Should a child molester be allowed to serve in office? Even if it happened over 30 years ago? It was three years ago that 5thEstate.com first reported on Millersville Boro councilman, Jack W. Gardner, being a child molester. At the time, we were unable to get sealed court documents to tell you more specific information of this perverted crime - until now. By combining the June 19, 1970 Intell and official court documents on 5thEstate.com, readers have an exclusive on just how low Jack went (the court documents are blackened to protect the victim): When most of Lancaster county was coming home from church on September 7, 1969, the 25 year old, ex-marine, now councilman Gardner, took a 13 year old girl to the Old Mill Inn on Colombia Ave. While there, Gardner placed "…his hand under her underpants and touching her private parts and also lowering her under pants." For this Gardner went to a Lancaster County jail cell.

Lancaster Intelligencer Journal Friday, June 19, 1970 recorded it this way: "Jack W. Gardner, 250 Stone Mill Road, who pleaded guilty to assault with intent to ravish, two charges of corrupting the morals of a minor and indecent assault on Wednesday, was sentenced by Judge Johnstone."

"Gardner received a 3 to 23 month sentence in Lancaster County Prision and was fined $50 and costs on the assault with intent to ravish. " "On the other charges, he was placed on concurrent probation for one year and directed to pay costs of prosecution. Manor Twp. Police Chief Donald W. Sheeler said one of the corrupting charges involved a 12-year-old girl last September and the other three charges involved a 13-year-old girl and took place Sept. 7 at 1 p.m. at the Old Mill Inn, 1502 Columbia Ave."

So how can a man who served time in Lancaster county prison for molesting a 12 and 13 year old girl be serving in public office? Mysteriously, in 1970, seven years after serving time in jail, Lancaster County District Attorney's office agreed to drop the charges AFTER Gardner plead guilty and served time for the crimes! Why did the DA's office erase the convictions of a sex offender?

Gardner had a parole violation in April 1971, but stranger yet, the official record had no information for why the court issued a warrant. What is known is that 10 years later, the people of Millersville saw the name Jack W. Gardner on their ballots. How will Millersville Boro citizens respond today?

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