A Carroll County judge has granted the request for a mental examination of the Carrollton man accused of shooting his grandmother last month.

The request was considered during a bond hearing Wednesday, May 6 for 28-year-old Dakota Sweeney, who is charged with first-degree murder and armed criminal action in connection with the April 22 shooting death of 75-year-old Gayle Wilson. Sweeney appeared remotely from a cell in the Caldwell County Jail, where he’s being held without bond. His legal counsel argued in their motion that he may be incapacitated to a point that he, “might not be able to understand the proceedings against him”, or “knowing and appreciating the nature, quality or wrongfulness of his conduct.”

The court order directs the state’s Department of Mental Health to conduct the examination. Sweeney’s next hearing is scheduled for July 29.