Friday, April 24, 2026
Payne county judge rejects victims’ rights challenge Bryson Thadhani
CO-EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
A Payne County judge ruled that prosecutors did not violate the constitutional rights of victims in the high‑profile Jesse Mack Butler case, rejecting an effort to unravel the controversial plea deal that kept the Stillwater teen out of prison. In a written opinion filed Monday,
District Judge Michael Kulling denied a Verified Motion to Enforce Victim’s Rights brought under Article 2, Section 34 of the Oklahoma Constitution and the Oklahoma Victim’s Rights Act. The motion, filed by several victims and their families, argued they were not treated with fairness and dignity and were not adequately informed of plea negotiations or given a meaningful chance to confer with Payne County prosecutors.
Kulling concluded that while victims must be notified of proceedings and allowed to confer with the state, Oklahoma law does not give them the power to direct, control or veto charging or plea decisions. After a three‑day evidentiary hearing last week, Kulling found the victims had been informed of the 2025 plea agreement and that the state had not violated their constitutional or statutory rights.
Wings of Hope Family Crisis Services serves victims of domestic violence, abuse, sexual assault and stalking to five counties.
The ruling marks a test of Marsy’s Law in Oklahoma, which expanded victims’ rights after voters approved it in 2018. It also leaves intact the youthful‑offender deal that allowed Butler to avoid a potential decades‑long prison sentence if he complies with strict supervision terms until age 19, an outcome that has drawn intense criticism. news.ed@ocolly.com
Bryson Thadhani, The O’Colly
Campus and community programs back survivors Kalina Williams
STAFF REPORTER
April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month, a national campaign that highlights the prevalence of sexual violence and the resources available
to survivors. Oklahoma is among the states with higher rates of sexual assault, according to the Oklahoma State Department of Health. In an article titled “Sexual Violence Prevention,” the department reported that 17% of
women and 3% of men nationally have been victims of sexual violence in their lifetime. In Oklahoma, the percentage of reported cases is estimated to be 35% to 45% above the national rate, according to the department. College campuses also see elevated
rates of sexual violence. About 13% of all college students experience rape or sexual assault through physical force, violence or incapacitation, according to the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network.
See SURVIVORS on page 3A
‘Running for a cause that’s beyond them’ Diego Holmes
grows, and people continue to come and support the team that was then and the team that is now, Andre Williams woke up Saturday it means everything,” Williams morning and returned to Oklahoma said.“Knowing that OSU made a State University, trading the promise 25 years ago that we’ll basketball court for a race honoring always remember, and this is part teammates he lost 25 years ago. of it, you see thousands of people For the former athlete, the running for a cause that’s beyond run comes naturally, but the them.” reason behind it never gets easier. Williams said he enjoys seeing Williams, who shared a dorm younger generations involved in room with Daniel Lawson and keeping alive the memories of the Nate Fleming, the two athletes 10 members of the OSU men’s who passed away in the crash, basketball team who died in a plane has a unique connection with the crash on January 27, 2001. Remember the Ten race. “Seeing that every year this O’COLLY CONTRIBUTOR
See REMEMBER on page 3A
Kaitlyn Robertson, The O’Colly
Runners for the 5K and 10K starting The 20th annual Remember the Ten Run.
Caden James, The O’Colly
Students crowded around Matthew ‘Brother Matt’ Bourgault as he spoke.
Hellfire, prayer signs and Plan B OSU students answer ‘Brother Matt’
picture of Jesus. It was a scene many longtime Cowboys recognized from past years, but this time, students answered with their own signs, Caden James & tables and theology. Bryson Thadhani Library Lawn turned into an STAFF REPORT open‑air argument over faith, sex and free speech as Bourgault, a campus ‘Brother Matt’ returns to OSU, evangelist who said he has preached sparking a sex‑ed push and faith at universities for about 25 years, debate. returned to Oklahoma State this Students crowded around a week. He condemned abortion and homemade sign on Library Lawn LGBTQ+ relationships and singled on Monday afternoon as traveling out what he called “promiscuous evangelist Matthew “Brother Matt” women,” while students pushed Bourgault shouted warnings about back with sex‑education advocacy hell, fornicators and lesbians at anyone who stopped to listen. A few and their own visions of Christianity, feet away, student volunteers handed raising questions about how his confrontational style fits a modern out condoms and birth control campus. while other Christians held prayer signs and tried to offer a different
See HELLFIRE on page 4A