State v. White

[Cite as State v. White, 2020-Ohio-3313.]
IN THE COURT OF APPEALS
TWELFTH APPELLATE DISTRICT OF OHIO
BUTLER COUNTY
STATE OF OHIO, :
Appellee, : CASE NO. CA2019-07-118
: OPINION
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:
GONNII WHITE, :
Appellant. :
CRIMINAL APPEAL FROM BUTLER COUNTY COURT OF COMMON PLEAS
Case No. CR2018-08-1418
Michael T. Gmoser, Butler County Prosecuting Attorney, John C. Heinkel, Government
Services Center, 315 High Street, 11th Floor, Hamilton, Ohio 45011, for appellee
Michele Temmel, 6 South Second Street, #305, Hamilton, Ohio 45011, for appellant
PIPER, J.
{¶1} Appellant, Gonnii White, appeals his conviction in the Butler County Court of
Common Pleas for murder.
{¶2} Just before midnight on May 29, 2018, the Middletown Police Department
received a call that shots had been fired in the Woodlawn Avenue area. When officers
arrived, they found the area crowded with approximately 50 people and the victim lying in
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the street. The victim, 17-year-old Joseph Davis, had been shot four times, once in the
buttocks, once in the thigh, once in his back, and once in his neck. Davis was pronounced
dead after he was transported to the hospital.
{¶3} During the ensuing investigation, detectives learned that Davis and several of
his associates, known in the neighborhood as the Detroit Boys, had been in physical
altercations with White and several of his associates, who were known in the neighborhood
as the Roadrunners. At that time, White was 16 years old. Detectives soon learned that
the fighting and disagreements between the groups were gang related and that White and
the victim were in different gangs that had a history of conflict.
{¶4} White was taken to the police station for questioning, during which time he
waived his Miranda rights and spoke to detectives. At first, White claimed that he was not
present at the time of the shooting. The detectives told White that witnesses had reported
their observations that White shot Davis in self-defense, which was not the truth, as no such
witnesses had come forward. White then admitted that he shot Davis and claimed that he
did so in self-defense based on his belief that Davis had a firearm and was getting ready to
shoot him or the friends he was with at the time.
{¶5} White was taken into custody and ultimately charged as an adult with murder,
a firearm specification, and a specification for participation in a criminal gang during the
commission of the offense.
{¶6} White filed a motion to suppress, arguing that his confession was involuntarily
given. The trial court held a hearing, and overruled White's motion. White also filed a
motion in limine, challenging the state's proposed expert witness who would testify to gang-
related matters. The trial court held a hearing and denied White's motion.
{¶7} The matter proceeded to a trial, during which White testified in his own
defense, and claimed self-defense. A jury found White guilty, and the trial court sentenced
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him to 15 years to life for the murder, plus two consecutive sentences of three years for
each of the specifications for an aggregate sentence of 21 years to life. White now appeals
his conviction, raising the following assignments of error.
{¶8} Assignment of Error No. 1:
{¶9} THE TRIAL COURT ERRED WHEN IT OVERRULED DEFENDANTS [SIC]
MOTION TO SUPPRESS THE STATEMENTS HE MADE TO DETECTIVES AT THE
MIDDLETOWN POLICE DEPARTMENT.
{¶10} White argues in his first assignment of error that the trial court erred by
denying his motion to suppress.
{¶11} Appellate review of a trial court's denial of a motion to suppress presents a
mixed question of law and fact. State v. Cochran, 12th Dist. Preble No. CA2006-10-023,
2007-Ohio-3353, ¶ 12. When considering a motion to suppress, the trial court, as the trier
of fact, is in the best position to resolve factual questions and evaluate witness credibility.
Id. Therefore, when reviewing the denial of a motion to suppress, a reviewing court is bound
to accept the trial court's findings of fact if they are supported by competent, credible
evidence. State v. Oatis, 12th Dist. Butler No. CA2005-03-074, 2005-Ohio-6038, ¶ 10. "An
appellate court, however, independently reviews the trial court's legal conclusions based on
those facts and determines, without deference to the trial court's decision, whether as a
matter of law, the facts satisfy the appropriate legal standard." Cochran at ¶ 12.
{¶12} "When a suspect is questioned in a custodial setting, the Fifth Amendment
requires that he receive Miranda warnings to protect against compelled self-incrimination."
State v. Wesson, 137 Ohio St.3d 309, 2013-Ohio-4575, ¶ 34. "A suspect may then
knowingly and intelligently waive these rights and agree to make a statement." Id. If a
defendant later challenges a confession as involuntarily given, the state must prove a
knowing, intelligent, and voluntary waiver by a preponderance of evidence. State v. Vunda,
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12th Dist. Butler Nos. CA2012-07-130 and CA2013-07-113, 2014-Ohio-3449, ¶ 15.
{¶13} The test for voluntariness pursuant to a Fifth Amendment analysis is whether
the accused's statement was the product of police overreaching. State v. Hernandez-
Martinez, 12th Dist. Butler No. CA2011-04-068, 2012-Ohio-3754, ¶ 16. A suspect makes
a voluntary confession absent evidence "that his will was overborne and his capacity for
self-determination critically impaired because of coercive police conduct." Colorado v.
Spring, 479 U.S. 564, 574, 107 S.Ct. 851, 857 (1987).
{¶14} In deciding whether a defendant's confession is involuntarily induced, the
court should consider the totality of the circumstances, including the age, mentality, and
prior criminal experience of the accused; the length, intensity, and frequency of
interrogation; the existence of physical deprivation or mistreatment; and the existence of
threat or inducement. Hernadez-Martinez at ¶ 16.
{¶15} When the suspect is a juvenile, in addition to age, the totality of the
circumstances includes the juvenile's experience, education, background, and intelligence,
as well as his or her capacity to understand the warnings given, the nature of Fifth
Amendment rights, and the consequences of waiving those rights. State v. Barker, 149
Ohio St.3d 1, 2016-Ohio-2708, ¶ 24.
{¶16} After reviewing the record, we find that the trial court properly overruled
White's motion to suppress, as he voluntarily waived his Fifth Amendment rights before
giving his confession. During the motion to suppress hearing, the detective who questioned
White testified that the interview occurred at the police station in an interview room. The
room measured six foot by eight foot and contained a table and three chairs. During the
interview, there were two detectives in the room with White. One of the detectives read
White his Miranda rights and presented White with a card that contained in writing the rights
White was waiving if he agreed to speak with the detectives. White signed the card,
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indicating that he understood and was willing to give up his Fifth Amendment rights against
self-incrimination.
{¶17} The detective further testified that during the interview, White did not appear
to be under the influence of any substance and that nothing was impairing White's ability to
have a conversation with the detectives. White was not handcuffed or restrained during his
interview, and the detectives did not threaten White in any manner. The interview lasted
approximately one hour, during which neither detective raised their voices nor demanded
anything of White. White was provided a beverage at his request and was not deprived of
anything during the interview.
{¶18} The state played a video of the interview, and the trial court was able to
observe White's actions and demeanor during the interview, including White reading the
Miranda card and signing it. The trial court noted that White followed along as the detective
read White his rights, and that White agreed and signed the card "under no protest." The
trial court also noted that White appeared mature for his age, which was 16 at the time of
the shooting. Moreover, White handled himself well, did not appear to be nervous or
distraught, and showed no fear or apprehension about being in the police station or being
interviewed by the detectives.
{¶19} Despite there being no indicia of police overreaching, White argues that his
will was overborne when detectives lied to him and told him that they had witnesses who
described the shooting as self-defense. White claims that this lie rendered his statement
involuntary because the lie made him believe that confessing was safe because his actions
were justified that night and would result in no legal consequences.
{¶20} The detective testified that he told White there were witnesses who told police
the shooting was in self-defense, which was untrue because there were no such witnesses.
The detective testified that he used this tactic because White had been untruthful in his
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answers regarding his whereabouts on the night of the shooting and had lied about having
an alibi when the shooting occurred. The law is well-settled that police may lie to a suspect
during an interview without such deceit per se rendering a confession involuntarily given.
State v. Liso, 12th Dist. Brown No. CA2012-08-017, 2013-Ohio-4759. See also In re N.J.M.,
12th Dist. Warren No. CA2010-03-026, 2010-Ohio-5526, ¶ 26 (a defendant's will is not
overborne simply because he or she is led to believe that the government's knowledge of
guilt is greater than it actually is).
{¶21} The trial court found, and we agree, that the detective did not "step over the
line" when discussing the issue of self-defense and that the lie did not cause White's will to
be overborne where he exhibited every indication of maturity, the ability to "handle himself,"
and was in "control of his faculties."1 It appears White simply recalculated that a claim of
self-defense with witnesses was better than a claim he was not at the scene with no
witnesses to support such a claim or otherwise provide an alibi. The video demonstrated
that White was aware of what was occurring and nothing about the detective's statement
critically impaired White's capacity for self-determination.
{¶22} After reviewing the record and considering all of White's arguments, we find
that White knowingly and intelligently waived his rights and that his confession was
voluntarily made. As such, the trial court properly overruled White's motion to suppress and
White's first assignment of error is overruled.
{¶23} Assignment of Error No. 2:
{¶24} THE TRIAL COURT ERRED WHEN IT OVERRULED DEFENDANT'S
MOTION IN LIMINE.
1. This court has viewed the video recording of White's interview and confession and agrees with the trial
court regarding its perceptions of White's maturity and demeanor.
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{¶25} White argues in his second assignment of error that the trial court erred by
denying his motion in limine to exclude testimony on gangs from an expert witness.2
{¶26} A trial court's decision to admit or exclude evidence will not be reversed by a
reviewing court absent an abuse of discretion. State v. McLaughlin, 12th Dist. Clinton No.
CA2019-02-002, 2020-Ohio-969, ¶ 42. An abuse of discretion implies more than an error
of law or judgment; it suggests that the trial court acted in an unreasonable, arbitrary, or
unconscionable manner. State v. Babyak, 12th Dist. Madison No. CA2019-08-025, 2020-
Ohio-325, ¶ 11.
{¶27} Evid.R. 702 provides that a witness may testify as an expert if (1) the witness'
testimony either relates to matters beyond the knowledge or experience possessed by lay
persons or dispels a misconception common among lay persons, (2) the witness is qualified
as an expert by specialized knowledge, skill, experience, training, or education regarding
the subject matter of the testimony, and (3) the witness' testimony is based on reliable
scientific, technical, or other specialized information.3
{¶28} Thus, Evid.R. 702 permits the use of testimony of an expert "if the testimony
will aid the trier of fact in understanding the evidence or in determining a fact in issue." State
2. The state argues in its brief that White failed to renew his objection to the trial court's decision denying his
motion in limine. However, White renewed his objection on the third morning of the trial, before the jury was
called into the room for the day. Defense counsel also raised several objections throughout the detective's
testimony. While it is true that White did not raise an objection for each question asked of the witness, we will
review the trial court's decision for an abuse of discretion, rather than for plain error.
3. The record is not entirely clear whether the detective testified as an expert or lay witness. The trial court
stated at the end of the motion in limine hearing "the Court, at this point, finds that based upon its gatekeeping
duties here today that the testimony of [the detective] is warranted in this case and will permit her to testify as
an expert witness, and that will be the order of the court." During the trial, the state inquired of the detective's
qualifications and education, but did not ask the trial court to accept her as an expert. Even so, defense
counsel questioned on cross-examination the detective's training and credentials, as if the witness had been
deemed an expert, and the jury instructions includes an expert witness charge. When the issue was
addressed on the third day of trial, the trial court and state expressed a lack of certainty as to whether
testimony had to be given on gang-related issues by an expert. The trial court noted, "whether it's expert
testimony or lay testimony is a question the law is kind of nebulous about. But at any rate, the Court will
permit some of it." Because of the lack of clarity in the record, and given the murder conviction at issue, we
will review the matter using the more strenuous requirements of Evid.R. 702, but note that the detective's
testimony is also admissible under the lay witness standard set forth in Evid.R. 701.
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v. Boston, 46 Ohio St.3d 108, 118 (1989). The testimony offered must provide information
to the factfinder which is sufficiently beyond common experience. State v. Cooperstein,
12th Dist. Warren No. CA2018-09-117, 2019-Ohio-4724, ¶ 51.
{¶29} A witness who possesses "specialized knowledge about gang symbols,
cultures, and traditions beyond that of the trier of fact," may be qualified as an expert on
gang-related matters. State v. Drummond, 111 Ohio St.3d 14, 2006-Ohio-5084, ¶ 116.
"Unlike scientific testimony, expert testimony about gangs depends heavily on the expert's
knowledge and experience rather than on the expert's methodology and theory." Id. at ¶
119.
{¶30} The state presented testimony from a detective who investigates gang-related
criminal activity for the Middletown police department. We first find that the testimony
relates to matters beyond the knowledge or experience possessed by lay persons because
the testimony was specific to gang history and gang-related identification. Specifically, the
detective testified about the history of the two most prominent gangs in Middletown, when
they came into existence, indicia of gang membership, codes, symbols, as well as gang
ideology – none of which the jury was likely to know or have experience with absent the
detective's testimony.
{¶31} Second, the state presented evidence that the detective was specially
educated on gangs and gang identification. The detective completed various course work
with the National Gang Crime Research Center, including The Basic Gang Specialist
Program, Advanced Gang Identification, and Gang Homicide Investigation Skills. The
detective also spent time being mentored by experts in the field and had been working on
gang-related investigations for several years.
{¶32} Lastly, the detective testified about matters in which she had reliable
specialized information. The detective testified about her surveillance of gang activity
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specific to Middletown, including identifying members of the various gangs known to exist
in the area. The detective also knew the history of gangs in the area, and how they came
to be. Specifically, the Crips began to form in 2005, and based its membership in the
Middletown area near Douglas Park. The Crips is the largest gang in the United States,
and the Crips sect in Middletown is known as the Roadrunners. The detective testified that
the Crips' enemy gang is the Bloods and that there have been numerous shootings and
violence between the groups. Since 2005, the detective has run surveillance on the gangs
to identify members and investigate when gang members commit crimes. The detective
has also tracked gang symbols, hand signals, and social media accounts that portray gang
affiliation.
{¶33} Thus, the detective was qualified under Evid.R. 702 to testify as an expert in
gang activity and her testimony aided the jury in understanding the evidence specific to why
White killed Davis and why he did so as part of gang-related crime. The subject of the
detective's testimony was sufficiently beyond the jury's common experience, and necessary
to understand the state's theory of the case and the charges White was facing.
{¶34} After reviewing the record, the trial court did not abuse its discretion by
admitting the challenged testimony because the witness was qualified to testify as an expert
on gang-related matters.
{¶35} Assignment of Error No. 3:
{¶36} THE JURY'S VERDICT WAS CONTRARY TO THE MANIFEST WEIGHT OF
THE EVIDENCE.
{¶37} White argues in his third assignment of error that his conviction is against the
manifest weight of the evidence.
{¶38} A manifest weight of the evidence challenge examines the "inclination of the
greater amount of credible evidence, offered at a trial, to support one side of the issue rather
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than the other." State v. Barnett, 12th Dist. Butler No. CA2011-09-177, 2012-Ohio-2372, ¶
14. To determine whether a conviction is against the manifest weight of the evidence, the
reviewing court must look at the entire record, weigh the evidence and all reasonable
inferences, consider the credibility of the witnesses, and determine whether in resolving the
conflicts in the evidence, the trier of fact clearly lost its way and created such a manifest
miscarriage of justice that the conviction must be reversed and a new trial ordered. State
v. Morgan, 12th Dist. Butler Nos. CA2013-08-146 and CA2013-08-147, 2014-Ohio-2472, ¶
34.
{¶39} Questions regarding witness credibility and weight of the evidence "are
primarily matters for the trier of fact to decide since the trier of fact is in the best position to
judge the credibility of the witnesses and the weight to be given the evidence." State v.
Walker, 12th Dist. Butler App. No. CA2006-04-085, 2007-Ohio-911, ¶ 26. As a result, "the
question upon review is whether in resolving conflicts in the evidence, the jury clearly lost
its way and created such a manifest miscarriage of justice that the conviction must be
reversed." State v. Erdmann, 12th Dist. Clermont Nos. CA2018-06-043 and CA2018-06-
044, 2019-Ohio-261, ¶ 22. Therefore, an appellate court will overturn a conviction due to
the manifest weight of the evidence only in extraordinary circumstances when the evidence
presented at trial weighs heavily in favor of acquittal. State v. Blair, 12th Dist. Butler No.
CA2014-01-023, 2015-Ohio-818, ¶ 43.
{¶40} White was convicted of murder in violation of R.C. 2903.02(B), which prohibits
causing another's death "as a proximate result of the offender's committing or attempting to
commit an offense of violence that is a felony of the first or second degree * * *." The
underlying felony for which White was convicted was felonious assault. R.C. 2903.11(A)(1)
and (A)(2) prohibits one from causing serious physical harm to another or to another's
unborn, or causing physical harm by means of a deadly weapon or dangerous ordinance.
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{¶41} While White did not deny shooting the victim, he claimed he acted in self-
defense. "Traditionally, self-defense has been an affirmative defense which an accused
must prove by a preponderance of the evidence." State v. Debord, 12th Dist. Clinton No.
CA2019-03-003, 2020-Ohio-57, ¶ 13. However, effective March 28, 2019, the General
Assembly modified Ohio's self-defense statute, R.C. 2901.05, to place the burden on the
state to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the accused did not act in self-defense. State
v. Byrd, 12th Dist. Warren No. CA2019-07-073, 2020-Ohio-3073, ¶ 22. R.C. 2901.05(B)(1)
provides,
A person is allowed to act in self-defense, defense of another,
or defense of that person's residence. If, at the trial of a person
who is accused of an offense that involved the person's use of
force against another, there is evidence presented that tends to
support that the accused person used the force in self-defense,
defense of another, or defense of that person's residence, the
prosecution must prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the
accused person did not use the force in self-defense, defense
of another, or defense of that person's residence, as the case
may be.
{¶42} An accused is justified in the use of force against another if (1) the accused
was not at fault in creating the situation giving rise to the affray, (2) the accused had a bona
fide belief that he or she was in imminent danger of death or great bodily harm and that his
or her only means of escape from such danger was in the use of such force, and (3) the
accused did not violate any duty to retreat or avoid the danger. State v. Robbins, 58 Ohio
St.2d 74 (1979), paragraph two of the syllabus. Due to the recent amendment to R.C.
2901.05(B)(1), the state had to disprove one of the elements of self-defense beyond a
reasonable doubt. Byrd at ¶ 23.
{¶43} After reviewing the record, we find that White's conviction was not against the
manifest weight of the evidence. During trial, the state presented testimony from an officer
who responded to the call of shots fired. On his way to the scene, the officer encountered
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White and an associate running away from the scene. The officer spoke with White and
noticed that he seemed nervous and was sweating. White told the officer that he and his
associate were running because they heard shots being fired. However, White never told
the officer that he was in fear for his life, or that he had shot Davis in self-defense.
{¶44} The state also called the coroner who performed an autopsy of Davis' body.
The coroner testified that Davis was shot four times, once in the buttocks, once in the back,
once in the thigh, and once in the neck. The coroner confirmed that the gunshot wounds
were the cause of Davis' death, and that Davis had been shot from an "intermediate"
distance away, rather than anything up close as if a struggle had ensued.
{¶45} The state next presented testimony from a witness who was with White on the
night of the shooting. The witness testified that he and several friends were playing
basketball on the night of the shooting, and that they eventually left the court on foot. The
group encountered Davis, who was riding his bicycle down the street. The witness testified
that when he called to Davis, Davis turned and slipped off his bicycle. White then ran up to
Davis, who was on the ground at the time, and began shooting him.
{¶46} The witness testified that White shot Davis four times and that Davis was on
the ground the entire time, with nothing in his hands. The witness further testified that Davis
made no threats before he was shot.
{¶47} The state also presented evidence from the detective educated in gang
matters. The detective testified that photographs were recovered from White's phone that
were gang-related in which White is wearing Crip colors and making a hand signal of "Blood
Killer," which indicated an intent to kill a member of the rival Blood gang; the gang to which
Davis belonged. White also had a text message of the "Crip Prayer" sent to him by the
Middletown "street leader." White also self-identified as a Roadrunner on his Instagram
account profile picture, and had numerous Crip-related identifiers throughout his social
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media accounts.
{¶48} The detective also noted that people associated with White's social media
accounts, such as White's Instagram followers and others who made comments on his
Facebook posts, were also associated with gangs. The photographs and posts on White's
social media pages glorified firearms, money, and drugs with some including reference to
drive-by shootings and people running from firearms. The detective also testified that White
rarely used the letter "B" in his posts because the letter is a symbol of the rival gang, Bloods,
and that White would instead use the numeral six (6) to replicate the look of a letter "b." On
another post, White wrote, "Let it rain, let it flood, let a Crip kill a Blood. Let it drip, let it
drop, let a Blood flip flop."
{¶49} The jury also viewed a taped recording of White's police interview during
which he ultimately admitted to shooting Davis. However, the video also showed that White
lied to the detectives during the first part of the interview. Specifically, White told the
detectives that he was video chatting with this girlfriend at home, and later fell asleep. He
claimed to have later gone to his girlfriend's home and was returning from there when he
heard gunfire. Moreover, White did not claim self-defense until the detective mentioned
eyewitnesses reporting to police that White acted in self-defense.
{¶50} White testified that he acted in self-defense because he believed that Davis
had a firearm on the night of the incident and that Davis was getting ready to draw the
weapon when the group encountered him. White testified that he could not "run from a
bully," and that his friends could have been in danger if he did not shoot Davis. When asked
why he did not stay at the scene and wait for police, White answered that the police would
not have believed him.
{¶51} After reviewing the record, we find that the jury did not lose its way or create
a manifest miscarriage of justice in finding White guilty. The jury was in the best position to
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judge the credibility of the witnesses, including the witness who testified that Davis was on
the ground unarmed when White ran over and shot him four times. The witness' testimony
allowed the prosecution to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that White was at fault for
creating the situation because he ran toward Davis while Davis was on the ground having
fallen off his bicycle. White, even if he had feared for his life because of past trouble with
Davis and rival gangs, had the opportunity to run away while Davis was on the ground.
Instead, the record indicates that White shot Davis at an intermediate range and then
continued to shoot him three more times as he lay on the ground.
{¶52} Moreover, the jury was in the best position to judge White's credibility when
he testified that he acted in self-defense and that he feared for his life on the night of the
incident. We will not disturb the jury's determination that White's testimony lacked credibility
on this or any issue. As such, we find that White's conviction and the accompanying
specifications were not against the manifest weight of the evidence. Therefore, White's
third assignment of error is overruled.
{¶53} Judgment affirmed.
S. POWELL, P.J., and RINGLAND, J., concur.
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