BUCKHANNON — According to public records from the Upshur County Clerk, Buckhannon City Council candidate Matthew Kerner (D) was delinquent in paying his child support payments, beginning in 2002.
On March 5, 2002, the court ruled in favor of Cheryl Jean Coen against Matthew Aaron Kerner, initially awarding Coen $3,442.98.
Then, on February 14, 2012, an execution lien was placed on Kerner’s personal property for the unpaid principal amount of $3,442.98, plus an additional $3,749.70 for unpaid interest over a 10 year period. This totaled to $7,306.23 in delinquent child support payments.
In an Abstract of Order also issued on February 14, 2012, he was ordered to pay Coen a perpetual amount of $212.83 monthly, plus interest.
According to filed public records, a Release of Judgements could not be found on Kerner’s personal property.
UPDATE 3/10/20 9:17 am: In a statement to Mountaineer Journal, Kerner claimed that his child support has been fully paid. However, a Release of Judgements showing the completed transaction could not be found. Again, this failure to pay child support lasted for a minimum of 10 years.
UPDATE 4/23/20 11:39: In public remarks expressed on his social media account, Kerner claimed that he received the stimulus relief and tax refund payments in his bank account. He stated that this proved he paid his back child support, though some national news outlets expressed the garnishing of wages wasn’t necessarily definitive. A Release of Judgements showing the completed transaction still has not been found or provided to Mountaineer Journal.