Attorney for Mason Alexander’s family allegedly crosses the line
By STU CLAMPITT
[email protected]
In what both the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Department and a local attorney this newspaper uses as an expert source are calling an odd and potentially unprecedented case, the attorney for the family of a local teenager who died in a car crash in 2025 is facing felony theft charges for allegedly taking potential evidence from the vehicle involved in the accident.
Former Hamilton Southeastern High School football star Mason Alexander was tragically killed in a car accident on March 1, 2025. On Friday, Feb. 27, 2026, the driver of that car, Trey Williams, filed a plea agreement in that case. You can read more about that at this link.
Masur
James D. Masur II, the attorney retained by Mason Alexander’s mother, Kelly Harris, to protect the family’s interests, now faces a Level 6 felony theft charge for taking the TCB2 (Telematics Computer Control Unit Module) from Jeffery Williams’s 2016 BMW, the vehicle which was driven by Trey Williams in the crash that claimed Alexander’s life.
According to the probable cause affidavit filed on June 13, 2025, by Sgt. Randy Dings of the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Department, roughly one week after the March 2025 crash, Masur contacted Mason Alexander’s uncle, Rahvy Murray, to get Murray’s help entering Miller’s Towing, where the BMW was stored. Attorney Masur had supposedly already tried to get to the vehicle “by going under the fence surrounding the lot” when the towing company was closed.
According to the affidavit, Murray stated that Masur called him wanting him to go with him to the tow yard to obtain the vehicle’s “black box.” Murray stated he at first refused to go and questioned the legality of doing so. Murray stated that Masur assured him that it was okay to do so, and because Masur was an attorney, Murray trusted his legal opinion on the matter and went with him to the tow lot.
With Murray accompanying him, Masur returned to Miller’s Towing during normal hours of operation. After providing a Miller’s Towing employee with ID and documentation showing he was the attorney representing Alexander’s mother, Masur took photos of the vehicle and enlisted the aid of that employee to remove the roof-mounted antenna, the attached TCB2, and its battery from the BMW.
Masur later gave those items, along with other items from the BMW, to Alexander’s mother, Kelly Harris, during a meeting at Masur’s law office. Harris signed a receipt drafted by Masur where she certified that she received three items from Williams’ BMW that were all “retrieved by Rahvy Murray.”
Those items were actually retrieved by Masur, though reportedly in the presence of Murray.
According to the affidavit, Masur claimed he had been in contact with the insurance company and Jim Voyles, the attorney representing the Williams family.
Sgt. Dings spoke with both an insurance adjuster from Liberty Mutual/Safeco Insurance and with Attorney Voyles. Neither they nor any member of the Williams family gave permission to access the BMW or remove anything from it.
According to the affidavit, when asked by Sgt. Dings who gave him permission to take the items off the car and if he had gotten permission from the owner or insurance company, Masur said he thought it was the “junkyard” guy. Masur also claimed that “confirmed” with Sgt. Dings that his actions at the junkyard had been “cleared” by Sgt. Dings.
The affidavit states that Sgt. Dings made no such representation in either of his conversations with Masur or Murray.
This is likely to be a Level 6 felony because, according to the affidavit, the value of the property is at least $750 and less than $50,000. Specifically, the property’s value is estimated by BMW to be $1,753.24, which is based upon the cost to replace the parts if purchased from BMW.
Masur’s jury trial is currently scheduled to begin July 15.
You can read the entire probable cause affidavit at tinyurl.com/MasurPCaffidavit.
Not even the right piece of equipment
The REPORTER
According to the probable cause affidavit filed by Sgt. Randy Dings of the Sheriff’s Department, Masur was trying to take the “black box” from the BMW.
According to the affidavit, Masur “stated that he has done at least one case with a vehicle’s ‘black box.’”
How he obtained other black boxes was not specified.
The TCB2 is not in fact a black box. The TCB2 bridges communication from internal and external sources in some modern vehicles. It enables features including over-the-air updates to vehicle software and remote diagnostics. It does not contain the same information as an EDR (Event Data Recorder), which is commonly referred to as a vehicle’s “black box.” EDRs record data such as throttle, speed, and braking information before and after crashes.
Chief Deputy John Lowes told The Reporter the Sheriff’s Department crash investigation team was not, to the best of his knowledge, able to recover any relevant information on the crash from the vehicle. Such data recovery is done in the field with department equipment.
“I want people to know that when we’re doing investigations, we do it thoroughly,” Lowes said. “When appropriate, if someone has committed a crime, then we proceed to the prosecutor’s office and hope to hold them accountable and ultimately have justice.”
Just because a lawyer said it, that does not necessarily make it legal
By STU CLAMPITT
[email protected]
The Reporter spoke with Attorney Mario Massillamany and Chief Deputy John Lowes from the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Department about issues surrounding this strange case.
Lowes
“It’s definitely an unusual case and I can’t recall a time in my career where we’ve had a case like this,” Lowes said. “I’ve been doing it for about 28 years now. I’m not saying it’s not ever happened, I just don’t recall a case like that. It’s just really quite odd.”
Massillamany, former general counsel for the Marion County Prosecutor’s Office and a current criminal defense attorney who is not involved in the case, also called this situation “very odd.”
“A client relies on you to provide them with the proper legal advice,” Massillamany said. “The fact that [Masur] convinced one of the family members to basically be an accessory to theft with him, and then provided some of this information and data and evidence to the mother, means she could potentially be charged with receiving stolen property. He has put his clients in grave criminal peril by his advice and his actions.”
Massillamany told The Reporter he does not think that outcome is likely because Mason Alexander’s uncle, Rahvy Murray, did exactly the right thing.
Massillamany
“The uncle did the right thing by coming out and telling law enforcement,” Massillamany said. “Looking at the probable cause affidavit, he could tell that this attorney was giving them bad advice and that this attorney was doing something that he [Murray] didn’t believe was right. He did a great job contacting law enforcement and protecting himself by doing that. He and the other family members relied on the legal representation and legal advice from this attorney, and as such, I don’t believe that they should be held liable for anything. They retained his counsel and relied on his advice. Unfortunately, his advice was not accurate, and it’s now alleged to be criminal.”
According to Chief Deputy Lowes, Murray reached out first to the Hamilton County Prosecutor’s Office about this situation. The Sheriff’s Department was then brought in to handle the investigation. Lowes said he also believes neither Mason Alexander’s uncle, Rahvy Murray, nor Alexander’s mother, Kelly Harris, should be in danger of criminal prosecution.
“I can’t say with certainty, but I would say it is unlikely for that to happen because they did reach out for advice,” Lowes said. “They were speaking to attorneys. They thought that seemed legitimate. And then, when they came to the point of believing that maybe it wasn’t right, they reached out to share the information.”
The Reporter was unable to confirm with the Hamilton County Prosecutor’s Office that charges will not be filed against Masur’s clients. A gag order signed on the afternoon of March 4 by the judge in this case prevented the prosecutor’s office from commenting.
In addition to the criminal charges Masur currently faces, he could also lose the right to practice law.
“In Indiana, all attorneys have to adhere to what is called the Indiana Rules of Professional Responsibility,” Massillamany said. “It is a code of ethics that we have to adhere to. From these allegations, this attorney has [allegedly] violated multiple clauses within that code of ethics. He could potentially be facing disbarment due to his actions.”
According to Massillamany, that call for disbarment would come through the Indiana Disciplinary Commission, and the Indiana Supreme Court would determine the penalty.
In addition to stating on record that Murray did the right thing when the family’s attorney allegedly did all the wrong things, both Massillamany and Lowes had the same advice for anyone who thinks they might be in a similar situation.
“I think the lesson is to be careful when you’re getting advice,” Lowes said. “If it doesn’t sound right, then you should question it and maybe seek a second opinion. But more importantly, if you want property or you believe there could be evidence, you should go through the right channels. Do a records request, or, if criminal charges are filed, go through the discovery process to be able to get that information. You can’t take something without someone’s permission. That’s why we’re where we are today – at least that’s what the allegations are.”
Massillamany echoed that advice, if you question the advice of your attorney, especially when it sounds like that advice may be contrary to law, you should get a second opinion.
“They should reach out and try to talk to another attorney, or they should contact law enforcement, depending on the situation,” Massillamany said.
