State investigators are digging in after Magnolia City Secretary Christian Gable accused Mayor Matthew Dantzer of assaulting her outside a Fort Worth hotel during the Texas Municipal League conference late last year. In a formal complaint, Gable says Dantzer grabbed her, choked her, and acted in a sexualized manner as they walked back to the Omni Fort Worth. She also notes she was pregnant at the time.
DPS confirms Rangers probe
The Texas Department of Public Safety has confirmed that the Texas Rangers are on the case. In a statement to the Houston Chronicle, DPS press secretary Sheridan Nolen said, “This is an active and ongoing investigation by the Texas Rangers. As this is an active investigation, we have no further information to provide.” It is the state’s first public acknowledgment that the Rangers are reviewing allegations against the mayor.
Allegations detailed in complaint
According to the human resources complaint provided to the paper, Gable and Dantzer, along with three other city employees, stayed at the Omni Fort Worth from Oct. 29 to 31 for the conference. The complaint alleges that during the walk back to the hotel, Dantzer told Gable her pants were “loose and baggy” and then warned, “You know what that means to me, right? They’re easy to pull down.”
The filing says he then grabbed the back of her pants. Later, as they neared the valet area, the complaint alleges he “grabbed me tightly by the throat” and pinned her against a pillar, describing the encounter as a threatening act of dominance. The Houston Chronicle reviewed the complaint and reported the details.
Lawsuit and city review
The fallout has now moved into federal court. Former human resources director Kristy Powell, who also attended the conference, filed a lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas on March 17. She alleges she faced harassing and retaliatory behavior while she was investigating Gable’s complaint.
Powell’s filing says she and Gable submitted “explicit requests for whistleblower protection” and contends that Powell’s resignation in November amounted to a constructive discharge. The city’s staff directory lists Powell as the human resources director prior to her departure, according to the City of Magnolia.
Mayor’s response and council reaction
Dantzer has pushed back on the accusations through his attorney. Conroe lawyer Douglas W. Atkinson said his client “maintains his innocence and looks forward to the opportunity to defend himself in the appropriate legal process.”
Residents did not wait quietly on the sidelines. At the March 10 City Council meeting, they pressed officials for answers, asking why the mayor, who was also serving as interim city administrator at the time, had not been placed on leave while the matter was under review.
What to watch next
The Rangers’ criminal investigation remains active, and investigators will decide whether to refer any potential charges to a prosecutor. Powell’s civil lawsuit is moving forward on a separate track and could bring additional records into public view.
For now, the city says its internal human resources review was inconclusive and has kept portions of the record confidential at Gable’s request.
