Minnesota State Senator Nicole Mitchell enters not guilty plea

(MPR) – Minnesota State Sen. Nicole Mitchell, DFL-Woodbury, has entered a not guilty plea in a felony burglary case in Becker County.

Mitchell was charged with illegally entering a residence in Detroit Lakes — where her stepmother lives — and taking items belonging to her deceased father.

A stipulation filed Tuesday says the state cannot argue that Mitchell stole a laptop.

“The state may not argue that the defendant stole the laptop from the residence in question as part of any theory of burglary,” reads the filing in Becker County District Court.

The filing said the laptop was “forensically examined,” but does not offer more details.

The defense withdrew a motion to dismiss the case for lack of probable cause, and asked that the case be scheduled for a settlement conference and jury trial.

Becker County Attorney Brian McDonald said he expects a scheduled Friday court appearance for Mitchell in Becker County will be cancelled.

A trial date has not been set.

Republicans have been calling on Mitchell to resign her state Senate seat ever since her arrest. Democrats held a one-seat majority in the state Senate last session.

Since then, state Sen. Kelly Morrison, DFL-Deephaven, resigned her seat to run for the U.S. House seat being vacated by U.S. Rep. Dean Phillips. As a result, each party holds 33 seats in the Minnesota Senate.