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ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — A former Minnesota state senator who was
caught in a police sting operation pleaded not guilty Monday to
a federal charge of attempted enticement of a minor for
prostitution.
Justin Eichorn entered his plea in a brief appearance before
Magistrate Judge Shannon Elkins. The judge granted his request
for more time for his attorneys to review the evidence, so a
trial that had been scheduled for June 9 will be rescheduled.
The 40-year-old Republican from Grand Rapids was arrested in
Bloomington on March 17 after exchanging text messages with an
undercover officer who posed as a 17-year-old girl and arranging
a meetup for sex for money, according to court documents.
Federal prosecutors then took over the case.
Eichorn was released to a halfway house in Duluth on March 26. A
grand jury returned a felony indictment April 1. The charge
carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years.
Eichorn resigned from the Senate March 20. A special election to
fill his seat is set for next Tuesday, April 29, between
Republican Keri Heintzeman and Democrat Denise Slipy.
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