Crime & Safety
Dad Convicted of Sexually Assaulting Girls at Sleepover to be Sentenced Friday
Gardner was convicted in May of molesting two young girls last year.
Michael Gardner, , will be formally sentenced in Arlington County Circuit Court Friday morning.
A jury for two counts of aggravated sexual assault and one count of object sexual penetration. Gardner stood trial and was convicted of touching two girls in a sexual manner during a birthday sleepover for his daughter. They were 9 and 10 at the time.
A third alleged victim, who was 10 years old at the time, accused Gardner of touching her in a sexual manner in a sleepover days before the birthday party, but Judge Benjamin Kendrick ruled a mistrial on the count after a jury could not reach a decision during the trial earlier this year.
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Gardner, ex-chair of the Falls Church City Democratic Committee, is married to Robin Gardner, a former Falls Church mayor and former city councilwoman. Her term ended in June 2012 and she did not seek reelection.
Gardner's sentencing is scheduled for 9:30 a.m. Friday, Sept. 7 in Arlington County Circuit Court.
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