News for New Kent County and Charles City County, Virginia | October 7, 2025
Local News
Providence Forge woman to serve one year for purchasing ATV without permission
A Providence Forge woman will serve a year in jail for receiving stolen property after receiving formal sentencing during July 11 New Kent Circuit Court proceedings. Erin Merrill Bierwirth, 34, of the 6700 block of Halstead Lane, received a five-year jail sentence (four years suspended) on one count of receiving stolen goods. Five years on obtaining money by false pretenses were all suspended. During a Nov. 2015 trial, Bierwith accepted a plea deal to the aforementioned charges. During the hearing, the defendant was a bookkeeper for a business owned by Ronald Marshburn and used his information to purchase an all-terrain…
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Five indicted in Charles City Circuit Court
Five individuals were indicted during Tuesday morning proceedings in Charles City Circuit Court: –Charles Wayne Adkins, 49, of the 3100 block of Barnetts Road, Charles City, on one count of transporting a firearm by a violent felon. Adkins allegedly confronted a neighbor during an argument on Mar. 13 and carried a weapon from his home to his neighbor’s home in a threatening manner. –Treveon Doleon Clemons, 27, of the 4500 block of Marlin Avenue, Suffolk, on two counts of failure to appear. Clemons allegedly has not shown for court dates relating to earlier matters that he has been charged with….
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Walker’s Dam reopens in Lanexa
Walker’s Dam and the Chickahominy River Boat Lock located in Lanexa officially reopened on June 28. After an inspection in Spring 2007, a breach was discovered in the dam, forcing its closure to the public. A further evaluation revealed the boat lock and adjacent sections were in failing conditions, forced a redesign of the project. The dam, which was originally built during the 1940s, underwent an extensive rehaul during the closure to the public. The area is now deemed safe to the public for boaters to travel along the Chickahominy River. The dam is owned by the city of Newport…
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Charles City man formally sentenced for abduction of Philadelphia woman
A Charles City man who abducted a Philadelphia woman off the streets in a case that made national headlines, received formal sentencing during United States District court proceedings and will spend the next 35 years in a federal penitentiary. Delvin Barnes, 38, received the sentence during the June 30 hearing in Philadelphia, Pa. On Sept. 10, 2015, he pleaded guilty to the abduction of Carlesha Freeland-Gaither, 22, of Philadelphia, Pa. during a federal case in the same court. In Oct. 2014, Barnes was being investigated by Charles City Sheriff’s Office regarding multiple alleged crimes against a 16-year old female from…
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Maneuvered funding to provide four additional full-time firefighters in New Kent
Even before fiscal year 2016-17 budget cycle begins in New Kent, supervisors have already called a major audible to funding. By a 3-2 vote, supervisors passed an amendment to shift $110,098.52 from the school set aside fund for construction to hire four additional full time firefighters for the county. At the beginning of the June 29 morning work session, fire chief Rick Opett voiced the proposal to county leaders during a conference call. A handout showed that under the approved budget for next year, $268,237 was for part-time funding and staffing for fire stations in the county. The fire chief…
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Broadband project nears completion in Charles City
In Dec. 2014, it was announced that high-speed internet would come to Charles City County thanks to a broadband initiative grant. But residents have been outspoken on the issue since a projected completion date of Oct. 2015 and then Dec. 2015 was slated. Those projections, however, failed to yield internet access for citizens. District 2 supervisor Bill Coada asked county administrator Zach Trogdon to address the status of the project at the board’s June 28 regular meeting during the directive portion of the meeting and when citizens will begin to have an opportunity to access the high-speed network. “It’s been…
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Not guilty verdict rendered on felony, but Quinton man convicted on misdemeanors
A Quinton man received a not guilty verdict on a lone felony charge, but received guilty convictions on three misdemeanor charges during a June 27 afternoon contested trial in New Kent Circuit Court. Jamshid Alaei Yeganeh, 36, of the 9000 block of Cosby Mill Road, was found guilty on one count each of misdemeanor charges of assault and battery on a family member, violation of a protective order (second in five years), and brandishing a firearm. He was found not guilty on a lone charge of felony violation of a protective order (third in 20 years). During the trial, prosecutor…
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Bridge repairs to cause alternating lane closures on Interstate 64 eastbound overnight
Overnight motorists can expect delays during the middle of the week in New Kent County on Interstate 64. Virginia’s Department of Transportation (VDOT) will have alternating lane closures on Interstate 64 eastbound from mile marker 218 and mile marker 220 (West Point) on June 29-30 from 12-4 a.m. VDOT will have bridge deck repairs during that time period. Motorists are advised to use an alternative route or expect delays if they choose to use the interstate during those hours.
Charles City High School receives Distinguished Achievement Award
Charles City High School has been announced as one out of 166 schools in the state of Virginia to receive the 2016 Board of Education Distinguished Achievement Award that is handed out by Gov. Terry McAuliffe and the state board of education. Superintendent of schools David Gaston announced the recognition during Tuesday night’s regular school board meeting. The award is earned by schools that have met all state and federal benchmarks, as well as made progress toward the goals of the governor and the board. “This is a testament to all the hard work done by the teachers and administration…
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New Kent High School Class of 2016 is “New Kent Strong”
Living up to the moniker that has guided them for the last four years, 208 of “New Kent Strong” graduates of the Class of 2016 embraced messages delivered during New Kent High School’s graduation Friday night at VCU’s Siegel Center. In front of family and friends, the outgoing class reflected on tough times and precious moments during the commencement ceremony. And while classmates shed tears during the celebration, they understood the events that took place during their high school journey that unified the group as one body. Class president Jacob Elisha Butkus-Newman opened the ceremonies by loosening up classmates with…
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