State v. Bacon, 228 N.C. App. 432 (Aug. 6, 2013)

Trial court erred by finding a statutory aggravating factor where the evidence used to support the G.S. 15A-1340.16(d)(8) aggravating factor (knowingly created a great risk of death to more than one person by means of a weapon or device which would normally be hazardous to the lives of more than one person) was the same evidence used to support an element of the involuntary manslaughter charge. That charge stemmed from a vehicle accident. The court reasoned: “[D]efendant was not impaired when the accident occurred, and defendant’s speed is the only evidence that would support the aggravating factor that he used a device in a manner normally hazardous to the lives of more than one person. Because the evidence of defendant’s speed was required to prove the charge of involuntary manslaughter and the finding of the aggravating factor, the trial court erred in sentencing defendant in the aggravated range[.]”

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