He once sat in a courtroom deciding who would go home and who would lose their freedom. But years later, the same justice system he served would turn its full weight against him. And the most chilling part is that he was given a second chance and the outcome was even worse. >> Put your hands up. PUT YOUR HANDS UP NOW. >> Cannot believe I did this. >> You're a vicious liar with no remorse. >> I accept full responsibility for it. I'm ashamed. You deserve the maximum sentence of state request. >> Lance Mason was a former judge, a state lawmaker, and a man deeply embedded in Ohio's legal and political system before the courtroom drama. Mason had built a reputation as someone who understood the law. He served as a judge on the Kyahaga County Court of Common Please, a position that placed him among the most powerful figures in the local justice system. But behind closed doors, another story was forming. In 2014, Lance Mason's name appeared in headlines for a reason no judge ever wants. Authorities responded to a serious emergency involving his wife, Aisha Fraser. A 911 call brought police to the scene. A call that would later become central to the case. >> 91 Shaker. Police emergency. >> Yes. Uh my husband just beat me and threw me out the car. He has my two daughters in the car. >> Where you at? Van Aken Boulevard. >> Yeah. >> And like Avalon. She just threw me out the car. Orange Saturn View 2008. I'm afraid he's going to hurt my daughters. >> Is he with you now or did he drive off? >> She drove off. They're taking me to South Point now. >> Who's taking you to South Point? >> I some nice people in the car stopped. I jumped in. >> Are you in the car now? >> In another person's car. Please find my kids. Are you injured? >> Yes. >> What investigators found that day was enough to trigger a criminal prosecution. >> How's my wife? >> What do you mean how's your wife? Where would wife be? >> She was on She jumped out the car. >> She's okay. >> She's okay. >> All right. >> District and see if they've had any over here. >> Was you know what? >> We'll put him in the This is Cleveland, right? >> Yeah. >> Okay. We'll put him in my car. That way if you guys got to break off, you'll be okay. >> Okay. Mr. Mason, go second car. Okay. >> Mason was arrested and charged and suddenly a man who once ruled from the bench was standing on the other side of it. Prosecutors laid out evidence. The defense argued mitigation. When the verdict came, Mason was convicted. Before the judge handed down the sentence, Mason had this to say. >> I will continue to do whatever is needed to ensure nothing like this happens again. My prayer is that in the future I live a life that will make it possible for Aisha, Audrey, Ava, and all that I've heard to forgive me, and I'm ready to be punished. >> The judge then sentenced him to 2 years in prison with credit that ultimately resulted in 9 months served. Some believed it was appropriate. Others questioned whether a former judge was receiving consideration unavailable to ordinary defendants. Regardless, the court had spoken. After serving his time, Lance Mason was released. And this is where the story takes a turn that still troubles many people today. What no one knew was that the most tragic chapter had yet to be written. In 2018, emergency services received another urgent call. This time, the situation was far more severe. Aisha Fraser was found outside a home with life-threatening injuries. Police responded immediately. During the arrest process, Mason attempted to flee. His effort to escape resulted in a collision with a police vehicle, injuring an officer. That action alone added serious charges to an already devastating case. >> Put [screaming] your hands up now. PUT YOUR HANDS UP. PULL THEM UP. Pull them up. Put your hands up. Put your hands up. Put your hands up. Get out. I got >> I got contact. Put your hands behind your back. Do it now. Get them out. >> Do it. Watch. Watch. Watch. There's anyone else in the house. >> My daughters and my sister. >> Where are they? Are they hurt? >> They're in They're in this bedroom. >> Are they hurt? >> No, not in any way. >> Okay. Where's the weapon? >> They're outside. I use their armor. All right. >> All right. Roll to your side. Let's get you on your feet. >> Stand on our feet. >> Yeah. Okay. Have a seat right here. putting him up. He's just a hindrance. Two people uninjured in there. >> Three people. >> Three people uninjured. >> Yeah. My two daughters and cannot believe I did this. >> Within hours, Mason was in custody. The man who once commanded courtrooms was now facing multiple felony charges, including charges connected to the loss of life. This time, there would be no ambiguity, no second chance, no return to public life. The legal system moved swiftly. Initially, Lance Mason pleaded not guilty. >> Do you understand the charges against you? >> Yes, your honor. >> Do you wish to enter a plea, sir? >> Uh, not guilty. >> Court accepts a plea of not guilty. But as the case moved forward, evidence mounted, legal options narrowed, and reality closed in. Mason eventually changed his plea, he entered a guilty plea, bringing the case closer to its final chapter. >> Mr. Mason, then it were at that point going to ask you how you plead to count one, aggravated murder. >> Guilty. >> How do you plead to count two murder? >> Guilty. How do you plead to count three, Pelonius assault, Alissa Frasier? >> Guilty. >> How do you plead to count four, violating a protection order? >> Guilty, honor. >> How do you plead to count five, grand theft? >> Guilty. >> How do you plead to count six, felonious assault? >> Guilty, honor. >> Court accepts the plea of guilty. Find you guilty with regard to each and every one of those accounts. Your honor, I wish to take responsibility for the crimes I committed. I don't wish to prolong it or delay it or hurt my family or family any more than I have and I and I respect that. >> Before sentencing, Mason addressed the court. His words were measured. He spoke of regret. He spoke of responsibility. He spoke as someone who finally understood the full weight of what the law demands. But the court was not there to reflect on his past status. It was there to determine consequences. >> I'm I accept full responsibility for the horrific act I've done. I'm ashamed of it and you know I'm prepared to be sentenced. >> Thank you. You deserve the maximum sentence of state requests. However, if there is something, anything positive to transpire out of this in the future is for you to make a difference while you are in prison, to help others with your background, to demonstrate a servant attitude. It is for that reason only that after you serve the five years for officer Flint and 30 years for the aggravated murder as part of a life sentence, you will then be eligible to appear before a parole board. I am hopeful that during that period of time with that glimmer of hope that you will take advantage of that and you will in fact make a difference in the lives of those people around you. In summary, the court sentences you to life in prison with proeligibility in 30 years and five years for the felonious assault of officer Flint. Those sentences to be served consecutively. >> The judge imposed a sentence of life in prison with the possibility of parole after 35 years. It was one of the harshest penalties under Ohio law, and it marked the definitive end of Lance Mason's journey through the justice system. No appeal erased it. No position softened it. No former title changed it. This case is not remembered because the defendant was famous. It is remembered because of what it represents. A reminder that legal authority does not grant immunity. Power does not replace accountability. and justice when applied properly does not recognize status. Lance Mason once helped define outcomes for others. In the end, the system defined one for him. If you want to explore more cases where authority meets accountability, watch the next video on your screen because in this courtroom, no one is untouchable.