Opinion ID: 1266769
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Wanton Endangerment with a Firearm Conviction

Text: Appellant suggests that his conviction for wanton endangerment with a firearm cannot be upheld because there was no proof that the firearm involved was ever discharged. Rather than citing to any language within the statute under which he was charged and convicted, West Virginia Code § 61-7-12, Appellant relies exclusively on the fact that cases decided under this statute have included, as part of their facts, the discharge of a weapon. See, e.g., State v. Wright, 200 W.Va. 549, 490 S.E.2d 636 (1997). We are unpersuaded by this logic and more importantly, the language of the statute is what controls our decision. The statute at issue provides that: Any person who wantonly performs any act with a firearm which creates a substantial risk of death or serious bodily injury to another shall be guilty of a felony, and, upon conviction thereof, shall be confined in the penitentiary for a definite term of years of not less than one year nor more than five years, or, in the discretion of the court, confined in the county jail for not more than one year, or fined not less than two hundred fifty dollars nor more than two thousand five hundred dollars, or both. W.Va.Code § 61-7-12. Because the offense of wanton endangerment with a firearm is defined, not in terms of whether the firearm is discharged, but merely with reference to the commission of any act, the discharge of a firearm is not an element of West Virginia Code § 61-7-12. Our interpretation of this statute is in accord with that of other states that have addressed this issue. See State v. Moore, 2000 WL 1612705 (Tenn.Crim.App.2000) (holding that firing of weapon was not an element of offense of reckless endangerment with a deadly weapon under Tenn. Rev.Code § 39-13-103(a)-(b)); see also Bracksieck v. State, 691 N.E.2d 1273, 1275 (Ind.App.1998) (stating that the court can envision no situation in which pointing a loaded firearm at another person does not also create a substantial risk of bodily injury to that person); Key v. Commonwealth, 840 S.W.2d 827, 829 (Ky.Ct. App.1992) (recognizing that pointing of gun, whether loaded or unloaded, constitutes conduct that creates substantial danger of death or serious injury); State v. Meier, 422 N.W.2d 381 (N.D.1988) (upholding conviction for reckless endangerment where defendant pointed unloaded rifle at two police officers); In re ALJ v. State, 836 P.2d 307 (Wyo.1992) (holding that pointing of unloaded gun at another creates violent situation supporting conviction of reckless endangerment provided firearm not pointed for defensive purposes). Accordingly, we find no basis for error with Appellant's conviction on the charge of wanton endangerment with a firearm.