Oklahoma District Attorney Jeremiah Gregory has sharply criticized the defense team in the sexual assault case of Jesse Butler, whose conviction for raping and assaulting two high school girlfriends was dismissed this week. Gregory, who was sworn in as district attorney for Oklahoma’s District 9, which includes Stillwater, stated that the defense's assertions of their client's innocence were "disingenuous" and "inappropriate."
Butler, who had faced a potential 78-year prison sentence, avoided significant jail time through a plea deal that reduced his status to a youthful offender. He completed his probation on Monday and was formally discharged from court supervision at midnight Tuesday as he turned 19, having fulfilled 150 hours of community service. His legal team is now seeking to have the case expunged from his record.
During a court hearing, Butler's defense attorneys reportedly argued for his innocence, suggesting he was the victim and that the accusers' claims were false. Gregory, responding to these statements, said, "Nothing has made my blood boil more. I did not know this was going to be allowed, nor did the defense attorney reveal he intended to make any kind of statement. The statements made in court were inappropriate to say the least and I will not remain silent without contradicting such assertions."
Gregory affirmed his commitment to upholding Oklahoma's double jeopardy clause, which prevents individuals from being prosecuted twice for the same offense after a conviction. However, he indicated that he would submit the case for federal review, vowing to remain a voice for victims of violent crime.
Butler's attorney, Derek Chance, acknowledged the difficulty of expunging the case from his client's record. Rachel Bussett, representing the family of one of Butler's victims, expressed disappointment with the outcome and criticized Chance's arguments, stating that the defense's claims of Butler's innocence and the existence of exculpatory video evidence were untrue. Bussett referenced a video found during the investigation that allegedly showed Butler strangling his victim to unconsciousness, which the defense reportedly claimed depicted a consensual act.
Bussett has not ruled out the possibility of civil lawsuits against Stillwater High School, the city, and the Butler family. Butler was 17 when he was charged as an adult with 10 felony counts, including rape, attempted rape, sexual battery, and assault, involving two students. He initially pleaded not guilty before accepting the plea deal under Oklahoma's Youthful Offenders Act, which allows individuals under 18 charged with serious crimes, excluding first-degree murder, to be prosecuted as juveniles. His sentence, consisting of one year of rehabilitation and community service, was described as a "complete injustice" and a "joke" by the victims' families.
Court documents detail accusations that Butler sexually assaulted one ex-girlfriend on Groundhog Day in 2024, during which she repeatedly resisted and attempted to push him away. He was also accused of strangling her to the point of unconsciousness in a Walmart parking lot, with the victim reporting he laughed when she regained consciousness and that she later required surgery. A second victim accused Butler of assault in the spring and summer of 2024, including strangulation to unconsciousness while housesitting. The victim alleged she felt coerced into compliance to avoid further harm and that Butler demanded sex daily.