Former Minnesota state representative arrested on criminal sex conduct charge

A former Minnesota state lawmaker has been jailed on a pending sex crimes charge.

Jason Metsa, a DFLer who represented central Minnesota's District 6B from 2013 to 2019, was arrested in St. Louis County on Saturday. Per the county's jail roster , he is now facing a charge of 3rd degree criminal sex conduct — force or coercion, which is a felony.

As he has yet to make his first court appearance, bail has not yet been decided.

Details of the alleged crime will likely be released in the coming days.

Metsa, 43, lost a 2018 bid for Minnesota's 8th Congressional District to Republican Pete Stauber, who remains in that seat.

The following year, he joined the Iron Range Resources & Rehabilitation Advisory Board as deputy commissioner, serving in that role through 2022.

According to his LinkedIn , Metsa most recently worked as an executive for GE Healthcare, leaving that position in July of 2023.

Note: The details provided in this story are based on law enforcement’s latest version of events, and may be subject to change.