Opinion ID: 2067034
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: Merger of the AWIRWA and ADW Convictions

Text: Carter argued for the first time in his supplemental brief that the crimes of AWIRWA and ADW merge, and that his conviction of ADW and the PFCV conviction associated with it should be vacated. See (Frederick) Williams v. United States, 641 A.2d 479, 483 (D.C.1994) (citing United States v. Alston, 157 U.S.App.D.C. 261, 263, 483 F.2d 1264, 1266 (1973)). The government has agreed, and accordingly we will remand to the trial court to vacate Carter's ADW conviction and his associated PFCV conviction. Tucker has not raised the merger issue, and the government's briefs do not address merger as to Tucker. However, we think it appropriate to raise the issue sua sponte and to order remand in Tucker's case as well for the court to vacate his ADW and associated PFCV conviction. [19] See Morris v. United States, 622 A.2d 1116, 1129 (D.C.1993) (On appeal, neither appellant nor the government addresses the question of whether, once the conviction for assault with a dangerous weapon merges with the conviction for attempted armed robbery, appellant's conviction for possession of a firearm during a crime of violence or dangerous offense (assault with a dangerous weapon) merges with his conviction for possession of a firearm during a crime of violence or dangerous offense (attempted armed robbery). Nevertheless, we hold that these two convictions merge because they concern violations of the same statute ... by the same actions (placing a gun against Mr. Flythe's stomach and demanding his money), and there is no indication that the legislature intended to allow multiple sentences in such circumstances (citation omitted)); see also Bean v. United States, 576 A.2d 187 (D.C.1990) (Although we find no merit in any of the issues raised by Bean in his appeal, we do find merit in an issue raised sua sponte by this court: that Bean's conduct constituted a single violation of the statute and, thus, he may only be sentenced on a single count. We remand with instructions to vacate one of the two convictions....).