Justin Eichorn

Justin Eichorn’s sentencing comes a year-and-a-half after his arrest as part of an undercover law enforcement sting operation during the 2025 legislative session.

Prosecutors are calling for five years in prison for the former Grand Rapids state senator. His defense team is arguing for time already served, plus five years of supervision.

The court filing comes ahead of a Sept. 23, 2026, sentencing hearing, 18 months after Eichorn’s arrest as part of an undercover law enforcement sting operation.

The guilty plea comes more than a year after the Grand Rapids Republican's arrest as part of an undercover law enforcement sting operation.

The former state senator was charged in March 2025 after a prostitution sting operation in Bloomington, where an undercover police officer posed as a 17-year-old online.

In seeking to move the date, Eichorn waived his rights to a speedy trial, but said he does intend to proceed to a jury trial.

The former lawmaker's trial is slated to begin March 30, 2026. Eichorn was charged with soliciting a minor in 2025 after a prostitution sting operation in Bloomington, where an undercover officer posed as a 17-year-old online.

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A federal judge rejected most of Justin Eichorn's defense motions to dismiss the case or suppress evidence in a Nov. 26, 2025, order and recommendation.

The former Minnesota state senator is one of two people being charged at the federal level, which carries a tougher maximum sentence compared to the state level.