Police have arrested a staffer from GOP Kansas Rep. Tim Huelskamp’s Dodge City office on multiple charges of child sex crimes.
{mosads}KWCH-TV reported Saturday that Matthew P. Pennell was arrested Thursday. He was charged with 17 counts of sexual exploitation of a child.
“Upon learning of his arrest, the office immediately placed Mr. Pennell on leave without pay until further notice,” Mark Kelly, Huelskamp’s chief of staff, said Saturday. “Because this is an ongoing investigation, we are unable to provide further comment on this time.”
The Dodge City Police Department arrested Pennell after an investigation with members of the Internet Crimes against Children task force.
Pennell’s bond is set at $75,000. The case against him was filed with the Ford County Attorney’s office.
Huelskamp represents Kansas’ 1st District. Besides Dodge City, he also has offices in Hutchinson, Manhattan and Salina.