A newly launched body-camera video exhibits the arrest of a teen accused of violent intercourse assaults in a case now drawing backlash after he obtained no jail time underneath Oklahoma’s youthful-offender legislation.
The teenager, Jesse Butler, was 17 when he was arrested. He later pleaded no contest to a number of felony counts, together with tried first-degree rape, sexual battery and assault by strangulation.
His 78-year sentence was absolutely suspended underneath the youthful-offender statute, permitting him to stay free if he meets court-ordered rehabilitation phrases. Victims’ households have publicly criticized the end result. A mom of one of many victims advised KOCO the justice system “failed” her daughter.
“As a mother, I by no means thought I’d have to look at my daughter combat this type of battle, one the place she needed to show she was the sufferer, again and again, whereas the system made excuse after excuse for the one that damage her.”
The newly launched video exhibits Butler’s seemingly calm arrest at a house in Stillwater. His mom was seen strolling to the entrance door, telling officers, “We’re prepared to inform our story too,” earlier than knocking and calling out to her son to open the door.
Within the video, officers knowledgeable Butler that there was a warrant for his arrest and that he could be taken to the Stillwater Police Division for processing.
Butler, who seemed to be holding again tears, listened quietly as officers defined the aim of their go to.
“Yeah, so we’re right here, we’re clearly going to position you underneath arrest, there’s a warrant on your arrest… we’re going to take you to the jail… I do need to put you in handcuffs, so flip round for me,” one officer mentioned.
“You need to put him in handcuffs?” Butler’s mom requested.
The officer continued and advised the teenager, “You shouldn’t be there very lengthy,” including, “There’s only a course of for paperwork and stuff.”
Butler’s mom could possibly be heard all through the clip reassuring her son and mentioning relations and contacts already concerned in his case.
“I’ll get you out,” she says. “All proper, keep silent. Rick is aware of about this, Sweet’s on this, Dad’s on his approach. We’re coming to get you, OK? Keep sturdy. Say your prayers.”
Jesse Butler’s father, Mack Butler, is the previous director of soccer operations at Oklahoma State College, situated in Stillwater.
The alternate remained calm all through. Officers didn’t increase their voices, and Butler appeared cooperative as he was handcuffed and escorted out. One officer clarified that Butler was being taken to the Stillwater Police Division, not the county jail, to keep away from confusion about his location.
“Terrible expertise for a kid,” Butler’s mother mentioned as officers walked him to the police automobile. “Later, Jess, see you in a bit.”
The Stillwater Police Division mentioned officers had been first notified Sept. 12, 2024, of incidents that reportedly happened earlier that yr.
“A full investigation was initiated the next day that resulted in SPD submitting the case to the Payne County District Lawyer’s Workplace, the place it was reviewed and costs had been filed,” the division mentioned in an announcement.
On the time, Butler was a scholar in Stillwater Public Colleges. Courtroom information obtained by KOCO embrace a number of emotional sufferer impression statements describing lasting concern and trauma.
“You didn’t simply strangle me along with your arms — you strangled my voice, my pleasure, my skill to really feel secure in my very own physique,” one sufferer wrote.
A police affidavit reviewed by Fox Information particulars brutal acts, together with a girlfriend who mentioned she was repeatedly raped and strangled if she refused, and a physician warned she would have died in a single occasion if the strangulation lasted seconds longer.
The Payne County District Lawyer’s Workplace has mentioned the choice to deal with the case underneath Oklahoma’s youthful-offender legislation was primarily based on Butler being 17 on the time of the alleged offenses. The workplace emphasised the statute “permits the court docket to keep up supervision till the defendant’s nineteenth birthday and offers him an opportunity for rehabilitation whereas nonetheless holding him accountable.”
In its assertion, the DA’s workplace additionally wrote that the legislation “doesn’t erase the crimes or reduce their impression.”
Rep. Justin “JJ” Humphrey (R-Okla.) referred to as the ruling “unacceptable” and introduced plans to petition for a grand jury overview.
“If that don’t set you on hearth, your wooden’s moist,” Humphrey advised Fox Information Digital. “You understand what I imply? You’ve acquired a nasty deal. That units me on hearth.”
Courtroom paperwork present Butler stays sure by a sentence issued Aug. 25, 2025, contingent on full compliance with a state-supervised rehabilitation plan.
Whereas Butler was sentenced to a complete of 78 years, the sentence is suspended underneath Oklahoma’s youthful offender program, that means he is not going to serve jail time until he violates this system’s situations.
He stays underneath Workplace of Juvenile Affairs supervision till his nineteenth birthday, topic to counseling, remedy, greater than 100 hours of neighborhood service, a curfew, no social media, day by day check-ins and weekly counseling, in keeping with paperwork obtained by Fox Information.
If Butler fulfills the phrases of this system and avoids additional authorized bother, he can stay out of jail, although any violation may consequence within the full sentence being enforced.
His subsequent listening to is scheduled for Dec. 8 in Payne County District Courtroom.
Fox Information’ Brooke Taylor contributed to this report.
