A former VA physician assistant accused of sexually abusing patients at the Department of Veterans Affairs hospital in Leavenworth is facing a new charge of aggravated sexual battery.

A former VA physician assistant accused of sexually abusing patients at the Department of Veterans Affairs hospital in Leavenworth is facing a new charge of aggravated sexual battery.

Mark E. Wisner was taken into custody while appearing Friday in Leavenworth County District Court.

District Judge Gunnar Sundby said an arrest warrant had been requested for the new felony charge.

Wisner already was facing a felony count of aggravated criminal sodomy and three misdemeanor charges of sexual battery. These crimes are alleged to have occurred in 2014 while Wisner was working at the Eisenhower VA Medical Center.

The new aggravated sexual battery charge was filed as a separate case. This crime is alleged to have occurred between Jan. 1, 2012, and May 19, 2014, according to the criminal complaint filed in the case.

The crime is alleged to have involved the inappropriate touching of someone who was incapable of giving consent because of the effects of alcohol or drugs.

After court, County Attorney Todd Thompson said he could not comment in more detail about the circumstances of the alleged crime.

"I'm not going to go into the facts," Thompson said.

The criminal charges are being prosecuted through the County Attorney's Office by Assistant County Attorney Michael Jones.

The Leavenworth Times has requested a copy of a probable cause affidavit that was prepared in support of the new charge.

Attorneys in the case typically have five business days to request redactions or file a motion for the affidavit to remain sealed.

Wisner will be getting a new attorney. Attorney Debra Snider had been appointed to represent Wisner in his initial criminal case.

Snider appeared with Wisner in court Friday for what had been scheduled as a status hearing. But Snider said she learned she had a conflict of interest while reviewing discovery evidence in the case.

Wisner indicated he was not waiving the conflict of interest, so Sundby allowed Snider to withdraw from the case. The judge said a new attorney will be appointed to represent Wisner.

Sundby then notified the defendant of the new case and read the complaint for the aggravated sexual battery charge.

For his earlier case, Wisner, who lives in Horton, was sent a summons to appear in court. But Sundby told the defendant Friday that he had to surrender to officers from the Leavenworth County Sheriff's Office.

Sundby said bond for Wisner was set at $50,000.

Speaking after court, Snider said she could not comment on specifics about the conflict of interest. But she said the conflict was related to a potential witness.

As of 4:15 p.m. Friday, Wisner had not been released on bond, said Jeff Dedeke, chief deputy for the Leavenworth County Sheriff's Office.

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