News for New Kent County and Charles City County, Virginia | October 8, 2026
Local News
New Kent School Board sounds off on 2027-28 CIP, calls on county leadership to step up funding
Even though the 2026-2027 school year just began, New Kent County Public Schools are already looking into improving campus property and infrastructure for the next fiscal cycle. New Kent Assistant Superintendent of Operations Jonathan Hochman presented the first draft of the school system’s Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) for FY2027-28 year. Hochman said, “We want to protect our investments. We have lots of stuff; schools, systems, lots of buses and things like that. We spend a lot of time and money on those things, and we want to make sure we take care of them. “We also want to move to…
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Opett departs position as New Kent Fire Chief for new role with VDOT
Rick Opett, who has served as fire chief for New Kent Fire and Rescue, stepped down on Sept. 24 to accept a position with the Commonwealth of Virginia. Opett will serve as the new director of Virginia’s Department of Transportation (VDOT) Safety, Security, and Emergency Management. Opett began his tenure on Jan. 16, 2013, following in the footsteps of his father. Prior to his tenure in New Kent, he was a battalion chief for Loudon County. Opett’s tenure marked a transition of New Kent Fire and Rescue, especially with growth. With New Kent having one of the fastest rising populations…
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Draft guidelines for data centers in New Kent presented, but remain at standstill pending executive order
Two months ago, New Kent County leaders asked county staff to begin to find ways to address the continuous battles regarding the establishing of data centers within the locality. Since then, Governor Abigail Spanberger issued an executive order regarding data centers, with the expectation that guidelines would be established by January 2027. Still, concerns linger from public perception about the data centers, which was addressed as part of Tuesday morning’s work session. New Kent Director of Community Development Joshua Airaghi presented the first set of recommendations for data center development to county supervisors, citing the process as a “temperature check”…
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Gloucester woman to serve three months in jail for possessing methamphetamine in New Kent
A Gloucester woman will spend three months in jail for possessing illegal drugs in New Kent County. Desiree Christiane Garcia, 33, of the 6800 block of Cherokee Lane, entered a guilty plea to a single count of possession of a Schedule I/II Substance as part of a plea agreement reached Monday afternoon in New Kent Circuit Court. In a summary of evidence provided by New Kent Commonwealth’s Attorney Schott Renick, on Mar. 19, a New Kent deputy on patrol executed a traffic stop at the Pilot on Emmaus Church Road after running a license plate check and seeing that the…
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Charles City citizens lash out at leadership as funds approved to pay for legal fees for supervisor
Decisions made by Charles City County’s Board of Supervisors are continuing to draw the ire of citizens. The latest decision by county leadership has drawn major concerns and questions about the possibility of a conflict of interest being violated. Charles City’s Board of Supervisors voted 2-1 to approve $53,350 to pay in legal fees for a petition that was filed to remove board member Byron Adkins Sr. that ultimately failed. At the beginning of the business portion of the meeting, District 1 representative Ryan Patterson asked that contractual legal fees for the county’s forensic audit and the legal fees to…
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Richmond man driving intoxicated in Charles City receives six-month jail term
A Richmond man will spend six months in jail for driving while intoxicated in Charles City County. Andrew Nicholas Cotman, 31, of the 6800 block of Roost Hill Court, Richmond, entered a guilty plea to an amended charge of driving while intoxicated-first offense (originally driving while intoxicated that resulted in maiming) as part of a plea agreement reached on Sept. 18 in Charles City Circuit Court. In a summary of evidence provided by Charles City Commonwealth’s Attorney Tyler Klink, on July 4 Virginia State Police responded to a two-vehicle crash on Lewis Tyler Lane. Upon an investigation, it was determined…
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Providence Forge man indicted on several charges, including attempted murder of a police officer
A Providence Forge man has been indicted on several felony charges including attempted murder of a police officer. As part of Monday morning in New Kent Circuit Court, a grand jury indicted Robert Wayles Watkins III, 54, of the 10000 block of White Dogwood Drive, was indicted on one charge each of attempted aggravated murder of a law enforcement officer, attempting to maim a law enforcement animal officer, felony eluding, felony destruction of property, misdemeanor destruction of property, misdemeanor violating a protective order, and misdemeanor assault and battery. The charges stem from an alleged incident on Dec. 9, 2025. In…
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Newport News man pleads guilty to eluding police in New Kent County
A Newport News man has entered guilty pleas stemming from a high-speed pursuit in New Kent County. Devon Alexander Sabb, 32, of the 400 block of Cox Landing, pled guilty to one count each of felony eluding, misdemeanor reckless driving, and misdemeanor driving suspended as part of a plea agreement reached Monday afternoon n New Kent Circuit Court. In a summary of evidence provided by New Kent Commonwealth’s Attorney Scott Renick, on Nov. 5, 2024, a Virginia State Trooper clocked a vehicle traveling over the posted speed limit on Interstate 64. The trooper attempted to conduct a traffic stop, but…
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Early morning crash claims lives of two people in New Kent
Virginia State Police are currently investigating a crash that claimed the lives of two people early Friday morning. In a press release, Virginia State Police responded to a single-vehicle crash westbound on Interstate 64 near mile marker 217 at approximately 1:02 a.m. A preliminary investigation indicates a 2023 GMCP pickup truck overturned and caught fire. The driver and passenger died at the scene. Troopers are working to confirm their identities and notify the next of kin. The crash remains under investigation.
Maidens man gets year in jail for driving while intoxicated in New Kent
A Maidens man will spend a year in jail for driving while intoxicated in New Kent County. Christopher Tyrone Carroll, 56, of the 2500 block of Fairground Road, entered guilty pleas to an amended charge of misdemeanor DWI-second offense (originally DWI-third offense), misdemeanor driving revoked (DWI related), misdemeanor driving suspended, and misdemeanor driving without an ignition interlock as part of Monday afternoon proceedings in New Kent Circuit Court. Three misdemeanor pretrial violations and one felony failure to appear were dismissed. In a summary of evidence provided by New Kent Commonwealth’s Attorney Scott Renick, on Nov. 5, 2025, a New Kent…
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