Cape court now will open magistrate’s hearing

The clerk magistrate’s hearing on State Police Col. Christopher Mason’s son will be public — but the police report is still under wraps.

The Herald filed an appeal Wednesday with Barnstable District

Court Clerk Chuck Ardito to open up the once-secret hearing and he quickly agreed.

He wrote in an email: “Please be advised that a Magistrate hearing on the application for criminal complaint by the Barnstable Police Department will be conducted on May 24 at 11 (a.m.) here at Barnstable District Court. This hearing will be open to the public.”

As for the police report on the matter, he added: “Any request for release of a police report is denied, as it is premature at this time.”

Reid Mason faces a show-cause hearing to determine if he improperly stored his guns after reportedly being found asleep in his car sleeping off a night out in Hyannis — his guns were in his car.

Cape and Islands District Attorney Michael O’Keefe said in a statement this week his office has “reviewed a matter referred to me by Barnstable Police on Friday, April 29, 2022.”

He was responding to a Herald request for comment about Reid Mason — but the DA did not identify anyone nor any details in his response.

O’Keefe did state that on May 3 he “made a recommendation to the police to apply for a magistrate’s hearing as to whether a complaint should issue with respect to one charge.