Two youths arrested in NK cross-burning incidents

Two New Kent youths, both boys age 13, face several charges in connection with a pair of recent cross-burnings in front of residences in the county.

Investigators say the incidents are not racially motivated and that the pair sought publicity. What they have earned, however, equates to one count each of felony setting fire with intent to do damage and misdemeanor trespassing and carelessly damaging property with fire.

Both youths were arrested yesterday (Tuesday), New Kent Sheriff F.W. “Wakie” Howard Jr. said. They were later released to the custody of parents. Det. Matt Wiggins was the arresting officer and is in charge of the investigation.

“We conducted extensive interviews with both and both said there was nothing racially motivated,” Howard said. “They both basically said they wanted to see what people would do.”

Both are students at New Kent Middle School. Ironically, one is white and the other is black. White families occupy the residences where the cross-burnings took place.

The first incident occurred on March 24 at the end of a driveway leading to a residence on Quaker Road in Quinton. A neighbor reported the incident to the sheriff’s office.

The second took place the next day in the front yard of a residence on Mountcastle Road near Providence Forge. Both fires were set in daylight hours around 12 noon, Howard said.

“Our investigation revealed that neither resident had any disagreement or argument with neighbors and there was no indications of this being retaliation,” the sheriff said.

The cross found on Quaker Road was about five feet tall and consisted of a post with a crosspiece about 15 inches long nailed on. The other cross was smaller and crudely constructed, Howard said. Both had been doused with gasoline and set ablaze.

“The way the crosses were built, it was pretty evident to our officers that this was done by juveniles,” he said, adding that at the time, county schools were on spring break.

Howard said his department is required by federal law to report the incidents as possible hate crimes. FBI agents, he said, traveled to New Kent to view and collect evidence deputies had gathered at each scene.

“We’re required to report these incidents as hate crimes, no matter if kids do it,” Howard said. “But we indicated to the FBI that these were juveniles and we haven’t been able to correlate any connection to race.”