Gary Zerola (image via YoutTube)
An attorney with a long history of sexual assault allegations against him was ordered held without bail by Judge Thomas Horgan, pending the latest allegations against him. Gary Zerola has been charged with rape and breaking and entering with felony intent for an incident earlier this month.
According to Suffolk, Massachusetts Assistant District Attorney Ian Polumbaum, the victim met Zerola on January 11, and he and a mutual acquaintance went back to the victim’s apartment with her. However, it’s alleged Zerola returned to the victim’s apartment early on January 12th without her permission, and she woke up to Zerola sexually assaulting her.
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At the time of the alleged assault, Zerola was out on $10,000 bail in a separate rape case.
“These allegations are deeply troubling. What’s worse, the offense for which Mr. Zerola was arraigned today is alleged to have occurred while he was out on bail in a prior sexual assault case,” [Suffolk] District Attorney [Rachel] Rollins said.
And prosecutors say Zerola has a history of sexual assault allegations against him dating back to the 1990s. Indeed, in 2007, Zerola faced multiple allegations of sexual assault; he was acquitted in two of those cases and prosecutors declined to bring charges in a third case.
According to prosecutors, Zerola’s experience — both as an attorney and as a defendant — has contributed to his alleged spree, saying he “has drawn on his experience as both a criminal defense attorney and a rape defendant to avoid consequences.”
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Zerola was named one of People Magazine’s most eligible bachelors in 2001. He was also rumored to be under consideration to star in the first season of ABC’s The Bachelor.
Kathryn Rubino is a Senior Editor at Above the Law, and host of The Jabot podcast. AtL tipsters are the best, so please connect with her. Feel free to email her with any tips, questions, or comments and follow her on Twitter (@Kathryn1).