How long will Derek Chauvin be in prison? Ex-cop gets 21 years for violating George Floyd's rights
ST. PAUL, MINNESOTA: Former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin, who was convicted last year of murdering George Floyd, appeared in front of a Minnesota US District Court on Thursday, July 7, and was sentenced to 21 years on a separate federal charge of civil rights violation. Senior US District Court Judge Paul Magnuson broke the news to Chauvin but subtracted 7 months for time already served. The former police officer pleaded guilty in December as part of a plea deal, in which he admitted that he violated Floyd's civil rights by pinning him to the ground with his knee on his chest and back.
While handing the sentence, Judge Magnuson said, "For your actions, you must be held accountable." Upon hearing the sentence, Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke said, "This sentence should send a strong message that the Justice Department stands ready to prosecute law enforcement officers who use deadly force without basis. While no amount of prison time can reverse the tragic consequences of Derek Chauvin's violent actions, we hope that this sentence provides some small measure of justice for the families and communities impacted."
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The 46-year-old former police officer also confessed that he violated the civil rights of a 14-year-old in 2017 by using excessive force while pleading for a 20-to 25-year sentence. The prosecutors, however, sought the full 25-year sentence, arguing that his actions were cold-blooded and needless. While Chauvin's attorney Eric Nelson pushed for the minimum sentence, Philonise Floyd, the deceased's brother, pushed for the maximum. He said, "My brother was murdered in broad daylight with a knee to his neck for nine minutes. The [Floyd] family and I have been given a life sentence, we will never get George back." Judge Magnuson further said that Chauvin destroyed the lives of the other three officers who were involved with the arrest - Tou Thao, J. Alexander Kueng, and Thomas Lane.
What is Derek Chauvin's total prison term?
Chauvin is gone away for a long time, especially after the new 21-year sentence. He was previously sentenced to 22.5 years in prison on state murder charges last June, which he appealed. Now, he will serve both his federal and state sentences concurrently. The state sentence was the longest that a police officer has ever received for unlawful use of deadly force. It also meant he would have to serve a minimum of 15 years before he's even eligible for parole, after which he could be released on good behavior. However, people were seen protesting outside the Minneapolis courtroom saying that 15 years wasn't enough. The new sentence guarantees 18 years in prison for Chauvin, who would be a 64-year-old by the time he could apply for parole.
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The video footage that showed Chauvin abusing Floyd helped the state book him for second-degree unintentional murder, third-degree murder, and second-degree manslaughter in the May 2020 killing of Floyd. The footage sparked a nationwide wave of protests that demanded the police officers be arrested for murdering Floyd. Judge Magnuson will be serving the other officers with their sentence as well but the date isn't confirmed as of now.