BUCKHANNON — In an exclusive report, Mountaineer Journal has obtained documentation confirming that Buckhannon City Council Candidate and Upshur County Democratic Party Chairman Matthew Aaron Kerner has been arrested for “brandishing a deadly weapon” and being a “prohibited person possessing deadly firearms.”
According to the Criminal Complaint filed on May 12, 2020, with the Magistrate Court of Upshur County, Kerner became involved in a verbal altercation with Michael Shaffer on E Main Street in Buckhannon, WV. According to Sgt. Tom Posey, Kerner pulled out a handgun and pointed it at Shaffer. Kerner claimed that Shaffer had a closed pocket knife in his hand, expressing this to the investigating officer. After re-holstering his handgun, a few additional words were exchanged and the two parted ways.
Upon further investigation, Mountaineer Journal also received images of the alleged closed “pocketknife” Kerner claimed Shaffer was holding in his hand. Images show the object was not a pocketknife, but rather a special key on Shaffer’s keychain.
Sources tell Mountaineer Journal that the altercation occurred at Sweet-A-Licious, a local ice cream shop in Buckhannon.
Photos from the scene appear to show an ice cream cup laying on the ground, and the spot where Kerner allegedly threw his ice cream cup at Shaffer’s sweatshirt.
At 8:28 p.m., minutes before the incident, Kerner posted a photo of himself at the Sweet-A-Licious location on the Opportunity House‘s Facebook page.
The confrontation reportedly took place on May 4, 2020, at 8:40 p.m.
At 9:44 p.m., he also shared the post publicly on his personal account, expressing, “Good times and great ice cream at Sweet A Licious tonight with the guys.”
Additionally, Sgt. Posey concluded that Matthew Kerner was prohibited from possessing a firearm due to felony crime convictions. Kerner has a felony drug possession conviction and a felony false check conviction in California in August of 2005.
Kerner may not leave the State of West Virginia without written approval by the Court. He must comply with random drug and alcohol testing, and may not possess any firearms or ammo while on bond. Kerner also signed that he will hire an attorney for representation.
According to the warrant for arrest, Kerner brandished a deadly weapon, threatening or causing a breach of the peace, among additional criminal penalties.
Bail was set at $20,000 plus additional fees. He paid 10 percent to the court $2,000, and then 90 percent Personal Recognizance and two Law Enforcement Training Fees. If Kerner is found guilty or pleads guilty for the brandishing charge, he will be jailed not less than 90 days nor more than 1 year and/or fined not less than $50 nor more than $1,000. If found guilty or pleads guilty to the “prohibited firearm possession charge,” Kerner will be fined not less than $100 nor more than $1,000 and/or confined for not less than 90 days nor more than 1 year.