Trending
Kerner
BUCKHANNON -- A Buckhannon City Council candidate has been arrested for allegedly brandishing a weapon at another individual who reportedly showed a knife during a verbal argument on Main Street.
Matthew Kerner, 53, of Buckhannon, was arrested Thursday on charges of brandishing a deadly weapon and prohibited person in possession of a firearm, both misdemeanors. He is free on a $20,000 cash and personal recognizance bond set by Magistrate Mike Coffman.
On May 4, Kerner and Michael Shaffer were arguing on Main Street when Kerner allegedly pulled out a handgun and pointed it at Shaffer, according to the criminal complaint in the Upshur County Magistrate Clerk's office.
Kerner told investigating officer Sgt. Tom Posey with the Buckhannon Police Department that Michael Shaffer had a closed pocketknife in his hand. After Kerner re-holstered the gun, a few more words were exchanged and Kerner and Shaffer parted ways, according to the criminal complaint.
Kerner is prohibited from possessing a firearm due to felony crime convictions, according to the criminal complaint. One is a felony drug possession conviction and the second is a felony false check conviction in California in August 2005.
Kerner posted a public statement on his Facebook page Thursday afternoon which stated he was "acting well within my statutory right to self-defense when that happened" in regard to the brandishing a weapon.
"The second charge was a prohibited person in possession of a firearm," Kerner continued in the statement. "That was based on a conviction in California during my active addiction almost two decades ago. Part of my plea agreement at the time was that after one year my charges would revert to misdemeanor status. Apparently there has been an administrative error in California that will be cleared up soon. I am confident that both charges will be dismissed as we give the legal process time to work. Based on advice from my attorney I will be minimizing my social media presence until this is resolved."
Kerner, who is the executive director of Opportunity House, Inc., in Buckhannon, a substance abuse recovery organization, has spoken openly about his recovery in numerous meetings and events.
If convicted, Kerner faces 90 days to one year and/or a fine of $50 to $1,000 for brandishing a deadly weapon and a $100 to $1,000 fine and/or confined for 90 days to one year for person prohibited from possessing firearms.