State Senator Jim Marzilli is Arrested After Attempting to Grope Woman in Park

Sen. Marzilli Arrested in Lowell for Alleged Assault
State Senator Jim MarzilliFormer Medford Rep is Arrested After Attempting to Grope Woman in Park
Story Updated 8:38PM Tuesday, June 3, 2008
- Allison Goldsberry

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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 this afternoon, made an inappropriate comment, and attempted to touch the woman in a sexual manner. The woman forcibly prevented Sen. Marzilli from groping her.

Welford said Sen. Marzilli initially gave police the wrong name and fled the scene when they approached him. After a chase by police Sen. Marzilli was apprehended on Market Street and placed under arrest.

Sen. Marzilli is being charged with attempt to commit a crime, simple assault and battery, disorderly conduct, resisting arrest, and obstruction of justice. He will be arraigned Wednesday on those charges in Lowell District Court.

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.

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Sen. Marzilli, a former state representative for Arlington and Medford, has gathered sufficient signatures in his bid for reelection to the Senate seat he won last December, according to YourArlington.com. Opposing the Arlington Democrat are Jack Hurd and Ken Donnelly. He was a member of the state House of Representatives for 17 years before being elected to the state senate.

More:
http://insidemedford.com/2008/06/03/sen-marzilli-arrested-in-lowell/

"Strange things happen to strange people"

ARLINGTON - Just last Sunday, J. James Marzilli Jr. was in his element, hosting a wine-and-cheese fund-raiser with his wife, Susan Shaer, at their home in Arlington. Marzilli spent much of his time showing off his wildflowers and talking about how tired he was from gardening all weekend.
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Yesterday, the state senator announced that he would end his bid for reelection and checked into McLean Hospital, the latest fallout after he was charged Tuesday with trying to grope a woman and harass another in downtown Lowell.

Lowell Police Superintendent Kenneth E. Lavallee said yesterday that the senator may have thought he could get away with harassing women, but it is "never going to be tolerated by anybody, regardless of stature in life."

Marzilli's stunningly swift downfall shook his friends and supporters and left them searching for answers. State House lawmakers were in shock.

http://www.boston.com/news/local/articles/2008/06/06/accused_senator_ends_reelection_bid/?rss_id=Boston.com+--+Latest+news