Wyoming Paid $1.25M To Man Cleared of Murder

CHEYENNE, Wyo. (AP) — Wyoming government agencies paid $1.25 million last month to settle a federal lawsuit brought by a Montana man who was cleared of a murder conviction.

The state recently entered a confidential settlement with Troy Willoughby of Wickes, Mont.

Payment records obtained by The Associated Press show the state paid $625,000 in the settlement. The Local Government Liability Pool paid another $625,000.

Willoughby was convicted in 2010 in the 1984 killing of Lisa Ehlers. Willoughby was granted a new trial after Sublette County Attorney Neal Stelting announced in 2011 that county officials had failed to disclose possibly exculpatory evidence to Willoughby's attorneys.

Willoughby was acquitted at his second trial. He served three years in custody before he was released.

Wyoming Attorney General Peter Michael has declined comment on the settlement.