Leavenworth — A mayor convicted of sexual misconduct with inmates at the state prison where he worked as a guard now says he won't seek re-election after all.
Basehor Mayor John Pfannenstiel, who was fired in September as a guard at the Lansing Correctional Facility, was convicted Friday night on three counts of sexual misconduct. The Leavenworth County District Court jury acquitted Pfannenstiel of taking contraband blue jeans and a watch battery into the prison.
After he was charged, the mayor refused requests that he resign or not seek a second term. In the four-way February primary election he ran second to challenger Bill Hooker, a 62-year-old retiree.
Although Pfannenstiel's name will remain on the ballot for the April 3 general election, he said Saturday that he was dropping out of the race and backing the write-in candidacy of Chris Garcia, the city council president.
Pfannenstiel, who plans to seek a new trial, will remain mayor through April 16, when his four-year term ends.
"I thought the matter would have been resolved by today," the mayor said Saturday at a news conference.
Garcia said he agreed to run for mayor if Pfannenstiel became ineligible. In Kansas, a person convicted of a felony is not eligible for public office. But John Thompson, the Basehor city attorney, said a conviction is not final until after an appeal.
"The judicial system will determine the punishment, not me or anyone else," said Garcia, who attended the news conference.
Roger Marrs, the deputy district attorney who prosecuted the case, said the penalty could range from five to 21 months of probation.
Pfannenstiel, who began working at the prison in 1986, was a sergeant and work crew supervisor.
Immediately after the verdicts Friday night, he said he'd never imagined that he wouldn't be acquitted.
"The prosecution painted a pretty barbaric picture," he said. "But anybody that knows me knows that's not who I am."
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