MOUNT CLEMENS (WWJ) – A New York man could spend up to two decades behind bars after pleading guilty to sexually abusing two boys while he was involved with the Boy Scouts of America and a local church in Roseville.
Michigan Attorney Dana Nessel on Monday announced 51-year-old Mark Chapman pleaded guilty in 16th Circuit Court in Macomb County and will learn his sentence on Dec. 14.
Chapman was the first person to be charged in Nessel’s sprawling investigation into the Boy Scouts. He will also be the first to be convicted.
Chapman pleaded guilty to one count of first-degree criminal sexual conduct, with a sentence agreement of 12-20 years in the Michigan Department of Corrections, as well as one count of second-degree CSC, with a sentence agreement of 10-15 years.
Both sentence agreements also include lifetime sex offender registration, lifetime electric monitoring and sex offender counseling.
Authorities say Chapman’s abuse dates back to 2000, when the victim was 13 or 14 years old. It continued until he was a 17-year-old high school senior.
The abuse took place at the victim’s father’s house, at Chapman’s house and at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, where Chapman also worked.
The other case involves a family member who was around 11 years old when Chapman began abusing him, according to Nessel’s office. The abuse went on for years and “often revolved around times that were designated as special opportunities for Chapman to spend time with the boy.” Authorities did not disclose the exact family relationship between Chapman and the victim.
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“Securing justice for the survivors of abuse is one of my top priorities. Regardless how much time has passed, or how difficult the circumstances of a case may be, I am committed to seeing abusers held accountable for their crimes,” Nessel said. “Allegations made against adults in the Boy Scouts of America are wide-ranging and my department continues to review information and evidence to pursue charges against those who used their positions of authority to harm children.”
Chapman’s convictions are part of a larger investigation that was launched in the summer of 2021. Nessel’s office is continuing to examine an estimated total of 5,000 claims of abuse sent from BSA national.
Currently, completed reviews of 550 claims have resulted in about 60 cases being sent to Michigan State Police for further investigation.
The claim review process remains ongoing and officials are asking anyone who may have been a victim of Boy Scouts abuse or has information that may aid the investigation to call the investigation tip line at 844-324-3374 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Tips can be left anonymously.
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