Agent charged in alleged assault

Dick Foster, Rocky Mountain News

Saturday, November 18, 2006

CASTLE ROCK - The lead Secret Service agent in Denver appeared in court Friday to face charges of domestic violence against his wife.

Lon Robert Garner, 56, was arrested Wednesday night by Douglas County Sheriff's investigators on a charge of third-degree assault and domestic violence after his wife filed a complaint alleging that he attacked her on Jan. 4 at their home in Elizabeth.

The charge, a Class 3 misdemeanor, carries a penalty of six to 18 months in jail.

Garner was released on $50,000 bond Thursday and ordered to wear a GPS location monitor to ensure his compliance with court orders to stay away from his wife.

An affidavit gives the following account:

The couple's marriage became troubled in late 2005 when Christine Garner learned from one of her husband's co-workers that he was having an affair. Lon Garner admitted to the affair in December 2005 and the couple began marriage counseling.

The alleged assault occurred the following month when Christine Garner, 50, confronted her husband over a credit card purchase for flowers.

Christine Garner kicked her husband in the groin and he choked her until their son, Lon Jr., struck his father on the head, knocking him down.

Cristine Garner said she did not file the complaint until Nov. 9 because her husband had threatened to "eliminate" anyone who tried to ruin his career.

Garner is a special agent for the U.S. Secret Service in Denver. He was transferred to the Denver field office in 2000.

Magistrate Grafton Biddle continued Garner's bond Friday and set a pretrial conference for Dec. 1.