A Greeneville man entered an Alford plea this morning in Greene County Criminal Court in connection with a physical altercation involving a 14-year-old boy earlier this year.
Judge John F. Dugger Jr. accepted the plea from 55-year-old Robert “Robbie” Britton, who was sentenced to 11 months and 29 days of supervised probation on a negotiated misdemeanor assault charge. Britton had originally faced felony charges of child abuse/endangerment and aggravated assault stemming from a May 31 incident on his Wilson Hill Road property.
An Alford plea, also known as a best-interest plea, allows a defendant to maintain innocence while acknowledging the prosecution likely has enough evidence to secure a conviction at trial.
The plea agreement was reached through negotiations between Assistant District Attorney General Cecil Mills Jr. and defense attorney Crystal Jessee.
Video footage presented during a preliminary hearing August 8th showed Britton grabbing the 14-year-old from behind, slamming him to the ground and holding him down by the throat. The victim and another 14-year-old, who recorded the incident on video, both testified during the preliminary hearing before Judge Doug Collins, after which the case was bound over to the grand jury.
As part of the plea agreement, Britton is prohibited from having any contact with either juvenile.
A responding deputy reviewed the video at the scene on May 31 and took Britton into custody shortly thereafter.
The Class A misdemeanor conviction carries no fine or restitution but does require Britton to pay court costs.
Case Background
Britton was first arrested on May 31st, 2025, after Greene County deputies responded to a disturbance at Britton’s Wilson Hill Road property. A 14-year-old told investigators he was walking away from Britton when Britton allegedly grabbed him from behind, forced him to the ground and held him by the throat. Another juvenile recorded the altercation, and deputies reported that the video matched the victim’s account.
In August, Britton appeared in Sessions Court for a preliminary hearing, where the case was bound over to a grand jury. Judge Doug Collins of Hamblen County presided after Greene County Judge Ken Bailey recused himself. The now 15-year-old victim and the boy who recorded the video both testified at that hearing. Britton is alleged to have told the teen and three others with him to get off his property. Deputies initially reported that the footage did not show the boy turning toward Britton or posing a threat at the time of the incident.
