Jackson County Legislator Manny Abarca: ‘Not within my character to hit my wife’ | Opinion
A grim reality has smacked embattled Jackson County Legislator Manny Abarca in the face, he told me: Allegations that he committed battery against his wife could cost him everything, he said.
And Abarca is acutely aware that there are severe consequences that come with this alleged act and other claims if proven true. In addition to his legislative duties, Abarca is also the CEO of a Kansas City nonprofit organization.
“There’s a world where I don’t have a place to live, I don’t have access to my clothes, I don’t have access to my car, I lose my job, I lose my other job and I lose my kids,” he said. “Not to mention, I lose my wife who I love. It’s a unique place.”
Sitting across from me at an Independence coffee shop on Wednesday, Abarca unequivocally denied he assaulted his wife. “It is not within my character to hit my wife,” he said. “To hit anyone is not within my character. I think a majority of folks know that but it’s being challenged now by the narrative. It has killed me to watch the assassination of my character.”
Not that Abarca would go on record admitting he committed a crime, but we all must let the legal process play out without downplaying the seriousness of the situation. Abarca’s wife, the alleged victim in this case, deserves at least that.
But Abarca is innocent until proven guilty in this very messy yet public marital spat and child custody battle.
Because of pending legal matters — he’s been accused of domestic battery in Johnson County and of violating conditions of a protective order in Kansas City Municipal Circuit Court — Abarca was not at liberty to discuss with me the particulars of the cases against him.
Not guilty plea to domestic battery
Last week, he pleaded not guilty to domestic battery in Johnson County. This week, he said he was allowed a supervised visit with the toddler son he shares with his wife and her daughter from a previous relationship. The occasion marked the first time Abarca had seen his children in more than a week, he said.
“It was tough,” Abarca said. “It’s hard to let your kids go to your house and you can’t.”
After this policy maker’s recent arrest and other legal woes, I think it’s fair to question if he should remain in the elected position he currently holds.
Apparently he will hunker down. On Monday, Jackson County Executive Frank White called on Abarca to recuse himself from a vote on the county’s budget due to what White called a conflict of interest.
After the Legislature unanimously approved the delayed budget, the lawmaker reportedly shot back at White. He told me he stepped away for a brief time from both positions last week.
“I have a job to do,” in the Legislature, Abarca said.
‘Truth will prevail in court’
I’m not the one to kick a person when they’re down — and I won’t do that here until more facts are known. But the charges against Abarca are very concerning.
These allegations are just that and in no way indicate guilt. None of us should convict Abarca in the court of public opinion, as Jackson County Legislature chairman Daron McGee said in a statement. Just like any other citizen, Abarca deserves an opportunity to defend himself in the courtroom, McGee said — and I agree.
“As Chairman of the Legislature, 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 in the statement.
I asked Abarca if could effectively do the job Jackson Countians elected him to do under a cloud of suspicion. His answer was yes.
“I would ask that the public have confidence and faith in knowing who they elected and my character and reputation over decades,” Abarca said. “I think the truth will prevail in court. For now, my focus is to maintain the relationship with my kids and my access to them.”
Fellow Jackson County Legislator Sean Smith recently weighed in. In an email, I asked if he still had confidence in Abarca’s ability to do the job.
“I think it is possible for individuals to do their job while also going through stressful situations,” he replied. “People have to do this all the time. It’s more difficult when you’re in the public eye. Only time will tell if Legislator Abarca can manage both his role as a Legislator and these difficulties simultaneously.”
‘I love my children more than anything’
According to The Star, prosecutors filed the domestic violence charge in Johnson County District Court around 6 a.m. Wednesday. Later that day, Abarca was arrested and released from the Johnson County Adult Detention Center after posting a $1,500 bond.
“This is a matter of current litigation, so, unfortunately, there is not much I can say about this case at this time,” Abarca wrote in a statement last week. “However, I will say that I love my children more than anything, and I will always put them first. I hope that this issue is decided quickly so that the entire story can be told.”
Abarca is accused of having a physical altercation with his wife on May 29, The Star reported. The next day, the protection order was issued by a Jackson County Circuit Court. Under conditions of that order, Abarca was to have no contact with his wife.
From there, this story gets complicated — as most custody battles and marital spats do. Abarca’s wife went public with claims that Abraca and their son were missing. He sent out a statement saying they were safe and sound despite a missing person report being on file with Shawnee police.
Late last week, Abarca’s wife told The Star that she’d been reunited with her son.
“Personally, it’s the most challenging time in my life,” Abarca said. “Professionally, it’s the most challenging time in my life. Never in my life did I imagine I’d be where I’m at in this moment. Even turning back and looking at it, it blows my mind.”
As this unfortunate saga plays out, my hope is that Abarca, his wife and their children get all the help and support that they need.
Or as Smith put it: “I hope he and Ms. Abarca come to a resolution that is best for their children.”
