Additional child sex charges brought against Florida woman who pretended to be 14-year-old to sexually assault middle schooler

Alyssa Ann Zinger, a 23-year-old woman from Florida, was first arrested in November for posing online as a 14-year-old girl to meet and molest a teenage boy. She was accused of engaging in sexual acts with students from Wilson Middle School in Tampa, sending explicit videos, and communicating with minors mainly through Snapchat. Tampa police believed there were additional victims and four more victims came forward, leading to Zinger’s second arrest for additional sex crimes with minors.

At the time of her first arrest, Zinger was charged with two counts of lewd or lascivious battery and five counts of lewd or lascivious molestation. After her second arrest, authorities added on two counts of lewd or lascivious molestation, two counts of lewd or lascivious battery, possession of child pornography, in-state transmission of child pornography by electronic device, and sexual cyber harassment. The victims reported multiple instances of sexual activity with Zinger, along with her sending explicit photos and videos to them via Snapchat.

Zinger was also involved in a shoplifting incident with one of the victims at Nordstrom in July. In an attempt to avoid being identified as an adult, she claimed to be born in 2009, which was proven false by law enforcement. Investigating officers discovered information on an Alyssa Zinger born in 2001 and confirmed her adult status with her employer at Publix. The investigation into Zinger had been ongoing for about a year before her first arrest, and additional victims continued to come forward.

The accused predator’s behavior was manipulative and dangerous, as she groomed minors online and engaged in sexual acts with them. By pretending to be a homeschooled 14-year-old girl, Zinger was able to gain the trust of her victims and exploit them for her own sexual purposes. Her actions also included the possession and transmission of child pornography, as well as sexual cyber harassment towards the minors involved.

Zinger’s crimes had a lasting impact on her victims, who were coerced into engaging in sexual acts with her and exposing themselves to explicit content at a young age. The trauma caused by her actions can have long-term effects on the mental health and well-being of the victims. The investigation into Zinger’s activities revealed the extent of her predatory behaviors and the need for public awareness and preventative measures to protect minors from online predators like her.

The support and justice sought for the victims of Zinger’s crimes are essential in helping them recover from the trauma and move forward. Law enforcement efforts to investigate and prosecute individuals like Zinger play a crucial role in holding predators accountable and preventing future incidents of online grooming and exploitation. The case serves as a reminder of the dangers posed by individuals who use social media to target and victimize minors, highlighting the importance of vigilance and education in safeguarding vulnerable individuals from harm.