Teen Ordered to Pay $150,000 to the Family of Her Rapist Is Flooded With Donations

A fundraiser for an Iowa adolescent who was raped and later found guilty of killing her rapist has easily surpassed the $150,000 in compensation she was required to give his family.

The teen was a victim of human trafficking.

People who claim to be appalled by the court-enforced repayment order have contributed roughly $450,000 to a GoFundMe campaign created on behalf of Pieper Lewis as of Friday morning.

In 2020, the 17-year-old killed Zachary Brooks and admitted to voluntary manslaughter and deliberate harm. Lewis claims that Brooks, 37 at the time, sexually assaulted her many times in the weeks before his passing. 

She testified before the court that at some point, she experienced a breakdown and stabbed Brooks at least 30 times in a fit of wrath.

Due to Lewis’s time in juvenile jail, Polk County District Judge David M. Porter postponed two 10-year sentences. He gave her a five-year probationary sentence during a sentencing hearing on Tuesday.

Porter commented on how unjust it was to have Lewis pay money to the family of her abuser, claiming he had “no other option.” 

According to Iowa law, restitution is required, and the state has not passed any so-called safe harbor statutes which grant trafficking victims varied degrees of criminal immunity.

Lewis’ old math instructor Leland Schipper started the GoFundMe campaign and said he was “incredibly proud of her.”

“[T]he judge recognized that Pieper was a victim and a child. He, like almost everyone who knows the details of Pieper’s case, empathized with a girl with no violent history before or after this incident, who saw killing a man as the only way out of a truly horrific situation,” Schipper said in a message to potential contributors.

Tens of thousands of people donated money to the account after being affected by his and Lewis’ statements.

Michelle Randall, who contributed $5, wrote: “My donation isn’t much, but it’s sent with LOVE.”

John Dore contributed $20 and commented, “Some laws are bad laws and hurt people who shouldn’t be hurt any further. We made those laws, and it’s up to us to fix them. I think you’ve been very brave. May your life be filled with peace, with love, and—especially—with justice.”

Since Lewis’ sentence hearing, more than 26 people have given anything from $1,000 to $5,000.

The fundraising target has been increased thanks to overwhelmingly quick and generous support.
Schipper set the fundraising target at $150,000, but when it became apparent that they would surpass it within the first 24 hours, he increased it and announced that he would keep accepting donations above $200,000.

Schipper updated in a post:

“The funds will be used in the following ways: 1) Pay off Pieper’s 150k restitution 2) Pay off the additional 4k in restitution to the state 3) Remove financial barriers for Pieper in pursuing college/university or starting her own business. 4) Give Pieper the financial capacity to explore ways to help other young victims of sex crimes!”

On Tuesday, Lewis spoke to the court while reading a prepared letter.

“My spirit has been burned, but still glows through the flames,” she said. “Hear me roar, see me glow, and watch me grow.”

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