Community members and parents in Payne County, Oklahoma, are expressing their anger after a student accused of several violent sexual assaults was reclassified in court from an adult to a “juvenile offender.”
Jesse Butler, now 18, recently entered a no contest plea to 11 felony charges, which include attempted first-degree rape and strangulation, among others. The authorities indicated that the alleged crimes happened before he turned 18, prompting the court to change his legal classification under the state’s Youth Offender Act.
Originally, Butler was charged as an adult back in March, but he’s currently facing charges as a juvenile for similar offenses, including rape and domestic assault.
The next court session is set for December 8 in Payne County District Court.
Investigators from the Stillwater Police Department were alerted to the incidents on September 12, 2024, concerning events that took place earlier that same year. They noted that an extensive investigation followed, culminating in charges filed by the Payne County District Attorney’s Office.
At the time of the alleged attacks, Butler was attending Stillwater Public Schools. Victims’ impact statements submitted to the court reveal deep emotional scars, with one victim describing the lasting effects of the assaults: “You didn’t just strangle me with your hands. You strangled my voice, my joy, my ability to feel safe in my own body.”
The mother of one victim expressed her frustration over the justice system, saying her daughter had to fight to be recognized as a victim while facing numerous hurdles. “As a mother, I never expected to have to watch my daughter fight a battle like this,” she lamented.
Butler’s father, Mac Butler, held a position as the director of football operations at Oklahoma State University in Stillwater. According to a police affidavit, details of the alleged crimes were quite severe, with one victim recounting multiple rapes and choking that could have led to her death.
The court has mandated that Butler complies with a rehabilitation program, which includes a 78-year sentence that could be served as just 10 years if it is followed correctly. However, this sentence is suspended under Oklahoma’s youth offender rules, meaning he faces no jail time if he adheres to the program.
He will remain under the supervision of the Youth Authority until he turns 19, during which he’ll have to complete counseling, perform community service, adhere to a curfew, and avoid social media.
The Payne County District Attorney’s Office clarified that it operated within the boundaries of state law concerning Butler’s case, emphasizing that he was 17 during the crimes, which falls under juvenile statutes. They noted that this approach allows for continued supervision until the individual’s 19th birthday, aiming for both accountability and rehabilitation.
State Representative JJ Humphrey (R-Lane) has called the outcomes of the case “unacceptable” and indicated intentions to push for a grand jury to investigate how the case was managed. He expressed strong feelings about the leniency received by Butler compared to other similar cases, questioning whether it suggested favoritism.
While local officials have yet to comment on the situation, community sentiment remains charged, with many demanding accountability and change.
