Opinion ID: 1821689
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Defendant makes two arguments in support of a reduction of sentence.

Text: (a) First, he argues that the trial court erred in refusing to submit a special verdict form concerning whether a dangerous weapon was used in the commission of the robbery. Defense counsel argues that this was necessary because the complaint charged defendant with aggravated robbery in two different ways, by use of a dangerous weapon and by inflicting bodily harm. He argues that since the court did not submit the special verdict form, one cannot be sure that defendant was found guilty of aggravated robbery on the basis of the use of a dangerous weapon and that therefore section 609.11, subd. 5, mandating longer minimum terms if firearms are used, should not be applied. This issue has superficial similarity to one decided in State v. Cromey, 348 N.W.2d 759 (Minn.1984). There when the defendant was tried on counts of second-degree intentional murder and second-degree felony murder, the two offenses were both Class X offenses. The trial court, knowing that he could sentence defendant for only one of them, submitted a general verdict form and the jury found defendant guilty simply of second-degree murder. Then the Sentencing Guidelines Commission retroactively reclassified felony murder as a severity level IX offense. We reduced the sentence, saying, Because it is not possible to tell from the general guilty verdict whether the jury found defendant guilty of intentional murder, a severity level X offense, or of felony murder, a severity level IX offense, fairness dictates that it be considered the lesser of the two. 348 N.W.2d at 760-1. As we said, the resemblance of the issue in this case to that in Cromey is only superficial. A defendant does not have to be convicted of an offense that has use of a firearm or dangerous weapon as an element in order for section 609.11 to apply. Section 609.11 applies to all offenses listed in subdivision 9, many of which do not have use of a dangerous weapon or a firearm as an element. Further, section 609.11, subd. 7, expressly states, The question of whether the defendant or an accomplice, at the time of the commission of the offense listed in subdivision 9, used a firearm or other dangerous weapon or had in possession a firearm shall be determined by the court at the time of a verdict or finding of guilt at trial or the entry of a plea of guilty based upon the record of the trial or the plea of guilty. Further, the conclusion is inescapable that a firearm was used in the commission of the robbery. Edwards so testified, and police found and seized two guns used by the robbers. In conclusion, defendant is not entitled to any reduction on this ground. (b) Defendant also argues that the trial court's use of consecutive sentencing was unjustified and exaggerated the criminality of his conduct. This contention is answered by State v. Montalvo, 324 N.W.2d 650 (Minn.1982), and State v. Profit, 323 N.W.2d 34 (Minn.1982), among other cases, permitting stacking of mandatory prison terms in cases where consecutive sentencing is otherwise proper  i.e., in cases such as this. Affirmed.