The trial of a Massachusetts attorney has recently recognized as one of People magazine’s most eligible bachelors, commenced in Boston, where he faces charges of rape.
Gary Zerola, a 51-year-old former prosecutor and lawyer, is currently facing accusations of raping a 23-year-old woman, which has resulted in him being in the position of a defendant rather than an attorney.
According to WFXT Boston 25 News, Gary Zerola has entered a plea of not guilty to the two rape charges brought against him by the woman, who testified on the first day of the trial.
According to Assistant District Attorney Thomas Brant, the victim informed the police that she had attended a party with her friends in the North End in 2016. She alleged that she woke up later to find Gary Zerola removing her clothes and sexually assaulting her in his friend’s apartment. Brant stated, as reported by the station, that there was no consent for Zerola’s actions and emphasized that the victim knew him and was not a stranger.
On the other hand, Zerola’s attorney, Rosemary Scapicchio, reportedly claimed that the victim was lying.
According to attorney Rosemary Scapicchio, she described the alleged victim as a liar, stating, “Plain and simple, she is a liar.” Scapicchio further mentioned that the prosecution’s account of the incident did not present the complete picture. It should be noted that Gary Zerola had previously worked as a district attorney in Essex County for a year and in Suffolk County for two months in 2000.
In 2021, Zerola faced charges related to another sexual assault case that occurred in 2016. He had been released on $10,000 bail in that case and pleaded not guilty.
According to prosecutors, two more women have come forward alleging that Gary Zerola raped them in the 1990s. It’s worth noting that Zerola has been acquitted in previous rape and attempted rape cases in Massachusetts. Additionally, a prior sexual assault case against him in Florida was dropped.
In 2001, Gary Zerola, who was 29 at the time, gained recognition as one of “America’s Top 50 Bachelors” in People magazine, sharing the spotlight with actors Ben Affleck and Matt Damon.
Zerola, a lawyer and advocate for foster care, had established his own law practice after working as a Massachusetts prosecutor for almost two years.
During an interview, he mentioned his difficult upbringing, revealing that he had lived in over 12 foster homes from the age of 3 until he turned 15. “Considering the statistics, based on my upbringing, I should either be in debt or behind bars,” Zerola stated in his interview with People magazine.
