Derek Chauvin was sentenced Thursday to less than 20 years prison. This was nearly seven months after he pleaded guilty federally to violating George Floyd’s civil right when he knelt upon Floyd’s neck for 9 minutes while he was detaining in May 2020.
Paul Magnuson, U.S. District Judge, called Floyd’s treatment by Chauvin “offensive” before he handed down the sentence.
“I don’t really understand why you did this.” The judge stated that it was wrong to place your knees on the neck of another person until death.
Federal prosecutors asked Magnuson for a sentence against Chauvin of 25 years. This was at the extreme end of the 20-to-25-year range in the plea agreement. They claimed that Chauvin had abused his authority and acted recklessly.
Defense requested 20 years. They claimed that Chauvin was sorry for his actions and has taken responsibility.
Magnuson sentenced Chauvin 21 years imprisonment, with credit for time served. This brings his sentence to 20 and 5 months.
Chauvin is currently serving a 22 1/2-year sentence. He was convicted of second-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter in April 2021, in a state case involving Floyd’s death. His federal sentence will also be served concurrently.
Chauvin initially pleaded guilty to federal charges but changed his plea in December. He also admitted guilt to a separate federal charge in relation to allegations that he deprived a 14-year old boy of his civil rights during an encounter in September 2017.
Chauvin was able to plead guilty and avoid another highly publicized trial. The sentence includes 20 years of imprisonment for Floyd’s case and five months for the other.
Chauvin spoke briefly to the Floyd family before he was sentencing, telling them that he wanted the Floyds “all the success in their lives,” but did no apologize.
George Floyd’s brother Philonise Floyd was one of many people who spoke in court before the sentencing. He demanded that Chauvin be sentenced to the maximum, stating that he had not slept since his brother’s “murder in broad daylight”.
He stated that his family was given a “life sentence” because they won’t be able get their brother back.
John Pope, the boy involved in the 2017 incident, spoke at sentencing. He said that he was afraid for his life after his encounter with Chauvin. This “changed my entire life forever.”
Pope, 19 years old, said that he was a bright kid with dreams. But those dreams began to fade after he witnessed police brutality at Chauvin.
Chauvin’s mother Carolyn Pawlenty called her son a “caring person” and asked for the judge to place Chauvin in a federal prison close to family members.
Pawlenty stated, “I believe that it is God’s will that all of us forgive.” “Everyone in Minnesota must heal and remember that all lives matter. Every life is important, regardless of skin color.
Thomas Lane, J. Alexander Kueng, and Tou Thao were also present at Floyd’s funeral. They were all convicted of federal charges of depriving Floyd his civil rights. Kueng and Thao were also found guilty of failing to intervene to stop Chauvin using excessive force. They have yet to be sentenced.
Magnuson stated during Thursday’s sentencing that Chauvin had “absolutely destroyed” the lives of these officers.
Kueng and Thao will also be facing a state trial in October for second-degree unintentional and second-degree murder. Lane pleaded guilty in the absence of a trial to the state charges. As part of the plea agreement, Lane was released from the charge of aiding or abetting second degree murder.
Floyd’s encounter with the four officers in May 2020 was recorded on video by a witness, a traffic camera, and officers’ bodycams. The recordings show Thao standing between the officers and Floyd as his colleagues pin him to the pavement. Lane and Kueng stand on Floyd while Chauvin puts pressure on Floyd’s neck. They were responding to a request from a convenience shop about a counterfeit bill.
Protests against police brutality and systemic racism around the globe were sparked by Floyd’s murder at the hands of the police.
The Minneapolis Attorney General Keith Ellison was the one who led the case that resulted in Chauvin being convicted on state charges. He called the federal sentencing “another stage of accountability on the path to justice.”
