News for New Kent County and Charles City County, Virginia | September 9, 2026
Local News
Charles City School Board Member Royce Paige succumbs
A Charles City School Board member who served more than two decades in the position during two different stints has passed away. Royce Paige, 82, who was serving as an at-large member on the school board, passed away last week according to a press release from Charles City County’s School Board. Paige served 23 years as a member on Charles City’s School Board, covering two stints. Paige was first elected in 1995 to represent District 1 where he served for 16 years until 2011. In 2019, he successfully ran for one of the two at-large positions, serving in that role…
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Tractor-trailer crash claims life of individual in New Kent
Virginia State Police are investigating a fatal tractor-trailer crash the claimed the life of an individual in the early morning hours of Sept. 4 in New Kent. According to the press release, at approximately 1:30 a.m., Virginia State Police responded to a single-vehicle crash on Interstate 64 westbound at mile marker 220 (West Point exit) in New Kent. A preliminary investigation indicates a commercial car hauler traveling westbound struck the concrete barrier in the median. The impact caused the cab to straddle the barrier and overturn before catching fire. The trailer, which was transporting vehicles, remained upright. The driver, who…
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Two indicted by Charles City grand jury
Two individuals were indicted by a grand jury as part of Tuesday morning proceedings in Charles City Circuit Court: –Andrew Nicholas Cotman, 31, of the 6800 block of Roost Hill Court, Richmond, on a single count of driving while intoxicated with maiming. Cotman allegedly operated a vehicle that resulted in a serious injury to another person on July 4. –Jennifer Ann Smith, 38, of the 9100 block of Wilcox Neck Road, Charles City, on two counts each of felony child abuse and felony child endangerment. Smith allegedly committed the offenses between May 1 and May 15 of this year when…
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Lanexa man stipulates to evidence of possessing child pornography in New Kent
A Lanexa man has stipulated to evidence in possessing child pornography in New Kent County. Donavan Trayton Pulliam, 20, agreed to terms of a plea deal to one charge each of possession of child pornography and possession of child pornography (second offense) during Monday proceedings in New Kent Circuit Court. Nine additional charges of possession of child pornography (second offense) were dropped as part of the agreement. In a summary of evidence provided by New Kent Commonwealth’s Attorney Scott Renick, on May 15, 2025, investigators received information about the possibility of illegal pornographic material being downloaded to electronic devices in…
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SOL scores reveal improvements by Charles City and New Kent schools in 10 subject areas
Charles City County Public Schools and New Kent County Public Schools improved in 10 subject areas in recently released Virginia Standards of Learning (SOL) tests. The Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) released reports on the test results this past week. New Kent County Public Schools continue to remain one of the highest scoring school districts in the state. New Kent eclipsed the 90th percentile in the areas of End of Course Reading, End of Course Writing, Algebra I, Algebra II, and Geometry. New Kent reached the 80th percentile in the areas of fourth grade reading, fifth grade reading, seventh grade…
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Forensics audit concludes in Charles City, but citizens continue to search for answers
A request for a forensics audit on expenditures made by Charles City County has come to an end after it was dismissed on Aug. 21. And while the order was issued by the court, county citizens still raised several questions and concerns at the county’s regular meeting of its board of supervisors. After a two-hour hearing, the order was dismissed after insufficient information was submitted for its completion, with the court having more questions than answers. Initiated through a petition submitted to the court system on Apr. 18, 2025, the forensics audit was petitioned by the citizens from Charles City…
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Trio of men stipulate to evidence of possessing illegal gambling devices in New Kent
Three men stipulated to evidence of possessing illegal gambling devices in New Kent County. Salim S. Damani of Glen Allen, Sanam Singh Ahluwala of Glen Allen, and Samir Narendra Patel of Williamsburg, all stipulated to the evidence on two misdemeanor counts of possession of illegal gambling devices as part of Monday morning proceedings in New Kent Circuit Court. As part of an agreement, three additional counts of possession of illegal devices as well as a lone count of continuous illegal gambling were dropped against Damani, seven additional charges of possession of illegal devices and a charge of continuous illegal gambling…
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Richmond woman, teenager arrested in connection to 2024 Charles City murder
Charles City County Sheriff’s Office have arrested two individuals connected to a March 2024 homicide. Shantalaya Shorter, 21, and a 17-year-old juvenile (at the time of the offense), both from the City of Richmond, were arrested after a multi-agency investigation between Charles City County Sheriff’s Office and the Virginia State Police. On Mar. 20, 2024, Charles City County Sheriff’s Office responded to the 7600 block of Church Lane. Upon arriving on scene, the authorities discovered Aubrey Jonson, 58, suffering from an apparent gunshot wound. Johnson was pronounced dead on scene. Investigators gathered information from witnesses of a vehicle that fled…
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Richmond man receives year in jail for driving revoked in New Kent
A Richmond man will spend a year in jail for driving revoked in New Kent County. Adrian Gustavo Naranjo, 35, of the 2200 block of Chateu Court, learned of his term as part of Monday proceedings in New Kent Circuit Court. During a June 15 trial, Naranjo entered a guilty plea to the offense. During that trial, evidence presented by Commonwealth’s Attorney Scott Renick showed that on Jan. 12, a New Kent deputy on patrol noticed a vehicle that had registration that did not match the appropriate vehicle. A traffic stop was executed, and Naranjo was identified as the driver….
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FedEx latest to announce logistics facility coming to New Kent
The Exit 211 interchange from Interstate 64 to Emmaus Church Road (Route 106) is getting a new business. New Kent County announced through an Aug. 12 press release that FedEx will be constructing a 300,000-square foot shipping and logistics facility. “On behalf of New Kent County, we are proud to welcome FedEx and its newest operation to our community,” commented New Kent County Administrator Rodney Hathaway. “This investment represents another significant milestone in the county’s continued economic growth and demonstrates New Kent County’s strategic location, strong transportation infrastructure, and business friendly environment.” FedEx’s is expected to invest $40 million into…
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