Norfolk man pleads guilty to five felonies in Accomack Court

By Linda Cicoira

A Norfolk man, who is awaiting sentencing in Northampton for a 2023 crime spree that included the attempted murder of former Exmore Police Chief Angelo DiMartino, pleaded guilty in Accomack Circuit Court Thursday to five more violent felonies with a total maximum sentence of life plus 70 years in prison and fines of up to $267,500.

Thirty-three-year-old Brandon Theophilus Gibson of Lens Avenue, pleaded guilty to robbing Roy Reed, of Bloxom, who was working at the Nelsonia Corner Mart convenience store. Gibson also admitted to abducting Reed by depriving him of personal liberty and maliciously wounding Reed by hitting him in the face with a soup can and dislodging several teeth. In addition, Gibson pleaded guilty to robbing delivery worker Paul Griner by force at a Temperanceville Corner Mart and stealing money from Griner.

In a plea agreement with Accomack Commonwealth’s Attorney Spencer Morgan, counts of credit card larceny and eluding police were not prosecuted. Morgan concluded that the latter charge was included in the Northampton charges. Morgan said he would recommend the maximum sentence possible within the guidelines, which had not yet been determined or were not disclosed. Sentencing was set for Dec. 18.

For the Northampton crimes, Gibson is expected to be sentenced on Oct. 27. Charges include three counts of robbery, disarming an officer, felony eluding, assaulting an officer, possession of a firearm by a violent felon, felony obstruction of justice, and reckless driving by speed of more than 85 mph. Those charges could mean life in prison and don’t include attempted murder of the now-retired officer.

His accomplice, 29-year-old Christopher Allen Orbeta, of George Drive in Chesapeake, was sentenced to 15 active years in prison for crimes that occurred in Accomack County and six years and two months of active time in Northampton.

The spree began in the Surry/Smithfield area. It started here at the Royal Farms, just north of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel in Kiptopeke. Gibson said he went inside to the bathroom 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 Orbeta went to the Hampton Inn in Exmore, where Gibson robbed an employee at knifepoint of personal belongings and $10 worth of company money. The two continued their spree up the Shore 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.

Steve Lewis was right behind the getaway car. He opened the driver’s door and found Gibson inside with the airbags deployed. The two tussled with Gibson managing to get Lewis’ gun. Lewis had him in a headlock when several other officers piled on top of them. DiMartino used a stun gun on Gibson, who had his finger on the trigger of the weapon. In the end, a dog was set on Gibson and bit him on the arm.