State Wants Mother To Support Killer Son Medical Insurance For Boy Who Shot Brother Also Demanded

The state is suing to get child-support payments from the mother of a 15-year-old Princeton boy serving a six-year term at the state Youth Services Center for last year’s shooting death of his brother.

The Idaho Department of Health and Welfare also wants Vicki J. Zimmerman to provide medical insurance for Jason Zimmerman until he turns 18.

Vicki Zimmerman said after the suit was filed last week in 2nd District Court that she had known for some time that payments would be required to help support Jason, but she did not realize the state would sue her.

Jason pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter and aggravated battery in June for the August 1994 death of 12-year-old Justin Zimmerman. According to testimony at his preliminary hearing, Jason was drunk on vodka when he shot his brother with a .22-caliber rifle at the family’s home.

He was sentenced to six years at the state Youth Services Center on the battery conviction, and 2nd District Judge John Bengtson withheld judgment on a possible 25-year prison sentence for involuntary manslaughter.

He could be placed on probation for that entire term, depending on how he conducts himself during the Youth Services Center portion of his sentence, Bengtson ruled.

In last week’s lawsuit, Lewiston attorney John Tait argued on behalf of Health and Welfare’s Bureau of Child Support Services that the state “is entitled to the necessary support and education expenses” from Jason’s mother “until said minor child has reached the age of eighteen.”