(Friday, June 25, 2021) – After tearful pleas from George Floyd’s family, a judge today sentenced Derek Chauvin to 270 months in prison for the murder of Floyd.  The ex-Minneapolis police office officer will spend 22.5 years behind bars

Family members of Floyd spoke one after the other asking the judge to provide them closure and sentence Chauvin to the maximum for the killing of Floyd on May 25th 2020.  Chauvin’s sentencing comes literally 13 months to the day Floyd died as Chauvin knelt on Floyd’s neck for over 9 minutes.

Chauvin spoke briefly at his sentencing only giving  condolences to the family of George Floyd.  He said he was not able to say more because of lingering legal issues.  Chauvin still faces federal civil rights charges in Floyd’s death.  “There’s going to be some other information in the future that would be of interest and I hope things will give you some peace of mind,” said Chauvin.

His mother Carolyn Pawlenty spoke on behalf of the Chauvin and his family calling her son a good man who was dedicated to his job.

Prosecutors had asked for the maximum for Chauvin to spend  30 years in prison.  With good behavior, the 45-year-old Chauvin could be paroled in about 15 years.

In imposing the punishment, Judge Peter Cahill said he was not trying to make a statement with his sentencing and that it was not based on emotion.

“Today, we are able to breathe again,”said Floyd’s younger brother Philonise.