ARLINGTON, Va. (WUSA9) -- A former Falls Church Democratic Committee chair will spend 20 years in prison after pleading guilty to all counts in two separate child sex abuse cases Thursday.
Michael Gardner was charged with sexually abusing his niece, who came forward after he was released from prison last year after his conviction in a high-profile 2011 child sex assault case was reversed. His niece, now 18, was 12-years-old at the time at the time of the incident. The prosecutor told potential jurors that the niece's allegations against her uncle trickled out over time, with a full disclosure coming when she was 17.
"It was a surprise," said deputy Commonwealth's attorney Alej Rueda. "I think the trial was going fairly well, and he got discouraged. That he would be convicted in this case and convicted in the slumber party case. And, the attorneys approached us about trying to do a global resolution," she said.
That resolution was to plead guilty on all charges – one count of object sexual penetration and four counts of aggravated sexual battery. Gardner's attorneys recommended the sentence, and the judge accepted. Gardner will serve the sentence for each charge concurrently, meaning he will spend 20 years in prison. Prosecutors said he could be eligible for early release after serving 85 percent of his sentence.
PREVIOUS STORY: Gardner on trial again for child sex abuse
In a separate sex abuse case – referred to by attorneys as the "slumber party case," Gardner was accused of sexually molesting three girls at his Falls Church home in 2011. Those girls had attended his daughter's 10th birthday sleepover. A jury convicted him on two counts of aggravated sexual battery and one count of object penetration related to two girls and sentenced him to 22 years in prison. But last year, the Virginia Supreme Court ruled to overturn the conviction and re-try the case because a judge had improperly blocked some character testimony.
That case was supposed to go back to court for re-trial in November, but the plea deal Thursday ended that possibility.
The plea deal also protects Gardner's wife, Robin Garner – a former Falls Church mayor. It includes immunity and extra protection for her, as ordered by the court.
After the plea, WUSA9 talked exclusively with two of the girls involved in the cases. They said they wanted to share their stories.
Speaking side by side and smiling with confidence, they said they felt "Pretty great. We're ecstatic. It's been long overdue. We've waited for this day for four years….almost five."
Though the plea deal prevented them from having to take the stand again in November, one of the girls said, "I wouldn't have minded. It's the same evidence, it's the same story. He's in prison now for the crimes he committed against four girls. And I would have been fine testifying because it's just getting justice."
One of their fathers said, "I'm feeling like justice has been served. I'm feeling very humbled by all that had to come together to have justice serve in this case. It's sad in this nation that if you're powerful and politically connected that it's not easy to bring accountability."
Gardner's attorneys did not make a statement after the plea deal Thursday. WUSA9 reached out to their office for a statement and has yet to hear back.
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