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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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Central MN man shot week ago in Minneapolis has died

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A man who was shot a week ago in Minneapolis has died several days later, officials said.

Martin Wayne Horvath, 39, of Clear Lake, Minn., was shot on Dec. 2 in the 2600 block of Cedar Avenue S., the Hennepin County Medical Examiner’s Office said.

Horvath was hospitalized at HCMC with head and neck wounds and died there on Saturday, the examiner’s office said.

No arrests have been announced.

Police said they went to the scene of the shooting at about 10:45 p.m. and saw Horvath there with critical wounds.

“Preliminary information indicates [Horvath] was trying to break up a physical altercation between two people known to him when a shot was fired, striking him. The other two people fled the scene before officers arrived.

Officers gave immediate medical attention to Horvath until emergency medical personnel took him to HCMC, police said.

There have been 74 homicides in the city so far this year, according to a Star Tribune database.



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Twin Cities driver fleeing patrol causes fatal collision

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A driver fleeing a late-night traffic stop in St. Paul crashed into a parked vehicle and killed a person inside it, officials said Monday.

The wreck occurred Sunday night at Larpenteur Avenue and Arcade Street, the State Patrol said.

The fleeing motorist, a 28-year-old man from Minneapolis, was arrested after “a Taser was used to assist law enforcement,” Patrol Lt. Mike Lee said.

Shortly after 11:15 p.m., a state trooper stopped a car on Interstate 94 near Marion Street on suspicion of speeding.

The driver stopped briefly but soon sped away. Troopers chased him and were joined by others in law enforcement.

The pursuit at ground level was discontinued while a patrol helicopter followed the fleeing driver until he crashed into a car parked in a lot. The lone occupant in the parked vehicle did not survive the impact.

A Ramsey County sheriff’s deputy apprehended the suspect, who remains jailed pending charges. The patrol has yet to release his identity.



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Fog and snow lead to school and travel delays across east central, northern Minnesota

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Fog across east central Minnesota and the Duluth area and snow across the northern part of the state are leading to tough driving and school delays Monday morning.

Conditions were improving across the Twin Cities metro area where fog was prevalent early Monday. But a dense fog advisory where visibility was less than a mile in some places remained in effect until 9 a.m. for Aitkin, Pine, Itasca, Carlton and southern St. Louis counties, the National Weather Service said.

Cities affected include Pine City, Duluth, Grand Rapids, Hill City and Aitkin.

To the north, a Winter Weather Advisory remained in effect until noon for Koochiching, Northern St. Louis, and northern Cook and Lake counties, along with Voyageurs National Park and the entire Boundary Waters is also included. As much a 4 inches of snow could fall in the area, the National Weather Service in Duluth said.

Lesser totals with gusty winds are expected across northwestern Minnesota where an advisory also is in effect until noon, the Weather Service said.

“Plan on slippery road conditions,” the Weather Service warned.

Several school districts delayed the classes Monday morning to allow weather conditions to improve. Among districts starting late are Aitkin, Bemidji, Brainerd, Cook County, Hill City, Nevis, Park Rapids, Pequot Lakes, Staples-Motley and Walker-Hackensack-Akeley.

Mild conditions will give way to arctic air by Wednesday sending the mercury into the teens below zero from Brainerd to International Falls to Ely, and windchill readings even lower, perhaps minus 40 degrees, the Weather Service said.



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