Pierce v. State

Summary

The court affirmed Pierce’s convictions and sentence, holding that the videotaped interview was admissible as a recorded recollection and did not violate confrontation rights, and that the photographs of text messages were properly authenticated and admissible under the best evidence rule. The court also rejected Pierce’s due process, equal protection, and cruel-and-unusual-punishment challenges to Georgia’s aggravated-child-molestation sentencing scheme. The court concluded that the sentencing scheme provided adequate notice, had a rational basis, and was not grossly disproportionate either facially or as applied.