News for New Kent County and Charles City County, Virginia | October 27, 2026
Local News
Car thieves arrested by New Kent Sheriff’s Office
An investigation by New Kent Sheriff’s Office in cooperation with Henrico County’s Police Department and the Virginia State Police has led to the arrest of four individuals who allegedly stole from motor vehicles. Hunter Waddell, 21, Jake Ragsdale, 27, Dillon Davis, 22, and Katilyn Holt, 25, all from Henrico, were all arrested on numerous crimes that took place between September 2018 and December 2018 in New Kent. In a press release provided by New Kent Sheriff’s Office, several motor vehicles were taken along with items inside each vehicle. Among those items included firearms, electronics, hand tools, and power tools. Each…
Read Full Story
Two years imposed on man who stole car, crashed into New Kent residence
A former Newport News man who stole a car that eventually crashed into a New Kent home will serve two years in jail. Brandon Ralfel Robinson, 30, formerly of the 700 block of Topsider Court, was formally sentenced on one charge each of felony eluding of police, driving revoked, failing to report an accident, and reckless driving during proceedings Monday in New Kent Circuit Court. On Oct. 15, Robinson had a contested trial that stemmed from an incident on Mar. 17, 2017. During that trial, evidence presented by Commonwealth’s Attorney Linwood Gregory indicated that Robinson led a high-speed chase that…
Read Full Story
Using truck for own purpose nets Lanexa man unauthorized use conviction
A Lanexa man who used an SUV without the permission of the owner in a plan to tow his own vehicle has been found guilty of unauthorized use of a vehicle. Robert Meredith Otey Jr., 36, of the 15000 block of Rockahock Road, Lanexa, was convicted on the lone charge during a contested trial Monday afternoon in New Kent Circuit Court. Around Jan. 23, William Jones asked the defendant to accompany him to Pennsylvania to pick up a Yukon XL truck that he had purchased. Jones asked the defendant to drive the vehicle back and make repairs. He then asked…
Read Full Story
Chronicle no longer placed in Charles City post offices
The New Kent-Charles City Chronicle will no longer be distributed in post offices in Charles City. The postmaster general of the locality has elected not to allow the paper to be placed in the Charles City and Ruthville locations, citing that it violated a policy on solicitation. Citizens who usually picked up the newspaper at those locations may now pick them up from the box at Haupt’s Store.
Hopewell man to serve four years after burglarizing Charles City residence
A Hopewell man will spend the next four years in prison after receiving formal sentencing Friday afternoon in Charles City Circuit Court. David Alexander Booth, 36, of the 500 block of North 8th Avenue, was sentenced to 10 years in prison with six suspended on one charge of burglary. All 10 years on a grand larceny charge were suspended. During an Oct. 5 trial, Booth entered into a plea agreement that capped his time of active incarceration to four years, five months. At that trial, it was determined that on Mar. 25, the defendant broke into the former home of…
Read Full Story
Chesapeake woman charged with initiating crash in New Kent
A Chesapeake woman has been charged for causing a crash Monday morning in on Interstate 64 in New Kent. Barbara N. Patino, 40, has been charged with following too close and driving with a suspended license stemming from the accident. According to a Virginia State Trooper’s preliminary report, shortly after 8 a.m., a Buick SUV driven by Patino was traveling eastbound near mile marker 205 when it struck a Ford Escape that was slowing down for another vehicle. The contact initiated by the SUV resulted in a chain reaction that struck a dump truck that was in an active work…
Read Full Story
Charles City man averts jury trial, enters guilty pleas to sex offenses with minors
A Charles City man accepted a plea agreement to three sex crimes with minors just days before a scheduled two-day jury trial in Charles City Circuit Court. Rodney Johnson, 52, of the 9500 block of Lewis Tyler Lane, entered guilty pleas to three counts of aggravated sexual battery of a minor less than 13 years old and one count of misdemeanor violation of a protective order. Twelve charges of aggravated sexual batter of a minor less than 13 years old, nine counts of sodomy with a minor less than 13 years old, and four counts of sexual penetration with an…
Read Full Story
New Kent Board of Supervisors approve of tax relief proposal
New Kent Board of Supervisors have agreed to a tentative plan to implement the reduction of the machinery and tax rate. New Kent Commissioner of the Revenue Laura Ecimovic spoke to county leaders Wednesday morning about a new depreciation schedule and recommended rate reduction. She advised supervisors that the rate would assist in making the county competitive with surrounding localities. She added that the reduction would give current businesses a tax break. Ecimovic’s proposal recommended reducing the tax rate on machinery and tools to 75 cents per $100 of assessed value. The updated depreciation schedule would become effective on Jan….
Read Full Story
Providence Forge man to spend year in jail for stealing car from job’s parking lot
A Providence Forge man who stole a vehicle from a former place of employment accepted a plea deal during Monday morning procedures in New Kent Circuit Court. Taz Elliot Fisher, 39, of the 9200 block of Boulevard Road entered guilty pleas to one count each of grand theft auto (originally unauthorized use of a vehicle) and misdemeanor driving suspended. In a summary of evidence presented by special prosecutor Matthew Kite, on May 8 a New Kent deputy responded to Eddie’s Garage after Joseph Allen reported his car was missing. Allen said that he had left his car there for repairs…
Read Full Story
Former New Kent teacher, coach arrested on alleged charges with minors
A former New Kent teacher and coach has been taken into custody by New Kent Sheriff’s Office Monday morning stemming from unsealed indictments. Matthew Spencer Duckworth, 40, of the 9000 block of Chestnut Drive, New Kent, was arrested on Nov. 26 on five counts of use of communications systems to facilitate certain offenses involving children. Those charges were certified by a New Kent grand jury on Nov. 19. Duckworth had served as a coach for several sports teams and academic programs at New Kent High School including the field hockey team and scholastic bowl team. The Chronicle can confirm that…
Read Full Story
