Gardner Hearing Expected to be Closed to the Public

The preliminary case involving Michael A. Gardner Tuesday morning at 10:45 at City Hall in the City of Falls Church is expected to be closed.

According to city spokeswoman Barbara Gordon on Sunday, the decision to allow the public in is up to the judge .

Gardner, who served as chairman of the Falls Church City Democratic Committee from 2006 to 2007, , according to records from Arlington Circuit Court following an alleged sleepover at his home on June 18. Arlington County Sheriff Chief Deputy Paul Larson said Gardner was released from the Arlington County Detention Center on a $50,000 bond. The alleged victims, 10 and 9-years-old, identified Gardner as the person who sexually assaulted them in the basement of his Falls Church home during an alleged sleepover for Gardner’s daughter, according to court records. City of Falls Church Police charged Gardner on June 22.

The two girls told their respective parents separately about what the alleged incident, according to court records. The incident was reported to the police and the Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner at the Fairfax Hospital, according to court records, examined the 9-year-old girl.

Gardner allegedly initially denied giving a saliva sample, according to court records. Gardner gave his sample days after his arrest, according to court records.

Gardner is accused of sexually abusing a third girl in a separate incident days before the party, according to court documents.