State police chief's son pleads not guilty in Barnstable to charges of improper gun storage
BARNSTABLE— Flanked by a Barnstable police officer, Reid Mason, son of state police Superintendent Christopher Mason, left Barnstable District Court on Wednesday after pleading not guilty to five charges of improperly stored weapons.
Mason, 22, was charged with improperly storing five guns — one semi-automatic rifle and four semi-automatic handguns — after two plainclothes officers found him on Feb. 28 slumped over the driver's side of his black Jeep Wrangler in the North Street parking lot in Hyannis.
Five guns reported found in car
The two officers observed Mason was extremely disoriented, and the officers were overwhelmed by the smell of alcohol coming from the car, according to the police report.
The officers said the car engine was not running, and Mason was not driving.
Mason told the officers he did not need medical help and was just sleeping in his car. Officers found the five guns in the passenger seat, as well as ammunition in two backpacks in the backseat, according to the report.
Previous coverage: State police chief's son faces charge of improper weapons storage after hearing in Barnstable
Officers noted in their report only four of the five firearms found in Mason's car were registered to him.
The officers took away the firearms, and his firearm license was suspended pending a review by the police department, according to the report.
A family member drove Mason home that night, the report stated. The family member was not identified in the report.
On March 2, Barnstable police officers took away the last of Mason's guns from his West Barnstable home.
Mason was released Wednesday without bail and ordered not to possess firearms or a firearm identification card.
Outside judge, prosecutor brought in for case
A judge and prosecutor from outside the Cape and Islands were brought in for the case — Judge Daniel O'Malley from Stoughton District Court and Gabrielle Foote-Clark from the Essex County District Attorney's Office.
Lawrence District Court Clerk-Magistrate Keith McDonough was also brought in for the show cause hearing on May 24.
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Barnstable police did not respond immediately Wednesday to a request for comment on why Mason was escorted by a Barnstable police officer to his car.
Peter Lloyd, the attorney representing Mason, declined to comment on the day's proceedings.
Foote-Clark declined to comment as well.
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Under Massachusetts law, in the case of a firearm, an improper weapons storage charge can carry a fine of anywhere from $1,000 to $7,500 and/or imprisonment up to 1 1/2 years.
A pre-trial hearing is scheduled for Sept. 15 at 11 a.m. at Barnstable District Court.
Sarah Carlon can be reached at: scarlon@capecodonline.com or on Twitter: @sarcarlon
This article originally appeared on Cape Cod Times: Reid Mason pleads not guilty to charges of improper gun storage
