Ex-Minneapolis officer sentenced to prison for role in Floyd murder
[anvplayer video=”5136542″ station=”998122″]
UPDATE 9:15 a.m. – A former Minneapolis police officer has been sentenced to serve time in prison for his role in the death of George Floyd.
Wednesday morning, a judge sentenced 39-year-old Thomas Lane to three years in prison for a state charge of aiding and abetting second-degree manslaughter, but said Lane would receive 31 days credit for time he has already served.
Last month, Lane was brought to Federal Correctional Institution Englewood in Littleton, Colorado. He appeared at Wednesday’s sentencing virtually from the federal prison.
As previously reported, the state had agreed to allow Lane to serve that time in federal prison. Earlier this year, he had been sentenced to serve two and a half years in federal prison for violating Floyd’s civil rights, as well as two years of supervised release.
Wednesday’s sentence came as part of a plea deal with the state, which agreed to dismiss a count of aiding and abetting second-degree unintentional murder. At the time the deal was made, the state recommended a three year sentence, which is below the sentencing guidelines.
Former Minneapolis police officer Thomas Lane. Credit: Hennepin County Jail
Lane did not speak during Wednesday’s hearing.
Check back for updates.
[anvplayer video=”5136363″ station=”998122″]
INITIAL REPORT 5:45 a.m.: A former Minneapolis police officer who was convicted on a charge stemming from the death of George Floyd will be sentenced Wednesday morning.
Thomas Lane, 39, has a sentencing hearing scheduled for 9 a.m.
As previously reported, Lane pleaded guilty to a state charge of aiding and abetting second-degree manslaughter in Floyd’s death.
That came as part of a plea deal with the state, which agreed to dismiss a count of aiding and abetting second-degree unintentional murder.
RELATED: Former Minneapolis officer Thomas Lane pleads guilty to manslaughter in George Floyd’s death
At the time of the deal, the state was recommending a three year sentence for Lane, which is below the sentencing guidelines. In addition, the state has agreed to allow him to serve the time in federal prison.
Earlier this year, Lane was sentenced to serve two and a half years in federal prison in July for violating Floyd’s civil rights. He is also to serve two years of supervised release.
RELATED: Ex-MPD officer convicted of violating Floyd’s civil rights sentenced to 2.5 years in prison
Last month, Lane was brought to Federal Correctional Institution Englewood in Littleton, Colorado.
Lane was convicted with fellow former officers J. Alexander Kueng, Tou Thao and Derek Chauvin in both state and federal court.
Chauvin, who is white, killed Floyd by pinning the unarmed Black man to the pavement with his knee for 9 1/2 minutes as bystander video captured Floyd struggling to breathe and crying out for help. Floyd was suspected of passing a counterfeit bill at a nearby grocery store.
Chauvin is now being held at a medium-security federal prison in Tucson, Arizona instead of a Minnesota state prison. Chauvin is serving 22 1/2 years for his conviction in state court on murder and manslaughter charges, and was also sentenced to 21 years on federal civil rights charges after pleading guilty in an agreement with prosecutors.
Meanwhile, Kueng and Thao were convicted in February of violating Floyd’s rights and willfully failing to try to stop Chauvin from using unreasonable force on Floyd. Kueng was sentenced to 36 months and Thao to 42 months in federal prison.
As previously reported earlier this month, federal prosecutors have filed appeals for their federal sentences.
Kueng and Thao’s state trial is currently scheduled to begin in October. They had previously rejected a plea deal offer, cementing a state trial.
RELATED: Kueng, Thao reject state’s plea deal offer, head to trial
Both Thao and Kueng are facing charges of aiding and abetting second-degree murder and aiding and abetting second-degree manslaughter.
CLICK HERE for KSTP’s full George Floyd coverage. A timeline of events can be found below.
Check back for updates.