JOHNSTOWN, New York — A Fulton County Sheriff’s Department corrections officer arrested last fall for allegedly making terroristic threats against fellow county jail staff, and inmates, on Tuesday missed his second consecutively scheduled City Court appearance.
Sgt. Eric D. Sweet, 47, of 347 W. State St. Ext., town of Johnstown, was supposed to be in City Court Tuesday at City Hall.
But he didn’t show, with counsel Michael Albanese telling City Court Judge Brett Preston that his client couldn’t get away from work Tuesday morning for court. It was not clear where he is working.
“I have to treat him like everyone else,” a visibly irritated Preston told the Gloversville attorney.
Preston then scheduled another appearance for Sweet for 9 a.m. next Tuesday in City Court.
Sweet currently faces one felony count of making a terroristic threat. He also failed to show for his previously-scheduled City Court appearance on Feb. 13, and Preston immediately issued a bench warrant for his arrest.
At the time, Fulton County Sheriff Richard Giardino said his department was looking for Sweet per the judge’s orders. But the defendant turned himself into the court the following Friday, on Feb. 16. The sheriff indicated Sweet’s non-appearance on Feb. 13 was in the words of his attorney a “mistake,” and the matter was cleared up before his client could be formally arrested on the warrant.
It was then that he was issued an appearance ticket for March 6.
According to a news release issued by Giardino last November, Sweet was charged after making terrorist threats and allegedly stating he was going to shoot both jail staff and inmates. Sweet, a Fulton County corrections sergeant, was arrested after an investigation based on remarks he had made at the jail on Route 29 at Harrison Street in November.
The release said Sweet stated he would go into the facilities Control Room, get a secured weapon and shoot the control officer. Sweet stated that he would lock down the facility, and then shoot the lieutenant. The release said the officer then stated he would then drag the captain through the facility, making the captain watch as he shot both the inmates and his fellow corrections officers.
Giardino couldn’t be reached Tuesday to clarify Sweet’s current sheriff’s department work status. The sheriff previously said Sweet is on paid leave.
Source: http://www.leaderherald.com/news/local-news/2018/03/sweet-fails-to-show-for-2nd-court-date/