Carfield v. State

The major legal issue raised in this appeal is the constitutionality of Wyomings statute which makes it a felony for persons who have previously pleaded guilty to or been convicted of certain felonies to use or possess any firearm. With respect to this statute the appeal also presents questions of judicial legislation accomplished by means of instructions given to the jury, and federal preemption. This appeal also raises a question relating to the sufficiency of the evidence of mental competency in connection with convictions of two counts of drawing a dangerous weapon. After verdicts of guilty were returned following two separate trials to juries, the appellant was sentenced to pay a fine of $500 on each of the counts of drawing a dangerous weapon, and in addition he was sentenced to two consecutive terms of six months to be served in the Sheridan County Jail. The judgment and sentence of the court provided that with respect to the count of a felon in possession of a firearm the defendant should be fined $1000, and should be confined in the State Penitentiary for not less than three nor more than five years following the completion of his terms of confinement in the Sheridan County Jail. We shall affirm the appellants convictions and the judgment and sentence.