The Tarrant County District Attorney’s Office in Texas has requested the state’s highest criminal appeals court to reverse a ruling that overturned Crystal Mason’s voter fraud conviction and five-year prison term for casting an illegal provisional ballot. Mason’s conviction was overturned by the Second Court of Appeals last month, but prosecutors are seeking to reverse that decision. Mason was convicted in 2018 for illegal voting, as prosecutors argued that even though she signed an affidavit affirming that she had completed her sentence, she may not have been aware that being on probation made her ineligible to vote in 2016.
The ACLU of Texas, which has been representing Mason in her case, expressed disappointment in the request for further review of her conviction. Tommy Buser-Clancy, an attorney at the ACLU of Texas, stated that they believe the court of appeals’ decision was well-reasoned and correct, and that it is time for Mason to find peace with her family. Despite the ongoing legal battle, Mason did not give any interviews on Thursday. Her case has garnered attention due to the controversial nature of preventing felons from voting even after they have served their prison sentences.
Crystal Mason, a former tax preparer, had previously been convicted in 2012 for inflating refunds for clients and served nearly three years of a five-year prison sentence. Following her release, she was placed on a three-year term of supervised release and ordered to pay $4.2 million in restitution. The length of Mason’s sentence raised concerns among both Republican and Democratic lawmakers in the state. In 2021, the state House passed a resolution stating that individuals should not face criminal incarceration for making innocent mistakes, in response to cases like Mason’s.
Texas is one of many states that disenfranchise felons even after they have completed their prison sentences, leading to ongoing debates and legal challenges. The passage of a new voting law measure in Texas, which was heavily contested by Democrats, has added to the complexity of the situation. Mason’s case has brought attention to the issues surrounding voting rights for individuals with felony convictions, highlighting the need for clarity and fairness in the legal system. As the legal battle continues, advocates are calling for justice to prevail and for Mason to be granted peace and closure with her family.
