Telegram - Serving Metropolitan Detroit Since 1944

Derek Chauvin, the former Minneapolis police officer who killed George Floyd, would rather spend 25 years in federal prison than 15 in a state penitentiary.

The disgraced cop who infamously kneeled on Floyd's neck for more than nine minutes pleaded guilty on Wednesday, December 15, to federal charges of violating the late Floyd's civil rights.

Federal prosecutors reached a deal with Chauvin, who agreed to serve 25 years in federal prison.

The sentence will run concurrently with the 22-year sentence Chauvin received after being convicted on state charges of murder. Under the state sentence, Chauvin could have qualified for parole after 15 years.

However, there's no parole for the federal sentence, effectively meaning that the 45-year-old Chauvin choose the longer sentence to avoid state prison.

Since his conviction earlier this year, Chauvin had remained in solitary confinement. It's believed Chauvin chose to plead guilty because federal prisons are viewed as safer, and he most likely would avoid contact with anyone he previously arrested.

Asked by the judge on Wednesday how he wanted to plead, Chauvin replied, "At this time, guilty, your honor."

In entering the guilty plea on the federal charge, Chauvin admitted he violated Floyd's constitutional rights of being free from unreasonable seizures – precisely excessive force.

Three other former Minneapolis officers, Thomas Lane, Alexander Kueng, and Tou Thao, also face federal violations of Floyd's civil rights. The three men expect to stand trial in January.