Opinion ID: 1058514
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Attempted Use of a Firearm

Text: Our decision to reverse James' attempted robbery conviction necessarily requires a reversal of the conviction for attempted use of a firearm during the commission of attempted robbery under Code § 18.2-53.1. Under the plain language of Code § 18.2-53.1, there can be no conviction for use or attempted use of a firearm when there has been no commission of one of the predicate offenses enumerated in that statute. Bundy v. Commonwealth, 220 Va. 485, 488, 259 S.E.2d 826, 828 (1979) (a violation of Code § 18.2-53.1 occurs only when a firearm is used with respect to the felonies specified in the statute); but see Reed v. Commonwealth, 239 Va. 594, 596-98, 391 S.E.2d 75, 76-77 (1990) (upholding inconsistent verdict where the jury found the defendant not guilty of robbery but guilty of using a firearm in the commission of robbery).