News for New Kent County and Charles City County, Virginia | September 30, 2025
Local News
No tax increase part of New Kent’s proposed $79.6 million budget for FY2021-22
With an expected bump in revenue from the county, New Kent County Administrator Rodney Hathaway presented his proposed FY2021-22 budget at Monday night’s board of supervisors meeting. Hathaway presented a budget of $79,688,523 for the upcoming cycle. By contrast, the FY2020-21 budget totaled $75,062,698. Of the proposed amount for the new fiscal year, New Kent County schools are slated to receive $37,602,203, roughly 47 percent of the proposed total budget. The county administrator commented that most of the budget increase will be in part due to an increase in the collection rate of taxes. When the COVID-19 pandemic hit in…
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Felon convicted on possessing gun and ammunition illegally in Charles City
A Charles City man entered a guilty plea to possessing a firearm illegally during Tuesday morning proceedings in Charles City Circuit Court. Michael Lee Wallace Jr., 48, of the 11000 block of Canora Lane, entered the plea to an amended charge of possession of a firearm or ammunition by a convicted felon with the last offense occurring more than ten years ago (originally possession of a firearm by a convicted felon) as part of a plea agreement. A second charge of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon was dropped. In a summary of evidence provided by Charles City…
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Charles City woman indicted on second-degree murder charge
A Charles City woman has been indicted on a murder charge stemming from an Oct. 15, 2020 death investigation. A Charles City grand jury indicted Amber Brime, 32, of the 11000 block of Eagles Nest Road, on one count of second-degree murder, and two counts of breaking and entering to commit murder, during Tuesday morning proceedings in Charles City Circuit Court. During the aforementioned date, Charles City Sheriff’s Office responded to a residence on Eagles Nest Road. Upon arriving to the residence, the body of a deceased female was discovered. An investigation was conducted led to the quick arrest of…
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Vote on New Kent school’s redistricting plan expected to take place Mar. 15
A slightly modified proposal of a redistricting plan for New Kent’s elementary schools may receive final approval from the county’s school board on Mar. 15. School board representatives received an update from Matthew Cropper of Cropper GIS services on a third option that received approval from a redistricting committee during Monday night’s New Kent School Board meeting. During a Jan. 20 work session, Cropper presented two plans to the school board. At that meeting, both proposals call for a majority of the western end of New Kent to be the zone for Quinton Elementary School students. Homes and roads off…
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Mechanicsville man to serve four years incarcerated after having sexual encounter with New Kent minor
A Mechanicsville man who had sexual interactions with a minor in New Kent County will spend the next four years incarcerated after receiving formal sentencing during Monday morning proceedings in New Kent Circuit Court. Christopher Ray Sheffield, 21, was sentenced to 10 years in prison with six years, nine months suspended (three years, three months to serve) on propositioning a minor to perform pornography. He will also serve a 12-month jail sentence for having consensual sex with a minor. During a Dec. 14, 2020 trial, Sheffield entered guilty pleas to the two charges that stemmed from a Feb. 21, 2020…
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Early morning crash in New Kent County leaves two dead
A Tuesday early morning crash in the Eltham area of New Kent County has resulted in the deaths of two King William County residents. Chakayla R. Sprulock, 20, and Charles H. Fletcher III, 21, both died at the scene of the accident according to a Virginia State Police report. According to the report, around 6:25 a.m. Virginia State Police responded to a call for service on Farmer’s Drive (Route 273), approximately one-quarter mile north of Polish Town Road (Route 634). A preliminary investigation reveals that a 1999 Honda Civic was heading south on Farmers Drive when it crossed the center…
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Shacklefords man to serve two years for attempting to distribute drugs in New Kent
A Shacklefords man will spend the next two years for possessing illegal drugs after agreeing to the terms of a plea agreement Monday afternoon in New Kent Circuit Court. Mason Michael Hurley, 20, entered guilty pleas to two counts of possession of a Schedule I/II substance with intent to distribute. One charge of conspiracy to violate the drug act was dropped as part of the deal. In a summary of evidence, on Mar. 9, 2020, Hurley was the passenger sitting in a van at 7-Eleven in New Kent that was being observed by authorities. When authorities approached and searched the…
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Former Cumberland Hospital doctor no-shows for court; found in Williamsburg with self-inflicted gunshot, dies at hospital
A former psychotherapist at Cumberland Hospital failed to appear Monday morning at his New Kent Circuit Court case. He later died in the day to a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Herschel Harden, 73, was scheduled to show up in court according to defense attorney Fernando Groene on the possibility of a plea agreement. But when the defendant never entered into the courtroom, Groene told Judge B. Elliott Bondurant about the pressure his client was facing. “I spoke with him Friday and I spoke with him yesterday about a plea agreement,” the defense attorney said to the court. “He was telling me…
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Using truck to block county employee, Charles City man found guilty of abduction
A Charles City man who prevented a county employee from leaving after doing their job has been found guilty on a single count of abduction. Joseph E. Brown, 57, of the 7300 block of Trevors Road, received the verdict after a Friday morning contested trial in Charles City Circuit Court. On July 10, 2020, a Charles City county employee was conducting stormwater and property inspections. The employee went to the property of Brown based on a previous ordinance violation related to having too many inoperable vehicles in his yard. After noticing that Brown was in compliance, the employee left for…
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Mixed messages, concerns raised by New Kent school staff through letter at board meeting; superintendent recommends $33.6 million budget for FY2021-22
As schools around Virginia began to implement in-person return for students, concerns from teachers and staff workers in New Kent have come to the forefront. Tuesday night’s school board work session revolved around mixed messages being sent to workers that have raised red flags. Employees sent an anonymous letter to the school board with concerns about a submission from District 2 representative Kristin Swynford that was posted in the Chronicle. Employees questioned Swynford on her comments about employees not operating on the same team. Staff members commented in their letter that continuous instructional changes have been difficult and that the…
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