News for New Kent County and Charles City County, Virginia | February 15, 2026
Local News
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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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Washington D.C. woman receives year in jail for hit-and-run, eluding New Kent deputies
A Washington D.C. woman who attempted to flee from officers in New Kent County will spend the next year in jail. Jasmine Sade Stephens, 29, of the 1700 block of Columbia Road Northwest, entered guilty pleas to three counts of destruction of property and one count each of felony eluding and hit and run as part of a plea agreement reached in New Kent Circuit Court Monday morning. In a summary of evidence provided by New Kent Commonwealth Attorney Scott Renick, on Nov. 14, 2022, a New Kent Sheriff’s Deputy was checking license plates while parked in the Pilot Travel…
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New Kent Public Schools partnering with VDOE on federal grant for mental health services
New Kent County Public School will partner with Virginia’s Department of Education (VDOE) on a federal grant. The U.S. Department of Education awarded VDOE a five-year, $15 million grant for Virginia’s Comprehensive Approach to Recruitment and Retention of School Mental Health Services. New Kent County Public Schools’ Department of Exception Education and Student Services is collaborating with VDOE to increase the number of qualified mental health service professionals providing school-based mental health services to students.
Richmond man receives year in jail for distributing marijuana in New Kent
A Richmond man will spend one year in jail for possession and distributing marijuana in New Kent County. David Kenneth Eaton Jr., 34, received formal sentencing on the offense as part of Monday proceedings in New Kent Circuit Court. During a Nov. 7, 2022 trial, Eaton entered into an agreement and pled guilty to distributing more than one-half ounce but less than five pounds of marijuana. At that trial, a summary of evidence showed that on Feb. 11, 2022, a Virginia State Trooper operating radar clacked a black Kia Optima traveling 99 miles per hour in a 70-miles per hour…
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