Michigan Compiled Laws

Mich. Comp. Laws § 777.31 (2026)

Aggravated use of weapon; definitions.

✓ current as of July 2026

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THE CODE OF CRIMINAL PROCEDURE

Act 175 of 1927

777.31 Aggravated use of weapon; definitions.

Sec. 31.

(1) Offense variable 1 is aggravated use of a weapon. Score offense variable 1 by determining which of the following apply and by assigning the number of points attributable to the one that has the highest number of points:

(a) A firearm was discharged at or toward a human being or a victim was cut or stabbed with a knife or other cutting or stabbing weapon	25 points
(b) The victim was subjected or exposed to a harmful biological substance, harmful biological device, harmful chemical substance, harmful chemical device, harmful radioactive material, harmful radioactive device, incendiary device, or explosive device	20 points
(c) A firearm was pointed at or toward a victim or the victim had a reasonable apprehension of an immediate battery when threatened with a knife or other cutting or stabbing weapon	15 points
(d) The victim was touched by any other type of weapon	10 points
(e) A weapon was displayed or implied	5 points
(f) No aggravated use of a weapon occurred	0 points

(2) All of the following apply to scoring offense variable 1:

(a) Count each person who was placed in danger of injury or loss of life as a victim.

(b) In multiple offender cases, if 1 offender is assessed points for the presence or use of a weapon, all offenders shall be assessed the same number of points.

(d) Score 5 points if an offender used a chemical irritant, chemical irritant device, smoke device, or imitation harmful substance or device.

(e) Do not score 5 points if the conviction offense is a violation of section 82 or 529 of the Michigan penal code, 1931 PA 328, MCL 750.82 and 750.529.

(3) As used in this section:

(a) "Chemical irritant", "chemical irritant device", "harmful biological substance", "harmful biological device", "harmful chemical substance", "harmful chemical device", "harmful radioactive material", "harmful radioactive device", and "imitation harmful substance or device" mean those terms as defined in section 200h of the Michigan penal code, 1931 PA 328, MCL 750.200h.

(b) "Incendiary device" includes gasoline or any other flammable substance, a blowtorch, fire bomb, Molotov cocktail, or other similar device.

History: Add. 1998, Act 317, Eff. Dec. 15, 1998 ;-- Am. 1999, Act 227, Imd. Eff. Dec. 28, 1999 ;-- Am. 2001, Act 136, Imd. Eff. Oct. 23, 2001 ;-- Am. 2002, Act 137, Eff. Apr. 22, 2002

Notes of Decisions

Cited in 301 cases (74 in the last 5 years), 2002–2026 · leading case: People v. Morson, 685 N.W.2d 203 (Mich. 2004).

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People v. Morson, 685 N.W.2d 203 (Mich. 2004). · cites it 28× “OV 1 and OV 3 OV 1 assesses points for the aggravated use of a weapon, MCL 777.31, and OV 3 assesses points for physical injury to a victim, MCL 777.”

People v. Biddles, 896 N.W.2d 461 (Mich. Ct. App. 2016). · cites it 8× “First, defendant presents a challenge regarding the adequacy of the evidence supporting the court’s scoring of the offense variables (OVs) relative to OV 1, MCL 777.31, OV 3, MCL 777.33, OV 4, MCL 777.”

People v. Hardy; People v. Glenn, 494 Mich. 430 (Mich. 2013). · cites it 5× “He disagreed with the majority’s interpretation of OV 7 and would have held that the “conduct designed” language of OV 7 must be interpreted in light of the other three categories under which OV 7 can be scored and thus must be of the same class as sadism, torture, and excessive…”

People v. Lockridge, 870 N.W.2d 502 (Mich. 2015). · cites it 4× “, MCL 777.31(1) (directing that the OV be scored by “determining which of the following [circumstances] apply and by assigning the number of points attributable to the one that has the highest number of points”); People v Houston, 473 Mich 399, 407 ; 702 NW2d 530 (2005).”

People v. Lange, 650 N.W.2d 691 (Mich. Ct. App. 2002). · cites it 14× “SCORING OF OFFENSE VARIABLE 1 Defendant also argues that the trial court sentenced him on the basis of an inaccurate scoring of offense variable 1, MCL 777.31, and that he is therefore entitled to be resentenced.”

People v. McCuller, 739 N.W.2d 563 (Mich. 2007). · cites it 10× “31(1)(c) (now MCL 777.31[1][d]); 1 point for OV 2 because defendant "possessed or used any other potentially lethal weapon," MCL 777.”

People of Michigan v. Dawn Marie Dixon-Bey, 909 N.W.2d 458 (Mich. Ct. App. 2017). · cites it 3× “However, defendant’s aggravated use of a lethal weapon is contemplated in the scoring of OV 1 (aggravated use of weapon), MCL 777.31, and OV 2 (lethal potential of weapon possessed or used), MCL 777.”

People v. Brooks, 848 N.W.2d 161 (Mich. Ct. App. 2014). · cites it 13× “” MCL 777.31(1). See also People v Morson, 471 Mich 248, 256 ; 685 NW2d 203 (2004).”

People v. Libbett, 650 N.W.2d 407 (Mich. Ct. App. 2002). · cites it 10× “31(l)(a)-(e) and then to assess the same number of accurately scored points to multiple offenders in the same case under MCL 777.”

People v. Bosca, 871 N.W.2d 307 (Mich. Ct. App. 2015). · cites it 4× “] MCL 777.31 governs the scoring of OV 1 and pertains to the aggravated use of a weapon.”

People v. Babcock, 666 N.W.2d 231 (Mich. 2003). · cites it 2× “§ 777.31, that the defendant stabbed his victim probably could not constitute a substantial and compelling reason to justify a departure because the Legislature has already determined what effect should be given to the fact that a defendant has stabbed his victim and the courts…”

People v. Odom, 740 N.W.2d 557 (Mich. Ct. App. 2007). · cites it 3× “5 MCL 777.31. 6 MCL 777.31(l)(b). 7 MCL 777.”

Show all 301 citing cases →

— Mich. Comp. Laws § 777.31(1) — 81 cases

People v. Lockridge, 870 N.W.2d 502 (Mich. 2015). “, MCL 777.31(1) (directing that the OV be scored by “determining which of the following [circumstances] apply and by assigning the number of points attributable to the one that has the highest number of points”); People v Houston, 473 Mich 399, 407 ; 702 NW2d 530 (2005).”

People v. Morson, 685 N.W.2d 203 (Mich. 2004). “OV 1 and OV 3 OV 1 assesses points for the aggravated use of a weapon, MCL 777.31, and OV 3 assesses points for physical injury to a victim, MCL 777.”

People v. Jackson, 790 N.W.2d 340 (Mich. 2010).

People v. Brooks, 848 N.W.2d 161 (Mich. Ct. App. 2014). “” MCL 777.31(1). See also People v Morson, 471 Mich 248, 256 ; 685 NW2d 203 (2004).”

People v. Wilson, 652 N.W.2d 488 (Mich. Ct. App. 2002).

— Mich. Comp. Laws § 777.31(1)(a) — 78 cases

People v. Smith, 754 N.W.2d 284 (Mich. 2008).

People v. Biddles, 896 N.W.2d 461 (Mich. Ct. App. 2016). “First, defendant presents a challenge regarding the adequacy of the evidence supporting the court’s scoring of the offense variables (OVs) relative to OV 1, MCL 777.31, OV 3, MCL 777.33, OV 4, MCL 777.”

People v. Lowery, 673 N.W.2d 107 (Mich. Ct. App. 2003).

People of Michigan v. William Russell Williams (Mich. Ct. App. 2019).

— Mich. Comp. Laws § 777.31(1)(b) — 25 cases

People v. Wilson, 652 N.W.2d 488 (Mich. Ct. App. 2002).

People of Michigan v. Breanna Lynn Coger (Mich. Ct. App. 2025).

People of Michigan v. Kenneth Daniel Brunke (Mich. Ct. App. 2018).

People of Michigan v. Christopher Louis Sindone (Mich. Ct. App. 2019).

— Mich. Comp. Laws § 777.31(1)(c) — 78 cases

People v. McCuller, 739 N.W.2d 563 (Mich. 2007). “31(1)(c) (now MCL 777.31[1][d]); 1 point for OV 2 because defendant "possessed or used any other potentially lethal weapon," MCL 777.”

People v. Brooks, 848 N.W.2d 161 (Mich. Ct. App. 2014). “” MCL 777.31(1). See also People v Morson, 471 Mich 248, 256 ; 685 NW2d 203 (2004).”

People v. Young, 740 N.W.2d 347 (Mich. Ct. App. 2007).

People of Michigan v. Roberto Marcello Dupree (Mich. 2023).

— Mich. Comp. Laws § 777.31(1)(c)(e) — 1 case

People of Michigan v. Angell Domonique Jackson (Mich. Ct. App. 2020).

— Mich. Comp. Laws § 777.31(1)(d) — 33 cases

People v. McCuller, 739 N.W.2d 563 (Mich. 2007). “31(1)(c) (now MCL 777.31[1][d]); 1 point for OV 2 because defendant "possessed or used any other potentially lethal weapon," MCL 777.”

People v. McCuller, 715 N.W.2d 798 (Mich. 2006).

People of Michigan v. Breanna Lynn Coger (Mich. Ct. App. 2025).

People of Michigan v. Jivonnie Ramone Jones (Mich. Ct. App. 2019).

Garza 349645 v. Brown (W.D. Mich. 2020).

— Mich. Comp. Laws § 777.31(1)(e) — 31 cases

People v. Young, 740 N.W.2d 347 (Mich. Ct. App. 2007).

People of Michigan v. Smokey Dee Crutcher-Bey (Mich. Ct. App. 2016).

People of Michigan v. Joshua Tykrie Jones (Mich. Ct. App. 2023).

People of Michigan v. Loree Keith Williams (Mich. Ct. App. 2015).

— Mich. Comp. Laws § 777.31(1)(f) — 6 cases

People of Michigan v. Clarence Jovan Davison (Mich. Ct. App. 2016).

People of Michigan v. Christopher Louis Sindone (Mich. Ct. App. 2019).

People of Michigan v. Mario Willis (Mich. Ct. App. 2020).

20250212_C367184_42_367184.Opn.Pdf (Mich. Ct. App. 2025).

People of Michigan v. Andrew Carlos Wright (Mich. Ct. App. 2014).

— Mich. Comp. Laws § 777.31(2) — 1 case

— Mich. Comp. Laws § 777.31(2)(a) — 7 cases

People v. Laidler, 817 N.W.2d 517 (Mich. 2012).

People of Michigan v. Terell Mandel Ashford (Mich. Ct. App. 2018).

People of Michigan v. Michael Marko Katranis (Mich. Ct. App. 2017).

People of Michigan v. Christopher Louis Sindone (Mich. Ct. App. 2019).

— Mich. Comp. Laws § 777.31(2)(b) — 39 cases

People v. Libbett, 650 N.W.2d 407 (Mich. Ct. App. 2002). “31(l)(a)-(e) and then to assess the same number of accurately scored points to multiple offenders in the same case under MCL 777.”

People v. Gloster, 880 N.W.2d 776 (Mich. 2016).

People v. Hunt, 810 N.W.2d 588 (Mich. Ct. App. 2010).

People v. Johnston, 732 N.W.2d 531 (Mich. 2007).

— Mich. Comp. Laws § 777.31(2)(c) — 4 cases

People of Michigan v. Smokey Dee Crutcher-Bey (Mich. Ct. App. 2016).

People of Michigan v. Matthew Morris Baker (Mich. Ct. App. 2016).

People of Michigan v. Angell Domonique Jackson (Mich. Ct. App. 2020).

People of Michigan v. Darrell Antoin Winters (Mich. Ct. App. 2015).

— Mich. Comp. Laws § 777.31(2)(d) — 1 case

People of Michigan v. Broderick David Savage (Mich. Ct. App. 2019).

— Mich. Comp. Laws § 777.31(2)(e) — 24 cases

People v. Hardy; People v. Glenn, 494 Mich. 430 (Mich. 2013). “He disagreed with the majority’s interpretation of OV 7 and would have held that the “conduct designed” language of OV 7 must be interpreted in light of the other three categories under which OV 7 can be scored and thus must be of the same class as sadism, torture, and excessive…”

People v. Underwood, 750 N.W.2d 612 (Mich. Ct. App. 2008).

People v. Greene, 730 N.W.2d 478 (Mich. 2007).

20250212_C367184_42_367184.Opn.Pdf (Mich. Ct. App. 2025).

People of Michigan v. Joshua Tykrie Jones (Mich. Ct. App. 2023).

— Mich. Comp. Laws § 777.31(3)(a) — 4 cases

People v. Odom, 740 N.W.2d 557 (Mich. Ct. App. 2007). “5 MCL 777.31. 6 MCL 777.31(l)(b). 7 MCL 777.”

People of Michigan v. Breanna Lynn Coger (Mich. Ct. App. 2025).

People of Michigan v. Broderick David Savage (Mich. Ct. App. 2019).

People of Michigan v. Breanna Lynn Coger (Mich. Ct. App. 2025).

— Mich. Comp. Laws § 777.31(3)(b) — 11 cases

People of Michigan v. Bobby Fomby (Mich. Ct. App. 2017).

People of Michigan v. Christopher Louis Sindone (Mich. Ct. App. 2019).

People of Michigan v. Scott Weston Esch (Mich. Ct. App. 2026).

People of Michigan v. Michael Marko Katranis (Mich. Ct. App. 2017).

— Mich. Comp. Laws § 777.31(c) — 4 cases

People of Michigan v. Demetrius Alexander Mitchell (Mich. Ct. App. 2018).

People of Michigan v. Taiwan Prater (Mich. Ct. App. 2015).

People of Michigan v. Kevin David Hawley (Mich. Ct. App. 2015).

— Mich. Comp. Laws § 777.31(d) — 3 cases

People of Michigan v. Christian Lee Mitchell (Mich. Ct. App. 2024).

People of Michigan v. Breanna Lynn Coger (Mich. Ct. App. 2025).

— Mich. Comp. Laws § 777.31(e) — 1 case

People of Michigan v. Christian Lee Mitchell (Mich. Ct. App. 2024).

— Mich. Comp. Laws § 777.31(l)(a) — 6 cases

People v. Bosca, 871 N.W.2d 307 (Mich. Ct. App. 2015). “] MCL 777.31 governs the scoring of OV 1 and pertains to the aggravated use of a weapon.”

People v. Libbett, 650 N.W.2d 407 (Mich. Ct. App. 2002). “31(l)(a)-(e) and then to assess the same number of accurately scored points to multiple offenders in the same case under MCL 777.”

People v. Lowery, 673 N.W.2d 107 (Mich. Ct. App. 2003).

— Mich. Comp. Laws § 777.31(l)(b) — 5 cases

People v. Odom, 740 N.W.2d 557 (Mich. Ct. App. 2007). “5 MCL 777.31. 6 MCL 777.31(l)(b). 7 MCL 777.”

People v. Libbett, 650 N.W.2d 407 (Mich. Ct. App. 2002). “31(l)(a)-(e) and then to assess the same number of accurately scored points to multiple offenders in the same case under MCL 777.”

People v. Wilson, 652 N.W.2d 488 (Mich. Ct. App. 2002).

People v. Blunt, 761 N.W.2d 427 (Mich. Ct. App. 2009).

People v. Gary, 849 N.W.2d 414 (Mich. Ct. App. 2014).

— Mich. Comp. Laws § 777.31(l)(c) — 6 cases

People v. Lange, 650 N.W.2d 691 (Mich. Ct. App. 2002). “SCORING OF OFFENSE VARIABLE 1 Defendant also argues that the trial court sentenced him on the basis of an inaccurate scoring of offense variable 1, MCL 777.31, and that he is therefore entitled to be resentenced.”

People v. Brooks, 848 N.W.2d 161 (Mich. Ct. App. 2014). “” MCL 777.31(1). See also People v Morson, 471 Mich 248, 256 ; 685 NW2d 203 (2004).”

People v. McCuller, 739 N.W.2d 563 (Mich. 2007). “31(1)(c) (now MCL 777.31[1][d]); 1 point for OV 2 because defendant "possessed or used any other potentially lethal weapon," MCL 777.”

People v. Harverson, 804 N.W.2d 757 (Mich. Ct. App. 2010).

People v. Stokes, 877 N.W.2d 752 (Mich. Ct. App. 2015).

— Mich. Comp. Laws § 777.31(l)(d) — 6 cases

People v. Chelmicki, 850 N.W.2d 612 (Mich. Ct. App. 2014).

People v. McCuller, 739 N.W.2d 563 (Mich. 2007). “31(1)(c) (now MCL 777.31[1][d]); 1 point for OV 2 because defendant "possessed or used any other potentially lethal weapon," MCL 777.”

People v. Libbett, 650 N.W.2d 407 (Mich. Ct. App. 2002). “31(l)(a)-(e) and then to assess the same number of accurately scored points to multiple offenders in the same case under MCL 777.”

People v. Hutcheson, 865 N.W.2d 44 (Mich. Ct. App. 2014).

— Mich. Comp. Laws § 777.31(l)(e) — 4 cases

People v. Brooks, 848 N.W.2d 161 (Mich. Ct. App. 2014). “” MCL 777.31(1). See also People v Morson, 471 Mich 248, 256 ; 685 NW2d 203 (2004).”

People v. Young, 740 N.W.2d 347 (Mich. Ct. App. 2007).

People v. Uphaus, 737 N.W.2d 519 (Mich. Ct. App. 2007).

— Mich. Comp. Laws § 777.31(l)(f) — 1 case

People v. Brooks, 848 N.W.2d 161 (Mich. Ct. App. 2014). “” MCL 777.31(1). See also People v Morson, 471 Mich 248, 256 ; 685 NW2d 203 (2004).”

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