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Boston defense attorney accused of rape, break-in, held without bail

BOSTON — Gary Zerola, a Boston defense attorney, was hiding his face in court on Friday.

The 49-year-old Zerola, of Boston and Salem, is no stranger to cameras or the courtroom. He was a former Assistant DA in Essex and Suffolk Counties in addition to being featured in People Magazine as a “Bachelor of the Year.”

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On Friday, Zerola was charged with rape and breaking and entering at night.

“This came in as a direct report to the sexual assault unit of the Boston Police,” said Ian Polumbaum, assistant district attorney for Suffolk County.

Prosecutors say Zerola met a woman at a restaurant near North Station on Jan. 12. They say he accompanied her back to her Boston apartment and left. But prosecutors say he allegedly came back, broke in and sexually assaulted her.

“After she got home that night she found Mr. Zerola entered her apartment without her permission and had intercourse with her against her will,” said Polumbaum.

Joseph Krowski, who is Zerola’s defense attorney, said, “The allegations in this case are absurd.”

Krowski says that a new charge of rape against his client is weak. “The allegations in this case are paper thin holding them aimed at the DA’s office,” said Krowski.

Zerola has been accused of rape at least three times in the past but never convicted. His attorney claims he’s being targeted.  “Look he’s a lawyer, people know him and he’s an easy target. I would suggest to you it was targeting of Mr. Zerola and setting a trap for him,” said Krowski, who wouldn’t elaborate on how police had done that.

However, the Suffolk County DA says this time was different because Zerola allegedly committed the rape while out on bail in a prior sexual assault case from 2016.

On Friday, Zerola turned himself in to police at North Station to face this latest charge. He’s being held without bail until next Thursday.

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