Kansas House member arrested for possible misdemeanor battery

A Kansas House member was arrested for possible misdemeanor battery in what authorities said Friday was an incident involving a student while he was substitute teaching at a public school in his hometown of Wellsville.

Republican Rep. Mark Samsel was booked Thursday into the local county jail and released on a $1,000 bond. His arrest came after a student reported an incident Wednesday. The 36-year-old Samsel has yet to be formally charged with a crime but has a first appearance scheduled in district court for May 19.

According to Kansas law, battery is either causing bodily harm to another person or physical contact with someone else “done in a rude, insulting or angry manner,” and is punished by up to six months in jail.