TONY GARDNER RECEIVES FOUR YEARS FOR BATTERING HIS WIFE AND INTIMIDATING HER TO STAY SILENT

TONY GARDNER RECEIVES FOUR YEARS FOR BATTERING HIS WIFE AND INTIMIDATING HER TO STAY SILENT

MAY 18, 2023

Evansville, IN – Prosecutor Diana Moers announces that, on May 16, 2023, Tony Tewayne Gardner was sentenced to serve 4 years executed in the Indiana Department of Correction for hitting his wife on the back of her head with a metal fan, beating her when she attempted to call 911, making her unable to leave the house for fear that he would harm her further.

On November 10, 2022, officers performed a wellness check on Ms. Gardner aftershe had missed many calls from her daughter. When officers arrived, Gardner responded in a disruptive manner and refused to allow them to see his wife. When she eventually came to the door, Gardner refused to let her speak and continued to yell and act belligerently, leading to his arrest for disorderly conduct.

After Ms. Gardner finally had a chance to speak with the officers, she revealed that Gardner had assaulted her and threatened to kill her several days ago because she did not have anything sweet in the house for him to eat. Gardner then picked up a metal fan and hit her in the back of her head with it. When she went to call 911, he took the phone from her and beat her with his fists. Ms. Gardner could not leave the house because she feared for her life.

At the conclusion of a jury trial on April 24–25, 2023, the jury found the defendant guilty of Domestic Battery, a Level 5 felony; Intimidation, a Level 5 felony; Intimidation, a Level 6 felony; and Disorderly Conduct, a Class B Misdemeanor.

Deputy Prosecutor Keaton Maurer obtained the jury win and stated: “I am heartened that the jury chose to believe Ms. Gardner, who bravely came forward to testify about the abuse inflicted on her,” he stated, “I hope this outcome inspires other victims of domestic violence to believe that their voices can be heard.”

Prosecutor Moers thanked her deputies, Keaton Maurer and Josh Hutcheson, who showed the victim the empathy and respect she deserved while skillfully obtaining a conviction. Moers also thanks Evansville Police Department Officers Justin Miller and Jason Martin, and Prosecutor’s Office staff Morgan Richardville, Frances Elpers, and Tiffany Lubbehusen for their hard work on the case.

Prosecutor Moers stated: “I want every victim of domestic abuse in Vanderburgh County to know that they deserve to live without fear of violence and we have a team trained and ready to assist them from resources to the courtroom; you are not alone—with my office, you have fighters in your corner.” Magistrate Judge Celia M. Pauli of the Vanderburgh Circuit Court sentenced Gardner to four years on each of the first three counts and 180 days on the disorderly conduct count, all to be served concurrently for a total of four years executed in the Indiana Department of Correction.