Stephens v. Commonwealth

I

In this appeal, we consider whether a defendant was subjected to multiple punishments for the same offense in contravention of the Double Jeopardy Clauses in the Fifth Amendment to the Constitution of the United States and Article I, § 8 of the Constitution of Virginia.

A

Alphonso Stephens was tried by a jury in the County of Pittsylvania for two counts of shooting at an occupied vehicle in violation of Code § 18.2-154, and two counts of discharging a firearm while in a motor vehicle in violation of Code § 18.2-286.1. The jury found the defendant guilty of these crimes and fixed his punishment…