The community of Payne County, Oklahoma, is in an uproar as parents and local residents voice their dismay over a legal decision involving a student accused of committing several violent sexual offenses. The case has taken a controversial turn after the court decided to reclassify the accused from being tried as an adult to being designated a “youthful offender.”
Jesse Butler, now 18, recently entered a no contest plea to 11 serious felony charges, which include attempted first-degree rape, strangulation, and violating a protective order. The court’s decision to alter his legal status is due to the fact that the alleged crimes occurred when Butler was still a minor, thus invoking Oklahoma’s youthful offender laws.
Initially, Butler faced charges as an adult back in March, with accusations spanning rape, sexual battery, and domestic assault and battery by strangulation. His legal proceedings have now shifted gears, and his next court appearance is slated for December 8th in the Payne County District Court.
Understandably, the change in Butler’s prosecutorial status has left many parents in the Payne County community feeling outraged and unsettled. They are grappling with the legal system’s decision, which they feel undermines the severity of the charges he faces.
Adding to the gravity of the situation, the Stillwater Police Department reported that they were first alerted to these incidents on September 12, 2024, which allegedly occurred earlier that same year.
The Stillwater Police Department said officers were first notified Sept. 12, 2024, of incidents that reportedly took place earlier that year.
“A full investigation was initiated the following day that resulted in SPD submitting the case to the Payne County District Attorney’s Office, where it was reviewed and charges were filed,” the department said in a statement.
At the time, Butler was a student in Stillwater Public Schools. Court records obtained by KOCO include several emotional victim impact statements describing lasting fear and trauma.
“You didn’t just strangle me with your hands — you strangled my voice, my joy, my ability to feel safe in my own body,” one victim wrote.
Jesse Butler in a baseball uniform before the criminal allegations came to light. (Risin Baseball)
She said Butler also threatened to kill her if she spoke out.
A mother of one of the victims told KOCO the justice system “failed” her daughter.
“As a mom, I never thought I’d have to watch my daughter fight this kind of battle, one where she had to prove she was the victim, over and over again, while the system made excuse after excuse for the person who hurt her.”
Jesse Butler’s father, Mack Butler, is the former director of football operations at Oklahoma State University, located in Stillwater.
A police affidavit reviewed by Fox News details brutal acts, including a girlfriend who said she was repeatedly raped and strangled if she refused, and a doctor warned she would have died in one instance if the strangulation lasted seconds longer.
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Court documents show Butler remains bound by a sentence issued Aug. 25, 2025, contingent on full compliance with a state-supervised rehabilitation plan.
While Butler was sentenced to a total of 78 years, the sentence is suspended under Oklahoma’s youthful offender program, meaning Butler will not serve prison time unless he violates the plan’s conditions.
The Payne County Court Office in Stillwater, Okla. (Google Maps)
He remains under Office of Juvenile Affairs supervision until his 19th birthday, subject to counseling, therapy, more than 100 hours of community service, a curfew, no social media, daily check-ins and weekly counseling, according to documents obtained by Fox News.
The Payne County District Attorney’s Office said it followed state law in handling the case, noting that Butler was 17 at the time of the offenses and therefore fell under Oklahoma’s youthful offender statute.
The office said the designation allows the court to maintain supervision until the defendant’s 19th birthday and gives him a chance for rehabilitation while still holding him accountable.
Jesse Butler sitting down on a bench with his sister and mother standing nearby. (Amber ‘mckinzie’ Selvey)
A spokesperson added that the law does not erase the crimes or minimize their impact but provides “a legal path for accountability and rehabilitation under state law.”
If Butler fulfills the terms of the program and avoids further legal trouble, he can remain out of prison, though any violation could result in the full sentence being enforced.
State Rep. J.J. Humphrey, R-Lane, called the outcome “unacceptable” and said he plans to file a petition for a grand jury investigation into how Payne County prosecutors handled the case.
State Rep. J.J. Humphrey is questioning the lenient sentence for a Stillwater teen convicted of rape and calling for an investigation. (State of Oklahoma House of Representatives)
“If that don’t set you on fire, your wood’s wet,” Humphrey told Fox News Digital. “You know what I mean? You’ve got a bad deal. That sets me on fire.”
He accused local officials of showing “favoritism” and contrasted Butler’s case with others in which defendants faced harsher penalties.
“Does it absolutely smack of political favor that you’re going to erase rapes and sexual crimes so you can give this guy a slap on the wrist?” Humphrey said. “Oklahoma, better pay attention. Wake up.”
Neither the presiding judge nor the District Attorney’s Office has issued additional comment beyond the written statement. Fox News Digital reached out to Butler’s legal team for comment.
Stepheny Price covers crime, including missing persons, homicides and migrant crime. Send story tips to stepheny.price@fox.com.
