KC legislator Manny Abarca pleads not guilty to Johnson County battery charges
Jackson County legislator Manuel “Manny” Abarca IV pleaded not guilty to domestic battery charges in Johnson County District Court Thursday afternoon, one day after he was arrested and charged.
A physical altercation allegedly took place between Abarca and his wife Alexis Garcia around 1:45 p.m. on Thursday, May 29, according to a Shawnee police report obtained by The Star.
“Manuel Ray Abarca IV did then and there unlawfully and knowingly cause physical contact with (Garcia) in a rude, insulting, or angry manner,” charging documents filed in Johnson County court read.
Court documents reflect that Abarca’s domestic battery charge is considered a class B misdemeanor under Kansas law, which comes with a maximum possible sentence of six months in prison. If found guilty, the court could also charge a fine or require Abarca “to undergo a domestic violence offender assessment conducted by a certified batterer intervention program and follow all recommendations made by such program.”
The altercation took place in front of Abarca’s father, according to court records. Shawnee crime mapping records show that police had been called to Abarca’s father’s house that afternoon in response to a “domestic dispute.”
On Friday, May 30, Garcia requested and was granted an order of protection barring Abarca from contacting her. The order also granted Garcia custody of the couple’s toddler son, whom she reported missing along with Abarca on Sunday.
Garcia previously wrote on social media that she had not seen her son from Wednesday, May 28, to Wednesday, June 4, when he was returned to her after Abarca’s arrest.
At Thursday’s hearing, Abarca did not appear in custody, as he posted a $1,500 bond Wednesday evening, according to court records and the Johnson County Sheriff’s Office.
In an email sent to news media shortly before 10 p.m. Wednesday, Abarca declined to speak in detail about the alleged altercation and the days that followed.
“However, I will say that I love my children more than anything, and I will always put them first,” Abarca wrote. “I hope that this issue is decided quickly so that the entire story can be told.”
Abarca’s case in Johnson County Circuit Court is one of three active cases involving the legislator. He also has a case in Jackson County and one in Kansas City Municipal Court, both of which deal with alleged violations of the protective order for not returning his son to Garcia’s care.
Abarca is serving his first term representing the 1st District in the Jackson County Legislature. Jackson County Legislature Chairman DaRon McGee issued a statement Thursday acknowledging that the legislature is fully aware of the situation and the sets of charges against Abarca.
“I must allow due process in this legal matter to proceed and provide the courts the opportunity to hear all the facts and decide what has taken place, without litigating this issue in the court of public opinion,” McGee wrote.
The Star has reached out to Aldo Caller, an attorney representing Abarca.
Mike Hendricks contributed reporting.
This story was originally published June 5, 2025 at 4:44 PM.
