News for New Kent County and Charles City County, Virginia | October 6, 2025
Local News
New Kent schools’ $36.5 million preliminary CIP addresses enrollment growth
Emphasizing the importance of renovation and construction to address an increasing school enrollment, New Kent schools released a $36.5 million Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) during the school board’s Nov. 7 regularly scheduled meeting. Three projects to address enrollment top the expense list for school projects. A new elementary school is attached with a $20 million price tag, while New Kent Elementary School’s renovations come in at $13,642,550. Rounding out the expenses for construction is an addition to New Kent Middle School at $2 million. Those three recommendations have been discussed among school board members as well as in joint conversations…
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Two accept deals in New Kent Circuit Court
Terms of plea deals were reached between the Commonwealth’s Attorney and two defendants in unrelated cases during Nov. 7 proceedings in New Kent Circuit Court: –Owen Lee Davis, 26, of Charles City, entered guilty pleas to an amended charge of petty larceny (originally grand larceny) and misdemeanor destruction of property. One charge of breaking and entering was dropped. Davis broke into a residence on June 10 and stole property valued less than $200. Under the agreement, he received 12 month sentences on each charge with all time suspended. He will be placed on supervised probation for five years and must…
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Juvenile arrested after leading high speed chase in New Kent
A teenager has been arrested after leading a high-speed chase on Interstate 64 in New Kent County early Thursday morning. In a press release issued by New Kent Sheriff’s Office, at 12:30 a.m. a vehicle was speeding eastbound on Interstate 64 when a deputy attempted to pull over the vehicle. The driver disregarded the emergency equipment of the officer and continued, exiting the Interstate at the West Point/Route 33 exit (West Point exit). The suspect executed a U-Turn and headed westbound on Route 249, continuing on Pamunkey Church and Langley Pines Roads. The suspect returned to Route 249 and traveled…
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Broken door, scuffle enough to convict Charles City woman
Many court cases hinge on the evidence presented by both the prosecuting attorney and the defense attorney. During a Tuesday morning contested trial in Charles City, it literally hinged on a door. Ebony Monique Coles, 24, of the 12100 block of The Glebe Lane, Charles City, was found guilty on one count of breaking and entering, misdemeanor assault and battery, and misdemeanor destruction of property. One charge of misdemeanor assault and battery on a family member was dismissed. In the early morning hours last Feb. 7, brothers Carlos and Jermaine Woodley were resting at their home on Sturgeon Point Road….
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Attempted burglary suspects among six indicted by Charles City grand jury
Two individuals who allegedly attempted to burglarize homes in Charles City were indicted during Tuesday morning proceedings in Charles City Circuit Court. Jalen Joelle Johnson, 24, of the 1100 block of Butternut Drive, Hopewell, and Dandre Khalil Wilson, 20, of the 10000 block of Iron Wood Drive, Prince George, were each indicted on two counts of breaking and entering and one count of possession of burglary tools. Johnson also received a misdemeanor indictment of carrying a concealed weapon. According to the indictment, Johnson and Wilson drove to two residences on Cattail Road and attempted to enter a garage on July…
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One dead after fatal wrong-way accident on Interstate 64 in New Kent
Virginia State Police are investigating the cause of a fatal crash that occurred late Monday night in New Kent. According to spokesman Sgt. Steve Vick, at approximately 11:45 p.m. a 2002 Chrysler Sebring was traveling eastbound in the westbound lanes and struck a 2003 Ford Windstar van head-on at the 218.5 mile marker. James C. Pavlikowski, 25, of Virginia Beach, was the driver of the Chrysler and died at the scene. The female driver of the Ford van was transported to a local medical facility with serious injuries. Pavlikowski was not wearing a seatbelt at the time of the crash,…
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Charles City library to be standalone facility after supervisors’ vote
For approximately one month, Charles City supervisors admitted numerous sleepless nights after hearing comments from citizens on the location of a new library. Hopefully those county leaders will be able to rest their eyes for at least one night after a decision was made at the board’s Oct. 25 regular meeting. A motion passed 2-1 for the construction of the library on the south lawn of the courthouse complex, foregoing a recommended study to build the facility adjacent to the old historic courthouse. County leaders reflected on comments made at a Sept. 26 public forum made by 15 speakers with…
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Hampton man receives four years for attempted Providence Forge burglaries
A Hampton man will serve four years in prison for attempting to burglarize two Providence Forge businesses last February. Garrett Michael Jones, 41, of the 300 block of Winston Drive, was handed down a 10-year sentence with six years suspended on one charge of attempted burglary during Oct. 24 morning proceedings in New Kent Circuit Court. Five years on a second attempted burglary charge were all suspended. During an Aug. 29 trial, Jones accepted a plea agreement presented by Commonwealth’s Attorney Linwood Gregory. At that hearing, Jones admitted that he and another co-defendant, Edward Earl Hardy, attempted to break into…
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Williamsburg man dies after I-64 motorcycle crash
A Williamsburg man has died as the result of an accident on Interstate 64 in New Kent County. Jarrett M. Schoerner, 21, died at the scene during an Oct. 23 Sunday afternoon accident. In a press release issued by Virginia State Police, Schoerner was operating a 2009 Yamaha motorcycle traveling westbound near mile marker 213 around 3:30 p.m. Per the report, the vehicle was traveling at a high rate of speed and changing lanes when it struck the rear of a 2016 Dodge Journey. Schoerner was wearing a helmet at the time of the accident. The driver of the SUV…
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New Kent Sheriff’s Office establishes exchange zones
New Kent Sheriff’s Office has established “Safe Exchanges Zones” in front of its headquarters. Located at 11995 Courthouse Circle, the zone was established for custody transfers, exchanges from online purchases, and the transfer of property in certain situations. “These spaces are subject to observation by video cameras and sheriff’s office staff,” said New Kent Sheriff J. Joe McLaughlin Jr. “It is our intent to provide the citizens of New Kent with a safe area in which they can feel secure in making exchanges.” Signs have been erected marking two available parking spaces immediately in front of the sheriff’s office. For…
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