CHARLOTTE, Mich. — An interim Police Chief for the Potterville City Police Department has been announced.
Officer Richard Barry has been appointed to the position for the immediate future.
The former Potterville Police Chief is facing criminal charges, including one that alleges he helped his wife file a false police report.
Former Police Chief Shane Bartlett was arraigned Wednesday in Charlotte District Court and is currently on paid administrative leave.
Bartlett was charged with the following:
- Common Law Offense/Misconduct in Office, which is a felony and carries a maximum penalty of 5 years in prison and/or $10,000 fine.
- Lying to a Peace Officer-Violent Crime Investigation, which is a felony and carries a maximum penalty of 4 years in prison and/or a fine of $5,000.
- False Report of a Felony, which is also a felony and carries a maximum penalty of 4 years in prison and/or $2,000 fine.
In a response over Facebook messenger to News 10's Carla Bayron, Shane replied that he was not guilty.
In the false report of a felony, the Barry County Prosecutor's Office alleges that Shane Bartlett aided and abetted his wife in making the false allegation.
While the alleged offenses occurred in Eaton County, the Barry County Prosecutor’s Office was appointed by the Michigan Attorney General to handle the case when Eaton County Prosecutor Doug Lloyd recused his office due to a conflict.
The charges stem from a lengthy investigation by the Michigan State Police that began with a complaint by Kellie Bartlett against an Eaton County Deputy for sexual assault.
As part of the investigation, Shane Bartlett, Kellie Bartlett’s husband, was interviewed by a detective.
That case was turned over to the Barry County Prosecutor's Office in September of 2018.
"He is a veteran who served our country overseas and he has absolutely no criminal history," said Matthew Newburg, Shane's attorney. "He has been an outstanding citizen. He's been a pillar of the community. I think that's an accurate reflection of who he is as an individual. I think everybody just needs to reserve judgement on what they think these allegations mean for Shane Barlett because he's innocent until proven guilty."
Kellie Bartlett was charged with Filing a False Report of a Felony and several other counts. Her case is pending in circuit court.
Shane's bond was set at $10,000. His preliminary exam is set for May 14th.
In a press release Wednesday morning, Potterville's City Manager said that the Eaton County Sheriff's Office will help out with protecting the community in the interim.
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