A Florida woman, 23, who ‘posed as a SCHOOLGIRL online to harass a teenage boy’ appears to be chained up in court as she faces new charges after FOUR more victims aged between 12 and 15 came forward
A Florida woman, 23, accused of posing as a 14-year-old to abuse a teenage boy has faced more charges as victims continue to come forward.
Alyssa Ann Zinger of Tampa, Florida, allegedly posed as a 14-year-old homeschooled girl to prey on high school students and perform sex acts on younger boys.
The 23-year-old was arrested in November for engaging in more than 30 sex acts with at least one student as young as 12 at Wilson Middle School.
Zinger was taken into custody over claims that she posed as a homeschooled teenager to contact the victim on Snapchat before allegedly having a sexual relationship with him.
She was arrested for a second time on Thursday and faced additional sex crimes charges after four more victims said they were allegedly targeted by Zinger.
Alyssa Ann Zinger, 23, of Tampa, Florida, allegedly posed as a homeschooled 14-year-old girl to prey on high school students and perform sex acts on younger boys
The 23-year-old was arrested in November for engaging in more than 30 sex acts with at least one student as young as 12 at Wilson Middle School.
She was arrested for a second time on Thursday and faced additional sex crimes charges after four more victims said they had allegedly been targeted by Zinger.
According to the victims, the 23-year-old allegedly created a fake persona of a 14-year-old homeschooled student.
Authorities said Zinger had sexual intercourse with the first victim multiple times and allegedly sent a pornographic video to several children via Snapchat.
She has been charged with two counts of lewd and lascivious molestation and five counts of lewd or lascivious molestation of a victim between the ages of 12 and 15. The age of consent in Florida is 18.
Court records show Zinger waived her right to arraignment and pleaded not guilty to the charges.
She was released from the Orient Road jail on Nov. 24, a day after her arrest, and posted $7,500 bail on each second-degree felony count, records show.
According to search warrants, Zinger and the victim allegedly met via Snapchat in late May 2023. Until their breakup in September, the victim thought she was 14 years old.
The police were informed of the relationship in October.
She was released from the Orient Road Jail on Nov. 24, a day after her arrest, and posted $7,500 bail on each second-degree felony count, records show.
After officials interviewed the victim, it was revealed that the suspect had allegedly engaged in sexual activity with him approximately thirty times and told him that she had abused other boys between the ages of 13 and 15 in the past.
Chief Lee Bercaw of the Tampa Police Department said, “It is disturbing and disturbing to see an adult taking advantage of and preying on a child.
“Anyone who may have been victimized by Zinger, we encourage you to come forward. The Tampa Police Department will support you and ensure that a predator like Zinger does not cause additional harm to you or others.”
A spokesperson for Hillsborough County Schools said the suspect did not pose as a student on any of their campuses. For the time being, the district is not directly involved in the investigation.
According to court records, Zinger waived her right to an arraignment and pleaded not guilty to the charges in November.
She was released from the Orient Road Jail on Nov. 24, a day after her arrest, and posted $7,500 bail on each second-degree felony count, records show.
Chief Lee Bercaw of the Tampa Police Department said, “It is disturbing and disturbing to see an adult taking advantage of and preying on a child.”
‘This didn’t happen at our school. However, we are pleased that a student felt safe enough to come to an adult on campus to warn them about this person,” said district spokesperson Tanya Arja. “Our staff immediately contacted police so they could begin an investigation.”
In July, the suspect and victim were caught shoplifting from Nordstrom at International Plaza and Bay Street.
She identified herself to an officer by her real name, but said she was born in 2009. The officer was unable to find any information about her with the 2009 birth date she provided, but found one for Alyssa Ann Zinger, born in 2001.
She told the officer she had a half-sister with the same name. But after the relationship came to light, employers at a Tampa Publix where Zinger worked also confirmed that she was an adult.