Former Minneapolis Police Officer Derek Chauvin announced in federal court on Wednesday morning that he was changing his plea from not guilty to guilty in the federal case accusing him of violating George Floyd's constitutional rights.
As part of the plea deal, Chauvin also pleaded guilty to violating the rights of a then-14-year-old boy and will spend time in federal prison for the guilty plea on count 1. Chauvin had held the boy by the throat, hit him in the head with a flashlight, and knelt on his neck and upper back while he wasn't resisting arrest.
The assistant U.S. attorney also notified the court that all other counts are being dropped.
Conditions of the plea deal include Chauvin having to pay restitution, disclosure of all of his assets, his sentence running concurrently and never working in law enforcement again. The prosecution will ask for the maximum sentence of 300 months.
Chauvin's legal team notified the federal court in Minnesota that he had decided to change his plea on Monday, according to a press release, and he was quickly ushered into court Wednesday to confirm his decision.
Related
Legal experts expected this to come shortly after Chauvin was found guilty earlier this year and sentenced for murdering Floyd during a violent arrest that sparked nationwide protests and calls for police to change.
Twin Cities attorney Joe Friedberg said that "there was no reason for him (Chauvin) to go to trial" for the federal charges, especially after being found guilty in the state's prosecution.
He explained that the federal prosecution is harder to defend than the state prosecution.
Friedberg added that he doesn't think Chauvin will get more time tacked on his sentence for Floyd's killing, but instead he'll serve the same 22 ½ years he was already given.
"My guess is that he is going to get concurrent time," Friedberg said.
The attorney also thinks Chauvin will be placed in federal prison instead of a state prison because he says "they can do a far better job at protecting him."
The change of plea hearing took place at the federal courthouse in St. Paul, Minn. That's where Chauvin pleaded guilty to the charge of violating Floyd's right to be 'free of unreasonable force by a police officer' by kneeling on his neck and back when arresting him.
He was silent in this case, although after being sentenced for the murder of Floyd, Chauvin spoke briefly, saying that he gave his condolences to the Floyd family.
"There's going to be some other information in the future that would be of interest, and I hope things would give you some peace of mind," Chauvin said in his first round in court.
With the trial for the other three officers who were present when Chauvin knelt on Floyd's neck set to take place in 2022, Chauvin will now be able to serve as a witness in their trial, something that could help either side.
LISTEN on the Audacy App
Sign up and follow Audacy
Facebook | Twitter | Instagram