§ 14‑7.40.  Verdict and judgment.

(a) When an indictment charges a person with a firearm‑related felony as provided by this Article and an indictment also charges that the person is a status offender, the defendant shall be tried for the principal firearm‑related felony as provided by law. The indictment that the person is a status offender shall not be revealed to the jury unless the jury shall find that the defendant is guilty of the principal firearm‑related felony with which the defendant is charged.

(b) If the jury finds the defendant guilty of the principal firearm‑related felony, and it is found as provided in this section that (i) the person committed the felony by using, displaying, or threatening the use or display of a firearm or deadly weapon and (ii) the person actually possessed the firearm or deadly weapon about his or her person, the bill of indictment charging the defendant as a status offender may be presented to the same jury. Except that the same jury may be used, the proceedings shall be as if the issue of status offender were a principal charge.

(c) If the jury finds that the defendant is a status offender, the trial judge shall enter judgment according to the provisions of this Article. If the jury finds that the defendant is not a status offender, the trial judge shall pronounce judgment on the principal firearm‑related felony offense as provided by law. (2013‑369, s. 26.)