An Evergreen dentist has been sentenced to 15 years in prison after pleading guilty to setting fire to his own dental practice and attempting to collect insurance money. The announcement was made by Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall.
Douglas Patrick O’Connor, the dentist involved, received a sentence from Circuit Judge Jack B. Weaver of Conecuh County. He will serve three years of the 15-year sentence for two felony counts: second-degree arson and first-degree insurance fraud. O’Connor entered his guilty plea on February 3, 2026.
According to evidence presented in court, surveillance footage from nearby businesses showed O’Connor arriving at his closed office late on March 28, 2025. The video depicted him entering and exiting the building several times before standing at the back doorway around 9:48 p.m., striking a match, and throwing it inside. This act triggered an explosion within seconds.
The explosion destroyed O’Connor’s dental practice and caused over $63,000 in damage to the adjacent Alabama State Trooper Post. Forensic analysis found gasoline on both O’Connor’s clothing that night and on the floor of the burned office.
Investigators determined that O’Connor had accumulated substantial debt and was unable to secure further loans prior to starting the fire. Prosecutors argued he set fire to his business with plans to claim an insurance payout for paying off creditors.
“Alabamians put their trust in doctors to do no harm. Dr. O’Connor shattered that trust in the most deliberate way possible. He set fire to his own practice, endangered the lives of those next door and attempted to defraud his insurance company to cover years of reckless spending,” said Attorney General Marshall.
The case was prosecuted by members of the Attorney General’s Criminal Trials Division—Assistant Attorneys General Clark Morris, Brad Felton, and Sara Rogan represented the state. Marshall also thanked several agencies for their work on this case: Alabama State Fire Marshal’s Office, Alabama Department of Insurance, Evergreen Police Department, Special Agent Robert Stuart, and Special Agent Richard Windham.
The Alabama Attorney General’s office serves as the chief law enforcement agency for the state with jurisdiction across all counties and is responsible for prosecuting crimes like arson and fraud while supporting victims statewide. Under Steve Marshall’s leadership since February 2017, according to its official website, it has focused on enhancing safety through initiatives aimed at reducing violent crime.