Jeremy Sweet
Jeremy Sweet
COLUMBUS, Ind. — A request to reduce bond for a Bartholomew County man accused of felony neglect of a dependent causing death in the drowning of his 2-year-old daughter was denied by a judge Tuesday.
Bartholomew Superior Court 1 Judge James Worton denied a bail reduction for Jeremy Sweet, 39, of 1415 N. County Road 850E. Worton also told Sweet that his long, criminal record indicates the defendant is a danger to the community, and formally notified Sweet that a habitual offender enhancement has been added to the charge that could add from six to 20 years to his sentence if he is convicted.
Sweet is accused of placing his 2-year-old daughter Emma in a situation that endangered her life and health and resulted in her death, according to court records. He was arrested Thanksgiving Day weekend after the little girl’s body was recovered from the East Fork White River, downstream from where hunters found him in his submerged truck days earlier.
Bond on that case, which includes a Level 1 felony neglect of a dependent resulting in death and a Level 6 felony charge of possession of a hypodermic syringe, is set at $1.2 million.
But on a second case stemming from last May where he’s charged with possession of methamphetamine as a Level 5 felony and unlawful possession of a firearm by a serious violent felon as a Level 4 felony, Sweet has been ordered to be held without bond.
Appearing before the judge Tuesday via teleconferencing and represented by public defender Aaron Edwards, Sweet said he could pay between $15,000 to $20,000 in bail. He also agreed to electronic monitoring at his home, as well as voluntarily seek treatment for his addictions, during the hearing.
For more on this story, see Wednesday’s Republic.
