Thief River Falls, Pennington County (trfnews.i234.me) — Erick Sean Hartung, 26, faces a felony charge.
Hartung is charged with electronic solicitation of a minor. The charge is listed under Minnesota Statute 609.352, subdivision 2a(1).
Case basics
- Offense date: January 13, 2026.
- Date filed: January 13, 2026.
- Location listed: Thief River Falls.
- County: Pennington County.
What court records show
Court records filed in Pennington County list the charge and the first court date. The record comes from the Register of Actions.
The summary does not include a public statement of probable cause. That filing can explain the alleged messages.
The investigation is listed as handled by the Pennington County Sheriff’s Office. The agency shares public information online.
See: Pennington County Sheriff’s Office website.
Release conditions ordered
Hartung made a first court appearance on January 13, 2026. Judge Michael P. Grover set strict release conditions.
The judge allowed release with no cash deposit if the conditions are followed. The judge also set a $50,000 non-cash bond option.
- No internet use.
- No social media use.
- No contact with anyone under 18.
- No alcohol or controlled substance use.
- Random testing is allowed.
- No firearms possession.
About the charge
Minnesota law bars some adults from soliciting minors for sexual conduct. The law also covers electronic communication.
The court record summary does not list the app or website involved. More details may appear in later filings.
Hartung is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court. A charge is an accusation, not a conviction.
Next court date
An omnibus hearing is scheduled for March 9, 2026. The hearing can address motions, evidence, and scheduling.
Readers can review the law and court rules online. Public case searches are also available through MCRO.
- Read Minnesota Statute 609.352.
- Search Minnesota Court Records Online (MCRO).
- See Rule 11 on omnibus hearings.
I’m Chris Harper reporting for TRF News.