A New Mexico man allegedly kept in filthy solitary confinement conditions and reportedly was denied proper health care has settled his federal lawsuit.
A lawyer for 51-year-old Jerome Gonzales announced Wednesday that his client settled his lawsuit with Otero County for $2.9 million.
Attorney Matthew Coyte said Gonzales suffered from mental illness and was not given proper treatment while in the southern New Mexico county jail.
According to the lawsuit, Gonzales was place in solitary confinement in February 2012 following an arrest for driving with a suspended license. Court documents say county officials let Gonzales' mental state deteriorate to a point would Gonzales would strip naked and cover himself in feces.
Otero County Commissioner Ronny Rardin did not immediately respond to an email from The Associated Press.
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