FOG BLOG U.S. NEWS LOG: FRMR OFFICER WHO KNEELED ON GEORGE FLOYD'S BACK SENTENCED TO 3 1/2 YEARS.

Former police officer who kneeled on George Floyd's back sentenced to more than 3 years in prison J. Alexander Kueng sentenced on state charge of aiding 2nd-degree manslaughter The former Minneapolis police officer who kneeled on George Floyd's back while another officer kneeled on the Black man's neck was sentenced Friday to three-and-a-half years in prison.

J. Alexander Kueng pleaded guilty in October to a state count of aiding and abetting second-degree manslaughter. In exchange, a charge of aiding and abetting murder was dropped. Kueng is already serving a federal sentence for violating Floyd's civil rights, and the state and federal sentence will be served at the same time.

Kueng appeared at his sentencing hearing via video from a federal prison in Ohio. When given the chance to address the court, he declined.

Floyd's family members had the right to make victim impact statements, but none did.

Attorney Ben Crump, who has represented the family, said in a statement before the hearing that Kueng's sentencing "delivers yet another piece of justice for the Floyd family."

"While the family faces yet another holiday season without George, we hope that moments like these continue to bring them a measure of peace, knowing that George's death was not in vain," he said.

Kueng knelt on Floyd's back

Floyd died on May 25, 2020, after former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin kneeled on his neck for nine-and-a-half minutes as Floyd repeatedly said he couldn't breathe and eventually went limp. The killing, which a bystander recorded on video, sparked worldwide protests as part of a broader reckoning over racial injustice.

Kueng knelt on Floyd's back during the restraint while a third officer, Thomas Lane, held Floyd's legs and a fourth, Tou Thao, kept bystanders from intervening. All of the officers were fired and faced state and federal charges.

As part of his plea agreement, Kueng admitted that he held Floyd's torso, that he knew from his experience and training that restraining a handcuffed person in a prone position created a substantial risk, and that the restraint of Floyd was unreasonable under the circumstances.

Matthew Frank, who led the prosecution for the Minnesota attorney general's office, said repeatedly during the hearing that Floyd was a crime victim and that the prosecution "focused on the officers" who caused his death.

He said the case was not meant to be a broader examination of policing, but added that he hopes it will reaffirm that police officers cannot treat those "who are in crisis as non-people or second-class citizens."

"Mr. Kueng was not simply a bystander that day. He did less than what some of the bystanders attempted to do in helping Mr. Floyd," Frank said.