By Aaron Parseghian, WBZ-TV

A former Methuen police officer accused of faking his law enforcement credentials appeared in Essex County Superior Court on Friday, but an expected change of plea was delayed after a judge raised concerns about victim impact statements submitted by current city leaders.

Sean Fountain , who previously pleaded not guilty, was indicted in 2023 alongside former Methuen Police Chief Joseph Solomon on multiple charges including fraud.

Prosecutors allege Fountain was never qualified to serve as a police officer and forged a certificate falsely claiming he graduated from a police training academy in the 1990s. Information the Massachusetts Attorney General's office says was known to Solomon, who's accused of using his position to circumvent civil service laws.

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