Texas Lawyer Sentenced for Poisoning Pregnant Wife with Abortion Medication

Mason Herring, a 39-year-old attorney from Texas, was sentenced to 180 days in jail after pleading guilty to administering abortion medication to his pregnant wife without her consent, according to NBC News. This sentencing followed allegations that Herring had attempted to terminate his wife’s pregnancy by secretly adding abortion pills to her drinks on multiple occasions.

The incident has raised significant concerns regarding the welfare of the couple’s now 1-year-old daughter, who, according to Catherine Herring, the estranged wife, suffers from developmental delays requiring extensive therapy. Catherine voiced her dissatisfaction with the court’s decision, arguing that the 180-day jail term did not equate to justice for the repeated attempts to end the life of their unborn child.

The case unfolded when Catherine, during a period of separation from Mason but still attending couples counseling, disclosed her pregnancy. Mason’s reaction, as described in the police complaint, was notably adverse, expressing through text messages his discontent and concern over how the pregnancy would affect his personal plans and public image.

Subsequently, Mason allegedly embarked on a calculated attempt to induce a miscarriage by lacing Catherine’s drinks with misoprostol, a medication used for abortion. Despite his initial denials, evidence from video surveillance installed by Catherine played a crucial role in unveiling Mason’s actions.

Under a plea agreement, Mason Herring was charged with injury to a child and assault of a pregnant person, leading to his current sentence, which also includes 10 years of probation and a prohibition on contacting his estranged wife and daughter. Mason’s attorney, Dan Cogdell, described the sentence as reasonable, highlighting Mason’s acceptance of responsibility for his actions.