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Commonwealth of Virginia v Michael Gardner

Community activist molests children

Crime In June 2011, Michael Gardner was arrested for sexually abusing two girls, 9 and 10, during his daughter's slumber party in his Falls Church, VA home the previous week.
Evidence The victims' underpants and pajama pants were recovered.
DNA Virginia's Department of Forensic Science developed DNA data from the underpants and pajama pants.
Match The lab's manual analysis could not provide a match statistic.
TrueAllele On the same data, the computer's statistic connecting the underpants with Mr. Gardner was 20 quadrillion. The computer's statistic connecting the pajama pants with Mr. Gardner was 3 thousand.
Cybergenetics    On February 28, 2012, Dr. Mark Perlin testified at the trial about the computer's DNA match statistics in this case.
Outcome Michael Gardner was convicted of three counts of molestation and sentenced to 22 years in prison. During the appeals process, Gardner pleaded guilty to one count of object sexual penetration and four counts of aggravated sexual battery.
Media

  • Michael Gardner arrest stuns entire D.C. region Falls Church News-Press
  • Alleged victims of Michael Gardner's sex abuse testify WJLA
  • DNA expert testifies in Gardner molestation trial NBC Washington
  • High probability of Gardner DNA match to children's clothing, analyst states; third girl identifies defendant as attacker Falls Church News-Press
  • Michael Gardner, ex-chief of Falls Church Democrats, convicted of molesting two girls Washington Post
  • Jury recommends 22 years in child molestation case NBC Washington
  • Michael Gardner’s molestation conviction overturned by Virginia Supreme Court Washington Post
  • Michael Gardner Pleads Guilty, to Serve 20 Years Falls Church Patch

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