PITTSBURGH -- A Pittsburgh woman cleared of shooting and killing a man who stole her stash of crack cocaine was sentenced on Tuesday to 1½ to three years in jail for illegally carrying a gun.

Karena Dorsey had faced a maximum of seven years in jail. The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reported that the 19-year-old Homewood woman apologized on Tuesday and asked for a second chance.

In August, an Allegheny County judge found Dorsey not guilty of homicide, but convicted her of possessing a firearm without a license.

The judge found that Dorsey acted in self-defense when she shot 42-year-old DeWayne Rankin during a confrontation over stolen drugs in Homewood on Sept. 26, 2005.

Dorsey had testified that she confronted Rankin after he stole $750 of her drugs and that she shot him when he came at her in a threatening manner.

The Trib reported that Dorsey was pregnant, suspended from school, working at a Foot Locker and dancing in a strip club at the time of the shooting, in addition to dealing crack in Homewood.

The defense attorney said Dorsey received her general equivalency diploma in jail and wants to attend community college.

"The gun life is made out to be glamorous in music, TV and movies with fancy cars and jewels," Dorsey told Judge Jeffrey Manning. "I take full responsibility. I understand a life was lost. I apologize for this."

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