It has been well over a year since Jenelle Evans legally separated from David Eason and nearly two years since he physically attacked a then-14-year-old Jace Evans. The court system has been relatively slow to deal with Eason’s criminal behavior, but there has been progress in the case. It looks like he’ll finally be getting his day in court. The former Teen Mom 2 star is likely heading to trial for felony strangulation and an additional misdemeanor child abuse charge.

David Eason’s child abuse case is heading to trial

The criminal case against David Eason will move forward, but it doesn’t appear that a plea deal is being offered to the troubled North Carolina resident. Earlier this week, Eason’s public defender met with a judge to discuss the case. The Ashley Reality Roundup Group got all of the details.

According to the outlet, Eason’s public defender met with state prosecutors in a conference room hearing on June 2. While Eason was not in attendance, a judge signed off on several procedural orders, all of which indicate that the case is likely headed to trial.

According to the publication, the legal proceedings for Eason’s case have been kept relatively quiet, but there has been movement all along. In April, a potential plea deal was in the works. It no longer appears to be on the table.

There is no set trial date yet, but it is likely to be announced soon. The case has been pending since September 2023. The pending charges stem from an incident in which Eason allegedly restrained Jace Evans by the neck and attacked him. A police report indicated Jace had marks on his neck and arm from the incident. Evans initially defended Eason. Jace was removed from the home.

A divorce case is also pending

While David Eason has some criminal issues to attend to, he also has a pending divorce case that he is likely keen to see through to the end. Jenelle Evans officially filed for divorce from Eason in May 2025, following over a year of legal separation.

The separation, attributed to Eason’s alleged substance abuse, erratic behavior, and refusal to maintain employment, began the timer for a legal divorce. Now, though, it looks like Evans wants to put an official end to that chapter of her life. The former duo will need to figure out a split of their assets and deal with custody of their only shared child, Ensley Eason. A judge ordered Eason to complete a psychological evaluation before he could visit with his daughter. While the order was given months ago, he’s yet to submit his assessment.

Evans and Eason only share one child. Each has two additional children from prior relationships. Eason’s daughter, Maryssa Eason, lived with Evans and Eason for several years. Eason’s son, Kaden Eason, lives with his mother, Olivia Leedham. She has sole custody of the preteen. Evans’ eldest son, Jace Evans, was born in 2009. Her second child, with ex-fiance Nathan Griffith, was born in 2014.