Ex-Minnesota Lawmaker Justin Eichorn, Originally Charged with Child Enticement, Pleads Guilty to Attempted Child Porn Possession
Federal prosecutors said the 42-year-old admitted messaging someone he believed was 17 and faces 15 to 21 months under a plea deal.
- On Thursday, former Republican Minnesota state senator Justin Eichorn pleaded guilty in St. Paul federal court to attempted possession of child pornography, a lesser charge than his original indictment for attempted enticement of a minor.
- Eichorn was arrested in March 2025 during a Bloomington police sting operation after exchanging messages with an undercover detective who posed as a 17-year-old girl.
- Under the plea agreement, Eichorn faces 15 to 21 months in prison, significantly lower than the 10-year mandatory minimum sentence required by his original charge.
- U.S. District Judge Eric Tostrud ordered Eichorn detained ahead of sentencing, rejecting defense attorney Charles Hawkins' argument that the prosecution was 'vindictively motivated by personal animus.'
- Eichorn resigned his seat three days after his March 2025 arrest, and Republican Sen. Keri Heintzeman won the vacant seat in an April 2025 special election.
28 Articles
28 Articles
Grand Rapids Herald-Review
Southernminn.comEx-Sen. Justin Eichorn pleads guilty to lesser child pornography charge
This story is republished with permission from KAXE/KBXE. Former Republican state Sen. Justin Eichorn pleaded guilty to a lesser felony charge of attempted possession of child pornography in federal court. Eichorn appeared for a hearing Thursday morning, May 14, at…
Post Bulletin
Former Minnesota senator pleads guilty in child solicitation sting
ST. PAUL — Former Minnesota Sen. Justin Eichorn pleaded guilty Thursday, May 14, in a child solicitation sting case. Eichorn, a Republican from Grand Rapids, was arrested in March 2025 following a sting operation. He allegedly texted with and arranged to meet someone who he believed to be a 17-year-old — who was actually an undercover detective. He was charged in federal court with attempted coercion and enticement of a minor. Eichorn reached a …
Winona Daily News
La Crosse TribuneEx-state Sen. Justin Eichorn pleads guilty in sex sting, taken into custody
Former Minnesota state Sen. Justin Eichorn, who resigned from office after being caught up in a teen sex sting last year in Bloomington, pleaded guilty Thursday in federal court to a lesser charge of attempted possession of child pornography. Eichorn,…
Former Minnesota state Sen. Justin Eichorn pleads guilty to federal charge after sex sting arrest
ST. PAUL, Minn. — Former Minnesota state Sen. Justin Eichorn pleaded guilty Thursday to a lower federal charge in connection to his arrest during an undercover sex sting operation by Bloomington police last year.
Ex-Minnesota lawmaker Justin Eichorn, originally charged with child enticement, pleads guilty to attempted child porn possession
Justin Eichorn, the former Republican Minnesota state senator charged last year with attempted coercion and enticement of a minor, appeared in a St. Paul federal court Thursday where he instead pleaded guilty to attempted possession of child pornography.
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