NEWS PROVIDED BY
Anglican Watch
Sept. 17, 2026
ALEXANDRIA, Va., Sept. 17, 2026 /Standard Newswire/ — Watchdog organization Anglican Watch today reaffirmed its support for Angie Solomon and her daughter, Gracie Solomon, while raising serious concerns about what it understands to be an effort by Williamson County prosecutors to prevent criminal defense attorney Darren Richie from continuing to represent Angie.
Angie is facing criminal charges alleging that she attempted to hire someone to kill her former husband, Aaron Solomon. She is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Anglican Watch has followed the Solomon family’s story for years. We support Angie and Gracie, we believe the accounts they have given concerning their experiences, and we believe their allegations deserve to be taken seriously by law enforcement and other public officials.
Against that background, we are deeply concerned by the latest developments in Angie’s criminal case.
According to information provided to Anglican Watch, Richie, a highly regarded California criminal defense attorney, sought permission to participate in the Tennessee case pro hac vice, a procedure allowing an out-of-state attorney to appear in a particular case, subject to applicable Tennessee rules and court approval.
Richie disclosed his status in open court and provided written notice to the district attorney’s office, according to information reviewed by Anglican Watch. He subsequently participated in at least two proceedings, questioned witnesses and began laying out Angie’s defense.
Anglican Watch has now learned that prosecutors are challenging Richie’s continued participation ahead of a hearing scheduled for Friday.
The timing is troubling.
After allowing an attorney to participate substantially in a defendant’s case, an effort to remove that attorney at this stage could have serious consequences for Angie’s ability to prepare and present her defense. Anglican Watch believes the circumstances warrant careful judicial scrutiny.
“Angie Solomon is not merely a name on a criminal docket,” said Anglican Watch official Eric Bonetti. “She is our friend, a mother who has endured the devastating loss of her son and a woman whose allegations deserve to be heard rather than dismissed. We stand with Angie and Gracie, and we believe them.”
Anglican Watch Believes Angie and Gracie
Angie and Gracie have accused Aaron Solomon of physical and emotional abuse. They have also accused him of sexually abusing Gracie while she was a minor.
These allegations have not been established as findings of fact in this criminal proceeding, and Aaron Solomon has disputed allegations made against him. Anglican Watch nevertheless wants to be unequivocal about its own position: We believe Angie and Gracie.
Our support is not new, nor is it based on the criminal charges now pending against Angie. It reflects our longstanding examination of the Solomon family’s circumstances and our belief that the concerns raised by Angie and Gracie warrant serious attention and meaningful investigation.
We also believe Angie should not be treated as guilty merely because prosecutors have charged her with a crime. She is entitled to the presumption of innocence, meaningful legal representation and a fair opportunity to challenge the government’s case.
Questions Surrounding Grant Solomon’s Death Remain
Angie has also endured something no parent should have to experience: the death of her son, Grant Solomon.
Grant suffered fatal injuries in 2020 under circumstances that have generated continuing controversy and calls for further investigation. He was with his father at the time of the incident.
Anglican Watch has repeatedly questioned the adequacy of the investigation into Grant’s death. We believe significant questions remain unanswered, including questions arising from accounts of the events immediately preceding Grant’s fatal injuries.
We continue to call for a thorough, independent and credible review of the circumstances surrounding Grant Solomon’s death.
For Angie, the consequences are not abstract. She lost her son. She has spent years dealing with the aftermath of his death while also supporting a daughter who has made serious allegations concerning her own experiences.
That history makes the need for fairness in the current proceedings all the more important.
Months of Pretrial Restrictions
Angie has reportedly spent many months under house arrest while the criminal case remains pending.
Anglican Watch is concerned about the practical and emotional consequences of those restrictions, including Angie’s ability to obtain food, medical care and other necessities, as well as the effects of limited contact with her daughter, friends and support network.
“Pretrial restrictions should protect legitimate interests of the justice system; they should not become punishment before conviction,” Bonetti said. “Angie has not been convicted of these charges, and she must be treated accordingly.”
We are particularly concerned that disrupting Angie’s relationship with an attorney who has already participated in her defense could place her at an additional disadvantage at a critical stage of the case.
“The government enters a criminal courtroom with enormous power and resources,” Bonetti said. “That makes the protection of a defendant’s rights indispensable. Angie deserves a genuine opportunity to defend herself with counsel she trusts.”
Anglican Watch calls on Williamson County officials and the court to safeguard Angie’s due-process rights, ensure that decisions concerning her legal representation are made fairly and transparently, and avoid any action that could improperly prejudice her defense.
Our position is straightforward: We support Angie. We support Gracie. We believe them. And we believe both deserve to have their voices heard and their allegations taken seriously.
At the same time, the criminal charges against Angie must be adjudicated through a fair and impartial process in which she receives the presumption of innocence and the full protections afforded to every defendant.
“This case should be about finding the truth, not winning at any cost,” Bonetti added. “Angie deserves dignity, compassion, due process and a meaningful opportunity to defend herself.”
Anglican Watch will continue monitoring the case, including developments surrounding Friday’s hearing. We will also continue standing with Angie and Gracie and calling for a full and independent examination of the circumstances surrounding Grant Solomon’s death.
Founded in 2015, Anglican Watch is the unofficial watchdog of the Episcopal Church. The organization addresses both sexual and non-sexual abuse in the Episcopal Church and other faith communities.
SOURCE Anglican Watch
CONTACT: Eric Bonetti, 240-331-6977, eric@anglicanwatch.com