Michigan State Police are investigating allegations of sexual assault made against former state Rep. Lee Chatfield, who served as one of Michigan's youngest-ever House speakers, PEOPLE confirms. Chatfield denies the accusation.
Chatfield's sister-in-law, now 26, has claimed the 33-year-old former lawmaker sexually assaulted her from the time she was 15 until July 2021, her attorney tells PEOPLE.
"There was an ongoing pattern of assault for several years when she was a minor and took place in the home of Mr. Chatfield where she babysat and was involved with the family's religious celebrations," the attorney, Jamie White, says.
Chatfield said via his attorney that his accuser was mischaracterizing a consensual relationship between adults and that he "intends to vigorously fight these false claims."
White, representing the woman, says the sexual assaults allegedly began when she attended Northern Michigan Baptist Bible Church and Northern Michigan Christian Academy, where Chatfield was the athletic director and government teacher, according to his LinkedIn profile.
In a statement, Chatfield's attorney Mary Chartier acknowledged Chatfield had a relationship with the woman but did not sexually assault her.
"Mr. Chatfield is innocent of the false rape claims made against him. He had affairs while he was married, including a sexual relationship with the woman who is now claiming she was raped," Chartier said. "Their affair lasted for years, but they were both consenting adults...
Mr. Neugebauer's Pattern of Falsehoods Reinforce that He Cannot be Trusted to Oversee Fermi; His Gaining Control of the Company Would Jeopardize Shareholder Value Fermi Urges Shareholders to Return...