Tiahrt campaign staffer quits after confronted with sexual assault charges

A Johnson County field coordinator for Todd Tiahrt‘s U.S. Senate campaign resigned yesterday after KMBC Channel 9’s Micheal Mahoney confronted him about allegations of aggravated sodomy and aggravated sexual battery.

Mahoney broke the story last night about charges against Jase D. Stanton for an alleged incident in July 2008.

JoCo prosecutors filed charges in July 2009 after someone, described only as a “sexual assault victim,” filed a complaint with the Overland Park police.

Here’s a snip from Mahoney:

Stanton refused to comment about his case. But in a short discussion with me he often sighed and seemed on the verge of trembling. At one point he just stated, “I guess this is going to cost me my job.”

It did. Stanton resigned Wednesday. The Tihart campaign says it didn’t know about the charges.

Stanton is being prosecuted in Johnson County by District Attorney Steve Howe’s office. Stanton worked as a volunteer for Howe’s campaign for DA.

Stanton has pleaded not guilty to the charges, but a plea hearing is scheduled for December 9.