News for New Kent County and Charles City County, Virginia | October 7, 2025
Local News
Charges dismissed against former Charles City sheriff candidate
Charges against a former candidate for Charles City sheriff have been dismissed due to a technicality in which the prosecutor in the case failed to enter into evidence required documentation as outlined in the indictments handed up last year by a circuit court grand jury. Friday afternoon following two days of testimony in the trial of Vance Richards, nine felony counts of providing false statements on required forms submitted to the county’s voter registrar were thrown out by circuit court Judge B. Elliott Bondurant. The trial reached the juror instruction phase but never landed in the hands of the jury…
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Quartet indicted on animal cruelty charges in Charles City
A quartet of people has been indicted on a combined 85 counts for animal cruelty after the convening of a Charles City grand jury on May 3. Rhiannon Vitiello, Allura Peterson, and Edward Peterson, all of the 9500 block of Sturgeon Point Road, Charles City, and Carrie Washington of the 1100 block of Riverside Drive, Lanexa, were named in indictments for misdemeanor animal cruelty during proceedings in Charles City Circuit Court. According to the indictments, during the early months of this year the four individuals were allegedly responsible for taking care of horses on a family farm located in Charles…
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Charles City man enters guilty plea to assaulting family member
A Charles City man will undergo supervised probation for two years as part of a plea deal reached in May 3 proceedings in Charles City Circuit Court. John Lee Wilson, 44, of the 7400 block of Sturgeon Point Road, accepted an agreement and pled guilty to one count of misdemeanor assault on a family member. One count of felony strangulation was dropped as part of the deal. In a summary of evidence, last Nov. 9, Wilson got into an argument with a family member. The argument intensified and resulted in Wilson injuring the victim in a physical altercation. Under the…
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Three men accept plea deals at New Kent Circuit Court proceedings
Three men accepted terms of plea agreements in unrelated cases during May 2 proceedings in New Kent Circuit Court. Anthony John Gadzalski, 28, of the 2300 block of Paramont Avenue, Chesapeake, accepted a deal and entered guilty pleas to one count each of DUI (third offense), possession of a controlled substance (Adderal), and misdemeanor reckless driving. One charge of felony driving revoked was dropped. In a summary of evidence, a state trooper pulled over Gadzalski’s vehicle on Interstate 64 last Dec. 10 for excessive speed. Upon approaching the vehicle, the officer detected the odor of alcohol emanating from the defendant’s…
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Charles City man’s life taken in Sandston shooting
A Charles City man has lost his life as a result of a shooting in Sandston on Apr. 29. Shaun Johnson, 35, was fatally shot Friday night in his car according to police reports. According to information received, Johnson was visiting a friend at a home on Williamsburg Road around 8:30 p.m. Neighbors in the area reported the sound of gunfire prior to the discovery of Johnson’s body. No description of the suspect has been released. The investigation remains ongoing. If you have any information, call CrimeStoppers at 780-1000.
VDOT traffic projects for Apr. 29-May 6, 2016
Virginia Department of Transportation has announced several projects for New Kent County for the week of Apr. 29-May 6. Apr. 29-May 6: Interstate 64 eastbound between mile markers 222 and 224 will have alternating lane closures from 7 p.m.-7 a.m. for bridge repairs. May 2-May 6: Interstate 64 westbound between mile markers 204 and 206 will have alternating lane closures from 9 p.m.-5 a.m. for pothole patching. May 2-May 6: Alternating lane closures at intersection of New Kent Highway (Rt. 249) and Airport/Tunstall Road from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. for ongoing roundabout construction. May 2-May 6: Alternating lane closures on Stage…
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Charles City supervisors adopt $22.4 million budget with four-cent tax increase
Charles City’s Board of Supervisors adopted a recommended four-cent tax hike as part of a $22.4 million budget for fiscal year 2016-17 during its Tuesday night regular meeting. The increase means that the county’s real estate tax will shift from 72 cents to 76 cents per $100 of assessed value. After receiving comments from citizens during an Apr. 19 public hearing (see related story on this website), supervisors convened for a work session prior to the regular meeting. During work session discussions, supervisors addressed issues pertaining to both the tax increase and concerns over the county’s fire and EMS services….
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Proposed location for Charles City library raises concerns from citizens
After a November referendum for borrowing funds for the construction of a library in Charles City met approval by citizens, county supervisors instituted a plan and timeline for the building to be completed. But now supporters of the library returned to county leaders during Tuesday evening’s regular board meeting expressing concerns over one of the locations where the facility could be constructed. Five members of the public spoke about the rumored location of the facility on Courthouse Road across from Cul’s Courthouse Grille and the Nancy-Major house. According to those speakers, plans call for the construction to intertwine with refurbishing…
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Three men accept plea deals in unrelated cases in New Kent Circuit Court
Three men accepted plea deals in unrelated cases during Monday proceedings in New Kent Circuit Court. Bryan Gregory Gomer Jr., 28, of Mechanicsville, entered an Alford guilty plea (stipulating while he maintains his innocence, evidence presented would be enough to convict him of the crime) to one count of firearm larceny. One count each of burglary and nonviolent felony possession of a gun were dismissed. In a summary of evidence, on July 14, 2015, Gomer, along with convicted co-defendants Gregory Reed Wilhelm and Jason Bill Dunlow, entered the home of Steven and Barbara Hepner and stole shotguns, rifles, a handgun,…
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Cap2Cap ride scheduled for May 14
The Virginia Credit Union Half-Century Cap2Cap ride is scheduled for May 14 in Charles City. Segments of the 100-mile, 50-mile, 25-mile, and 15-mile routs will take place on county roads and the Virginia Capital Trail. Festivities will begin at the Charles City Courthouse with a celebration followed by the ride from 11 a.m.-4 p.m. An estimated 2,500 cyclists are expected to attend. Motorists are cautioned to use alternative routes that can be found at www.virginiacapitaltrail.org/cap2cap-ride.
