Hutchinson ? A legislator has been charged with scuffling with a protester dressed as a cockroach during a gubernatorial debate last month.

Rep. Vaughn Flora, D-Topeka, faces a single count of battery stemming from his alleged contact with an anti-abortion protester during a political debate between Gov. Kathleen Sebelius and her Republican challenger, Sen. Jim Barnett. A pretrial hearing is set for Nov. 21 in Reno County District Court.

If convicted, Flora could face up to a year in prison and a fine of less than $1,000.

Troy Newman, president of the anti-abortion group Operation Rescue, and another man attended the Sept. 9 debate at the Kansas State Fair in Hutchinson wearing cockroach costumes and masks bearing photos of Sebelius. The costumes were a reference to the group’s criticism that under Sebelius, the state has allowed substandard conditions in clinics. Operation Rescue claims to have found cockroaches at a former abortion clinic.

Flora also was in the audience, with Democratic backers of Sebelius occasionally booing the protesters.

A complaint, filed by Assistant Reno County Dist. Atty. Karen Smart, alleges Flora intentionally and unlawfully caused physical contact with Newman “in a rude, insulting or angry manner.” At some point during the alleged altercation, Newman’s mask came off, tearing skin on his head.

“I think Mr. Flora may need to take some anger management classes to help him get his temper under control,” Newman said in a written statement Friday. “If he has no problem attacking a stranger in front of a crowd of 2,000 people, it makes me concerned for the safety of his family.”

Flora did not return a telephone message left Friday at his home by The Associated Press, and his attorney, Rep. Jim Ward, D-Wichita, did not return a call to his office.

Flora told The Hutchinson News last month that he doubted any charges would be filed because he had not heard from authorities in Reno County. He also said he thought the behavior of two men dressed as cockroaches was “outrageous.”

Flora, a real estate asset manager and developer, has served on the Legislature since 1995 and is running unopposed this year.