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Duluth man pleads guilty to criminal sexual conduct with girls

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DULUTH – With freshly selected jurors waiting nearby for the start of an expected days-long trial, a Duluth man facing criminal sexual conduct charges took a last-minute plea deal instead of facing the women he abused when they were children.

Clint Franklin Massie, 49, pleaded guilty Wednesday morning at the St. Louis County Courthouse to the four counts from incidents dating back to 2008-09 when two of his victims were young girls. The deal dismissed one of the counts against him. His sentencing is scheduled for March 20, and he could end up with more than nine years in prison. Massie, who was initially charged in February 2023 and has been out on $300,000 bail, was released until his sentencing.

In each case, the victim was known to Massie — whether they were related or through their shared membership at Old Apostolic Lutheran Church. He was friends with their parents and regarded as a fun, child-free uncle, according to reports from the investigation.

Assistant St. Louis County Attorney Michael Ryan told the court that the victims were satisfied with the deal.

“They have been involved in talking this through,” he said to Judge Dale Harris.

After Massie pleaded guilty, would-be witnesses and their supporters filed into the courtroom filling rows. Massie, dressed in a dark suit coat and khaki pants, turned to look. Ryan questioned him on the victims’ accusations — four specific scenarios where he had touched girls: during a sleepover at his house, when alone on a tractor, or beneath a blanket while others were in the room.

Massie said in court there were a lot of big gatherings and shared meals within this the group. It wasn’t unusual for one of the many children to sit on his lap.

At times Massie paused and said he couldn’t remember exact details or motives. At other times he deferred to what he told investigating officers last year. In each instance he ultimately agreed with the scenario presented by the prosecution.



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Duluth’s tourism to be marketed by an AZ agency, in controversial move

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DULUTH – A Tucson, Ariz., marketing agency will orchestrate tourism efforts in Duluth over the next two years, after what some have said was a thorny process that resulted in Mayor Roger Reinert flip-flopping on a campaign talking point.

Madden Media was chosen from more than two dozen applicants, including six that are based in Duluth or have an office here, for the $3.6 million contract.

Tourism in Duluth is a nearly $1 billion industry.

The Duluth City Council voted 8-1 Monday night, with Councilor Wendy Durrwachter dissenting, to approve a recommendation to choose the out-of-state agency. Most said they wished they could vote no but felt they had no choice.

The city released the scores of the five finalists, which include three Duluth agencies, one with a Minneapolis office and Madden Media. Without considering points given to local shops, Madden Media’s score was 81.2 on a 100-point scale, with Duluth-based Hailey Sault and AimClear the next-highest scorers, at about 73 points each. Bonus points for being local put Madden Media ahead by just three points.

Calling the scored selection process “frustrating,” Council President Roz Randorf said she and others worked behind the scenes to soften the blow — by asking to adjust the contract so more money would be spent in town, for example — but found no viable options. At a council meeting last week Duluth City Attorney Teri Lehr said that if the council rejected a pick that resulted from a competitive proposal process, it could expose the city to legal liability.

“We need a broader conversation about how important local is,” Randorf said. “Outsourcing marketing to out-of-town firms undermines local expertise and siphons money and jobs away from this community.”

Councilor Arik Forsman said he didn’t like the agency’s location, “but I can’t argue with their qualifications.”



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Charges: Girl shot in face when 2 teens unleash barrage of gunfire outside Uptown apartment building

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She was among several people who were at a party that night in the nearby Revel Apartments.



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St. Paul’s McNeely Conservatory at Como getting wheelchair ramps

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Longtime elevators, which were often out of order, will be removed and replaced with ramps that will open in January. There is no Holiday Flower Show this year.



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