A plea deal was reached Friday in the case of a 53-year-old Newport News woman accused of biting and assaulting two police officers.
Angelnette Dobson pleaded guilty to two counts of misdemeanor assault and battery in Williamsburg-James City County Circuit Court. Circuit Court Judge Michael McGinty sentenced Dobson to 12 months in jail per charge, with all of the time suspended.
As part of the agreement, the charges against Dobson were reduced from felony assault and battery of a law enforcement officer to the misdemeanor counts.
Commonwealth’s Attorney Nate Green said the incident began when Dobson refused to leave the Williamsburg-James City County Courthouse after being there for a court case July 17, 2014. Dobson was yelling at people in the courthouse parking lot and lobby, and was “combative” when sheriff’s deputies asked her to leave the grounds.
Police officers were eventually called to the scene. When officers attempted to restrain Dobson to take her into custody for a mental health evaluation, she tried to free herself, spitting on and headbutting an officer.
After being detained, officers attempted to put Dobson in a police vehicle to take her to Riverside Doctors’ Hospital, but she bit the officer she had earlier spat on, along with a Virginia state trooper who was assisting the officers.
Both officers received minor injuries and were released the same day.
As part of the plea agreement, Dobson must remain in good behavior for five years and comply with a mental health treatment program.
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