In Stillwater, Oklahoma, families are tirelessly seeking justice after 18-year-old Jesse Mack Butler, charged with a string of violent sexual assaults, managed to avoid a prison sentence. This outcome has sparked public demonstrations and demands for changes in the legal system, as well as a wave of renewed outrage from the victims’ families.
Butler, who committed the acts at ages 16 and 17, entered a no contest plea to 11 felony charges earlier this year. These charges include attempted rape, rape by instrumentation, sexual battery, forcible oral sodomy, domestic assault by strangulation, and breaching a protective order.
Although facing a potential 78-year prison term, Butler was granted youthful offender status. This decision allows him to remain free, subject to supervision, counseling, community service, and adherence to a curfew.
During an interview with Juju Chang on “Nightline,” which aired a preview on “Good Morning America,” the parents of one victim shared their story publicly for the first time. They discussed the emotional toll on their daughter and expressed their belief that the court’s decision was a disservice to her.
The arrest of 18-year-old Jesse Butler was captured as his mother watched. Despite the serious charges, he received a sentence that spared him from prison time. (Stillwater Police Department)
Ivonne, the mother of the victim identified as Kate, revealed that her daughter has been deeply affected by the assaults, struggling to cope with the aftermath.
“Community service and counseling doesn’t equate to what he did to her — what he’s taken from her,” she told Chang.
Kate’s father, Austin, said the family hopes speaking out will protect others. “[I’m] just hoping that his name will be out there. That somebody will know that he’s capable of this and just anything we can do to prevent other harm.”
Kate was 16 when she began dating Butler, her first boyfriend. Her parents said he initially seemed polite and attentive before they noticed concerning changes in her daughter’s behavior. She is now completing her senior year online and has withdrawn from key milestones, including prom and graduation.
Court documents obtained by Fox News detailed the severity of the accusations, including allegations that Butler strangled victims, threatened them and left one teen “near death.” One victim wrote that Butler had “strangled my voice, my joy, my ability to feel safe in my own body.” Police affidavits described repeated assaults, forced sexual acts and threats of violence if the victims spoke out.
Outrage intensified as those details became public.
Jesse Butler was seen sitting down on a bench with his sister and mother. (Amber ‘mckinzie’ Selvey)
During a Dec. 8 compliance hearing on Butler’s supervision agreement, protesters again lined the Payne County Courthouse. According to KJRH, demonstrators voiced frustration with sealed records, and victims’ advocates allowed to speak in court argued that keeping certain documents under seal appeared to protect Butler rather than promote transparency.
The review hearing focused on whether Butler was complying with his probation terms, which include daily calls and weekly visits with the Office of Juvenile Affairs, therapy and community service.
One protester told KJRH, “Rape is rape, violence is violence, and it needs to end and so does systematic corruption.” Advocates questioned how therapy would benefit Butler when he has never admitted wrongdoing.
At the hearing, a judge agreed to unseal some of Butler’s records, a move supporters of the victims said would help provide more clarity about the case.
Payne County District Attorney Laura Austin Thomas issued a detailed statement to The Oklahoman more than a month after sentencing, explaining why prosecutors initially filed the case in adult court, a move she said was intended to keep the allegations public, since juvenile cases in Oklahoma are typically confidential.
Thomas said state law strongly favors rehabilitation when defendants are under 18 at the time of the alleged crimes and noted that only two of the 11 charges legally qualified for adult prosecution. She said families were told early on that a youthful-offender sentence was the likely outcome.
Jesse Butler pictured in a baseball uniform before the criminal allegations came to light. (Risin Baseball)
According to the DA’s statement, also reported by The Oklahoman, Butler must complete an “aggressive schedule of therapy” with a specialist. If he fails to comply, he could be reclassified as an adult and face up to 10 years in prison.
The Oklahoman also reported that some critics questioned whether Butler’s local ties, including his father’s past role with Oklahoma State University’s football program, influenced the outcome. The judge who granted youthful-offender status also earned two degrees from OSU. No evidence has been presented that those connections affected the ruling, but they remain part of the public debate.
In the “Nightline” interview, the family’s attorney, Rachel Bussett, said she believed incarceration was warranted.
“There should have been a period of incarceration and an admission of guilt,” she said.
Bussett has filed a motion alleging Kate’s rights were violated during the plea and sentencing proceedings.
Ivonne said she hopes her daughter will eventually move forward.
“I hope that she tries to date again; right now she’s been too scared,” she said. Asked whether the ordeal shattered her daughter’s trust, she added, “Yeah… I hope she’ll try again because love shouldn’t hurt.”
Fox News has reached out to the Payne County district attorney’s office and the family’s attorney for additional comment.
Stepheny Price covers crime, including missing persons, homicides and migrant crime. Send story tips to stepheny.price@fox.com.
