Houston v. State

Pope, Presiding Judge.

Defendant, the owner of a video rental store, was convicted of knowingly distributing and circulating unauthorized copies of videotapes. See OCGA § 16-8-60. Concluding that defendant’s motion for acquittal should have been granted based on the State’s failure to comply with his speedy trial demand under OCGA § 17-7-170, we reverse the conviction.

Defendant was indicted in McIntosh County in October 1992, and he filed a demand for trial pursuant to OCGA § 17-7-170 in November 1992. Historically, McIntosh County had four terms of court, starting in February, May, September…