The mayor of Pembina, N.D., was scheduled today by a judge to go to trial in June on misdemeanor drug charges in state district court in Cavalier, N.D.
A more serious charge of child endangerment was dropped last month by the prosecutor.
Warren Hillukka, who has been mayor for nearly a decade, was charged in December with felony child endangerment and misdemeanor drug possession and drug paraphernalia possession. Hillukka works for an electric power company and has been mayor or on the city council in Pembina since 1994.
He pleaded not guilty in writing this week, waiving a preliminary hearing. A trial before a jury of six on the two misdemeanor charges was scheduled for June 28.
Hillukka's granddaughter was living in his home and had access to the drugs and paraphernalia, according to the initial felony charge of child endangerment, which was dropped last month.
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Hillukka is being represented by attorney Neil Fleming of Cavalier.
