ray krone who was framed by the phoenix police for murder and spent 11 years in prison will get $722,000 from maricopa county. a measly $65,000 for each year in jail. Original Article County to pay nearly $1.6M to settle lawsuits By Gary Grado, Tribune Maricopa County supervisors are prepared today to approve almost $1.6 million to settle lawsuits arising out of the wrongful conviction of former death-row inmate Ray Krone and a training accident that killed a Scottsdale police sergeant and injured a Gilbert policeman. The family of Sgt. Thomas Hontz, 45, and former Gilbert police officer Michael Wagner alleged in separate lawsuits that the Maricopa County Sheriffs Office was liable for Hontzs death and Wagners career-ending injuries because it effectively made and distributed a tool known as a "gas ax" without testing it or warning anyone of its dangers. The county is settling both of the gas ax cases for $870,000, and insurance companies are picking up an additional undisclosed amount in the settlement, according to Peter Crowley, the countys risk manager. Approval of the settlements is on the agenda of todays Maricopa County Board of Supervisors meeting. "The Wagners are gratified to be finished with the case," said John Commerford, Wagners attorney. Jack MacIntyre, a sheriffs office spokesman, said the case was defensible and claims the sheriff s office wasnt at fault in the accident. "Its always sad when you have an officer die using anything like this and has several small children. Thats certainly a very empathetic side of the case," MacIntyre said. "Were empathetic with it. Were sad to see it happen." Hontz and Wagner were in training in Gilbert on Feb. 20, 2002, when Hontz placed a smoke grenade into the gas ax, which is a tool SWAT teams use to punch through walls to disperse smoke or pepper spray into buildings where suspects are hiding. The particular smoke grenade was not compatible with the gas ax and exploded, according to court records. A piece of shrapnel entered Wagners shoulder, nearly exiting his chest and just missing his heart. Wagner also sued Scottsdale, which paid him $250,000 to settle. Hontz wife, Cathy Hontz, was unable to sue Scottsdale because of Workers Compensation laws. Krone, who spent three of his 11 years in prison on death row, is scheduled to receive $722,000 from the county and an insurance company will pay an additional sum in the settlement, Crowley said. Crowley would not disclose the amounts insurance companies are paying in either of the cases because he hadnt heard back from lawyers on whether that is a matter of public record, he said. Krone, contacted in Pennsylvania late Tuesday, said he hadnt heard from his attorney, and he doesnt consider the lawsuit settled until he has a check in his hand. He said its a shame he even had to bring a lawsuit. "The taxpayers do not deserve to owe anything or pay me anything. Theres a few individuals who should have been held accountable . . . and they are representing the good people of the state of Arizona, and those few people have been able to go on with their careers and their lives," Krone said. "And again its going to be taxpayers and other people who were not at fault who are going to have to make restitution for what I lost." One of those he points a finger at is former Maricopa County Attorney Richard Romley, whose deputies prosecuted the first-degree murder case against Krone. Krone said he is outraged Romley has never apologized to him in person. Krone was released from prison on April 8, 2002, after DNA evidence pointed to someone else as the killer of 36-year-old Kimberly Ancona, a Phoenix woman who worked at a bar Krone frequented. Krone was arrested Dec. 31, 1991, two days after the stabbing death. A dental expert said Krones distinctive tooth pattern matched a bite mark on Anconas breast, and a witness said "Ray" was going to help her close the bar. Krones August 1992 conviction and subsequent death sentence were overturned on appeal, but he was convicted again in 1996 and received a life sentence. Contact Gary Grado by email ggrado@aztrib.com, or phone (602) 258-1746