News-Journal from Mansfield, Ohio • 8

8A CONTINUED NEWS JOURNAL Sunday. February 23, 1997 Whitneys earn respect im9owt of court I IIs From page 1A He worked construction, failed hay and did roofing, "During my undergrad and law school, people said they thought I was a farmer," Rolf says. "It was only if I brought jthem home on the. weekends hat they found out my dad was $. lawyer." 9 A lot of the people Rolf met his different summer jobs later became his clients.

i met a tot or great peopie," says. "I would not trade that or the World." 4- Rolf said he will never forget respect for both of them. "I always get a little bit vous when I know I have to go up against one of them," she admits. "They speak well to the lay person, and they don't act like arrogant lawyers." Rogers says the Whitneys do not file needless motions like other attorneys, and they can immediately recognize any weaknesses in the prosecution's case. She admits she decided not to take one weak case when she found out one of the Whitneys would be the defense attorney.

"There's no sense taking something weak with the Whitneys," she says. Bob's voice is certainly not weak. He has a deep, commanding voice, which he uses to his advantage during trials. "He has a great deal of experience and a great voice," Hen-son says. "He can knock the walls out with his booming voice.

"Sometimes, he can yell so loud, it hurts your ears, but witnesses need to be tested, and he needs to get their attention. Sometimes it is more effective than not." Henson calls Bob a "good actor," and says he is great at making a point. See WHITNEY, page 9A degree and joined the law firm in 1992. "I haven't been in it long enough," Lore says. "But lately, people have started, saying, -'Is Bob there? Is Rolf there? Well then give me the other Bob, Rolf and Lore cover each other when one is involved in a big case.

If Bob is involved in a murder trial, his kids handle all the other motions and pretrials that need to be taken care of, and he does the same for them. "We are virtually never in the office at the same time," Rolf says. "There are days when we never see each other." IN THE COURTROOM When you run into Bob or Rolf at the courthouse or even sit down "With them in their offices in the Barrington One building in downtown Mansfield, they are easy going. Rolf is a little quicker to smile, and more laid back than his dad. But they both will make you laugh, and Bob is never without a story.

The two project this same image to a jury in the courtroom. Ashland County Assistant Prosecutor Ramona FrancescOni Rogers, who has tried cases against both Bob and Rolf, says she has great his first day as a lawyer. The year was 1982. His dad was involved in a big trial, so he had handle about 50 pretrials by (himself. He remembers going into court carrying two arm loads of 'cases.

fc "After the first day, nothing feeemed difficult," he says, -t Bob's daughter, Lore, is also a lawyer, though she handles hiostly lower-profile cases, such as civil and Social Security eases. She also handles dispositions, arraignments and less feerious criminal cases. Bob and Rolf joke that they hog all of the good cases for themselves, but Lore says she simply does not yet have the Experience needed to try the bigger cases. She got her law Dave PolcynNews Journal Bob Whitney gives his closing arguments In the recent Blllie W. Hamm Jr.

trial. Hamm was charged with murder but convicted of manslaughter. Judges and attorneys say Bob Whitney's closing arguments are some of the best part of his work. They also say Bob and Rolf Whitney have many of the same mannerisms in the courtroom. For the defense: Robert and Rolf Whitney September 1987 Ohio State Reformatory inmate Maurice Reid for the murder of his cell mate, Dwight Lowe.

He was convicted of the lesser charge of voluntary manslaughter and sentenced to 10 to 25 years in prison. 1985 June 1988 Mansfield Police officer Charles Oswalt for the murder of Margie Coffey. He was conVicted of voluntary manslaughter and abuse of a corpse and sentenced to 10 to 25 years in prison. The following timeline shows the high-profile cases handled by the two Mansfield attorneys. Cases handled by Rolf Whitney are shaded in gray.

1 1988 1989 August 1984 Gary Forbes for the murder of his wife, Mary Alice Forbes. He was convicted of the lesser sentence of voluntary manslaughter and given a 15-year prison sentence. 1984 Bob Whitney Age: 61 Hometown: Lexington Family: wife, Carole; children, Rolf, Mike, Lore and Tam; six grandchildren Education: Lexington Rolf Whitney Age: 39 Hometown: Lexington Family: wife. Brenda; children, Morgen Cody and Gabe Education: Lexington High School March 1990 Eugene Doran for the murder of Michael Gustafson. He was found not guilty by reason, of insanity and committed to a state hospital.

May 1990 Loy Hogan II for the murder of his 5-week-old son, Justin. He was found not 1990 January 1983 Carl Dean Davis for the.murder of Ashland County Sheriffs Deputy Glenn Sturgill. He was convicted of the lesser charge of involuntary manslaughter and sentenced to two consecutive 7-to-25 year terms. 1983 June 1990 Dr. John Boyle for the murder of his wife Noreen Boyle.

He was convicted of aggravated murder and abuse of a corpse and sentenced to life in prison. High School Class of 1953 Undergraduate and law degrees from Ohio Northern University Occupation: Attorney with Inscore, Rinehardt, Whitney and Enderle in Mansfield Toughest case: Charles Oswalt, Loy HoganH Hobbies: Building, working on farm, remodeling Quote: "It is not our job to determine guilt or innocence. We just present the evidence." Class of 1975 Undergraduate degree from Denison University and law degree from University of Dayton Occupation: Attorney with Inscore, Rinehardt, Whitney and Ertderle in Mansfield -Toughest case: David Hicks Hobbies: Horses, golf Quote: "People have a certain perception of lawyers. I bust my butt trying riot to fall into that stereotype." 1982 March 1991 Kent Davenport for the murder of guard Theodore Vanetta during a bank robbery. He was convicted and sentenced to life in prison instead of the death penalty.

AugQstl982 Ralph Edward Dean for the murder of his 14-year-old girlfriend, Gloria Jean Williams. He was convicted of aggravated murder and sentenced to life in 1 1968 I Pnson- I I December 1992 Larry Lee Young for the murder and rape of Teresa Lynn LaPene, an alcohol abuse counselor. He pleaded guilty to a reduced charge of involuntary manslaughter'and rape. He was sentenced to 10 to 25 years in privon July 1968 Clyde Hall for the murder of night watchman Frank Nota. He was found guilty and sentenced to life in prison instead of the death penalty.

He was released on parole in 1990 and was killed during a shoot-out with Mansfield police, who were trying to arrest him for another shooting. April 1993 Michael Lyons Jr. for the murder of his father, Michael Lyons Sr. He was convicted and sentenced to the Department of Youth Services until he's 21. August 1993 Inmate Roy Slider for the attempted murder of Mansfield Correctional Institution Guard Thomas Davis Jr.

He was convicted of the lesser charge of felonious assault and sentenced to 1 2 to 15 additional years. December 1994 Charles Vaughan for the rape and shooting of Maggie Maloy, a Galion High School student. He decided Ir-L, I r': 1980 I f5; fmi lJ v-! jlj 1 1 News Journal file photo I 1971 BoD Whitney defended Dr. John Boyle during a June I I 1 I 1990 murder trial. I 1W I ml I I bnl.mhir 1077 I I March 1994 Lavonia Spann for the murder of his girlfriend, Darla Ward.

He was found guilty and sentenced to 15 years to life. not to go to trial and entered guilty pleas.He was sentenced to 15 to 100 years in prison. June 1995 David Hicks for the murder of 1 1 -year-old Mark Black. He was found guilty and sentenced to 20 years to life in prison. LJ I I Todd Walker for the murder of his next-door I I 1 1 I neighbor, Linda Trine.

He was convicted and I I 1972 I I sentenced to life in prison instead of the death penalty. I I File photo Rolf Whitney defended David Hicks in a June 1995 murder trial. March 1996 Joshua Brooks for the murder of his neighbor, Clarence Thompson. He was convicted and sentenced to a state juvenile detention facility until he turns 21. July 1995 John Rodney for the murder of 15-month-old Fallen Renee Best.

He was found guilty and sentenced to 15 years to life in prison. June 1996 Maxwell White Jr. for the murder of state Trooper James Gross. He was found guilty and sentenced to death. January 1973 Bill John Kalinoff for the murder of his wife, Velva Mae Kalirtoff, and his mother-in-law, Velva Almcda Ayer.s.

He pleaded guilty to two counts of second-degree murder and was sentenced to concurrent life terms. He originally had been charged with two counts of first-degree murder. May 1996 Rajhi "T.C." Render for the murder of Jason E. Lothery and Scott Cox. He was found guilty of aggravated murder for the death of Lothery and involuntary manslaughter for the death of Cox.

His combined sentence was 36 years to life. November 1996 Priscilla McLaughlin for the murder of her husband, Scott McLaughlin. In a plea bargain she received five years probation. October 1976 rf Charles Cottcn for the murder of Mansfield police I 1 officer Michael Hutchison. He was found guilty and I I sentenced to death, but his sentence was changed to 8 life in prison when Ohio's death penalty law was I I 1 struck down by the U.S.

Supreme Court. Eeya 1974 jprnmrnmaJamu 1975 HMiiiiiiiiii February 1997 Billie Hamm Jr. for the murder of William Durfee. He was convicted of the lesser charge of voluntary manslaughter and sentenced to eight years in prison. Buth Bob and Rolf Whitney handled the Maxwell White Jr.

murder case.