Derek Chauvin is spending his full day as inmate 261557 in the Minnesota Department of Corrections. He’s being held at Oak Park Heights, a maximum-security prison in Stillwater, Minnesota. A new mug shot (above) was taken late Tuesday as he was processed at his new home. The 45-year-old is expected to be held here, at least, until he’s sentenced in eight weeks. The New York Times reports that he is in solitary confinement for 23 hours a day:
He has been placed in an isolated wing of the prison because of fears for his safety, said Sarah Fitzgerald, a spokeswoman for the state prison system.
While Chauvin was found guilty on all three counts, his sentences are expected to run concurrently since they all involved the same crime.
The most serious charge is second-degree murder, which carries a potential prison sentence of up to 40 years. The sentencing guidelines for a first-time offender, however, call for a sentence up to 12 1/2 years or 150 months.
Leading up to sentencing there will be a hearing over whether certain aggravating factors call for a longer prison sentence. Chauvin waived his right to have a jury involved in that process, instead, it will be left up to Judge Peter Cahill, who has presided over the case. Vox explains:
Prosecutors claim that several aggravating factors were present when Chauvin murdered Floyd, including the fact that children were present, that Chauvin acted with “particular cruelty,” and that Chauvin “abused his position of authority.”
If Cahill agrees with the prosecution on any of these points, he has a fair amount of freedom to determine the appropriate sentence, up to the 40-year maximum.
The judge may also weigh whether Chauvin shows any remorse, something relatives of George Floyd say they haven’t seen so far.
Regardless of what happens at sentencing, Chauvin is expected to appeal his conviction.
