More time added to crime spree leader

By Linda Cicoira

Ten active years were added in Accomack Circuit Court on Thursday to the overall sentence of a Norfolk man, who admitted to leading a 2023 crime spree across the Shore, bringing his total active time from the two local counties to 28.5 years.

Thirty-three-year-old Brandon Theophilus Gibson, of Lens Avenue, was sentenced to a total of 16 active years in prison in Accomack for robbery with serious bodily injury to Roy Reed of Bloxom, malicious wounding of Reed, abduction of Reed, robbery by force of Paul Griner, and felony theft from Griner.

Six years were set to run concurrently with the 18.5 years of active time Gibson received in Northampton earlier this month for charges that included attempting to murder Exmore Police Chief Angelo DiMartino and abducting a Kiptopeke Royal Farms worker.

Defense attorney Jon Thornbrough said Gibson “was one of the nicest guys I’ll ever had the opportunity to represent.  He is trying to take what is good with him (and) make himself an asset to the community … It’s a refreshing attitude,” the lawyer said.

Commonwealth’s Attorney Spencer Morgan described Gibson as a Jekyll and Hyde-type character.

“Mr. Reed thought he was going to die,” the prosecutor said. “He has never fully recovered … safety is a public issue here… Mr. Gibson did a terrifying thing.”

“In Northampton, he was told there is a light at the end of the tunnel,” Thornbrough reminded Judge Lynwood W. Lewis Jr. “I truly believe Mr. Gibson still has something to give back to the community,” the defense attorney said.

Other crimes occurred in Surry, Va., where authorities said Gibson was sentenced to five years in prison. The spree began locally in Kiptopeke. At trial, Gibson said he went to the bathroom at Royal Farms and then cased the store on Dec. 7, 2023, before pulling a knife on a kitchen worker and ordering him to go to the cash register for money.

From there, Gibson and his accomplice went to the Hampton Inn in Exmore, where Gibson robbed an employee at knifepoint of personal belongings and $10 worth of company money, according to testimony.

   The two continued north through Accomack County to Pocomoke, Md. Then they went back down Route 13 to Exmore, where Gibson crashed, striking two cars and a bus of special needs passengers.  While going through Accomack, the other crimes were committed.