Crime & Safety

Mid-July Court Date Set for Falls Church Man Accused of Sexual Battery Against Two Minors

Saliva sample taken from Michael Gardner, juvenile victim examined at hospital following alleged sexual interaction.

Police took a saliva sample Wednesday from a Falls Church man charged with two counts of aggravated sexual battery and a single count of object sexual penetration. A search warrant had been issued for a saliva sample on June 21, the day before City of Falls Church Police charged Michael A. Gardner, according to Arlington Circuit Court records.

Attorney Brian O’Connor said his client is not guilty of the charges. The Reston-based attorney said Gardner will appear before a judge in mid-July.

Police are still investigating the incident, City Spokeswoman Barbara Gordon said Wednesday. Loudoun County Deputy Commonwealth Attorney Nicole Wittman, who will be prosecuting the case, could not be reached by telephone.

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“We do not believe there was any wrongdoing,” O’Connor said. “Mr. Gardner wouldn’t hurt a child.”

Gardner, who served as chairman of the Falls Church City Democratic Committee from 2006 to 2007, was charged Wednesday following an alleged June 18 sexual assault against two juvenile females, according to records from Arlington Circuit Court. Arlington County Sheriff Chief Deputy Paul Larson said Gardner was released from the Arlington County Detention Center Thursday on a $50,000 bond. Gardner could not be reached by telephone Friday. 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. Gardner is also the husband of City of Falls Church Councilwoman Robin Gardner. She served as mayor of the city from July 2006 to June 2010, according to her bio on the City of Falls Church’s website.

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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 and it was logged in circuit court Friday, 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.

Anyone who has information that might be helpful to the investigation is asked to contact the Falls Church Police Detective Richardson at 703-248-5238 (TTY 711).


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