A former Texas mayor is facing a civil lawsuit alleging he violently assaulted a pregnant city secretary, whom he reportedly nicknamed 'my sexetary.' Matthew 'Doc' Dantzer, who recently concluded his term as mayor of Magnolia, is accused of grabbing Christian Gable by the throat and pinning her against a wall outside a Fort Worth hotel during a work conference in October 2023.
Details of the Alleged Assault
According to the lawsuit obtained by the Daily Mail, the incident occurred as Gable, who was five months pregnant at the time, and Dantzer were returning from dinner. Dantzer allegedly made inappropriate and sexualized remarks, commenting on the 'loose' fit of her pants and suggesting they would be 'easy to pull down' after they 'get past the bump.' He then attempted to remove her pants, but Gable yelled out, prompting him to play off the act as a joke.
As they neared the hotel entrance, Dantzer reportedly asked if her boyfriend 'knows how to handle' her due to her being 'crazy.' When Gable jokingly replied 'he's aware,' Dantzer allegedly 'suddenly - and violently - grabbed Ms. Gable's throat and pinned her against a column,' saying, 'You need to tell him to do it like this.' Gable managed to push him away and retreated to her room, later receiving an apologetic text from Dantzer.
Retaliation and Harassment Claims
Gable reported the assault to then-Human Resources Director Kristy Powell the following morning and filed a complaint with the city. She claims Dantzer retaliated by appearing more frequently in her office, hovering over her, and denying her request to work from home. The lawsuit also alleges a history of sexual harassment, with Dantzer introducing her to City Hall guests as 'the City Sexetary' or 'my Sexetary.'
Legal Motions and Criminal Charges
Dantzer has denied the allegations and filed a motion to dismiss the lawsuit, citing qualified immunity. His attorney, Kelly Albin, argues that Gable has not established a violation of any laws or constitutional rights, and that claims against Dantzer in his official capacity are effectively claims against the city. Dantzer also faces a separate civil lawsuit from HR Director Kristy Powell related to the same incident.
In addition to civil suits, Dantzer was arrested on April 12 following a Texas Rangers investigation and charged with assault on a pregnant person and official oppression. He was released five days later on a $15,000 bond. Dantzer, whose term ended this month after not seeking re-election, denies all wrongdoing. Gable remains employed as city secretary.
