Brazos County prosecutors are attempting to get a jail inmate to a state prison as soon as possible

This podcast is a visit with Brazos County assistant district attorney Jessica Escue and WTAW's Bill Oliver.The Brazos County district attorney's office is trying to get a Bryan man to prison as quickly as possible.This is after a judge on Tuesday (October 7) sentenced 27 year old Joseph Sweed to ten years after a jury convicted him in June for assaulting a detention officer in March of 2024.Assistant district attorney Jessica Escue says since December 2022, when Sweed was booked at the jail for the 11th time in ten years, he has constantly caused problems.Escue said Sweed has sexually abusive and threatening behavior against medical staff, jail officers, and other inmates by destroying jail property, manipulating cell doors, setting fires, sexual harassment, and making graphic threats of physical and sexual violence against staff and other inmates.Escue says Sweed's actions have impacted the safe functioning of the jail and required more time and resources to keep other inmates and staff safe from him.Online records show Sweed has had 25 criminal cases in Brazos County courts. He faces three more felony trials...one for biting a Bryan police officer in May 2022 and for evading arrest in May 2022 and December 2022.News release from the Brazos County district attorney's office:On October 7th, 2025, Judge John Brick sentenced Joseph Sweed to the maximum of 10 years in TDCJ for the offense of Assault of a Public Servant. Sweed was convicted in June of the offense after a jury trial.On March 3rd, 2024, Sweed was incarcerated in the Brazos County Detention Center for the offenses of Assault on a Peace Officer and Evading Arrest or Detention.While incarcerated on these charges, Sweed was instructed by officers to return to his cell in the Brazos County Detention Center Special Housing Unit. When Sweed refused, officers attempted to restrain him and place him back in his cell. Sweed responded by punching a jail officer in the face. As a result of this conduct, Sweed was convicted of Assault of a Public Servant by the 272nd District Court jury on June 23, 2025.A punishment hearing before Judge Brick was held on October 7, 2025. During this hearing, prosecutors presented evidence from multiple jail officers and medical staff that Sweed’s behavior in the Brazos County Detention Center impacted the safe functioning of the jail and required more time and resources to keep other inmates and staff safe from him.His conduct included sexually abusive and threatening behavior against medical staff, jail officers, and other inmates by, destroying jail property, manipulating cell doors, setting fires, sexual harassment, and making graphic threats of physical and sexual violence against staff and other inmates.Prosecutors also presented evidence of Sweed’s criminal history, noting that he had an extensive juvenile and adult criminal history, including having served time in both state jail and prison.While in custody between the jury’s verdict and punishment hearing, Sweed continued his behavior, setting more fires, making more sexual and violent threats.