Former DC Deputy Mayor’s court date postponed; still facing assault charges

The former Deputy Mayor of Washington DC, who resigned last week following accusations of assault, had his court date postponed on Monday after a weekend of further controversy surrounding his home address in Falls Church, Virginia.

Chris Geldhardt, who until last week served for eight years as DC’s Deputy Mayor for Public Safety and Justice under Mayor Muriel Bowser, was caught on video allegedly assaulting a personal trainer in a parking lot in Arlington, Virginia.

The trainer, Dustin Woodward, says Geldhardt grabbed him by the neck after a heated exchange that resulted from Geldhardt’s car door hitting the vehicle of Woodward’s girlfriend. Geldhardt submitted his resignation last Wednesday last week.

Geldhardt was scheduled to appear in court on Monday for his arraignment, but his attorney filed an appearance on his behalf, effectively waiving his arraignment. The judge set the next court date for December 8. If found guilty, Geldhardt faces up to a year in prison and up to $250,000 in fines.

Over the weekend, some controversy arose over Geldhardt’s permanent home address. Reporters grilled Geldhardt about the fact that his home address is listed as Falls Church, Virginia. Under DC code, high-level elected officials must reside within city limits.

Geldhardt responded to the questions about his home address claiming he had been staying with a friend in DC part-time to adhere to the code, and spending the rest of his time at his home in Falls Church with his family.

At this time Geldhardt has not entered any pleas in the case.