Lawmakers file complaint against Rep. Aaron Coleman after second arrest in recent months

A group of Democratic lawmakers filed a complaint Monday against Rep. Aaron Coleman, seeking formal discipline after the embattled legislator was arrested Saturday morning for the second time in as many months.

Meanwhile, prosecutors in Johnson County successfully increased Coleman's bond in a separate domestic battery case after his arrest over the weekend for alleged driving under the influence.

It is the second such complaint filed against Coleman and it will trigger a special Kansas House committee to probe its charges. At the conclusion of the investigation, the panel can recommend he be expelled, censured or that no action be taken.

It was the latter option legislators opted to take after examining Coleman's alleged behavior prior to his election as a legislator, including allegations of harassment, bullying and stalking.

Instead, members opted to issue a warning, requesting Coleman seek therapy and mentorship, with the potential for further action if the Kansas City, Kan. Democrat continued to misbehave.

More: Complaint against Rep. Aaron Coleman dismissed, as legislators favor informal discipline

Six Democrat legislators file complaint

A group of six Democrats, all female, argued in the most recent complaint that Coleman has not kept his behavior in check, arguing his actions "puts state employees, legislators, and visitors to the Capitol at risk and makes it unsafe for him to serve in the Kansas House of Representatives."

"We believe that there is reasonable evidence of noncompliance with a previous warning and admonishment from the House Select Investigating Committee that was issued after a longstanding pattern of physically and emotionally abusive harassment, violence, bullying, and stalking was documented," the legislators wrote in the complaint, filed with the House Clerk.

The members filing the complaint are Reps. Stephanie Byers, Christina Haswood, Jo Ella Hoye, Linda Featherston, Mari-Lynn Poskin and Lindsay Vaughn.

The complaint comes after House Speaker Ron Ryckman, Gov. Laura Kelly and House Minority Leader Tom Sawyer called on Coleman to resign following his arrest for alleged driving under the influence on Saturday morning.

A spokesperson for Sawyer declined comment Monday afternoon.

Coleman stopped by Kansas Highway Patrol

Coleman was booked into the Douglas County jail at 1 a.m. Saturday, jail records show, and charged with one count of misdemeanor driving under the influence. The booking report shows Coleman was stopped by the Kansas Highway Patrol at mile marker 203 of Interstate 70, headed westbound.

Coleman is set to appear in court on Dec. 28 on the matter, the Douglas County District Attorney's Office said Monday. A spokesperson for the DA's office declined comment when asked if Coleman had been formally charged with a crime and, if so, what charges were filed.

His arrest is the second time in two months that Coleman has found himself in legal hot water. The 21-year-old was arrested last month on allegations of domestic battery stemming from an altercation with his brother, where police records show the lawmaker allegedly hit and spit on his brother and made threatening remarks to his grandfather.

Coleman pleaded not guilty to the charge during his initial appearance earlier this month via his attorney. His case was set to be considered for diversion at a hearing in December, meaning the charges could be dropped if Coleman met a series of conditions.

Johnson County court records show a motion to revoke bond was filed Monday afternoon. A spokesperson for the Johnson County District Attorney's Office confirmed a judge had approved the motion and a bench warrant was issued, with a new bond set at $2,500. Johnson County jail records do not show if Coleman is yet in custody.

Kansas Department of Labor bans Coleman from headquarters

It comes after a long line of alleged misbehavior.

In October, the Kansas Department of Labor advised Coleman he was banned from their Topeka headquarters after allegedly attempting to access an employee-only area of the building and speaking to building security in a in a "loud and demanding tone."

During the August partisan primary against former Rep. Stan Frownfelter last year, Coleman admitted to cyberbullying and revenge porn while in middle school, gaining national attention in the process.

After Coleman defeated Frownfelter in the primary, an ex-girlfriend later came forward alleging he abused her, both physically and verbally, while the pair dated in 2019 and that the harassment continued until his Kansas House bid in 2020. The Topeka woman said Coleman physically assaulted and threatened to kill her during their two-month relationship.

Coleman was the subject of a restraining order from a staffer who worked for a former political rival, although the matter was settled and dropped by mutual agreement earlier this year.

And legislators from both parties objected to Coleman saying a "hit" needed to be taken out on Kelly for her reluctance to support progressive policies. Coleman said that he meant to say "political hit" and later admitted he should have used different wording.

It now falls to House Speaker Ron Ryckman, R-Olathe, to stand up the special committee, though it is possible such a step would not come until January when legislators return to Topeka for their annual session.

Andrew Bahl is a senior statehouse reporter for the Topeka Capital-Journal. He can be reached at abahl@gannett.com or by phone at 443-979-6100.

This article originally appeared on Topeka Capital-Journal: Complaint filed against Kansas Rep. Aaron Coleman following DUI arrest