The Associated Press is accusing George Zimmerman of pilfering one of its photos and attempting to sell it as one of his original paintings, according to the L.A. Times.
The Times reports AP officials Zimmerman's entitled painting "Angie" is a direct copy of an AP photo taken by a freelance photographer of Florida State Atty. Angela Corey, the woman who prosecuted Zimmerman in connection with the 2012 shooting death of local teen Trayvon Martin.
Zimmerman auctioned off his first painting of an American flag featuring a part of the Pledge of Allegiance on EBay last month for more $100,000.
"My art work allows me to reflect, providing a therapeutic outlet and allows me to remain indoors," Zimmerman wrote on his EBay account under the moniker 'therealgeorgez."'
With the Corey painting, The Times adds Zimmerman portrays her in shades of red and orange holding her thumb and fingers together, with a quote on the top right of the frame that reads, "I have this much respect for the American judicial system."
AP contends the photo is a copy of an April 2013 photo the agency took of Corey as she was announcing Zimmerman would be criminally charged with killing the unarmed Martin as he simply walked home from a nearby convenience store in his father's gated community neighborhood. A self-appointed neighborhood watch patrolman, Zimmerman admitted he followed the teen because he thought he looked suspicious wearing a hoodie.
The Times adds AP officials sent attorneys for Zimmerman a letter late last week demanding that the sale of the painting "be blocked - and that, if there has been a sale, that the AP be paid damages."
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