Ex-Speaker Lee Chatfield’s key aide takes plea deal to testify against him

LANSING – Anne Minard, a former staffer to ex-Home Speaker Lee Chatfield, will doubtless keep away from jail time on a collection of economic misconduct prices after agreeing to testify in opposition to her previous boss at his trial.

Minard agreed throughout an Oct. 23 listening to to plead responsible to 1 rely of submitting a false tax return and one other rely of embezzling a minimum of $1,000 however lower than $20,000 from a nonprofit throughout her time as an assistant at Chatfield. Ten different prices, together with a conspiracy cost, will probably be dismissed underneath the settlement, which was accepted by Ingham County Circuit Courtroom Decide James Jamo.

“Responsible, your honor,” Minard pleaded after Jamo requested if she understood the settlement.

Minard will probably be sentenced on December 3. Prosecutors have really useful 36 months of probation, with a attainable sentence of six months in jail for violations of the plea settlement. The embezzlement cost to which she pleaded responsible carries a most penalty of 10 years in jail if convicted. Submitting a false tax return carries a most penalty of 5 years in jail if convicted.

Prosecutors had beforehand alleged in courtroom filings that Anne Minard and her husband Rob Minard, one other former Chatfield aide, had used their political connections to complement themselves, misappropriating cash from a collection of nonprofit political accounts they have been linked to, together with by Chatfield.

Chatfield, a Levering Republican who served as Speaker of the Michigan Home of Representatives in 2019 and 2020, will stand trial on 13 monetary prices. Anne Minard has agreed to testify at Chatfield’s trial, tentatively scheduled for September 21, 2026.

As a key aide to the previous speaker, Anne Minard’s settlement to testify is prone to increase the state’s prosecution in opposition to Chatfield. Chatfield had a popularity as a powerful fundraiser, and Anne Minard’s testimony might probably give prosecutors perception into how tons of of hundreds of {dollars} flowed by political nonprofits.

Mary Chartier, Chatfield’s lawyer, mentioned Anne Minard’s plea deal was “not shocking.” “The Lawyer Basic is keen to make a cope with anybody to attempt to construct a case in opposition to Mr. Chatfield, together with a identified and admitted liar and thief,” Cartier mentioned. “…Any cheap particular person will be capable of see by no matter claims Anne Minard is attempting to concoct to keep away from a prolonged jail sentence. I stay up for cross-examining Ms. Minard with vigorous consideration to element.”

Rob Minard, who was additionally charged in December 2023, didn’t attain a plea settlement as of October 23. Nevertheless, his lawyer informed reporters after the listening to that it was nonetheless attainable to succeed in an analogous settlement earlier than his trial tentatively begins on November 10.

“We’re speaking about speaking. We’re not there but. However each side are eager about speaking about speaking,” mentioned Robert Harrison, an lawyer representing Rob Minard.

Extra: Ex-speaker Lee Chatfield and spouse are to face trial for alleged misuse of political cash

Gerald Gleeson, Anne Minard’s lawyer, downplayed the truth that Anne Minard had reached a settlement however that Rob Minard would nonetheless seem in courtroom. “The general public shouldn’t view one particular person pleading responsible as the ultimate assertion on their marriage. They’re fantastic individuals who nonetheless love one another,” he mentioned. Harrison mentioned Anne Minard maintains marital privilege and can’t be compelled to testify in opposition to Rob Minard at trial.

As a part of the plea deal, Anne Minard agreed to repay $37,403 to the state in compensation for a fraudulent earnings tax return.

At a December 2023 information convention saying the costs in opposition to the Minards, Lawyer Basic Dana Nessel mentioned the Minards illegally obtained a minimum of $525,000 between 2018 and 2020. The pair initially confronted a number of prices, together with embezzlement, conducting a prison enterprise and intent to defraud by false pretenses.

In earlier hearings and filings, prosecutors have alleged that Anne and Rob Minard orchestrated a scheme to complement themselves by inflated reimbursement claims and misrepresented bills. Anne and Rob Minard have been supposed to hunt reimbursement for bills incurred for political causes, equivalent to journey, meals and marketing campaign supplies, however the bills have been truly incurred by a number of organizations, together with political nonprofit funds tied to Chatfield, prosecutors mentioned. As well as, the reimbursement requests submitted by the couple have been inflated to be of higher worth than the precise prices, courtroom paperwork allege.

Lee Chatfield’s spouse, Stephanie Chatfield, additionally faces one rely of embezzlement and conspiracy in reference to the investigation. Matt Newburg, Stephanie Chatfield’s lawyer, didn’t instantly return a message left at his workplace Thursday.

(This story has been up to date so as to add new info.)

Free Press columnist ML Elrick and Lansing Bureau Chief Paul Egan contributed.

Contact Arpan Lobo: alobo@freepress.com