Rapper Flesh-N-Bone Sentenced to Prison

L O S  A N G E L E S, Sept. 22, 2000 -- Grammy-winning rapper Stanley“Flesh-N-Bone” Howse of Bone Thugs-N-Harmony was sentenced todayto 12 years in prison for assault with an AK-47 rifle and being anex-convict with a gun.

Howse had faced up to 19 years and eight months in prison, butSuperior Court Judge Darlene Schempp gave him the lesser term afterreviewing documents showing the rapper was abused as a child.

“This is one of the worst cases I’ve read in terms of childhoodabuse,” the judge said.

‘I Know I Must Be Punished’ The rapper was convicted by a jury on June 15 of pointing anAK-47 at a man, despite the victim’s own testimony that Howse was afriend and never pulled a gun on him.

Defense attorney Jonathan Kissler, who had asked for a 10-yearsentence, told the judge that his 27-year-old client “sufferedhorrendous childhood trauma, beatings, concussions” that affecthis adult life.

“He loves guns and that’s something that bothers the court,bothers society and bothers himself,” Kissler said.

The lawyer also read a letter to the judge from the rapper.

“I know I must be punished,” Howse said.

Continuous Legal TroublesLast Dec. 26, police found an AK-47, a .223-caliber rifle and a.38-caliber revolver in the suburban Woodland Hills apartment whereHowse was staying.

“I do understand the defendant has mental problems and he’s hada bad childhood,” Deputy District Attorney Shellie Samuels said inarguing for a stiff sentence due to Howse’s penchant for weapons.

“Who he is is a person who loves guns, doesn’t take orders fromcourts and has a propensity for violence,” the prosecutor said.

Howse has been convicted seven times since the mid-1990s ofcrimes ranging from assault to spousal abuse, according to courtdocuments.

In 1994, Howse was convicted of assault and making terroristthreats. He was placed on two years’ probation and sentenced to 30days in jail for violating earlier probation.

That same year, he was convicted of spousal battery and wassentenced to 45 days in jail and two years’ probation and later toanother 60 days for violating probation, according to courtrecords.

After three separate incidents in 1995, Howse was convicted ofspousal abuse or battery and was sentenced to more than two monthsin jail and probation.

Last year, he was sentenced to 49 days, with an additional 42days for violating probation after he pleaded no contest toassault, possessing an explosive device and making a terroristthreat.

On July 4, 1997, a neighbor complained to police about hearinggunshots at Howse’s rented Chatsworth home, and police found ahomemade explosive device and shell casings in Howse’s back yard.

Days later, Howse allegedly threatened to kill the 64-year-oldneighbor.

Howse is a founding member of the group that won a Grammy in1997 for best rap performance for the song “Crossroads.”