Ex Minneapolis Police Officer J. Alexander Kueng Pleads Guilty

Originally published October 24th, 2022 at 9:23 a.m.

Updated October 24th, 2022 at 11:04 a.m.

(KNSI) — A former Minneapolis police officer charged in connection to the death of George Floyd has pled guilty.

J. Alexander Kueng waived his right to trial Monday morning ahead of jury selection and instead pleaded guilty to aiding and abetting second-degree manslaughter. The charge of aiding and abetting second-degree murder was dismissed.

Keung and fellow ex-officer Thomas Lane were accused of helping to restrain Floyd as officer Derek Chauvin held him down. Lane pled guilty and was sentenced to two and a half years in prison, to be served along with his sentence for violating Floyd’s civil rights.

Officer Tou Thao, also facing charges of aiding and abetting murder and manslaughter, has pled not guilty, but he has agreed to what amounts to a bench trial instead of a trial by jury. A bench trial is conducted by a judge alone. in which the judge both decides the facts of the case and applies the law. Thao was keeping bystanders back and was not involved in restraining Floyd. Prosecutors said he had a duty to intervene when he saw Floyd struggling.

Chauvin was convicted of murder in the case last April.

Hennepin County Attorney Mike Freeman issued a statement Monday saying, “It is great to bring these matters to a just conclusion. This is true for all concerned parties, including Mr. Floyd’s family, the potential witnesses, and the community, as well as for public safety.”

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