SALEM, Mass. — Less than a month before trial, former Methuen Police Chief Joseph Solomon has a lobby hearing Friday where a potential resolution and penalties in his criminal corruption and perjury case are expected to be discussed.
Solomon was indicted by a statewide grand jury more than two years ago and is scheduled for trial on Sept. 8 in Salem Superior Court. The charges came after years of allegations, investigations and turbulence within the Methuen Police Department.
A witness list for trial was filed in court but it’s unclear what potential penalties will be discussed at Friday’s lobby hearing.
“The city’s taxpayers will be represented every step of the way,” said Methuen Mayor D.J. Beauregard. He intends to attend the hearing Friday alongside city attorneys.
Beauregard said Solomon’s offenses “merit jail time.”
Solomon is charged with perjury by written affidavit (two counts), obtaining unwarranted privileges in violation of the civil service laws (seven counts), Civil Service Law violations (six counts), uttering a forged document, and procurement fraud,
“This was a catastrophic breach of public trust,” Beaugard said when reached Wednesday.
Solomon’s attorney, Andrew Gambacini, could not be reached for comment. Solomon had a 35-year career with the Methuen Police Department.
Authorities have said from 2015 to 2020 when Solomon was police chief he repeatedly used his position of authority to undermine the law for his own benefit, including hiring six part-time intermittent officers and then appointing them to full-time department roles.
Officer Sean Fountain was one of these hires, and he made false statements about his qualifications to be a police officer, authorities said.
In December, Fountain pleaded guilty to fraud, perjury and related charges after he was indicted alongside Solomon. Fountain was sentenced to three years probation and he cannot carry a firearm or work in a law enforcement capacity again.
Fountain made more than 40 arrests, conducted searches, initiated prosecutions and made roughly $427,000 with additional benefits, all while lacking any lawful authority, officials said.
Fountain was a Methuen city councilor from 2012 through 2017 and later a police officer in Methuen from 2017 to 2020.
A witness list for Solomon’s potential trial was filed jointly by the prosecution and defense. Those on the witness list include numerous Methuen police officers, Richard D’Agostino, former city attorney, Fountain and his wife, Terri, a Methuen police officer, Robert Ferullo, former Woburn police chief and directior of the Municipal Police Training Committee in Lynnfield, retired North Andover Police Chief Richard Stanley, Stephen Zanni, former Methuen mayor, and former Haverhill Police Chief Al DeNaro.
If it goes forward, the trial is expected to last five to seven days.
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