Flesh-N-Bone Gets 12 Years

September 22 -- Rapper Stanely Howse — a k a Flesh-N-Bone — of Bone Thugs-N-Harmony was sentenced to 12 years in California state prison today, following his conviction in June for assault with a semiautomatic firearm and being an ex-convict in possession of a firearm.

Howse, whose group won a Grammy in 1997 for their single "The Crossroads," was accused of pulling an assault rifle on Tarrance Vickers on Dec. 26 while Vickers and his brother, Fred Nelson, were visiting the rapper. Howse allegedly whipped a AK-47 out of a baby crib, loaded some ammo, and trained the gun on Vickers before chasing the two men from his apartment.

Howse had faced a maximum sentence of 19 years, but Van Nuys Superior Court Judge Darlene Schempp erred on the side of leniency and opted for a lesser tem, acknowledging arguments entered by the rapper's attorney that his client had suffered "horrendous" abuse as a child that impacted his ability to function in society.

The 27-year-old rap star, who is currently in custody, may end up serving the sentence concurrently with another one that will be handed down next month. Howse pleaded no contest Sept. 13 to illegal possession of a sawed-off shotgun. Authorities seized the firearm during an incident on Jan. 3, when Howse dropped in at a relative's house in South Los Angeles, packing heat.

He is expected to receive a two-year term when Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Marsha N. Revel sentences him on Oct. 24.

These incidents are not Howse's first run-ins with the law. In February 1998, Howse pleaded guilty to assault with a deadly weapon, after attacking a neighbor who complained about shots being fired in July 1997.

As part of his three-year probation — which Howse was still serving during both the December and January incidents — the performer was sentenced to counseling, anger-management classes, and community service.

Howse is slated to release a solo album, 5th Dog Let Loose, in October. No word as to whether his legal headaches will affect that release.