People v. Pilotti

OPINION OF THE COURT

Richard Lee Price, J.

*119ISSUE

Whether a bifurcated Grand Jury proceeding obviates the need for a limiting instruction in a case where the People must introduce defendant’s prior criminal record to establish an element of the crime.

STATEMENT OF FACTS

Defendant stands indicted for the crime of criminal possession of a weapon in the third degree (Penal Law § 265.02 [1]) which provides as follows: "A person is guilty of criminal possession of a weapon in the third degree when * * * [h]e commits the crime of criminal possession of a weapon in the fourth degree as defined in…