Statement of NOW President Toni Van Pelt and Florida NOW President Kim Porteous:

WASHINGTON, D.C. – A former Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University professor who was convicted by a jury of sexual misconduct with a child is getting the Jeffrey Epstein treatment by a Florida judge.

Mark Fugler was sentenced to 15 years in prison in June for showing pornographic material to a 7-year old girl, masturbating in front of the child and soliciting her to touch him sexually over a two-year period.

But instead of keeping this dangerous man behind bars, Senior Judge R. Michael Hutcheson is letting him sleep in his own bed at night. Fugler was freed on bail pending appeal—a process that could take years and potentially allow him to prey on even more victims.

How many more outrages and failures of criminal justice must survivors endure? When will men of wealth and privilege be denied get-out-of-jail free cards because they can game the system?

Judge Hutcheson must rescind his order and Mark Fugler should not be allowed to live at home while his lawyers delay the reckoning justice—and human decency—demand.

Contact

Kimberly Hayes, Press Secretary, press@now.org, 202-570-4745