CLEVELAND (AP) - A former Cleveland-area judge and state lawmaker has pleaded not guilty to aggravated murder and other charges in the fatal stabbing of his ex-wife.
Lance Mason’s bond was set Tuesday at $5 million.
Messages seeking comment were left for his appointed attorneys, Kevin Spellacy and Thomas Shaughnessy.
Mason was arraigned in Cuyahoga (ky-uh-HOH’-guh) County court, where he was a judge before he was imprisoned nine months for assaulting his then-wife several years ago.
The 51-year-old Mason was arrested after authorities found Aisha (ah-EE’-shah) Fraser dead Nov. 17 at a home in the Cleveland suburb of Shaker Heights. Mason’s sister told a 911 dispatcher that Mason stabbed Fraser.
Authorities say Mason subsequently crashed into a police cruiser as he allegedly fled.
He faces up to life in prison if convicted.
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