News for New Kent County and Charles City County, Virginia | June 27, 2022
Local News
Cocaine distribution nets Barhamsville woman four-year prison term
A Barhamsville woman will spend the next four years in prison for distributing cocaine in New Kent County. Shannon Inez Berkley, 45, of the 13000 block of Farmer’s Drive, entered guilty pleas to two amended charges of distributing a controlled substance (originally distributing a controlled substance- second offense) as part of a plea agreement during Monday morning proceedings in New Kent Circuit Court. One charge each of distributing a controlled substance (second offense), possession of a Schedule I/II drug, and misdemeanor possession of drug paraphernalia were dropped as part of the agreement. In a summary of evidence provided by Commonwealth…
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Yorktown teenager indicted on involuntary manslaughter charge by New Kent grand jury
A teenager who allegedly led a chase through New Kent County during the early morning hours on Oct. 24, 2021, has been formally indicted on an involuntary manslaughter charge. Jahreese Ray’sea Watson-Ricks, 19, of the 500 block of Arabian Circle, Yorktown, was indicted on one charge each of involuntary manslaughter, destruction of property, and felony eluding of police. In a Oct. 2021 press release, around 12:53 a.m. a trooper observed a white Infiniti sedan traveling 100 miles per hour in a posted 70 miles per hour zone at mile marker 211 eastbound on Interstate 64 in New Kent. After noticing…
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Proposal for drug rehabilitation center denied in New Kent
A proposal to bring up a drug rehabilitation center to New Kent has been denied by county leaders. New Kent supervisors voted 4-1 to prevent the construction of a faith recovery center at the former location of Mackemie Woods during Monday night’s meeting. News of the proposal came out early, with many locals objecting to the location, 3700 Ropers Church Road, and need of the facility within county boundaries. Many feared that the center would bring more drugs into the county and expose more of the population. At New Kent’s Planning Commission meeting, commissioners voted 8-1 with a non-favorable recommendation….
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Charles City School Board has reservations about regional wastewater treatment plant
With wastewater treatment plants needing replacement at both the Charles City County Administration Building Complex and Charles City County Public Schools Complex, a proposal during an April joint session between the county’s board of supervisors and school board would see a regional wastewater facility be constructed on school property. But during a May 5 meeting with school leaders, there were more questions than answers that needed concrete solutions before making such a commitment. Charles City school’s Director of Operations Jerome Tyler provided information regarding the operations of the school’s wastewater facility. He expressed concerns to the school board about making…
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Richmond woman indicted on attempted murder charge in Charles City
A Richmond woman who allegedly tried to kill a person by running them over with a vehicle has been indicted by a grand jury in Charles City. Kallie Lynn Odell, 30, of the 6200 block of Glenway Drive, was indicted on one count each of attempted first degree murder, malicious wounding, felony hit and run, and felony destruction of property during Tuesday morning proceedings in Charles City Circuit Court. According to the allegation and police warrant, a sheriff’s deputy responded to a residence on The Glebe Lane on Dec. 15, 2021 to find a person had been struck by a…
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Glen Allen man receives five months in jail for attempted aggravated sexual battery in New Kent
A Glen Allen man will spend the next five months in jail after pleading guilty to attempted aggravated sexual battery. Jason E. Crawford, 45, entered a guilty plea to one count of the amended offense (originally aggravated sexual battery) as part of a plea agreement reached Monday morning in New Kent Circuit Court. One count of aggravated sexual battery was dropped. When Judge B. Elliott Bondurant questioned why the plea deal was made, Commonwealth Attorney Scott Renick commented that it was to not traumatize the victim by having them testify. In a summary of evidence, New Kent Sheriff’s Office received…
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Proposed Charles City FY23 budget of $20.9 million contains no tax increase
With a reassessment that saw a 10-cent drop along with the value of a penny increasing by 16.5 percent, Charles City’s Board of Supervisors received their first look of the proposed FY2022-23 budget that included no tax increase. Charles City County Administrator Michelle Johnson proposed a budget of $20,915,573 for the upcoming cycle. In comparison, that amount is $2,617,428 more than the current year’s budget. The reassessment process increased the property value of many areas in Charles City County, resulting in the equalized rate dropping to 66 cents per $100 of assessed value. With each penny taxed being the equivalent…
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New Kent County Public Schools to conclude year on June 15
Teachers and students in New Kent have an additional reason to celebrate; an earlier release for Summer break. New Kent County’s School Board unanimously approved to move up the last day of school during Monday evening’s work session. Students were originally scheduled to leave for Summer break on June 17, while teachers were scheduled to conclude on June 20 with LEAD teachers wrapping up on June 21. The school board’s approval now will let students out two days earlier on June 15, with teachers concluding duties on June 16 and LEAD teachers being finished by June 17. Superintendent of Schools…
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Former New Kent Pilot employee receives eight-month sentence for embezzlement
A Charles City man who embezzled several thousands of dollars while being employed at Pilot in New Kent will spend the next eight months in jail. Thomas Alexander Bevins, 28, of the 4500 block of Rockinghorse Lane, entered a guilty plea to one count of embezzlement as part of Monday morning proceedings in New Kent Circuit Court. In a summary of evidence by New Kent Assistant Commonwealth Attorney Greg Overholser, on Nov. 17, 2021, a New Kent deputy responded for a call for service to the store located on Emmaus Church Road. The officer spoke with the general manager, who…
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Chase of 137 miles-per-hour in New Kent leads to four months of incarceration for Henrico man
A Henrico man who led a New Kent deputy on a high-speed chase for more than 20 miles will spend the next four months in prison. Kenneth Blad Espinoza Hernandez, 21, of the 5700 block of Trafalgar Park, received his formal sentence during Monday afternoon proceedings in New Kent Circuit Court. During a Feb. 15 trial, Hernandez entered guilty pleas to felony eluding and an amended charge of misdemeanor contributing to the delinquency of a minor (originally felony child abuse) as part of a plea agreement. At that trial, evidence was presented that showed that on Aug. 26, 2021 in…
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