Minnesota state senator resigns following burglary conviction
Less than a week after a jury found her guilty of burglary, Minnesota Senator Nicole Mitchell has announced her plans to resign.
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A Minnesota state senator announced she will resign as early as next month after being convicted on a burglary charge last week, her defense attorney confirmed.
Minnesota state Sen. Nicole Mitchell was found guilty of two criminal charges on July 18 stemming from a 2024 arrest, The Minnesota Reporter, part of the USA TODAY Network, reported.
Mitchell, 50, was convicted of first-degree burglary and possession of burglary tools in connection to a break-in at her stepmother’s home in Detroit Lakes, a city in northeast Minnesota about 200 miles northwest of Minneapolis.
On July 22, Mitchell’s attorney Dane DeKrey told USA TODAY his client will resign “no later than Aug. 4.”
In the interim, DeKrey said the senator will use that time to wrap up outstanding legislative projects, train legislation staff and more.
“Senator Mitchell’s constituents deserve for her legislative projects to be finalized or ready to hand off to her successor before she resigns,” according to a statement released by Dekray. “Mitchell’s constituents also deserve to have their outstanding issues handled before her resignation… It was the honor of her lifetime to serve her District and the State of Minnesota.”
Who is Sen. Nicole Mitchell?
Mitchell, a Democrat, represents the cities of Woodbury and Maplewood.
She is a former Lt. Colonel with the U.S. Air Force and a meteorologist.
Why was Sen. Nicole Mitchell arrested?
According to trial testimony, on April 22, 2024, Mitchell broke into her stepmother’s Detroit Lakes home to steal her late father’s possessions.
Mitchell unsuccessfully tried to convince jurors she was in the home to conduct a welfare check on her stepmother. She took the stand during trial and told the jury her stepmother “was struggling with paranoia due to Alzheimer’s disease,” the USA TODAY Network reported.
As of July 22, sentencing for Mitchell had not been set.
The lawmaker, who has no criminal history, faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison for burglary and three years in prison for her other charge.
Mitchell’s attorney said his client will appeal the burglary conviction.
Contributing: Michelle Griffith with The Minnesota Reformer
Natalie Neysa Alund is a senior reporter for USA TODAY. Reach her at nalund@usatoday.com and follow her on X @nataliealund.
