News for New Kent County and Charles City County, Virginia | September 28, 2025
Local News
Charles City leaders vote to implement four-percent meals tax beginning in 2024
With reluctance in their voices, Charles City County supervisors voted to adopt a meals tax during the Sept. 26 board meeting. County leaders unanimously agreed to the four-percent increase beginning Jan. 1, 2024, after receiving information and listening to concerned business owners. One of those business owners was Bonnie Whittaker, who expressed her concerns about the increase and how it would impact her business, Cul’s Courthouse Grille. “I know we need money in this county, but I would like to have more options than this,” she said. “We only have about three restaurants in the county. “This is going to…
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Charles City man pleads guilty to unlawfully wounding brother
A Charles City man will spend no active time incarcerated after pleading down to a lesser felony charge. Kenneth Marvin Wallace, 65, of the 17000 block of The Glebe Lane, entered a guilty plea to an amended charge of unlawful wounding (originally malicious wounding) as part of an agreement reached Monday afternoon in Charles City Circuit Court. In a summary of evidence, on May 27 Charles City deputies responded to a call for service for a residence on The Glebe Lane where two individuals were fighting with weapons. Upon arriving, a deputy intervened and questioned a witness about the situation….
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Man receives year in jail for using brother’s information during New Kent traffic stop
A Topping man who used his brother’s name on a summons will spend a year in jail for uttering. Charles Edward Bagby III, 37, of the 1600 block of Regent Road, entered guilty pleas to one count each of uttering, misdemeanor reckless driving by speed, and misdemeanor driving suspended as part of a plea agreement reached Monday morning in New Kent Circuit Court. Two counts of forgery of a public record, and one count each of uttering, misdemeanor providing false identification to a police officer, and misdemeanor reckless driving were dropped as part of the deal. In a summary of…
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Quinton woman guilty of printing lottery tickets illegally, giving to co-defendant
A Quinton woman who worked with a co-defendant to steal lottery tickets from an establish entered a guilty plea to the offense as part of New Kent Circuit Court proceedings that took place on Monday. Melissa Paige Fitzgerald, 49, of the 3800 block of Pocahontas Trail, pled guilty to one count of receiving or buying stolen goods as part of a plea agreement reached. In a summary of evidence provided by New Kent Commonwealth’s Attorney Scott Renick, between Nov. 13-27, 2022, Fitzgerald worked as an employee of Love’s Travel Plaza. During that time period, Fitzgerald and a co-defendant orchestrated a…
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Individuals in unrelated robberies of ABC Store indicted by New Kent grand jury
Two individuals who allegedly robbed a Quinton ABC Store in unrelated cases have been indicted by a New Kent grand jury following Monday morning circuit court proceedings. Demetrius Perry, 28, of the 1400 block of Goff Street, Norfolk, was indicted on one count each of robbery by force and intent to sell property. The allegations say that Perry stole beverages from the ABC Store an attempted to sell them on Jan. 19. In an unrelated case, Asia Jarvis, 31, of the 1400 block of Deep Creek Boulevard, was indicted on four counts of intent to sell stolen property, and two…
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New Kent schools fully accredited; SOL scores on par or better than state in 26 subject areas
All five of New Kent County’s Public Schools are expected to be fully accredited for the FY2023-24 cycle. New Kent County Public Schools Executive Director of Innovation and Development Ross Miller presented accreditation information during Monday evening’s regular school board meeting. At the elementary level, the areas of academic achievement in English, mathematics, and science, meeting achievement gaps in English and mathematics, and minimizing chronic absenteeism are used as school quality indicators for that level. New Kent Elementary and George Watkins Elementary School are at Level One, which is at or above the standards, in each of the categories. Quinton…
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New Kent man facing minimum of eight years in prison for sex crimes against minor
*Editor’s Note: This story may contain content unsuitable to some readers. A New Kent man is facing at least eight years in prison after pleading guilty to several sex crimes involving a minor. Erich Mathias Schaub, 39, entered guilty pleas to one count each of sexual penetration with an object, reproducing or distribution of child pornography, reproducing or distribution of child pornography (second offense), and misdemeanor sexual assault of a minor after agreeing to a plea deal Monday afternoon in New Kent Circuit Court. Nine charges of possession of child pornography (second offense), seven additional charges of distribution of child…
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Two individuals indicted by Charles City grand jury
Two individuals were indicted by a grand jury following Tuesday morning proceedings in Charles City Circuit Court: –Elliott M. Charity, 61, of the 12000 block of Mapsico Road, Charles City, on one count each of possession of a Schedule I/II substance, misdemeanor fleeing law enforcement, and misdemeanor obstruction of justice. Charity allegedly tried to run from police officers on Apr. 27 and upon his arrest, was discovered to be possession of crack. –Breonna Lachelle Gatling, 30, of the 1200 block of High Avenue, Hopewell, on a solo count of obtaining money by false pretenses. Gatling allegedly took more than $1,000…
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Henrico Jail East inmate, former employee found guilty of conspiring to deliver drugs
An inmate incarcerated at Henrico Jail East in New Kent and a former employee of the jail were found guilty to conspiring to deliver drugs in prison. William Lamont Braxton, 34, currently of Henrico Jail East, and Amil Griffith, 22, of the 2000 block of Seldendale Drive, Hampton, went before Judge B. Elliott Bondurant as part of Monday morning proceedings in New Kent Circuit Court. Braxton entered a guilty plea to the offense while Griffith entered an Alford Plea of Guilty, indicated that while she maintained her innocence, evidence presented in the case would be enough to convict her of…
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New Kent man dies in early Saturday morning accident in Hanover County
A New Kent man died in an early morning accident Saturday morning in Hanover County. According to a police report, at 3 a.m. Hanover County Sheriff’s Office responded to a call for service for a single-vehicle crash on Old Church Road near Flannigan Mill Road. A preliminary investigation says that a 2011 Dodge pick-up was traveling south on Old Church Road when it ran off the roadway and collided with a tree on the opposite side. The driver, identified as Jonathan Batkins, 24, died at the scene. He was the sole occupant of the vehicle at the time of the…
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