The Associated Press reports that on Wednesday a federal judge accepted the terms of Derek Chauvin’s plea deal and will sentence him to 20-25 years in prison.
U.S. District Judge Paul Magnuson has been overseeing the federal civil rights trial against four former Minneapolis police officers involved in the killing of George Floyd on May 25, 2020.
On December 15 Chauvin pleaded guilty to violating George Floyd’s civil rights, admitting that he kept his knee on Floyd’s neck even after he became unresponsive. That act resulted in Floyd’s death and sparked riots across the country.
During the trial, Chauvin acknowledged that he “willfully deprived Floyd of his right to be free from unreasonable seizure, including unreasonable force by a police officer,” according to Fox News.
Under the plea agreement, which both prosecution and defense teams agreed to, Chauvin will face sentencing ranging from 20 to 25 years. Prosecutors note they would seek a 25-year sentence.
Fox News reports that Chauvin waives his right to contest his federal conviction if Magnuson accepted the plea agreement.
Accepting the plea deal allows Chauvin to avoid a possible life sentence. With “good behavior,” the plea agreement will enable Chauvin to be released after serving between 17 years and 21 years and three months.
Magnuson previously deferred accepting the plea agreement until the completion of a presentence investigation. On Wednesday, the judge noted a “one-page order…had been issued, so it was now appropriate to accept the deal.”
Judge Magnuson has not yet set a sentencing date.
In February, the three other police officers involved in the killing of George Floyd (Tou Thao, Thomas Lane, and J. Alexander Kueng) were convicted of related federal civil rights charges.
The three are scheduled to go on trial next month in state court on charges of aiding and abetting Chauvin in Floyd’s murder.
Scroll down to leave a comment and share your thoughts.
