Will justice be served in the Derrick Thompson case?

Thompson killed five young women with his rented SUV back in June. The county attorney is now negotiating a plea deal.

The crash in Minneapolis made international news, in part because of Thompson being the son and namesake of John Derrick Thompson, a recent DFL state representative from St. Paul.

Derrick Thompson remains in Hennepin County jail on the homicide charges ($1 million bail being required for release) as well as holds for Federal gun and drug charges and his probation violation arising from a near-fatal hit-and-run case in Montecito, California, in 2018.

As is usually the case in such matters, Derrick Thompson has a long and colorful criminal history in both Minnesota and California. The tale of the tape:

This missed court dates and bench warrants all arise from five additional (non-criminal) vehicle-related cases. Yet Minnesota authorities still restored his driving license.

From his criminal convictions, Thompson has thrice been placed on probation in Minnesota, only to be released early each time due to his “successful” fulfillment of the probation conditions.

Notwithstanding the fact that he has accumulated six (6) probation violation reports (each recording multiple violations).

Thompson’s criminal record is rife with references to gang-related associations and activities. Nearly all of his law enforcement encounters involve an automobile, with either guns, drugs, or large sums of cash (or all three) found therein.

The ever-alert Lou Raguse of KARE-11 TV reported back in late September that Thompson was in plea agreement negotiations with Hennepin County attorney Mary Moriarty. Around this same time, county prosecutors filed with the court their intent to pursue an upward sentencing departure (more prison time) in the case, due to the seriousness of the offense.

Local TV in California reported that prosecutors refused to negotiate a plea deal in Thompson’s hit-and-run case in their jurisdiction.

Nevertheless, the judge in the Minnesota case has scheduled a “settlement conference” for December 20. A hearing was held on November 21 in the case, with no change in plea.

If no agreement is reached, a trial is scheduled to begin on February 20.

In his adult life, Thompson has received every break, benefit-of-the-doubt, and advantage that the system has to offer. Will he slip away once again?