Des Moines teenager appeals court order to pay restitution to rapist’s family

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Des Moines, IA-  An Iowa teenager is appealing a court order to pay $150,000 in restitution to the family of her alleged rapist.

The restitution was a part of Pieper Lewis’s sentence for the killing of Zachary Brooks.

TV Station KCCI reports that, according to Iowa law, any person convicted of causing the death of another person, is required to pay a minimum of $150,000 to the victim’s estate.

Lewis’s attorneys say the restitution for Brook’s estate is an “illegal sentence,” because Brooks was identified as the man responsible for trafficking Lewis for sex.

A GoFundMe campaign, organized to help Lewis pay the restitution, has already raised over $560,000.