An 18-year-old teenager managed to avoid a lengthy prison term despite being found guilty of multiple rape and assault charges, sparking anger within the local community.
Jesse Butler was taken into custody on March 4 following reports of assault from two high school students, as detailed in official reports reviewed by local media. Initially arrested at 17 and charged as an adult, Butler’s status was later changed to youthful offender.
His abhorrent crimes included first-degree rape, domestic assault, battery by strangulation, attempted first-degree rape, and rape by instrumentation. Butler entered a no-contest plea to 11 charges against him.
Although he faced a potential 78-year prison sentence for his heinous acts, a judge decided to release him without serving any jail time. Instead, Judge Susan C Worthington mandated community service and counseling for Butler, as reported by local news channel KJRH.
Hailing from Oklahoma, USA, the teenager belongs to a locally esteemed family and secured a lenient sentence through a plea agreement between the prosecution and defense teams, according to FOX 25.
Families of the victims expressed disgust at the sentence, with advocates alleging that Butler’s release was influenced by his family’s standing in his hometown of Stillwater. The Journal Record disclosed that his father had previously held a key role in Oklahoma State University’s football team operations.
Butler was found guilty of rape and assault following a September 2024 investigation initiated when two female students came forward with distressing accusations against him.
In victim impact statements obtained by KOCO, one of the girls stated, “I’ve had to explain bruises, silence, and why I started isolating from loved ones. You didn’t just physically harm me; you silenced my voice, joy, and sense of safety within my own body.”
Outrage over the excessively lenient sentence sparked a protest with around 100 demonstrators gathering to demand accountability. A protester, Adelyn Smith, expressed sympathy for the young women, criticizing the minimal consequences imposed on the assaulter.
Another protester, Nancy Janai Irving, lamented the lack of justice for the girls and condemned Butler’s remorseless attitude towards his actions.
According to PEOPLE, a victim’s mother voiced her anger in a victim impact statement, condemning the continuous need for her daughter to prove her victimhood while the system seemingly excused the perpetrator.
The mother commended her daughter’s resilience in the face of adversity, highlighting the challenges she endured due to the failures of adults in the situation.
During court proceedings, the victim recounted how Butler strangled her and recorded himself committing the assault after she lost consciousness. She disclosed that he threatened to harm her or her family if she disclosed the incident.
Protests outside the court targeted the lenient sentence and called for the resignation of Laura Thomas, the Payne County district attorney. Thomas, an alumna of Oklahoma State University where Butler’s father worked, defended Butler’s right to seek reclassification as a juvenile under state law.
Butler must successfully complete a rehabilitation plan, including intensive therapy with a specialist in sex offender treatment. Failure to comply could result in reclassification as an adult and a 10-year prison sentence, as outlined by Thomas’ office. Additionally, he is prohibited from using social media, subject to a curfew, and mandated to attend daily check-ins and weekly counseling sessions until he turns 19.
Advocates have created a Facebook group demanding justice for Butler’s victims, while Butler’s lawyers have not responded to media requests for comments on the case.
