Derek Chauvin was sentenced to 21 years in prison Thursday, nearly seven months after he pleaded guilty to federal charges that he violated George Floyd’s civil rights when he knelt on Floyd’s neck for 9½ minutes as he was detaining him in May 2020.
Federal prosecutors had asked U.S. District Judge Paul Magnuson to sentence Chauvin to 25 years, saying Chauvin abused his authority as a police officer and acted callously. The defense had asked for 20 years, saying Chauvin was remorseful for what he did and that he has accepted responsibility. Judge Magnuson sentenced Chauvin to 21 years in prison, with credit for the time he has already served. Chauvin is already serving a 22½-year sentence after he was found guilty of second- and third-degree murder, as well as second-degree manslaughter, in April 2021 in a state case for the death of Floyd. His federal sentence will be served concurrently.
Editorial credit: Ben Von Klemperer