Ex-Minneapolis Officer Chauvin to be sentenced by federal judge Thursday on civil rights charge

Former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin will be sentenced this week by a federal judge for the civil rights violations in the killing of George Floyd, a black man, more than two years ago.

The sentencing hearing will occur at 2 p.m. on Thursday in St. Paul, Minnesota and will be delivered by U.S. District Judge Paul Magnuson.

Chauvin's plea agreement calls for a sentence of 20 to 25 years in prison. Last month, federal prosecutors requested 25 years, arguing Chauvin's actions were needless and cruel. 

Last December, Chauvin pleaded guilty to violating Floyd's civil rights, admitting before a judge for the first time that he kept his knee placed on Floyd's neck during an arrest, even as the victim said he couldn't breathe and became unresponsive. 

In a separate case, Chauvin was convicted on state charges of murder and manslaughter and is already slated to serve 22 and-a-half years behind bars. The former officer's plea agreement will allow Chauvin to serve the federal and state sentences concurrently.