(Image source: Orlando Sentinel )



BY CHRISTIAN BRYANT

 

George Zimmerman could be released from prison soon... if he’s able to come up with $1 million. NewsChannel 8 has the story.

“A Florida judge set bond today for George Zimmerman at $1 million. The judge revoked his bond last month after ruling Zimmerman’s wife mislead the court about their financial situation.”

After initially being released from jail on $150,000 bond, he was ordered to surrender in June because prosecutors believed he and his wife lied to the court about the amount of money they received from public donations. ABC News has more.

“‘This court finds that the defendant tried to manipulate the system when presented with the opportunity to do so,’" Judge Kenneth Lester wrote in the bond order released today. Zimmerman, 28, could draw on the more than $200,000 donated by his supporters in order to pay 10 percent or more to a bail bondsman, who would then post the rest of the bond on Zimmerman's behalf.”

The judge increased Zimmerman’s bond because he “flaunted the system” and could not justify his deception. One CNN correspondent said the bond increase isn’t the only thing Zimmerman has to worry about.

“The biggest damage to George Zimmerman today is not how big that bond is, it’s the damage we’ve seen done to his credibility and his to his freedom.”

In a written ruling , Judge Lester said the increase in Zimmerman’s bail was not to punish him. He writes...

"It is meant to allay this court's concern that the defendant intended to flee the jurisdiction and a lesser amount would not ensure his presence in court."

Attorneys for Zimmerman said it was his naivete that kept him from revealing his finances — this was in an attempt to get his original bond reinstated. Here’s HLN .

“We know last week Zimmerman and his attorneys pleaded in his case saying that Zimmerman didn’t mean to mislead the court about his finances. His lawyers said he was confused and afraid and that’s why he wasn’t forthcoming about the money he had.”

If Zimmerman is able to post bail, he’ll have a number of requirements including reporting to officials every two days, abiding by a 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. curfew, and like before, he will be monitored electronically.