News for New Kent County and Charles City County, Virginia | February 16, 2026
Local News
Richmond man who allegedly stole firefighting equipment among those indicted by New Kent grand jury
A Richmond man who allegedly stole firefighting equipment and fled from the police has been indicted by a New Kent grand jury. Fernando Eugene Temple III, of the 1300 block of N. 26th Street, was indicted three counts of grand larceny, two counts of credit card larceny, one count each of felony eluding and felony destruction of a property (monument), and seven counts of misdemeanor petty larceny. The indictment alleges that Temple stole a motor vehicle, a trailer, and firefighting equipment and led authorities on a chase on Oct. 3, 2021, in New Kent County. In other indictments certified by…
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New Kent enters sales agreement to purchase Makemie Woods for $1 million
An area of land located in the Barhamsville section of New Kent County that had been the center of much debate for its use may now be in the hand of the county itself. New Kent supervisors unanimously approved to enter into a sales agreement for the purchase of Makemie Woods in the amount of $1 million during Monday evening’s regular board meeting. Beginning in 2012, there were concerns on how the area that has hosted several camps and retreats would be used after facing financial difficulties. In the past year, interest in Makemie Woods garnered attention from Travis Hall…
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West Point woman enters guilty plea to disorderly conduct in New Kent
A West Point woman will spend no active time incarcerated after pleading guilty to an amended charge as part of Monday afternoon proceedings in New Kent Circuit Court. Janet Simmons Deal, 50, of the 900 block of Thompson Avenue, entered a guilty plea to one count of disorderly conduct (originally possession of a weapon by a felon) stemming from a Feb. 23 incident. In a summary of evidence provided by New Kent Commonwealth Attorney Scott Renick, Deal exited a residence she was visiting on the aforementioned date chasing a person with a stun gun. She did not fire the weapon…
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Colonial Heights man indicted on forgery charges by Charles City grand jury
A Colonial Heights man who allegedly identified himself falsely has been indicted on five charges in Charles City County. Rodney Dean Bowman Jr., 28, of the 300 block of Moorman Avenue, was handed up indictments on two counts of forgery of a public record, misdemeanor possession of a fake identification card, misdemeanor false identification to a police officer, and misdemeanor receiving stolen goods during Tuesday morning proceedings in Charles City Circuit Court. The indictment alleged that on Mar. 30, officers responded to a call for service near Tiny Little Children Daycare on Church Lane. When officers arrived, they noticed a…
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Autozone’s groundbreaking marks first step for New Kent’s ‘City Center’
Growth coming to New Kent County isn’t just its population; it’s businesses as well. A groundbreaking ceremony took place on June 30 at the new location of AutoZone’s Distribution Center with several dignitaries on hand. News of the facility was announced by Gov. Glenn Youngkin during a Feb. 18 press conference. Located on Emmaus Church Road (Route 106) between the current Pilot and the eastbound ramp to Interstate 64, the $185.2 million project will occupy 800,000 square feet and create 352 new jobs. Most information about the distribution center was kept private until the governor’s announcement, which was confirmed by…
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Providence Forge man to spend up to 18 months in jail on assault, destruction of property convictions
A Providence Forge man will spend up to 18 months in jail after agreeing to terms of a plea deal during Monday afternoon proceedings in New Kent Circuit Court. Alan James Jennings, 50, of the 6300 block of Mihalcoe Lane, entered guilty pleas to an amended charge of misdemeanor destruction of property (originally strangulation), a second amended charge of misdemeanor destruction of property (originally misdemeanor assault and battery of a family member), and one count of misdemeanor assault and batter of a family member. In a summary of evidence by New Kent Commonwealth Attorney Scott Renick, on Dec. 5, 2021,…
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King & Queen man receives no active time for trespassing on River’s Rest in Charles City
A King & Queen man will spend no active time incarcerated after accepting a plea deal Friday morning in Charles City Circuit Court. Nathan Eugene Mercer, 40, of the 400 block of Bunker Hill Road, entered guilty pleas to an amended charge of trespassing (originally burglary), a second charge of misdemeanor trespassing, and misdemeanor assault and battery. One charge of possession of a weapon (not a firearm) by a convicted felon was dropped. In a summary of evidence presented by Assistant Commonwealth Attorney Tyler Klink, on Feb. 18, Mercer went to the River’s Rest Marina in the eastern part of…
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Virginia State Trooper arrested for DUI in New Kent County
A Virginia State Trooper has been arrested for driving under the influence in New Kent County. Benjamin Nicholas Canning, 33, of Sandston, was arrested on June 23 on one charge each of misdemeanor DUI, reckless driving by speed, and refusal to submit to a breathalyzer test. According to the press release, the incident took place on Interstate 64 westbound near mile marker 216. No additional information is being released at this time as the ongoing investigation is being conducted jointly by New Kent Sheriff’s Office and the Virginia State Police.
School districts dealing with staffing issues, plan to address student dress code
Two different school divisions. Two different scenarios. Two different set of circumstances. Same goals in mind. New Kent County Public Schools and Charles City County Public Schools are dealing with an issue that is plaguing essentially every school system in the United States; staffing and hiring employees. With an estimated 12 percent of schoolteachers estimated to leave the field of education, school systems are scrambling to find employees to fill that void. Those issues did not forgo both of the local school districts. In New Kent County, at least 32 teaching and administrative positions were vacant as of June 22….
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Two proposed solar projects feel the burn, denied by New Kent Board of Supervisors
Two separate solar projects that were proposed for New Kent County failed to meet the satisfaction of county leaders. New Kent supervisors denied approval on the Borrego Solar project and Chaberton Vision Energy proposal during Monday night’s regular board meeting. During a March 30 work session, Borrego Solar representative Jessie Robinson approached the county on plans to construct a three-megawatt facility on 23 acres of land on Polish Town Road (Route 634). At that meeting, Robinson said that the project was in response to a mandate issued by the state and wouldn’t affect adjacent neighborhoods. But at that work session,…
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