Backlash grows after Oklahoma teen avoids prison in assault case

Backlash is mounting in Oklahoma after a youngster accused of a string of violent assaults averted jail time, prompting teams of individuals to protest outdoors a courthouse amid renewed scrutiny over the justice system’s dealing with of the case.

Pictures present greater than 100 folks gathering outdoors the Payne County Courthouse Wednesday with indicators demanding justice after 18-year-old Jesse Butler averted jail below Oklahoma’s juvenile offender legislation. The Oklahoman reported this.

“Ponca Tribal Sufferer Providers stands in solidarity with survivors demanding justice!” the group wrote in a submit on Fb. “Jesse Butler should be held accountable! Payne County Choose Susan Worthington must be disbarred.”

The demonstrations adopted days of anger on-line and in the neighborhood after Butler, who pleaded no contest to a number of intercourse abuse expenses, obtained a 78-year jail sentence that was suspended below Oklahoma’s juvenile offender legislation, permitting him to stay free if he completes court-ordered rehabilitation.

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Demonstrators collect to protest the result of the Jesse Butler case outdoors Payne County Courthouse in Stillwater, Oklahoma, Wednesday, November 5, 2025. (Nathan J. Fish/The Oklahoman/USA At this time Community through Imagn Pictures)

A spokesperson for Stillwater Public Colleges advised Fox Information Digital that workers met with police final week to arrange for potential protests, designating areas for protesters and media and putting further officers on campus “out of an abundance of warning.”

“We condemn sexual abuse and violence in all its kinds,” the varsity district shared in a press release. “Our ideas, prayers and hopes for justice are with the victims in our neighborhood and all over the place.”

The Stillwater Police Division stated in a information launch that it’s working with Stillwater Public Colleges to analyze “current calls and messages to the district concerning the enrollment of pupil Jesse Butler.”

“Whereas the language within the calls and messages is obscure and never focused at particular faculty places, college students or workers, all communications and potential threats are taken significantly and absolutely investigated,” the division wrote.

Households outraged after highschool pupil avoids jail as a juvenile offender in violent intercourse assault circumstances

A protester holds up an indication that reads “Maintain Jesse Accountable” throughout an indication outdoors the courthouse in Stillwater, Oklahoma, Wednesday, November 5, 2025. (Nathan J. Fish/The Oklahoman/USA At this time Community through Imagn Pictures)

Authorities stated additional patrols had been added out of an abundance of warning. Butler, who was beforehand a Stillwater pupil, just isn’t attending in individual and has been barred from faculty property and occasions, police confirmed.

A newly launched physique digicam video exhibits the second Butler was arrested final yr, a part of an investigation that started after a number of women accused him of brutal sexual assaults.

WATCH: Police bodycam exhibits arrest of Oklahoma teen Jesse Butler

When he was 17, Butler pleaded no contest to 10 counts of rape and one rely of violating a protecting order. Though he obtained a 78-year jail sentence, that time period was suspended below Oklahoma’s juvenile offender legislation, permitting him to stay free if he met strict rehabilitation situations.

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The victims’ households and neighborhood members condemned the result. Some protesters Wednesday held indicators noting Butler’s connection to Oklahoma State College in Stillwater, the place his father is a former director of soccer operations.

Opponents of Jesse Butler maintain indicators denouncing the courtroom’s resolution outdoors the Payne County Courthouse in Stillwater, Oklahoma, Wednesday, Nov. 5, 2025. (Nathan J. Fish/The Oklahoman/USA At this time Community through Imagn Pictures)

“As a mom, I by no means thought I must see my daughter struggle such a battle, a battle the place she needed to show over and over that she was the sufferer,” stated one mom. KOCO said. “The justice system failed her.”

One sufferer stated Butler strangled her, and a health care provider warned she may have died if it had lasted “seconds longer,” in line with a police assertion reviewed by Fox Information Digital.

Jesse Butler in a baseball uniform earlier than the felony allegations got here to gentle. (Risin Baseball)

The Payne County Prosecutor’s Workplace stated the choice to pursue the case below the Juvenile Offenders Act was based mostly on Butler’s age on the time of the crimes. The company stated the legislation permits supervision “till the suspect’s nineteenth birthday” and supplies a possibility for rehabilitation “whereas nonetheless holding him accountable.”

Rep. Justin “JJ” Humphrey, R-Okla., referred to as the ruling “unacceptable” and stated he plans to petition for a grand jury overview.

“If that does not gentle you on fireplace, your wooden is moist,” Humphrey beforehand advised Fox Information Digital. ‘Do you perceive what I imply? You bought a foul deal. That units me on fireplace.”

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Court docket paperwork present Butler stays below the supervision of the Workplace of Juvenile Affairs, required to finish remedy, counseling, greater than 100 hours of neighborhood service, day by day check-ins and weekly periods. He has been banned from social media and topic to curfew restrictions.

If Butler violates any situations, the courtroom may implement his full 78-year jail sentence. His subsequent listening to is scheduled for Dec. 8 in Payne County District Court docket.

Stepheny Value covers crime together with lacking individuals, murders and migrant crime. Ship story tricks to stepheny.value@fox.com.