Delay in Receipt of Reports on Sweetman Evaluations and Incarceration Options Lead to More Hearing Continuations

Nineteen-year-old Arlington resident Jordan Alexander Sweetman was in Warren County General District Court briefly during the 1 p.m.-convened afternoon agenda before Judge Anne Williams on Wednesday, January 15. Still incarcerated at RSW Regional Jail without bond, Sweetman faces a variety of charges related to the January 2nd incident involving a stolen car he was driving and the discovery of home-made explosive devices in the car and in various areas where he reportedly was throwing items from the stolen car while driving it in Warren County.

Those charges include obstruction of justice, possession of burglary tools, wearing a mask to conceal identity, driving without a license, and an additional felony charge of manufacturing and possessing explosive materials or devices.

The January 15th hearing was slated for arguments on the viability of bond or a transfer of Sweetman to a facility within which he could receive treatment for mental health issues he apparently suffers from. Wednesday’s hearing was continued from January 8 due to the court order to have evaluations of security levels at area incarceration facilities offering mental health treatments added to the pre-trial research.

Jordan Alexander Sweetman upon his being checked into RSW Regional Jail, Jan. 2. Below, RSW Jail where Sweetman remains incarcerated without bond or access to mental health treatment. Courtesy Photo RSW Jail; Royal Examiner File Photo

On Wednesday two attorneys were present representing Sweetman prior to the defendant arriving in the courtroom at 1:55 p.m. They were Eric Wiseley and David Hensley. Information received from the courthouse indicated that Wiseley was retained by Sweetman’s family to make appearances limited to the issue of pretial release or transfer. Hensley was appointed by the Court to represent Sweetman in the case going forward due to the defendant’s limited financial resources.

Commonwealth’s Attorney John Bell represented the prosecution. Following some discussion between attorneys on availability moving forward, continuation dates for hearings on various matters were set for January 21st (2 p.m.) and March 19th (1 p.m.).

Wiseley will be present for the defense on January 21 to discuss with the prosecution if there can be an agreement between the sides on bond or a facility transfer. Commonwealth’s Attorney Bell told the court Wednesday that he was seeking assurances in an ordered Competency Evaluation that Sweetman would not present a danger to himself or others were he to be released on bond or transfered to a treatment-based facility.

Court-appointed defense counsel David Hensley will be present for the March 19 hearing at which movement toward trial issues will be the primary topic. That will include further review of the Facilities and Competancy Evaluations. Discussion indicated among issues to be determined moving forward is whether the defendant is mentally competent to stand trial. At issue appears to be if Sweetman would be able to communicate relevant information to his legal counsel related to the defense’s arguments at trial.

One is left to wonder if based on the findings in the court-ordered evaluations, particularly the mental competency and treatment ones, whether movement toward a plea agreement might come to the table at some point moving forward.

Looking northeast at Warren County Courthouse from across South Royal Ave. Royal Examiner File Photo

Following adjournment of the hearing on January 8, Warren County Commonwealth’s Attorney Bell told Royal Examiner that the family of Sweetman, who was described as exhibiting “signs of potential mental health issues” upon his questioning and January 2nd arrest here, was seeking to have him transferred to a facility offering such in-house mental health treatment options. Involved options were reported to include the “Reach Program” in Fairfax, as well as Fairfax INOVA hospital.

At the January 8 hearing Commonwealth Attorney Bell said he wanted assurances that Sweetman would not be transferred to a facility without adequate security measures to keep him from leaving the facility.

For additional information see the related Royal Examiner story based on the January 3rd Joint Press Release issued by the Warren County Sheriff’s Office and County Fire & Rescue titled: “Suspicious Driver Behavior Leads to Arrest of Arlington Man and Discovery of Explosive Devices in Stolen Car”