JoCo GOP chair resigns after accusations he forcibly kissed other Kansas GOP official
The chair of the Johnson County Republican party resigned Thursday, days after accusations became public that he’d forcibly kissed another Kansas GOP leader in August.
Fabian Shepard stepped down Thursday morning according to Shannon Golden, executive director of the Kansas Republican Party and Marisel Sanchez Walston, vice chair of the Johnson County Republican Party who will serve as chair until an election is held.
Walston declined to discuss the reasons behind Shepard’s departure but the announcement comes days after the Kansas City Star Editorial Board reported accusations that Shepard had forcibly kissed Stephanie Cashion, the vice-chair of the Wyandotte County Republican party, after an anti-abortion event in Bonner Springs in August.
According to records from Bonner Springs Police, Cashion filed a battery report against Fabian on September 3rd.
She told police Shepard had asked her to follow her to the side a the building after an August 20 event in Bonner Springs, where he forcibly kissed her twice before asking if he was a “bad kisser.” At that point, the report said, Cashion pushed away and went back into the building the event was held in.
According to the police report, Cashion told police she just wanted the incident to be documented.
Shepard did not immediately respond to The Star’s request for comment.
This story was originally published October 7, 2021 at 1:28 PM.
