Lance Mason, Former Cuyahoga County Judge, Pleads Guilty to the Murder of His Wife, Aisha Fraser

CLEVELAND – Former Cuyahoga County Judge, Lance Mason, pleaded guilty to several counts, including murder, for stabbings on the death of his ex-wife, Aisha Fraser, at his preliminary hearing before the Cuyahoga County Court of Appeal on Tuesday.

Mason pleaded guilty under the following charges: aggravated murder, two counts of criminal assault, murder, violation of a protection order and theft in connection with the November 17 incident 2018, when he allegedly stabbed Fraser while she was filing the couple's children. in a Shaker Heights home.

During his preliminary hearing, Mason told the court: "I wish to take responsibility for the crimes I have committed."

He added, "I absolutely could not let my daughter testify against me."

Cuyahoga County Attorney Mike O 'Malley told a group of reporters outside the courtroom that there were crimes that shocked the conscience and that "This one was definitely one of them".

"I went out that day and we do not see a lot of crime scenes like that, and that day I knew the only solution would be to plead guilty to the indictment." Was his goal, he was going to kill her that morning, "said O Malley.

When asked O'Reilly if he was considering proposing reduced fees in this case, he answered without hesitation "never".

"It is an individual who has manifestly serious problems.Any human being able to do what he has done to his ex-wife and in front of his children is a very troubled and sick human being," he said. O & # 39; Malley. I said.

Judge John G. Haas accepted Mason's guilty plea and scheduled his conviction for September 12 at 1 pm

Lynn Mason, Lance's sister, called 911 that day to announce that her brother was attacking his ex-wife. She said that she thought that weapons could be involved and told the dispatch that she was inside with her daughters.

"He stabbed her and she died," Lynn Mason told the dispatch. During the calls, Mason's and Fraser's children can hear sobs.

Before the death of his ex-wife, Mason was suspended from his law profession after attacking Fraser in front of their children while they were returning from the funeral of a family member on August 2 2014, according to court documents. Mason was sentenced to two years in prison for this attack, but a judge released him after serving only nine months.

O 'Malley said that he was trying to convince a judge, when sentencing, that he was convinced that Mason should never walk the streets again.

"My goal is never to get out of jail," said the prosecutor. "I hope he'll spend the rest of his life in a prison cell, thinking every day of his day that he's done to destroy his family."

After the attack, Fraser filed for divorce, which was finalized on November 12, 2015. On the same day, the Ohio Supreme Court made a disabling order to exercise her judicial duties .

On September 1, 2015, the Ethics Committee sent an opinion to the Ohio Supreme Court, which in turn ordered the temporary suspension of Mason's legal license, according to the court's records.

RELATED:

What we know about the death of Aisha Fraser and the arrest of ex-judge Lance Mason

Resources on domestic violence

CENTER OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND DEFENSE OF CHILDREN

24-hour hotline on domestic violence: 216-391-HELP (4357

24-hour Family Helpline: 216-391-4357

National Telephone Line Against Family Violence: 1-800-799-7233.

Read and see more information on domestic violence in News 5 here.