The Jesse Butler case outraged millions. The 18-year-old convicted rapist will spend no time in jail after pleading no contest to sexual assaults against two former girlfriends when he was 17 years old. He could have spent decades in prison, but an Oklahoma judge chose to prosecute him as a minor and, in turn, kept him out of prison. His victims felt the greatest injustice. Their families wonder how life will ever be the same for them. Butler will likely move on with his life and put it all behind them, but will those young women ever forget?
Instead of jail time, a judge sentenced Butler to community service, rehabilitation, and counseling. Per People, the parents of one of his victims, a girl named Kate, spoke to Nightline regarding their family’s nightmare.
“Community service and counseling doesn’t equate to what he did to her; what he’s taken to her,” said Kate’s mom, Ivonne.
Kate’s dad, Austin, said he hopes Butler’s reputation precedes him as he moves on with his life. “[I’m] just hoping that his name will be out there. That somebody will know that he’s capable of this and just anything we can do to prevent other harm,” Austin shared.
Ivonee and Austin said Butler was Kate’s first boyfriend. She started dating at 16, and initially, everything seemed fine between Kate and Butler. The pair went on lots of dates and seemed to have a good time together. The parents believed Butler treated Kate with respect.
“He seemed very kind, and he seemed like a gentleman to me,” Austin said.
But apparently, he hid a more sinister side. As Kate’s behavior changed, they learned the truth: Butler had sexually assaulted their daughter. Ivonne said Kate no longer wants to be with her friends and has withdrawn from all social activities.
“I’ll never have a prom picture or a graduation picture because she doesn’t want to walk,” Ivonne explained. The mother added that what happened between Kate and Butler stole her innocence and any trust the teen had in men.
“Yeah, it’s her first boyfriend and that was her first experience with love. I hope that she’ll try again because love shouldn’t hurt,” she added.
The family’s lawyer, Rachel Bussett, told Nightline that Butler’s punishment does not fit the crime. “I think there should have been a period of incarceration and I think there should have been an admission of guilt of what he did,” she said, per People.
Our hearts go out to Kate and every victim of sexual assault. As Ivonne said, love should never hurt.
If you or someone you know has been a victim of sexual assault, the National Sexual Assault Hotline provides confidential 24/7 support. Call 800-656-HOPE (4673) or chat online at RAINN.
