Executive Summary
- Anne and Robert Minard were sentenced to 36 months of probation by Ingham County Circuit Court Judge James Jamo.
- The plea agreements require the former aides to testify against former Michigan House Speaker Lee Chatfield.
- The trial for the former Speaker is currently expected to proceed next year.
LANSING, Mich. — An Ingham County judge on Wednesday accepted plea agreements for two former aides to former Michigan House Speaker Lee Chatfield, sentencing them to probation and formally securing their testimony for the upcoming trial of the former legislative leader.
Circuit Court Judge James Jamo sentenced Anne Minard and Robert Minard to 36 months of probation following the acceptance of their pleas. According to statements made during the hearing, the sentence includes a provision for a potential six-month jail term should the defendants violate the undisclosed specific terms of their probation.
The finalized plea agreements set the stage for the former staffers to serve as witnesses against their former boss, Chatfield. His trial regarding the allegations against him is expected to take place next year. The cooperation of the Minards is considered a procedural step in the state’s case against the former Speaker.
Legal Ramifications
The sentencing of close associates often represents a strategic consolidation phase in prosecutions involving public officials, as secured testimony from insiders can provide direct evidence regarding intent and internal operations. With the plea deals finalized, the legal focus will now likely shift to the pre-trial motions that will define the scope of the testimony Anne and Robert Minard can provide. It is important to note that former Speaker Lee Chatfield is presumed innocent of all charges unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.
