Elvis Impersonator Arrested After Allegedly Being Caught in Hotel with Girl, 16, Who Had Run Away
Authorities allege Matthew Chantelois “used, persuaded, induced, and enticed” a minor to create “visual depiction” of sexual acts
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• Matthew Chantelois was arrested early morning on Jan. 4 at a motel in Erie County, Pa., authorities say
• He was allegedly caught with a 16-year-old girl from New York State, per police
• He has been indicted on federal child sex exploitation charges, Pennsylvania officials say
A Michigan man identified as an Elvis Presley impersonator has been charged in connection with child sex exploitation after he was allegedly found in a motel room with a teenage girl in January, authorities say.
Matthew Chantelois was arrested a little after 4 a.m. on Jan. 24 from a motel in Erie County, Pa., the Pennsylvania State Police said in a statement to PEOPLE.
New York State Police had flagged Pennsylvania authorities regarding a 16-year-old girl who they believed was with Chantelois, of Dearborn, Mich., according to the statement.
The girl, who is from New York State, had allegedly left her home voluntarily, authorities said in the statement.
NYSP used the cell phone of Chantelois, 45, to trace him to an Erie County motel, the statement said.
Authorities secured the location and took Chantelois into custody, per the statement. The child was also taken to an Erie police facility and referred to PA Childline and the Erie County Office of Children and Youth.
Following Chantelois' arrest, Pennsylvania authorities charged him with interference with the custody of a child, corruption of minors and furnishing alcohol to a minor, according to online court records and the police statement. His bail was set at $100,000.00.
Pennsylvania State Police declined to comment further on the details of the allegations.
Last week, federal authorities indicted Chantelois on federal charges of sexual exploitation of a minor, the U.S. Attorney's Office, Western District of Pennsylvania said in a statement.
The attorney's office alleges Chantelois “used, persuaded, induced, and enticed” a minor to create “visual depiction” of sexual acts. He was also charged with “possessing and transporting child sexual abuse material in interstate commerce.”
If convicted, he faces a maximum sentence of up to 60 years in prison or a fine of up to $750,000 - or both, the statement said.
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Chantelois has performed as an Elvis impersonator for three decades, ClickOnDetroit and The Miami Herald report.
He has pleaded not guilty to the state charges from January and will plead not guilty to the federal charges from last week, his attorney Stephen Emilio Sebald tells PEOPLE.
He declined to comment on how Chantelois may have known the alleged victim.
“We’re still conducting our investigation of the alleged facts and circumstances,” he said.
If you suspect child abuse, call the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-4-A-Child or 1-800-422-4453, or go to www.childhelp.org. All calls are toll-free and confidential. The hotline is available 24/7 in more than 170 languages.
If you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted, please contact the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673) or go to rainn.org.
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