No Criminal Charges for Marzilli

DA Finds Insufficient Evidence After Investigation

Story Updated 9:27AM Wednesday, May 14, 2008

– Allison Goldsberry

Middlesex County District Attorney Gerry Leone announced today that state senator Jim Marzilli will face no criminal charges after an investigation by the DA’s office found insufficient evidence to support a sexual assualt complaint.

Sen. Marzilli was accused of sexual assault by a female companian following an April 6 fundraiser in Arlington. The woman said Sen. Marzilli touched her inappropriately against her will.

The DA’s office said it took the complaint seriously and conducted an investigation right away. Investigators conducted multiple interviews with the woman and others who were present at the fundraiser that night and determined there was “insufficient evidence to prove criminal charges beyond a reasonable doubt.”

Reporter Bob Sprague of YourArlington.com spoke to Sen. Marzilli’s lawyer, Terrence Kennedy, who said his client “got the decision he expected, that he is innocent.”

Kennedy also said that the woman who accused Sen. Marzilli has hired Wendy Murphy, a lawyer known for her “aggressive pursuit of cases involving abuse charges,” for a potential civil suit against the state senator.

Kennedy denied rumors that Sen. Marzilli paid off the woman to settle the case.

According to YourArlington.com, since the complaint was filed, Sen. Marzilli has gathered sufficient signatures in his bid for reelection to the Senate seat he won last December. Opposing the Arlington Democrat are Jack Hurd and Ken Donnelly.

Sen. Marzilli, 49, was a member of the state House of Representatives for 16 years before being elected to the state senate.