Ovando was framed and paralyzed by two LAPD officers in a 1996 shooting. The reputed gang member, then 19 years old, said a rifle was planted on him, while the officers claimed Ovando assaulted them. He was convicted of felony assault on a peace officer, assault with a deadly weapon with the intent of committing great bodily injury, and exhibiting a firearm in the presence of an officer.
He spent 2 1/2 years in prison before his conviction was overturned. The Rampart officers were later convicted of crimes as part of the infamous /*Rampart Division scandal*/.
Ovando sued the county and his public defender in September 2000 for malpractice, claiming she should have called two witnesses who could have testified that he was not armed the day he was shot. A jury found in favor of Ovando and awarded him $6.5 million, but a judge later overturned the award.
His civil case, which was set to be retried July 22, was dismissed with the settlement.
City News Service contributed to this report.
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