Minot neurosurgeon set for trial on federal sex abuse charges
A Minot neurosurgeon is still scheduled to go on trial on federal sexual abuse charges Feb. 7 in U.S. District Court in Bismarck.
Dr. Marc Edward Eichler was indicted June 1, 2016, on two counts of production of materials depicting the sexual exploitation of minors; two counts of attempted production of materials depicting the sexual exploitation of minors; one count of receipt of materials involving the sexual exploitation of minors; one count of attempted receipt of materials involving the sexual exploitation of minors and one count of transfer of obscene materials to minors.
Eichler has pleaded not guilty to those charges.
According to court documents, a status conference hearing was held on Jan. 17. Lawyers for the two sides have agreed to remove a hearing on Eichler’s motion to suppress evidence from the court calendar. Eichler’s attorney had filed a motion to suppress evidence and testimony obtained after Eichler told police he wanted a lawyer during his initial interview with investigating officers on Oct. 28, 2015. However, lawyers for the government argued that Eichler then asked the police what he had been accused of doing and agreed to keep talking with the police after he had first said he wanted an attorney.
Court documents indicate that the two sides have been talking in an effort to reach a settlement. But both sides agreed to leave the Feb. 7 trial date on the calendar.
Eichler is accused of exchanging sexually explicit texts and photos with two area girls in 2015 when they were 12 and 13. Eichler also allegedly provided the first girl with alcohol and tobacco and a smart phone and other gifts and also paid for hotel rooms in different locations for her and her friends as an incentive for her not to talk about the alleged sex abuse.
According to a probable cause affidavit filed in state court, Eichler was originally charged with Class AA gross sexual imposition for allegedly sexually assaulting one of the girls when she was babysitting at his residence and two counts of Class B felony luring a minor by computer for allegedly texting lewd messages and photos to the girls. The state charges against him there were dismissed once the federal charges were filed.
Eichler formerly worked as a neurosurgeon at Trinity Hospital in Minot.