Michigan Man Arrested for Alleged Child Sex Exploitation

Matthew Chantelois, a Michigan man known for his Elvis Presley impersonations, was recently arrested in connection with child sex exploitation allegations. Authorities claim that Chantelois was found in a motel room with a 16-year-old girl from New York State in January.

Arrest and Charges

Chantelois was taken into custody in the early hours of January 24 at a motel in Erie County, Pennsylvania, according to the Pennsylvania State Police. The New York State Police had alerted Pennsylvania authorities about the missing teenager, leading to Chantelois’ arrest.

Following his arrest, Chantelois was charged with interference with the custody of a child, corruption of minors, and furnishing alcohol to a minor. He was held on a bail of $100,000.00. Additionally, federal authorities have indicted him on charges of sexual exploitation of a minor.

Allegations

The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Pennsylvania alleges that Chantelois “used, persuaded, induced, and enticed” a minor to create visual depictions of sexual acts. He has also been charged with possessing and transporting child sexual abuse material across state lines.

If convicted, Chantelois could face up to 60 years in prison or a fine of up to $750,000, or both, according to the statement from the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

Elvis Impersonator

Chantelois has been performing as an Elvis impersonator for over three decades, as reported by ClickOnDetroit and The Miami Herald. His attorney, Stephen Emilio Sebald, has stated that Chantelois denies the state charges from January and plans to plead not guilty to the federal charges.

Sebald declined to comment on how Chantelois may have come into contact with the alleged victim, stating that they are still investigating the circumstances of the case.

Reporting Child Abuse

If you suspect child abuse, you can contact the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-4-A-Child or 1-800-422-4453. All calls are confidential and toll-free, available 24/7 in over 170 languages.

For those who have been sexually assaulted, the National Sexual Assault Hotline can be reached at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673) or through rainn.org.

For more information, you can read the original article on People.