J Alexander Kueng: Ex officer who knelt on George Floyd's back during fatal arrest sentenced to 3.5 years in prison

A Minneapolis judge sentenced J Alexander Kueng, 29, a former Minneapolis police officer who knelt on George Floyd's back during the fatal May 2020 arrest, to three and a half years in prison on Friday. In October, Kueng, 29, entered into a plea agreement with the prosecution and admitted guilt to one count of second-degree manslaughter. A charge of assisting and abetting murder was dismissed in exchange for Kueng's admission as part of a plea agreement. His already served time was reduced by 84 days. J. Alexander Kueng, 29, a former Minneapolis police officer who kneeled on George Floyd's back during the fatal May 2020 arrest, was given a three and a half year prison term on Friday in a Minneapolis court. As part of a plea deal with prosecutors, Kueng, 29, pled guilty to one count of second-degree manslaughter in October. Kueng dismissed a charge of being an accomplice to murder in exchange for his plea. The amount of time he had already served in prison was reduced by 84 days. The plea was entered immediately prior to the start of the jury selection process for Kueng and another officer, Tou Thao 34, in a joint state trial. Kueng was one of four police officers dispatched to a Minneapolis supermarket on May 25, 2020, and made an effort to detain Floyd after learning that he may have used a fake $20 money to buy cigarettes. Derek Chauvin, the senior officer on the scene, killed Floyd by using his knee to hold the man in shackles to the ground for nine minutes. Floyd's passing sparked rallies against racism and police violence across the country. In a state court, Chauvin was found guilty of murder and given a 22 1/2-year prison term. He also admitted guilt to related criminal counts, and he is now simultaneously serving a 21-year federal term. In July, a federal court found the three additional officers responsible for Floyd's civil rights violation guilty and handed down sentences ranging from 2-1/2 to 3-1/2 years in prison. “We must never forget the horror of what we all saw in that 9-minute video, and that there rightfully should be both accountability for all involved as well as deep lessons learned for police officers and communities everywhere,” said the legal team for George Floyd’s family, led by civil rights attorney Ben Crump, in an October statement on Kueng’s plea deal in October, abc News reported. According to a Hennepin County District Court official, Kueng's plea deal on the state crime included a 3-1/2 year term that would run concurrently with his federal sentence. According to a report, Lane agreed to a similar plea agreement in May. After rejecting a similar settlement in August, Thao has decided to give up his right to a jury trial. Instead, based on the facts offered by both the prosecution and the defense, a state court will determine his guilt. Floyd's civil rights were violated by Kueng, who is already serving a federal sentence for his actions, and who participated in his sentencing hearing by video from a federal prison in Ohio. According to a report, he reportedly turned down the opportunity to address the court. Floyd's family members had the right to make victim impact statements, but none did.