Opinion ID: 1884723
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Possession of Firearm During the Commission of a Crime of Violence and Carrying a Pistol Without a License

Text: McCullough and Williams contend that there was insufficient evidence for the charges of possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime of violence and carrying a pistol without a license. According to D.C.Code § 22-3204(b), the requirements of PFCOV are: 1) the defendant committed a crime of violence; 2) during the commission of the crime of violence, the defendant possessed a firearm; and 3) that he did so knowingly and intentionally. The requirements of CPWL are: 1) carrying a pistol, either openly or concealed on one's person, outside one's own dwelling or place of business, or other land possessed by the defendant and 2) without a license to do so. Ray v. United States, 620 A.2d 860, 865 (D.C.1993). In this case, the appellants were convicted of PFCOV and CPWL under a theory of aiding and abetting. As we noted above, a conviction for aiding and abetting requires proof of three elements: 1) a crime was committed by someone; 2) appellant assisted or participated in its commission; and 3) he did so with guilty knowledge. Blakeney, 653 A.2d at 370. Viewing the evidence in the light most favorable to the government, there was sufficient evidence for a jury to find Williams and McCullough guilty of these charges. The government introduced evidence that neither Williams nor McCullough had a valid license to carry a firearm in the District. Furthermore, as we discussed in section IV.A. supra, there was ample evidence to show that Williams shot and killed Jackson, this evidence alone satisfies the requirements because it demonstrates that Williams possessed at least one of the guns that killed Jackson. McCullough argues that he was merely present and not an active participant in the crime, thus there was insufficient evidence to find him guilty of these charges. When viewing the evidence in the light most favorable to the government, there was sufficient evidence, as discussed in section IV.A. supra, for the jury to conclude that not only was McCullough was an active participant in the conspiracy but also aided and abetted the crimes of PFCOV and CPWL. See, e.g., Dang v. United States, 741 A.2d 1039, 1043 (D.C.1999) (concluding that a defendant may be charged as an aider and abetter for PFCOV); Halicki v. United States, 614 A.2d 499, 503-04 (D.C. 1992) (noting that a defendant may be charged as an aider and abetter for a CPWL and stating that in order to convict of CPWL on an aiding and abetting theory, the government must show that the principal (not the aider and abettor) was not licensed to carry the pistol.). The government clearly satisfied its burden in this case.