Court Opinion

ID: 9728791
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-26 14:16:29.236268+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:25:52.099615
License: Public Domain

N. J. Kaufman, P. J.
(dissenting). I respectfully dissent for the reasons stated in my dissenting opinions in People v Mitchell, 85 Mich App 757; 272 NW2d 601 (1978), and People v Drake Johnson, 85 Mich App 752; 272 NW2d 599 (1978).
The pertinent portion of the information filed in the present cases reads as follows:

’’COUNT I

"did assault the above-named Complainant while armed with a dangerous weapon or an article used or fashioned in a manner to lead the person so assaulted to reasonably believe it to be a dangerous weapon, to-wit: a handgun and did then and there feloniously rob, steal and take from the person of said Complainant, or *672in his presence, United States Currency, contrary to Sec. 750.529, M.C.L.A.

’’COUNT II

"did then and there carry or have possession of a firearm, to-wit: a handgun in the commission or attempt to commit a felony to-wit: Robbery Armed, Contrary to M.C.L.A. 750.227b.” (Emphasis added.)
My reading of the above language shows that it would be impossible to prove one charge without the identical facts necessary to prove the other charge, nothing more, nothing less. Defendants were thus twice convicted and punished for the same offense, in violation of the double jeopardy provisions of the Federal and state constitutions. I would vacate the convictions on the "felony-firearm” counts and affirm those stemming from the armed robbery counts.
If I perceived the law regarding double jeopardy to be as the majority states it, I still could not agree with their disposition of the aiding and abetting issue. The majority reverses Walter Johnson’s "felony-firearm” conviction because Walter Johnson himself did not carry or possess the handgun used in the armed robbery. Insofar as accessory liability1 is concerned, I see no difference between aiding and abetting one who "carries or has in his possession” a firearm ("felony-firearm”, MCL 750.527b(l); MSA 28.424(2X1)), and aiding and abetting one who robs another "being armed” with a firearm (armed robbery, MCL 750.529; MSA 28.797). Clearly, a person who aids and abets in an armed robbery may be punished as a principal. See, e.g., People v Turner, 59 Mich App 589; 229 NW2d 861 (1975), People v Sharp, 57 Mich App 624; 226 NW2d 590 (1975). I would not reverse *673Walter Johnson’s conviction on the ground that it was his accomplice who carried the handgun, but would reverse both defendants’ "felony-firearm” convictions on the basis of double jeopardy as stated above.

 MCL 767.39; MSA 28.979.