27°
Zerola, 52, of Salem, was found guilty last month after prosecutors said he broke into a 21-year-old woman's home in the middle of the night and sexually assaulted her.
He had been accused and acquitted of several rapes in 2008, the Suffolk County District Attorney's Office said.
Zerola's victim submitted a letter to the court explaining how her life has changed since the night he broke into her home and attacked her. She did not attend the hearing.
For months after the incident, I experienced nightly recurring nightmares reliving the assault. Even today, I still have nightmares of someone breaking into my apartment and trying to assault me. I had never experienced a nightmare in my life before this. I have lost many nights of sleep.
Since he committed this crime, I have experienced an extreme sense of paranoia. Every time I am in my apartment, my door is deadbolted, and I live in constant fear that someone will enter without my permission and hurt me again. Since moving to New York, I have lived in apartments I can barely afford just to ensure the building has a doorman, which is the only way I can feel slightly safe. This has financially strained me.
Zerola's defense attorney had asked the judge for a sentence of two to three years in jail, while prosecutors wanted nine to 13.
His defense team said he grew up in an abusive and neglectful home, and he had spent his life giving back to the community through charitable works.
Zerola seemed to have a perfect life. He was a top criminal defense lawyer after serving successful stints in district attorneys offices. He was even named one of People Magazine's top bachelors in the US in 2001.
Click here to follow Daily Voice Lunenburg and receive free news updates.
