Yarnell Green gets emotional as he asks Magistrate Anthony Sertick Jr. about getting Alexis Schneider out of jail on bond Monday, prior to Green’s arraignment in Youngstown Municipal Court on gun and traffic charges.

YOUNGSTOWN — Alexis Schneider, 23, mother of slain Struthers 4-year-old Rowan Sweeney, was arraigned Monday on improperly handling a firearm in a motor vehicle, having been arrested late Sunday during a traffic stop.

The gun was loaded and reported stolen, according to a police report.

During her arraignment by video from the Mahoning County jail, Magistrate Anthony Sertick Jr. of Youngstown Municipal Court gave Schneider a personal recognizance bond, meaning she did not have to pay anything to be released later Monday.

The driver of the car, Yarnell C. Green, 30, of Youngstown, also was arraigned, but he posted bond earlier Monday and appeared in court in person. Sertick allowed Green to remain free on the bond he posted earlier.

Green pleaded not guilty to misdemeanor charges of driving under suspension and a headlight violation.

Neither Green nor Schneider were required to enter a plea on the weapons charge, on which Schneider and Green will appear for a preliminary hearing March 29.

While out of jail, Schneider will have to follow the conditions set by the municipal court’s pretrial services department, such as reporting to that department periodically.

Green and Schneider were charged with the weapon offense after police found the firearm under the front seat of the car near the center console.

Schneider was in the front passenger seat.

Her son Rowan was shot to death Sept. 21, 2020, in the home in Struthers where he lived with his mother and Green.

Schneider, 23, of Struthers, and Green were both shot at the time Rowan was killed. Two other adults also were shot.

Kimonie Bryant, 23, of Struthers, is charged with aggravated murder in Rowan’s death and attempted murder in the shootings of the four adults.

TRAFFIC STOP

Police said Schneider and Green were extremely nervous and shaking when officers spoke to them after pulling them over at 11:13 p.m. Sunday on the South Side.

Green later told police his cousin gave him the gun last Sept. 25. Green admitted to putting the gun under the seat and said he needs to carry one because he was shot previously.

Schneider said the gun was not hers but she knew that it was in the car.

If convicted of the weapons charge, each could get up to 18 months in prison or probation.

During Schneider’s hearing, Sertick asked about her income to determine whether she qualifies for a free lawyer. Schneider said she is receiving money for a disability to her arm.

Green was emotional while waiting for his hearing to begin and while talking to the magistrate. He asked Sertick if he could get Schneider out of jail by selling his television, but Sertick told him he had already allowed her to leave jail without paying anything.

“Thank you so much,” Green said.

A Youngstown police officer said he spotted Schneider’s car on Cameron Avenue with one operational headlight. The car then turned onto Homestead Avenue and then Pasadena Avenue, then failed to signal as it turned onto East Dewey Avenue, the officer stated in a police report.

The officer turned on his lights and siren, and the car stopped quickly and turned into a driveway on East Dewey. The driver and passenger were both seen reaching toward the center console and moving their arms as if they were shoving something between the seat and center console on the passenger side, the officer stated.

Green appeared to be nervous, and his hands were shaking, as were Schneider’s, the officer stated. Green said his driver’s license was suspended, which officers confirmed, resulting in Green being charged with misdemeanor driving under suspension.

The gun had a bullet in the chamber and additional bullets in the gun’s magazine. The firearm was reported stolen out of Boardman as of January, according to the police report.