Rochester, N.Y. - John Parrinello has never been afraid to stand up for what he believes. That has gotten him into trouble before. Three times he was charged with contempt of court. Once, he was sent to jail.
But Parrinello is perhaps facing the most serious allegations of his career.
He is accused of choking a client.
Joe Cafarelli says he went to Parrinello's office to ask for his files, because he wasn't happy with the speed at which his two pending cases were moving.
Cafarelli has had his own issues with police but says it has nothing to do with what happened that day.
He claims he went to Parrinello's office last Tuesday and told him he wanted his files because he was switching to another law firm.
That's when Cafarelli tells us: "Parrinello became violent."
In a police report filed with the Rochester Police Department, Cafarelli claims Parrinello "choked him, pushed him and had him in a headlock."
Parrinello is charged with a misdemeanor and a violation. Though an arrest warrant has been issued, he remains a free man.
The well-respected defense attorney agreed to speak to 13WHAM News outside of city court Monday Morning.
He told us he had not seen an arrest warrant. When we asked: "Will you turn yourself in?"
Parrinello replied: "I will, if I am directed to."
He had no comment about the allegations that he choked Joe Cafarelli.
When we asked Parrinello why Cafarelli went to his office that day the attorney smiled and said: I can tell you, it wasn't to pick up his files.
Parrinello has hired prominent local attorney David Rothenberg to represent him on these charges.
Rothenberg had no comment when contacted at his law office.
Cafarelli also claims that there was a second outburst that happened in the hallway outside Parrinello's office. He says cameras in that hallway captured Parrinello putting him in a headlock.
We are attempting to get those tapes to see what is really on them.
But the sad thing is that no matter what happens and how this case unfolds, the allegations that something this serious happened, could affect the career of someone who spent his career defending the rights of alleged criminals.
