Jackson County Legislator Manuel “Manny” Abarca IV was served late Friday afternoon with a protection order that his wife sought through circuit court earlier in the day, court documents show.
An “adult abuse hearing” is set for next Monday morning before Judge Mary F. Weir in a courtroom five floors above the legislative chamber where later that afternoon Abarca is set to cast votes on county matters as a member of the county’s chief governing body.
According to the case docket, Abarca was instructed to stay away from his spouse and make no attempt to communicate with her. The docket also said his wife was awarded custody of their child.
However, as of Monday evening, Abarca’s wife, Alexis Garcia, said she had not seen their son , 2-year-old Manuel Abarca V — known as Luca — since