Monument Realty Founder Michael Darby Charged With Assault
Monument Realty principal Michael Darby is facing criminal charges.
The founder of the D.C.-based real estate development company was charged with second-degree assault and fourth-degree sexual contact, according to Montgomery County District Court records.
The charges stem from a Sept. 1 incident on the set of "Real Housewives of Potomac," a Bravo reality show. Darby's wife, Ashley Darby, stars on the show and he makes frequent appearances. A cameraman for the show, Orville Palmer, claims Darby groped him during a filming earlier this month. A trial is set for Oct. 16 in Rockville.
Darby, a 59-year-old Australia native, founded Monument Realty in 1998 after working with Carr America in the 1980s and Akridge in the 1990s. Monument is currently working on a 69-unit condo project in Shaw and a 171-unit condo project one block from Nationals Park. Darby and his wife also own Oz, an Australian restaurant in Clarendon.
Darby and a spokesperson for Monument Realty did not respond to requests for comment. Darby has been a panelist at Bisnow events.
