An Oklahoma teenager accused of sexually assaulting and strangling two high school girls walked free without serving a day in prison, spurring public outrage as a victim’s family prepares to fight back."We’re moving on to the next phase, which is civil litigation," Rachel Bussett, an attorney representing the family of one girl in the case, told Fox News Digital.Jesse Mack Butler was initially charged as an adult at 17 with counts including attempted first-degree rape, rape by instrumentation, sexual battery, forcible oral sodomy and domestic assault and battery by strangulation.But he ultimately received youthful-offender status and pleaded no contest to all 11 counts in August 2025.OKLAHOMA TEEN ACCUSED OF RAPING TWO GIRLS WALKS FREE; DA FURIOUSLY CALLS IN FEDS: ‘MADE MY BLOOD BOIL’Instead of being sent to prison, he was placed under the supervision of the Oklahoma Office of Juvenile Affairs and ordered to complete a rehabilitation plan.
Once Butler reached age 19 at midnight on Aug.4, the court's jurisdiction lapsed, and the case was dismissed by operation of law.Jesse Butler pictured in a baseball uniform before the criminal allegations came to light.
(Risin Baseball)For the family she represents, Bussett said, the outcome was painful but hardly unexpected."They were sad and upset, obviously, because they didn't want the deal to go through this way, but they weren't surprised," Bussett said."They knew that it was going to happen from the beginning."The family may now have two possible paths forward.80% OF CLAIMS IN AMERICA'S LARGEST SEXUAL ABUSE SETTLEMENT IN HISTORY COULD BE FRAUDULENT, LA DA SAYSBussett said the family is preparing for civil litigation while also hoping federal authorities take a fresh look at the case.She said her understanding is that materials are being referred for review to determine whether content allegedly found on Butler’s phone could qualify as child sexual abuse material, or CSAM, and whether it was distributed.
Bussett...