No charges against George Zimmerman after girlfriend withdraws threat allegations

By M. Alex Johnson, Staff Writer, NBC News

George Zimmerman won't be charged with any crimes after the woman who told authorities last month that he threatened her with a gun during a heated argument recanted the allegations, prosecutors said Wednesday.

Samantha Scheibe, who refers to Zimmerman as her "boyfriend," said in a sworn affadavit obtained by NBC News that she felt overwhelmed during the argument and intimidated when she was questioned by police about the Nov. 18 incident.

Her statement was attached to a motion by Zimmerman's attorney seeking to modify the conditions of her client's bond in his domestic violence case.

Eighteenth Circuit State Attorney Phil Archer said Wednesday that no charges would be brought. 

While "it was clear that there was probable cause for the arrest by the Seminole County Sheriff's Office," Archer said in a statement, "there is no reasonable likelihood of successful prosecution."

Archer said that he couldn't make a case because of the conflicting statements and lack of any other corroborating evidence or witnesses. 

Scheibe said in the affidavit that she believed "the police misinterpreted me and that I may have misspoken about certain facts in my statement to the police. I do not feel that the arrest report accurately recounts what happened."

She had told a 911 operator and deputies last month that she and Zimmerman were having a "verbal dispute," and she alleged that he pointed a long-barreled shotgun at her.

But in an affidavit released Monday, Scheibe said: "George never pointed a gun at or toward my face in a threatening manner."

Zimmerman was arrested and later charged with felony aggravated assault, misdemeanor battery and misdemeanor criminal mischief, according to the Seminole sheriff's office. He was directed to stay away from Scheibe's residence, among other orders.

In the 911 tapes released from the Nov. 18 incident, Zimmerman denied brandishing a weapon at his girlfriend.

Zimmerman, 30, was famously acquitted earlier this year of all charges in the fatal shooting of Trayvon Martin.