Sen. Marzilli Drops Re-Election Bid, Checks into Hospital

Former Medford Rep Faces More Sexual Assault Allegations

Story Updated 8:30PM Thursday, June 5, 2008

– Allison Goldsberry

State Senator James Marzilli (D-Arlington) announced today he will not seek re-election to his senate seat in the fall.

The state senator released the following statement to the Lowell Sun:

“This is to inform my supporters and constituents that I will not be seeking re-election as Senator in September for the 4th Middlesex District. My State House staff will continue to respond to the needs of constituents within the district until the end of my term,” wrote Sen. Marzilli.

“Susan and I thank the many of you who have reached out with your love and kindness in the past few days and we ask for your continued good wishes and support during this very difficult time,” the statement continued.

In addition, several published reports say the senator has checked himself into a psychiatric hospital.

According to YourArlington.com, Sen. Marzilli now faces additional allegations of sexual assault, one from an Arlington woman for an incident last year and another for an incident in Brighton two years ago.

State Senator Jim Marzilli was free on bail Wednesday after pleading not guilty to an alleged attempted sexual assault Tuesday in Lowell.

Sen. Marzilli was arrested Tuesday afternoon in Lowell after attempting to sexually assault a woman on a park bench, according to law enforcement officials.

According to Corey Welford, a spokesman for Middlesex Country District Attorney Gerry Leone, Sen. Marzilli approached a woman on a park bench on Middle Street in Lowell yesterday, made an inappropriate comment, and attempted to touch the woman in a sexual manner. The woman forcibly prevented Sen. Marzilli from groping her.

According to a police report of the incident, the victim said she had seen Sen. Marzilli the previous week in Lowell looking “unkempt” and “possibly homeless.” She said Sen. Marzilli approached her, asked her if she remembered him, told her she was beautiful, and attempted to grab her genitals.

The woman ran away from Sen. Marzilli and into a building on Middle Street. People outside of the building flagged down a police officer on patrol in the area and reported the incident. Police caught up to Sen. Marzilli, who then fled the scene while being questioned and was later apprehended in a nearby parking garage after a brief foot chase.

According to the police report, Sen. Marzilli told police he was Martin Walsh and gave them a Medford address as his residence. Walsh is a state representative from Dorchester and a former House colleague of Sen. Marzilli.

State prosecutor Richard Mucci said Sen. Marzilli began to cry when police apprehended him, saying that his life was over and that police were trying to “destroy” him.

Sen. Marzilli has been charged with attempt to commit a crime, simple assault and battery, disorderly conduct, resisting arrest, and obstruction of justice. He was arraigned and pleaded not guilty on those charges Wednesday in Lowell District Court.

Police now say another woman has come forward in accusing the senator of harassment in Lowell. According to the police report, a woman contacted police after hearing about Tuesday’s alleged assault on the news and said a man fitting Sen. Marzilli’s description harassed her on Monday on Market Street in Lowell. The woman said Sen. Marzilli followed her down the street and said “Ooh baby, you’re so beautiful, you’re body is so perfect.”

The woman later identified Sen. Marzilli as the man that had harassed her in a photo line up at the police station.

Terrence Kennedy, Sen. Marzilli’s lawyer, said his client is innocent.

“He is innocent of these charges. We will fight this in court,” said Kennedy.

The charges follow allegations of sexual assault in April against the senator. No criminal charges were filed against Sen. Marzilli after an investigation by the Middlesex County District attorney.

The DA’s office said it found insufficient evidence to support the sexual assualt complaint.

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

Sen. Marzilli, 50, faces a potential civil suit for the April sexual assault complaint.