A lawsuit against former Custer County Deputy Michael Kear has been settled for $700,000 following allegations of excessive force. Kear was accused of tasing and allegedly punching a handcuffed 16-year-old in January 2022.
While the settlement total is significant, the actual cost to Custer County taxpayers is $60,000, which covers the county’s portion of the insurance deductible. According to Jordon Hedberg of the Wet Mountain Tribune, this settlement brings the total lawsuit payouts and early severance costs covered by the Custer County Board of Commissioners to $1.1 million since 2020, with approximately $250,000 coming directly from local taxpayers.
Legal expenses for the county may continue to rise, as two new federal civil rights lawsuits have been filed against the county and the Sheriff’s Office within the past two months.
