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Gunter v. State

Court of Appeals of Georgia
Oct 8, 1982
296 S.E.2d 622 (Ga. Ct. App. 1982)

Opinion

64412.

DECIDED OCTOBER 8, 1982.

Aggravated sodomy. Union Superior Court. Before Judge Gunter.

Wesley Williams, for appellant.

V. D. Stockton, District Attorney, W. Brek Barker, Assistant District Attorney, for appellee.


Appellant was indicted, tried and convicted of aggravated sodomy of a 12-year-old boy. He appeals from the judgment of conviction and sentence entered on the jury verdict.

1. After the call of the case, defense counsel moved for a continuance on the ground that appellant "was physically unable to proceed with the trial . . ." The trial court ordered a recess in order that appellant could be re-examined by the physician who had been treating him for "approximately five days." The physician testified that, based upon her reexamination of appellant, "he's improved some" and that, in her opinion, appellant would not "suffer any damage to be placed on trial." When further asked whether appellant was "really able to participate in his defense at this time," the physician responded: "I think that he is . . . I think that he probably has full recollection ability to participate in his defense." The trial court overruled the motion for a continuance, basing his ruling on the physician's testimony and his own observation of appellant. "Under the evidence here we cannot hold the trial court abused its discretion [in] denying the motion for continuance . . ." Walls v. State, 161 Ga. App. 235, 236 ( 291 S.E.2d 15) (1982).

2. Over objection that it impermissibly placed his character into issue, the state was allowed to introduce evidence of appellant's homosexuality. The evidence was admissible. Rini v. State, 236 Ga. 715, 716 (2) ( 225 S.E.2d 234) (1976). Furthermore, it appears that the evidence concerning appellant's sexual preference was in the form of his own post-arrest statement to the police. See Jones v. State, 161 Ga. App. 610, 612 (5) ( 288 S.E.2d 788) (1982). We find no error in the admission of this evidence.

3. Appellant asserts that the evidence failed to establish the venue of the crime in Union County where he was tried. Our review of the transcript demonstrates that appellant's assertion in this regard is without merit. See generally Johns v. State, 239 Ga. 681, 682 (1) ( 238 S.E.2d 372) (1977).

Judgment affirmed. Quillian, C. J., and Shulman, P. J., concur.

DECIDED OCTOBER 8, 1982.


Summaries of

Gunter v. State

Court of Appeals of Georgia
Oct 8, 1982
296 S.E.2d 622 (Ga. Ct. App. 1982)
Case details for

Gunter v. State

Case Details

Full title:GUNTER v. THE STATE

Court:Court of Appeals of Georgia

Date published: Oct 8, 1982

Citations

296 S.E.2d 622 (Ga. Ct. App. 1982)
296 S.E.2d 622

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