By Rene Stutzman and Jeff Weiner, The Orlando Sentinel –
ORLANDO, Fla.—Shellie Zimmerman says she’s not guilty of perjury.
Her new attorney, Kelly B. Sims, filed paperwork Friday, entering that plea on her behalf. That means that she won’t have to show up at the Seminole County criminal building Tuesday for arraignment.
Zimmerman, 25, is accused of lying when she told Circuit Judge Kenneth Lester Jr., while under oath, that she and her husband were broke.
At the time, prosecutors allege they had ready access to $130,000, money donated by supporters of her husband, murder defendant George Zimmerman.
Friday was the first time Sims was identified as Shellie Zimmerman’s lawyer. The Orlando attorney has been practicing in Florida for more than 20 years and has worked on high-profile cases in the past.
He defended John Vining, a man accused of shooting a 39-year-old Longwood woman in the head to steal $60,000 worth of diamonds in 1987. Vining was convicted and sentenced to death. He remains on death row.
However, Sims helped save another high-profile client from that fate. After client Jeremy Skocz was convicted of first-degree murder, kidnapping and sexual battery in the November 1995 smothering of the 4-year-old Shelby Cox, a jury recommended a death sentence. Skocz’s defense team won him a second sentencing hearing. The new jury spared him, and he remains behind bars for life.
Sims couldn’t immediately be reached for comment Friday afternoon. His filings were received by the Seminole County clerk about 4:35 p.m., a court spokeswoman said.
His new high-profile client is currently free on $1,000 bail and living in hiding in Seminole County.
Shellie Zimmerman was arrested six weeks ago but has made no public comment since then.
The charge carries a possible maximum sentence of five years in jail.
Her next court date was not immediately available.
