Star Tribune
Duluth man pleads guilty to criminal sexual conduct with girls
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.
Star Tribune
St. Paul’s Black-owned bookstore Black Garnet Books sells to new owner
Four years ago, Dionne Sims tweeted a dream into the world.
Sims had a vision for a Black-owned bookstore in Minnesota that would uplift books by people of color who are often marginalized in the literary world. At the time, there were no other bookstores like it in the state. Black Garnet Books opened in St. Paul’s Hamline-Midway neighborhood in 2022 with the help of crowdfunding and a $100,000 Neighborhood STAR grant from the city.
With that dream realized, Sims said she has turned toward other dreams: focusing on her writing and pursuing grad school. This summer, Sims shared in a post on Black Garnet Book’s Instagram that she was looking for a new owner for the bookstore. This fall, she sold the bookstore.
“I feel really good about it,” she said. “Something that I really feel strongly about is that you don’t have to do something forever for it to have been good during the time that you did it, or for it to have been worth doing.”
In addition to her social media callout, Sims reached out to Terresa Moses, a University of Minnesota professor and the owner of Blackbird Revolt, a social justice design studio. The two met through a mutual friend in 2020 and connected on a dog walk. Not long after, Sims volunteered to help pass out Blackbird Revolt merch at protests. When Black Garnet opened its doors, they began stocking Moses’ designs.
Nova the dog rests on a pillow while shoppers are busy perusing books and items inside Black Garnet Books on Small Business Saturday in St. Paul, Minn., on Saturday, Nov. 26, 2022. ] SHARI L. GROSS • shari.gross@startribune.com (Shari L. Gross)
“She was the first person I thought of when I was like, ‘okay, I’m definitely going to do this. I’m definitely going to sell the store,’” Sims said.
It worked out. There is a strong connection between the work at Blackbird and Black Garnet, Moses said in an email.
“Much like the work I already engage in, there is a strong intersection of creativity, storytelling, and abolition,” Moses said.
Star Tribune
Accidental is ruling of death of man who suffered head wound in Plymouth home
The death of a man who suffered a head injury inside his Plymouth home last month has been ruled as accidental, according to officials.
David Raymond Hegre, 63, died from severe blood loss on Nov. 22 at his townhome in the 13700 block of 54th Avenue N., the Hennepin County Medical Examiner’s Office said Monday.
Hegre suffered a deep cut to his scalp in “a presumed fall,” a statement from the Medical Examiner’s Office read. The statement included that the manner of death was an accident.
Three days after Hegre died, Police Chief Erik Fadden told the Minnesota Star Tribune that his department did not suspect this was a case of homicide but added, “obviously, it’s a little suspicious.”
Police said in search warrant affidavits filed in Hennepin County District Court that officers went into the home and saw a “blood trail going up the stairs was consistent with a body being dragged up the stairs, and it appeared some of the blood had been attempted to be cleaned up.”
The Star Tribune has asked the chief for comment about the ruling by the Medical Examiner’s Office.
Hegre graduated from Hopkins Lindbergh High School in 1979 and earned a degree in economics from the University of Minnesota before building a career in sales and consulting.
“Rarely idle, Dave enjoyed time with family, winemaking, remodeling, landscaping and tinkering with odd jobs,” his online obituary read.
Star Tribune
Mankato Brewery, maker of popular popcorn ale, closing after 12 years
One of the largest independent breweries in Minnesota, known for its inventive beer creations, is set to close soon.
Mankato Brewery, which has sold craft beers in its taproom for 12 years, will have last call in late January, owner Tim Tupy said on Facebook Monday night.
“Our journey as a brewery is coming to an end,” said Tupy, who started the business out of his garage.
“This isn’t just a goodbye to brewing; it’s a farewell to the countless moments we’ve shared with all of you — our fans, our friends, our team, and our community,” Tupy said. “Together, we celebrated milestones, raised glasses to life’s joys, and built something truly special here in the region.”
Mankato Brewery’s Tim Tupy served Boomchickapop Popcorn Ale in 2016. (The Minnesota Star Tribune) (The Minnesota Star Tribune)
In 2016, the brewery had a hit in its Boomchickapop Popcorn Ale, a sweet Belgian farmhouse-style saison. Each pint started with about two cups of Angie’s Boomchickapop, based in North Mankato. Liquor stores couldn’t keep it in stock.
In August, Tupy announced that the brewery was for sale, saying he was nearing retirement, and his current investors were not able to take over the business.
The asking price for the brewery was listed as $3.95 million. When putting the brewery up for sale, Tupy said the business sold 3,761 barrels of beer, or 116,591 gallons, in 2023. He said the brewery was the 19th largest independent brewery in the state.