Former Michigan House Speaker Lee Chatfield (right) and his wife Stephanie Chatfield (left) appear over Zoom for their arraignment in an East Lansing Court on May 2, 2024. (Photo by Anna Liz Nichols)

Former Michigan House Speaker Lee Chatfield and his wife, Stephanie Chatfield, have a trial date on charges of running a criminal enterprise and embezzling large sums of money from a political nonprofit to fund personal purchases.

Ingham County Circuit Court records show that Lee and Stephanie Chatfield have a trial date scheduled for September before Ingham Circuit Judge Morgan Cole at the Veterans Memorial Courthouse in downtown Lansing.

Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel and her department have alleged that the couple funneled money from their political nonprofit accounts to fund a lavish lifestyle, and will stand trial for embezzlement and other charges related to their activities.

The pair was bound over to the circuit court last May.

The Department of Attorney General’s case against the Chatfields asserts that, beginning in 2021, the couple allegedly used nonprofit money to reimburse themselves for purchases at luxe stores like Coach, items at amusement parks like Universal Studios, while Lee Chatfield, a Republican, also spent lavishly at strip clubs and partied with his associates and brothers.

An investigation into Chatfield began after his former sister-in-law reported to Lansing police an allegation that he had sexually assaulted her for years, starting when she was 14 or 15 years old.

Michigan State Police probed the allegations and found evidence of potential financial improprieties – an investigation that was later taken over by Nessel. However, she said her office did not find sufficient evidence to pursue charges for criminal sexual conduct.

Two of Lee Chatfield’s aides, Robert and Anné Minard, recently pleaded guilty to lesser charges and agreed to testify against the Chatfields. The Minards were initially charged with conducting a criminal enterprise for their role in allegedly misappropriating funds from three non-profit organizations and two political action committees tied to Lee Chatfield.

Robert Minard served as Chatfield’s chief of staff and Anne Minard was his external affairs director.

The plea deal with the attorney general’s office allowed the Minards to net a reduced 6-month delayed sentence and 36-months probation, along with requirements to provide full restitution of funds they owe to the Michigan Department of Treasury.