A routine courthouse visit in Cincinnati ended with an arrest after a woman allegedly walked into a building that houses a courtroom with a 9mm handgun and a glass pipe used for narcotics tucked inside her purse. Court records say she was booked on weapons and paraphernalia charges, adding another incident to ongoing worries about keeping guns and contraband out of public court buildings.
What The Court Papers Say
According to court documents reviewed by WKRC Local 12, the suspect is identified as Shanise Howard. The filings state that Howard "entered a building where a courtroom is located" carrying a purse that held a 9mm handgun and a glass pipe identified as drug paraphernalia, and that she knew both items were inside the bag. The records say she was arrested and charged with illegal conveyance of a deadly weapon into a courthouse, having weapons under disability, and possession of paraphernalia.
Charges And The Law
State law specifically bars bringing deadly weapons into courthouses. Under Ohio Revised Code, the illegal conveyance or possession of a deadly weapon in a courthouse is a felony offense, typically charged as a fifth‑degree felony that can be elevated for repeat offenders. Separately, Justia describes Section 2923.13, the “having weapons while under disability” statute, which prohibits people with certain disqualifying histories, including prior felony drug convictions, from possessing firearms. That offense is classified as a third‑degree felony.
Courthouse Screening And Security
Court buildings rely heavily on front‑door security to keep weapons out of courtrooms. The Supreme Court of Ohio visitor screening policy instructs guests to send bags and purses through X‑ray machines and walk through magnetometers before they can enter. The goal is to intercept firearms and other contraband before they ever reach a courtroom, though officials routinely acknowledge that no screening setup catches everything.
What Happens Next
Howard was arrested and booked, and her arraignment along with future court dates and motions will be recorded in the county docket and made available through the Hamilton County clerk’s public search system. If she is convicted, the charges carry potential prison time under Ohio’s sentencing rules. A violation of Section 2923.123 is generally treated as a fifth‑degree felony, while a conviction under Section 2923.13 is a third‑degree felony with a higher sentencing range, as outlined in the Ohio Revised Code. The Hamilton County Clerk of Courts will update the public record as new filings are made in the case.
