Gilliam v. State

Beasley, Presiding Judge.

With a Christmas bag in hand, Hassan Gilliam picked up a jacket at Parisian’s, carried it around the store, and then approached a store clerk with the story that he had received the jacket as a gift and wished to return it for a refund. The clerk complied, issuing him a $262 merchandise voucher. A store detective who had videotaped the entire charade detained Gilliam, who confessed.

Gilliam appeals his conviction of felony shoplifting (OCGA § Ids'14) on three grounds: (i) the court charged the jury it could find him guilty of shoplifting for conduct not alleged in the…