VENTURA, California – District Attorney Erik Nasarenko announced today that Justin Zinman (DOB 09/12/88), of Idaho, was sentenced on July 2, 2021, to serve 11 years in prison for stalking a Simi Valley woman and threatening to kidnap and violently rape her. Zinman represented himself at trial and argued that the threats were protected speech. The case was investigated by the Simi Valley Police Department and prosecuted by the Ventura County District Attorney’s Office.
From December 1, 2020, through January 9, 2021, Zinman sent unwelcomed emails and text messages to his ex-girlfriend containing sexually explicit threats, including photographs of a noose and of a female hostage with a bag over her head. On January 11, 2021, Zinman drove from Caldwell, Idaho, to Simi Valley, arriving at the victim’s home the next morning with a fixed-blade knife. After his arrest and conviction, Zinman continued to send the victim’s family threatening letters despite multiple protective orders, admonitions from police officers, and orders from the court.
The two-week trial culminated on June 4, 2021, when jurors convicted Zinman of making a criminal threat and stalking, both felonies.
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