LARRY O’DELL
Associated Press
RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — The Virginia Supreme Court has tossed out the convictions of a former Democratic Party official who was accused of molesting three children.
Michael Armin Gardner was convicted of molesting two girls who attended a slumber party for his daughter’s 10th birthday. An Arlington County Circuit Court jury was unable to reach a verdict on a charge related to the third child. The 50-year-old former chairman of the Democratic committee in Falls Church was sentenced to 22 years in prison.
In a 6-1 ruling Thursday, the Supreme Court said the trial judge improperly barred two character witnesses from testifying about whether Gardner had a reputation as a good caretaker of children. Their testimony was limited to Gardner’s general reputation for honesty and peacefulness.
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