State v. Watterson

GEER, Judge.

Defendant Brian Keith Watterson appeals his convictions for two counts of possession of a weapon of mass death and destruction in violation of N.C. Gen. Stat. § 14-288.8 (2007) based on his possession of two sawed-off shotguns that had barrel lengths of less than 18 inches. Defendant argues on appeal that the trial court erred in failing to instruct the jury on an essential element of the offense: that he knew the physical characteristics of the shotguns that made them unlawful. We conclude, however, that the General Assembly intended that possession of the weapon alone — as…