XPost: dc.romance, wa.politics, alt.women.attitudes
XPost: talk.politics.guns

A former Northern Virginia political leader was convicted Wednesday
of molesting two girls during a sleepover party for his daughter’s
birthday last summer.

Michael Gardner, husband of former Falls Church mayor Robin Gardner,
a current member of the City Council, was convicted of two counts of
sexual battery and one count of object penetration. He reacted
stoically to the verdict.

An Arlington County Circuit Court jury recommended a sentence of 22
years in prison and a $15,000 fine.

Gardner, former chairman of the Falls Church City Democratic
Committee, went into his basement, where eight of his daughter’s
friends were sleeping during her 10th birthday party. He was
convicted Wednesday of touching two of them.

Taking the stand during the eight-day trial, Gardner denied all the
charges against him. Prosecutors showed evidence that his DNA was on
one victim’s underwear and another’s pajamas. Investigators said
they think the DNA was from Gardner’s saliva.

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