Chauvin May Face Longer Sentence Over ‘Cruel’ Actions and Abuse of Power
The New York Times
Because the judge ruled there were aggravating factors in the murder of George Floyd, he is allowed to sentence Derek Chauvin to up to double the 15-year state guideline.
Saying that Derek Chauvin was “particularly cruel” for killing George Floyd slowly, the Minneapolis judge who oversaw Mr. Chauvin’s murder trial issued a ruling on Wednesday that could significantly increase the amount of time the former police officer spends behind bars. In the six-page opinion, Judge Peter A. Cahill said prosecutors had proven that Mr. Chauvin had abused his position of trust and authority, treated Mr. Floyd with particular cruelty, and committed his crime in the presence of children and with the active participation of at least three other people. The finding of what are known as aggravating factors allows Judge Cahill to sentence Mr. Chauvin to more than 15 years in prison, the longest punishment for second-degree murder under Minnesota’s sentencing guidelines. While state statutes allow the judge to sentence Mr. Chauvin to a maximum of 40 years, legal experts say it is highly unlikely that he will receive more than 30 years.
In other testimony, law enforcement witnesses placed the suspect, José Ibarra, at the scene of Ms. Riley’s killing, mainly through cellphone and GPS tracking data.
The warning, which extends beyond the city to include 10 other counties in New York state, was announced as wildfires burned and residents continued to await meaningful rainfall.
A new curriculum would focus on Christianity more than other religions. A kindergarten lesson on the Golden Rule, for example, would teach about Jesus and his Sermon on the Mount.
A suspect was arrested Monday morning in connection with the stabbings, which occurred across a broad swath of the borough over several hours and left a third person critically injured.
The 99-year-old house on Boston’s North Shore is battered and uninhabited. And yet, it is beloved by artists and locals — so much that they helped pause its demolition.
Slashing the original $15 toll raises questions about whether a smaller revenue stream could delay projects or lead to higher costs for New York’s public transit agency.
The group’s actions in Columbus on Saturday, part of a recent pattern of white supremacist incidents in the country, were condemned by officials around the state.
As a Senate recount plays out, at least four counties are ignoring an order from the State Supreme Court that undated or misdated mail ballots cannot be counted.
The voluntary evacuation plan was put in place in areas affected by the Jennings Creek wildfire. Officials encouraged residents of 165 homes to move out temporarily.
In a court filing, the judge said the conviction of Melissa Lucio, whose scheduled execution in 2022 was halted, should be overturned. The state’s highest criminal court will now decide.
Ms. Thaler, a former dean at N.Y.U., used her last interview to reminisce about her brother, Ed, and to publicize the alternatives to prolonging pain and suffering.