Gardner Found Guilty on Three Counts
By FALLS CHURCH TIMES STAFF
May 2, 2012
An Arlington County jury deliberated less than about seven hours over two days before finding Falls Church community activist Michael Gardner guilty on three charges of sexual abuse involving young girls.
Mr. Gardner, a former chair of the Falls Church City Democratic Committee and husband of former mayor and current City Councilor Robin Gardner, was taken into custody as soon as the first verdict was read. He was found guilty of two counts of aggravated sexual battery and one count of object penetration. The judge declared a mistrial on the fourth count.
News reports said Robin Gardner and other relatives cried upon the announcement of the verdict. It is not known if Mr. Gardner plans to appeal.
Defense attorney Peter Greenspun had a difficult case to defend, given that three girls were making accusations and that DNA evidence supported those accusations when Mr. Gardner’s DNA was found inside one accuser’s underwear.
Mr. Greenspun argued that was simply the result of the girls being at Mr. Gardner’s house, a contention that prosecutor Nicole Wittman of Loudoun County said was preposterous.
The case began last June after three girls, ages 9 and 10, who were at Mr. Gardner’s Ellison Street home for sleepovers with his daughter, made the explosive accusations. Mr. Gardner initially was barred from his own home, a rule that later was relaxed.
A variety of local television stations and other media are in the court room and have more information on the case.
By Stephen Siegel
May 2, 2012
I predict Peter Greenspun will put on a long sentencing hearing with many witnesses extolling Mr. Gardner’s charming personality and good works. At the conclusion of the sentencing hearing I also predict Judge Kendrick, in 100 words or less, will impose every second of the jury’s recommendation. None of the sentences will be run concurrent. At least this guy has finally started serving his sentence.
Isn’t this the man that said that the Saint James Catholic school was insane in thinking child molesters were near by?
Ironically you’re right. Of course unlike st James they pay property taxes.
Note to Falls Church Times staff. In this article, you refer to the “Falls Church City Democratic Committee”. That’s incorrect. The proper terminology is the “Falls Church City Democrat Committee”. There is nothing “democratic” about Democrats or their committees. Please use the proper terminology in future articles in your excellent online news paper.
My sympathies go out to Robin Gardner, her children, and to the three young girls involved.
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There are no winners here.
I agree Cathy.
First, let me say I don’t know any of the parties involved. This has now played out to the extent jury of this fellow’s peers have found him guility. It is shame that the victims, and their families, and maybe the investigators were in many ways put on trial here and the ridiculous hints at some sort of conspiracy. This guy, Mr. Garder, needs to now pay the consequences which definitely not going to be pretty. I hope the children and families involved can recover. I am not sure what happened to this guy – - did he just flip out this one night, was he under the influence of drugs or alcohol….or is just simply a child molester. But the jury has spoken. But fmaybe Mr. Gardner can continue to write for the FCNP, in the insulting way he does, from his jail cell.
This sad, terrifying, horrific and disgusting story is almost over and the convicted one is in jail.
I feel for the families affected by all this, including Gardner’s kids — dear Lord, I hope he never did this to his own kids. Of course, I also feel for his wife, that is, assuming she had no knowledge of his proclivities and activities as a pedophile. I want to believe that she did not know, the alternative is too horrible to contemplate.
To Dabby Mac: If you don’t like the fact that St. James doesn’t pay property taxes, take it up with Congress. Your message seems to imply that St. James is somehow violating the law in a way that being a child molester does not; and we all know how much worse it is not to pay one’s taxes than it is to molest a child (SARCASM!).
Edgar — I don’t have to take it up with Congress. I simply raise the point and you react. No harm done.
Mr. (or is it Ms.) Mac,
What exactly was your reason for raising this point?
Everyone should be aware that all parties in this case are neighbors, friends, and relatives. My heart goes out to the victims and to Mr. Gardner’s family. They are the most immediately affected; however the entire community is also affected. Those who have used this tragedy to attempt to score cheap political points should be ashamed of themselves.