Wealthy lawyer once named one of People Magazine's 50 most eligible bachelors is jailed for shocking sex crime

A suave Boston lawyer who was erstwhile named 1 of People magazine's 50 astir eligible bachelors was sentenced connected Monday to service up to a decade down bars aft he was convicted of raping a female successful 2020. 

Gary Zerola, 52, who has been accused of rape by arsenic galore arsenic a twelve women complete a 25-year period, will service 5 to 10 years successful authorities prison.

Last month, nan disgraced lawyer was convicted of raping a female aft a nighttime of partying successful November 2020.

Zerola, who had antecedently faced different rape charges, was acquitted of nan greater complaint of aggravated rape and burglary. 

In 2001, nan urbane lawyer was named 1 of People Magazine's apical 50 eligible bachelors because of his dashing bully looks and his activity successful foster care.

But since arsenic early arsenic 1996, Zerola has faced persistent accusations of rape successful astir identical assaults.

In November 2020, prosecutors said that nan lawyer took his woman and her 21-year-old friend retired for a nighttime of drinking.

He paid for nan drinks, and by nan extremity of nan night, nan friend had go intoxicated, prosecutors stated.

'Zerola paid nan entire $2,000 barroom tab and tipped unit generously while saying he planned to person a "threesome" pinch nan 2 women, though they expressed nary specified interest,' nan prosecutors wrote, according to nan Boston Globe.    

The friend had to beryllium helped backmost to her flat successful Beacon Hill, wherever Zerola allegedly attempted to thief 'undress nan unfortunate and tuck her into bed.'

Zerola's girlfriend, however, allegedly stopped him from doing so. At this point, nan prosecutors said, he sent his woman location successful an Uber and past returned to nan victim's location alone. 

Without nan victim's permission, Zerola entered her location and began having intercourse pinch her while she was asleep, according to prosecutors. 

Around 2 am, nan unfortunate awoke to him raping her.

At nan clip of nan assault, nan unfortunate was only 21, and Zerola was 49- much than double her age. 

In 2016, Zerola was accused of raping a 23-year-old female connected a couch. The female testified that nan lawyer had had activity pinch her contempt her protests. 

She further testified that he did not extremity until she woke her friend, who was making love Zerola astatine nan time. 

Last summer, he was acquitted of nan charges aft a four-day trial. 

And successful 2008, 2 different juries recovered Zerola not blameworthy of rape and attempted rape. Additionally, nan deep-pocketed lawyer had intersexual battle charges dropped successful Miami Beach and New Orleans. 

For astatine slightest 3 of nan allegations against Zerola, nan statute of limitations has expired, according to the Boston Globe.

Before he went into backstage practice, nan Boston lawyer worked for a twelvemonth arsenic a charismatic successful Essex County. He besides did a three-month stint arsenic a charismatic successful Suffolk County for 2 months successful 2000.

Zerola's unfortunate made it clear conscionable really traumatized she is successful her effect statement, which was publication by charismatic Ian Polumbaum.

For respective months aft nan rape, she said she 'experienced nightly recurring nightmares reliving nan assault,' 25 News reported.

The assault, she stated, has led to her 'paranoia trusting men.'

'Even coming I still person nightmares of personification breaking into my flat and trying to battle me. I had ne'er knowledgeable a nightmare successful my life earlier this. I’ve mislaid galore nights of sleep,' nan unfortunate continued. 

'Every clip I'm successful my apartment, my doorway is deadbolted, and I unrecorded successful changeless fearfulness that personification will participate without my support and wounded maine again.'