Ex-Mich. lawmaker denies sexual assault allegation and admits cases

[ad_1]

LANSING, Michigan (AP) – A former Michigan law leader on Friday denied allegations he raped his future sister-in-law from the age of 14 or 15, saying they had sex for years but both were consenting adults.

Lee Chatfield, a Republican who led the House in 2019 and 2020, has had multiple extramarital affairs, including with his accuser, his lawyer Mary Chartier said in a statement. He “deeply regrets” his decisions which have caused “great pain” to his wife and family, and they are working on it, she said.

“But he never assaulted this woman in any way during their multi-year adult relationship,” Chartier said. “He intends to vigorously fight against these false claims.

The woman, 26, is one of Chatfield’s sisters-in-law, her lawyer Jamie White has said. She filed a complaint at the end of December with the Lansing Police Department. Northern Michigan State Police are investigating as the charges cover jurisdictions outside of the city.

White said on Thursday the alleged assaults began when his client was a 14 or 15-year-old girl attending Northern Michigan Baptist Bible Church and Northern Michigan Christian Academy near Burt Lake, about 100 kilometers northeast of Traverse City .

Chatfield, 33, was a teacher and athletic director at the time before winning the Legislative Assembly election in 2014. His father is a pastor, school principal and teacher.

The legal age of consent in Michigan is 16. First degree criminal sexual conduct – the most serious offense – is defined as including a specific prohibition against a teacher assaulting a student under the age of 16. For third-degree sexual assault, the age of consent is 18 if the abuser is an employee of the victim’s school.

“She was a child,” White said. “She was under the age of consent. … The idea that he rose to the highest levels of our state government is just outrageous to me. We have to see how it happened.

Chatfield left the House after 2020 due to term limits. He was hired to lead an economic development group in southwest Michigan, but quickly resigned due to his previous opposition to adding LGBTQ protections to the state’s civil rights law.

___

Follow David Eggert on https://twitter.com/DavidEggert00

Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.

[ad_2]