YOUNGSTOWN — The former Craig Beach police chief, imprisoned after a pornography-related conviction, has written a letter to a federal judge asking for “compassionate release” because of worries over COVID-19.

Andrew Soloman, 38, wrote to U.S. District Court Judge John R. Adams, seeking release because the former chief’s wife works at an essential business and has trouble finding child care for their twin 3-year-old children, according to the correspondence, which has been made part of the record at the Northern Ohio District court.

Soloman was sent by Adams to a federal prison in Danbury, Conn., for five years after he pleaded guilty in June 2018 to charges of receiving child pornography. The victim in the case was a teen female whom Soloman met in 2017 while investigating a harassment and runaway case.

“This situation, although minor, is ultimately causing a hardship with her (his wife’s) employment and safety concerns for our children as she is trying to limit her and our children’s exposure to this virus,” Soloman wrote in the letter dated April 28 and filed with the court on Monday.

Solomon, whose family lives in Warren, states the children’s regular care center has been closed during the pandemic. He also states the trips to Connecticut from Warren have been an extra burden on his family.

The letter also states the Danbury prison is one of three federal lockups to suffer large amounts of positive COVID-19 cases and prison authorities have allowed inmates to write their judges seeking release.

The U.S. Bureau of Prisons reports that as of Tuesday, FCI Danbury reported 23 inmates and 15 staff members have tested positive for coronavirus. One inmate has died. The Connecticut prison website states that all visits to the prison have been suspended until further notice.

Soloman said he is not asking for dismissal of his case. The website shows Soloman is scheduled for release on July 4, 2022.

“What I am asking for is your mercy and the mercy of the court to authorize me to home confinement to serve the remaining part of my sentence in the confines of my established residence in Warren, Ohio,” Soloman wrote in concluding his three-page letter. “Your honor, I made a very regretful mistake in 2017, but that in no way defines the person I am. I am devoted to my wife and children.”

As of Wednesday, court records show that Adams has not responded to Soloman’s request.

According to details from the case, the victim and the ex- chief sat in his cruiser for several hours talking. He provided her with his work email address, according to court documents. The two continued to communicate via text and email through 2017.

The victim sent Soloman sexually explicit photos of herself, while Soloman responded by sending sexually explicit photos via his work email account, according to court documents.

Soloman was arrested in December 2017 on a dereliction of duty charge after a search of the Craig Beach Police Department netted Soloman’s phone and laptop. He told police that he didn’t have sexual contact with the girl.

gvogrin@tribtoday. com