Rapper Accused of Making Threats Against Neighbors

Grammy-winning rapper “Flesh-N-Bone” was charged Thursday with making terrorist threats against his Chatsworth neighbors, who are key witnesses against him in an earlier criminal case.

Stanley Howse, 24, a founding member of the rap act Bone Thugs-N-Harmony, pleaded not guilty and was held in lieu of $284,000 bail after prosecutors argued that he was “a threat to the community.”

In the latest incident, authorities allege that Howse threatened to kill 63-year-old neighbor Steve Gambino and assault Gambino’s wife.

Neighbors complained to police last week about Howse’s alleged use of guns and fireworks, leading to the rapper’s arrest July 4. He was released July 7, and allegedly threatened the Gambinos the next day.

Howse faces at least 15 years in prison if convicted of the new intimidation charges, compared with a maximum of about seven years in the Fourth of July incident, authorities said. In the earlier incident, Howse was charged with firing a shotgun and with possession of an unregistered assault weapon and explosives at his home. He was released after posting $500,000 bail.

The latest incident took place Wednesday evening at his rented hacienda-style home, valued at $600,000. Howse allegedly climbed on the roof of his house and launched into an obscenity-filled tirade.

According to Los Angeles County Deputy Dist. Atty. Robert B. Foltz, Howse “shouted at the top of his lungs, ‘I’m going to buy your house and bury you in the backyard!’ ”

“He showed complete contempt for his neighbors,” Foltz said.

In court Thursday, Foltz stated that Howse has two convictions for domestic violence and the new charges could mean he violated the terms of his probation.

Gambino declined to comment Thursday.

“There was no confrontation, no weapons, some words and a mooning,” said defense attorney Alan Baum, who represented the rapper in court.

“The words are not to be condoned, but they do not rise to the level the district attorney is alleging.”