NEW KENT — The father of a member of the New Kent Board of Supervisors has been banned from entering county premises after he was accused of threatening the life of the board chairman.
Board Chair Thomas Evelyn filed a petition for a protective order against Richard Stewart, the father of District 5 supervisor Jordan Stewart, in New Kent General District Court on June 7, according to court records. The petition stated Evelyn had reason to know Richard Stewart “owns or otherwise possesses firearms.”
The court issued a preliminary protective order on June 12 on the grounds Evelyn had been subject to “an act of violence, force, or threat.”
Richard Stewart, who lives in Lanexa, also is the assistant director of general services with James City County. He is a former director of general services with New Kent County.
County Administrator Rodney Hathaway banned Richard Stewart from the County Administration Building after the court issued the order. Following a request from the Tidewater Review, the county sent a copy of a notice it mailed to Stewart from County Attorney Joshua Everard on June 12 that bans Stewart from 27 county properties including county offices, all fire stations, refuse sites and the Wahrani Nature Trail. Stewart may only enter a fire station if he suffers a “genuine medical emergency.”
“This action is being taken after the county’s discovery that you threatened the life of Mr. Thomas W. Evelyn, Chairman of the Board of Supervisors of New Kent County,” the notice states. The trespass notice said the action was also taken because of the protective order obtained by Evelyn. Everard warned a violation of the trespass notice carried a potential penalty of a jail sentence of up to 12 months, a fine of up to $2,500, either or both.
The trespass order will stay in place as long as the protective order remains against Richard Stewart, Everard said. There have been no charges against him, New Kent Sheriff Lee Bailey said.
Earlier this month, Hathaway sent out an email to offices with a photo of Richard Stewart, stating he is prohibited from entering the County Administration Building until further notice from the administration office.
The email urged anyone who witnesses Richard Stewart in the administration building unaccompanied by a deputy to call 911.
Stewart referred inquiries to his lawyer, Thomas K. Norment, “as this is an ongoing legal matter.” Norment declined to comment. Evelyn referred questions to his attorney as well..
Evelyn’s application for a protective order followed months of tension between the board chair and Jordan Stewart that began after Stewart — the deputy secretary of Veterans and Defense Affairs in Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s administration — was elected last November to a seat on New Kent County’s governing body.
On May 29, when New Kent County passed its budget, Evelyn rounded on Stewart and fellow Republican Ron Stiers for voting against the budget. He changed his vote to force Stewart to explain how she would avert a 2-cent property tax increase. Evelyn was unsatisfied with Stewart’s explanation.
“For you to come here today and not have a plan on how to cut the 2 cents, you’re not a leader, you’re a politician,” he told her. The board voted in favor of the tax increase for a second time. Stiers changed his vote. Stewart voted no again.
The protective order has not affected Richard Stewart’s position with James City County, County Administrator Scott Stevens said.
David Macaulay, [email protected]
