News for New Kent County and Charles City County, Virginia | February 17, 2026
Local News
Convicted felon from Toano sentenced to 18 months for possessing ammunition
A Toano man will spend 18 months in jail after accepting a plea agreement during Monday morning proceedings in New Kent Circuit Court. Cody Allan Dobbeck, 26, of the 100 block of Leisure Road, entered a guilty plea to an amended charge of possession of ammunition by a convicted felon (originally possession of a firearm by a nonviolent convicted felon). In a summary of evidence, on Dec. 14, 2019, a homeowner heard a gunshot near his house. When he went out to investigate, he saw Dobbeck and questioned him about the sound. Dobbeck told the homeowner that he was the…
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Return for New Kent second and third graders back into school buildings delayed until February
Second and third graders who attend elementary schools in New Kent will have to wait a little longer before having an opportunity to walk through the building doors. For the second time in two months, New Kent’s School Board has postponed the return of second and third graders. And the decision this time was as difficult as the first time. Originally, Cohort 3 (second and third grade students) were scheduled to return on Dec. 14, 2020. But because of the Winter holiday, school officials put the return off the return to Jan. 19, 2021. After hearing concerns from submitted comments…
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Richmond man indicted by Charles City grand jury
A Richmond man has been indicted by a Charles City grand jury. Larry E. Gammon, 39, of the 4700 block of Caldwell Avenue, had one indictment of possession of a Schedule I/II substance certified by the grand jury during Tuesday morning proceedings in Charles City Circuit Court. The indictment alleges that Gammon was in possession of cocaine after he was pulled over for a traffic infraction on Oct. 14, 2020. Gammon’s case it tentatively set for Jan. 15.
Update on Internet services provided at Charles City Board of Supervisors’ meeting
Internet services continue to be an issue in Charles City County. Hopefully, a Tuesday night update provided a glimmer of hope for a topic that has been plaguing citizens for five years. Charles City Assistant County Rhonda Russell provided an update on the two providers that are planning to come to the county as part of Charles City’s Board of Supervisors meeting. Russell first addressed SCS Broadband, a company that had planned to bring wireless Internet to citizens through the airwaves. While there have been several slowdowns along the way, Russell said that eight subscribers are currently on the network….
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Hampton man who fled police receives two-year sentence in alternative program
A Hampton man will serve an alternative sentence for grand theft auto after receiving formal sentencing during Monday afternoon proceedings in New Kent Circuit Court. John Perlie Dawson Jr., 33, of 16 Kenneth Street, learned that he has been accepted into the CCAP (Community Corrections Alternative Program) and will serve at least two years in the program. The alternative program was also part of his originally plea agreement. During an Oct. 26 trial, Dawson entered guilty pleas to felony counts of grand theft auto, eluding of police, and hit and run, as well as to misdemeanor counts of trespassing, tampering…
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Charles City Public Schools ink contract with ABM Solutions
After six months of negotiations, Charles City Public Schools inked a contract with ABM Solutions during Tuesday night’s regular school board meeting. The agreement will allow the two parties into a contract that will allow ABM Solutions to assist with repairs in the school while providing a cost savings. In June of this year, it was determined that the group could assist with $4.6 million in repairs to the school’s complex. In June, former Charles City Public Schools superintendent David Gaston commented that the move was a result of a DECIDESMART study. He added that the move was an opportunity…
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Williamsburg man, who led officers in chases on two separate occasions, pleads guilty in New Kent Circuit Court
A Williamsburg man who fled from law enforcement officers on two separate occasions in New Kent County will spend just over a year in jail. Korey Alexander Gemmiti, 25, of the 100 block of Sharps Road, entered guilty pleas to two counts of felony eluding of police, two counts of misdemeanor DUI (second offense), and one count of destruction of property during Monday afternoon proceedings in New Kent Circuit Court. In a summary of evidence, on Apr. 7, a vehicle was clocked going approximately 80 miles per hour in a 55 miles per hour zone on Pocahontas Trail in the…
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Jan. 19 becomes target date for 2nd, 3rd graders to return to New Kent schools
Second and third graders residing in New Kent County who elect to return to in-person learning now have a firm date. After receiving updates from elementary school principals, New Kent’s school board voted unanimously to allow grades two and three to return to in-person learning on Jan. 19. That date is one week later than the originally proposed Jan. 11 date due to New Kent Superintendent of Schools citing a timetable that will allow two weeks to observe trends after the winter break holiday. Nichols added that the implementation of bringing that particular cohort of students will trigger a change…
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Mechanicsville man enters guilty pleas to sex crimes with minor in New Kent Circuit Court
A Mechanicsville man who had sexual interactions with a minor in New Kent County in February admitted to the crimes during Monday morning proceedings in New Kent Circuit Court. Christopher Ray Sheffield, 21, entered guilty pleas to one count each of propositioning a minor to do pornography and having consensual sex with a minor as part of a plea agreement reached. One charge each of breaking and entering and using a computer to solicit pornography were dropped. In a summary of evidence provided by New Kent Commonwealth’s Attorney Scott Renick, on Feb. 21, a resident contacted New Kent Sheriff’s Office…
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Mattaponi woman dies in New Kent crash
A Mattaponi woman has died as the result of a Dec. 3 crash in New Kent County. Lottie M. Taliaferro, died at the scene of a crash on Route 273 (Farmer’s Drive) just before 7 a.m. In a press release from the Virginia State Police, a 2018 Mitsubishi Mirage was traveling south when it crossed the center line and struck a 2002 Chrysler Concorde. The Mirage ran off the road and caught fire. Taliaferro, the driver of the Mirage, was pronounced dead at the scene. She was wearing a seatbelt. The driver of the Concorde, Lenora D. Sheppard, of Mattaponi,…
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