State v. Garland

Thompson, Chief Justice.

Appellee Steven Lee Garland was convicted of sexual battery involving a child and sentenced to serve one year imprisonment followed by four years of probation. His conviction was affirmed on appeal. See Garland v. State, 315 Ga. App. XXV (2012) (unpublished). Garland filed a petition for writ of habeas corpus which the habeas court granted based on its determination that Garland’s appellate counsel provided ineffective assistance. The State appeals from the order granting Garland habeas relief, and for the reasons that follow, we affirm.

In 2008, Garland was found…