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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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SeaQuest aquarium files for bankruptcy, facing investigations in MN

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“I applaud consumers for making a smart business decision,” he said. “They have a clear pattern of neglecting animal welfare.”

USDA inspections in Roseville between May and October showed, among many findings, that feces were present on the floor, animals were exposed to electrical cords and the facility lacked an effective program to control insects and rodents. Inspectors also noted that an attending veterinarian was not on site to conduct quarterly evaluations, and the facility was not following appropriate methods to prevent and treat injured animals.

Last summer, the Humane Society of the United States placed undercover investigators in SeaQuest locations in Fort Worth, Texas and Las Vegas. In November, the organization released a video showing rodent and maggot infestations near animals’ food and visitors and staff. Clips from the two locations showed animals begging for food, being stepped on, and distressed and running in circles to avoid interactions with people. After the society’s investigations, the Texas and Nevada locations shut down.

“Our investigations reveal that SeaQuest animals are confined to live in dark, hot, filthy spaces with no windows, fresh air or proper enrichment. Basic mental, physical and behavioral health requirements of the animals are simply ignored,” said Laura Hagen, director of captive wildlife for the Humane Society of the United States. “Wild animals are surrounded for hours by loud crowds poking and grabbing them, day after day. These disgraceful, negligent operations abuse animals to turn a profit and the public needs to know how cruel and dangerous they really are.”

In court filings, Neilsen said SeaQuest features more than 300 species of animals at its remaining locations, including some which are endangered or threatened. “Seaquest provides a culture for those animals to breed and multiply, thus helping preserve the species,” he wrote in the filings.

While details are scarce, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources spokesman Joe Albert confirmed an “active investigation” was underway. A case has been presented to the Ramsey County Attorney’s Office for consideration for charges, spokesman Dennis Gerhardstein said.



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2½-year term for onetime Edina financial adviser who stole $1.6M from clients

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A onetime Edina-based financial adviser has received a 2½-year prison sentence for cheating clients out of more than $1.6 million and using the money to buy property in the city.

Kristi Margaret Berge, 48, founder and CEO of Keep Safe Investments, LLC, or KSI Financial, was sentenced in U.S. District Court in St. Paul after pleading guilty to wire fraud in connection with the scheme that ran from mid-2020 to early 2023.

After finishing her prison time, Berge will be on supervised release for two years. Her sentence also calls for her to make full restitution to her victims.

Ahead of sentencing, defense attorney Bruce Rivers argued for his client to receive a term of six months’ home confinement followed by three years’ supervised release.

“Ms. Berge has demonstrated an incredible amount of acceptance of responsibility,” Rivers wrote to the court, adding that she had no criminal history before this case. “Ms. Berge never set out to hurt anyone. Her business took a turn, and she made some serious mistakes along the way and has every intention to repay those who were harmed.”

In response, prosecutors asked for Berge to receive a two-year prison term. They noted in their filing that she earned a degree from Columbia University, worked in London for the Morgan Stanley investment firm and “has been a supportive mother to her children.”

However, the filing continued, “given her education, gainful employment and other job skills, Berge’s decision to commit fraud is certainly puzzling and troubling. … That Berge certainly had the means and professional skills to live comfortably without resorting to crime makes her scheme all the more aggravating.”

According to Berge’s plea agreement and other court documents:



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Manhunt continues for killer of Brian Thompson, UnitedHealthcare CEO

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The Des Moines Register reported that Thompson was valedictorian of his 1993 high school class in Jewell, Iowa. The town is located nearly 3 hours south of the Twin Cities, just west of Interstate 35.

“Brian was a wonderful person with a big heart and who lived life to the fullest,” his wife, Paulette Thompson said in a statement. “He will be greatly missed by everybody. Our hearts are broken, and we are completely devastated by this news. He touched so many lives.”

United Healthcare CEO Brian Thompson, who died Dec. 4. in New York City.

Investigators were releasing no new details as of 7 a.m. Central time on Thursday.

On Wednesday, police said they were examining the contents of a cell phone found in the alley where the shooter fled. They also indicated the e-bike used by the suspect was part of a local cycle-sharing business.

“There [is] GPS on those bikes,” chief detective Joseph Kenny said during the news conference. “We’ll be working with the company.”



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