Federal Judge Overseeing Derek Chauvin’s Civil Rights Case Accepts Plea Deal, Will Sentence Him to At Least 20 Years in Prison for Violating George Floyd’s Civil Rights

A federal judge has accepted a plea deal in former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin’s civil rights case and will sentence him to 20 to 25 years, in addition to his prior convictions related to George Floyd’s murder.

Chauvin pleaded guilty in December 2021 to violating George Floyd’s constitutional rights, admitting for the first time that he kept his knee on Floyd’s neck even after he became unresponsive.

“The defendant held his left knee across Mr. Floyd’s neck, back, and shoulder, and his right knee on Mr. Floyd’s back and arm,” the plea agreement states.

“As Mr. Floyd lay on the ground, handcuffed and unresisting, the defendant kept his knees on Floyd’s neck and body, even after Mr. Floyd became unresponsive. This offense resulted in bodily injury to, and the death of George Floyd,” it adds.

Chauvin’s federal sentence will be served concurrently with the 22.5-year sentence tied to his murder conviction at the state level.

Last June, Chauvin was sentenced at a state level after being convicted of murder in the 2020 death of Floyd. He’s since asked the Minnesota Court of Appeals to overturn that conviction.