High School Rapist Gets Big Win in Court, Again

Jesse Butler, facing nearly a dozen felony charges including rape and strangulation, was reclassified as a 'youthful offender' and received probation, counseling, and community service instead of prison time. This outcome allows his record to be sealed if he completes the program, effectively erasing the legal consequences of his actions.

Butler was facing years in prison after being charged with almost a dozen felonies... Butler receives probation, counseling, community service, social media ban, a restitution payment. Now, if he fails, he could face reportedly a 10-year prison sentence, but if he completes it, his record sealed, it's essentially like nothing ever happened legally.

Victims and their families alleged that the District Attorney's office failed to keep them adequately informed about plea negotiations and even misled them, contradicting the protections afforded by Marsy's Law. Specific claims included a victim being told not to inform her mother about a plea deal and families not being provided specifics of the 'youthful offender' certification.

According to Busset's motion, the victims had apparently not been kept in the loop about what was happening behind the scenes with this case... The DA told KS not to tell her mother. Around 12:00 p.m., the DA called KS's mother and advised her that she'd agreed to a plea deal where Butler would plead guilty and serve time in a juvenile facility in exchange for a YOA sentence. The family was not provided any other specifics of the deal for the YOA certification.

Judge Michael Cullin ruled that while victims have the right to be informed of plea negotiations and to confer with the state's attorney, neither Oklahoma's Constitution nor statutes grant victims the authority to direct, control, or veto prosecutorial decision-making. The court found that the victims were notified and afforded opportunities to confer, and their dissatisfaction with the outcome did not constitute a denial of rights.

However, neither provision confers upon victims the authority to direct, control, or veto prosecutorial decision-making. The absence of such language is significant... 'Based upon the totality of the evidence, the court finds that movants were informed of plea negotiations and were afforded the opportunity to confer with the attorney for the state. While movants clearly disagreed with the outcome of those negotiations, dissatisfaction with the result does not equate to a denial of rights guaranteed under Oklahoma law.'

Legal expert Marion Bracha clarified that prosecutors do not represent individual victims but rather the state or the community. Their role is to ensure justice is pursued for all members of the community, which includes protecting the rights of defendants and considering the broader implications of legal decisions, not solely the specific interests or desires of the victim.

Prosecutors in the courtroom, prosecutors in any state, in any jurisdiction in the United States of America, do not represent the victim. They are not their personal attorneys. The prosecution is there to ensure that justice is pursued. That even means making sure that the rights of the defendants are protected.