Texas Mayor Faces Criminal Charges Over Alleged Assault on Pregnant Employee
Magnolia Mayor Matthew 'Doc' Dantzer was taken into custody on Tuesday following disturbing allegations of sexual assault against his city secretary, Christian Gable. The 52-year-old politician is accused of attacking the 31-year-old Gable outside a Fort Worth hotel in October, while she was five months pregnant.
Years of Alleged Harassment Culminate in Violent Incident
According to a lawsuit filed by Gable, the alleged assault represents the violent culmination of what she describes as a years-long campaign of workplace harassment. The complaint details how Dantzer allegedly referred to her as "my sexetary" and made frequent inappropriate comments about women's bodies throughout her employment.
The incident in question occurred after both attended a Texas Municipal League event. Gable reluctantly agreed to let Dantzer walk her back to their hotel, texting her fiancé about the arrangement because he "was aware of the prior incidents."
Disturbing Details of the Alleged Assault
During the 12-minute walk, the lawsuit claims Dantzer made increasingly sexualized statements. He allegedly commented on Gable's loose-fitting pants, asking if they were pajamas. When she said no, he reportedly responded: "You know what that means to me, right? They're easy to pull down."
Gable explained the pants were tight due to her pregnancy, to which Dantzer allegedly said it would be easy after getting "past the bump." The complaint states he "repeatedly attempted to pull her pants down as they continued walking down the street."
As they approached the hotel, the situation escalated further. Dantzer allegedly asked if Gable's boyfriend knew "how to handle" her, then grabbed her by the throat and pinned her against a column while saying: "You need to tell him to do it like this."
"I consider it sexual assault," Gable told ABC 13. "My body went into fight-or-flight mode, and I used both of my hands to push him off me."
Aftermath and Alleged Retaliation
The next morning, Gable reported the incident to HR Director Kristy Powell, who was also attending the conference. Powell urged her to formally document what happened and report it to police, which she did.
An internal investigation was launched but determined Gable's claims were inconclusive due to a lack of witnesses. Gable's lawsuit criticizes this investigation, alleging the third-party lawyer hired by the city only spoke with a "handful" of employees and didn't attempt to obtain security footage of the alleged attack.
Both women claim they faced harassment after filing reports. Gable alleges that after Powell filed the official complaint, Dantzer appeared in her office, slammed his hands on her desk, and stared intimidatingly at her. He later allegedly asked if she was moving and named the exact neighborhood she was preparing to move to.
Longstanding Relationship Turns Toxic
The two have known each other for ten years, as Dantzer lives near Gable's parents. According to the lawsuit, Dantzer offered Gable a city job in 2021 when she moved in with her parents after losing her job during the pandemic.
Gable claims the inappropriate behavior "escalated" after she was hired by the city. At first, Dantzer would allegedly show up uninvited at her parents' house when she returned for lunch. After her promotion to city secretary in 2023, he would frequently visit her adjoining office where "unprofessional jokes and sexual comments persisted."
"Ms. Gable felt she had no other choice but to endure Mr. Dantzer’s harassment if she wanted to keep her job," the filing states.
Ongoing Legal Battles and Health Consequences
Gable claims the stress of the investigation caused her to suffer high blood pressure and early labor. She requested to work from home until Dantzer leaves office in May (he is not running for reelection) but was denied.
"In other words, the City is now requiring Ms. Gable to work from the same building as her attacker indefinitely," the complaint states.
Powell resigned in late November amid the investigation and filed her own lawsuit in March against Dantzer and the city, accusing him of favoritism toward male colleagues and retaliation.
Dantzer is currently being held in Tarrant County Jail on criminal charges related to the alleged assault. If convicted, he faces up to ten years in prison. Gable is requesting a trial by jury for her civil lawsuit.
The City of Magnolia has filed a motion asking for more time to respond to Gable's claims. A lawyer for the city referred inquiries to Dantzer's attorney, who is also representing the city in Powell's complaint according to court records.
