News for New Kent County and Charles City County, Virginia | April 3, 2026
Local News
NKSO prompts residents to secure vehicles
New Kent Sheriff’s Office is advising citizens to be cautious when starting vehicles on cold days. Sheriff personnel say this time of year tends to produce increases in thefts of items from vehicles and vehicles themselves. Thieves will target cars that are running unattended as windows defrost. Citizens are advised to lock doors if you start the car to defrost windows. If you use a remote starter, make sure the doors are locked before activating it. The sheriff’s office is also saying locking your doors while your car is parked is a good idea to prevent thefts and ensure that…
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CUP for motorcycle race, PUD amendment approved by NK supervisors
New Kent supervisors approved a Conditional Use Permit (CUP) for Colonial Downs to host a motorcycle race and an amendment to a Planned Use Development (PUD) permit for Patriot’s Landing Management Corporation during its Jan. 12 regular meeting. Supervisors granted both the permit and the amendment unanimously after no one elected to speak during the public hearings. New Kent’s Planning Commission voted for a favorable recommendation for Colonial Downs’ CUP during its Dec. 15 meeting. The CUP allows Colonial Downs to host motorcycle racing at the facility for a third consecutive year. This year’s event is tentatively scheduled to be…
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NEW UPDATE: Storm creates hazardous driving conditions on area roads, some postponements
Icy road conditions have closed schools today in New Kent and Charles City counties and have kept law enforcement personnel busy responding to motorists in distress along with some accidents. As of 10 a.m., State Police Sgt. Steve Vick reported State Police have responded to “around 12” crashes in New Kent and Charles City, but no serious injuries are involved. In New Kent, sheriff’s office Chief Deputy Joe McLaughlin reports that as of 9 a.m. deputies had responded to six vehicle accidents to assist state police, but most trouble on county roads has involved disabled vehicles and vehicles that have…
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Morrissey wins 74th District special election, reclaims seat in House of Delegates; Democratic leadership expresses disdain
Controversial candidate Joe Morrissey won today’s (Tuesday) special election for the state House of Delegates’ 74th District seat he resigned from just a few weeks ago. And considering the extremely low voter turnout, he prevailed by a comfortable margin over his two challengers while sweeping all three localities in the district. Morrissey, a former Democrat now independent who is in jail following a contributing to the delinquency of a minor conviction, polled 2,840 votes. His closest challenger, Democrat and Charles City County resident Kevin Sullivan, earned 2,243 while Republican Matt Walton trailed in third with 1,622. Morrissey captured Charles City’s…
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Second armed robber in 7-Eleven heist to serve nine-year prison sentence
A West Point man will serve nine years in prison due to his involvement in a May 6 early morning robbery of the 7-Eleven store located in Eltham area of New Kent. Michael Sylvester Robinson, 38, of the 4300 block of Custis Mill Road, accepted a plea agreement during Jan. 12 New Kent Circuit Court proceedings to one count of armed robbery. In a summary of evidence provided by Commonwealth’s Attorney Linwood Gregory, Robinson entered the establishment with codefendant Trey Smith shortly after 1 a.m. to rob the store. The duo held the clerk at gunpoint before escaping on foot…
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Eight indicted in New Kent Circuit Court
Eight individuals received indictments handed down during Jan. 12 proceedings in New Kent Circuit Court. Suspects indicted include: –Durneil Lamont Bryant Sr., 36, of the 1200 block of Oakland Road, Richmond, on one count each of fraud and obtaining money by false pretenses. According to the indictment, Bryant cashed a $300 check at a BB&T bank that came from C&F Bank last Oct. 3. –Laura Lee Carter, 33, of 17 Woodsman Road, Hampton, on one count each of forgery, uttering, forging of a public document, and misdemeanor false identification. On Mar. 5, 2014, Carter allegedly provided false information to an…
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Alleged kidnapper denied bond in New Kent Circuit Court
A request for bond by a woman accused in an alleged out-of-state brutal kidnapping that ended Jan. 6 at the Pilot Travel Center in Talleysville has been denied in New Kent Circuit Court. Judge B. Elliot Bondurant denied a request by Laura Evelene Sorenson, 31, of Clive, Iowa, Monday morning during circuit court proceedings. Bondurant heard the request from Sorenson’s attorney, Terry Osborne, who pointed to the defendant’s minuscule background offenses. “My client’s record reflects she has no history of dangerous crimes,” the defense attorney said. “While I know she won’t be released on her own recognizance, we are asking…
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Prince George man killed in Charles City accident
A Prince George County man was killed Friday (January 9) in a single vehicle crash in Charles City. Shandy T. Posey, 34, died at the scene of the accident at the intersection of Route 5 (John Tyler Memorial Highway) and Route 658 (Kimages Road). Posey was driving a 1997 Lexus that was traveling east on Route 5 when it ran off the right side of the road and struck a tree. State police say he was not wearing a seatbelt at the time. The accident is being investigated by the Virginia State Police.
Two kidnapping suspects identified; report reveals alleged victim subjected to physical, sexual abuse
Identities have been released of the man and woman taken into custody in New Kent County for an apparent out-of-state kidnapping involving a young woman. And the incident report filed by a State Police investigator reveals a nightmarish scene in which the alleged victim told police she endured torture, starvation, and sexual abuse at the hands of the suspects. Aldair Hodza and Laura Evelene Sorensen, (ages not available) both of Clive, Iowa, appeared for appointment of counsel Wednesday in New Kent General District Court. Both are charged with one count of abduction with intent to defile. They are being held…
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UPDATE: No injuries in New Kent school bus/pickup truck accident; pickup driver charged
The 17-year-old driver of a pickup truck has been charged with reckless driving after a collision Thursday morning with a New Kent County school bus. State Police Sgt. Steve Vick said the 2004 Thomas school bus had 17 children on board when it stopped to pick up another child on Pine Fork Road (Route 610), about one mile east of the Airport Road (Route 612) intersection around 7 a.m. when it was struck from behind by the 2000 Chevrolet pickup. No children were injured and both drivers were unharmed. Another bus picked up the children and carried them on to…
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