A defendant is charged with the crime of being a felon in possession of a firearm. The prosecutor must prove that the defendant was previously convicted of a felony before the day where he possessed the firearm and that he actually possessed a firearm at some point after he was convicted of a felony. The defendant was previously convicted of illegal possession of a firearm, a felony. The defendant wants to enter the following stipulation into evidence: “The parties agree that the defendant was previously convicted of a felony prior to the date in question.” Why does the defendant want to do that? Should the prosecutor agree or not? Why or why not?
