NATHANIEL COUSART v. UNITED STATES

STEADMAN, Senior Judge:

Nathaniel Cousart appeals his convictions by a jury of aggravated assault while armed (AAWA) 1 and assault with a dangerous weapon (ADW). 2 He argues that the trial- court committed plain error in its instructions on both counts. We find no plain error. However, we publish this opinion because in instructing on the AAWA count, the trial court closely followed the model instructions in Criminal Jury Instructions for the District of Columbia (5th ed. rev. 2015), 3 but yet, in doing so, left open the possibility of argument for reversal that appellant makes here and others…