Officer in Upstate New York Charged with Rape of Minor

A police officer with the Monticello Police Department faces several charges, including the rape of a minor and official misconduct, according to New York State Police.

“The New York State Police Troop F Child Abuse Unit announces the arrest of Yermia ‘Jeremy’ Solomon, age 25, from the Village of Woodridge,” Major Joseph Tripodo of the New York State Police said in press release. “Over the course of the investigation it was determined that Solomon engaged in sexual relations with a minor who was less than seventeen years old at the time.”

An order of protection was issued on behalf of the victim and Solomon is on indefinite paid leave from the Monticello PD, where he has worked for the last three years.

According to Chris Thorpe, a senior investigator with the New York State Police, the investigation into the case began when police received an anonymous tip through a hotline.

While the investigation is ongoing, Thorpe said Solomon’s job as a police officer “had nothing to do with how the suspect met the victim in this case.” State police declined to say if the alleged contact occurred more than once, or if additional charges are pending.

As of now, Solomon’s charges include rape in the third degree, a felony, as well as endangering the welfare of a child and official misconduct, both misdemeanors.

Under New York law, official misconduct refers to any action by an official that constitutes “unauthorized exercise of his official functions” for personal benefit, especially with knowledge that the act is unauthorized.

Monticello Police Chief Robert Mir said the department would “handle this appropriately” and cooperate fully with the investigation, but declined to comment further.

The state police news release was initially published last Thursday to the NYSP website, but was soon after scrubbed from the site. Thorpe, who is not the investigator for this particular case, said authorities on the case wanted to double-check the release for accuracy. It was re-posted within hours unchanged, although it fails to mention Solomon’s profession.

“The State Police are taking the position of not talking about his employment, as it has nothing to do with the case,” a NYSP spokesperson told WPDH, a New York radio station.

Solomon was held in the Sullivan County Jail before posting bail at $50,000. He is set to appear at the Woodridge Court “on a later date,” according to the news release, and will be represented by attorney Henri Shawn.