MILLER, Judge.
Following a jury trial, Richard Graves was convicted of sexual battery (OCGA § 16-6-22.1(b)) and aggravated sexual battery (OCGA § 16-6-22.2(b)). Graves appeals from the denial of his motion for new trial, contending that the trial court erred in allowing the State to bolster the victim's testimony with prior consistent statements, and that he received ineffective assistance of counsel. For the reasons that follow, we affirm.
"On appeal from a criminal conviction, we view the evidence in the light most favorable to the verdict, and the defendant no longer enjoys a presumption of innocence." (Citation omitted.) Fogerty v. State, 304 Ga.App. 546(1), 696 S.E.2d 496 (2010).
So viewed, the evidence shows that Graves was the victim's stepfather and the two resided in the same household. In February or March of 2007, the victim was asleep in her bedroom when she awoke to find Graves next to her with his hand on her thigh. When the victim jumped, Graves promptly left the victim's bedroom.
In April 2007, the victim again was sleeping in her bedroom when she was awakened by Graves. Graves's hand was on her inner thigh on the outside of her pajamas and he began caressing and massaging her thigh. The victim moved in an attempt to show Graves that she was awake and was uncomfortable with his behavior. Graves briefly stopped before he resumed moving his hand along the victim's thigh toward her vagina. When the victim moved away again, Graves got up and exited the victim's bedroom. The victim was in disbelief for some time, but she eventually told her mother about the incident. Nothing was done at this time because the victim and her mother did not believe that Graves intended to abuse the victim.
In May 2007, the victim again found herself being woken up by Graves. Graves had his hand in the victim's shorts and was attempting to get inside her underwear. When Graves reached under the victim's underwear, he placed his hand over the victim's vagina and moved his hand around. Graves then inserted a finger into the victim's vagina. The victim testified that her body "shut down" and did not move because she was afraid that Graves might hurt her or that she would ruin things in her family. The victim stated that the entire incident lasted about 11 minutes.
When Graves finished and left the room, the victim used her cellphone to call the home phone to draw Graves towards the phone located in the kitchen. When Graves
The victim's mother and Graves separated, and in February 2008, the victim learned Graves had a new girlfriend. The victim decided to report the sexual abuse at this time because she became concerned that Graves might commit similar actions against his girlfriend's young children.
An investigating officer interviewed Graves over the telephone. Graves was then arrested and charged with the instant offenses. At trial, the State played a recording of the investigator's interview with Graves. The jury convicted Graves of sexual battery and aggravated sexual battery.
1. Graves contends that the trial court erred in allowing the State to bolster the victim's testimony with her prior statements given to the victim's mother and the investigating officer. At trial, however, Graves objected to the challenged testimony only on grounds that the testimony was cumulative of the victim's testimony and consisted of hearsay. Since Graves did not make an objection on the grounds he now asserts, he has waived his claim of improper bolstering. See Bradley v. State, 292 Ga. 607, 613(4), 740 S.E.2d 100 (2013); Moore v. State, 280 Ga.App. 894, 897(4), 635 S.E.2d 253 (2006).
2. Graves also contends that his trial counsel was ineffective for failing to object to the admission of recorded statements he made to the investigating officer. We disagree.
(Citations and punctuation omitted.) Towry v. State, 304 Ga.App. 139, 143(2), 695 S.E.2d 683 (2010).
At trial, Graves admitted that he went into the victim's bedroom to retrieve an item in May 2007; he accidently tripped and landed onto the victim's bed; he touched the victim's bottom; and he had trouble getting off the bed because of back problems. Graves's friend also testified that Graves admitted to him that Graves had tripped and fell onto the victim's bed, and that his hand went "you know where." Graves's friend testified that Graves stated that he laid in the victim's bed for about 10 minutes before leaving. This testimony was consistent with Graves's statements during the police interview. In the interview, Graves admitted to touching the victim on two different occasions, including the May 2007 incident when he claimed to have tripped and landed on the victim's bed, but stated that it was unintentional and was not sexual in nature. The investigating officer asked Graves about his attorney's letter that included statements that Graves "briefly fondled" the victim, and Graves denied ever fondling the victim.
Graves argues that his attorney should have objected to the recorded interview because it included prejudicial hearsay statements that he fondled the victim. At the motion for new trial hearing, trial counsel stated that he did not initially object to the recorded interview because he was only thinking about the voluntariness of Graves' statement, and he found nothing objectionable in this respect. Trial counsel admitted that he did not consider redacting the recording to omit the attorney's reference to Graves's admission.
Assuming that trial counsel was deficient by not moving to redact the recording to omit the investigating officer's reference to
Judgment affirmed.
BARNES, P.J., and RAY, J., concur.