State senator calls for closing ‘hole’ in child abuse reporting law

FRIDAY, Jan. 28 — State Sen. Curtis Hertel Jr. said he will introduce legislation to close a “hole” in the Michigan Child Protection Law that requires certain child care providers to report alleged child abuse — but not necessarily when the alleged abuse occurs between two children.

As reported yesterday by City Pulse, certain people — like teachers and clergy — are required in Michigan to report any suspected abuse or neglect of children under their supervision. However, state officials said those reports are largely optional when the abuse involves two kids.

And Hertel said that’s a legislative gap that he hopes to have filled as quickly as possible.

“I am going to have my team start working on legislation to make that change,” Hertel said.

Hertel is married to the director of the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, Elizabeth Hertel, whose state department oversees Children’s Protective Services.

The legal issue was revealed yesterday following a City Pulse report of a young boy sexually touching another young boy at Northern Michigan Christian Academy in Burt Lake.

The school is affiliated with Northern Michigan Baptist Bible Church and is run by Pastor Rusty Chatfield. According to a police report obtained by City Pulse, Chatfield was made aware of the abuse but did not report it to law enforcement or child protective services. Instead he brought the two boys together and ordered the alleged perpetrator to apologize for his action. 

Afterward, he ordered school officials to keep the boys separated. In addition, he allegedly advised the victim to “beat up” the accused boy if he ever touched him inappropriately again.

Rusty Chatfield is the father of former House Speaker Lee Chatfield, a former teacher at the school who is facing his own scandal after having been accused by his sister-in-law of sexually abusing her beginning when she was a 15-year-old student at the school. Lee Chatfield denied the assault allegations, but has admitted to having “affairs.” Michigan State Police and the Lansing Police Department are currently investigating the allegations against Lee Chatfield.