Federal Judge Rules in Favor of Former Minneapolis Police Officers Convicted in George Floyd's Death

A federal judge has handed a significant victory to two former Minneapolis police officers, J. Alexander Kueng and Tou Thao, convicted of violating George Floyd's civil rights, by ruling that the guidelines for their sentences will be calculated in a way that could result in substantially less prison time for them. U.S. District Judge Paul Magnuson made the decision after considering the complex formulas used to determine an offender's "offense level" and subsequent sentencing guideline range. The ruling could lead to significantly shorter sentences for Kueng and Thao, who were convicted in February of violating Floyd's rights while he was pinned under the knee of then-Officer Derek Chauvin for 9 1/2 minutes. While Chauvin received a 21-year federal sentence, prosecutors have requested that Magnuson sentence Kueng and Thao to less time than Chauvin, but "substantially" more than their colleague, Thomas Lane, who was sentenced to 2 1/2 years.

Key Takeaways:

• U.S. District Judge Paul Magnuson ruled that the guidelines for the sentences of former Minneapolis police officers J. Alexander Kueng and Tou Thao will be calculated with a lower starting point due to the charge of involuntary manslaughter, potentially resulting in substantially less prison time.
• The ruling means that the starting point for calculating the men's sentence will be around 2 1/4 years in prison, compared to a range starting at 19 1/2 years if the offense were to be cross-referenced with murder.
• Magnuson also ruled that the baseline level should be increased because the officers acted under "color of law," bringing the guideline range to somewhere between 4 1/4 years to 5 1/4 years in prison.
• Kueng, who is Black, and Thao, who is Hmong American, remain free on bond pending their sentencing in back-to-back hearings on Wednesday.
• The officers are also charged with state counts of aiding and abetting both second-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter, with Kueng and Thao turning down plea deals and scheduled to stand trial on October 24.
• Lane, who is white, pleaded guilty to a state charge of aiding and abetting second-degree manslaughter and is awaiting sentencing in that case.

Statistics:

• 9 1/2 minutes: The amount of time that former Officer Derek Chauvin pinned George Floyd's neck.
• 21 years: The federal sentence received by Chauvin for violating Floyd's rights.
• 2 1/2 years: The federal sentence received by Thomas Lane for his role in Floyd's death.
• 19 1/2 years: The starting point for calculating the sentences of Kueng and Thao if the offense were to be cross-referenced with murder.
• 2 1/4 years: The starting point for calculating the sentences of Kueng and Thao with the charge of involuntary manslaughter.
• 4 1/4 to 5 1/4 years: The guideline range for the sentences of Kueng and Thao after considering the "color of law" factor.
• October 24: The date scheduled for Kueng and Thao's trial on state charges of aiding and abetting second-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter.

Sources:

• AP News wire, October [no date specified]
• U.S. District Judge Paul Magnuson's ruling
• U.S. Sentencing Commission guidelines
• Online records of Minnesota court cases