JOHNSTOWN — A former Fulton County Sheriff’s Department corrections officer won’t see jail time after being sentenced Tuesday in City Court to probation.
Eric D. Sweet, 47, of 347 W. State St. Ext., town of Johnstown, was sentenced on an official misconduct charge after saying last November he would shoot jail staff and inmates.
Sweet was sentenced by City Court Judge Brett Preston to one year probation, as part of a plea arrangement.
Asked by the judge if he had anything to say at sentencing, Sweet simply replied: “No, sir.”
The defendant was originally arrested last fall by the sheriff’s department on one felony count of making a terroristic threat, for which he could have received jail time.
In addition to one year probation, Sweet must pay the court $300 — $50 for a DNA sample and $250 as a surcharge. He must also undergo counseling, if ordered so by the Fulton County Probation Department. He must surrender weapons, but details were unavailable.
Sweet was represented by Gloversville attorney Michael Albanese.
Fulton County Assistant District Attorney Vincent Sena appeared for the prosecution.
Sentencing was based on Sweet’s guilty plea last spring to one misdemeanor count of official misconduct.
According to a news release issued by Fulton County Sheriff Richard 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 at the time, 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.
That same release said Sweet admitted making the statements, “saying that it was a joke and he was venting.”
According to New York State Penal Law, a public servant is guilty of “official misconduct” when, with intent to obtain a benefit or deprive another person of a benefit: “He commits an act relating to his office but constituting an unauthorized exercise of his official functions, knowing that such act is unauthorized; or he knowingly refrains from performing a duty which is imposed upon him by law or is clearly inherent in the nature of his office.”