LANSING, Mich. — State police in northern Michigan had been investigating Thursday after a girl accused former state Home Speaker Lee Chatfield of sexually assaulting her a number of occasions, starting when she was 14 or 15 years outdated.
The accuser, now 26, filed a felony criticism with the Lansing Police Division, which referred it to state police earlier this week. Her lawyer, Jamie White, confirmed the character of the allegations first reported by Lansing City Pulse, together with that Chatfield started molesting her greater than a decade in the past and the sexual contact continued till final yr.
State police spokesperson Shanon Banner declined to offer extra info.
The alleged assaults started when the then-14 or 15-year-old lady attended Northern Michigan Baptist Bible Church and Northern Michigan Christian Academy close to Burt Lake, about 60 miles northeast of Traverse Metropolis, White mentioned.
The Related Press doesn’t sometimes establish individuals who say they’re victims of sexual assault until they select to come back ahead publicly.
Chatfield taught and coached on the college and was the athletic director between 2010 and 2014, according to his LinkedIn profile. His father is pastor of the church, the varsity superintendent and a instructor.
Telephone and textual content messages searching for remark had been left by the AP Thursday evening for Chatfield, 33, who left the Home in 2020 because of time period limits.
“She did what she’s presupposed to do. She went to the instant jurisdiction that she thought was acceptable,” White mentioned. “Her and her household, they’re working via it. They’re wanting ahead to working with legislation enforcement to carry this allegation to conclusion and (carry) accountability for others which have been harmed.”
Chatfield, the youngest Home speaker in additional than a century, was the Republican chief for 2 years and was amongst seven Michigan GOP lawmakers who met with then-President Donald Trump on the White Home as Trump tried to overturn Democrat Joe Biden’s win within the state.
