Longtime Flagstaff radio broadcaster arrested on child sex charges
FLAGSTAFF, AZ (AZFamily) — Longtime Flagstaff radio broadcaster David Zorn is facing several felony charges after he was arrested in a multiagency operation. Investigators said he was one of 28 people arrested during the six-month sting but it’s unclear what day he was taken into custody.
Zorn was booked into jail on multiple counts of luring a child for sexual exploitation and attempted furnishing of harmful items to a minor, Flagstaff police said on Monday.
Court records revealed that Zorn was being held on a $100,000 secured appearance bond. No other details about what he allegedly did have been released.
Reaction from media
His employer, KAFF Radio, released a statement on Monday saying he was placed on administrative leave and didn’t have access to the building, KAFF’s social media or electronic platforms.
According to his account on X, formerly known as Twitter, he was the news and sports director at KAFF and a Northern Arizona University halftime radio host. He was also a part-time faculty member at NAU for three years.
A joint statement from student-run media at NAU said they were surprised by the news. “As student journalists, we look up to the community members who have been in this business for the long run. But as students, we are struggling to comprehend the shattered trust we put into our mentor,” the statement said.
Who else was arrested?
Police said of the 28 arrests, nine were for felonies linked to serious crimes. The other 19 were misdemeanor prostitution charges. Authorities said nearly everyone taken into custody were people who lived in the community. “Their arrests underscore the deeply concerning reality that child exploitation is not a distant or rare occurrence; it is a prevalent and ongoing issue hiding in plain sight,” said the North Star Task Force, which is made up of about a dozen law enforcement agencies and the Coconino County Attorney’s Office.
The nine people arrested for felonies and the charges they face are:
- Thomas Jay Smith Child Sex Trafficking
- Brent William Smith Child Sex Trafficking
- Michael E. Flores Luring a Minor for Sexual Exploitation
- Marcus Wimberley Child Sex Trafficking
- David Zorn Luring a Minor for Sexual Exploitation
- Rakesh Dullbson Luring a Minor for Sexual Exploitation
- Max Berkman Child Sex Trafficking
- Christopher Hoffman Child Sex Trafficking
- Abel Ramos Child Sex Trafficking
“We will remain relentless in our pursuit of justice and protection for the vulnerable. These crimes will not be tolerated in our neighborhoods”, said North Star Task Force Lead Detective Bethany Hyde.
Anyone who sees or suspects trafficking or exploitation is asked to call the Flagstaff Police Department at 928-774-1414 or the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 1-888-373-7888.
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