Toledo murder convict may get clemency
A Toledo man convicted in a 2006 shooting death has been recommended for clemency, based predominantly on his medical condition.
Eddie White, 59, was listed as “medically incapacitated” in an application for his early release. He has served 14 years of his total 18-yearsto-life sentence.
Information about his condition was redacted from the report, but it noted he was involved in an accident while in custody on July 15, 2016. He is currently held at Select Specialty Hospital in Columbus, which specializes in care for patients with acute or chronic respiratory disorders.
Despite his medical state and required ventilation, he receives 24-hour supervision by two corrections officers, “resulting in significant additional expenses to the State of Ohio,” the application said. It was initiated by Warden Jenny Hildebrand with the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Corrections’ Franklin Medical Center.
“His medical condition results in no measurable recidivism risk or security threat to the community,” and does not provide him “any tangible relief from the sentence imposed based on the loss of liberty [he] experiences from medical condition,” members of the parole board noted in approving him for release only to a longterm, skilled-care facility.
If released, White would be under low supervision for at least 10 years. If his medical condition were to change in that period, he would be placed on active supervision, the application says.
While his release was recommended by the parole board with the support of White’s brother, Tony Fisher, and sent to Gov. Mike DeWine for final approval, the decision was not unanimous.
The Lucas County Prosecutor’s Office, two representatives for the victim’s family, and a fourth person whose name was redacted from the report opposed clemency.
White was convicted of fatally shooting 32-year-old Jermain Middlebrooks outside the Ozone Bar on Lagrange Street in April 2006.
Middlebrooks was reportedly drunk and knocking into people inside the bar before sitting down at a table with the wife of White’s friend and co-defendant, Otha Randall.
The two waited outside the bar for Middlebrooks to leave, then White shot him in the back. White was convicted of murder with a firearms specification, while Randall pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter and was sentenced to five years in prison.