Gardner Found Guilty

 After five days of testimony and evidence, an Arlington County jury found Michael Gardner guilty of two counts of aggravated sexual assault and a count of object sexual penetration Wednesday afternoon.

Judge Benjamin Kendrick asked the jury forewoman if she and her colleagues could come to a unanimous decision on a fourth charge but she said they couldn’t. The Circuit Court judge will give the jury more time Wednesday to deliberate on the fourth charge longer.

An elated Nicole Wittmann walked from the courtroom smiling after the verdicts were read. Wittmann, the Loudoun County Deputy Commonwealth Special Attorney said she was “very satisfied,” with the verdicts.

Kendrick ordered Gardner taken into custody after the verdicts, against the request of Peter Greenspun. Greenspun, Gardner’s attorney, asked if his client could spend the recess with his wife, Robin, and other family members.

Greenspun said he can’t talk about the verdicts yet.

Robin Gardner sobbed uncontrollably after Arlington County Sheriff deputies removed her husband from the courtroom.

Gardner, who is out on a $50,000 bond, was accused of Gardner is accused 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.