Northeast Ohio judge indicted in assault of wife

CLEVELAND (AP) — The docket of a county judge in Cleveland has been assigned to a former colleague after his indictment in an attack on his estranged wife.

A visiting judge on Tuesday rejected a motion filed by 47-year-old Lance Mason’s attorneys that the Cuyahoga County prosecutor’s office be replaced by a special prosecutor.

Mason is accused of punching and biting Aisha Mason as he drove through a Cleveland suburb earlier this month. The couple separated earlier this year.

A grand jury on Tuesday indicted Mason on three counts of felonious assault, two counts of kidnapping, one count of domestic violence and two counts of endangering children. Police said couple’s two children were in the car when he attacked his wife.

Lance Mason’s attorney did not return calls Wednesday.