News for New Kent County and Charles City County, Virginia | September 18, 2026
Local News
Coada seeks reelection bid for District 2 seat in Charles City
William “Bill” Coada has officially announced his bid for reelection for the District 2 supervisor seat in Charles City. “I want to thank the constituents for allowing me to serve not only District 2, but Charles City as well for the last three plus years,” Coada said. “I desire to continue to work and serve the citizens of this great community and move Charles City forward to bigger and brighter goals.”
New Kent School Board approves budget, discusses new location for tennis courts
New Kent School Board members have unanimously approved their budget for fiscal year 2015-16. With no comments received during a March 16 public hearing, representatives approved the $29,478,021 budget recommended by superintendent of schools David Myers. The budget includes a 1.5% salary increase for school employees, as well as $300,000 for digital conversion to initiate a one-to-one technology initiative. At a March 9 meeting, New Kent county administrator Rodney Hathaway recommended that schools be fully funded for the next fiscal year. In other business, school board members have decided on a possible new location for tennis courts. Board members elected…
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Possession of child pornography lands Quinton man six and a half year prison sentence
A Quinton man who was a target of a Virginia State Police investigation for downloading child pornography will now spend the next six and a half years in prison. Forrest Blake Jones, 22, of the 7100 block of Lakeshore Drive, received formal sentencing during Monday morning proceedings in New Kent Circuit Court. In January, Jones accepted a plea deal to one count of distribution of pornography and six counts of possession of child pornography. The defendant accepted the deal after a summary of evidence revealed that he downloaded, possessed, and printed images between last June 18 and Aug. 8. Jones…
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NKSO seeks information involving thefts from vehicles in Five Lakes
New Kent Sheriff’s Office is seeking information on a recent thefts from unlocked vehicles in the Sassafras Road neighborhood of the Five Lakes area. The entries took place overnight from March 17 to the morning of March 18. There are no signs of forced entry into the vehicles, but several items have been reported missing. If you have any information or have seen any suspicious vehicle or persons, contact New Kent Sheriff’s Office at 966-9500 or Crime Stoppers at 780-1000.
Norment announces reelection bid
Senate Majority Leader Thomas K. Norment Jr., who represents New Kent, announced he will run for reelection for the Senate seat of the 3rd District. “I am honored to serve the people of the 3rd District in the Senate, to serve my caucus and my party as a Senate Majority Leader, and to serve the Commonwealth of Virginia,” Norment said in a press release. “I have been continually honored with the trust and confidence of the voters I serve and represented.” Norment was first elected in 1991 and has served as Republican Floor Leader from 1998 to 2007 and as…
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New Kent, Charles City authorities join other localities, feds in smashing burglary ring
Law enforcement personnel in several jurisdictions, including New Kent and Charles City counties, working in conjunction with federal authorities have smashed a burglary ring that is said to have inundated the Richmond Metro area with multiple break-ins and thefts, firearms in particular. Three suspects already have been indicted by a New Kent Circuit Court grand jury that convened earlier in March. Now, federal indictments could be on the horizon since the ATF is involved in the matter, said New Kent Detective Lt. Joey McLaughlin. The trio allegedly sold stolen firearms on the streets of Richmond, he said. Both Benjamin Potter,…
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New Kent supervisors negotiating with Harris Corporation for emergency communications system
After negotiations to join a regional radio grid fell by the wayside in New Kent, supervisors elected to find another provider to bring emergency communications to the county. Not only did New Kent staff find another provider, they found one at nearly a $1.5 million cheaper rate. New Kent supervisors voted unanimously during their March 25 work session to negotiate a contract with Harris Corporation to install a $5.5 million emergency communications system. As part of approval to enter the contract, supervisors also voted to hire a federal engineer to help with the process. The decision comes after an offer…
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Juvenile inmate escapes in New Kent but apprehended a short time later
A juvenile inmate, who fled into nearby woods after escaping from a juvenile correctional facility van while the vehicle was stopped in New Kent County for gasoline, was taken back into custody after being sighted a short time later on Interstate 64. The incident took place around 4:30 p.m. Tuesday just after the van pulled into the Pilot convenience store located on Route 106 (Emmaus Church Rd.) near the Talleysville (mile marker 211) interchange. The van was carrying three male juvenile inmates, and was driven by a female correctional officer, the only officer on board. The van was returning to…
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Proposed four-cent tax increase to fund CIP, budget in Charles City for FY2015-16
A four-cent tax increase on the county’s real estate rate in an effort to support Charles City’s Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) was proposed during the Mar. 24 regular meeting of county supervisors. County finance director Michelle Johnson presented the county’s proposed local funding budget for FY2015-16 to county leaders and the public. Johnson and county administrator Zach Trogdon are proposing an amount of $13,799,224 in local dollars to execute county operations for the upcoming fiscal year. Johnson commented after the meeting that a final figure that includes state and federal dollars designated to Charles City had not been finalized, but…
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Charles City man charged with attempt to unlawfully film men in New Kent store’s restroom
A Charles City County man has been arrested after he allegedly placed a tablet computer above a toilet in the men’s restroom at a local store in an apparent attempt to film individuals using the facility. Asante Robert Cotman, 20, of Church Lane in Charles City, is charged with one count of attempted unlawful filming of another without permission. He was arrested on March 17, taken to Henrico Jail East, and subsequently released on $4,000 bond. According to a sheriff’s office report, an employee at the Dollar General store in Bottoms Bridge, where the suspect also worked, discovered the tablet….
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