Jesse Mack Butler, an Oklahoma teen who faced up to 78 years in prison after pleading no contest to multiple charges involving two former girlfriends, is now free after completing the state’s youthful offender program.
On August 4, Tuesday, a Payne County judge dismissed the case, ending Butler’s court supervision and allowing him to avoid prison time.
Highlights
- Jesse Mack Butler's case was dismissed after he completed Oklahoma's youthful offender program.
- Newly elected District Attorney Jeremiah Gregory condemned the defense's claims of Butler's innocence.
- The victims' representatives argued the evidence proved Butler was guilty.
The decision has sparked outrage, with many questioning whether counseling, community service, and probation were enough punishment for the crimes he admitted to in court.
"Nothing has made my blood boil more," newly elected District Attorney Jeremiah Gregory said after Butler's defense suggested he was innocent during the dismissal hearing.
Jesse Butler completed Oklahoma’s youthful offender program and had his case dismissed
Butler was 17 years old when he was originally charged as an adult in Payne County, Oklahoma, in 2024.
He initially faced 10 felony charges, including r*pe, attempted r*pe, s*xual battery, a*sault and battery by strangulation, and violating a protective order.
Later, reports stated he ultimately entered no-contest pleas to 11 charges involving two former girlfriends.
If convicted as originally charged, Butler faced a possible prison sentence of 78 to 87 years, depending on the filing referenced.
Instead, prosecutors and Butler reached a plea agreement that changed his status to a youthful offender under Oklahoma’s Youthful Offender Act. This law allows certain defendants under 18 to complete rehabilitation instead of serving an adult prison sentence.
As part of the agreement, Butler was ordered to complete counseling and therapy, perform 150 hours of community service, attend weekly meetings with the Office of Juvenile Affairs, complete daily check-ins, follow a curfew, stay off social media, and pay $3,300 in restitution.
During the August 3 hearing, the judge ruled Butler had completed every requirement without violating the terms of the program, per CBS affiliate KWTV.
As a result, the court dismissed the case, ending all state supervision.
Butler, who turned 19 this year, will not serve additional jail time through the state case. His attorneys are also working to have the case removed from his record.
The new Oklahoma DA strongly criticized Butler’s defense during the hearing
Although the case was dismissed, the courtroom hearing quickly became tense.
During the proceedings, Butler’s attorney, Derek Chance, argued that Butler was innocent and had also suffered because of the case, per the Oklahoman.
Those comments ignited an immediate response from newly elected Payne County District Attorney Jeremiah Gregory, who said he had not been told such statements would be made in court.
In a strongly worded statement after the hearing, Gregory said, "Today's hearing included disingenuous assertions from the defense regarding the defendant's innocence, that he was the victim in this matter, and that the victim's assertions were false."
Gregory described the defense’s statements as “garbage” and a “nonsense soliloquy.”
He also explained that because Butler had already pleaded no contest and completed his sentence, Oklahoma could not prosecute him again under constitutional protections against double jeopardy.
"I cannot undo what has already been done."
Still, Gregory said his office would refer the matter to federal authorities for possible review.
"I can—and will—continue to stand as a strong voice for all victims of violent crime."
According to Gregory, federal prosecutors operate under separate legal authority and can independently decide whether any federal laws may have been broken.
Besides Gregory, one victim’s attorney rejected claims that Butler was innocent
Attorney Rachel Bussett, who represents one of the victims, also criticized the defense’s arguments.
She said Butler’s attorney wrongly suggested that video evidence proved Butler was innocent.
"He was basically saying that Butler was the victim and that he was innocent... and that's just not the truth."
Bussett referred to a video investigators recovered during the case.
According to court records, the recording allegedly showed Butler strangling one victim until she lost consciousness.
The defense argued the recording showed consensual behavior.
Bussett disagreed, saying, "His attorney claims that the video shows this was consensual."
She added, "But the fact of the matter is that you cannot consent to strangulation."
Bussett also said the victims’ families have not ruled out filing civil lawsuits against Butler, Stillwater High School, the City of Stillwater or Butler’s family.
According to charging documents, Butler was accused of attacking two former girlfriends he dated during 2024
One victim told investigators Butler repeatedly s*xually a*saulted her during their relationship.
She also alleged he strangled her so severely that she later required surgery to repair injuries to her neck.
According to court records, doctors told investigators the strangulation lasted so long that she could have passed away if it had continued just seconds longer.
The second victim described another violent encounter.
She told investigators Butler strangled her until she became unconscious while housesitting, per News9.
Police later recovered a video from Butler’s phone that allegedly showed the incident.
Court documents stated she scratched Butler’s arms while trying to escape but could not free herself.
She also told investigators she often felt pressured to comply with Butler’s demands because she feared being hurt.
The documents alleged Butler wanted intimacy everyday and that she felt coerced throughout the relationship.
Butler’s initial plea agreement sparked protests across Oklahoma and triggered widespread anger
Hundreds of protestors gathered outside the Payne County Courthouse, carrying signs demanding justice for the victims, as reported by Bored Panda.
Many argued Butler’s punishment was far too lenient.
One victim’s mother told Daily Mail, "It's a complete injustice to these girls and to future victims, because unfortunately, statistically, it won’t end. Not only are you giving a slap in the face to these survivors, but you are potentially putting other women at risk by not holding him accountable.”
Another victim’s mother described the sentence as “a joke.”
“By giving him youthful offender status, all the prison time went away,” she said.
Oklahoma State Representative Justin “JJ” Humphrey also criticized the outcome, telling New Nation’s Banfield, "How in the world did this judge get to this? If that doesn't fire you up, there's something wrong."
“The laws are there, but what do you do when they don’t follow them? Does this sound like justice?” he added.
Another protester, Tori Grey, argued that Butler remained a danger to others.
"The justice system here in Stillwater has allowed a violent s*x offender to walk free."
Furthermore, students from Stillwater High School also joined the demonstrations, as one student, Gabryel McKinzie, said, "We really want to make this world better and get people like him off the streets."
Another student, Tristan Turner, added, "He needs to be prosecuted."
Online posts have claimed Butler was in possession of illegal child material
A Facebook page called JustinTheNickOfCrime shared a post offering speculation about what federal investigators could review.
The page stressed that its theory had not been confirmed.
According to the post, investigators allegedly recovered photographs from Butler’s phone that involved minors, and that the images were allegedly shared electronically with others.
The post suggested that, if true, those allegations could potentially fall under federal jurisdiction because federal authorities investigate certain child exploitation crimes.
The post stated, "To be clear, this does not mean Jesse Mack Butler has been federally charged, and it does not guarantee that federal charges are coming."
It added, "A referral simply means federal authorities can review the evidence and determine whether any federal laws may have been violated."
The page also said it was seeking formal clarification about the reason for the FBI referral.
As of now, no federal charges have been announced, and the claims remain speculative.
"Another reason women are afraid to come forward," wrote one netizen
