Former Minneapolis Police Officer Sentenced to 3 Years in Prison for Role in George Floyd's Killing

Strategic Insights -

A former Minneapolis police officer, J. Alexander Kueng, was sentenced to 3 years in prison for his role in the fatal restraint of George Floyd. Kueng pleaded guilty to aiding and abetting second-degree manslaughter and received credit for 84 days time served. He will be prohibited from possessing firearms and ammunition for the rest of his life. Kueng was an active participant in Floyd's restraint, which was found to be a civil rights violation.

Key Takeaways:

  • J. Alexander Kueng, a former Minneapolis police officer, was sentenced to 3 years in prison for his role in George Floyd's killing.
  • Kueng pleaded guilty to aiding and abetting second-degree manslaughter, waiving his right to a trial in exchange for the state dropping a count of aiding and abetting second-degree unintentional murder.
  • Kueng received credit for 84 days time served and will be prohibited from possessing firearms and ammunition for the rest of his life.
  • The sentencing was delayed several hours due to technical issues with the web conference.
  • Kueng was an active participant in Floyd's restraint, which was found to be a civil rights violation.
  • He will serve his state and federal sentences concurrently, meaning he will only serve one sentence.
  • Kueng's sentencing comes after Officer Derek Chauvin was found guilty of second-degree unintentional murder, third-degree murder, and second-degree manslaughter and was sentenced to 22.5 years in prison.
  • Chauvin is also serving a 21-year federal sentence for depriving Floyd of his rights.
  • Thomas Lane, another officer involved in the arrest, pleaded guilty to aiding and abetting second-degree manslaughter and was sentenced to 3 years in prison.
  • Lane is serving his state and federal sentences concurrently.

Statistics:

  • 84 days: the amount of time Kueng served before being sentenced to prison.
  • 22.5 years: the amount of time Officer Derek Chauvin was sentenced to prison for George Floyd's killing.
  • 21 years: the amount of time Officer Derek Chauvin was sentenced to federal prison for depriving Floyd of his rights.
  • 3 years: the amount of time Thomas Lane was sentenced to prison for aiding and abetting second-degree manslaughter.
  • 46: the age of George Floyd when he was killed.
  • 9 minutes and 29 seconds: the amount of time that Officer Derek Chauvin knelt on Floyd's neck.

Sources:

  • CNN (Ray Sanchez and Brad Parks) - A former Minneapolis police officer who assisted in the fatal restraint of George Floyd was sentenced to 3 years in prison Friday for his role in the killing.
  • Bureau of Prisons - Kueng is serving his federal sentence at the US Bureau of Prisons Elkton facility in Lisbon, Ohio.
  • Robert Paule, Thao's attorney - Thao agreed to a trial by stipulated evidence, meaning he waived his right to a trial by jury.