Rapper Sentenced to 4 Months in Jail

Rapper Stanley “Flesh-N-Bone” Howse was sentenced Thursday to four months in County Jail for violating probation for domestic-violence convictions by beating up a Chatsworth neighbor who had complained about loud music.

But Municipal Court Judge John C. Gunn allowed Howse to remain free until next month so he can finish recording a new album, according to the rapper’s lawyer.

Howse, whose band Bone Thugs-N-Harmony has won a Grammy and an American Music Award, thought he was going to walk away from the charges with no jail time--and he almost did.

The district attorney’s office agreed to probation for him and his brother-in-law for beating, kicking and spitting on 64-year-old Stephen Gambino last June 25 and for illegal fireworks possession on July 4.

Howse pleaded no contest to the felony charges Feb. 6 and was sentenced to three years’ probation.

Alan Baum, Howse’s lawyer, said the arrests were the result of his client’s alcohol abuse problem, for which he has since received treatment.

Superior Court Judge Shari Silver, who presided over the felony case, said she agreed to the probation deal because she thought Howse was sincere in his claim that he had turned his life around.

But there was still the matter of his earlier probation. The city attorney’s office had filed papers accusing Howse of violating probation on five earlier cases at the time that he attacked Gambino. Those convictions involved beating up his then-girlfriend--once when she was three months pregnant with his child--punching her mother and fighting with his brother.

Baum asked for probation Thursday, but Deputy City Atty. Jose Egurbide asked Gunn to jail Howse for the time he had not served for his five misdemeanor sentences, which added up to more than three years.

Baum argued for leniency based on Howse’s vow to turn his life around and because, he said, Gambino baited him when he burst into Howse’s backyard and used racial epithets.

Gambino, who was in court Thursday, stood up several times during Baum’s statement and called him a liar. He was escorted away by a prosecutor. Egurbide said he was surprised Howse received the relatively light sentence of 120 days.

“I know defense counsel made a big pitch that he’s a role model,” Egurbide said. “But is this the proper message considering his status? That a person who has this many probation cases can walk away with a light sentence because of who he is?”

Baum said his client was relieved at the sentence. “Considering what it might have been, he’s grateful. And he won’t let the court down,” Baum said.