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BUCKHANNON -- A Buckhannon man was ordered to pay restitution after vandalizing campaign signs by former city council candidate Matthew Kerner.
Michael Shaffer, 48, pleaded guilty to destruction of property, a misdemeanor. Under the terms of the plea agreement, the state agreed the appropriate sentence should be a $100 fine and restitution to Kerner of $381.20, according to information in the Upshur County Magistrate Clerk's office.
Shaffer admitted to vandalizing the campaign signs on April 9, 2020. He was also ordered to pay court costs of $170.25. Shaffer could have faced up to one year in jail and/or a fine of not more than $500.
The case was investigated by the West Virginia State Police. According to a previous article, Shaffer was arrested in August following an investigation by Cpl. V.J. Pyles. Kerner filed a complaint on April 9 in which two political signs were vandalized with green paint that would not come off. Both signs were on Route 20.
Pyles obtained screen shots of a conversation between Shaffer and a former girlfriend in which Shaffer admitted to painting the signs.
In May, Kerner was arrested for brandishing a deadly weapon and prohibited person in possession of a firearm, both misdemeanors after Kerner allegedly pulled out a handgun and pointed it at Shaffer. That case is still pending in Upshur County Magistrate Court.