By Liz Nass
Gongwer News Service
Stephanie Chatfield was sentenced to six months’ probation on Monday after taking a plea agreement.
Judge Morgan Cole said if she took all the facts into account in the case, Chatfield is a long-standing teacher and mother in front of her with no prior convictions and has been compliant under bond.
“I can also say that Miss Chatfield, as a mother, has had a very difficult time perusing this case, coupled with her children as well, I do know that there was previous bond motions where she has been unable to attend her child's games and practices for sports because of limitations on the bond conditions, and I understand that that too has been something very difficult,” Cole said.
Cole said Chatfield has acted with candor throughout the case.
Chatfield was also sentenced to 25 hours of community service and must also pay a fine of $2,000 and $130 and supervision fees for a crime victims' assessment. She has also been asked to hand write an apology letter to the court.
Cole also said she could be eligible for an early discharge of probation after serving at least half of the term and could apply to appeal the conviction as well six-months after Monday’s sentencing.
Chatfield did not say anything in front of the court herself. Her attorney Daniel Sturdevant did not comment on the sentencing after.
Attorney General Dana Nessel said in a statement that “anyone who is granted access to non-profits and their funds must obey the law.”
“Proximity to influence does not grant immunity from accountability, and no one can use their nexus to power to unlawfully enrich themselves. Mrs. Chatfield was a willing participant on the Peninsula Fund gravy train, enjoying a lifestyle funded by money meant to support public welfare. My office remains committed to pursuing and prosecuting those who treat these types of accounts as personal piggy banks,” Nessel said.
Chatfield pleaded guilty to embezzlement from a nonprofit organization in the amount of $200 to $1,000 in June. Two other felony charges for embezzlement and conspiracy to commit embezzlement were dismissed under successful completion of probation. The plea agreement states Stephanie Chatfield committed embezzlement as an employee of the Peninsula Fund.
The charge to which she pleaded guilty is a felony punishable by up to five years in prison, $15,000 or three times the amount embezzled, whichever is greater, or both.
Before the final sentencing was finalized, the two parties went back and forth on the appropriate probationary period.
Sturdevant said Chatfield’s role in this case was made far bigger because of who she was married to and has “been a consequence on my client's life, her reputation, things that she will never be able to do back,” something he said needed to take into consideration in determining the length of probation.
He said because of her lifestyle, including stable employment, having children and taking care of family with special needs, “she has a lot on her plate,” and did not think probation of 18-months as a recommendation by the Department of Corrections was appropriate. He instead fought for a 30-day probationary period and a tailoring of 100 hours of community service.
Cole also pushed back on the 100 hours, not knowing how many programs would have that many hours to give her.
Kahla Crino, assistant attorney general, offered a 24-month probation period as opposed to the department. Crino said a 30-day term of probation would be “inadequate and inappropriate.”
“Such a paltry term of probation, such a paltry sentence, would not only minimize the seriousness of Mrs. Chatfield's offense, it would also reward her for the privilege that she has had in her life, which, as we know, so many criminal defendants do not have the benefit of, and most importantly, it would tell the community that if you help a powerful public official, a powerful man, commit a crime, you will face nothing more than a short term of probation, a slap on the wrist, and the embarrassment of having received rich criminal acts made public,” Crino said.
Crino said one could look easily at her criminal history and say this is not someone who needs to be reformed, but that would be an error because this was not a one-off mistake. However, she said the 25 credit card payments used with the embezzled money including shopping sprees to UGG, Lily Pulitzer and Lululemon as well as
Crino compared this case to those of Anne and Robert Minard, who were also charged with crimes connected to the Chatfield case, saying she told this was “not a victimless crime.”
“When individuals and corporations donate 501(c)(4) organizations like the Peninsula Fund, whose stated purpose is to promote social welfare, civic betterments, and social improvements for Michigan residents, they should be confident that that is what their money will actually go toward,” Crino said. “Crimes like this erode public trust in our government and in our political process, and they are far from being victimless crimes.”
Both Minards were sentenced to 36-months’ probation.
Before passing down the sentencing, Cole said, however, she was “baffled” by the probation’s recommendation of 18-months as fines and cost were the recommendation for someone who violated parole for murder just before Chatfield’s sentencing.
The alleged embezzlement from the Peninsula Fund included paying off personal credit card expenses, seeking improper mileage reimbursements from the House for trips that never happened, implementing a check kickback scheme to move PAC money back to Lee Chatfield for his own use, and subletting an apartment. Attorney General Dana Nessel previously said Chatfield was aware and monitored the transfers with the aim of assisting in the conspiracy which enriched her and her family.
The charges were first brought in April 2024 and both Chatfields were bound over to stand trial in May 2025, her guilty plea ending an over two-year legal drama.
Former House Speaker Lee Chatfield's trial date has been repeatedly rescheduled. A new trial date has not yet been set but is slotted to begin in September. The next scheduled court date in his case is a motion hearing on July 22.
It is unclear if his wife’s plea agreement will affect his own sentencing in the future.
Gongwer News Service
Stephanie Chatfield was sentenced to six months’ probation on Monday after taking a plea agreement.
Judge Morgan Cole said if she took all the facts into account in the case, Chatfield is a long-standing teacher and mother in front of her with no prior convictions and has been compliant under bond.
“I can also say that Miss Chatfield, as a mother, has had a very difficult time perusing this case, coupled with her children as well, I do know that there was previous bond motions where she has been unable to attend her child's games and practices for sports because of limitations on the bond conditions, and I understand that that too has been something very difficult,” Cole said.
Cole said Chatfield has acted with candor throughout the case.
Chatfield was also sentenced to 25 hours of community service and must also pay a fine of $2,000 and $130 and supervision fees for a crime victims' assessment. She has also been asked to hand write an apology letter to the court.
Cole also said she could be eligible for an early discharge of probation after serving at least half of the term and could apply to appeal the conviction as well six-months after Monday’s sentencing.
Chatfield did not say anything in front of the court herself. Her attorney Daniel Sturdevant did not comment on the sentencing after.
Attorney General Dana Nessel said in a statement that “anyone who is granted access to non-profits and their funds must obey the law.”
“Proximity to influence does not grant immunity from accountability, and no one can use their nexus to power to unlawfully enrich themselves. Mrs. Chatfield was a willing participant on the Peninsula Fund gravy train, enjoying a lifestyle funded by money meant to support public welfare. My office remains committed to pursuing and prosecuting those who treat these types of accounts as personal piggy banks,” Nessel said.
Chatfield pleaded guilty to embezzlement from a nonprofit organization in the amount of $200 to $1,000 in June. Two other felony charges for embezzlement and conspiracy to commit embezzlement were dismissed under successful completion of probation. The plea agreement states Stephanie Chatfield committed embezzlement as an employee of the Peninsula Fund.
The charge to which she pleaded guilty is a felony punishable by up to five years in prison, $15,000 or three times the amount embezzled, whichever is greater, or both.
Before the final sentencing was finalized, the two parties went back and forth on the appropriate probationary period.
Sturdevant said Chatfield’s role in this case was made far bigger because of who she was married to and has “been a consequence on my client's life, her reputation, things that she will never be able to do back,” something he said needed to take into consideration in determining the length of probation.
He said because of her lifestyle, including stable employment, having children and taking care of family with special needs, “she has a lot on her plate,” and did not think probation of 18-months as a recommendation by the Department of Corrections was appropriate. He instead fought for a 30-day probationary period and a tailoring of 100 hours of community service.
Cole also pushed back on the 100 hours, not knowing how many programs would have that many hours to give her.
Kahla Crino, assistant attorney general, offered a 24-month probation period as opposed to the department. Crino said a 30-day term of probation would be “inadequate and inappropriate.”
“Such a paltry term of probation, such a paltry sentence, would not only minimize the seriousness of Mrs. Chatfield's offense, it would also reward her for the privilege that she has had in her life, which, as we know, so many criminal defendants do not have the benefit of, and most importantly, it would tell the community that if you help a powerful public official, a powerful man, commit a crime, you will face nothing more than a short term of probation, a slap on the wrist, and the embarrassment of having received rich criminal acts made public,” Crino said.
Crino said one could look easily at her criminal history and say this is not someone who needs to be reformed, but that would be an error because this was not a one-off mistake. However, she said the 25 credit card payments used with the embezzled money including shopping sprees to UGG, Lily Pulitzer and Lululemon as well as
Crino compared this case to those of Anne and Robert Minard, who were also charged with crimes connected to the Chatfield case, saying she told this was “not a victimless crime.”
“When individuals and corporations donate 501(c)(4) organizations like the Peninsula Fund, whose stated purpose is to promote social welfare, civic betterments, and social improvements for Michigan residents, they should be confident that that is what their money will actually go toward,” Crino said. “Crimes like this erode public trust in our government and in our political process, and they are far from being victimless crimes.”
Both Minards were sentenced to 36-months’ probation.
Before passing down the sentencing, Cole said, however, she was “baffled” by the probation’s recommendation of 18-months as fines and cost were the recommendation for someone who violated parole for murder just before Chatfield’s sentencing.
The alleged embezzlement from the Peninsula Fund included paying off personal credit card expenses, seeking improper mileage reimbursements from the House for trips that never happened, implementing a check kickback scheme to move PAC money back to Lee Chatfield for his own use, and subletting an apartment. Attorney General Dana Nessel previously said Chatfield was aware and monitored the transfers with the aim of assisting in the conspiracy which enriched her and her family.
The charges were first brought in April 2024 and both Chatfields were bound over to stand trial in May 2025, her guilty plea ending an over two-year legal drama.
Former House Speaker Lee Chatfield's trial date has been repeatedly rescheduled. A new trial date has not yet been set but is slotted to begin in September. The next scheduled court date in his case is a motion hearing on July 22.
It is unclear if his wife’s plea agreement will affect his own sentencing in the future.
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