News for New Kent County and Charles City County, Virginia | May 30, 2026
Local News
Transport of $24,000 in marijuana results in three-year prison sentence for Yorktown man
A Yorktown man who transported $24,000 worth of marijuana will spend the next three years in prison after agreeing to terms of a plea deal in New Kent Circuit Court. Mathew Shane Cazares, 30, entered a guilty plea to one count of transporting more than five pounds of marijuana during the Monday court session. One charge of possession of marijuana with the intent to distribute (more than five pounds) was dropped as a part of the agreement. In a summary of evidence provided by Commonwealth’s Attorney Linwood Gregory, Cazares was the target of a Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) investigation. Through…
Read Full Story
Charles City man convicted on extortion charge in New Kent Circuit Court
A Charles City man who sent threats through a letter was convicted of extortion during Monday afternoon proceedings in New Kent Circuit Court. David Scott Yates Sr., 48, of the 4500 block of Rocking Horse Lane, was found guilty on a single count of extortion during the contested trial. The victim, a woman who was dating Yates at the time, received a letter in her Quinton post office box from him dated May 6, 2015 while he was incarcerated at Haynesville Correctional Center. At the focal point of the letter were threats by the defendant to expose her for crimes…
Read Full Story
No speakers at Charles City School Board’s public hearing on $9.2 million proposed budget
No speakers addressed members of Charles City’s School Board during a Feb. 7 public hearing on the recommended $9.2 million budget. Superintendent of schools David Gaston provided an update to the board on recent budgets passed by the state Senate and the House of Delegates. While early numbers are raw, Gaston indicated that both proposals carry additional funding for Charles City, with an expected minimum increase of $44,000. While many representatives didn’t comment much on the work session that followed the public hearing, at-large representative Steve Fuhrmann reemphasized his stance on asking for additional money from county leaders to assist…
Read Full Story
Pupil increase plays significant part in New Kent schools’ budget that nears $30 million
So, what’s it going to cost to educate an additional 100 students in New Kent County schools? About an additional $1.1 million dollars. That figure was given to New Kent School Board members as part of superintendent of schools Dave Myers’ budget presentation on Feb. 6. As part of the school’s general fund, Myers is proposing to operate schools at a cost of $29,992,697 for FY2017-18. By comparison, the schools are operating on a budget of $28,895,800 for the current cycle, meaning that $1,096,897 of new money is being requested for the next school year. With self-sustaining money from the…
Read Full Story
New Kent Middle School considering block schedule for next year
New Kent Middle School is proposing a change to students’ schedules for the upcoming year. Principal Kelley Gray and assistant principal Frank Wheeler presented the option of an A/B block schedule for the upcoming school year to board members on Feb. 6. Gray said concerns about short class time, a lack of elective courses, and not enough time for remediation led her to form a committee about the possible change. Under the proposal, the block schedule would allow for more electives to be offered to students, smaller class sizes, and more time for teacher instruction. Days would consist of four…
Read Full Story
Traffic configuration marks first step of roundabout completion
The intersection of New Kent Highway (Route 249) and Airport/Tunstall Road (Route 612) in Quinton has undertaken the first steps of becoming a roundabout with a new traffic configuration. Virginia’s Department of Transportation (VDOT) indicated that traffic shifted to the roundabout on Feb. 6. Drivers will be temporarily guided by orange barrels while crews work to install the permanent concrete island and other traffic devices. A permanent change to the speed limit has also taken place. The limit at the roundabout is 20 miles per hour, with the approaching speed still remaining at 35 miles per hour. Construction of the…
Read Full Story
Sentences of probation given to defendants in Charles City Circuit Court
Two individuals from Charles City received sentences of probation in unrelated cases as part of Feb. 3 proceedings in Charles City Circuit Court. Ebony Monique Coles, 25, of the 12000 block of The Glebe Lane, had all time suspended on charges of breaking and entering (20 years), misdemeanor assault and battery (12 months), and misdemeanor destruction of property (12 months) during her formal sentencing. During a Nov. 1 bench trial, Judge B. Elliott Bondurant convicted Coles on the aforementioned charges. At that trial, evidence presented by Commonwealth’s Attorney Rob Tyler showed that Coles broke into the home of Jermaine Woodley…
Read Full Story
Burglary, firearm larceny sends New Kent man to prison for four years
A New Kent man will spend the next four-and-a-half years in prison after receiving formal sentencing Monday morning in New Kent Circuit Court proceedings. Robert Austin Payne, 23, of the 11000 block of Oakrise Road, was found guilty during a contested trial on Nov. 14, 2016 on one count each of firearm larceny, burglary, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. During the sentencing phase, Payne acknowledged that an addiction to drugs resulted in the crimes committed. Payne received a 20-year sentence with 18 years suspended on the burglary conviction (two years to serve). He also received two…
Read Full Story
New Kent School Board, Charles City supervisors announce 2017 chairs
New Kent School Board and Charles City’s Board of Supervisors have appointed new leadership for 2017. Gail Hardinge, the District 5 representative to New Kent’s School Board, was elected chairwoman for the new year. District 3 representative Andrea Staskiel will serve her first term as vice-chairwoman on the school board. In Charles City, District 2 leader Bill Coada will serve as chairman for the county’s board of supervisors for the new year. District 1 representative Gilbert Smith will occupy the position of vice-chairman for 2017.
New Kent leaders, school board continue to expedite middle school addition project
Taking initiative sometimes has advantages, even when the intention isn’t there. One such decision to expedite an expansion at New Kent Middle School may prove to be one of the most effective investments by both the school system and county’s board of supervisors. New Kent superintendent of schools Dave Myers met with county leaders during supervisors’ Jan. 25 work session and provided an update on the project to add five additional classrooms at the middle school. Myers had originally listed the expansion on the school’s capital improvement plan for FY2017-18, but after meeting with county administrator Rodney Hathaway and other…
Read Full Story
