JOHNSTOWN — A Fulton County Sheriff’s Department corrections officer accused of making terrorist threats had his City Court case adjourned Tuesday for three weeks.
Sgt. Eric D. Sweet, 47, of 347 West State St. Ext., town of Johnstown, briefly appeared before City Court Judge Brett Preston. The defendant faces one felony count of making a terroristic threat.
Accompanied by Gloversville attorney Michael Albanese, Sweet had his case adjourned until 9 a.m. Dec. 19 in City Court.
Wearing civilian clothes, Sweet left the chambers quickly after shaking hands with a corrections officer who was guarding a City Court defendant. He left through the Johnstown Police Department exit.
Sheriff Richard Giardino said Tuesday that Sweet is currently on “paid administrative leave” from the sheriff’s department.
Sweet was arrested Nov. 15 for making terrorist threats and allegedly stating he was going to shoot both jail staff and inmates, Giardino said.
“In 2017, with all the active shooting in the country, you can’t justify it as a joke,” Giardino said following the arrest.
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 on Nov. 10, a sheriff’s news release indicated.
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.
The release said Sweet admitted making the statements, “saying that it was a joke and he was venting.”
Sweet was originally jailed on $10,000 cash bail or $20,000 bond. He was later bonded out of the correctional facility.
Michael Anich covers Johnstown and Fulton County news. He can be reached at [email protected]
