sale of cocaine. Because all three incidents were hand-to-hand narcotic sales by Tanner, to undercover agents, at night, in Butts County, the evidence supported the trial court's finding that the prior act was sufficiently similar.

William D. Patten, Jr., for appellant.

Other documents:
Meetings Education Advisory Committee, | Tanglewood East Homeowners Jimmie D Lee Jr. Et Al. Plaintiffs-Appellees v Charles-Thomas Inc. Et Al. Defendants First F... | permits scientific research, | Notice Sixth Circuit Rule 24 C States that Citation of Unpublished Dispositions is Disfavored Except for E... | Case of Tribunal Superior de Justicia - Navarra - Sala de lo Civil y Penal n 22/2002, of September 27, 2002 | Orden de 6 de marzo de 1998 por la que se excluyen del Catálogo de Montes de Utilidad Pública de la Provincia de Lugo, los montes Veiga Candaosa y Gallat... | urbanismo. anuncio de 15-10-1997, comision provincial de urbanismo de albacete relativo a exposicion publica de expediente n 464 de constru... | notificación de la delegación territorial de la junta de castilla y león en segovia oficina territorial de trabajo, del... | Case of Tribunal Superior de Justicia Oviedo Asturias Sala de lo Contencioso-Administr... | Información pública de solicitud de licencia de obras para acondicionamiento de local con destino a bar-restaurante en Monte. | Anuncio relativo a la aprobación provisional de modificación de la ordenanza municipal de venta ambulante | Nueva nave de