The sentence means Chauvin, 46, will leave a state prison where he has been held in solitary confinement for 23 hours a day for the past 15 months and be allowed to move to a federal prison. Judge Paul Magnuson told Chauvin during the civil rights violation sentencing that “putting your knee on another person’s neck until they die is wrong.” “And for that you must be punished effectively.” Prosecutors and Mr. Floyd’s family had sought the maximum 25 years on the grounds that Chauvin’s actions were cold-blooded and gratuitous. The defense had asked for 20 years, saying Chauvin had accepted responsibility for what he did. Mr. Floyd, 46, died on May 25, 2020 after Chauvin pinned him to the ground with a knee to his neck for 9 minutes and 29 seconds in Minneapolis. Mr. Floyd had been accused of passing a counterfeit $20 bill at a convenience store. His killing sparked protests across the United States, a reckoning with police brutality and racism, and fueled the Black Lives Matter movement. Chauvin was found guilty of second-degree murder, third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter after a trial in April 2021 and was sentenced to 22.5 years in state prison in June of that year. During Thursday’s sentencing, Chauvin made a brief statement addressing Mr. Floyd’s children. “I just want to say that I wish them all the best in their lives and that they have great guidance to become wonderful adults.” he said. The court also heard victim impact statements from members of Mr Floyd’s family, including his brother Philonese Floyd and his girlfriend Courtney Ross. Another statement came from John Pope, who is suing the city of Minneapolis over an incident in 2017 when he was hit with a flashlight and held in a choke hold by Chauvin. Protesters hold signs honoring George Floyd and other victims of racism as they gather during a protest outside the Hennepin County Government Center on March 28, 2021 in Minneapolis, Minnesota ((AFP via Getty Images)) Chauvin pleaded guilty to using excessive force on Pope, then 14, as part of his plea deal. “I hope he takes this time to think about what he could have done differently and what he did to others,” Mr Pope said. Chauvin’s mother, Carolyn Pawlenty, also issued a statement, criticizing the “misinformation” that her son was racist. “Everyone in Minnesota needs to heal and realize that all lives matter, no matter the color of your skin. Every life matters,” Ms. Pawlenty said. Defense attorney Eric Nelson said there was much more to Chauvin than his actions on May 25, 2020, adding that he was a “staunch family man.” Prosecutor LeeAnn Bell had argued that Chauvin’s actions showed he had deliberately killed Mr Floyd. “He wasn’t a rookie. He was a police officer for years. He knew what his training was. He knew what he was doing was wrong and he did it anyway.” Judge Magnuson sentenced Chauvin to 252 months minus seven months for time served. He added that Chauvin “absolutely destroyed the lives of three other young officers” who have also been charged in Floyd’s death. The former Minneapolis police officers — Tou Thao, J. Alexander Keung and Thomas Lane — were convicted in February of federal civil rights charges in Floyd’s murder. Judge Magnuson has not set sentencing dates for them. Chauvin will also have to pay restitution. No filming or photography was allowed inside the federal courthouse in St Paul. Entering his federal guilty plea, Chauvin admitted for the first time that he kept his knee on Floyd’s neck – even as Black pleaded “I can’t breathe” and then didn’t respond – resulting in Mr Floyd’s death. Flowers, signs and balloons have been left near a makeshift memorial for George Floyd near where he died in Minneapolis (AFP via Getty Images) Chauvin, who is white, admitted that he willfully deprived Floyd of his right to be free from unreasonable seizure, including unreasonable force by a police officer, during the May 2020 arrest. Since being found guilty of murder in May 2021, Chauvin has been held in isolation from other inmates in the high-security Administrative Control Unit at Minnesota State Prison Oak Park Heights Chauvin had little freedom inside the facility, with no access to work opportunities and educational programs, the official said. He had to shower, go to the toilet, eat and sleep inside his cell and was only allowed out for one hour a day to exercise. After Thursday’s sentencing, Chauvin is expected to serve more time behind bars than he would have faced with the state sentence alone. But experts say Chauvin may be safer, and live under fewer restrictions, in a federal prison. His security level and final destination will be up to the US Bureau of Prisons, which could send him anywhere in the country. Chauvin ran the risk in the general population of a Minnesota state prison of encountering inmates he had arrested or investigated. While he can’t completely escape his reputation in a federal prison elsewhere, he’s unlikely to encounter inmates with whom he has a direct relationship. If the office decides it is safe enough for the general population, they would have more opportunities to move around the facility, work and participate in programming. With credit for good time in the federal system, he could serve about 17 years behind bars. The Associated Press contributed to this report
