YOUNGSTOWN — Cleveland B. Jackson, 24, was sentenced to five to six years in prison Thursday for firing a gun into or at a habitation last New Year’s Eve.

Mahoning County Assistant Prosecutor Rob Andrews told Judge Maureen Sweeney of Mahoning County Common Pleas Court that Jackson apparently was intoxicated and fired a gun. No on was injured and “there was apparently no malice” toward anyone in the apartment building, Andrews said.

Attorney Robert Gardner, who represents Jackson, said there “was no intended victim” and “no intentional action to hurt anyone.”

The gunfire took place at the Plaza View apartments on the city’s East Side.

“I apologize. I take full responsibility for my actions,” Jackson told the judge.

Jackson pleaded guilty Oct. 8 to improperly discharging a firearm into or at a habitation, with a gun specification. Jackson could have gotten up to 11 years in prison. The five to six years was the minimum sentence, Andrews noted.

The sentence is indefinite because the Reagan Tokes law applies. Under Reagan Tokes, the judge selects a minimum sentence and a maximum sentence of an additional 50 percent of the minimum sentence.

Release from prison is presumed to occur at the expiration of the minimum sentence. However, the Department of Rehabilitation and Correction may, under certain circumstances, seek more than the minimum sentence, according to the Ohio Supreme Court.

The DRC also may reduce the minimum sentence by 5 percent to 15 percent for exceptional conduct or an adjustment to incarceration with the approval of the sentencing court.

Charges against a co-defendant, Conovas P. Crawford, 32, of Perry Street in Struthers, are pending before Judge Sweeney.

erunyan@tribtoday.com