Crime

George Zimmerman's lawyer to defend Fla. fireman in rape case

January 23, 2014 / 10:25 AM EST / CBS News/AP

DELTONA, Fla. – Mark O’ Mara, the Orlando attorney who successfully defended George Zimmerman after he fatally shot an unarmed teen, has been hired to defend a Deltona firefighter accused of rape by a dozen women.

A spokesman for O'Mara confirmed Wednesday that he is representing Terry Freeman II.

Freeman has been accused by 12 women of rape or attempted rape, and the Volusia County Sheriff's Office reports that it has identified a possible 13th victim. The Dayton Beach News-Journal reports that Freeman was first arrested on Dec. 31. He was being held without bail.

Zimmerman was tried last year on charges of second-degree murder and manslaughter for the February 2012 fatal shooting of Trayvon Martin in Sanford. O'Mara argued that the former neighborhood watch captain acted in self-defense, and a jury found Zimmerman not guilty.

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