News for New Kent County and Charles City County, Virginia | October 27, 2026
Local News
Charles City man charged with vehicular manslaughter in Henrico
A Charles City man has been charged with vehicular manslaughter after a fatal crash in Henrico County that took place last December. Charles Herbert Johnson Jr., 38, of the 4800 block of Cool Hill Road, was charged with vehicular manslaughter, DUI, unauthorized use of a motor vehicle, driving without a license, and driving after forfeiture of license. According to a press release, Henrico police responded to a crash that took place near Eubank and Coxson Road. The crash involved two automobiles, resulting in the death of Rashard Thornton, 25, of Henrico. Johnson was allegedly the operator of one of the…
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Solar facility coming to Charles City County in 2021
With conditions set forth in a special use permit, Charles City supervisors approved the construction of a solar facility Tuesday night. S-Power Group LLC was granted the permit to build a 340-megawatt solar facility on 1,800 acres of land located across from St. John’s Baptist Church on Roxbury Road. Another smaller facility will be placed near Chambers Road. The facility is expected to bring in a total of $4,725,000 over the next 35 years, whereas the undeveloped land would only bring $455,000 at that time. Prior to the approve, a public comment period resulted in nine speakers stepping to the…
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Former New Kent teacher pleads guilty to two counts of soliciting a minor for sex
A former New Kent teacher has entered guilty pleas to two counts of using a communication device to solicit sex from a minor. Matthew Spencer Duckworth, 41, formerly of the 9000 block of Chestnut Drive, New Kent, entered the pleas during Monday morning proceedings in New Kent Circuit Court. As part of him entering those guilty pleas, three counts of using a communication device to solicit sex from a minor were dropped. In a summary of evidence provided by Commonwealth’s Attorney Linwood Gregory, the prosecutor submitted a two-and-a-half page of text messages of the recap to Judge B. Elliott Bondurant…
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NKSB names interim superintendent; one speaks at public hearing on search for new school leader
Dr. Carol Fenn has been announced as the interim superintendent of New Kent County schools beginning Apr. 27. New Kent’s school board made the announcement on Mar. 18 at its regular monthly meeting. She will be stepping in on a temporary basis as outgoing superintendent of schools David Myers will be transitioning into a new role at Virginia’s Department of Education. Fenn served as superintendent of Rockingham County Public Schools for 10 years upon her retirement in 2017. Her background education includes stints as a first and fifth grade reading teacher, elementary and middle school principal, director of instruction, and…
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No speakers at New Kent School Board’s hearing on proposed budget
There were no speakers at New Kent’s School Board public hearing on the proposed FY2019-20 budget Monday evening. School finance director Haynie Morgheim provided an update to school board members on the proposed budget. Referring to a joint meeting held by both the school board and county leaders on Mar. 15, approximately $160,000 of a $200,000 request appears that it will be granted to county schools. The reduction of $40,000 along with a state reduction of nearly $99,000 leaves the schools to make up a shortfall of roughly $139,000. Morgheim commented that the shortfall was anticipated and that money in…
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Driving as habitual offender nets Richmond man one-year jail term
A Richmond man will spend more than a year in jail for driving after being declared a habitual offender after receiving formal sentencing during New Kent Circuit Court proceedings on Monday. Daryl Lynn Wyche, 49, of the 4800 block of Altar Road, was sentenced to five years in jail with four years suspended (one year to serve) after learning his fate. He also received a 12-month sentence with seven months suspended (five months to serve) for failing to appear at an earlier trial. During a July 9, 2018 trial, Wyche was found guilty of his driving offense after an officer…
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Alleged car thieves among several indicted in New Kent Circuit Court
Two men allegedly involved in the theft of automobiles have been indicted by a New Kent grand jury. Hunter S. Waddell, 21, of the 3500 block of Darbytown Court, Henrico, and Jake Sterling Ragsdale, 27, of the 500 block of E. Read Street, Highland Springs, were indicted of multiple charges related to car theft on Nov. 19, 2018. On that date, New Kent Sheriff’s Office in cooperation with Henrico County’s Police Department and the Virginia State Police arrested the two men along with three others who were allegedly involved in the crime. After the arrest, items were found in the…
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VCU plans to bring medical facility to New Kent
As more and more people continue to flock to New Kent County and call it a home, the need for emergency services continue to grow. A project that has been in the works for more than five years may soon address those needs. Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) announced plans to provide an emergency care center in New Kent County on Mar. 14. The location of the center is projected to be in the Bottoms Bridge area of the county across from the Food Lion on Route 60 (Pocahontas Trail). The western part of New Kent continues to be one of…
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Prepping for growth, New Kent leaders approve purchasing 86.8 acres of land adjacent to George Watkins Elementary
The continuous growth of New Kent’s population has not only prompted action for a new elementary school, but also resulted in a transaction that will benefit the county for years to come. New Kent supervisors unanimously approved the purchasing of 86.8 acres of land adjacent to George Watkins Elementary School for $700,000 at Monday night’s meeting. The land, purchased from Karen J. Hemphill and Lynn C. Johnson, will be purposed for the use of the construction of a future school and/or public facilities. District 1 representative Thomas Evelyn talked about the search for property to help relieve the rapid growth…
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Former McDonald’s employee takes plea deal in New Kent Circuit Court
A former employee of the McDonald’s located in the Bottoms Bridge area of New Kent entered a guilty plea to an amended charge as part of Monday afternoon proceedings in New Kent Circuit Court. Donnell Maurice Comfort Jr., 42, of the 700 block of Windomere Avenue, Richmond, pled guilty to an amended charge of misdemeanor embezzlement (originally felony embezzlement) stemming from an offense that took place on Oct. 5, 2017. In a summary of evidence, Comfort worked as a shift manager at the establishment. During a shift, he removed a large sum of money from the safe and pocketed it….
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