A jury acquitted Robens Raymond of kidnapping OCGA § 16-5-40 and convicted him of false imprisonment OCGA § 16-5-41 and battery OCGA § 16-5-23 as a lesser included of offense of the charged offense, sexual battery OCGA § 16-6-22.1. Raymond appeals challenging the sufficiency of the evidence, the trial court’s denial of his motion for directed verdict, and the effectiveness of trial counsel. Discerning no error, we affirm. On appeal, the standard of review for denial of a motion for directed verdict is the same as that for determining the sufficiency of the evidence to support a conviction. The issue is whether, based on the evidence presented, a rational finder of fact could have found the accused guilty of the charged offenses beyond a reasonable doubt. Leaving the resolution of conflicting or contradictory testimony and the credibility of the witnesses to the jury, we construe the evidence in favor of the jury’s verdicts. Footnotes, citation, and punctuation omitted. Luy v. State , 303 Ga. App. 613 694 SE2d 370 2010. So viewed, the evidence shows that in the late evening of April 15, 2008, Reatta Slaughter and her friend, Audrey Grinion, met Raymond at a social gathering at an apartment complex at which Raymond offered Slaughter money for sex which she refused. At approximately 2:00 a.m. the following morning, Raymond offered to drive Slaughter and Grinion home. Both consented. Instead of taking her home after dropping Grinion off at her house, Raymond drove Slaughter back to the apartment complex where he parked in a back parking lot, prevented her from exiting the car by holding her with one arm, reached under blouse, and grabbed for, but did not touch, her breast. Slaughter thereafter exited the vehicle and reported the incident to nearby police. A week later Raymond had his brother deliver $92 to Grinion’s sister, which money Slaughter received. Beyond the foregoing, the State introduced evidence of a similar transaction against Raymond for the limited purpose of showing Raymond’s bent of mind as to the charged offense. Such transaction involved an offer of money for sex before and after the sexual assault occurred.
1. Raymonds contends that the evidence is insufficient to support his convictions for false imprisonment and battery. We disagree.
