Q: Can a conviction be remanded being the charges did not merge even though it was in the same commission with a weapon
Aggravated Assault two counts and Aggravated Battery being the worst, since the victim was struck with a machete on the head and used their arm to block another blow rendering it useless in the same commission. Convicted on every injury towards the victim and sentences to consecutive 20 year terms when it was one criminal transaction
A: If the convictions stemmed from one succinct criminal transaction and all against the same victim, then the aggravated assault convictions should have merged with the aggravated battery conviction for sentencing purposes. See Regent v. State, 299 Ga. 172, 787 S.E.2d 217 (Ga. 2016). However, note that aggravated battery, standing alone, has a statutory penalty of 20 years.
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