News for New Kent County and Charles City County, Virginia | September 20, 2026
Local News
NK supervisors approve CUP with time change for C. Downs
With a time adjustment being the only holdup for a conditional use permit, New Kent’s Board of Supervisors approved Colonial Downs’ request to hold an August 23 motorcycle race at its Jan. 13 board meeting. After receiving a presentation from Colonial Downs’ president Ian Stewart about last year’s success of the American Motorcycle Association (AMA) race at the track, newly elected chairman and District 1 supervisor Thomas Evelyn opened a public hearing. Only Kate West spoke during the allotted period, but her words reflected what many neighborhoods adjacent to the racetrack were worried about with the new proposal. “I think…
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Controversial NK subdivision project back for consideration
Developers are back in New Kent seeking the go-ahead for a controversial housing/commercial project that has been lingering somewhat in limbo since first pitched to county officials back in 2006. This time, however, the company behind Liberty Landing, a mixed-use development proposed for 113 acres on the south side of Route 60 across from the Five Lakes subdivision near Bottoms Bridge, is lowering the housing density. Just over a year ago in 2012, Virginia Beach-based Boyd Homes (Bridgewater Crossing Inc.) submitted a proposal for a maximum of 608 housing units (344 townhouses, 264 apartments). Now the company has reduced the…
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Judge refuses to reduce prison sentence for infamous ‘medicinal botanist’ in New Kent
A New Kent Circuit Court judge has denied a motion to reduce a five-year prison sentence imposed in 2011 on John Steven Carter, the self-proclaimed “medicinal botanist” who last gained notoriety for maintaining a sophisticated marijuana “grow room” in his Lanexa rental home and killing one of four teens who attempted to rob him back in 2008. Monday morning, Judge Richard Atlee denied the motion by Carter’s attorney, Joey Caprio, to either suspend the prison time or have the five years run concurrently with a 10-year federal sentence that Carter is now serving in New Jersey. Caprio told the judge…
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Felony eluding of police nets Richmond man prison term
A Richmond man who entered guilty pleas during an Oct. 21 trial in New Kent Circuit Court will now serve three years in prison. Joseph Junior Boyd, 44, of the 1500 block of Tree Ridge Road, received the conviction in Jan. 13 court proceedings from Judge Richard Atlee. Boyd received a five-year sentence on one count of felony eluding of police, with three of those years active. One year each on misdemeanor charges of failure to stop at an accident, driving as a habitual offender, and reckless driving were suspended. He must also pay $264.75 in restitution. Boyd admitted in…
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New Kent citizens speak up on hunters’ gunfire issues
While New Kent supervisors had no problem amending and readopting county code to reflect changes in the state’s code on weapons, many citizens spoke at a public hearing in concern for their safety during hunting season. Supervisors listened attentively during the public hearing at their Jan. 13 regular meeting as citizens addressed recent situations that included physical damage to homes in local neighborhoods. “A buckshot came through my house, as well as a bullet,” said Tyrone Johnson, a resident of Sertoma Drive in Lanexa. “I hope you can change zoning on Sentoma Drive to prevent hunting. I hope you all…
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Briefly… for Jan. 23-Feb. 5, 2014
Vehicle accidents: NK 18, CC 0 Eighteen traffic accidents have occurred in New Kent County since snow began falling in the area on Tuesday. Luckily, there have been no reports of injuries, only damage to the vehicles in all of the crashes, state police say. There have been no reports of vehicle accidents in Charles City County, said state police spokesman Sgt. Thomas Molnar. All but one of the crashes in New Kent occurred on Interstate 64. Details on the number of vehicles involved and extent of damage were not available. NK vehicle break-ins investigated A series of vehicle break-ins…
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Six indicted by NK grand jury
A New Kent Circuit Court Grand Jury indicted six individuals during Jan. 13 court proceedings: –Jason Michael Allen, 32, of the 200 block of Hillcrest Drive, Johnson City, Tennessee, on one count of grand larceny. According to the indictment, on August 26 of last year, Allen allegedly stole jewelry belonging to William Madison. –Garrett Adam Mertz, 30, of the 800 block of Cedarwood Court, Chesapeake, on one count of possession of a controlled substance (oxycodone). Mertz allegedly possessed the substance when taken into custody last July 16. –Melissa Dawn Miffleton, 27, (address unlisted), on one count of attempted burglary. Miffleton…
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State police report 18 accidents in New Kent, zero in Charles City, no injuries
Eighteen traffic accidents have occurred in New Kent County since snow began falling in the area on Tuesday. Luckily, there have been no reports of injuries, only damage to the vehicles in all of the crashes, state police say. There have been no reports of vehicle accidents in Charles City County, said state police spokesman Sgt. Thomas Molnar. All but one of the crashes in New Kent occurred on Interstate 64. Details on the number of vehicles involved and extent of damage were not available.
NKSO seeks information on several crimes
New Kent Sheriff’s Office seeks information on incidents occurring throughout the month: –On Jan. 14, New Kent Sheriff’s Office received a call for a burglary at Denton Concrete in Lanexa. According to the report, unknown suspects entered the building and stole several tools during the nighttime hours. –On Jan. 15, New Kent Sheriff’s Office received a call that several storage units were broken into the All American Mini-Storage facility located in Providence Forge. When deputies arrived, they observed several locks were cut and items inside units had been rummaged through. –On Jan. 20, a report of a daytime burglary occurred…
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Quinton man arrested on drug distribution charge
New Kent Sheriff’s Office has arrested a Quinton man for allegedly distributing a controlled substance. Shane Wescott Matthews, 25, of the 3400 block of Teakwood Court, was arrested on Jan. 13 on one count of distributing a controlled substance (schedule I or II). According to the arrest report, a New Kent officer witnessed the transaction in the Bottoms Bridge area. Matthews was pulled over shortly afterwards and arrested. He was being held on $1,000 secured bond.
