Jesse Mack Butler Met With Protests at Hearing After Being Spared Jail

EDITOR’S NOTE: This article contains descriptions of sexual abuse and domestic violence that some readers may find distressing.

Public anger over the case of Jesse Mack Butler intensified this week as the teen returned to court for a routine hearing—which drew protesters, national media attention, and renewed questions about whether the justice system failed his victims.

Butler, now 18 and from Stillwater, Oklahoma, pleaded no contest in August to 10 rape-related charges stemming from assaults on two high school girls in 2024. Police affidavits describe repeated sexual assaults, coercion, and strangulation so severe that one victim, according to a doctor, might have died had the pressure continued “seconds longer.”

Investigators also recovered a video showing Butler choking a victim unconscious.

Newsweek contacted the Payne County District Attorney’s Office, Judge Worthington’s Chambers and attorney for the victims for comment via email outside of normal office hours on Wednesday.

Why It Matters

The Butler case has become a lightning rod far beyond Payne County, raising national concern over whether the justice system treats violent offenders equitably.

Though police records detail repeated assaults and near-fatal strangulation of two teenage girls, Butler avoided prison under Oklahoma’s youthful-offender statute—a decision critics say reflects systemic leniency and possible local favoritism, given his family’s community ties.

Victims’ families argue they were not properly consulted, protesters have been filling courthouse steps demanding accountability, and lawmakers are calling for a grand jury review.

The controversy now sits at the intersection of public safety, privilege, and trust in the courts, fueling a broader debate over whether the system protects the vulnerable or shields the well-connected.

What To Know

Jesse Mack Butler is an 18-year-old from Stillwater, Oklahoma, who pleaded no contest—a plea that accepts punishment as if guilty without admitting the crimes, a strategy often used to avoid the admission being used in potential civil lawsuits—to 10 rape-related charges involving two high school girls. He did not go to prison after being granted youthful-offender status, sparking widespread public outrage and ongoing scrutiny of the case.

Judge Susan Worthington is the special judge who granted Butler youthful-offender status—allowing him to avoid prison—and has since faced public scrutiny because of her alleged ties to Oklahoma State University, where Butler’s father previously worked.

How Butler Avoided Prison

Despite the severity of the allegations and a potential 78-year sentence, Butler received no prison time under Oklahoma’s youthful-offender statute.

The law allows certain defendants under 18 to avoid incarceration if they complete a state-supervised rehabilitation plan.

The act’s purpose explicitly states that for eligible youth, the court may place them “in the custody or under the supervision of the Office of Juvenile Affairs (OJA)…for the purpose of accessing the rehabilitative programs provided by that Office.”

The Payne County District Attorney’s Office has defended the decision, noting the statute “allows the court to maintain supervision until the defendant’s 19th birthday and gives him a chance for rehabilitation while still holding him accountable,” adding that the designation “does not erase the crimes or minimize their impact.”

At Monday’s hearing, Judge Michael Kulling determined Butler remains in compliance with the terms of his probation—requirements that include therapy, weekly counseling, daily check-ins, community service, a curfew, and a social-media ban.

Should he violate those terms, the full sentence could still be imposed.

Community Outrage and Protests

But for many in Stillwater and beyond, the ruling has done little to ease concerns about leniency.

The courthouse steps have become a focal point for demonstrations, with signs reading “No Jail, No Justice” and “Hold Jesse Responsible.”

Some protesters questioned why a case involving violent and documented assaults resulted in probation, and whether Butler’s family connections influenced the outcome, as his father previously held a leadership role within Oklahoma State University’s football program.

Betty Patterson, one of the protesters, told local media: “Rape is rape, violence is violence, and it needs to end—and so does systematic corruption.”

Another protester, Tori Grey, said, “The criminal is innocent, basically, and the victims are the ones having to serve the time.”

As Butler arrived at the courthouse on Monday, video captured a protester confronting him directly: “Why did you rape those girls, Jesse?”

He did not respond, entering the building flanked by officers and family members.

Victims’ advocates were also permitted to address the court. Cara Carllson, a victims’ advocate, argued that sealing records “was swept away…as if it were their form of healing and it is not.”

She also questioned how therapy could be effective “when he has never admitted any wrongdoing.”

Growing Political and Legal Fallout

State Representative Justin “JJ” Humphrey has labeled the ruling “unacceptable” and announced plans to petition for a grand jury review. “If that don’t set you on fire, your wood’s wet,” he said in an interview with Fox News Digital.

Online, frustration has surged again as newly released bodycam footage of Butler’s arrest circulates widely.

The video shows the teen standing beside his mother as officers explain the warrant. She asks, “Do you have to put him in handcuffs?” before telling her son, “I’ll get you out.”

Although Butler’s next review hearing is months away, the debate over his case—its handling, transparency, and broader implications—shows no sign of fading.

For many protesters, the issue extends beyond one defendant and toward a broader fear—that the justice system is allowing dangerous offenders to walk free.

Timeline of Key Events in the Jesse Mack Butler Case

• Early 2024: Two Stillwater High School students report repeated sexual assaults, strangulation, and coercion during their respective relationships with Jesse Mack Butler. Police records later document injuries and a video of Butler choking one victim unconscious.
• September 12, 2024: School officials notify Stillwater Police, prompting the formal investigation.
• March 4, 2025: Butler, then 17, is arrested at home on 10 rape-related charges and one protective-order violation. Bodycam footage shows officers informing him of the warrant while his mother questions the need for handcuffs.
• March 6, 2025: Butler pleads not guilty. Bond is set at $25,000.
• August 25, 2025: After a plea agreement, Butler pleads no contest to 10 rape-related charges. Despite facing a combined 78-year sentence, he is granted youthful-offender status and receives probation with mandatory counseling, curfew, community service, and supervision until age 19.
• October—November 2025: Widespread public anger erupts after he avoids prison. Protests form outside the Payne County Courthouse; victims’ advocates criticize sealed records and the plea agreement.
• December 8, 2025: At a compliance hearing, Judge Michael Kulling rules Butler is meeting the terms of his probation. Protesters again gather outside the courthouse, and one confronts him directly as he enters.

What People Are Saying

Gabryel McKinzie, Stillwater High School student said: “It really means a lot to show that there’s a lot of people out here that really care and really want to make this world better and get people like him off the streets.”

Tristan Turner, another Stillwater High School student added: “I want him to get what he deserves. He needs to be prosecuted. [Judge] Worthington needs out of office.”

What Happens Next

Butler now remains under strict state supervision until his 19th birthday, with another compliance review set for April 24, while any violation could trigger the full 78-year sentence.

At the same time, the case is far from over publicly or politically: victims’ advocates are pushing for more court records to be unsealed, lawmakers such as Representative Justin “JJ” Humphrey are seeking a grand jury review, and community protests continue to grow amid concerns of leniency and possible favoritism.

As the next hearing approaches, Butler’s compliance, the transparency of the case, and potential legal or legislative fallout will determine what happens next—and whether the controversy surrounding his sentence will intensify further.