News for New Kent County and Charles City County, Virginia | February 17, 2026
Local News
Former Charles City County Sheriff Javier Smith passes away
Former Charles City County Sheriff Javier Smith passed away last night (Oct. 17). Smith served as Charles City County’s Sheriff from 2008-2016. He served as a member of the sheriff’s office as a deputy for 11 years prior to being elected the position. Smith was working as a deputy for the Chesterfield County Sheriff’s Office as part of their court system prior to his untimely passing. Among one of Smith’s biggest accomplishments as sheriff of Charles City was his assistance in the capture of Delvin Barnes. With assistance from neighboring New Kent County and federal authorities, Smith and his department…
Read Full Story
Death investigation underway in Charles City
A Charles City woman has been charged with second degree murder stemming from an Oct. 15 early morning death investigation within the county. Amber Brime, 32, was taken into custody after being a person of interest during an investigation conducted. According to a Charles City County Sheriff’s Office press release, around 7:30 a.m. a call for assistance was issued to the Virginia State Release to respond to the 11000 block of Eagles Nest Road. Upon arriving to the residence, the body of a deceased female was discovered. Brime was taken into custody and arrested on the charge. “We are committed…
Read Full Story
Frustrations mount at Charles City town hall as questions about Internet services dodged
What started off as a promising informational session to provide updates about Internet services coming to Charles City once again fell into the usual category of disappointment for both county leaders and citizens. A town hall organized by Charles City County’s Board of Supervisors with representatives of Comcast as part of a $5.5 million Internet project quickly soured Tuesday night to the dismay of many in attendance both in-person and virtually. Comcast representatives Evan Johnson and Nathan Daughtery opened the session about how the Internet will provide additional opportunities to county citizens. And while Johnson played the role of hype…
Read Full Story
New Kent Board of Supervisors enter separate agreements for broadband design services, lease to rent building for county services
With Internet continuing to be a top priority in New Kent, county leaders have agreed to enter into a contract for broadband engineering design services. New Kent’s Board of Supervisors unanimously approved a $79,995 service agreement with RiverStreet Networks to create a model to bring a fiber network to the county at Tuesday night’s regularly scheduled meeting. Through recommendations provided by the New Kent Broadband Advisory Committee, county leaders received information that helped determine that fiber optics would be the best route for all citizens in the county to receive access to the Internet. And while the project and construction…
Read Full Story
New Kent School Board weighs optional in-person return for kindergartners, first graders in November
An optional plan to bring a cohort of students physically back into school buildings in early November will be reviewed within the forthcoming weeks. New Kent Superintendent of Schools Brian Nichols pitched his first case to school board members at Monday night’s regular school board meeting. Nichols commented during a Powerpoint presentation about different phases to bring back to students back into the building. While Cohort One currently is in effect (K-12 students with Individualized Education Plans on an adaptive curriculum and pre-kindergarten kids with any IEP), Cohort Two will offer parents the option to allow kindergarten and first grade…
Read Full Story
New Kent supervisors agree to borrow up to $26 million for construction of new elementary school
New Kent’s Board of Supervisors approved entering into a bonding pool to assist with the borrowing of money for construction of a new elementary school. County leaders approved entering into Virginia Public School Authority’s (VPSA) bond agreement to borrow up to $26 million at the Wednesday morning work session. County Administrator Rodney Hathaway proposed a resolution through VPSA 2020 bond sale agreement not to exceed $26 million. In the original agreement made, that amount was not to exceed $37 million. According to Hathaway, the total project for the new elementary school cost will be $34.6 million. Davenport and Associates financial…
Read Full Story
Maryland man pleads guilty to distributing marijuana in New Kent
A Maryland man who distributed marijuana in New Kent County entered a guilty plea as part of an agreement reached Monday afternoon in New Kent Circuit Court. David Shannon Watson Jr., 31, of 7 Pomona South, Apt. 11, Pikesville, pled guilty to one count of distribution of marijuana greater than one-half ounce but less than five pounds during his trial. In a summary of evidence, on Feb. 21 around 10:30 p.m., a New Kent Sheriff’s Deputy executed a traffic stop after noticing a vehicle commit a violation. Upon arriving to the vehicle, the officer detected the odor of marijuana and…
Read Full Story
Williamsburg man involved in two separate chases indicted by New Kent Grand Jury
A Williamsburg man who fled from law enforcement officers on two separate occasions has been indicted by a New Kent grand jury. Korey Alexander Gemmiti, 25, of the 100 block of Sharps Road, was indicted on two counts each of felony eluding of police and misdemeanor DUI (second offense), and one count of felony destruction of property. Indictments allege that on Apr. 7, Gemmitti fled from officers while operating a vehicle in an intoxicated state. Additional indictments allege that he repeated the offense on June 12, striking a New Kent Sheriff’s Officer’s vehicle during his attempt to escape. In other…
Read Full Story
Duo connected to drug transaction in Eltham plead guilty in New Kent Circuit Court
Two individuals involved with a drug transaction in the Eltham part of New Kent entered guilty pleas as part of agreements reached Monday in New Kent Circuit Court. Brandi Dawn Collins, 47, of Topping, entered a guilty plea to one count of distribution of a controlled substance as part of a plea deal. One charge each of distribution of a controlled substance and conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance was dropped. Co-defendant David James Davis, 36, of Waterview, entered a guilty plea to an amended charge of being an accessory after the fact to drug distribution (originally distributing a controlled…
Read Full Story
Charles City man receives seven-month jail term for distributing cocaine
A Charles City man who sold an illegal substance will spend the next seven months in jail. Westmore Wilson Tabb III, 25, of the 8900 block of Little Elam Road, entered a guilty plea to one count of possession with intent to distribute a Schedule I/II substance as part of a plea agreement reached Friday morning in Charles City Circuit Court. In a summary of evidence provided by Commonwealth’s Attorney Rob Tyler, on Dec. 6, 2019, a New Kent investigator came to Charles City to question Tabb about a possible crime that took place in New Kent. As the investigator…
Read Full Story
