Ex-Minneapolis officer Kueng sentenced to 3.5 years for state charge stemming from Floyd death

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UPDATE 1:25 p.m. – A judge has sentenced a former Minneapolis police officer to serve time in prison for the state case regarding the death of George Floyd.

Friday, a judge sentenced J. Alexander Kueng to 42 months (3.5 years) for aiding and abetting second-degree manslaughter. He also will get credit for time already served.

In addition, the state sentence will run concurrently with his federal sentence, which he is serving at a low-security prison in Elkton, Ohio.

As previously reported, Kueng took a plea deal earlier this year, in which one count of aiding and abetting second degree murder was dismissed.

Kueng opted not to speak during the hearing, which had been delayed to 1 p.m. Friday from earlier in the morning.

A previous version of this story can be found below.

Check back for updates.


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The sentencing of former Minneapolis police officer J Alexander Kueng in the state case regarding George Floyd’s death has been delayed.

Friday’s hearing was scheduled to begin at 8:30 a.m. but was postponed because court officials weren’t able to reach Kueng and prison officials. Kueng is at a low-security prison in Elkton, Ohio and was scheduled to join the hearing remotely.

Court officials plan to try reaching Kueng again Friday afternoon but may have to delay the hearing until next week if they are again unsuccessful.

RELATED: Kueng takes plea deal, Thao opts to have judge decide his fate in state trial

The day jury selection was set to take place in the trial for Kueng and former officer Tou Thao, both cases changed course.

Kueng had been charged with aiding and abetting both second-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter in Floyd’s death.

Kueng’s attorney announced that Kueng agreed to a plea deal, in which he pleaded guilty to aiding and abetting second-degree manslaughter and had the murder charge against him dropped.

Kueng is expected to be sentenced to about 42 months in prison and serve that time while he’s serving his federal sentence.

Meanwhile, former officer Tou Thao—who also faced aiding and abetting both second-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter charges in Floyd’s death—opted to have a trial by stipulated evidence. This means Judge Peter Cahill will decide his guilt based on the evidence provided. Thao also waived his right to have witnesses testify.

In September, a judge sentenced 39-year-old Thomas Lane to three years in prison for a state charge of aiding and abetting second-degree manslaughter in Floyd’s death but said Lane would receive 31 days credit for time he has already served. Earlier this year, Lane was 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.

Derek Chauvin, the former Minneapolis police officer convicted of murdering Floyd following a state trial, was sentenced to 22½ years (270 months) in prison. Chauvin was also sentenced to over 20 years (245 months) in federal prison for violating Floyd’s civil rights.

Stay with 5 EYEWITNESS NEWS and KSTP.com for updates regarding Kueng’s sentencing.

View the series of events throughout this case via the interactive timeline below or here.

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