Jesse Mack Butler – No Jail Time For Teen Who Strangled Classmates

An 18-year-old Oklahoma man, Jesse Mack Butler won’t serve prison time despite pleading no contest to multiple violent felonies against two teenage classmates. Fury mounts as the true crime details emerge that he got a rehabilitation plan instead of incarceration for crimes that included sexual assault and strangulation.

One Victim Nearly Died

The case involves attacks on two Stillwater High School students where Butler allegedly used death threats to coerce sexual acts. In fact, one victim was strangled unconscious, with her doctor stating she “would have died” had the attack lasted “another 30 seconds.”

Initially charged as an adult with eleven felonies, including attempted rape and forcible sodomy, the court later reclassified Butler as a “youthful offender.” That came in a July plea deal, per Substack’s Just In The Nick of Crime. 

Jesse Mack Butler’s sentence now mandates daily check-ins, weekly counseling, a strict curfew, and a complete social media ban. Additionally, he will need to do 150 hours of community service until he turns 19. Most importantly, if he successfully completes this program, his record will be entirely wiped clean.

Leniency Infuriates

Obviously, the news raised a lot of fury, and journalist Ashleigh Banfield addressed the case on her podcast. In it, she described how she was “absolutely livid” about the judicial system’s handling of the matter.

Reminding folks what happened in the true crime case, she detailed how the “sadistic crimes” involved one victim who needed neck surgery. Then, there was the other one, whom Butler recorded himself strangling until she “passed out.”

Despite the evidence and the victims’ families pleading against it, the plea deal proceeded.

Another Journalist Weighs In

Next, Ashleigh brought in digital journalist Justin Shephard, who deeply investigated the case. He also seemed shocked and frustrated. When asked about the absence of an attempted murder charge, he replied, “Perhaps at the beginning they felt they didn’t need it with the other litany of charges.”

However, he added, “it seems to me when you strangle somebody twice to the point that one of them needs surgery, why that was not an attempted murder charge is beyond me.”

Shocking Update

A shocking bit of news arrived when Shephard told Banfield that Butler remains enrolled at Stillwater High School through “virtual classes.” Allegedly, alarming reports from “people close to the case” indicate he is “still texting, trying to hook up, asking if they’re single.” As a result, it appears “none of this meant anything to him.”

Shephard concluded that Butler essentially received “a slap on the wrist, a get out of jail free card,” allowing him to continue his life with only “minor inconveniences.” Ultimately, in the opinion of Banfield, the community is left to rely on public awareness, and sharing his photograph as their sole means of protection.

Reactions In The Comments

In the comments section, members of the public also seemed outraged about the Jesse Mack Butler case. One of them wrote, “Violates a protective order after all of these charges and still no jail time? WTF is going on in Oklahoma? The victims parents need to sue for restitution.”

Here are a few more responses:

• He’ll unfortunately, unalive the next one. The judges should be charged for not holding the criminals accountable.
• I hope the victims sue that monster and his parents in civil court.
• since he´s on the streets, people, learn his name and face, take care of your kids, girls in this case… this is scary.

What are your thoughts? Sound off in the comments below, and come back here often for all your true crime news and updates.