Attorney William Gerace Interviewed by NBC Connecticut in Grisales Case
NBC Connecticut Interviews Attorney William Gerace as Defense Counsel in Kelvin Grisales Sexual Assault Cases
Hartford, Connecticut — Attorney William T. "Bill" Gerace of Gerace & Cavallari LLC was interviewed by NBC Connecticut as defense counsel in one of Hartford's most closely followed criminal cases of 2014. In a report published April 30, 2014 by NBC Connecticut journalists Ari Mason and Amy Parmenter — headlined "DNA Links Hartford Corrections Officer to More Sexual Assaults: Police" — Gerace is quoted extensively as the defense attorney for Kelvin Grisales, a Hartford corrections officer facing sexual assault and kidnapping charges.
Gerace's Role in the Case
According to the NBC Connecticut report, Hartford police said DNA evidence connected Grisales, who had been arrested the previous month, to additional alleged assaults, and new charges were brought. Speaking to NBC Connecticut about those new charges, Gerace was direct with the public about their gravity: "He's charged with kidnapping, sex assault in the first degree and a myriad of other charges," he said. "They're very serious. They're very ugly."
At the same time, Gerace presented his client's account to the press, telling NBC Connecticut, "He denies force. He admits to the sex; there is DNA evidence, and perhaps video evidence," and later adding, "If I believe my client, and at this point I have to, there was no force, no weapons and no compulsion." Anticipating the road ahead, he told the station, "I understand there are more cases coming down the pike. We'll have to wait until they all come out and see where we are."
What This Coverage Illustrates
The interview shows a defense attorney doing one of the hardest jobs in the justice system: standing next to a client accused of grave crimes, acknowledging the seriousness of the allegations honestly, and still insisting that the accused's side of the story be heard. In cases involving DNA evidence, multiple jurisdictions, and intense media attention, that role is more demanding — and more essential — than ever.
Every person accused of a crime in Connecticut is presumed innocent and entitled to a vigorous defense. High-profile coverage like this reflects why reporters turn to Gerace when serious felony cases move through Hartford's courts: he answers questions candidly and advocates for his client on the record.
Decades of Statewide and National Media Recognition
The 2014 NBC Connecticut interview is part of a long record of media attention to Gerace's casework. His trials and commentary have also been featured by HBO, CBS News' 48 Hours , CNN, FOX61, WFSB, the Hartford Courant, and the New Haven Register. Practicing since 1985, Gerace holds a Martindale-Hubbell AV Preeminent peer rating and has tried hundreds of criminal cases across Connecticut, including the most serious Part A felony matters.
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Read the Original Coverage
The original NBC Connecticut report, including Gerace's full comments, is available directly from the source:
- Read the Full Article on NBC Connecticut — "DNA Links Hartford Corrections Officer to More Sexual Assaults: Police" (April 30, 2014).
Talk to a Hartford Criminal Defense Attorney
If you or a loved one is facing sexual assault, kidnapping, or other serious felony charges anywhere in Connecticut, the trial-tested team at Gerace & Cavallari LLC is ready to help. Our office at 21 Oak Street in Hartford serves English- and Spanish-speaking clients throughout the state.
