New Kent Charles City Chronicle

News for New Kent County and Charles City County, Virginia | March 19, 2024

Local News

Williamsburg man dies after crash in Charles City

By Community Member | March 12, 2024 11:35 pm

A Williamsburg man has died after a car crash in Charles City Monday afternoon. According to a Virginia State Police, shortly after 1:30 p.m., a 2016 Mazda MZ6 was traveling eastbound on Sturgeon Point Road when it ran off the road and struck a tree approximately 800 feet east of Cypress Bank Road. The driver, identified as Marcus Dashawn Gary, 33, succumbed to injuries. He was not wearing a seatbelt at the time of the crash. The crash remains under investigation.

Mechanicsville man receives two years in jail for committing indecent acts in New Kent

By Andre Jones | March 11, 2024 8:28 pm

A Mechanicsville man will spend the next two years in jail after pleading guilty to committing indecent acts with minors. Donald Matthews Moore Jr., 36, of the 7900 block of Flannigan Mill Road, entered guilty pleas to two counts each of committing indecent acts with a minor and misdemeanor sexual battery as part of a plea agreement reached Monday morning in New Kent Circuit Court. In a summary of evidence by New Kent Commonwealth’s Attorney Scott Renick, a New Kent investigator was contacted in January 2023 about the actions of an individual committing acts against a minor. Moore, who was…
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Newport News man receives three life sentences for attempted murder, armed robbery in Charles City

By Andre Jones | March 5, 2024 7:28 pm

“I don’t know who won in this situation. I don’t know who lost either.” Those were the words of former Charles City Deputy Alisha Buchanan, the victim of an Aug. 1, 2022, shooting that involved Yahsim Tremaine Williams, 23, of Newport News, during Williams’ sentencing hearing Tuesday morning in Charles City Circuit Court. Buchanan was the responding officer to a robbery at the Dollar General Store, located at 10341 Courthouse Road. During a two-day jury trial on Nov. 30-Dec. 1, 2023, testimony presented showed that an unknown man approached Nelson Peck, a new employee, and ordered him to get money…
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Charles City man indicted on strangulation charge

By Andre Jones | March 5, 2024 6:19 pm

A Charles City man has been indicted on a solo charge of strangulation. Gary Antonio Jones, 27, of the 9400 block of Holly Tree Lane, had the above mentioned charge certified by a grand jury during Tuesday morning proceedings in Charles City Circuit Court. The indictment alleges that on Nov. 5, 2023, Jones strangled his victim during an argument. Jones’ case is tentatively set for Mar. 22.

Dillwyn woman receives year-long jail term for DUI in New Kent

By Andre Jones | March 4, 2024 10:09 pm

A Dillwyn woman who drove under the influence of alcohol will serve a year in jail after pleading guilty during Monday morning proceedings in New Kent Circuit Court. Mimi Yvonne Dunkum, 49, of the 100 block of Old Route 15 Lane, admitted guilt to one count of DUI (third or subsequent offense) as part of a plea agreement. One count of misdemeanor driving revoked and driving with an open container of alcohol were dropped as part of the plea deal. In a summary of evidence by New Kent Commonwealth’s Attorney Scott Renick, on June 14, 2023, New Kent Sheriff’s Office…
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New Kent School superintendent recommends $51 million budget for FY2024-25

By Andre Jones | March 4, 2024 9:49 pm

As New Kent County continues to grow in population, so does the enrollment in the school system. And the result of that growth has led to a proposed budget that tops $50 million. New Kent Superintendent of Schools Brian Nichols and Director of Finance Haynie Morgheim recommended a budget of $51,145,884 for the FY2024-25 year. That number is approximately 11.01 percent more than the current year’s adopted budget of $46,075,167. The budget is based on an average daily membership (ADM) of 3,500 students. An increase in the Local Composite Index from .4244 to .4391 also means the locality will be…
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Motorcyclist receives two-year jail sentence for eluding police in New Kent

By Robb Johnson | February 27, 2024 11:01 am

A Richmond man will spend two years in jail for eluding police officers on a motorcycle. Anthony Robert Pearson Jr., 47, entered guilty pleas to felony eluding, misdemeanor reckless driving, and misdemeanor driving suspended as part of a plea agreement reached Monday in New Kent Circuit Court. One charge driving through a safety zone was dropped. In a summary of evidence, on Aug. 27, 2023, a Virginia State Trooper patrolling Interstate 64 westbound clocked a motorcycle traveling 130 miles per hour in a posted 65 miles per hour zone at mile marker 205. The operator of the bike failed to…
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Charles City School Board sends MOU to county leaders regarding regional wastewater treatment plant

By Andre Jones | February 22, 2024 9:09 pm

Charles City County’s School Board is extending an olive branch to county leaders on the possibility of a regional wastewater treatment plant. Director of School Operations Jerome Tyler read a proposed Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to school board members at the Feb. 20 regular school board meeting. The possibility of a regional wastewater plant first came to light at a March 2022 meeting. With both the county and school facilities needing upgrades to their individual plants, a presentation was made by Charles City County Administrator Michelle Johnson to address the issue. At that time, Johnson’s presentation pointed out that a…
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No speakers as Charles City superintendent recommends $7.3 million operating budget for FY2024-25

By Andre Jones | February 12, 2024 10:14 pm

Charles City’s School Board received no public feedback on the proposed FY2024-25 budget at Monday night’s public hearing. Charles City Superintendent of Schools Dalphine Joppy presented a budget of $7,347,808 for operations in FY2024-25. That amount is $845,323, or 21 percent, more than the current year’s budget of $6,502,486. Joppy emphasized that the budget is one of need, but also spoke about positions that needed to be sustained. With ESSER (Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief) funds expiring in September of this year, the superintendent commented how those funds have been utilized to assist with learning loss caused by the…
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Charles City man receives year behind bars for illegally possessing ammunition in New Kent

By Andre Jones | February 12, 2024 9:39 pm

A Charles City man will spend a year in jail for illegally possessing ammunition in New Kent County. Ryan Lamar White, 36, entered a guilty plea to an amended charge of possession of ammunition by a convicted felon (originally possession of a firearm by a convicted felon) and misdemeanor driving under the influence as part of an agreement reached Monday morning in New Kent Circuit Court. In a summary of evidence provided by New Kent Commonwealth’s Attorney Scott Renick, on Sept. 10, 2022, a Virginia State Trooper responded to the scene of an accident where a red Dodge Durango had…
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