Brett H. LaChappelle of Two Rivers, Wisconsin, has spent decades weaving a story about himself as a family man, pastor, community volunteer, and mentor. His self-written website paints him as a compassionate, trustworthy special needs aide and life coach.
But there’s another story about Brett LaChappelle… one supported by court records, police reports, and decades of fraud and theft. This story reveals a repeated pattern of stealing from family, friends, employers, churches, and even the taxpayers of Two Rivers.
He always managed to slither away, until his last employer finally said no more.
Brett’s website today tries to make him look like a hardworking, trustworthy “life coach” and special needs aide. He paints himself as compassionate, faith-filled, and community-minded. But that’s not the real story. The truth about Brett is much uglier.
A History of Theft and Fraud
Brett’s scams go back to the 1990s. He and his wife, Sherrie Nejedlo LaChappelle, stole from family with the help of Sherrie’s father, Daniel Nejedlo, Jr. When the money ran out, they moved on to other victims.
- Aldi in Manitowoc – Brett was a store manager who abused his role.
- Hope Community Church – He played the role of pastor and counselor, all while stealing from the congregation.
- Two elderly family members – Because apparently no one was off-limits.
- The Gathering – Brett and Sherrie started their own “church” in Two Rivers, and their members became the next victims.
Every time, people just wanted to be rid of him. No one pursued charges. No one held him accountable. They just wanted Brett out of their lives, but this allowed him to continue his pattern of fraud and abuse of trust.
The Parks and Rec Case That Finally Stuck
In 2021, Brett was charged with 37 felonies for stealing from the Two Rivers Parks & Recreation Department, where he worked as a supervisor. He stole over $20,000 from the city by making personal purchases on his employer’s credit card and doctoring receipts to make them look like business items.
When the police questioned him, Brett admitted it wasn’t about need. It was about “gluttony and greed.” His own words. He confessed he had lied, cheated, and stolen for at least three years on the job. He even admitted he knew the day would come when he’d be caught.
Brett’s Long-Winded Excuse
Brett LaChappelle gave police a dramatic speech about how dishonesty has followed him since childhood. He claimed he found God, had “victory” over his lying for a while, but then drifted back to his old patterns.
The bottom line? He knew right from wrong. He chose wrong. Again and again.
The Sentence
On June 24, 2022, Brett pleaded no contest to four felonies. The rest were dismissed but considered during sentencing. On September 8, 2022, he got a sentence of 6 months in jail (with work release privileges), 4 years of probation, restitution. He never had to go to jail though, as he was allowed to relax at home on electronic monitoring.
But Brett didn’t even make it through probation. After doing just over half of his time on probation, he was released early because he paid his restitution. Accountability? Hardly.
The Fake Online Image
Now Brett wants you to believe he’s a respectable community servant. His website highlights his “ministry,” “coaching,” and “community service.” It leaves out all the felonies, thefts, and frauds.
Classic Brett.
Can you imagine getting “life coaching” services from this clown? A man who has spent his life lying and deceiving others, most notably using religious ties to further his frauds, has now seen the light and is going to instruct you on improving your life!
The Real Truth
The truth about Brett LaChappelle is this: He is a career fraudster. He steals from anyone who trusts him, including family, friends, churches, taxpayers, employers. And now he’s rewriting his own story to erase the ugly parts.
For more details on Brett’s crimes, you can read my original article here.
