YOUNGSTOWN — A woman was sentenced Wednesday to one year of probation for her part in a non-fatal shooting last year.

Markeisha Howard, 33, of Youngstown, pleaded guilty May 22 to one count of unlawful transaction in weapons, a fourth-degree felony. In exchange, the Mahoning County Prosecutor’s Office dropped a charge of complicity in the commission of an offense.

In Ohio, that means a person is effectively charged with the same offense as their co-defendant, whether the primary crime was a misdemeanor or a felony.

In Howard’s case, her co-defendant, Derrick Gabriel, 36, of Campbell, pleaded guilty June 2 to being a felon in possession of a firearm. The prosecutor’s office dropped a charge of felonious assault, a gun specification and a specification of notice of a prior conviction for a 2012 aggravated burglary and repeat violent offender specification for the burglary.

Last week, Mahoning County Common Pleas Court Judge Maureen Sweeney sentenced Gabriel to two years in prison — six months more than what the prosecutor’s office requested.

Howard, as part of her plea agreement, cooperated fully with the investigation and prosecution of Gabriel.

Howard told prosecutors that she purchased the gun for Gabriel, which he used during a Feb. 18, 2024 incident, when he shot at the vehicle of another woman with whom he has children.

In both cases, Howard and Gabriel said they had reason to fear for their safety — and the safety of Gabriel’s children and his mother — because of the woman’s behavior.

Gabriel told the court he felt he had no choice but to carry the gun for protection. Howard said she knew he was not allowed to own a gun so she bought it for him to carry.

Retired Trumbull County Judge Wyatt McKay sat in for Sweeney on Wednesday. He imposed one year of probation, per the request of Mahoning County Assistant Prosecutor Jen Paris, which he told Howard will involve no more than basic supervision.

However, McKay also reserved a 12-month prison term, should Howard violate her probation.

Howard, who had no criminal record prior to this case, made a very brief statement:

“I just want to apologize to the court and to my family for my actions, and it will not happen again,” she said.