Former Magnolia Mayor Matthew Dantzer has pleaded guilty to assaulting his city secretary while she was pregnant, but the plea deal keeps him out of jail.
Dantzer, 52, entered the plea Oct. 2 in Tarrant County to assault of a pregnant person, a felony, and official oppression, a misdemeanor. A judge placed him on two years of deferred adjudication probation, which means he can avoid a formal conviction if he completes the terms.
Under the agreement, Dantzer must pay a $4,000 fine, perform community service, and have no contact with former City Secretary Christian Gable. He is also barred from drinking alcohol and must take a batterer’s intervention class.
The case stems from a Texas Municipal League conference in Fort Worth in October 2025. Gable, who was five months pregnant at the time, has said Dantzer offered to walk her back to the hotel after a work dinner. She alleged he tried to pull down her pants during the walk and then grabbed her by the throat near the hotel entrance. After his arrest, Dantzer’s attorney said he denied the allegations and maintained his innocence. The attorney had not responded to a request for comment on the plea.
Gable’s complaint to the city did not lead to discipline. The city closed its internal investigation, and a later outside review was inconclusive.
The Texas Rangers then opened their own investigation, which ended with Dantzer’s arrest April 14 on a Tarrant County warrant. He was released on a $15,000 bond. KPRC later requested the city’s investigative report and received a letter showing the city attorney had asked the Texas Attorney General to withhold it under attorney-client privilege.
Mayor Pro Tem Jack Huitt said at an April council meeting that he had asked Dantzer to resign on several occasions. A special meeting on April 20 to consider censuring the mayor ended with no action.
Dantzer did not seek re-election, and his term ended in May. Chris Blair won the May 2 race to replace him.
Gable resigned July 19 after five years with the city. She had asked to work remotely until Dantzer’s term ended, and that request was denied. “The elephant in the room was too big for me to be in,” Gable said.
Bryan Emery, Gable’s fiance, reacted to the plea this week. “He got off pretty easy, that’s how I feel about it,” he said.
While the criminal case is resolved, Dantzer still faces three federal civil lawsuits tied to the allegations, and all three remain active.
Former city Human Resources Director Kristy Powell sued March 17, alleging retaliation and harassment connected to her handling of Gable’s complaint. Gable filed her own suit April 8 against Dantzer and the city, alleging they failed to properly investigate and protect her and that she faced retaliation. In early May, former City Administrator Christopher Whittaker filed the third, alleging he was fired after raising concerns about the mayor’s alleged conduct.
Gable’s case is currently set for trial in the fall of 2027.
