MINNEAPOLIS — Prosecutors asked for 30 years, saying Derek Chauvin’s actions were egregious and “shocked the nation’s conscience.” The defense requested probation, saying Chauvin was the product of a “broken” system and “believed he was doing his job.”
Minnesota sentencing guidelines called for 12.5 years, but Judge Peter Cahill disregarded the guidelines and sentenced Chauvin to 270 months (22.5 years) in prison. He’ll receive credit for 199 days already spent in custody.
Before the sentencing, Judge Cahill denied Chauvin’s request for a new trial. Defense attorney Eric Nelson had argued that the intense publicity tainted the jury pool and that the trial should have been moved away from Minneapolis, KTLA reported. Cahill also rejected a defense request for a hearing into possible juror misconduct.
The judge’s comments were brief during sentencing. He referred interested parties to read his lengthy legal analysis that brought him to a conclusion regarding Chauvin’s punishment.
