A Houston lawyer faces felony prices for allegedly slipping abortion-inducing medicine into his separated spouse’s drinks after studying about her third being pregnant — which he instructed her “would damage his plans and make him appear to be a jerk.”
Mason Herring, 38, has been indicted by a Harris County grand jury on two felony counts, together with assault of a pregnant particular person, KTRK reported.
The lawyer, founder and managing companion of the Herring Regulation Agency, additionally was slapped with a depend of “assault – pressured induced to have an abortion,” in line with court docket data.
He and his spouse, Catherine Herring, separated earlier this 12 months however had been engaged on their marriage and had been attending counseling when she instructed him she was pregnant with their third little one.
“My understanding is that it wasn’t well-received by (Herring),” Assistant District Lawyer Anthony Osso instructed the information outlet. “That got here out by means of marriage counseling, in addition to by means of textual content messages afterward.”
Herring, who was romantically concerned with a co-worker by then, instructed her the being pregnant “would damage his plans and make him appear to be a jerk,” in line with an affidavit cited by Regulation and Crime.
On the counselor’s suggestion, the couple spent spring break with their youngsters in West Texas, the place Catherine mentioned he “started speaking to her about her hydration” and mentioned she wanted to drink extra.
On March 17, Mason stopped by the home to convey Catherine breakfast and requested if he may convey her some water in mattress, Osso mentioned.
“He says, ‘In the event you don’t accomplish that, I’m not leaving.’ She thought it was odd. She thought the water was cloudy. She questioned him somewhat bit, however, nonetheless, did drink the water, after which he leaves and takes that cup,” he instructed KTRK.
Mason allegedly instructed her the discoloration was the results of the cup or water pipes being soiled.
Catherine then turned severely ailing, experiencing cramps and extreme bleeding, and ended up in a hospital, in line with Osso, who mentioned docs couldn't determine what was incorrect.
However she turned suspicious and commenced refusing his different drinks, together with three that had “an unknown substance” and a bottle of orange juice with a damaged seal, the Washington Submit reported.
Catherine arrange a digicam within the residence, the place Mason was now not dwelling.
On April 20, she invited two individuals over as “witnesses” to Mason’s go to, throughout which he allegedly tried to present her a drink regardless that she already had two drinks.
Catherine instructed investigators that she and her friends noticed “an unknown substance” floating within the drink he gave her.
The next day, she additionally seen a substance in a drink he introduced from a fast-food joint, in line with the affidavit.
“(On April 24), she checks the rubbish cans and finds within the rubbish can a pharmaceutical referred to as Cyrux, which comprises Misoprostol, which is a drug used to induce abortions,” Osso instructed KTRK.
Two days later, surveillance video captured Mason placing a powdered substance right into a glass as he ready one other drink, he mentioned.
Catherine contacted police, who arrested Mason on a warrant on the airport after he arrived from Las Vegas. He was charged with assaulting a pregnant particular person and assault-force induction to have an abortion.
The second cost got here into play after abortions had been outlawed within the Lone Star State. It carries a sentence of two to 10 years behind bars and a nice of as much as $10,000.
No less than two of six water samples Catherine saved had been proven to incorporate Misoprostol, in line with Osso.
“It’s manipulative. It’s premeditated. What we're alleging Mr. Herring did, which we imagine the proof helps, is a fairly heinous act,” he instructed the station.
“To do this to somebody who trusts you, it’s making the most of that belief,” Osso added.
Mason’s legal professional Dan Cogdell instructed KTRK in a press release: “We're conscious that the Grand Jury has returned these prices. That mentioned, we very a lot sit up for our day in court docket and are completely satisfied that we'll prevail in a Court docket of legislation when our time involves defend these allegations.”
Mason was launched on $30,000 bond and is due again in court docket on Dec. 2.
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