Secret Service head faces domestic violence charge

Rocky Mountain News

Published November 18, 2006 at midnight

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CASTLE ROCK — The top Secret Service agent in Denver appeared in court here today to face charges of domestic violence against his wife.

Lon Garner was arrested Wednesday night on a charge of third-degree assault after his wife, Christine, filed a complaint alleging an attack last January at their Douglas County home.

Christine Garner said that her husband choked her during an argument after she accused him of having an affair with another woman. Court documents indicate that the couple' son, Lon Jr., corroborated the account of the attack and said that he had to intervene to stop it.

Christine Garner said she had not filed a complaint until now because her husband had threatened to "eliminate" anyone who tried to ruin his career.

Garner is the lead special agent for the U.S. Secret Service in Denver. He was transferred to the Denver Field Office in 2000.

Garner was released on $50,000 bond Thursday and required to wear a GPS location monitor to safeguard against his contacting his wife.

Magistrate Grafton Biddle continued Garner's bond, and allowed Garner to take off the GPS monitor while he travels to New York City later this month to see a doctor.

Garner is due back in court Dec. 1 for a pre-trial conference.

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