A 30-year-old female teacher, Jennifer Fichter, was handed down a 22-year jail term for having sex with three of her students to the extent of falling pregnant for one and aborting the pregnancy.
Following the sentence which people consider as harsh, groups from all over the world are now appealing for the teacher’s release or reduction of the sentence.
There’s a petition on a website, Change.org with thousands of signatures appealing the sentence.
Similarly, another site, Whitehouse.gov has numbers that are climbing, all geared towards a possible reduction of the terms or release of the teacher.
One man named, Nicolai Bashenko from Switzerland started a Facebook page titled Free Jennifer Fichter.
He said, “When I see this story on the Internet I feel this in my heart that someone needs my help and that I can help someone in this world. Because it’s really very strong 22-years of prison.”
According to reports, Bashenko said Fichter didn’t murder any one and doesn’t deserve to spend the next two decades behind bars. He said he had a sexual relationship with a teacher while he was in school and he doesn’t understand the sentence.
He said, “It looks crazy. Twenty-two years for a young woman? She killed no one. She didn’t murder anyone, she stole no money, she just make what she wants with young boys.”
Meanwhile, the teacher admitted that what she did was actually wrong during her sentencing hearing.
But her supporters insist that it is still not serious enough to attract such long jail term.
She is still facing charges in Hillsborough County and has 30 days to appeal the sentence.
