Former senator pleads not guilty to sex charge

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.

— Associated Press

Teen driver fatally hits pedestrian, 76

A 76-year-old woman died after she was struck by a teen driver Sunday in St. Paul.

The crash happened about 3:40 p.m. at Third and Flandrau streets in the Eastview neighborhood of the East Side.

St. Paul Fire Department medics took the woman to Regions Hospital, where she died soon after, said Sgt. Toy Vixayvong, a St. Paul police spokesman.

Police are investigating the pedestrian collision as distracted driving because they suspect the 17-year-old driver was on his phone, Vixayvong said. The driver stayed at the scene and was cooperative with the investigation, which is ongoing.

— Mara H. Gottfried

Fire destroys duplex, but no one injured

A duplex was destroyed by a fire Sunday night, according to the Woodbury Fire Department.

Firefighters arrived at the 7500 block of Afton Road close to 11:35 p.m. and observed the house engulfed in flames. The flames were visible from the roof and deck and on the back side of the residence.

All three adult residents evacuated and were uninjured, according to the Woodbury Fire Department.

Crews from Cottage Grove, Oakdale, Lake Elmo, Newport, St Paul Park and Maplewood fire departments aided in extinguishing the fire.

After suppressing the fire, the duplex was deemed a total loss, the Woodbury Fire Department stated.

The cause of the fire is unknown, but officials said they are not ruling out a cigarette as a potential cause.

— Talia McWright