News for New Kent County and Charles City County, Virginia | October 5, 2025
Local News
New Kent boards reorganize for 2018
New Kent’s School Board and Board of Supervisors named leadership positions for the 2018 fiscal year at their respective meetings Monday night. District 5 representative Gail Hardinge was re-elected chairwoman of New Kent’s School Board for 2018. Andrea Staskiel, who represents District 3, will serve as vice chairwoman for a second consecutive year. At New Kent’s Board of Supervisors meeting, District 1 leader Thomas Evelyn received the nod as chairman for the new year. Tommy Tiller of District 2 was elected as vice-chairman for county leaders for this fiscal year.
New Kent supervisors deny PUD amendment for Rock Creek Villas
A last-ditch effort to add a Planned Unit Development (PUD) amendment for Rock Creek Villas in New Kent fell on deaf ears of county leaders Monday night. New Kent supervisors voted unanimously against granting the amendment to the Woda Group at the board’s regularly scheduled meeting. At issue was proposals asked for in the PUD amendment by the Woda Group on behalf of Peggy and Billy Cunningham. The proposal included reduction in the number of maximum number of senior living facility lots down to 46 (originally 56), the assisted living facility lots being limited between 56-60, and all buildings to…
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Providence Forge man receives six months in jail after horse-playing on excavator
A Providence Forge man will spend the next six months in jail as the result of horse-playing on an excavator. Charles Herbert Johnson Jr., 37, of the 4800 block of Cool Hill Road, received formal sentencing on a single charge of felony destruction of property as part of Jan. 9 Charles City Circuit Court proceedings. On Oct. 27, Johnson entered into a plea agreement to the charge. At that trial, Johnson admitted he got inside the excavator belonging to his uncle Linwood Johnson. The defendant’s actions resulted in the vehicle getting stuck in the mud and causing damage to the…
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Two men indicted by Charles City grand jury Tuesday morning
Two men were indicted by a grand jury during Tuesday morning proceedings in Charles City Circuit Court. –Bernard Lee Adkins, 51, of the 7800 block of Courthouse Road, Providence Forge, on one count each of distributing a controlled substance and possession of a schedule I/II drug. The defendant allegedly was in possession of multiple drugs and intended to distribute them on Sept. 26, 2017. –Warren Arturo Smith, 39, of the 8500 block of Lewis Tyler Lane, Charles City, on one count each of felony hit and run and misdemeanor bribery. Smith allegedly collided with a vehicle during an accident on…
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Charles City man among missing boaters
Authorities continue to search for a Charles City man and a Henrico man after they disappeared on Jan. 3 in James City County. Kyle Englehart, 29, of Charles City and Brian Savage, 20, of Henrico were reported missing after the boat the two were using to get to a duck blind on Jamestown Island disappeared. Federal, state, local authorities, are currently investigating the area are into what has turned into a week-long search. According to Virginia’s Department of Game and Inland Fisheries, the search has now become a recovery operation and is no longer a rescue. Authorities said a helicopter…
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Falsifying returns net Richmond man three-month jail sentence
A Richmond man who stole money from his job during a four-month span will serve three months in jail. Joshua Davon Livingston, 29, of the 3100 block of Cofer Road, agreed to terms of a plea deal as part of Jan. 8 proceedings in New Kent Circuit Court. In a summary of evidence provided by Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney Randy Del Rossi, beginning Apr. 1, 2017, Livingston worked in a managerial position at Advanced Auto Parts in Bottoms Bridge Virginia. While in that position, the defendant began to falsify returns and pocket the excess cash. An investigation by the regional manager…
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Former New Kent County employee indicted on embezzlement charges
A former New Kent County employee was indicted on five charges of embezzlement by a grand jury after Monday morning proceedings in New Kent Circuit Court. Andrew James Dorish Jr., 33, of the 5200 block of Cold Harbor Road, Mechanicsville, had one felony charge of embezzlement of public funds and four misdemeanor embezzlement charges certified by the grand jury. According to the indictments, Dorish was employed in New Kent County’s Treasurer’s Office when he allegedly stole $1,189.54 on Oct. 13, 2016. Between May-Aug. 2017, he allegedly embezzled four smaller amounts totaling $584.94 during the three-month time span before an investigation…
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New Kent community rallies as high school sophomore battles heart condition
Ever since the establishment of #NewKentStrong, the New Kent community has bonded through times of adversity, excitement, ups, and downs. Now, the locality is seeking support to assist a New Kent High School sophomore who is suffering from a rare setback. Juan Mikel Jones was airlifted to the University of Virginia on Dec. 19. According to information received, he is suffering from Viral Cardiomyopathy, a disease that thickens the ventricles of the human heart. The teenager now faces the realistic possibility of surgery and a heart transplant. Juan is an honor roll student and was actively involved in several activities…
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Charles City leaders to fund unbudgeted item to improve safety communication
Charles City supervisors have agreed to fund an unbudgeted item to the tune of $110,000. Leaders voted unanimously to fund the sheriff’s office request to pay ID Networks to upgrade technology for the communications officers as part of the Dec. 21 regular meeting. At the September work session, the item appeared before supervisors, catching them off guard. At that meeting, county administrator Michelle Johnson told supervisors that previous administration was handling negotiations and that she didn’t find out about the situation until receiving a call at the end of July. Through talks, Johnson was able to get an extension on…
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Henrico Jail East escapee convicted on 15 charges after contested trial
A New Kent man who escaped from Henrico Jail East has been found guilty on a total of 15 charges. Howard Allen Groffel, 52, currently of Henrico Jail East, received verdicts of guilty on one count of each of escape, grand larceny, possession of ammunition by a felon, and misdemeanor entering into a vehicle during Dec. 21 contested trial proceedings in New Kent Circuit Court. He was also handed guilty convictions on five counts of misdemeanor transport of a firearm while under a protective order, four counts of credit card larceny, and two counts of possession of a weapon after…
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