Chauvin Judge Clears Way for Longer Sentence in Floyd’s Death

Former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin could receive a prison sentence longer than recommended by state guidelines for the killing of George Floyd, the trial judge found in an order made public Wednesday.

Hennepin County District Judge Peter Cahill cited facts supporting an “aggravated durational departure” from the guidelines, clearing the way for him to exceed them. A jury April 20 convicted Chauvin of second-degree murder, third-degree murder, and manslaughter in the death of Floyd, a 46-year-old Black man.

The state guidelines have an average sentence of 12.5 years in prison for the convictions. Cahill’s findings don’t require him to ...