A teenager has managed to evade a lengthy prison term despite being found guilty on numerous counts of rape and assaults, causing outrage within his local community.
Jesse Butler, 18, was apprehended on March 4 following reports of assault by two high school students, as per official documentation reviewed by local media. Although he was initially arrested at 17 and charged as an adult, his classification was later switched to youthful offender status.
His abhorrent acts included first-degree rape, domestic assault, battery by strangulation, attempted first-degree rape, and rape by instrumentation. Butler entered a plea of no contest to 11 charges leveled against him.
Initially facing a potential 78-year incarceration for his heinous deeds, a judge has now allowed him to walk free without serving any jail time. Instead, Judge Susan C. Worthington has mandated him to engage in community service and attend counseling sessions, as per a report by local news outlet KJRH.
Hailing from Oklahoma, USA, the teenager hails from a well-known local family and received such a lenient verdict through a negotiated agreement between the prosecution and defense teams, according to FOX 25.
The families of the victims are reportedly appalled by the ruling, with advocates alleging that Butler’s release was facilitated by his family’s influence in their hometown of Stillwater. The Journal Record notes that the convict’s father previously held a senior position with Oklahoma State University’s football team.
Butler was convicted of rape and assault following an investigation in September 2024, initiated when two female students came forward with multiple disturbing accusations against him.
In impact statements from the victims, as reported by KOCO, one of the girls expressed, “I’ve had to explain bruises, explain silence, explain why I started isolating from people who love me. 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 unusually lenient sentence has triggered anger in the community, with approximately 100 demonstrators participating in a recent rally demanding accountability. Protestor Adelyn Smith lamented, “I feel terrible for those young women. Almost losing your life, having a video being recorded of you almost losing your life and your assaulter being able to just walk with no punishment, a slap on the wrist and 150 hours of community service. That’s just ridiculous.”
Another protestor, Nancy Janai Irving, stated, “None of these girls are getting the justice they deserve. They’ve been silenced, and it’s not OK for him to walk around and not even be remorseful for what he’s done.”
According to PEOPLE, the mother of one victim also expressed her outrage in an impact statement, criticizing how her daughter “had to prove she was the victim, over and over again, while the system made excuse after excuse for the person who hurt her.”
“My daughter has handled this with more strength than most adults could,” she added. “Watching her stay brave while adults failed her has been both inspiring and heartbreaking.”
The girl recounted in court that Butler strangled her and recorded himself raping her after she lost consciousness. She mentioned to The Guardian that he then threatened to harm her or her family if she disclosed the incident.
“What happened to me wasn’t only abuse or strangulation – it was nearly attempted murder,” she reportedly stated. “Thirty more seconds and this would not be my statement. It would be my mother’s because I would not have survived. I survived what he did, but I will never be the same.”
A wave of protestors gathered outside the courthouse recently to condemn the lenient sentence and call for the resignation of Laura Thomas, the Payne County district attorney. Thomas is reportedly an alumna of Oklahoma State University, where Butler’s father was employed. Her office informed The Oklahoman that Butler had the right to request reclassification as a juvenile per Oklahoma law.
The teenager is required to successfully complete his rehabilitation program, which includes intensive therapy with a specialist in sex offender treatment. Failure to comply could lead to reclassification as an adult and a 10-year prison sentence, as stated by Thomas’ office. Additionally, the convicted rapist is prohibited from using social media, must adhere to a curfew, and attend daily check-ins and weekly counseling sessions until his 19th birthday.
Advocates have reportedly established a Facebook group demanding justice for Butler’s victims. Requests for comments from Butler’s legal representatives by various media outlets went unanswered.
