The Columbian reported earlier today two men who spent almost 20 years in prison will paid over $10 million after being wrongfully convicted of rape in Clark County, Washington back in 1993. Also newsworthy is the fact the county is taking out a $10 million dollar loan to pay the settlement. According to the article, the county has 30 days to pay the settlement. Settlement was reached 9 days into a jury trial in U.S. District Court in Tacoma.
Former Clark County Sheriff’s Deputy Don Slagle was the lead detective on the case. Slagle retired from the county in 2006. The report indicates Slagle had been disciplined 16 times and was the subject of more than three dozen internal affairs investigations. For Slagle’s efforts the county paid $426,000 to settle claims and medical bills to people who’d had encounters with Slagle.
To the read the Columbian article in its entirety click here.
