Man sentenced in connection to 2023 death of Greene County teen Danielle Owens
GREENEVILLE, Tenn. (WJHL) — A man was sentenced to prison in connection to the death of teenager Danielle Owens, whose body was found in a Greene County field in 2023.
Greene County Judge John Dugger Jr. on Wednesday sentenced David A. Dabbs, 33, of Greeneville, to four years in prison with 30% release eligibility, which means he must serve 30% of his sentence before being eligible for release. The four years will be in addition to the eight years he is currently serving in state prison for a methamphetamine-related charge for a total sentence of 12 years.
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Dabbs entered an Alford plea for charges of criminally negligent homicide, aggravated assault, two counts of false report, child abuse and neglect, and contributing to the unruly conduct of a child.
An Alford plea allows a defendant to plead guilty and accept a plea deal while also maintaining their innocence.
Dabbs was also originally charged with aggravated statutory rape, but that charge was dropped as part of a plea deal, according to District Attorney General Dan Armstrong.
Owens’ body was found in a field on Doughtys Chapel Road in February 2023. The 16-year-old had been reported missing by her family.
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