THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE DEFENDANT POSSESSED THE FIREARM BEFORE FORMING THE INTENT TO SHOOT; THE POSSESSION OF A WEAPON SENTENCE MUST RUN CONCURRENTLY WITH THE SENTENCES FOR THE SHOOTING-RELATED OFFENSES (FOURTH DEPT).
The Fourth Department, directing that the sentences run concurrently, noted there was no evidence defendant possessed the loaded firearm before he formed the intent to shoot the victim:
Defendant appeals from a judgment convicting him upon his plea of guilty of three counts of robbery in the first degree (Penal Law § 160.15 [1], [4]), two counts each of burglary in the first degree (§ 140.30 [2], [4]) and criminal possession of a weapon in the second degree (§ 265.03 [3]), and one count each of assault in the first degree (§ 120.10 [4]), attempted murder in the second degree (§§ 110.00, 125.25 [1]), and criminal possession of stolen property in the fourth degree (§ 165.45 [5]). … . * * *
Where a defendant is charged with both criminal possession of a weapon in violation of Penal Law § 265.03 (3) and a different crime that has an element involving the use of that weapon, consecutive sentencing is permissible if “[the] defendant knowingly unlawfully possesses a loaded firearm before forming the intent to cause a crime with that weapon” such that the possessory crime has already been completed … . The People have the burden of establishing that consecutive sentences are legal, i.e., that the two crimes were committed through separate and distinct acts … . …
The People failed to meet their burden inasmuch as there are no facts alleged in the counts of the indictment to which defendant pleaded guilty or in the plea allocution that would establish that defendant possessed the loaded firearm prior to forming his intent to shoot the victim … or that the act of possessing the loaded firearm “was separate and distinct from” his act of shooting the victim … . People v Boyd, 2021 NY Slip Op 01897, Fourth Dept 3-26-21