SALT LAKE CITY, UT — George Zinn, 71, who previously made a false claim that he shot conservative commentator Charlie Kirk, has been charged with possessing child sexual abuse material, according to the New York Post and the Utah County Sheriff’s Office.
Zinn was charged Monday with four counts of sexual exploitation of a minor after investigators discovered more than 20 images of children as young as 5 years old on his phone, the sheriff’s office said in a news release cited by the Post. Authorities alleged the photos showed children at least partially nude and posed in sexual ways.
Investigators said Zinn admitted to receiving gratification from viewing and sharing the images, and that his preferred victim age range was between 5 and 12. A search warrant also uncovered sexual text messages in which Zinn allegedly shared images with others, according to the Post.
The charges follow Zinn’s arrest last week at Utah Valley University, where he obstructed police response and falsely shouted that he shot Kirk in a bid to help the actual gunman flee, authorities said. Police quickly determined Zinn was not the shooter and arrested him at the scene.
The man believed to have actually killed Kirk, 22-year-old Tyler Robinson, was charged Tuesday with aggravated murder and other felony counts, the Post reported.
Authorities clarified there is no evidence Zinn and Robinson colluded in the assassination.
Zinn remains held in county jail.
George Zinn, 71, was charged Monday with four counts of sexual exploitation of a minor after investigators discovered more than 20 images of children as young as 5 years old on his phone, the sheriff’s office said in a news release cited by the Post. Authorities alleged the photos showed children at least partially nude and posed in sexual ways.
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