MERIWETHER COUNTY JURY CONVICTS DUSTIN MICHAEL GREENE OF KIDNAPPING WITH BODILY INJURY, CRIMINAL ATTEMPT TO COMMIT MURDER, AGGRAVATED ASSAULT, AGGRAVATED BATTERY AND FALSE IMPRISONMENT

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 21, 2022

On October 21, 2022, a Meriwether County jury found Dustin Michael Green, 38, guilty of Kidnapping with Bodily Injury, Criminal Attempt to Commit Murder, two Counts of Aggravated Battery, Aggravated Assault and False Imprisonment. Coweta Judicial Circuit Superior Court Judge Dennis Blackmon presided over the trial and sentenced Dustin Michael Greene to Life without the possibility of parole plus eighty years.

Assistant District Attorney Timothy Marlow prosecuted the case and Dep. Tyler Leverett of the Meriwether County Sheriff’s Office was the primary law enforcement officer and was assisted by District Attorney’s Office Inv. Jason Newsome.

The evidence presented at the trial showed that Dustin Michael Greene brutally attacked his mother in her own home and tried to kill her. On December 22, 2020, the defendant’s mother allowed Greene to come home for Christmas and even traveled to College Park to pick him up. Greene became irate that very evening when his mother made it clear he would not be able to stay at her residence past the holidays. That night Greene attacked his mother from behind as she walked up the stairs to her bedroom and placed her in a choke hold. After a struggle, his mother was able to break away from him and head downstairs to try to get to her phone. However, Greene caught her in the hallway, placed her in a chokehold again, dragged her into the bathroom, and began to fill the bath tub with water. He then forced his mother into the tub, attempted to drown her, while telling her he would kill her. His mother fought for her life and was able to escape when the Defendant slipped on the floor.

His mother ran to the next door neighbors, who did not initially recognize her due to her injuries, which included a broken nose and damage around her eyes. They called the Meriwether County Sheriff’s Office, who was able to take Greene into custody without incident. The victim was taken to the hospital for her injuries.

At trial, Green’s mother gave heart-wrenching testimony against her son. Because the State used the Defendant’s six prior felony convictions to invoke the application of Georgia’s Recidivist statute, the victim knew a conviction to any of the charges would likely mean substantial prison time without the possibility of parole. With the support of her family, she spoke the truth about what she suffered at the hands of her son, and the jury spoke the truth with their guilty verdict on all counts. I am thankful to the jury, the Sheriff’s Department, the Court, the Meriwether community, and especially the victim for seeing that justice was done in this case.

JOHN HERBERT CRANFORD, JR.
DISTRICT ATTORNEY
COWETA JUDICIAL CIRCUIT