Kansas lawmaker is arrested for 'kneeing student in the crotch' while working as a substitute teacher and warning he would take the 'wrath of God' out on classmates
A Kansas state representative who was working as a substitute teacher has been arrested after allegedly kneeing a student in the crotch and threatening to take the 'wrath of God' out on students in class.
Rep. Mark Samsel, 36, was charged with misdemeanor battery after students filmed him talking about sex, suicide, masturbation and the Bible, before allegedly attacking one of the class.
Samsel was working as a substitute teacher at Wellsville school district’s secondary school on Wednesday when he went on a religious rant.
In a video captured by students and shared with The Kansas City Star by their parents, Samsel is heard telling the class about a student who tried to kill himself three times because 'he has two parents and they're both females'.
'He's a foster kid. His alternatives in life were having no parents or foster care parents who are gay,' Samsel tells students. 'How do you think I'm going to feel if he commits suicide? Awful.'
Kansas lawmaker Mark Samsel, left, 36, was filmed discussing sex, masturbation and suicide in a bizarre religious rant while working as a substitute teacher. He was arrested by Franklin County detectives and charged with misdemeanor battery. He has since been released on $1,000 bond
Wearing a baseball cap, T-shirt and shorts, Samsel was captured in film footage going on a bizarre religious rant towards students at Wellsville school district’s secondary school on Wednesday
Another video shows Samsel asking students, 'Who likes making babies? That feels good, doesn't it?'
He adds: 'You haven't masturbated? Don't answer that question.... God already knows.'
Samsel is seen in the video showing close attention to one male student, following him around the classroom and threatening him.
At one point, Samsel tells the student, 'You're about ready to anger me and get the wrath of God. Do you believe me when I tell you that God has been speaking to me?' He then pushes him, and the student runs to the other side of the classroom.
'You should run and scream.'
After allegedly kneeing the student in the groin, he is seen standing over him asking: 'did it hurt?'
Samsel, a Republican who represents a rural district southeast of the state capital Topeka, was booked into the Franklin County Adult Detention Center after 3:30 pm Thursday
In another video, he tells students, 'Class, you have permission to kick him in the balls.'
Several parents told local media that Samsel allegedly kneed the student in the crotch.
The kneeing incident is not caught on camera, but footage shot after the alleged incident shows the student lying on the ground, with Samsel standing over him and asking: 'did it hurt?'
Samsel asks the student why he is about to start crying, pats him on the shoulder and apologizes, and then says he can 'go to the nurse, she can check it for you.'
A concerned parent, Joshua Zeck, told The Kansas City Star he was shocked and appalled by the lawmaker's behavior.
'He's around kids all the time. He's a state representative. He's in a position of power.'
Superintendent Ryan Bradbury has told parents that Samsel will be barred from teaching in the district.
Bradbury said that the situation is being investigated.
'Student safety has and always will be our first priority,' he said.
Samsel, a Republican who represents a rural district southeast of the state capital Topeka, was booked into the Franklin County Adult Detention Center after 3:30 p.m. Thursday.
He has since been released on $1,000 bond, Sheriff Jeff Richards said.
On his website, Samsel says that he has 'championed our conservative Kansas values'.
Samsel is the second Kansas lawmaker to be charged with a criminal offense this year.
The state's Former Senate Majority Leader Gene Suellentrop was charged with fleeing from police and drunk and reckless driving after he was caught allegedly driving the wrong way on Topeka highways on March 16.
Suellentrop was forced to quit his post as Senate leader.
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