TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

Ex-DCF Spokesman Pleads Guilty In Child Porn Case

ADVERTISEMENT

By ELAINE SILVESTRINI | The Tampa Tribune

Published: January 21, 2009

Updated: 01/21/2009 12:58 pm

  Al Zimmerman

TAMPA - Once the public face of the state agency assigned to protect children, Al Zimmerman admitted in federal court this morning that he victimized teens by using them in child pornography.

Zimmerman, 41, the former spokesman for the Department of Children & Families and a former Bay News 9 reporter, pleaded guilty to production of child pornography, a charge that carries a mandatory minimum prison sentence of 15 years and up to 30 years behind bars.

His admission means he will be a registered sex offender and could be ordered to serve up to life on probation after his prison sentence.

"You understand that a plea of guilty means you accept the truth of the charge against you?" U.S. District Judge Susan Bucklew asked him.

"Yes, your honor," responded Zimmerman, who wore a gray prison uniform.

Zimmerman tried to get Bucklew to hint at the punishment he might receive when he is sentenced April 23, referring to the report prepared by a probation officer that details how sentencing guidelines apply.

"Do you tend to stick to those guidelines?" he asked.

"You're asking me what kind of sentence I'll impose," Bucklew said. "I'm not going to share that."

But the judge said she would consider all factors. "I won't tell you what your sentence is going to be. Neither can your attorney."

"He couldn't," Zimmerman said. "That's why I was asking you."

The only way Zimmerman can avoid the minimum mandatory sentence is to persuade the government to ask for a sentence reduction in return for his "substantial assistance." Typically, prosecutors make such motions only when defendants help make cases against other defendants.

Zimmerman, who had been scheduled to stand trial Monday, was arrested in February and accused of making sexually explicit photos and videos of two 16-year-old boys. Authorities said he met one of the boys through his job with DCF.

More recently, federal prosecutors said investigators had identified five more victims. A new indictment was handed up, adding charges of receiving child pornography, possessing child pornography and obstruction of justice.

Under the terms of the plea agreement, prosecutors will dismiss those charges.

The plea did not specify the number of victims.

A prosecutor has said Zimmerman often used his work computer to correspond by e-mail with the first two victims identified.

Zimmerman initially told authorities he didn't know the boys were underage.

Following his arrest, DCF conducted a statewide review of all employees hired since Nov. 15, 2006, to make sure criminal background and professional reference checks were conducted and that each employee completed a state job application.

The review found that 8 percent of those 2,627 employees had not been fingerprinted, nearly 10 percent of the personnel files were missing appropriate reference checks and 1.4 percent of the employees were missing a job application.

Zimmerman had previous arrests on charges of writing bad checks and driving under the influence.

Another review found that computer security issues were widespread and background screening and hiring practices had been inconsistent.

Reporter Elaine Silvestrini can be reached at (813) 259-7837 or esilvestrini@tampatrib.com.

Share this:

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT