Charges of mischief and uttering threats have been approved against a union researcher for an incident involving Vancouver-Mount Pleasant MLA Jenny Kwan.

A special prosecutor has approved charges against Kimberly Burton Pollock, a researcher with the United Steelworkers. Pollock is to appear in court in Vancouver on May 12.

At the legislature Monday, Kwan declined to comment on the case, or whether it is related to her leading role in the ouster of former NDP leader Carole James last fall. One of the incidents is alleged to have taken place on Dec. 1, 2010, the day Kwan released a letter criticizing James at length and calling for a leadership review.

A second incident took place April 1 of this year.

A statement from the Attorney General’s ministry says the charges relate to alleged threats of death or bodily harm against Kwan, her husband and children. The Globe and Mail reported that the mischief charge relates to feces thrown on the roof of Kwan’s home in East Vancouver.