Garrett v. State

Beasley, Judge.

Appellant pled guilty to a burglary charge and was sentenced to five years’ imprisonment and five years’ probation, with restitution as a condition of probation. Enumerated as error are the trial court’s making oral rather than written findings, and the determination of the amount of restitution on the basis of the retail rather than the wholesale value of the jewelry stolen.

1. While an order of restitution in a criminal case “shall not bar any civil action against the offender,” OCGA § 17-14-11, the restitution mechanism is an attempt to avoid the necessity of a separate civil…