Texas Mayor Arrested for Assault of Pregnant City Secretary

Felony Charges Filed Against Magnolia Mayor

Magnolia Mayor Matthew "Doc" Dantzer was arrested Tuesday by Texas Rangers and charged with felony assault of a pregnant person, according to the Montgomery County Sheriff's Office. The charges include assault of a pregnant person and official oppression after being arrested, the Tarrant County District Attorney said. The investigation began after a complaint was filed by Magnolia City Secretary Christian Gable, who alleged that while she was pregnant, Dantzer sexually harassed her and grabbed her by the throat during a work conference in Fort Worth in October 2025.

According to the lawsuit, during a walk back to their hotel, Dantzer allegedly attempted to pull the secretary's pants down before "suddenly — and violently" grabbing the woman's throat and pinning her against a column. The incident occurred while Gable and two other city employees were attending the Texas Municipal League's Annual Conference in Fort Worth in late October 2025.

Pattern of Harassment Alleged

The lawsuit filed on April 8 reveals the alleged unwanted sexual comments Dantzer made to Gable, which eventually led to the alleged assault. In January 2026, Dantzer's harassment continued, and she began losing sleep and became crippled with anxiety, all while being pregnant. The morning after the alleged assault, Gable reported the incident to the two staffers traveling with them, who advised her to submit a formal complaint to the city of Montgomery and to the local police.

Dantzer also faces a second federal lawsuit filed by the city's former Human Resources Director, who says she was forced out of her job after speaking up about the alleged assault on Gable. In November 2025, "Powell's working conditions became so intolerable that she felt compelled to resign," according to the lawsuit.

Investigation Failures Exposed

The lawsuit says that even though the City of Magnolia concluded the investigation into the incident, Gable was not informed until two weeks later, and the third-party investigator told her the results were inconclusive and that her claims were unsubstantiated. Gable alleges that the investigator told her the investigation consisted of only a handful of employee interviews, even though he knew no other city employees personally witnessed the incident, and that he did not attempt to obtain any security camera footage that could have captured the alleged assault.

Several days after the meeting with the investigator, Gable claims she began to experience high blood pressure and was induced into labor two weeks earlier than her original due date. The stress of the situation and inadequate response from city leadership took a severe toll on both her health and career.

Political Fallout and Future Implications

At Tuesday night's Magnolia City Council meeting, the mayor pro tem, Jack Huitt, called for Dantzer's resignation. A special meeting has been scheduled for April 20, where the council will discuss Dantzer's charges in a closed executive session, and a resident can file a court petition to remove a mayor for reasons such as misconduct or incompetence. Dantzer's term ends in May, and he did not file for reelection.

Dantzer's attorney released a statement saying the mayor denies all allegations and remains dedicated to serving the city of Magnolia. The case highlights broader concerns about workplace safety in local government and the protection of employees who report misconduct. With criminal charges now filed and federal lawsuits pending, this scandal will likely reshape how small Texas municipalities handle harassment complaints and protect vulnerable employees.