A judge approved the settlement in early June, Law360 reports, concluding years of litigation stemming from Antonio Trey Jones' arrest and incarceration in connection with the 1999 death of 11-year-old McKenzie Sessoms in Sampson County, North Carolina.
According to the lawsuit, Jones, who has intellectual disabilities, was separated from his mother and treated like an adult during interrogations, with law enforcement failing to recognize or account for his disabilities. Jones ultimately provided a confession that he later argued was false and coerced.
Jones was jailed for several years while awaiting trial. However, DNA testing later exonerated him, and prosecutors ultimately dismissed the charges.
Under the settlement, approximately $8 million will be paid on behalf of former North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation agent William Brady. Of that amount, $7 million will be funded by Lexington Insurance Co., while the State of North Carolina is expected to contribute $1 million.
The remaining $2 million will reportedly be paid on behalf of Sampson County Sheriff James Thornton, other county law enforcement officials and the Ohio Casualty Insurance Co.
Court documents show that the settlement includes a structured component designed to provide long-term financial support for Jones. Just over $4 million will be used to purchase a structured settlement annuity, while an additional $1 million will be placed into an irrevocable trust.
The trust is intended to provide for Jones' ongoing healthcare, support services and other needs. Court filings indicate that the combination of the annuity and trust arrangements could ultimately generate more than $13 million in benefits over Jones' lifetime.
(Photo credit: Ammentorp Photography/Fotolia)
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