A Texas man who spiked his wife’s beverages in an attempt to induce an abortion was sentenced to 180 days in jail and 10 years probation.
Mason Herring, a 39-year-old Houston attorney, pleaded guilty Wednesday to child harm and assault on a pregnant person. He was initially charged with felony assault to induce abortion.
Catherine Herring, who has filed for divorce, told the court that the jail sentence was insufficient. She stated that their one-year-old daughter, their third child, was born approximately ten weeks prematurely, has developmental problems, and receives therapy eight times per week.
“I do not believe that 180 days is justice for attempting to kill your child seven separate times,” she added.
Catherine Herring told authorities that in March 2022, her husband began lecturing her about hydration and providing her with water. She claimed she fell seriously ill after drinking from the first foggy cup, which her husband stated could have been caused by a dirty cup or water pipes.
Catherine Herring got concerned and began to decline her husband’s numerous other alcohol offers. She later discovered in the trash packaging a pill containing misoprostol, a medication intended to induce abortion.
She also provided authorities with videos from hidden cameras she set in her home, where her husband no longer lived. Catherine Herring stated one of them showed him pouring a chemical into one of her drinks.
Mason Herring’s attorney, Dan Codgell, described the plea offer and punishment as reasonable.
“It’s a sad situation and Mason has accepted his responsibility,” Cogdell went on to say.