reSee.it Video Transcript AI Summary
Two teenage girls accused Jesse Mack Butler of serious crimes, and the state could have charged him with more severe offenses, including attempted murder, but the case proceeded with the charges ultimately pursued.
Details of what Butler did:
- A girl identified as LS (16 at the time) dated Butler for about three months starting in January. She said Butler repeatedly raped and attempted to rape her and strangled her if she refused. She needed neck surgery from the strangulation, and her doctor said she would have died if the strangulation lasted another 30 seconds. She said she gave in after he threatened to kill her and her family.
- A separate affidavit describes a relationship in March with another 16-year-old girl identified as KS, lasting six months. KS said Butler was aggressive and violent and that she went along with unwanted sex to avoid further harm. She said Butler strangled her when she refused, and he recorded himself strangling her until she passed out. Police later found that video on Butler’s phone.
Legal progression:
- Butler pleaded not guilty to all charges initially. For reasons not explained in the report, the DA’s office struck a deal to change his status from adult to youthful offender.
- In July, a judge signed off on the youthful offender designation, and in August Butler changed his plea to no contest, meaning he acknowledged there was evidence to convict him.
- There were ten counts initially; by August, there was one additional count for violating a protective order, bringing the total to 11 counts.
Sentencing and sentencing plan:
- On the same day that the 11th count was added, Butler was sentenced to 78 years in prison.
- As a youthful offender, he was entitled to a rehabilitation plan, drafted by the Oklahoma Office of Juvenile Affairs and presented to the court. The plan requires daily check-ins, weekly counseling, a curfew, no social media, and 150 hours of community service.
- The plan is to stay in effect until Butler turns 19, which is less than a year from the time described in the report.
Overall arc:
- The case involved graphic and violent abuse of two teenage girls, including repeated rape and strangulation, with one girl recording a strangling incident on video.
- Despite the severity of the crimes and the length of the sentence, the youthful offender designation leads to a rehabilitation-focused plan with supervised restrictions and community service lasting until Butler’s 19th birthday.