News for New Kent County and Charles City County, Virginia | February 16, 2026
Local News
With Quinton Elementary slated to open, New Kent superintendent’s proposed budget boasts $43.6 million tag
With Quinton Elementary School slated to open in Fall 2022, it was highly anticipated that a proposed budget presented by New Kent Superintendent of Schools Brian Nichols would have a significant ask and increase. It did. Nichols proposed a budget of $43,667946 for the FY2022-23 year. That request is $5,061,026 more than the current year’s adopted budget of $38,606,290. Budgeting off an average daily membership (ADM) of 3,300 students, Nichols is looking to add $1,419,861 to Quinton Elementary School’s budget. Of that amount, $983,217 will be used for new employees, while the remaining $436,644 will be used for utilities and…
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Quinton woman receives 18 months in jail for hit-and-run, attempting to flee from police
A Quinton woman will spend the next year-and-a-half in jail after pleading guilty to two offenses trying to escape authorities. Angela Marie Douglas, 45, of the 6400 block of Maple Road, entered guilty pleas to one count each of felony hit and run and felony eluding of police during a Monday morning trial in a New Kent Circuit Court. In a summary of evidence provided by Assistant Commonwealth Attorney Greg Overholser, on Oct. 4, 2021, a New Kent deputy noticed Douglas getting into a vehicle and pulling off. The deputy had previous pulled over Douglas in an earlier offense and…
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Quartet of men accept plea deals stemming from New Kent home invasion
Four men who invaded a home during the early morning hours of Oct. 3, 2021, in search of a person have all accepted plea deals following Monday afternoon procedures in New Kent Circuit Court. Lane Robert Underwood, 22, of the 7800 block of Lakeshore Drive, Quinton, Cole Lyndard Dunkum, 24, of the 2800 block of Old Beech Hollow Road, Charles City, and Richard F. Bergeron, 21, of the 5200 block of Long Bridge Road, Richmond, all entered guilty pleas to an amended charge of unlawful entry (originally breaking and entering) and misdemeanor assault and battery stemming from the incident. One…
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North Carolina man arrested in New Kent on sex crimes against a minor
A North Carolina man has been arrested for several crimes against a minor that include rape. Jose Martinez Marmolejo, 25, of Fayetteville, was arrested on charges that include rape, production of child pornography, abduction, and additional serious related charges to crimes against a minor according to a press release from New Kent Sheriff’s Office. The press release said that on Feb. 26 around 9:40 a.m., New Kent Sheriff’s Office responded to a report of an 11-year-old female who had run away from the residence that is located in the eastern part of the county. During the investigation, it was revealed…
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Autozone distribution center coming to New Kent
New Kent County’s Board of Supervisors put the final mechanisms in place to help bring a major distribution center to not only the county, but the east coast. County leaders voted unanimously to approve a SPF development agreement with Autozone during Wednesday morning action at its monthly work session. Announced by Gov. Glenn Youngkin on Feb. 18, the Autozone Distribution Center will be a major hub for distribution along the east coast. Located on Emmaus Church Road (Route 106) between the current Pilot and the eastbound ramp of Interstate 64, the $185.2 million project will bring an 800,000 square foot…
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Newsletter criticizing Charles City leadership draws ire from board chairman
A newsletter criticizing the operations by leadership in Charles City County has upset at least one board of supervisor member. District 2 representative and chairman Bill Coada voiced his displeasure and disagreement with comments made in the Charles City Conservative newsletter, a publication distributed by Peter Churrins. Coada said that Churrins information consisted of inaccuracies and false information about the handling of issues by Charles City’s government. Coada pointed to specific comments in Churrins’ newsletter that charged the board of supervisors’ inability to handle employees, as well as comments lodged against County Administrator Michelle Johnson with allegations that the leadership…
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Charles City man dies in three-vehicle accident on John Tyler Memorial Highway
An accident on John Tyler Memorial Highway (Route 5) in Charles City has resulted in the death of a local man. Terry Cotman, 52, of Charles City, died at the scene of a three-vehicle crash on Feb. 16. According to a Virginia State Police Report, at 3:55 p.m. officers responded to a crash on John Tyler Memorial Highway near Carters Mill Road (Route 606). A preliminary investigation reveals that a 2002 Honda Accord was traveling eastbound when it crossed the centerline and struck a 2009 Freightliner as well as a 2019 GMC Acadia. Cotman, the driver of the Honda Accord,…
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Henrico man pleads guilty for leading 137 miles-per-hour chase through New Kent
A Henrico man who led a New Kent deputy on a high-speed chase that stretched more than 20 miles has pled guilty in New Kent Circuit Court. Kenny Blad Espinoza Hernandez, 21, of the 5700 block of Trafalgar Park, entered a guilty plea to one count each of felony eluding and an amended charge of misdemeanor contributing to the delinquency of a minor (originally felony child abuse) as part of a plea agreement reach. Two charges of reckless driving, one charge of driving with no license, and one charge of violation of pretrial services was dropped as part of the…
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Adjustments made to realign New Kent’s redistricting map with state’s plan
Two months after approving a redistricting plan for the county as required by law, New Kent County leaders had to make a minor retool of the boundaries. New Kent County Administrator Rodney Hathaway spoke with county supervisors at Monday night’s board meeting on the recommended changes. According to Hathaway, after the board of supervisors approved the redistricting plan on Dec. 14, 2021, the Virginia State Supreme Court approved a plan for redistricting boundaries. The changes made at the Supreme Court level resulted in New Kent County being split into two separate districts for the House of Delegates. The new lines…
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New Kent supervisors approve purchase of land, possibly leading to new fire station in Lanexa
With the FY2022-23 budget season right around the corner, it seems that New Kent County supervisors already have one Capital Improvement Project (CIP) in mind that will assist with bringing in additional safety measures for citizens in the eastern portion of the county. County leaders agreed to approve the purchase of 4.77 acres of land in the Lanexa area during the Jan. 26 morning work session. That land, located at the corner of Waterside Drive and Pocahontas Trail (Route 60) was the former home of the R&D International Hotel. During Wednesday morning’s meeting, County Administrator Rodney Hathaway advised county leaders…
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