Teacher of Sex-Trafficked Teen Made GoFundMe for Teen's 150K Restitution: Fund Has Raised Over 300K

Two years ago, at age 15, Pieper Lewis was reportedly forced into human trafficking by Christopher Brown in Des Moines, Iowa, after running away from home.

Pieper told authorities Christopher led her to believe they were a couple and introduced her to his friend Zachary Brooks. The teenager contended that Brown started placing her on dating sites and required her to be in the company of Zachary more than once, where she was drugged and sexually assaulted each time. She said the abuse prompted her to kill Zachary out of self-defense (Zachary is pictured below).

After pleading guilty to second-degree manslaughter and willful injury for stabbing him to death, she received a five-year probation and $150,000 in restitution fees. The victim's former teacher, Leland Schipper, stepped in and created a GoFundMe account to support Piper and pay off her restitution. So far, it has raised $343,690 out of a $200,000 goal. Schipper's GoFundMe message below explains the purpose of the account.

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!

Several citizens consider the court-ordered restitution an unjust requirement for a sexually abused minor who killed out of fear and self-defense. However, the courts argued that the teen's abuser didn't pose a threat to Lewis when she murdered Brooks.

Piper read the following statement during her trial: "My spirit has been burned, but still glows through the flames." She also described her life by saying: "This means I face rape, abuse, hatred, betrayal, manipulation, abandonment, loss of a parent, loneliness." "I wonder what else I will carry in that sack of beautiful pain."

To donate to Piper's GoFundMe: https://gofund.me/7d793d5d

Photo Credit: Google Images and The Register/USA Today Network