George Zimmerman bonded out of jail today, on the same day a judge set his bail at $9,000 — significantly less than the $50,000 sought by prosecutors, and nearly double the $4,900 amount sought by Zimmerman’s public defenders, who told the court today that Zimmerman is indigent, and $2.5 million in debt.
As part of the conditions of his bail, Zimmerman will have to surrender his firearms, which according to his girlfriend Samantha Scheibe’s call to police, include an AR-15, and a Kel-Tec rifle.
Scheibe called 911 on Monday, claiming Zimmerman pointed a shotgun at her, and used the butt of the gun to smash a coffee table inside her home, before locking her outside and barricading himself in. Zimmerman was arrested on charges of aggravated assault, criminal mischief, and misdemeanor battery. During Tuesday’s hearing, Assistant State Attorney Lymary Munoz told the court Scheibe is “afraid of Zimmerman” and that “a week and a half ago he tried to choke her” but that she didn’t call police, and that Zimmerman had “talked about suicide.”
According to NBC News, Zimemrman’s public defender, Jeff Dowdy, says that George Zimmerman was officially served divorce papers in jail Tuesday, prior to the hearing. Shellie Zimmerman called 911 in September to her father’s home, saying Zimmerman smashed an iPad and struck her father, and that she thought he had a gun. She did not press charges however, and no charges were filed. Scheibe was on the scene of that incident, sitting in the car, but said she didn’t see a gun.
Circuit Judge Jessica Recksiedler ordered Zimmerman to stay away from Scheibe, and to wear a satellite monitor, and to not leave the state. His arraignment was set for January 7th.
On July 13th of this year, Zimmerman was acquitted of second degree murder and manslaughter charges in the death of Trayvon Martin.