Opinion ID: 1942312
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 10

Heading: Multiple Convictions Deadly Weapon Possession

Text: Llewellyn and Rodgers were convicted of five counts of Possession of a Deadly Weapon During the Commission of a Felony based on the possession of a gun during the commission of four counts of Murder in the First Degree and one count of Robbery in the First Degree. 11 Del.C. § 1447. [5] Each of them contends that he was improperly convicted of more than two counts of the deadly weapon offense because the State's evidence established that only two guns were involved in the commission of the five underlying felonies. In support of their argument, Llewellyn and Rodgers cite Reader v. State, Del.Supr., 349 A.2d 745 (1975). Their reliance upon Reader is misplaced. This Court has previously determined the question presented by Rodgers and Llewellyn in deciding the case of Pauls v. State, Del.Supr., 554 A.2d 1125 (January 12, 1989) (ORDER). In Pauls, the defendant argued that his conviction for multiple counts of possession of a deadly weapon during the commission of a felony, one count for each weapon possessed during each felony, [was] contrary to the legislative intent underlying the statute. (emphasis added) The defendant in Pauls also relied upon Reader. This Court rejected that contention. The determinative consideration in evaluating a challenge to cumulative punishments and prosecutions is legislative intent. Wyant v. State, 519 A.2d 649, 661 (1986). Section 1447 states that a person who is in possession of a deadly weapon during the commission of a felony is guilty of possession of a deadly weapon during the commission of a felony. In Pauls, this Court held that separate convictions for a deadly weapon offense, for each felony the defendant committed while in possession of a deadly weapon, is consistent with the deterrence goal of the statute and that such multiple weapon convictions were supported by the statute's plain language. 11 Del.C. § 1447. Therefore, Llewellyn and Rodgers could properly be convicted of more than two counts of Possession of a Deadly Weapon During the Commission of Felony, even though only two weapons were used, when multiple felonies were committed with those two weapons.