George Zinn, the elderly man who falsely claimed he shot Charlie Kirk in the immediate aftermath of the Turning Point USA founder’s assassination, has been sentenced to prison for child sex crimes and obstruction of justice.
Zinn pleaded guilty to two counts of second-degree felony sexual exploitation of a minor and no contest to a third-degree felony obstruction of justice charge, according to a report by The Hill.
Fourth District Court Judge Thomas Low sentenced the 71-year-old to two prison terms of up to 15 years for the child exploitation charges and one term of up to five years for obstruction. The sentences will be served concurrently.
Under Utah law, the parole board will determine how much time Zinn ultimately serves.
Authorities discovered child sexual abuse material on Zinn’s phone after he was detained at Utah Valley University on September 10, shortly after Kirk’s assassination.
Zinn drew attention to himself at the scene by claiming he was responsible for the shooting, triggering confusion and diverting law enforcement resources. Video footage of his arrest quickly circulated online, leading many to initially believe he was the suspect.
According to court documents, when asked by detectives where the weapon was located, Zinn replied, “I shot him, now shoot me.” Investigators later determined the statement was false.
Court records state that Zinn admitted he diverted multiple officers away from securing the scene and searching for the real suspect.
During the investigation, police found that Zinn had saved and shared illegal images of children on his phone. Charging documents allege that he exchanged such material in online chats and falsely claimed some images were of his daughters.
At his sentencing hearing, Zinn became emotional and insisted he was not a danger to children.
“I am not and will never be a danger to children or their parents,” he told the court. “I want to put the past behind me and move forward.”
He added that he wanted to change and live a productive life before breaking down in tears.
Defense attorney Carly Madsen argued that Zinn had lived a difficult life and lacked proper support.
“He never fit in and never got the help he needed,” Madsen told the court, expressing hope that he would receive treatment and resources.
Before Kirk’s assassination, Zinn was reportedly known as a frequent presence at political rallies and public demonstrations, often seeking attention from cameras and media outlets.
Authorities have since identified Tyler Robinson, 22, as the primary suspect in Kirk’s killing.
According to friends and former associates, Robinson had previously made comments about conservative figures being targeted, mocked failed assassination attempts, and claimed he could make long-distance shots. Investigators say he also began expressing more extreme political views in recent years.
The case has drawn national attention due to the high-profile nature of Kirk’s assassination and the disruption caused by Zinn’s false confession.
Prosecutors said the sentence reflects both the seriousness of the child exploitation offenses and the harm caused by obstructing a major homicide investigation.
