Settlement Likely For Beaten Teen

The city of Denver is poised to pay $885,000 to settle a federal lawsuit filed on behalf of a 16-year-old who claimed a gang officer repeatedly stomped on him while he was restrained.

The April 18 incident left Juan "Willie" Vasquez with internal injuries, a lacerated liver and kidney damage, the lawsuit stated.

Family members in June said they had been pushed to the brink of bankruptcy because they had no health insurance to pay medical bills in excess of $100,000.

His guardian, Veronica Gonzales, said in an interview Thursday that Vasquez was recovering from his injuries and no longer required tubes to drain waste from his body.

"He's been doing really well," she said.

"The big question was whether he would be OK without those tubes in place. Those were removed a few months back."

Denver District Attorney Mitch Morrissey's office charged police officer Charles Porter with felony first-degree assault. His criminal trial is pending.

Porter has been placed on unpaid administrative leave while his case is pending.

Doug Romero, the lawyer representing Vasquez, could not be reached for comment.

The Denver City Council is scheduled to consider approving the settlement Monday.

Gonzales said she plans to use any leftover money to send Vasquez to college.

The Denver Post