The Fighting Firefighter
John Ryan Mason, a San Luis Obispo fire engineer and paramedic, faced charges of felony assault with great bodily injury and battery with serious bodily injury following his alleged beating of Jory Brigham in the bathroom of Pappy McGregor’s Bar & Grill after a wedding. Mason’s trial concluded with a hung jury leaning eight to four in his favor, and the District Attorney’s Office chose not to retry the case.
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PDFInjured man files lawsuit against SLO firefighter
The man beaten unconscious by a San Luis Obispo firefighter filed a civil lawsuit on May 31. [Tribune] In June 2011, John Ryan Mason, 34, allegedly beat Jory Brigham, 32, unconscious in a bathroom after an eight-month rift stemming from claims the firefighter was having an affair with a local policeman’s wife. Mason had no […]... (Continue Reading)
Rehired SLO firefighter agrees to pay cut
Embattled San Luis Obispo firefighter John Ryan Mason, whom Fire Chief Charlie Hines rehired this week, has agreed to take a pay cut of more than $36,000 and a five-year probationary period. [Tribune] Following a bar bathroom brawl, Mason faced charges of felony assault with great bodily injury and battery with serious bodily injury. But, […]... (Continue Reading)
San Luis Obispo to reinstate Ryan Mason
UPDATE: Councilman Dan Carpenter’s statement on this issue is at the bottom of this article. San Luis Obispo officials have agreed to reinstate embattled firefighter John Ryan Mason. The decision was made by Fire Chief Charlie Hines with the support of Christine Dietrick, the city attorney. Hines noted that Mason has an exemplary record as […]... (Continue Reading)
SLO firefighter fired despite dodging assault conviction
The San Luis Obispo Fire Department fired the fire fighter who recently escaped a felony assault conviction for his role in a bar bathroom brawl. John Ryan Mason, a fire engineer and paramedic, faced charges of felony assault with great bodily injury and battery with serious bodily injury following his alleged beating of Jory Brigham […]... (Continue Reading)
Mason finally free as DA won’t retry case
The District Attorney’s office announced Thursday that it will not retry San Luis Obispo firefighter John Ryan Mason who allegedly assaulted a man in a bar bathroom last year [Tribune]. Mason’s felony assault trial ended last month with a hung jury leaning eight to four in favor of acquittal. In an announcement Thursday, prosecutors indicated […]... (Continue Reading)
Final arguments heard in firefighter fighting case
The fate of San Luis Obispo firefighter John Ryan Mason now rests in the hands of the jury. Defense attorney Chris Casciola and Deputy District Attorney Kristy Imel delivered their closing arguments before a crowded courtroom Monday in the felony assault trial of Mason. Casciola said Mason acted in self-defense when engaged in a bar […]... (Continue Reading)
Firefighter trial attendee threatens district attorney
In an unusual twist, Superior Court Judge Michael Duffy warned attendees at firefighter John Ryan Mason’s trial on Friday that he would not tolerate threats aimed at the prosecuting attorney. Mason is on trial for an alleged felony assault stemming from a 2011 altercation at Pappy McGregor’s with Jory Brigham, a man Mason said did […]... (Continue Reading)
Firefighter’s wife decribes infidelity, supports husband
The wife of San Luis Obispo firefighter John Ryan Mason testified Wednesday that her husband said Jory Brigham was the aggressor, and that he quickly escorted her from Pappy McGregor’s following an altercation in the bathroom. Mason is on trial for felony assault stemming from the altercation that left Brigham with multiple facial fractures, while […]... (Continue Reading)
