News for New Kent County and Charles City County, Virginia | October 5, 2025
Local News
Evidence in case enough to convict Providence Forge man of sex crime
Evidence presented in a trial Monday morning in New Kent Circuit Court will be sufficient to convict a Providence Forge man of a sex crime. Luke Nathaniel Henning, 37, of the 3200 block of Mount Pleasant Road, entered a not guilty plea to a single charge of having indecent acts with a minor while the child was in his care. However, the defendant said evidence presented in the trial would be enough to find him guilty of the offense. In a summary of evidence presented by special prosecutor Clay Blanton, on July 8, 2017, the victim was sleeping in a…
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Charles City schools extend three half-days
Charles City’s School Board have announced that three days in the upcoming week will be extended to full days. The school board voted at a special call meeting on Jan. 26 to extend Jan. 31, Feb. 1, and Feb. 2 to full days of instruction. The days were originally scheduled for half days due to midterm exams. With the cancellation of midterms, the days were chosen as make-up days for missed school work and assignment to be completed.
Performance agreement for natural gas power plant in Charles City approved by supervisors
Back in June 2015, Charles City supervisors allowed a company to explore land located on Roxbury Road (Route 106) for the possibility of bringing an electrical plant that utilizes natural gas. At Tuesday night’s regular board meeting, the possibility of the facility is now looking more like a reality. County leaders unanimously approved entering into an incentive performance agreement with C4GT and the county’s Economic Development Authority for the construction of a 1,060-megawatt natural gas power plant. Assistant county administrator Rachel Chieppa presented the document to supervisors, summarizing more than two years of work. Among agreed terms, the county will…
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Crash leaves two injured in New Kent
Two people remain in serious condition after an early morning Tuesday crash occurred in New Kent. Just after 3 a.m. on Jan. 23, a UPS tractor-trailer ran off the right side of the road while traveling westbound on Interstate 64 near mile marker 206, crashing into several trees. The driver and passenger of the vehicle suffered serious injuries and were transported to a nearby medical facility. Both occupants were wearing seatbelts at the time of the accident. The crash remains under investigation by the Virginia State Police.
New Kent supervisors approve resolution to name bridge after fallen Virginia State Trooper
New Kent supervisors unanimously passed a resolution to name a bridge after a Virginia State Trooper from New Kent lost his life last year. Trooper-Pilot Berke M.M. Bates, of Quinton, passed away on Aug. 12 while on patrol in Albermarle County, along with Lieutenant H. Jay Cullen of Midlothian. Bates’ aviation unit was assisting public safety resources with ongoing protests and counter-protests in Charlottesville when the helicopter they were piloting crashed in a wooded area around 5 p.m. Supervisors have designated the bridge on Airport Road (Route 612) over Interstate 64 to name in Bates’ honor as a request from…
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Selling firearm to informant results in two-year jail term for Charles City man
A Charles City man will serve two years in jail after entering into a plea agreement as part of Monday afternoon proceedings in New Kent Circuit Court. Montray Keondre Robinson, 24, of the 8900 block of Ruthville Road, entered an Alford plea of guilt to an amended charge of possession of a firearm by a nonviolent felon (originally possession of a firearm by a violent felon). An Alford plea of guilt means that while the defendant maintains his innocence, evidence presented by the prosecution would be enough to convict him of the crime. In a summary of evidence, on Jan….
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Charles City woman’s attack on tow truck driver nets guilty convictions
What was supposed to be a simple repossession of a vehicle transformed into a violent scene that resulted in convictions for a Charles City woman. Carrie Fay Neal, 30, of the 6700 block of Church Lane, was found guilty on one count of malicious wounding and a reduced charge of misdemeanor destruction of property following a Jan. 19 contested trial in Charles City Circuit Court. On June 1, 2017 just after 9 p.m., Duane Hardy went to Neal’s residence to pick up a vehicle belonging to Thomas Quigg, who was in a relationship with Neal. Hardy had received orders to…
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Charles City superintendent of schools proposes $10.8 million budget for FY2018-19
Despite a continuous decline in enrollment, Charles City superintendent of schools David Gaston’s budget proposal presented Tuesday night focused on providing continuing support to students, school programs, and compensation of employees. Gaston presented a budget of $10,834,747 to school board members for the 2018-19 fiscal year. Of that amount, approximately $9,872,346 is money for the school regular fund. The self-sustaining fund is budgeted at $498,854, the food service fund at $402,932, and textbook fund is $60,615. The proposed number is an increase of $756,685 from the current year’s figure, roughly a 7.5 percent increase in overall expenditures. Of the $10.8…
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Charles City schools announce make-up dates; board reorganizes
Charles City County’s school board has announced make-up dates for recent closures of school facilities. Students and staff will have to make-up two days as a result of inclement weather and building maintenance. Students will have a full day of school on Monday, Feb. 19, and half-a-day of instruction on Friday, Mar. 30. All other missed time is expected to be compensated through banked time accumulated through longer school days. Inclement weather and cold temperatures resulted in frozen pipes, broken pumps, frozen wells, and heating issues at Charles City Public Schools, resulting in their closure an additional week after their…
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Charles City man dies in New Kent crash
A Charles City man has died after a two-vehicle crash in New Kent County. Gerald Adrian Wenn, 47, was traveling east on Route 249 (New Kent Highway) on Jan. 12 near the intersection of Dispatch Road (Route 613) when his 1999 Toyata pickup truck ran off the road. Wenn overcorrected the vehicle, losing control and veered into westbound traffic, striking the driver’s side door of a 2016 Honda Pilot. He was later transported to the hospital where he was pronounced dead. The driver of the Honda Pilot was transported for serious injuries. Both drivers were wearing seatbelts. The crash remains…
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