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• Alleged escapee indicted on 17 charges by New Kent Grand Jury

  A New Kent man who escaped from Henrico Jail East has been indicted on several charges related to offenses that were allegedly committed afterwards. Howard Allen Groffel, 52, currently of Henrico Jail East, was indicted on 17 charges during Monday morning grand jury proceedings in New Kent Circuit Court. According to the indictments, Groffel escaped Henrico Jail East on the night of Apr. 25 and entered a vehicle, stealing a wallet and credit cards belonging to Samuel Howard. It is also alleged that he used those cards to purchase a weapon and ammunition. Groffel is charged with five counts of…
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• Technology tattles on defendant as plea deal reached in NK court

  In science fiction movies, a depiction of betrayal by technology usually leads to the downfall of mankind. For one defendant in New Kent Circuit Court, he wished that display only stayed in films. Jon Matthew Willis, 23, of the 6300 block of Hickory Road, Quinton, entered guilty pleas to one count each of possession of cocaine with intent to distribute and misdemeanor possession of marijuana as part of Sept. 18 court proceedings. In a summary of evidence, on Mar. 13 New Kent deputies stopped a vehicle that was a target of a drug operation. Once stopped, the driver, identified as…
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• New Kent scores eight TDs on ground, romps Bruton 61-6

  

  As New Kent hosted the visiting Bruton Panthers on Friday night at the Ed Allen Jr. Complex, it was as simple as saying that the guests were in the wrong place at the wrong time. New Kent accumulated 466 rushing yards and scored nine total touchdowns, steamrolling Bruton 61-6 in the Bay Rivers opener for the Trojans. After benefitting from an early Bruton kick catch interference penalty, the hosts rode the legs of running back Evan Branch. Branch’s three consecutive carries, including the last for 36 yards, put the hosts up 7-0 less than two minutes into the contest. Bruton…
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• Providence Forge man accepts plea deal to assault charges

  A Providence Forge man will spend the next year in jail after accepting a plea deal during Sept. 15 proceedings in Charles City Circuit Court. Harlan Egan Adkins, 46, of the 4700 block of Adkins Road, Providence Forge, entered guilty pleas to two counts of assault and battery of a family member (third offense) as part of the agreement. In a summary of evidence, on Apr. 12, Adkins went to the home of relatives in an intoxicated state. An argument ensued followed by an altercation, resulting in Adkins striking two relatives. He was arrested and information found in his criminal…
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• Charles City man convicted for stealing boat engines

  A Charles City man that stole boat motors has been found guilty on three felony charges. Dallis Leno Wallace Jr., 48, of the 7800 block of Lewis Tyler Lane, was rendered verdicts of guilt on one count each of grand larceny, intent to sell stolen property, and felony destruction of property during a Sept. 15 contested trial in Charles City Circuit Court. On May 1, Christian Hager returned to his property and noticed Suzuki engines were cut out of each of the boats that he owned. After notifying police, he called John Hoffmeyer, a local business owner who works on…
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