Jeremy Sweet
A jury trial will likely be held late this spring for a local man accused of neglect of a dependent resulting in the death of his 2-year-old daughter in the East Fork White River.
Jeremy Sweet, 41, of 1415 N. 850 East, Columbus, is accused of driving his truck off a 15-to-20 foot embankment into the East Fork White River on Nov. 24, 2021. His 2-year-old daughter, Emma, was buckled into her child safety seat as the cab became submerged in about 3 to 5 feet of water.
After duck hunters found Sweet still in his truck’s cab within the river two days later, the defendant eventually told investigators he had used methamphetamine and marijuana a short time before plunging into the river. Paramedics located a syringe and drug paraphernalia on Sweet’s person, a probable cause affidavit states.
After telling a falsehood about Emma’s disappearance, Sweet said he had unbuckled the toddler and placed her on either the roof or hood before “losing her” at some point. Emma’s body was found on Sunday, Nov. 28, 2021, about 2½ miles downstream from where the submerged truck was found.
Sweet is charged with a Level 1 felony of neglect of a dependent resulting in death, as well as possession of a hypodermic syringe as a Level 6 felony. He also faces a habitual offender enhancement that stems from a 2007 conviction of operating an illegal drug lab, as well as a March 2016 conviction of dealing in methamphetamine.
If convicted on all charges, Sweet could be sent to prison for more than 62 years.
The defendant appeared calm and observant while in Bartholomew Superior Court 1. With his beard now graying after two years behind bars, Sweet smiled at least twice while talking with his attorney, Andrew C. Maternoski of Indianapolis.
The defense attorney told Judge James Worton his client wants a trial date that would give Sweet a first setting, which means top priority over other court proceedings.
“We’re done negotiating,” Bartholomew County Prosecutor Lindsey Holden-Kay said after the hearing. “We’re going to trial.”
Holden-Kay told the court she anticipates the trial, now set to begin with jury selection at 8:30 a.m. on Monday, June 10, will last five days.
In case of unexpected developments, another change of plea hearing has been scheduled for 9 a.m. on May 20. A final pre-trial conference is set for 11 a.m. on May 13.
