Adil Ş., a teacher accused of sexually abusing six female students between the ages of 6 and 11, three years ago, was sentenced to 82 years in prison by a court in the western city of İzmir Thursday.

The defendant was released pending trial in 2015 and was expected to be released in subsequent hearings before Saadet Özkan, a fellow teacher from his school, sought the support of activists to draw attention to the case.

Özkan was awarded the International Women of Courage award by the U.S. State Department for her efforts.