MARYVILLE, Tenn. (WVLT) - A man facing a federal charge in connection to a major gas leak in Maryville has entered a plea agreement.

Christopher Duke was charged with knowingly and willfully acting in a manner to damage and attempt to destroy an interstate gas pipeline facility that is used in interstate or foreign commerce.

In May, Duke went to a gas substation in Maryville and scaled a chain-link and barbed-wire fence. Once he was inside the substation, the plea agreement said he began to “recklessly release numerous gas valves causing an immediate, high-pressure emergency release of large quantities of gas,” which “caused the ground to shake and produced an extremely loud whooshing sound.”

The plea agreement added that his actions “involved a reckless risk of death or serious bodily

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