Fla. Woman Posed as 14-Year-Old to Sexually Abuse Underage Boy, Say Police

Alyssa Zinger pleaded not guilty to multiple sexual abuse charges

A woman in Florida is accused of child sex abuse after authorities say she posed online as a home-schooled student and engaged in a sexual relationship with a teenage boy.

Alyssa Zinger, 22, is charged with two counts of lewd or lascivious battery and five counts of lewd or lascivious molestation by a defendant over 18 of victim aged 12 to 15, the Tampa Police Department says.

Police say Zinger communicated with the victim primarily through social media, and that there are believed to be other victims.

“It is disturbing and unsettling to see an adult take advantage of a child and prey on them,” police Chief Lee Bercaw said in a press release. “Anyone who may have been a victim of Zinger’s, we encourage you to come forward. The Tampa Police Department will support you and ensure a predator like Zinger doesn’t cause you or others additional harm.”

Zinger pleaded not guilty to all of the charges and was released on a surety bond on Nov. 24, the day she was arrested, court records indicate. The office of her listed attorney said they had no comment.

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According to search records cited by the Tampa Bay Times, FOX 13 and WTSP, Zinger met the victim in May and communicated with him via Snapchat police say. The victim reportedly believed Zinger was 14 years old.

In the affidavit obtained by the outlets, Zinger reportedly was arrested for shoplifting in July and told police she was born in 2009, police say.

If you suspect child abuse, call the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-4-A-Child or 1-800-422-4453, or go to www.childhelp.org. All calls are toll-free and confidential. The hotline is available 24/7 in more than 170 languages.

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