Thompson v. State, 506 S.E.2d 201 (Ga. Ct. App. 1998). · Go Syfert
Thompson v. State, 506 S.E.2d 201 (Ga. Ct. App. 1998). Cases Citing This Book View Copy Cite
44 citation events (32 in the last 25 years) across 2 distinct courts.
Strongest positive: Phillip Ray Lindsey, Jr. v. State (gactapp, 2019-10-29)
Treatment trajectory · 1999 → 2026 · click a year to view as-of
1999 2012 2026
Top citers, strongest first. 16 distinct citers.
examined Cited as authority (rule) Phillip Ray Lindsey, Jr. v. State (3×) also: Cited "see"
Ga. Ct. App. · 2019 · confidence medium
When, as in this case, a request for a jury instruction is submitted to the court, the preliminary question must be whether the requested charge is appropriate.37 As discussed above, because the jury in this case was not presented with a presumption of possession to consider when deciding the Appellant’s guilt, equal access was not a defense that was available to the Appellant, let alone his sole defense.38 Finally, the Appellant contends that “the trial court’s [jury] instructions on constructive and joint possession [of the contraband] led to a presumption of possession,” which entit…
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Reyes v. State
Ga. Ct. App. · 2013 · confidence medium
Thompson v. State, 234 Ga. App. 74, 77 ( 506 SE2d 201 ) (1998); Williams v. State, 210 Ga. App. 437, 438-439 ( 436 SE2d 550 ) (1993); Palencia-Barron v. State, 318 Ga. App. 301, 306-307 ( 733 SE2d 824 ) (2012).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Gerardo Reyes v. State
Ga. Ct. App. · 2013 · confidence medium
Thompson v. State, 234 Ga. App. 74, 77 ( 506 SE2d 201 ) (1998); Williams v. State, 210 Ga. App. 437, 438-439 ( 436 SE2d 550 ) (1993); Palencia-Barron v. State, 318 Ga. App. 301, 306-307 ( 733 SE2d 824 ) (2012).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Lipsey v. State
Ga. Ct. App. · 2007 · confidence medium
Lipsey does not argue — and thus we need not address - whether he should have only been sentenced for the misdemeanor offense of possession and use of drug related objects pursuant to the “rule of lenity.” See Washington, supra at 572-574 (4); OCGA § 16-13-32.2. 6 See OCGA § 16-10-24 (a); Meeker v. State, 282 Ga. App. 77, 79 (1) ( 637 SE2d 806 ) (2006). 7 State v. Johnson, 280 Ga. 511, 512 ( 630 SE2d 377 ) (2006). 8 Id. at 513 . 9 See id.; Nation v. State, 252 Ga. App. 620, 624 (5) ( 556 SE2d 196 ) (2001); Thompson v. State, 234 Ga. App. 74, 77 (3) ( 506 SE2d 201 ) (1998). 10 Williams …
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Amin v. State
Ga. Ct. App. · 2007 · confidence medium
Miller and Ellington, JJ., concur. 1 (Citation and punctuation omitted.) Doyle v. State, 281 Ga. App. 592 ( 636 SE2d 751 ) (2006). 2 See State v. Alexander, 245 Ga. App. 666, 668 ( 538 SE2d 550 ) (2000). 3 Price v. State, 269 Ga. 222, 225 (3) ( 498 SE2d 262 ) (1998). 4 Turner v. State, 233 Ga. App. 413, 415 (1) (a) ( 504 SE2d 229 ) (1998). 5 See Doyle, supra at 594 (1). 6 (Citations and punctuation omitted.) Thompson v. State, 234 Ga. App. 74, 75-76 (1) (a) ( 506 SE2d 201 ) (1998). 7 (Citation and punctuation omitted.) Johnson v. State, 234 Ga. App. 116, 119 (2) ( 506 SE2d 234 ) (1998). 8 Smit…
discussed Cited as authority (rule) State v. Johnson
Ga. · 2006 · confidence medium
Where the State did not show the indicia giving rise to the presumption, that is, ownership or exclusive control of the vehicle, no presumption arose and therefore there was no triggering of the equal access defense. [Cit.] Thompson v. State, 234 Ga. App. 74, 77 (3) ( 506 SE2d 201 ) (1998).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Montgomery v. State
Ga. Ct. App. · 2006 · confidence medium
“Miranda warnings are not required when a person responds to an officer’s initial inquiry at an on-the-scene investigation which has not become accusatory.” (Citation and punctuation omitted.) Thompson v. State, 234 Ga. App. 74, 75 (1) (a) ( 506 SE2d 201 ) (1998).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Wiggins v. State
Ga. Ct. App. · 2002 · confidence medium
J., and Miller, J., concur. 1 Moody v. State, 251 Ga. App. XXVII (2001). 2 Smart v. State, 253 Ga. App. 649, 654 (7) ( 560 SE2d 92 ) (2002). 3 Id. 4 OCGA § 16-13-31. 5 Thompson v. State, 234 Ga. App. 74, 77 (3) ( 506 SE2d 201 ) (1998). 6 Id. 7 Id. 8 Id. 9 Copeland v. State, 228 Ga. App. 734, 738 (5) ( 492 SE2d 723 ) (1997). 10 Simmons v. State, 223 Ga. App. 781, 782 (2) ( 479 SE2d 123 ) (1996). 11 Padron v. State, 254 Ga. App. 265, 268-269 (1) ( 562 SE2d 244 ) (2002). 12 Jones v. State, 253 Ga. App. 870, 873 ( 560 SE2d 749 ) (2002). 13 Edwards v. State, 219 Ga. App. 239, 247 (8) ( 464 SE2d 85…
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Tolliver v. State
Ga. Ct. App. · 2000 · confidence medium
J, and McMurray, P. J, concur. 1 (Citations, punctuation and emphasis omitted.) Gray v. State, 213 Ga. App. 507, 509 (1) ( 445 SE2d 328 ) (1994). 2 OCGA §§ 16-5-20; 16-5-21. 3 Shy v. State, 234 Ga. 816, 821 ( 218 SE2d 599 ) (1975). 4 Hodges v. State, 265 Ga. 870, 872 (2) ( 463 SE2d 16 ) (1995). 5 Thompson v. State, 234 Ga. App. 74, 76 (1) (a) ( 506 SE2d 201 ) (1998). 6 (Citations and punctuation omitted.) Mason v. State, 177 Ga. App. 184, 185 (1) ( 338 SE2d 706 ) (1985); see also Shy, supra at 819-820 . 7 Compare Jones v. State, 208 Ga. App. 472 ( 431 SE2d 136 ) (1993) (error found in court�…
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Young v. State
Ga. Ct. App. · 2000 · confidence medium
Moreover, “when[, as here,] the trial judge elects not to charge the jury on the presumption of possession, an equal access instruction is not required.” (Citations and punctuation omitted.) Thompson v. State, 234 Ga. App. 74, 77 (3) ( 506 SE2d 201 ) (1998).
examined Cited as authority (rule) Pollard v. State (3×)
Ga. Ct. App. · 1999 · confidence medium
Pollard next contends that his statements made in response to Officer Tremble’s initial inquiry at Pollard’s residence were inadmissible since he had not been given his Miranda warnings. “ Miranda warnings are not required when a person responds to an officer’s initial inquiry at an on-the-scene investigation which has not become accusatory.’ ” Thompson v. State, 234 Ga. App. 74, 75 (1) ( 506 SE2d 201 ) (1998).
discussed Cited "see" State v. Devdan Yearwood-Cabbel (2×)
Ga. Ct. App. · 2024 · signal: accord · confidence high
If the trial court has made express findings of fact, we must accept those findings unless they are clearly erroneous, construe the evidentiary record in the light most favorable to the factual findings and judgment of the trial court, and limit our consideration of the disputed facts to those expressly found by the trial court.” (punctuation omitted)). 50 Eichelberger v. State, 252 Ga. App. 801, 803 (1) ( 557 SE2d 439 ) (2001) (punctuation omitted); accord Thompson v. State, 234 Ga. App. 74, 74 (1) ( 506 SE2d 201 ) (1998). 51 See Snider v. State, 292 Ga. App. 180, 182 ( 663 SE2d 805 ) (2008…
discussed Cited "see" McCafferty v. State (2×)
Ga. Ct. App. · 2001 · signal: see · confidence high
See generally Thompson v. State, 234 Ga. App. 74 (1) ( 506 SE2d 201 ) (1998). 3.
discussed Cited "see, e.g." Marquis Maddox v. State (2×)
Ga. Ct. App. · 2013 · signal: compare · confidence medium
State v. Johnson, 280 Ga. 511, 512-513 ( 630 SE2d 377 ) (2006) (emphasis, punctuation, and citation omitted); Wilkerson v. State, 269 Ga. App. 190, 191-192 ( 603 SE2d 728 ) (2004); compare Thompson v. State, 234 Ga. App. 74, 77 ( 506 SE2d 201 ) (1998) (no error in refusing passenger’s request to instruct jury on rebuttable presumption that driver had exclusive possession 5 of contraband, and on equal access, where instructions not supported by the evidence). 1.
discussed Cited "see, e.g." Maddox v. State (2×)
Ga. Ct. App. · 2013 · signal: compare · confidence medium
State v. Johnson, 280 Ga. 511, 512-513 ( 630 SE2d 377 ) (2006) (citation, punctuation and emphasis omitted); Wilkerson v. State, 269 Ga. App. 190, 191-192 ( 603 SE2d 728 ) (2004); compare Thompson v. State, 234 Ga. App. 74, 77 ( 506 SE2d 201 ) (1998) (no error in refusing passenger’s request to instruct jury on rebuttable presumption that driver had exclusive possession of contraband, and on equal access, where instructions not supported by the evidence). 1.
discussed Cited "see, e.g." Davis v. State (2×)
Ga. Ct. App. · 2007 · signal: see also · confidence medium
Since the presumption thus did not arise, the jury was not instructed on any presumption of possession. “[A] charge on equal access is appropriate to counter a jury instruction on presumption of possession, and is not necessary otherwise.” Id. at 513 ; see also Thompson v. State, 234 Ga. App. 74, 77 (3) ( 506 SE2d 201 ) (1998) (“Equal access is merely a defense available to the accused to whom a presumption of possession flows.
Thompson
v.
the State
A98A1743.
Court of Appeals of Georgia.
Aug 20, 1998.
506 S.E.2d 201
Joyce M. Griggs, for appellant., Spencer Lawton, Jr., District Attorney, Ronald M. Adams, Assistant District Attorney, for appellee.
Blackburn, McMurray, Eldridge.
Cited by 19 opinions  |  Published
Blackburn, Judge.

Earl Fenton Thompson appeals his convictions by a jury of carrying a concealed weapon, carrying a pistol without a license, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. Thompson contends that the trial court erred by: (1) denying his motion in limine; (2) denying his motion to dismiss the indictment; and (3) refusing to give a requested jury charge. For the reasons discussed below, we affirm Thompson’s convictions.

1. In his first enumeration of error, Thompson asserts that the trial court erred in denying his motion in limine in which he sought to exclude the introduction of statements he made at the time of his arrest. In our review of the trial court’s order denying Thompson’s motion to suppress, we construe the evidence most favorably to uphold the trial court’s ruling. Mao v. State, 222 Ga. App. 482, 483 (474 SE2d 679) (1996). It is the trial court’s duty to resolve conflicts in the evidence, and its findings of credibility and fact will not be disturbed on appeal unless they are clearly erroneous. Id.

[*75] During the hearing on Thompson’s motion in limine, Officer Mike Embry with the Savannah Police Department testified that Andrea Beasley drove her car into the police precinct yard while several officers were present during a shift change. Beasley exited the car, identified herself to Officer Embry, and told him that her boyfriend beat her up, threatened her, and had a gun. Officer Embry went to the vehicle and confronted Thompson who was sitting in the passenger seat. Officer Embry testified that Thompson was loud, belligerent, and vulgar, and that he denied that there was a gun in the car. However, another officer found a gun under the front passenger seat. At that point, Thompson started talking in a rambling manner — first denying the gun was his, then admitting it was his, but saying that the police could not prove it. Thompson was put in a police cruiser where he continued to talk, saying to Beasley; “I can’t believe you told them about — that I had the gun, had the gun on me.”

Based on this testimony, Thompson’s statements can be put in two groups: (a) those statements made in Beasley’s car in response to the officer’s initial inquiry, and (b) those statements made once he was put into the police cruiser. Thompson contends that none of his statements should have been admitted at trial because he had not been given his Miranda warnings.

(a) The trial judge determined that the first statements made by Thompson either were made in response to the officer’s initial inquiry while investigating the situation or were made prior to Thompson being placed in custody.

We have specifically held that ‘Miranda warnings are not required when a person responds to an officer’s initial inquiry at an on-the-scene investigation which has not become accusatory.” Williamson v. State, 171 Ga. App. 904, 905 (321 SE2d 762) (1984). We agree with the trial court that the first of Thompson’s statements were made in response to the officer’s initial inquiry and were admissible.

“The issue presented, as to whether [Thompson] was in custody for Miranda purposes, is a mixed question of law and fact. We will not reverse the trial court’s fact findings which underpin its legal conclusion made at a suppression hearing, unless they are clearly erroneous. Whatley v. State, 196 Ga. App. 73, 78 (5) (395 SE2d 582) [(1990)]. A person is not in a state of custody merely because he is a prime suspect at the time he is interrogated by the police or their agent. See Vaughn v. State, 261 Ga. 686, 687 (2) (410 SE2d 108) [(1992)]. Even if the police have probable cause to arrest at the time of the interview and secretly intend to charge the suspect at some future time, such facts are immaterial to a determination of whether the suspect was in custody at the time of the interview, except when and to what extent the police communicate their future intent to[*76] arrest during the course of the interview. State v. Brannan, 222 Ga. App. 372, 376 (2) (c) (474 SE2d 267) [(1996)]. ... A suspect must be in a custodial situation for Miranda to apply; a suspect is not entitled to Miranda warnings, as a matter of right, unless he has been taken into custody or has been deprived of freedom of action in another significant way. Hardeman v. State, 252 Ga. 286, 288 (1) (313 SE2d 95) [(1984)]; Carroll v. State, 208 Ga. App. 316, 317 (2) (430 SE2d 649) [(1993)]. . . . The real issue for adjudication is whether the individual was formally arrested or restrained to the degree associated with a formal arrest. Hodges v. State, 265 Ga. 870, 872 (2) (463 SE2d 16) [(1995)]. In resolving this issue, the relevant inquiry is how a reasonable person in [a] suspect’s position would perceive his situation (Hodges, supra, citing Berkemer v. McCarty, 468 U. S. 420, 442 (104 SC 3138, [3151,] 82 LE2d 317) [(1984)]); that is, whether a reasonable person in [Thompson’s] position would have understood the situation to constitute restraint on freedom of movement of the degree which the law associates with formal arrest. Manchester v. State, 226 Ga. App. 653, 655 (1) (487 SE2d 449) [(1997)].” (Punctuation omitted.) Hendrix v. State, 230 Ga. App. 604, 605-606 (497 SE2d 236) (1998).

Applying these standards to the evidence before us, we conclude the trial court’s finding that Thompson’s initial statements were voluntarily made under noncustodial circumstances was not clearly erroneous. Compare Hodges, supra; Vaughn, supra; Manchester, supra.

(b) The trial court determined that the remainder of Thompson’s statements were voluntary and not the result of police interrogation.

“Not all in-custody statements are subject to Miranda. A volunteered statement, which is not the product of interrogation or its functional equivalent, would not be suppressible on this ground. Rhode Island v. Innis, 446 U. S. 291 (100 SC 1682, 64 LE2d 297) (1980). . . . The definition of interrogation can extend only to words or actions on the part of police officers that they should have known were reasonably likely to elicit an incriminating response. . . . Zubiadul v. State, 193 Ga. App. 235, 237 (387 SE2d 431) (1989).” (Punctuation omitted.) Johnson v. State, 224 Ga. App. 568, 569 (481 SE2d 268) (1997). In the present case, the trial court’s finding that Thompson’s statements were not made as a result of custodial interrogation is not clearly erroneous.

2. In Thompson’s second enumeration of error, he contends that the trial court erred in denying his motion to dismiss the indictment which was premised on the fact that the warrant was not signed by a judicial officer. Thompson’s motion to dismiss was untimely. It was filed on the morning of jury selection for his trial. We have previously determined that OCGA § 17-7-111 and Uniform Superior Court Rule[*77] 31.1 require that any demur to the indictment be made in writing at or before arraignment unless extended by the judge in writing prior to trial. See Bennett v. State, 216 Ga. App. 365, 366 (454 SE2d 562) (1995). As Thompson did not obtain an extension, his motion was untimely and, therefore, properly denied.

3. In his final enumeration of error, Thompson contends that the trial court erred in failing to give his requested jury charge regarding the presumption that the driver of a car is assumed to be in possession, custody, or control of all things in it and his requested charge regarding equal access.

“The equal access rule, as it applies in the automobile context, is merely that evidence showing that a person or persons other than the owner or driver of the automobile had equal access to contraband found in the automobile may or will, depending upon the strength of the evidence, overcome the presumption that the contraband was in the exclusive possession of the owner or driver. Lombardo v. State, 187 Ga. App. 440 (5) (370 SE2d 503) [(1988)]; Mendez v. State, 185 Ga. App. 1 (1) (363 SE2d 262) [(1987)]; Castillo v. State, 166 Ga. App. 817 (2) (305 SE2d 629) [(1983)]. However, if two or more persons shared actual or constructive possession of a thing, possession is joint. Mendez, supra at 1-2.

“We are satisfied that the evidence of record, when viewed in a light most favorable to the verdict, does not reasonably raise the issue of equal access, but only the issue of joint possession. It is not error to decline to instruct on an issue not reasonably raised by the evidence. See Britt v. State, 184 Ga. App. 445 (1) (361 SE2d 710) [(1987)]; Pittman v. State, 175 Ga. App. 50 (1) (332 SE2d 356) [(1985)]. Equal access is merely a defense available to the accused to whom a presumption of possession flows. Where the State did not show the indicia giving rise to the presumption, that is, ownership or exclusive control of the vehicle, no presumption arose and therefore there was no triggering of the equal access defense. Akins v. State, 184 Ga. App. 441 (1) (361 SE2d 707) [(1987)]. Likewise, when the trial judge elects not to change the [jury] on the presumption of possession, an equal access instruction is not required. See Akins, supra.” (Punctuation omitted.) Lance v. State, 191 Ga. App. 701, 703 (2) (382 SE2d 726) (1989).

Thompson was not entitled to an equal access charge because such charge applies only in cases where the presumption of possession is in the accused. Thompson attempted to use the presumption of possession as a defense, which it is not. See Lance, supra. The trial court did not err in refusing to give Thompson’s requested charges.

Judgment affirmed.

McMurray, P. J., and Eldridge, J., concur. [*78] Decided August 20, 1998. Joyce M. Griggs, for appellant. Spencer Lawton, Jr., District Attorney, Ronald M. Adams, Assistant District Attorney, for appellee.