Opinion ID: 2381320
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Assault with a Dangerous Weapon (ADW)

Text: The government concedes that the four separate ADW counts (O, P, R, S) (§ 22-502) that are based on the collective assault on Diana Kirkland, Rosslyn Kirkland, Ayres, and Watson merge into a single count. See Joiner, 585 A.2d at 178 (a defendant is guilty of only one offense if he [or she] puts in fear different members of a group towards which collectively he [or she] directs his [or her] action). We shall refer to this merged count as Count O/P/R/S. The government argues, however, that the assault on Floyd (Count Q) was distinct from the group assault and therefore does not merge. This argument is supported by the record. There is testimony clearly suggesting that after the group of intruders had entered apartment 302 and generally menaced the occupants, Wray stuck his gun in Floyd's face and asked her where the drugs and money were. [20] We conclude, therefore, that Count Q does not merge into the other counts. In sum, two ADW counts arising out of the second incident (Counts O/P/R/S and Q) remain unmerged. We now consider whether any of the crimes lacking an identifiable victim merges with any of the other second incident counts.