Eric Dione Birth has pleaded guilty to three counts of third-degree criminal sexual conduct involving three separate victims in Winona, Minnesota. The plea was entered on January 21, 2026, following an investigation into sexual assaults that occurred while Birth was employed as a coach and teacher at Winona Senior High School.
Birth began working as a track coach at the school in 2016 and became a licensed physical education teacher there in 2021. During his employment, he admitted to sexually assaulting three high school students in 2016, 2017, and 2022.
The case was prosecuted by the Minnesota Attorney General’s Office after a referral from Winona County Attorney Karin Sonneman. This referral was made under Minnesota Statutes section 8.01, which allows the Attorney General to appear in court for certain criminal cases upon request from a county attorney. Generally, the prosecuting authority for most criminal acts lies with city and county attorneys rather than the state Attorney General’s Office.
Attorney General Keith Ellison stated, “Eric Birth’s crimes are appalling, and my heart breaks for the students he assaulted. I will do everything in my power to hold adults like Birth accountable when they abuse positions of authority to harm young people. Justice demands no less.”
Ellison also expressed gratitude to the Winona Police Department for their assistance during the investigation and prosecution.
The Minnesota Attorney General’s Office primarily handles civil matters but can prosecute certain criminal cases when referred by local authorities or in cases involving Medicaid fraud.
