A 71-year-old man, who made a false claim that he shot conservative influencer Charlie Kirk in an attempt to create mass confusion, has been sentenced to prison after pleading guilty to serious charges of child exploitation.
George Zinn's disturbing actions, both at a political event and behind closed doors, have led to a lengthy legal battle and a prison sentence that could last up to 15 years, per the New York Post.
False Claim and Disturbing Discovery
Zinn made headlines in September 2022 after the shooting of Charlie Kirk, the 31-year-old founder of Turning Point USA, during an outdoor campus event at Utah Valley University.
While the alleged gunman, Tyler Robinson, has been held responsible for Kirk's death, Zinn's actions caused additional chaos when he falsely shouted: “I shot him! Now shoot me,” in an attempt to divert attention and confuse law enforcement at the scene.
At the time, Zinn was detained for interfering with police during the chaotic moments following the shooting.
However, it was what investigators discovered on his cellphone that would lead to even more serious charges.
Police found over 20 graphic images on Zinn’s phone, depicting minors as young as five years old in sexually explicit poses. These disturbing photos led to Zinn's arrest on charges of sexual exploitation of a minor.
A Guilty Plea and Sentence
On January 31, 2026, Zinn pleaded guilty to two counts of sexual exploitation of a minor, and no contest to an obstruction of justice charge.
The sexual exploitation charges, both second-degree felonies, carry a sentence of one to 15 years behind bars for each count. The obstruction charge could add an additional one to five years to his sentence, with all penalties running concurrently.
Though Zinn faced a maximum of 15 years in prison, the final decision regarding his parole will be made by a parole board. As he stood before the court, Zinn broke down in tears.
“I wish the court to know I am not and will never be a danger to children or their parents,” Zinn told the judge, according to the Salt Lake Tribune.
Zinn's Attempt at Redemption
In a tearful statement, Zinn expressed a desire to move past his actions and lead a better life.
“Every desire and commitment to change and lead a responsible and productive life,” he said. “Nobody wants to excel more than me. I want to put the past behind me and move forward.”
His defense attorney, Carly Madsen, painted a sympathetic picture of Zinn, describing him as an "interesting man" who had faced many struggles in life.
According to Madsen, Zinn had never received the attention or help he needed.
“He never fit in. Never really got the love or attention he deserved. And never got the help he needed, resources that would have helped him years ago,” Madsen said, hoping that he would receive the assistance he needed moving forward.
A Long History of Odd Behavior and Political Presence
Zinn was known within political circles in Utah for his odd and often disruptive behavior. Described as a “gadfly,” he frequently attended political events around the state, where he would remain in the background, often observing rather than participating.
“He’s a person who can be odd, and has those kinds of sometimes odd behavior challenges,” said Salt Lake County District Attorney Sim Gill, who had previously prosecuted Zinn on other occasions. “But by and large, he’s more of a gadfly than anything else.”
Zinn’s previous history of distracting law enforcement at the scene of the shooting confirmed his role in attempting to divert attention from the real shooter.
Zinn admitted to this behavior in the aftermath of the incident, explaining that he had tried to “draw attention from the real shooter.”