Mangum v. State

RAKER, Judge.

In this case, we are asked to decide whether the State must introduce direct evidence of a recovered firearm’s operability to prove a violation of Maryland Code (1957, 1992 Repl.Vol., 1995 Cum.Supp.) Article 27, § 36B(b). 1 We shall hold that direct evidence is not required, and that operability of a firearm can be proved solely by circumstantial evidence.

I

On the evening of April 24,1993, at approximately 9:30 p.m., off-duty police officer Robert Johnson, Jr. observed Petitioner, Steven Mangum, with a male companion in the lobby of the Motel Six. Johnson saw Mangum repeatedly…