Former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin was sentenced by a federal jury Thursday to 21 years in prison for violating George Floyd’s civil rights. Chauvin previously pleaded guilty to violating civil rights during Floyd’s arrest on May 25, 2020, when the former officer pressed his knee to the back of Floyd’s neck for several minutes. The sentence will run concurrently with his 22.5-year state sentence after being convicted of second- and third-degree murder, as well as second-degree manslaughter. The defense asked for 20 years, saying Chauvin accepts responsibility for what he did. Chauvin told Floyd’s family that he “wishes the best” for Floyd’s children during his brief remarks. He didn’t apologize. “My brother was murdered at noon with a knee on his neck for nine minutes,” Philonese Floyd, George Floyd’s brother, told the judge. The (Floyd) family and I have been given a life sentence, we will never get George back.” TRAFFIC STOP POLICE HARM AUTHORITIES’ ABILITY TO REDUCE GUN VIOLENCE”: EXPERTS Derek Chauvin was sentenced Thursday to 21 years in federal prison for the death of George Floyd. (AP) In a court impact statement, Chauvin’s mother said it was not her son’s intention to kill Floyd. Without the federal plea deal, Chauvin would have faced up to life in prison. Under Minnesota law, Chauvin will have to serve two-thirds of his sentence. He appealed the conviction. In filing his federal plea, Chauvin admitted for the first time that he kept his knee on Floyd’s neck — even as the black man pleaded, “I can’t breathe” and then didn’t respond — resulting in Floyd’s death. 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. FILE – This photo combination provided by the Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office in Minnesota on Wednesday, June 3, 2020, shows, from left, former Minneapolis police officers Derek Chauvin, J. Alexander Kueng, Thomas Lane and Tou Thao. (Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office via AP File) CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP Three other former Minneapolis police officers — Tou Thao, J. Alexander Keung and Thomas Lane — were convicted in February of federal civil rights charges in Floyd’s killing. Magnuson has not set sentencing dates for them. Lane is also scheduled to be sentenced Sept. 21 after pleading guilty in state court to aiding and abetting second-degree murder. Thao and Kueng rejected plea deals and are scheduled to go on trial in state court on Oct. 24 on conspiracy charges. The Associated Press contributed to this report.
title: “Derek Chauvin Was Sentenced To 21 Years In Federal Prison For Violating George Floyd S Civil Rights " ShowToc: true date: “2022-11-11” author: “Elizabeth Schroeder”
During the sentencing, US District Judge Paul Magnuson said Chauvin “must be held accountable” for his actions, including destroying the lives of the other three officers involved in Floyd’s death. “I really don’t know why you did what you did,” the judge said. “Putting your knee on a person’s throat until they expire is just wrong. … Your behavior is wrong and offensive.” Chauvin’s plea deal, which Magnuson accepted in May, called for a sentence of 20 to 25 years in prison. Magnuson shaved seven months off his 21-year sentence for time already served — last year, Chauvin was convicted in state court on murder and manslaughter charges related to Floyd’s death in May 2020 and sentenced to 22 ½ years. He will serve the state and federal sentences concurrently in federal prison. Chauvin, who is White, killed Floyd by pinning the unarmed Black man to the pavement with his knee for 9 1/2 minutes, despite Floyd’s faint pleas of “I can’t breathe.” Floyd’s death sparked protests around the world and forced a national reckoning on police brutality and racism. Before his sentencing Thursday, Chauvin wished Floyd’s children “the best in their lives” and that they have “great guidance to become good adults,” reports CBS Minnesota. He didn’t apologize. Floyd’s brother, Philonise Floyd, asked the judge for a life sentence, adding that he has had nightmares since his brother’s death, according to CBS Minnesota. Prosecutors pushed for the former police officer to serve all 25 years on the grounds that his actions in Floyd’s death were cold-blooded and unnecessary. They also argued he had a history of abusing restraints — Chauvin’s plea included admitting he violated the rights of a then-14-year-old black boy he banned in an unrelated case in 2017. Instead, the defense asked for 20 years, saying Chauvin accepts responsibility for what he did and has already been sentenced to 22 ½ years in state prison for Floyd’s murder. Attorney Eric Nelson wrote that Chauvin’s remorse “will be evident in this Court.” In pleading guilty to violating Floyd’s civil rights, Chauvin admitted for the first time that he held his knee to Floyd’s neck — even after he became unresponsive — resulting in his death. The former officer admitted that he willfully deprived Floyd of his right to be free from unreasonable seizure, including unreasonable force by an officer. Chauvin is appealing his murder conviction, arguing that jurors were intimidated by the protests that followed and prejudiced by extensive pre-trial publicity. Three other former Minneapolis police officers — Tou Thao, J. Alexander Keung and Thomas Lane — were convicted in February of federal civil rights charges in Floyd’s killing. Magnuson has not set sentencing dates for them. Lane is also scheduled to be sentenced Sept. 21 after pleading guilty in state court to being an accessory to second-degree murder. Thao and Kueng rejected plea deals and are scheduled to go on trial in state court on Oct. 24 on conspiracy charges.
