News for New Kent County and Charles City County, Virginia | October 31, 2026
Local News
Arrests made in connection with thefts from unlocked vehicles in New Kent
Arrests have been made in connection with vehicle break-ins that occurred earlier this year in a New Kent County subdivision. Back on Jan. 8, the New Kent Sheriff’s Office received reports of thefts from unlocked vehicles parked in The Colonies subdivision in the Lanexa area of the county. As a result of an investigation headed by Detective Sgt. Farrar Howard III and physical evidence obtained, Joseph Adam Klesh, 19, of the 9000 block of Chesapeake Boulevard in Norfolk, and a male juvenile were arrested on Sept. 26. Both suspects have been charged with one count each of residential burglary at…
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Driver faces long list of charges after police chase on I-64 ends in New Kent
A Williamsburg man faces charges lodged by three police agencies in connection with pursuit of a stolen vehicle that ended with a crash off Interstate 64 in New Kent County. Following the Oct. 17 chase, Isaac De Jesu Tobar-Morales, 27, of the 700 block of Burgess St., has been charged with felony eluding and possession of stolen property in New Kent, driving under the influence and several traffic violation by state police, and grand larceny and eluding by James City County police. New Kent Sheriff’s Office received report of a stolen vehicle heading west on I-64 into New Kent from…
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Six-year prison term imposed on 7-Eleven robber
A Shacklefords man involved in a May 6 early morning robbery of the 7-Eleven store located in Eltham will serve six years in prison after accepting a plea deal in New Kent Circuit Court. Trey Daquan Smith, 19, of the 200 block of Clancie Road, entered guilty pleas to one count each of robbery and use of a firearm to commit a robbery during an Oct. 27 trial. One charge of conspiracy to commit robbery was dropped. In a summary of evidence provided by Commonwealth’s Attorney Linwood Gregory, Smith entered the establishment just after 1 a.m. with an alleged codefendant,…
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Eltham Bridge opening Oct. 28, closing traffic; pothole patching on Interstate 64 in New Kent
The Eltham Bridge connecting New Kent and West Point will be closed on Oct. 28, 2-2:30 p.m. for a scheduled opening. Drivers are expected to experience delays over that time frame. Pothole patching on Interstate 64 will occur during the overnight hours on Oct. 27 and Oct. 28. On Oct. 27, the left lane of Interstate 64 eastbound will be closed between mile marker 205 to mile marker 224, while on Oct. 28, the right lane of Interstate 64 westbound between mile marker 205 and mile marker 224 will be closed to complete the patching.
Charles City woman convicted for assaulting a police officer
A Charles City woman who assaulted a police officer last year has been convicted in circuit court. Lisa Marie Groffel, 35, of the 3000 block of Barnetts Road, entered an Alford guilty plea during Oct. 24 Charles City Circuit Court proceedings. Under the Alford plea, Groffel maintains her innocence but stipulates that evidence is enough to convict her of the crime. In a summary of evidence provided by Commonwealth’s Attorney Rob Tyler, on Oct. 2, 2013, Deputy Vicki Byrd responded to a domestic assault at the defendant’s residence. After a few moments that included the defendant barricading herself inside her…
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Quinton Volunteer Fire and EMS removes women’s auxiliary group from station
A women’s auxiliary group that has traditionally helped host a number of popular fundraisers and annual activities in western New Kent can no longer function out of the building the group has called home for many years. Action took place in early October to remove the women’s auxiliary for Quinton Volunteer Fire and Rescue (Company 2) from the company’s station on Route 249 (New Kent Highway) in Quinton. The move by company officials apparently places the group’s existence in jeopardy. New Kent Fire and Rescue Chief Rick Opett confirmed that the group no longer will be allowed to use the…
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New Kent English village visionary looking to walk away
In the middle of the last decade, John Crump’s vision for transforming the New Kent Courthouse area into a traditional English village began to take shape. Already in place were key aspects — schools, a church, and government offices. After years of planning, the county resident embarked in 2006 on a multi-million dollar project to fill in the missing parts — commercial buildings from where shopkeepers, artisans, restaurateurs, and service providers could attract customers. A 70-unit residential development was slated to follow completion of the commercial component. “Maidstone” began to rise on land bordered by Route 249 and Egypt Road,…
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Auto collisions with deer rise in autumn, motorists urged to be alert
Local motorists are being warned to be on the outlook for deer along roadways during the autumn months as mating season is under way and deer are often on the move. Last year, 5,990 auto accidents involving deer were reported statewide. In New Kent County, 68 mishaps occurred while eight took place in Charles City County. Of the statewide total, more than half occurred in October, November, and December with 1,575 taking place during November alone. DMV and AAA Mid-Atlantic offer the following tips for drivers: –Buckle up and reduce speed. A decrease in speed gives more time to react….
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Federal prosecutors take over meth lab case; suspects plead guilty to multiple larcenies
Two defendants involved in a May 12 meth lab raid at a New Kent campground will now face charges at the federal level. Whitney Renee Marciniak, 24, of the 200 block of North Ivy Ave., Highland Springs, and Jason Andrew Meade, 25, of the 6300 block of Hopewell Road, New Kent, will appear before a federal judge in Richmond, according to New Kent Commonwealth’s Attorney Linwood Gregory. The announcement was made during Monday afternoon New Kent Circuit Court proceedings. Last May, New Kent SWAT team officers and agents from the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) descended on a ramshackle trailer parked…
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Juvenile in McDonald’s robberies to serve three years in New Kent, 18 overall
A juvenile involved in several armed robberies at fast food restaurants around central Virginia, including the McDonald’s in New Kent, will serve three years in the state’s juvenile justice system. Robert James Priester, 17, formerly of the 200 block of Bartee Road, Richmond received the formal sentence during Oct. 20 proceedings in New Kent Circuit Court. Priester accepted a plea deal during a March 10 hearing. On Aug. 26, 2013, Priester and another defendant, Cornelius Clayton Jr., entered the Bottoms Bridge McDonald’s just before 3 a.m. The two escaped with more than $5,000 in cash before joining up with other…
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