MAGNOLIA, Texas – The Texas Rangers are investigating Magnolia Mayor Matthew Dantzer after the city’s secretary alleged he assaulted her with sexual intent while she was pregnant. Dantzer has not been formally charged with a crime.
City Secretary Christian Gable, who is currently on maternity leave, has not publicly spoken about the allegations. Her fiancé, Bryan Emery, spoke to KPRC 2 News reporter Corley Peel on Gable’s behalf saying his fiancé’ is scared to return to work.
“They’ve silenced her. She’s not allowed to speak,” Emery said.
According to a complaint Gable filed with the city’s Human Resources department, the alleged assault occurred in October during the Texas Municipal League Conference in Fort Worth. Emery says Gable, who was pregnant at the time, texted him with safety concerns while walking back to the Omni Hotel with Dantzer.
The complaint states Dantzer commented on her loose pants and attempted to pull them down. She responded saying, “I’ll (expletive) kill you.”
Emery said the situation escalated near the hotel 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,” Emery said.
According to the complaint, Dantzer later texted Gable saying, “Didn’t mean to be disrespectful. It was good catching up with you.”
When asked why Gable did not call police, Emery said fear played a role.
“I think it literally comes down to the fact that she was in fear that nobody’s gonna believe her,” he said.
Emery said the situation escalated further after Gable returned from the trip, when Dantzer came into her office alone.
“He comes in there and slams both his hands down on the desk and just like right over top of her. It was just like an intimidation thing,” Emery said.
Gable filed a formal complaint with the city, but Emery says months passed before they learned the investigation had wrapped up. She filed a second complaint in January.
“They said it was just like, ‘he said, she said,’” Emery recalled.
In February, Emery and Gable learned the Texas Rangers had launched an investigation into Dantzer. The Texas Department of Public Safety released a brief statement on the matter saying:
“This is an active and ongoing investigation by the Texas Rangers. No additional information is currently available.”
KPRC 2 asked the city attorney, Leonard Schneider, about the outcome of the city’s investigation but said the city is not commenting while the Texas Rangers investigation is ongoing.
Emery said he spoke out about his concerns with how the case is being handled during a council meeting last month that Dantzer did not attend.
KPRC 2’s Corley Peel reached Dantzer by phone and asked if he would comment on the investigation.
“I’m not a Texas Ranger so you’d have to contact them or Leonard Schneider, thank you,” Dantzer said before hanging up.
Emery addressed the city council this month, but Dantzer was absent from that meeting. Records show Dantzer is not running for re-election, and his term ends in May.
“I hope he’s never allowed to do anything in the sense of power ever again,” Emery said.
Gable is scheduled to return from maternity leave Monday. Emery says a city council meeting is set for Tuesday to determine whether she can work remotely until Dantzer’s term concludes in May.