A Kansas House Representative from Wellsville was charged with three counts of misdemeanor battery for having physical contact in a "rude" and "insulting" manner with two minors in the classroom where he was substitute teaching.
GOP Representative Mark Samsel, 36, was substitute teaching at a secular public secondary school in the Wellsville School District when he harassed students and discussed topics like suicide, sex, masturbation, God and the Bible with the students.
Kansas lawmaker Mark Samsel faces 3 battery charges over a school battery incident of a student. Other videos made by students showed Samsel talking about suicide, sex, masturbation, God and the Bible\u2026https://www.kshb.com/news/crime/kansas-lawmaker-faces-3-battery-charges-over-school-incident\u00a0\u2026— Venture Capital (@Venture Capital) 1621268935
Several students filmed the lawmaker's conduct in the classroom.
They later shared the footage with their parents which eventually led to the charges.
Republican Family Values type, right?— Hugh Genvaynie\ud83e\udd52 (@Hugh Genvaynie\ud83e\udd52) 1621300898
The three misdemeanor charges came after Samsel—who represents Kansas state House District 5, which includes Wellsville—was released on a $1,000 bond after being booked into the Franklin County Adult Detention Center.
He later claimed in a rambling apology video the classroom incident was staged and orchestrated by him and his students to teach a lesson to parents because it was "exactly what God planned."
KS Rep. Mark Samsel charged with 3 counts of battery after bizarre classroom incidenthttps://trib.al/JseIYNL— The Kansas City Star (@The Kansas City Star) 1621268864
According to Yahoo News, a criminal complaint filed by Franklin County Attorney Brandon Jones accused the state legislator of touching two students—identified only by their initials—"in a rude, insulting or angry manner."
From ABC News:\n\nKansas lawmaker faces 3 battery charges over school incident\n\nhttps://abcnews.go.com/Politics/wireStory/kansas-lawmaker-faces-battery-charges-school-incident-77739574\u00a0\u2026\nThis pervert should be ousted and sent to the most notorious Penitentiary in Kansas.— Engineer (@Engineer) 1621299567
He should have been charged with a felony!https://www.ksn.com/news/local/charges-filed-against-kansas-house-member-mark-samsel-for-incident-at-wellsville-high-school/\u00a0\u2026— Decker Hawk (@Decker Hawk) 1621280592
Just another example of an out-of-control and self-righteous Republican! Are you proud @GOP? Kansas lawmaker faces 3 battery charges over school incident https://news.yahoo.com/kansas-lawmaker-faces-3-battery-161655201.html?soc_src=social-sh&soc_trk=tw&tsrc=twtr\u00a0\u2026 via @Yahoo— SleepsWithDogs (@SleepsWithDogs) 1621280299
Surprise, its another unfit and unhinged Republican! \nKansas lawmaker faces 3 battery charges over school incident https://news.yahoo.com/kansas-lawmaker-faces-3-battery-161655201.html?soc_src=community&soc_trk=tw\u00a0\u2026 via @Yahoo— Christina \ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8\ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8 (@Christina \ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8\ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8) 1621364398
Wait, what? A Republican?!?\nWhat a damn surprise. What a damn mess this 'party' has become.\nLincoln and Reagan would be absolutely disgusted. For good reason.\n\nKansas lawmaker faces 3 battery charges over school incident https://news.yahoo.com/kansas-lawmaker-faces-3-battery-161655201.html?soc_src=community&soc_trk=tw\u00a0\u2026 via @Yahoo— John Zimmerman (@John Zimmerman) 1621289438
The third charge alleged Samsel caused "bodily harm" to one of the students.
The complaint listed 40 potential witnesses, including at least 15 minors who were also only identified by their initials.
On Monday, Kansas state Speaker Ron Ryckman Jr.—a Kansas City-area Republican—said:
"We are concerned by these new charges."
"The safety of our school children is one of our highest priorities. The judicial process must now be allowed to work to determine what happened here and if necessary, what penalties should be assessed."
The lawmaker was banned for a year from Wellsville public school property and events for his behavior in the classroom.
Wellsville school board issues Rep. Mark Samsel a one-year ban on entering school property or attending district events in response to his strange and allegedly violent conduct while working as a substitute teacher #ksleg #ksed via @TimVCarpenterhttps://kansasreflector.com/2021/05/16/kansas-house-member-ordered-not-to-set-foot-on-wellsville-school-property-for-one-year/\u00a0\u2026— Kansas Reflector (@Kansas Reflector) 1621182098
If he violates the ban, Samsel would be subject to a criminal trespass complaint, according to a notification letter he received from Wellsville School District Superintendent Ryan Bradbury.
Parents were assured Samsel would not be hired to teach in the school again either.
Why is he still a KS Rep? And what will a year do if mental health care is not mandated? I would not feel like my children would be safe with him without him getting help.— Flip Moran's Seat BLUE KS (@Flip Moran's Seat BLUE KS) 1621200884
And he is not stripped of his House seat???— Vickie Stangl (@Vickie Stangl) 1621208514
In response, Samsel posted a picture of Bradbury's letter on Facebook and wrote:
"This looks like discrimination to me. Fortunately, I know a good lawyer."
The Kansas City Star said Samsel faces up to six months in a jail and a $1,000 fine for each of the three charges.
He was scheduled for his first appearance in district court in Franklin County by a video conference call at 8 a.m. on Wednesday.