Elko Man Pleads Guilty in Eagan Prostitution Case

Follow Eagan Patch on Twitter | Like us on Facebook | Sign up for our daily newsletter

An Elko man pleaded guilty on Aug. 31 to a pair of felony prostitution charges.

Mickey Albert Cupkie, 37, was originally charged in Ramsey County District Court with two counts of engaging in prostitution with a minor under the age of 16 and two counts of engaging in prostitution with a minor under the age of 18 following an incident on May 9.

Cupkie, who originally pleaded not guilty to all four counts, entered an amended guilty plea and was convicted last week of two counts of engaging in prostitution with a minor, according to Minnesota court records. His sentencing hearing is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. on Nov. 1.

Police say Cupkie met a 16-year-old runaway and 17-year-old at an Eagan hotel after an advertisement including nude photos of the girls was posted on the website Backpages.com. Officers used phone records and video footage from a hotel surveillance camera to identify Cupkie.

Cupkie, who was arrested on June 19, admitted under questioning that it"was possible" that he had used Backpages.com to contact the two girls and that it "was possible" they met at a hotel in Eagan. Police say Cupkie also admitted that he had performed oral sex on the 16-year-old, and that the older girl had touched him sexually.

Cupkie also admitted to police that he told both girls he believed they were too young to be engaged in prostitution.