Unified Government supervisor convicted of battery against worker is still employed
Correction: An earlier version of this story described the charge the Dennis Laughlin was convicted of incorrectly. The charge was misdemeanor battery.
The Director of General Services for the Unified Government of Wyandotte County and Kansas City, Kansas, was convicted by jury Tuesday of misdemeanor battery.
Dennis Laughlin was charged in Wyandotte County District Court in June 2018 after he was accused of assaulting another employee in May, according to court documents.
The Unified Government confirmed Laughlin and the victim were employed by the local government.
UG spokesman Mike Taylor said in a statement that action will be taken in light of the verdict.
“The UG thoroughly investigated the incident when it was reported. That investigation came to a different conclusion than the jury,” the statement said. “But now that the jury has spoken after a trial, the UG will take steps it deems appropriate.”
According to the KCUR public radio station, Laughlin was accused of grabbing a female employee by the shirt and pushing her against a wall.
Laughlin testified Tuesday that it “struck him as funny,” according to KCUR.
Laughlin is currently still employed with the Unified Government.
His sentencing has not been scheduled yet.
This story was originally published July 30, 2019 at 5:09 PM.
