Protests erupted outside of a Payne County, Oklahoma courthouse earlier this week over the controversial sentence handed down to 18-year-old Jesse Mack Butler.
The teenager, from Stillwater, was convicted of sexually assaulting two teenage girls after pleading no contest to several charges, including sexual assault, strangulation, and domestic abuse.
As per court records cited by USA Today, a judge’s sentence on August 25, 2025 allowed Butler to avoid prison time for the conviction after his status was changed to being a youthful offender. The 18-year-old – initially facing the possibility of 78 years in prison – was sentenced to community service, rehabilitation and out-patient counseling.
If he fully complies, his criminal record would be expunged when he turns 19 next year. Butler then wouldn’t have to register as a sexual offender.
The assaults in question occurred when Butler was 16 and 17 years old.
USA Today report that the teen’s father was previously tied to Oklahoma State University where he was the former director of operations for the football team. The Oklahoman, meanwhile, claim that the special judge who granted Butler youthful offender status, Susan Worthington, also has longstanding ties to OSU, where she earned two bachelor’s degrees.
Butler appeared in court on Monday, November 5 for a hearing to assess his compliance with the aforementioned plea deal. Should he be found in breach of the terms of his sentence, Butler faces reclassification as an adult and could be sentenced to up to 10 years in prison.
At the Nov 5 hearing, however, Payne County District Judge Michael Kulling found the teen in compliance, allowing Butler to remain on probation.
Protesters, including some who gathered outside the courthouse, have openly voiced their anger.
Signs bearing messages such as “Hold Jesse Responsible” and “Dirty Judge Define Justice!” were in evidence outside the hearing, while Newsweek reported that the convicted teen’s case has attracted additional scrutiny due to the connections involving his family and the judge presiding over his sentencing.
One of Butler’s victims, a girl named Kate, had dated him after turning sixteen. Her parents expressed their disbelief that after Kate and another girl came forward with their stories of violent sexual assault at the hands of Butler, justice – as they see it – was not served.
“It was upsetting,” Kate’s mother Yvonne told ABC Nightline. “The girls had to be really brave to come forward, and they went through a lot to get to that point. And then, it just kind of felt like it was all for nothing.”
Attorney Rachel Bussett, who represents one of Butler’s victims and her family, said her client was not aware he would ultimately avoid prison time, as per KOKH-TV.
“The clients are not happy with the plea deal,” Bussett said. “It was not discussed with them. They did not approve of it and that it should not have been handled the way that it was handled. Justice would look like not being raped, but we can’t go back and do that.”
According to arrest affidavits, the Stillwater Police Department reported that two victims had reported Butler’s crimes to Stillwater High School authorities in September 2024. One student, referred to in court documents by her initials, L.S., told a school resource officer that she and Butler were in a romantic relationship from late January to early March 2024.
She reported several instances of Butler forcing her to have sex against her will. The affidavit outlines that the victim complied out of fear of what Butler would do if she did not.
The second victim, Kate, revealed she’d had a relationship with Butler starting in late March 2024 and lasting for several months.
She reported physical and mental abuse and multiple instances of sexual assault.
Kate claimed that Butler sexually assaulted her and even recorded a video strangling her until she was unconsciousness. Investigators later found the video in question on Butler’s phone.
“Butler told her he wanted to strangle her, so he could film it on his phone,” according to the affidavit. “Butler got on top of [Kate] to watch her pass out. He set up his phone to record it, so he could watch it later. [Kate] lost consciousness on this occasion as well.”
In a statement given to to ABC News, Payne County District Attorney Laura Austin Thomas defended the outcome and handling of the case.
“The three young people involved were all 16 years old at the time of the alleged crimes,” Thomas said.
“Each of the allegations was reported to have occurred during consecutive dating relationships and none of the allegations was reported until after the relationships had both ended.
“These circumstances do not justify criminal behavior or minimize victim trauma but they do impact the evidence available for a prosecution and they also impact potential defenses. We discussed these factors at length on multiple occasions with each family, including advising them from the beginning that this matter was likely to end up as a youthful offender prosecution and could even end up in juvenile court.”
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