YOUNGSTOWN — Though Jerome D. Williams Jr. appeared to understand the details of his plea and sentence Monday on a felonious assault charge, Judge R. Scott Krichbaum thoroughly explained the sentence and a concept the judge said many defendants find baffling.

Williams, 22, pleaded guilty for his role in the shooting of a man April 24 in the parking lot of the Victory Estates apartments on the East Side.

Williams was the passenger in a van driven by the victim, who met up with Williams to buy marijuana, an assistant prosecutor said.

When they arrived at the Victory Estates at around 7 p.m., a third man was waiting. Williams got out of the van, and the third man, known only as “Fredo,” fired a gun into the van, hitting the victim in the leg and hip area, said Assistant Prosecutor Mike Rich. The third man has not been found or charged.

Williams did not shoot the victim, but the gun that was used in the shooting belonged to Williams, said Rich. The shell casings at the scene matched the gun, which was found at Williams’ home, Rich said, adding that surveillance video from the apartments portray what happened.

The victim suffered nerve damage and has a limp, but agreed to prosecutors recommending that Williams get 6 to 7 1/2 years in prison — the sentence Krichbaum handed down. Williams also will be on probation three years after prison. Williams gets credit for 160 days in the Mahoning County jail awaiting trial.

Williams entered his guilty plea by video from the Mahoning County jail, telling the judge: “I didn’t mean to be in the wrong place at the wrong time.”

Before handing down the sentence, the judge told Williams he should be thankful the victim did not die because the penalty then could have been life in prison or even the death penalty.

“You didn’t pull the trigger, but you supplied the weapon. The law is real simple. If you are involved in this, to that extent, you are just as guilty as the guy who pulled the trigger.

“I’d like everybody on the street to understand that. I get people who come in and think they are innocent because they didn’t pull, and that’s a bunch of baloney,” Krichbaum said. “If you’re with the guy who pulls the trigger, and you are acting together, you’re going down. And you should. It’s not some little game. It’s the law and it’s the law for a good reason because it’s exactly … what should happen.”

Krichbaum called the sentence “meager” for a shooting, but he was willing to approve it because the victim approved approved it.

Williams’ attorney, J.P. Laczko, said of Williams: “Basically, this is his first dealings with the criminal justice system.” Laczko said Williams does not drive because he lost an eye using a b.b. gun when he was young.

Laczko said a friend of Williams “for some unknown reason to Mr. Williams … shot into the van.” The video shows who was shooting.