George Zimmerman is back in jail in Seminole County, after a judge revoked his bond on Friday and ordered him to return to custody within 48 hours.
Zimmerman’s attorney, Mark O’Mara announced earlier on Sunday on his website, his client returned to Central Florida late on Saturday evening ahead of the deadline ordered by Judge Kenneth Lester. After coordinating with the Sanford Police Department, Zimmerman turned himself in before the 2:30 p.m. deadline on Sunday, O’Mara said.
Zimmerman’s bail was revoked after it was revealed that he and his wife, Shellie Zimmerman were less than truthful regarding their finances at a bond hearing in April. At that time, O’Mara had told the court the couple had limited funds.
Shellie Zimmerman was also questioned during the bond hearing about the amount of money raised from a website her husband had set up to assist with his legal defense. She told the court then, she didn’t know how much had been raised.
Based on those claims, Zimmerman’s bail was set at $150,000. After posting $15,000 a few days later, Zimmerman was released from jail.
But last Friday prosecutors asked Judge Lester to revoke Zimmerman’s bail, pointing out that Zimmerman had raised hundreds of thousands from the website he had set up. At the time of the bond hearing in April, it is believed that the website had already raised in excess of $150,000.
A motion filed by prosecutors said, Zimmerman had intentionally deceived the court with the assistance of his wife. And that during jail phone calls both of them spoke in code to hide what they were doing.
“This court was led to believe they didn’t have a single penny,” prosecutor Bernie De la Rionda declared. “It was misleading and I don’t know what words to use other than it was a blatant lie.”
The judge evidently agreed saying Zimmerman couldn’t benefit from “misrepresentations that the court relied upon,” and ordered him to return to jail by Sunday afternoon.
The State Attorney’s Office has also stated that Zimmerman has two passports, but only surrendered one when he was granted bond.
Now that Zimmerman is back in jail, O’Mara said he will request a new bond hearing to address the court’s concerns regarding the issue of funds that were available at the time of his bond hearing on April 20.
According to O’Mara, given that Zimmerman voluntarily surrendered, it demonstrates that he is not a flight risk. O’Mara also added that the vast majority of the funds, now estimated to be over $200,000, are in an independently managed trust, which neither his client or his attorneys have direct access to.
28-year-old George Zimmerman is charged with second degree murder in the fatal shooting of Trayvon Martin, 17, at a gated community in Sanford, in late February earlier this year.
Zimmerman has pleaded not guilty and said, he shot the teen in self defense.
