Kansas Republican turns in substitute teacher’s license after allegedly kicking student

A state GOP lawmaker in Kansas has surrendered his substitute teacher’s license months after being arrested on charges relating to an incident in which he is accused of kicking a high school student.

In a Facebook post that appears to have been deleted or removed from public view, state Rep. Mark Samsel (R) said he was receiving mental health treatment and was giving up his teaching license due to “extreme stress, pressure and agitation,” brought on by an “isolated episode of mania with psychotic features,” The Kansas City Star reported Wednesday.

Samsel said in the Facebook post that after multiple visits with mental health professionals since April, “there is no likelihood that it will happen again,” according to the newspaper.

“While my battle may be the most visible, I know from many private conversations in Topeka that my struggles are far from uncommon,” he added.

Samsel was arrested in April after a video shared online showed him talking about God, the Bible, masturbation and suicide in a classroom at a public high school in Wellsville, Kan. Before the video began, Samsel allegedly kicked a student, leaving the teenager “confused” and “in pain,” according to police.

“You’re about to anger me and get the wrath of God. Do you believe me when I tell you that God has been speaking to me?” Samsel could be heard saying in the video.

According to police, the student had a “road rash” type mark on his shoulder and a scratch.

Samsel was charged with three misdemeanor battery charges. He has pleaded not guilty.

At the time of his arrest, Samsel denied kicking the student, though he admitted to grabbing him by the shoulder.

“I did not kick the young man, I did not strike him. I just did it enough to … and I don’t even know if I made contact with you to be honest,” Samsel said.

Other videos taken by students on the same day in April showed Samsel appearing to encourage them to “make babies.” At one point, he reportedly got in the face of a female student, grabbing her shoulders and asked her if she had “mental problems.”

Though the student was uninjured, she told authorities that she thought Samsel was going to hurt her.

Samsel’s next court date is scheduled for Aug. 16, the Kansas City Star reported.