A newly launched body-camera video reveals 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 totally suspended underneath the youthful-offender statute, permitting him to stay free if he meets court-ordered rehabilitation phrases. Victims' households have publicly criticized the result. A mom of one of many victims instructed KOCO the justice system “failed” her daughter.
“As a mother, I by no means thought I'd have to look at my daughter struggle 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 who harm her.”
The newly launched video reveals 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 can be taken to the Stillwater Police Division for processing.
Butler, who gave the impression 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 in 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.
“It's a must to put him in handcuffs?” Butler's mom requested.
The officer continued and instructed the teenager, “You shouldn't be there very lengthy,” including, “There may be only a course of for paperwork and stuff.”
Butler's mom may very well be heard all through the clip reassuring her son and mentioning members of the family 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 robust. Say your prayers.”
Jesse Butler's father, Mack Butler, is the previous director of soccer operations at Oklahoma State College, positioned 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 automotive. “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 Faculties. Court docket data obtained by KOCO embody a number of emotional sufferer influence statements describing lasting worry and trauma.
“You didn't simply strangle me together with your fingers — you strangled my voice, my pleasure, my means to really feel protected 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 health care provider 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 based mostly on Butler being 17 on the time of the alleged offenses. The workplace emphasised the statute “permits the court docket to take care of supervision till the defendant's nineteenth birthday and provides 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 decrease their influence.”
Rep. Justin “JJ” Humphrey (R-Okla.) referred to as the ruling “unacceptable” and introduced plans to petition for a grand jury evaluation.
“If that don't set you on fireplace, your wooden's moist,” Humphrey instructed Fox Information Digital. “You understand what I imply? You've acquired a nasty deal. That units me on fireplace.”
Court docket paperwork present Butler stays certain 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 won't serve jail time except he violates this system's circumstances.
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, each 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 Court docket.
Fox Information' Brooke Taylor contributed to this report.
