A visiting judge found a Bellefontaine man not guilty by reason of insanity Thursday afternoon in a case involving allegations of stalking and harassing local law enforcement officers.
Thirty-eight-year-old Sean Brisson sat stone-faced in a Logan County courtroom as visiting retired Judge William Finnegan delivered the ruling.
During the brief 60-minute bench trial, Judge Finnegan said Brisson is a mentally ill person and represents a substantial risk of physical harm to others and himself.
The judge ordered Brisson committed to a psychiatric treatment facility for up to eight years, or until the court determines he is no longer mentally ill.
Brisson is expected to be transported from the Logan County Jail to the Central Ohio Behavioral Healthcare facility on Broad Street in Columbus for treatment.
As part of the court proceedings, the firearm specification tied to the case was dropped.
Brisson had been facing multiple felony charges connected to an incident investigated by the Bellefontaine Police Department earlier this year.
According to police reports, officers were called to a Bellefontaine home on January 6 after one of the victims reported ongoing harassment that had allegedly been happening for nearly three months.
Investigators said the victims in the case are members of local law enforcement.
Police reports say Brisson contacted dispatchers before the incident and allegedly claimed he intended to make a “citizen’s arrest” of one of the victims and would use “reasonable force” if necessary.
Officers later located Brisson’s vehicle near a victim’s home and conducted a traffic stop after police say he followed the victim to work.
According to investigators, Brisson refused a weapons pat-down and attempted to pull away from officers before being restrained and handcuffed.
Police say Brisson repeatedly insisted he had a warrant for the victim’s arrest and believed he had the authority to carry out a citizen’s arrest. Officers informed him he did not have that authority before taking him into custody.
Brisson was transported to the Logan County Jail.
During a search of his vehicle, police reportedly discovered a loaded 9mm handgun, a loaded AR-15 magazine, and documents described as a homemade arrest warrant targeting a victim.
Authorities also towed the vehicle because it allegedly did not have valid registration.
Investigators said the victims had received threatening messages and repeated unwanted contact since October, including social media activity and surveillance of their homes and workplaces.
Court records show Brisson was originally charged with two counts of attempted kidnapping with specification, one count of menacing by stalking, and two counts of retaliation.
Brisson entered a plea of not guilty by reason of insanity during his January arraignment.
Bond had previously been set at $1 million.
