The appellant, Pedro D. Garza, was convicted by a jury of several drug-related offenses, possession of a stolen firearm, use of a firearm to commit a felony, and use of a deadly weapon to commit a felony. Garza appeals, contending that the district court erred in, inter alia, determining that the evidence was sufficient to find Garza guilty of the use of a firearm and use of a weapon counts. We conclude that to sustain a conviction for “use” of a weapon under Neb. Rev. Stat. § 28-1205 (Reissue 1995), the State must show that a defendant actively employed the weapon for the purpose of committing the predicate felony. To sustain a conviction for “possession” of a weapon under § 28-1205, the State must show that the weapon was on one’s person or within one’s immediate control, which is the area within which one might immediately gain possession of a weapon, during the commission of the predicate felony. The State failed to show that the weapons in the instant case were actively employed by Garza or that they were on his person or within his immediate control during the commission of a felony. Therefore, we vacate Garza’s convictions for use of a firearm and use of a deadly weapon to commit a felony, and affirm the judgment in all other respects.
I. BACKGROUND
1. Investigation
On July 21, 1995, officers of the Omaha Police Division and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms executed a search warrant at 3911 North 55th Street, a residence owned by Garza. Garza was present at the residence during the search.
The officers seized $360, consisting of 13 $20 bills, from Garza’s person; a .22-caliber pistol, which was found in a bed *755 room closet; and an additional $5,600 in cash. In addition, the officers found a scale; plastic bags, some of which contained trace amounts of methamphetamine; inositol and Fruit Fresh containers; and other miscellaneous items that may be used in drug operations. There was a total weight of approximately 1.2 grams of methamphetamine at the residence.
On May 24, 1996, approximately 10 months later, while Garza was apparently out on bond, officers executed a second search warrant at 8088 Keystone Drive, another residence owned by Garza. Once again, Garza was present during the search. This time, $446 was seized from Garza’s person, which consisted of bills in varying denominations, including two $100 bills. The officers also seized a 9-mm handgun, which was found in the bottom of a bedroom dresser drawer and was identified as stolen; five antique rifles; plastic bags containing trace amounts of controlled substances; inositol; and a police scanner. Approximately 13 grams of amphetamine, trace quantities of methamphetamine and cocaine, and a marijuana cigarette were seized from this residence.
An information was filed against Garza on August 16, 1995, in docket 137 page 552, charging Garza with unlawful possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance. This charge was based on the items seized at the North 55th Street residence. Another information was filed against Garza on June 19, 1996, in docket 139 page 725, charging Garza with another count of unlawful possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance. This charge was based on the items seized at the Keystone Drive residence.
On April 14, 1997, the State requested and obtained leave to amend both informations and to consolidate both informations for trial. The amended information in docket 137 page 552 added two counts: use of a firearm to commit a felony and possession of a firearm by a felon. The amended information in docket 139 page 725 added five counts: two counts of possession of a controlled substance, one for cocaine and another for methamphetamine; possession of a stolen firearm; use of a deadly weapon to commit a felony; and possession of a deadly weapon by a felon. A preliminary hearing was held on the new charges in both amended informations, and the trial court found *756 that probable cause existed to bind Garza over for trial as to each of the additional counts.
2. Trial
On direct examination, the prosecution made reference to Garza’s alleged status as a prior felon while questioning a police officer as to a certified copy of the judgment and sentence from Garza’s alleged prior conviction. The certified copy of the conviction was never received into evidence. On cross-examination of Garza, the prosecution asked whether Garza had been convicted of a felony. Garza denied having been so convicted. The prosecution later attempted to introduce a certified copy of the file, including the judgment and sentence, from Garza’s alleged prior conviction. Defense counsel objected to the admission of the file, arguing that although the name of the person who had been previously convicted was the same, there was no proof such as fingerprints or testimony of a handwriting expert that it was the same “Garza” as the defendant. The trial court sustained defense counsel’s objection and then determined that there was insufficient evidence to support a jury’s finding that Garza was a prior felon. Consequently, the trial court did not submit the possession of a firearm by a felon and possession of a deadly weapon by a felon charges to the jury.
In docket 137 page 552, the jury found Garza guilty of the unlawful possession of a controlled substance (a lesser-included offense of possession with intent to deliver) and use of a firearm to commit a felony. Garza was sentenced to 2 to 4 years’ imprisonment as to the unlawful possession of a controlled substance conviction and 2 to 4 years’ imprisonment as to the use of a firearm to commit a felony conviction, to be served consecutively. In docket 139 page 725, the jury found Garza guilty of unlawful possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance, possession of a controlled substance, possession of a stolen firearm, and use of a deadly weapon to commit a felony. Garza was sentenced to 2 to 4 years’ imprisonment as to the unlawful possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance conviction, 1 to 3 years’ imprisonment as to the possession of a controlled substance conviction, 1 to 3 years’ imprisonment as to the possession of a stolen firearm conviction, and *757 3 to 5 years’ imprisonment as to the use of a deadly weapon to commit a felony conviction, the first and last sentences to be served consecutively, and the remaining two sentences to be served concurrently.
Garza appeals both judgments to this court. On appeal, docket 137 page 552 became case No. S-98-057 and docket 139 page 725 became case No. S-98-058.
II.ASSIGNMENTS OF ERROR
Garza asserts that (1) the consolidation of the two separate informations filed against him for a single trial was prejudicial to his rights pursuant to Neb. Rev. Stat. § 29-2002 (Reissue 1995); (2) prosecutorial references made to the jury regarding Garza’s unproven status as a felon were unfairly prejudicial; and (3) § 28-1205 requires the active employment of a firearm or deadly weapon in relation to the predicate offense in light of the U.S. Supreme Court ruling in
Bailey
v.
United States,
III.SCOPE OF REVIEW
A trial court’s ruling on a motion for consolidation of prosecutions properly joinable will not be disturbed on appeal absent an abuse of discretion.
State
v.
Freeman,
Interpretation of a statute presents a question of law, in connection with which an appellate court has an obligation to reach an independent conclusion irrespective of the decision made by the court below.
State
v.
Torres, ante
p. 380,
IV.ANALYSIS
1. Consolidation
There is no constitutional right to a separate trial.
State
v.
Brunzo,
(1) Two or more offenses may be charged in the same indictment, information, or complaint... if the offenses *758 charged ... are of the same or similar character or are ... constituting parts of a common scheme or plan.
(2) The court may order two or more indictments, informations, or complaints ... to be tried together if the offenses could have been joined in a single indictment, information, or complaint....
(3) If it appears that a defendant . . . would be prejudiced by a joinder of offenses ... in separate indictments, informations, or complaints for trial together, the court may order an election for separate trials of counts, indictments, informations, or complaints, grant a severance of defendants, or provide whatever other relief justice requires.
Thus, the propriety of a joint trial involves two questions: whether there were appropriate grounds for consolidation and whether such consolidation would prejudice the defendant. See State v. Brunzo, supra.
(a) Grounds for Consolidation
Clearly, the two informations in the instant case consisted of offenses of the same or similar character. The information in docket 139 page 725 contained charges equivalent to those included in the information in docket 137 page 552. Although the information in docket 139 page 725 did contain three additional charges, those charges were closely related in subject matter, dealing with the possession of controlled substances and the possession of a firearm; the difference was that the controlled substances were not intended to be delivered and that the firearm was stolen. We conclude that there were appropriate grounds for consolidation.
(b) Prejudice
Having concluded that there were appropriate grounds for consolidation, we must next consider whether the consolidation nonetheless prejudiced the defendant. A defendant opposing joinder of charges has the burden of proving that joinder will be prejudicial to the defendant.
State
v.
Freeman, supra.
A defendant is not prejudiced by the joinder of charges where the evidence relating to both offenses would be admissible in a trial of either offense separately.
Id.; State v. Thompson,
2. Garza’s Status as Felon
Garza next argues that the trial court erred in allowing the prosecution to make reference to his alleged status as a prior felon. Garza urges this court to require that to mention a defendant’s status as a convicted felon, a motion in limine should first be held outside the presence of the jury. Then the court could determine whether evidence concerning a defendant’s alleged status as a felon is admissible prior to its being referenced by the prosecution. The State responds by arguing that the prosecution did not err in attempting to prove Garza was a prior felon, since the State was required to prove as much to convict Garza of the charges of possession of a firearm or a deadly weapon by a felon.
The State is correct in its assertion that evidence of a defendant’s prior felony conviction is admissible to prove one of the elements of possession of a firearm or a deadly weapon by a felon.
State
v.
Perrigo,
We fail to see how these accusations unfairly prejudiced Garza, when the State was required to prove Garza’s status as a felon to convict him of certain charges. In effect, such an accusation and any accompanying prejudice to Garza had already occurred when Garza was charged with possession of a firearm or a deadly weapon by a felon, since, presumably, the jury would have been informed that possession of a firearm or a deadly weapon by a felon was one of the charges it would be asked to decide. Thus, the State’s later repetition of the accusa *760 tion embodied in the charge was merely a reiteration of a charge that the jury had already heard. We conclude that Garza was not unfairly prejudiced by the State’s attempts to prove Garza’s alleged status as a prior convicted felon at trial.
3. Use or Possession of Deadly Weapon
(a) Use of Deadly Weapon
Garza argues that the evidence was insufficient to support his convictions for use of a firearm and use of a deadly weapon to commit a felony. At the outset, we note that Garza’s use of a firearm as alleged in docket 137 page 552 occurred on July 21, 1995. Neb. Rev. Stat. § 28-1205 (Reissue 1989) was amended operative September 9, 1995, to provide a harsher penalty for a conviction of use of a firearm than for use of a deadly weapon which is not a firearm. Thus, Garza’s conviction for use of a firearm as alleged in docket 137 page 552 was prosecuted under § 28-1205 as it existed prior to the 1995 amendment, whereas his conviction for use of a deadly weapon as alleged in docket 139 page 725, which use allegedly occurred on May 24, 1996, was prosecuted under § 28-1205 as it existed after the 1995 amendment. See § 28-1205 (Reissue 1995). However, because the amendment to § 28-1205 is irrelevant to our analysis in the instant case, we proceed under § 28-1205 as amended.
Garza asserts that under § 28-1205, the term “use” means “active employment,” citing
Bailey
v.
United States,
Section 28-1205 states: “Any person who uses a firearm . . . to commit any felony ... or who unlawfully possesses a firearm . . . during the commission of any felony . . . commits the offense of using a deadly weapon to commit a felony.” (Emphasis supplied.)
In
Bailey v. United States,
the Court interpreted 18 U.S.C. 924(c)(1) (1994), a federal statute which in relevant part imposed a term of imprisonment upon a person who “ ‘during and in relation to any crime of violence or drug trafficking crime ... uses or carries a firearm.’ ”
The Court held that § 924(c)(1) “requires evidence sufficient to show an
active employment
of the firearm by the defendant, a use that makes the firearm an operative factor in relation to the predicate offense.”
Bailey
v.
United States,
Having determined that the term “use” requires more than mere possession, the Court addressed what the government must show, beyond mere possession, to establish “use” under § 924(c)(1). The Court noted that the plain meaning of the term “use” implied action and implementation. The Court also noted that if “Congress had intended to deprive ‘use’ of its active connotations, it could have simply substituted a more appropriate term — ‘possession’—to cover the conduct it wished to reach.”
In the instant case, a plain reading of § 28-1205 clearly indicates that the Legislature intended the term “use” to mean more
*762
than mere possession. Section 28-1205 criminalizes both the “use” of a deadly weapon to commit a felony and the “possession” of a deadly weapon during the commission of a felony. If “use” were interpreted coextensively with “possession,” the effect would be to render the term “possession” superfluous. Effect must be given, if possible, to all parts of a penal statute; no sentence, clause, or word should be rejected as meaningless or superfluous if it can be avoided.
State
v.
Robbins,
We are persuaded by the Supreme Court’s reasoning in
Bailey
v.
United States,
The .22-caliber pistol seized at the North 55th Street residence was located in a box in a bedroom closet. The 9-mm handgun seized at the Keystone Drive residence was located in the bottom of a bedroom dresser drawer, and the antique rifles seized at that residence were found in an upstairs bedroom closet. No evidence of the firearm’s active employment was offered by the State.
[T]he inert presence of a firearm, without more, is not enough to trigger [§ 28-1205]. Perhaps the nonactive nature of this asserted “use” is clearer if a synonym is used: storage. A defendant cannot be charged under [the use prong of § 28-1205] merely for storing a weapon near drugs or drug proceeds. Storage of a firearm, without its more active employment, is not reasonably distinguishable from possession.
Bailey
v.
United States,
In
U.S. v. Friend,
Likewise, in the instant case, the State has shown only that Garza stored weapons at residences where he dealt drugs. Thus, the evidence was insufficient to support Garza’s convictions for use of a firearm and use of a deadly weapon under § 28-1205.
(b) Possession of Deadly Weapon
The State argues that even if Garza could not have been found guilty of the “use” of a weapon under § 28-1205, he could have been found guilty of the “possession” of a weapon under § 28-1205, since Garza had constructive possession of the weapons. The State contends that the term “possession” is defined as including both actual and constructive possession, citing several cases involving the possession of narcotics, including
State
v.
DeGroat,
Actual possession is synonymous with physical possession. See
State
v.
Foster,
This court has long held that the term “possession,” as used in the narcotics context, includes both physical (actual) and constructive possession with knowledge of the presence of a drug and of its character as a narcotic. See, e.g.,
State v. Faircloth,
*764
It is a fundamental principle of statutory construction that penal statutes are to be strictly construed.
State
v.
Beethe,
Moreover, to hold that the term “possession,” as used in § 28-1205, includes constructive possession would be manifestly inconsistent with the purpose of § 28-1205. See
State
v.
Ring,
A penal statute is to be construed in the context of the object sought to be accomplished, the evils and mischiefs sought to be remedied, and the purpose sought to be served.
State v. Robbins, 253
Neb. 146,
Because defining the term “possession” to include constructive possession would be inconsistent with the plain meaning of possession and the purpose of § 28-1205, we conclude that the term “possession,” as used in § 28-1205, includes only actual possession. In this context, we define actual possession as including only those weapons on one’s person or within one’s immediate control, which is the area within which one might immediately gain possession of a weapon. See,
Chimel v. California, 395
U.S. 752,
(c) Sufficiency of Evidence
Regardless of whether the evidence is direct, circumstantial, or a combination thereof, and regardless of whether the issue is labeled as a failure to direct a verdict, insufficiency of the evidence, or failure to prove a prima facie case, the standard is the same: In reviewing a criminal conviction, an appellate court does not resolve conflicts in the evidence, pass on the credibility of witnesses, or reweigh the evidence. Such matters are for the finder of fact, and a conviction will be affirmed, in the absence of prejudicial error, if the properly admitted evidence, viewed and construed most favorably to the State, is sufficient to support the conviction.
State
v.
Larsen, 255
Neb. 532,
In the instant case, the .22-caliber pistol was found in a bedroom closet of the North 55th Street house. No controlled substances were found in the closet. No evidence was presented as to whether Garza had actual possession of the firearm at any time while he was in possession of any controlled substances. None of the officers had any idea how long the pistol was at the North 55th Street residence, nor does the evidence indicate how long the controlled substances had been there. Thus, it is pure speculation as to whether the pistol was ever on Garza’s person or within his immediate control while Garza had possession of any controlled substances. Accordingly, we conclude that the evidence was insufficient, as a matter of law, to convict Garza of possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony as alleged in docket 137 page 552.
*767 Likewise, there was no evidence that Garza had gone anywhere near the 9-mm handgun or the antique rifles taken from the Keystone Drive residence while Garza had possession of any controlled substances. The weapons were not located near any controlled substances, and there was no evidence as to how long the weapons or the controlled substances had been at the residence. Although Garza had constructive possession of the 9-mm handgun for purposes of his conviction of possession of a stolen firearm, there is no evidence that he ever had actual possession of it while in possession of controlled substances or otherwise. Once again, one must engage in pure speculation to conclude that the weapons at the Keystone Drive residence were on Garza’s person or within his immediate control during Garza’s commission of a felony. Accordingly, we conclude that the evidence was insufficient, as a matter of law, to convict Garza of possession of a deadly weapon during the commission of a felony as alleged in docket 139 page 725.
V. CONCLUSION
We conclude that the trial court did not err in consolidating the informations against Garza and in allowing the State to attempt to prove Garza was a prior felon. However, the trial court did err in overruling Garza’s motion to dismiss the use or possession of a firearm or a deadly weapon charges due to the insufficiency of the evidence. We vacate Garza’s convictions for use of a firearm and use of a deadly weapon to commit a felony. In all other respects, we affirm the judgment.
Affirmed in part, and in part vacated.
