The Texas Rangers are investigating Magnolia Mayor Matthew Dantzer following allegations from the city’s secretary that he assaulted her with sexual intent during a work conference last fall. Dantzer has not been formally charged with a crime.
City Secretary Christian Gable, who has been on maternity leave, filed a complaint with the city’s Human Resources department alleging the incident occurred in October during the Texas Municipal League Conference in Fort Worth.
According to the complaint, Dantzer made a comment about her clothing and attempted to pull her pants down as the two walked back to the Omni Hotel. Gable was pregnant at the time.
Bryan Emery, Gable’s fiance who has spoken publicly on her behalf, said the confrontation escalated near the hotel’s valet area. “He grabs her by the throat and pins her up against the big silver pillar right there in front of the valet and holds her. She fights him off and yells at the valet,” said Emery.
Following the incident, Dantzer texted Gable, “Didn’t mean to be disrespectful. It was good catching up with you,” according to the complaint.
Gable did not call the police at the time. Emery said fear was a factor. “I think it literally comes down to the fact that she was in fear that nobody’s gonna believe her,” he said. Emery says the situation continued after Gable returned from the trip, when Dantzer came into her office alone and slammed his hands on her desk in what Emery described as a deliberate act of intimidation.
Gable filed a formal complaint with the city, but the internal investigation was closed without discipline for Dantzer, with the city characterizing the matter as a he-said-she-said dispute. She filed a second complaint in January. The city also commissioned an external inquiry that also concluded without sufficient findings, and no action was taken against Dantzer.
The situation has since expanded beyond Gable’s complaint. On March 17, former city Human Resources Director Kristy Powell filed a federal lawsuit alleging retaliation and harassment tied to her handling of Gable’s complaint. Powell contends the working conditions she faced after taking up the matter amounted to a constructive discharge, meaning she was effectively forced out.
City and mayoral attorneys had not responded to the lawsuit as of this week.
In February, Gable and Emery learned the Texas Rangers had opened an investigation. The Texas Department of Public Safety confirmed the probe in a statement: “This is an active and ongoing investigation by the Texas Rangers. No additional information is currently available.”
City Attorney Leonard Schneider declined to comment on the outcome of the city’s internal investigation, citing the active Rangers inquiry.
Emery has addressed the city council on the matter twice in recent weeks, with Dantzer absent from both meetings. Records show Dantzer is not seeking re-election and his term concludes in May.
Gable is scheduled to return from maternity leave Monday, and a city council meeting is set for Tuesday to consider whether she will be permitted to work remotely until Dantzer’s term ends. “I hope he’s never allowed to do anything in the sense of power ever again,” Emery said.
Dantzer was first elected to the Magnolia City Council in 2017 and took the mayor’s chair in May 2024 after defeating incumbent Todd Kana.
