News for New Kent County and Charles City County, Virginia | September 28, 2025
Local News
Charles City man to serve two months for eluding police
A Charles City man will spend two months in jail after receiving formal sentencing Tuesday morning in Charles City Circuit Court. Tequan Lavaris Adkins, 28, of the 10000 block of Shady Lane, was sentenced on one count each of felony eluding of police and misdemeanor driving revoked. During a Dec. 16, 2022 trial, Adkins pled guilty to the offense where he fled from officers on Feb. 28, 2022 and admitted to his wrongdoings. Adkins told the court during sentencing that he fled due to his past experience dealing with law enforcement officers. Adkins received a five-year sentence with four years,…
Read Full Story
Budget proposal tops $47 million for New Kent County Public Schools’ operations in FY23-24
The growth of New Kent County is having a major impact on the future of New Kent County Public Schools. That impact comes with a price tag of more than $47 million being proposed for FY2023-24. New Kent Superintendent of Schools Brian Nichols presented his budget proposal during Monday night’s regular school board meeting. With Director of Finance Haynie Morgheim spearheading the dialogue, New Kent’s school system is expecting to reach 3,500 for the upcoming new year. “In year’s past, we have been conservative with our numbers,” Morgheim commented. “But with the growth of the county, it just seems reasonable…
Read Full Story
Virginia Beach man enters guilty plea to driving under influence of cocaine in New Kent
A Virginia Beach man who drove intoxicated on Interstate 64 in New Kent County has pled guilty to multiple offenses. Enrico Florio Jr., 67, entered a guilty plea to on one charge of possession of a Schedule I/II drug and an amended charge of misdemeanor driving while intoxicated on drugs (first offense), which was originally a second charge of possession of a Schedule I/II drug, as part of afternoon proceedings in New Kent Circuit Court. In a summary of evidence provided by New Kent Commonwealth Attorney Scott Renick, on May 22, 2021, a Virginia State Trooper traveling eastbound on Interstate…
Read Full Story
New Kent man found guilty for strangling ex-lover during argument
A New Kent man who attacked an ex-lover has been found guilty on the crime following Monday morning proceedings in New Kent Circuit Court. Andrew Gordon Luck, 44, of the 5500 block of Ridgewood Drive, was convicted on one count of strangulation following the contested trial. He was found not guilty on two charges of misdemeanor violating a protective order. On Aug. 19, 2022, New Kent Sheriff’s Office Deputy Schyler Sibley responded to a call for service at a residence in the county. Upon arriving, he found a victim, who he described as visually distressed and upset. Upon observation, Sibley…
Read Full Story
Judge denies all 43 attempts of Charles City man to throw out verdicts, sentences him to prison for abduction
A Charles City man spent the first hour of his formal sentencing making 43 attempts to convince Judge B. Elliott Bondurant to throw out four guilty convictions rendered against him during a Dec. 2, 2022 jury trial. It didn’t work. Instead, Paul Ronald Gwaz, 64, of the 9000 block of Barnetts Road, will spend the next three years and nine months on an abduction charge after proceedings were completed in Charles City Circuit Court Friday morning. During the December trial, evidence presented that on Apr. 5, 2022, Gwaz was in a home of the relative when the witness left to…
Read Full Story
Quinton man receives two years for attempting to commit indecent acts with minor
Editor’s Note: This story contains content that may be unsuitable for some readers. A Quinton man who attempted to commit sexual acts with a child will spend the next two years in jail. Joshua Lee Carpenter received formal sentencing on one count each of a parent violating the rights of a child (less than 15 years of age) and attempted sodomy with a minor during Monday morning proceedings in New Kent Circuit Court. During a Sept. 15, 2022 trial, Carpenter pled not guilty to crimes of indecent acts with a child by a parent and sodomy as part of a…
Read Full Story
Judge doesn’t buy defendant’s story, Richmond man convicted on felony eluding
A Richmond man who did not pull over after being signaled to by a New Kent County deputy has been found guilty of felony eluding. Sho’Mari Sosa Middleton, 23, of the 9000 block of W. Cloisters, was handed the verdict following a Monday morning contested trial in New Kent Circuit Court. On July 1, 2022, a New Kent Sheriff’s Officer operating LIDAR clocked a vehicle traveling 70 miles per hour in a posted 55 miles per hour zone on Route 60 (Pocahontas Trail) eastbound. The officer began trailing the car, trying to get information off the vehicle’s license plate before…
Read Full Story
County growth to affect New Kent’s school budget for next year; pre-Labor Day start scheduled to begin with FY2024-25
The population boom in New Kent County is expected to have a major impact on the local school’s budget for FY2023-24. And early projects probably aren’t going to forecast the accuracy of how much. New Kent County Public Schools Director of Finance Haynie Morgheim addressed school board members at Monday night’s meeting. And while the House of Delegates and Virginia Senate present their bills for school funding, not even Morgheim can pinpoint the amount of state funds the school will receive. Utilizing Governor Glenn Youngkin’s proposed budget for education, Morgheim says she expects at least $2.4 million in additional revenue…
Read Full Story
Providence Forge man found guilty for threatening to burn vehicle, home in Charles City
A Providence Forge man who threatened to burn down a vehicle and home of a woman has been found guilty of the charge. Richard Gene Wray Jr., 47, of the 14000 block of Crumptown Drive, was rendered guilty verdicts to one count each of making a bomb or burn threat, and misdemeanor destruction of property following Friday morning’s contested trial in Charles City Circuit Court. On Sept. 11, 2022, Wray and Tiffany Talbert were residing in the same residence when the incident occurred. On that day, Talbert was standing around a bonfire in the barrel when Wray approached her. Talbert…
Read Full Story
New Kent leaders get first peek of proposed CIP, receive update on internet progress from Cox
New Kent County’s Board of Supervisors received their first look at a proposed Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) for the FY2023-24 fiscal year. New Kent County Administrator Rodney Hathaway addressed board members at Tuesday morning’s work session. Based on recommendation from the county’s planning commission and his input, the 2023-24 CIP is recommended at $16,349,146. Hathaway commented that with the broadband plan being fully-funded, the county can catch up on projects they have pushed back until they had enough funding. “We have pushed back projected until there was a time that we can afford it, and now is that time,” Hathaway…
Read Full Story
