NewsBreak Original

MIDDLEBURG, VA — In an unexpected twist of equestrian drama, the esteemed Middleburg Polo Club, Inc. is taking a swing at a competitor, accusing him of hijacking its name with a not-so-covert move. The club, with nearly a century of history behind it, alleges John Gobin, a fellow polo aficionado, has taken advantage of a name registration lapse to stake his claim on the club's long-standing moniker.

Clay County is hosting an open house event for the Clay County Outdoor Adventure Park. The open house is Friday, September 29, and Saturday, September 30. County leaders will commemorate the event with a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 3 p.m. on Friday. The open house is set for the following day from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

The Clay County Sheriff’s Office issued a BOLO (be on the lookout) at approximately 11:23 a.m. Tuesday searching for a man wanted for armed burglary. Just 15 minutes later, he was captured.

A Clay County Sheriff’s Office NET town hall meeting is scheduled for Thursday, Aug. 10 and all community members are welcome. The meeting will be from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Middleburg Civic Association (2102 Palmetto St. Middleburg). There is no cost to attend.

Register at Register for Education event. Veteran Education: the on-line experience on Tuesday 15th, August at 10:00 am at the Andrew K. Baker (Middleburg) VA Clinic 400 College Drive Suite 200 on the second floor (entrance is on the North side). Bring your Veterans Administration identification card and arrive by 10:00. Seats are limited, but we ask that Veterans register for the event. Registrants will be contacted with further instructions.

Christopher Leo Daragjati has pleaded guilty to two counts of wire fraud, two counts of aggravated identity theft and one count of theft of government property, over $1,000, U.S. Attorney Roger B. Handberg announced Monday.

A Middleburg man who works at Pet Paradise was arrested Monday while at work. He faces five charges of possession of child sexual abuse material, deputies say. The Clay County Sheriff’s Office received a Cybertip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children in January of 2023 regarding an IP address looking at and downloading child sexual material.

The Clay County Board of County Commissioners voted to move forward with purchasing land to build a new fire station. If the deal goes through, fire station No. 1 will be located directly in front of the Clay County Utility Authority on Old Jennings Road in Middleburg.

Former Clay High and former Seattle Seahawks defensive end Cliff Avril will hold the Cliff Avril Family Foundation 10th Annual Family Fun Day on July 16 from 1-5 p.m. at Paul C. Armstrong Park in Middleburg.

The Clay County Board of County Commissioners was awarded funding to make improvements to Live Oak Lane in Middleburg. Commissioner Betsy Condon is hosting a public meeting Thursday, July 13 to discuss the project with property owners.

The Clay County Sheriff’s Office assisted the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office with a grand theft auto case where the suspect was found in the Middleburg area. On Monday, July 3, a black Kia Soul was reported stolen and Clay County Sheriff’s Office deputies were notified of the vehicle potentially being in the Middleburg area. On Tuesday, July 4, deputies observed a vehicle matching the description, driving in the area of County Road 218 and Blanding Boulevard, the arrest report said.

A Middleburg man was arrested Tuesday and faces one felony charge of domestic battery on a person 65 years or older, deputies say. Clay County Sheriff’s Office deputies were dispatched to a home (the address has been removed from the arrest report for victim confidentiality) in reference to a disturbance in progress. Upon arrival, deputies made contact with a female victim and Noah Hale, 21, of Middleburg.

U.S. District Judge Brian J. Davis has sentenced Brandon Paul Smolinski, 36, of Middleburg to 17 years and 6 months in federal prison for distribution of child sexual abuse materials.

A Middleburg man was arrested Wednesday and faces charges of battery (with a prior conviction) and false imprisonment, deputies say. The Clay County Sheriff’s Office received a 9-1-1 call for service on June 6 from a male witness reporting an incident of battery between a man and a female victim. When deputies arrived at the reported area of Blanding Boulevard and Blairmore Boulevard, they could not locate the vehicle described by the victim, they said.

The Clay County Sheriff’s Office is asking for the community’s help in locating a missing juvenile from the Middleburg area. A “Be On the Lookout” (BOLO) was issued May 23 at approximately 2:39 p.m. for 15-year-old Hunter Shane Colson. Colson is a 5 '6, 130- pound, white male with brown hair, brown eyes and was last seen wearing a black hoodie and blue jeans, according to the BOLO.

A Middleburg man was arrested Thursday and faces murder charges after shooting a male victim in the arm and abdomen, deputies say. Clay County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to the 2400 block of Zagato Court at approximately 12:29 a.m. Thursday, June 1, in reference to a person shot. Upon arrival, deputies located the victim in the front yard of the residence, according to the arrest report.

A Middleburg man was arrested Thursday for human trafficking, promoting a sexual performance by a child using a minor in production of computer pornography, seduction of a child using the internet and transmission of child sexual abuse material.

A Florida woman was arrested Monday by Clay County Sheriff’s Office deputies on a warrant for one charge of homicide for the “killing of a human other than by murder or homicide,” deputies reported.

A Jacksonville man was arrested in Middleburg on Friday after threatening another individual with a knife before fleeing in his vehicle and crashing into True Life Church on County Road 220.

A Clay County Sheriff’s Office BOLO (be on the lookout) Facebook post has been resolved with the arrest of a Middleburg man who faces charges of burglary to auto. According to the arrest report, deputies were notified of a burglary at a U-Haul center in Orange Park (1439 Blanding Blvd.) that occurred Saturday, April 8. The victim advised that he parked his 2012 Range Rover at the U-Haul center on April 7 and left it there overnight. When he returned to pick it up, he realized someone entered the vehicle, damaged the ignition and stole an iPhone 11 out of the glove box, he told deputies.