Derek Chauvin appears in court to plead guilty to civil rights abuses

Minnesota releases new mugshots of Derek Chauvin after he pleads guilty to federal charge of violating George Floyd’s civil rights in plea deal: Ex-cop will have another three years added to his 22 year sentence

  • Chauvin is in federal court in Minneapolis to plead guilty to three civil rights violations for murdering George Floyd and arresting a teenager in 2017
  • He will be sentenced to 25 years in prison, that he will serve at the same time as his current 22 year sentence for murder
  • It means he will spend an extra three years in prison than previously thought
  • As part of the deal, he also pleaded guilty to violating the rights of a black 14-year-old who he arrested in 2017 
  • In that case, he used a chokehold on the teenager and hit him with a flashlight
  • Chauvin had been called to the teenager’s home by his mother who claimed he assaulted her
  • Chauvin said the teen lay on his bedroom floor and ignored his verbal commands 


Derek Chauvin has pleaded guilty to depriving George Floyd of his civil rights by killing him by kneeling on his neck for nine minutes last May as part of a plea deal with federal prosecutors that adds another three years to his prison sentence. 

Chauvin, 45, is already serving 22 years behind bars on state murder charges for murdering Floyd, and admitted the federal charges in a Minneapolis courtroom on Wednesday morning. 

He was charged in May with violating Floyd’s civil rights when he killed him, a charge that carries a maximum sentence of life in prison or the death penalty. Federal prosecutors said they did not intend to seek the death penalty. 

Initially, Chauvin pleaded not guilty but he changed his plea on Monday as part of a deal that will see him serve 25 years on the federal charge. It will be folded into his current sentence. 

He will now be released from prison in 2046, instead of 2043, at the age of 70. 

No cameras were allowed inside the federal courtroom for Wednesday’s hearing, as is procedure for federal cases. Chauvin wore an orange jumpsuit and spoke only to acknowledge that he violated Floyd’s rights.   

Mandatory Credit: Photo by Minnesota Department Of Correcti/ZUMA Wire/REX (12646622b) New undated photos of DEREK CHAUVIN were released since his prison sentencing. Chauvin was sentenced to more than 22 years in prison for his role in the death of George Floyd. Chauvin is being housed at Minnesota Correctional Facility-Oak Park Heights. Derek Chauvin First Photos From Prison Released, Oak Park Heights, Minnesota, USA - 15 Dec 2021

Mandatory Credit: Photo by Minnesota Department Of Correcti/ZUMA Wire/REX (12646622b) New undated photos of DEREK CHAUVIN were released since his prison sentencing. Chauvin was sentenced to more than 22 years in prison for his role in the death of George Floyd. Chauvin is being housed at Minnesota Correctional Facility-Oak Park Heights. Derek Chauvin First Photos From Prison Released, Oak Park Heights, Minnesota, USA - 15 Dec 2021

Mandatory Credit: Photo by Minnesota Department Of Correcti/ZUMA Wire/REX (12646622b) New undated photos of DEREK CHAUVIN were released since his prison sentencing. Chauvin was sentenced to more than 22 years in prison for his role in the death of George Floyd. Chauvin is being housed at Minnesota Correctional Facility-Oak Park Heights. Derek Chauvin First Photos From Prison Released, Oak Park Heights, Minnesota, USA – 15 Dec 2021

A sketch showing Derek Chauvin in court Wednesday as he admitted civil rights crimes over the murder of George Floyd

A sketch showing Derek Chauvin in court Wednesday as he admitted civil rights crimes over the murder of George Floyd  

Chauvin also pleaded guilty to violating the civil rights of a 14-year-old boy who he hit with a flashlight and restrained in 2017. 

Floyd died as a result of Chauvin kneeling on his neck for nine-and-a-half minutes in May 2020. 

He was arresting him for allegedly using a fake $20 bill. 

Chauvin admitted violating George Floyd's civil rights when he killed him by standing on his neck for nine minutes in May 2020

Chauvin admitted violating George Floyd’s civil rights when he killed him by standing on his neck for nine minutes in May 2020 

Three other cops – Thomas Lane, J. Alexander Kueng and Tou Thao were also charged with aiding and abetting Chauvin.

Their state trial is due to begin in March next year, and they have also been charged with federal civil rights abuses. 

The 2017 incident involving the teenager occurred after the boy’s mother called police claiming she had been assaulted by him and his sister during an argument over a cellphone. 

Chauvin said he walked into the boy’s bedroom to find him the lying on the floor, and that he ignored his ‘verbal commands’. 

Prosecutors wanted to include it in his George Floyd trial to show that he had a pattern of behavior that was racist towards black people, and included excessive force. 

The judge denied their request, and did not allow for it to be presented to the jury. 

The boy in that case is now 18. After his beating from Chauvin, he had to go to the hospital for stitches. 

The mother told doctors that the boy had mental disabilities.   

George Floyd's brothers Philonise and Rodney are pictured at the federal courthouse on Wednesday morning to attend Chauvin's plea hearing

George Floyd’s brothers Philonise and Rodney are pictured at the federal courthouse on Wednesday morning to attend Chauvin’s plea hearing

Floyd family attorney, Jeff Storms (L), and Philonise Floyd, George Floyd's brother, arrive at US District Court in St. Paul, Minnesota, on December 15, 2021

Floyd family attorney, Jeff Storms (L), and Philonise Floyd, George Floyd’s brother, arrive at US District Court in St. Paul, Minnesota, on December 15, 2021

source: dailymail.co.uk