Legally Reviewed by Shazam Kianpour on August 20, 2026
Timothy Masters spent more than ten years in prison for a crime he did not commit, and his case remains one of the starkest examples of wrongful conviction in Colorado history. Masters was wrongfully convicted in 1999 of the 1987 murder of Peggy Hettrick. Years later, the Colorado government moved to make amends, both financially and through formal exoneration.
At Shazam Kianpour & Associates, we revisit cases like this one because they illustrate exactly why a rigorous defense at every stage of a criminal case matters, and why Colorado eventually built a formal legal process for compensating people who are wrongly convicted.
The Timothy Masters Case
Masters was awarded $5.9 million from the City of Fort Collins and another $4.1 million from the Eighth Judicial District of Larimer County, bringing his total compensation to $10 million. He was officially exonerated of Peggy Hettrick’s murder by then-Colorado Attorney General John Suthers, who also extended an apology on behalf of Fort Collins and Fort Collins Police Services to Masters and his family.
A grand jury was convened to reexamine the evidence in the case. After hearing testimony from numerous witnesses and reviewing a reexamination of the crime scene and forensic analysis, prosecutors concluded that Masters did not kill Peggy Hettrick. His compensation in this case came through negotiated settlements with the city and county involved, reached years before Colorado had a dedicated statutory compensation process for exonerated individuals.
How Colorado’s Wrongful Conviction Compensation Law Works Today
Since the Masters case settled, Colorado has enacted a formal process for compensating people who are wrongly convicted. Under C.R.S. 13-65-103, the state’s Exoneration Act, a person who was wrongly convicted of a felony and later exonerated and found to be actually innocent can recover $70,000 for each year of incarceration, $50,000 for each year spent incarcerated while awaiting execution, and $25,000 for each year spent on parole, probation, or as a registered sex offender as a result of the wrongful conviction. The statute also allows recovery of reasonable attorney fees, refunded fines and court costs, and compensation for child support obligations that accrued during incarceration.
Eligibility under this statute is narrower than it might first appear. Colorado lawmakers designed the law to compensate only individuals found to be actually innocent, not everyone whose conviction was overturned. A conviction reversed because of a procedural or constitutional error, without a finding of actual innocence, generally does not qualify a person for compensation under this statute.
Why Wrongful Convictions Happen
Wrongful convictions rarely trace back to a single cause. Cases like Masters’s often involve some combination of mistaken forensic interpretation, tunnel vision in an investigation once a suspect is identified, eyewitness misidentification, or reliance on evidence that later analysis calls into question. A defense built around aggressively challenging the state’s forensic conclusions and investigative assumptions, rather than accepting them at face value, is often what eventually surfaces the flaws that lead to exoneration, even when that process takes years.
What This Case Means for Denver Criminal Defense Today
Cases like this one underscore why a defense attorney’s scrutiny of forensic evidence, witness testimony, and investigative procedure matters at every stage of a criminal case, not only on appeal. Our firm has represented clients in more than 10,000 criminal and traffic matters across the Denver area, and we approach serious felony allegations with the understanding that convictions can rest on evidence that does not hold up to closer examination.
If you or a family member is facing a serious criminal charge and want a thorough, independent review of the evidence against you, contact our office to discuss your case.
Frequently Asked Questions About Wrongful Conviction Compensation in Colorado
Does Colorado law guarantee compensation to everyone whose conviction is overturned?
No. Colorado’s Exoneration Act generally requires a finding of actual innocence, not simply a reversal based on a procedural or constitutional error. A person whose conviction is overturned on a technical or procedural ground may not qualify under this specific statute.
How much can an exonerated person recover under Colorado’s compensation law?
Under C.R.S. 13-65-103, compensation is calculated at $70,000 for each year of incarceration, with additional amounts for time spent awaiting execution or on parole, probation, or sex offender registration as a result of the wrongful conviction, along with attorney fees and refunded fines or costs.
What typically leads to a wrongful conviction being uncovered?
New forensic testing, reexamination of existing evidence, previously unavailable witness testimony, or a renewed grand jury investigation can all surface flaws in the original case. These reviews often take years, particularly in older cases where forensic techniques have since advanced.
Why does aggressive defense of forensic evidence matter at trial?
Forensic conclusions are often presented to juries as more certain than the underlying science actually supports. A defense that challenges the methodology and assumptions behind forensic testimony, rather than accepting it uncritically, can prevent the kind of miscarriage of justice that later requires exoneration.
About the Attorney
Denver Criminal Defense Attorney
Shazam Kianpour has represented clients in more than 10,000 criminal and traffic cases across the Denver area. He is a graduate of California Western School of Law, has been licensed in Colorado since 2004, and holds a Lead Counsel Verification in criminal law covering state felony, misdemeanor, and drunk driving defense.
Written by
Shazam KianpourDenver Criminal Defense Attorney & Founder, Shazam Kianpour & Associates, P.C. — Over 10,000 criminal and traffic cases handled across Colorado.