THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK RESPONDENT v. JAMES PARKER DEFENDANT APPELLANT (2010)

MEMORANDUM AND ORDER

It is hereby ORDERED that the judgment so appealed from is unanimously modified on the law by directing that the sentence imposed for criminal possession of a weapon in the second degree shall run concurrently with the sentence imposed for assault in the first degree and as modified the judgment is affirmed.

Memorandum:  Defendant appeals from a judgment convicting him upon a jury verdict of, inter alia, assault in the first degree (Penal Law § 120.10[1] ) and criminal possession of a weapon in the second degree (§ 265.03[1][b] ).  We agree with defendant that the sentence imposed for criminal possession of a weapon in the second degree must run concurrently with the sentence imposed for assault in the first degree, and we therefore modify the judgment accordingly.  “[T]here was no evidence of intent to intimidate the victim[s] separate from the intent to shoot [them]” (People v. Miles, 288 A.D.2d 877, 877, lv denied 97 N.Y.2d 758;  see People v. Holland, 13 AD3d 1101, lv denied 4 NY3d 853).   Thus, “ ‘the weapon possession was not separate and distinct from the shooting[ ]’ and consecutive sentences ․ are prohibited” (People v. Mercer, 66 AD3d 1368, 1370, lv denied 13 NY3d 940).

Defendant further contends that his conviction of criminal possession of a weapon in the second degree must be reversed because he may have been convicted of an unindicted offense (see generally People v. Benet, 45 AD3d 1449, 1450, lv denied 10 NY3d 761;  People v. Watkins, 300 A.D.2d 1070, 1070-1071, lv denied 99 N.Y.2d 659).   We reject that contention.   The People “presented evidence of one continuing act of possession rather than two separate acts of possession” (Benet, 45 AD3d at 1450).   We note in addition that, during summation, the prosecutor “obviated any potential for juror confusion with respect to the possibility of two separate acts of possession” by specifying the moment when defendant committed the offense of criminal possession of a weapon in the second degree (id.).

Patricia L. Morgan

Clerk of the Court