Mine Union Official Charged with Bombing Section of Warrior Met Coal Pipeline During Strike

Mine Union Official Charged with Bombing Section of Warrior Met Coal Pipeline During Strike

Story by Howard Koplowitz, Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

A mine union official from West Virginia was indicted by federal prosecutors for allegedly bombing a section of methane gas pipeline owned by Warrior Met Coal, officials announced Thursday.

Jerry Gale Kerns, 52, was charged with destruction of property used in interstate commerce by means of fire or explosive, said U.S. Attorney Prim F. Escalona, Federal Bureau of Investigation Special Agent in Charge Carlton L. Peeples, and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Special Agent in Charge Marcus Watson.

The explosion occurred on March 23, 2022, when Warrior Met Coal workers with the United Mine Workers of America had been on strike amid a contentious labor dispute. The strike ended February 16, 2023, when the union issued an unconditional return to work.

At the time of the incident, Kerns was the Region II director of the union, prosecutors said.

They alleged Kerns bombed a section of a methane gas pipeline owned and operated by Warrior Met Coal near the intersection of Hanna Creek Road and Sandlin Mountain Road in Brookwood.

Kerns faces between five years and 20 years in federal prison if convicted.

Heidi