News for New Kent County and Charles City County, Virginia | December 2, 2024
Local News
Preston Hollow LLC continues push to refinance bonds for Farms of New Kent
A request to restructure and refinance bonds for the Farms of New Kent will have to wait at least a couple of months. New Kent’s Board of Supervisors continued to defer action on a request from Preston Hollow LLC (PHLLC) during the Aug. 22 special work session. In October 2023, PHLLC proposed $97 million in bond refunds, with $45 million as new money. At a follow-up meeting in November 2023, District 1 representative Thomas Evelyn asked for more solid numbers, stating that he wanted to see more solid numbers and not put New Kent County in a financial hole. Those…
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Providence Forge man federally charged with defrauding company of $4.8 million
A Providence Forge man has been arrested stemming from a federal charge being pursued by the United States Department of Justice for stealing nearly $5 million in money. John Hunter Raines, 38, was arrested on Aug. 22 on the fraud charge according to the press release. Raines allegedly stole money while working as a chief financial officer at the Virginia Birth-Related Neurological Injury Compensation Program. Documents allege the defendant stole $4.8 million over a 22-month period, using his position as he oversaw funding of programs. Raines allegedly had access to several fund accounts of the company and made transfers to…
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Quinton man dies in motorcycle accident in Richmond
A Quinton man has died as the result of an Aug. 20 traffic accident in Richmond. According to a report from the Richmond Police Department, shortly after 1 p.m. a motorcycle was traveling westbound at the 2200 block of Semmes Avenue when the operator lost control. The report says the operator hit a power pole in the median of the roadway and then crashed in the westbound lanes. The driver, identified as Merquan Robinson, 30, died at the scene of the accident. An investigation of the crash remains ongoing.
Drop box on computer leads to New Kent man pleading guilty to possessing child pornography
A Quinton man who stored images of underage children in a drop-box on electronic devices has entered guilty pleas to possession of child pornography. Nicholas Will Buchman, 26, pled guilty to one count each of possession of child pornography (first offense) and possession of child pornography (second or subsequent offense) as part of Monday proceedings in New Kent Circuit Court. Eight additional charges of possession of child pornography (second or subsequent offense) were dropped as part of a plea agreement. In a summary of evidence, New Kent Detective Brent Thomas said that around Oct. 20, 2023, New Kent Sheriff’s Office…
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New Kent School Board adopts policy banning cell phones for students
Following guidance from the Virginia Department of Education (VDOE), New Kent’s School Board chose to implement a schoolwide prohibition on the school’s cell phone policy. Members voted 4-0 to institute the policy following the Aug. 12 regular school bard meeting. At the school board’s July regular meeting, members chose to table the policy as guidance was being awaited from VDOE per Governor Glenn Youngkin’s order. Youngkin had instructed VDOE to create an infrastructure for school districts to follow to ban or limit the use of cell phones and other communication devices during the active school date. New Kent school’s board…
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Petersburg man receives close to three years in prison for distributing drugs in New Kent
A Petersburg man will spend nearly three years in prison for distributing drugs in New Kent County. Darius Deandre Harris, 30, of 36 North Union Street, entered a guilty plea to one count of distributing cocaine as part of a plea agreement reached Monday in New Kent Circuit Court. An additional charge of selling a Schedule I/II drug, along with misdemeanor fleeing from police, and misdemeanor obstruction of justice were dropped as part of the agreement. In a summary of evidence provided by New Kent Commonwealth’s Attorney Scott Renick, on July 12, 2023, a police officer attempted to conduct a…
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Snag hit about internet expansion between New Kent and Cox Communications
An ongoing issue about high-speed internet in New Kent County has led to myths about a proposed agreement between the county and Cox Communications. New Kent County Administrator Rodney Hathaway addressed the rumors during Tuesday morning’s board of supervisors’ work session. At issue was a franchise agreement with Cox Cable Communications regarding internet access in the county. And while no decision has been made yet, Hathaway wanted it to be clear about the reality of what a franchise agreement truly was. “It’s not why did the county choose to go with Cox with a franchise agreement, the reality is Cox…
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Williamsburg man receives two-month sentence for initiating high-speed chase in New Kent
A Williamsburg man will spend two months in jail for destroying property while on a high-speed chase in New Kent. Lenny Daniel Salas, 21, of the 1400 block of Rustard Circle, entered guilty pleas to one count each of destruction of property, felony eluding of police, and misdemeanor reckless driving as part of Monday proceedings in New Kent Circuit Court. In a summary of evidence provided by New Kent Commonwealth’s Attorney Scott Renic, on March 12, a New Kent deputy was monitoring traffic eastbound Interstate 64 traffic at mile marker 211 when a dark color vehicle entered the radar traveling…
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Jury convicts Newport News man for possessing cocaine in New Kent
A Newport News man whose erratic behavior led to his arrest has been convicted by a jury on possession of a Schedule I/II drug. Christopher Delyle Howard, 46, of 51 Poplar Avenue, was convicted of the crime during the July 18 trial. One charge of driving under the influence (second of subsequent offense) was dropped. On May 5, 2023, a call into New Kent Sheriff’s Office alerted authorities about an individual dancing in the middle of the road on Route 30 in New Kent. Deputy Schuyler Sibley responded to the call for service, finding the vehicle in question. Sibley exited…
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Individual found not guilty by reason of insanity in New Kent Circuit Court; undergoing further psychiatric evaluation
*Editor’s Note: This story may contain content that is unsuitable to some readers. A Providence Forge resident who attacked a woman at Pine Fork Park in 2023 has been found not guilty by reason of insanity. Haley Meila Groves, 26, of the 2700 block of Windsor Shades Lane, had charges of strangulation, abduction (two counts), robbery with injury, assault and battery of a law enforcement officer, malicious assault, attempted rape, felony destruction of property, misdemeanor false identification to a law enforcement officer, misdemeanor tampering with a vehicle, and misdemeanor assault and battery (two counts) acquitted by Judge B. Elliott Bondurant…
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