By Matt Pierce, Los Angeles Times, June 4, 2012
George Zimmerman returns to jail in Trayvon Martin shooting case.
 He surrenders two days after a Florida judge found he had misled the court about his finances when a low bail was set. George Zimmerman, right, charged in the shooting death of Florida teen Trayvon Martin, returns to jail two days after a judge revoked his bail. (Joshua C. Cruey / Orlando Sentinel / June 3, 2012). |
George Zimmerman, the former neighborhood watch volunteer charged in the killing of Florida teenager Trayvon Martin, returned to jail Sunday two days after a judge revoked his bail over questions about his finances. Zimmerman wore a plaid shirt, jeans, tennis shoes and longer hair than in his internationally known mug shots. He arrived at the Seminole County Jail in Sanford, Fla., accompanied by law enforcement officers and with his hands cuffed behind his back. He did not respond to reporters’ questions, the Orlando Sentinel reported.
Seminole County Sheriff Don Eslinger described him as “quiet and cooperative,” the Sentinel said. Zimmerman will be fingerprinted again and will get another mug shot, Eslinger said. He had been in hiding since his release on a $150,000 bond in April. His attorney,Mark O’Mara, expects that another bond hearing will determine whether his client stays in custody until his expected trial in 2013. O’Mara told the media that he expected to submit a motion Monday for another hearing.Zimmerman remains worried about his safety and that of his family, the Sentinel quoted O’Mara as saying.Zimmerman, 28, is to be segregated from the jail’s general population because of the high-profile nature of the case, officials said. His cell is 67 square feet, with two beds and a toilet, and he will get three hours of recreation time a week.He is charged with second-degree murder in the Feb. 26 shooting of Martin, 17, who was unarmed. Zimmerman has admitted shooting the youth during a confrontation in a gated community in Sanford, but he insists it was self-defense. Florida has a “stand your ground” law that allows someone to respond with force without retreating if attacked.Martin had been staying with his father’s fiance, who lives in the gated community. He’d gone for a walk on a rainy night, wearing a hoodie, to buy Skittles and an iced tea. Zimmerman saw him and called police about a suspicious person. He got out of his vehicle and followed Martin, who reportedly told his girlfriend by cellphone that someone was following him. A confrontation ensued but the details are unclear. Sanford authorities initially decided not to charge Zimmerman, which led to more than six weeks of racially charged protests. Martin was black; Zimmerman is white and Latino.Republican Gov. Rick Scott eventually appointed a special prosecutor, who filed the second-degree murder charge. Zimmerman, who was arrested 44 days after Martin’s death, has pleaded not guilty. Circuit Judge Kenneth Lester said at a hearing Friday that Zimmerman had falsely represented his financial state when the $150,000 bond amount was granted. Zimmerman’s wife had testified in April that the couple had limited funds, but it was later revealed that the defendant had raised more than $200,000 from a website the family set up to solicit contributions. “This court was led to believe they didn’t have a single penny,” prosecutor Bernie de la Rionda said Friday. “It was misleading, and I don’t know what words to use other than it was a blatant lie.” Lester sided with prosecutors, saying Zimmerman “can’t sit back and obtain the benefit of a lower bond based upon those material falsehoods.”
Seminole County Sheriff Don Eslinger described him as “quiet and cooperative,” the Sentinel said. Zimmerman will be fingerprinted again and will get another mug shot, Eslinger said. He had been in hiding since his release on a $150,000 bond in April. His attorney,Mark O’Mara, expects that another bond hearing will determine whether his client stays in custody until his expected trial in 2013. O’Mara told the media that he expected to submit a motion Monday for another hearing.Zimmerman remains worried about his safety and that of his family, the Sentinel quoted O’Mara as saying.Zimmerman, 28, is to be segregated from the jail’s general population because of the high-profile nature of the case, officials said. His cell is 67 square feet, with two beds and a toilet, and he will get three hours of recreation time a week.He is charged with second-degree murder in the Feb. 26 shooting of Martin, 17, who was unarmed. Zimmerman has admitted shooting the youth during a confrontation in a gated community in Sanford, but he insists it was self-defense. Florida has a “stand your ground” law that allows someone to respond with force without retreating if attacked.Martin had been staying with his father’s fiance, who lives in the gated community. He’d gone for a walk on a rainy night, wearing a hoodie, to buy Skittles and an iced tea. Zimmerman saw him and called police about a suspicious person. He got out of his vehicle and followed Martin, who reportedly told his girlfriend by cellphone that someone was following him. A confrontation ensued but the details are unclear. Sanford authorities initially decided not to charge Zimmerman, which led to more than six weeks of racially charged protests. Martin was black; Zimmerman is white and Latino.Republican Gov. Rick Scott eventually appointed a special prosecutor, who filed the second-degree murder charge. Zimmerman, who was arrested 44 days after Martin’s death, has pleaded not guilty. Circuit Judge Kenneth Lester said at a hearing Friday that Zimmerman had falsely represented his financial state when the $150,000 bond amount was granted. Zimmerman’s wife had testified in April that the couple had limited funds, but it was later revealed that the defendant had raised more than $200,000 from a website the family set up to solicit contributions. “This court was led to believe they didn’t have a single penny,” prosecutor Bernie de la Rionda said Friday. “It was misleading, and I don’t know what words to use other than it was a blatant lie.” Lester sided with prosecutors, saying Zimmerman “can’t sit back and obtain the benefit of a lower bond based upon those material falsehoods.”