METHUEN — Former Police Chief Joseph Solomon will lose out on millions in pension payments and serve 30 days in jail to be followed by three years of probation.
Solomon pleaded guilty on Friday in Salem Superior Court to more than a dozen charges including two counts of perjury, multiple civil service law violations and procurement fraud.
Prosecutors, including Special Assistant Attorney General Marina Moriarty, accused Solomon of misusing his position to benefit himself and others, including by ensuring six intermittent police officers with connections to him received “indistinguishable” benefits to officers who had met the regular qualifications.
Solomon, 65, appeared before Judge John Fraser as well as an audience of local and state officials including Mayor D.J. Beauregard, City Solicitor Paul O’Neill and Essex County District Attorney Paul Tucker. Solomon’s family was also present.
During the hearing, Solomon listened to all 17 charges, including 11 felonies, spanning years of misconduct, responding guilty to each. Solomon served for 18 years as the chief of police until departing the role in 2021.
“From this point forward there can be no further doubt or credible social media chatter claiming his innocence,” Beauregard said in a statement following the guilty plea.
“Solomon did commit these heinous crimes contrary to his duty and in breach of public trust, and he, by his own admissions, is guilty, and deserves the punishments he is receiving today.”
Four bailiffs stood closely around Solomon, with a fifth standing facing the audience.
After pleading guilty, Solomon was ushered out of the courtroom through the side entrance.
In a press conference, Beauregard said Solomon would serve his sentence in a house of correction outside Essex County, although he had not been informed of the specifics.
Solomon faced scrutiny for his involvement in modifying a union contract for high-ranking officers, boosting pay to more than $400,000 in some cases, without the knowledge of the city, combined with other misconduct.
During Friday’s hearing, Fraser said the sentence had been agreed upon by the city as well as the prosecution and defense.
Beauregard said in a prepared statement the sentence of 30 days was an “outrage,” but prosecutors had maintained that the state wouldn’t be able to secure any more jail time through a plea agreement.
Beauregard said he had pushed for jail time “emphatically rejecting” a potential deal two weeks ago that didn’t include any jail time.
“While the city could not dictate the sentence, we made our demand to the prosecution and the judge unmistakable: jail time was essential,” he said.
Solomon was indicted by a grand jury more than two years ago.
The charge of perjury carried the highest potential penalty of 20 years in state prison.
The loss of pension will save taxpayers an estimated $3.7 million over 20 years, according to city officials. Solomon will also be required to submit a DNA sample, for which he will pay a fee.
The city would be pursuing “every legal avenue” to recover more than $1 million in pension benefits that had already been paid out, Beauregard said.
He also called upon US Attorney Leah Foley to reopen a federal investigation into Solomon and others that was closed in 2024.
“Today’s convictions warrant and demand renewed federal scrutiny of the broader public corruption allegations and those other bad actors previously identified in court documents as unindicted co-conspirators,” Beauregard said.
Former Police Officer Sean Fountain was hired by Solomon and made false statements about his qualifications to be a police officer, according to authorities.
Solomon was accused of fraudulently attesting to Fountain’s successful completion of all the requirements for the basic training course for reserve and intermittent police officers, according to court documents.
During his employment Fountain, who is also a former city councilor, made more than 40 arrests and received roughly $427,000. Fountain pleaded guilty to fraud, perjury and other charges in December.
He was sentenced to three years probation and will no longer be able to carry a firearm or work in roles related to law enforcement.
Solomon first joined the police department in 1986 as a patrolman. He was represented by attorneys Andrew Gambaccini and John Vigliotti.