Woman shares prison letter from Jared Fogle

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. -- (WTTV) -- A woman who said Jared Fogle wrote her from prison is talking to CBS4.

Brena Firkins said she had a very personal relationship with the ex-Subway pitchman years ago and felt sorry for him as he sits behind bars. That's when she reached out.

A short one-page letter gives us a small glimpse into life behind bars for Fogle and what he said has been unfair treatment by the media and others.

“It's been a very hard nine months from me,” Firkins read from a handwritten letter postmarked March 25th, from the Englewood federal correctional institution in Littleton, Colorado, where Jared Fogle is currently serving his prison sentence on child porn and child sex charges.

Firkins says she first reached out to Fogle.

“I kind of felt bad for him, and I wrote him to see how he was doing. And he wrote me back and sent this letter that was kind of horrifying,” said Firkins.

She shared the letter with CBS4.

One part reads, “I made a couple of mistakes but nothing like the media reports have said. They are making me into some sort of monster which is absolutely not true.”

It goes on to say, “I'm currently appealing my prison sentence and am hoping for the best with it. Bottom line, my director of my foundation and friend did some bad stuff and tried to throw me under the bus with him.”

A federal judge sentenced Fogle in November to 15-and-a-half years behind bars, three years longer than what prosecutors asked for.

Fogle's former foundation director and friend Russell Taylor was sentenced to 27 years in prison in December, pleading guilty to 12 counts of producing child pornography and a count of distributing child pornography.

Firkins said she met Fogle on a dating site around eight years ago and admits to having a sexual relationship for about a month before losing contact.

“We just had a good time,” she said, “He was, like, real generous. He took me shopping a lot. He paid for everything. He paid for my rent. He would give me gift cards.”

Fogle asks Firkins to send more pictures writing, “Are you dating anyone? I need you in my life big time. I've thought a lot about you over the years but had no way to contact you.”

Fogle got treatment before he was sentenced and attended Sex Addicts Anonymous meetings twice a week in Indianapolis. In fact, the Englewood prison where Jared is housed is one of a handful in the country that offers specialized sex offender treatment programs.

Jared said he had access to email and encouraged Firkins to give him her email address. He asked her to write him back as soon as she got the letter. Firkins says she and Fogle exchanged emails, but now they are done talking.

“I didn't want to hurt his feelings, so I didn't say too much. He's actually probably mad at me now because of this,” said Firkins.

Fogle's attorney Ron Elberger said he had no comment about the letter.

Oral arguments for Fogle's appeal are scheduled for next month in Chicago.