In a striking turn of events, an Oklahoma teenager accused of heinous crimes, including sexual assault and strangulation of two high school students, has had his case dismissed. This outcome comes after he completed a rehabilitation program suited for youthful offenders, all while avoiding any time in prison, according to court documents.

The teenager, Jesse Mack Butler, then 17 years old, faced adult charges in Payne County as of March 2025. He was accused of committing ten felony offenses involving two girls he reportedly dated.

The list of charges was lengthy and grave, including attempts at first-degree rape, multiple instances of rape by instrumentation, sexual battery, forcible oral sodomy, and two counts of domestic assault and battery by strangulation. An additional charge accused Butler of violating a protective order, bringing the total to eleven counts.

Butler’s legal team sought to have him designated as a youthful offender, or alternatively, a juvenile. Although the court dismissed the juvenile status request, it concurred with granting youthful-offender status. This decision came after an agreement was reached between the prosecution and defense.

On Aug. 25, 2025, Butler pleaded no contest to all 11 counts. The judge found that he entered the pleas knowingly and voluntarily and that there was a factual basis for them, according to the court docket reviewed by News Media.

The court pronounced sentences of up to 10 years on several counts but placed Butler under the supervision of the Oklahoma Office of Juvenile Affairs instead of sending him to prison.

The sentence hung over him while he completed a court-approved rehabilitation plan. Review-hearing records from December 2025 and April 2026 said Butler remained in compliance with his rehabilitation plan.

At his final review hearing on Aug. 3, prosecutors announced that they would not seek to transfer him into the custody or supervision of the Oklahoma Department of Corrections.

The court’s jurisdiction expired when Butler turned 19 at midnight on Aug. 4, causing the case to be dismissed by operation of law.

The final hearing turned contentious when defense attorney Derek Chance, according to newly elected Payne and Logan County District Attorney Jeremiah Gregory, said that he suggested Butler was innocent and was victimized by the case.

“Today’s hearing included disingenuous assertions from the defense regarding the defendant’s innocence, that he was the victim in this matter, and that the victim’s assertions were false had no bearing. The defense portrayed that somehow the perpetrator suffered more than these victims. What was said was insincere, untruthful, and affront to these victims and what they have endured,” Gregory said in a statement.

“Nothing has made my blood boil more,” he said.

Gregory said Oklahoma cannot prosecute Butler again because of constitutional protections against double jeopardy.

He announced that his office would instead refer the matter to the appropriate federal agency for prosecutorial review.

“I cannot undo what has already been done,” Gregory said, “but I can — and will — continue to stand as a strong voice for all victims of violent crime.”

No federal charges have been announced.

News Media reached out to the Payne and Logan County District Attorney’s Office, the Oklahoma Office of Juvenile Affairs, Butler’s attorney and other attorneys connected to the case for additional comment.

While coastal regions and Sun Belt states remain the prevailing choices for international real estate buyers in the U.S., Michigan is quietly becoming a sought-after location for U.K. buyers. Attracting attention due to its cost-effective lifestyle and a robust employment landscape, the state has carved out a unique niche among foreign investors.

Between April 2025 and March 2026, Michigan ranked as the third most favored destination for U.K. homebuyers in the United States, accounting for 18% of all U.K. property acquisitions across the nation. This insight comes from the latest National Association of Realtors® 2025 International Transactions in U.S. Residential Real Estate report.

The NAR report defines “foreign” or “international” buyers as individuals who are foreign nationals residing outside the U.S., recent immigrants who have been in the country for less than two years, and visa holders currently living in the U.S.

Among British buyers, only the sunlit locales of California and Arizona surpassed Michigan, capturing 36% and 27% of U.K. investments, respectively. Interestingly, Michigan outperformed traditionally popular foreign buyer markets like Texas and South Carolina, which each received 9% of the U.K. property purchases.

“Michigan’s appeal to U.K. buyers probably stems from two main factors,” explains Realtor.com® economist Jiayi Xu. “Lifestyle-wise, the state’s charming lakefront towns offer the idyllic waterfront and second-home living that reminds many Britons of home but comes at a far more affordable price than they might find on the Florida coast or back in the U.K.”

“On the business side, Michigan’s deep, decades-old ties to the auto industry mean a steady flow of relocation opportunities for U.K. professionals in roles tied to Ford, GM, and their supply chains.”

This trend is rooted in strong cross-border economic ties going back decades and anchored in automotive technology collaborations.

According to U.K. government trade data, British subsidiaries employ nearly 40,000 workers across Michigan, making the U.K. one of the leading sources of direct foreign investment in the state. 

Overall, U.K. homebuyers accounted for 4% of all foreign real estate purchases in the U.S. in 2026, unchanged since 2024. Meanwhile, Michigan ranked as the eighth most popular destination across all foreign buyer groups, at 3%.

On Realtor.com this spring, buyers from the U.K. made up 6% of international traffic to Michigan, the second-largest group of foreign browsers.

Michigan’s British invasion

Jaye Sanders, managing broker at Nextpointe Real Estate Service in Royal Oak, MI, has worked with international buyers over the past six years and says U.K.’s ascendance as a major feeder market for Michigan comes as no surprise.

“It makes sense based upon how affordable our market is. It makes sense based upon the fact that we’re a major hub. … You can pretty much fly anywhere you need to fly,” Sanders tells Realtor.com. “And it makes sense because Michigan is a fantastic place to live and bring your family.”

The broker emphasizes that, in accordance with Michigan’s Fair Housing guidelines, she never collects information on her clients’ racial or cultural background, but confirms she has helped U.K. buyers purchase homes in Michigan.

“I have had quite a few buyers who’ve come from other countries, and they’ve specifically been interested in the resurgence of Detroit,” says Sanders.

Motor City, long celebrated as the beating heart of America’s automotive industry, declared bankruptcy in 2013 and became a symbol of urban decay. In the decade since, Detroit has experienced a remarkable economic turnaround highlighted by downtown revitalization, multiple consecutive balanced budgets, and recent population growth.

Location and affordability

Many of Sanders’ international buyers, among them British subjects, are drawn to Detroit’s location offering easy access to neighboring Canada, a fellow commonwealth nation. Other crucial selling points include Michigan’s world-class freshwater lakes and its impressive affordability.

She points out some of her foreign clients are shocked that they can afford to purchase a waterfront property in Michigan for a fraction of what it would cost elsewhere.

Michigan’s lower property taxes also play a significant role.

“If you compare our property taxes to a state like California or even a state like New York, it’s a lot more affordable to live in Michigan,” notes Sanders.

The broker explains that many of her international clients work in the automotive sector and arrive on temporary corporate assignments. A large portion of them purchase waterfront condominiums or co-ops in downtown Detroit or Grosse Pointe near General Motors and Ford facilities as part of a long-term investment strategy.

“They look at the price, they look at the location close to the water, and they believe that in a few years, obviously the market will go up and they will sell,” says Sanders.

This cohort of buyers typical look for turnkey, low-maintenance properties in gated communities overlooking the Detroit River or Lake St. Clair that are priced in the $200,000 to $250,000 range.

“They want something that they can move in and immediately ‘plug and play,’” says Sanders.  

The idea is that rather than spending money on rent, the expats live in their condos while their work assignment is active, and then convert them into short- or long-term rentals to generate passive income for years to come.

Those who relocate to Michigan from abroad on a more permanent basis and arrive with families tend to prioritize top-rated school districts and single-family homes with backyards, typically shopping in the $250,000 to $400,000 range. 

In July, the median asking price in the Detroit metro was $275,000, down 1.8% from a year ago and more than $150,000 below the national median. 

Demand for Michigan housing remains strong across multiple international demographics. Beyond ranking third among U.K. buyers, Michigan was the fifth most popular destination for shoppers from Canada and India, and the sixth most popular for Chinese investors, according to the NAR report.

In a recent conversation with TMZ’s Harvey Levin, former CNN heavyweight Jim Acosta seemed to acknowledge that his previous network may have contributed to stifling open debate around the COVID-19 pandemic.

The topic surfaced just over ten minutes into the live stream of Wednesday’s edition of The Jim Acosta Show, when Levin, age 75, brought up CNN’s coverage during the pandemic era.

The discussion unfolded as Levin appeared on the show defending Dr. Anthony Fauci. Fauci has been under fire from numerous Republican lawmakers who allege he misled Congress about U.S. government-funded research projects overseas that they say could have played a role in spreading the virus.

Dr. Fauci’s recommendations on masks, social distancing, natural immunity, and vaccinations remain hot topics of debate and are being closely examined by politicians and the public alike.

Adding to the controversy, the Senate Homeland Security Committee on Thursday voted 8-5 to hold Dr. Fauci in contempt of Congress. This decision followed his invocation of the Fifth Amendment 111 times during intense questioning about the government’s handling of the pandemic response the prior week.

‘So look, um, again, I want to be real about this, personally. I did have some problems with the way Covid was handled,’ Levin suddenly told Acosta, 55. 

He singled out children as a group that ‘suffered’ in particular from ‘some of the policies.’

‘And there was a degree of bullying,’ the tabloid journalist continued. ‘And, you know, you were at CNN at the time, and I got to say, you know, I watched you and CNN all the time.   

‘And there was this element of if you disagreed with them, that you were somehow traitorous.’ 

Levin warned he wasn’t saying that ‘CNN did it’ knowingly.   

‘But there was an atmosphere of that, that you couldn’t dare question, you know, where it came from and what precautions you should be taking – that you were somehow an idiot for doing it,’ he added.

‘And I think that intolerance was a problem.’

Levin then offered another disclaimer. 

‘But, that said, um, I think, you know, to reduce Anthony Fauci to looking like a criminal is just abhorrent.’

Acosta, who had been listening in, answered: ‘Yeah, no. I agree with you.’  

‘As for the coverage, you know, I think we were all trying to figure this out in real time,’ the former CNN Newsroom anchor added – citing ‘so much disinformation that was being spread’ at the time.

He billed his longtime nemesis, then-president Donald Trump, as a primary purveyor.

‘Who was talking about how you could maybe inject disinfectants into your body or bring light bulbs into your body or whatever it was,’ Acosta said.

‘I remember when I was doing my show, I would just try to concentrate on having as many scientists and doctors and experts on as much as possible, just to make sure people were getting reliable information.’

He framed last week’s hearing as an example of ‘full-blown McCarthyism.’ 

Senator Rand Paul, the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, relentlessly grilled Fauci for hours about the federal government’s activities before and during the virus’s initial spread.  

The emergence of COVID-19 in late 2019 is the subject of two main theories – one being a laboratory-related incident, and the other natural zoonotic transmission, meaning it was transferred from animal to human.

Paul has repeatedly accused Fauci of downplaying the still-unproven theory that the virus emerged from a lab in Wuhan. Fauci has not been convicted of any crimes. 

In Harrison Township, New Jersey, authorities have launched an investigation into the death of a man accused of orchestrating a multi-million-dollar fraud scheme aimed at ex-NFL players and other athletes.

The probe centers around Mohamed Coulibaly, who was purportedly behind a sophisticated ruse that duped numerous retired football players through a deceptive online sales operation.

According to law enforcement, on Friday, the 24-year-old was discovered unconscious in a swimming pool at a Harrison Township residence. Family members, concerned for his safety, had requested a wellness check from police, leading to the grim discovery.

This revelation follows closely on the heels of a Barron’s exposé that identified Coulibaly as the architect of an alleged scam, which involved luring sports stars into investing in non-existent e-commerce ventures.

“Former athletes and other financers were buying into these online shops, which appeared to be thriving based on manipulated sales figures they were shown,” explained Jacob Adelman from Barron’s magazine. “We realized that someone with access to the back-end was fabricating those sales transactions to make investors believe their capital was yielding profitable returns.”

Three former NFL players said they collectively lost more than $1 million in investments made with Coulibaly.

“Weeks and then months went by, and Muhammad always had a different excuse for why he wasn’t paying them. And finally, they realized they were potentially being scammed,” Adelman said.

Former New York Giants linebacker Tae Crowder says he became a victim after connecting with Coulibaly through a friend.

“We was just, every day, talking about different investments and different things we could possibly get into. I saw him hanging out with a bunch of different guys that I know, which you know made me feel comfortable,” Crowder said.

Crowder invested all of his savings – totaling $500,000 – in one of Coulibaly’s web stores.

“I would log into the store all the time and just see, like, how it would work and what was going on. I feel like the more I told him about that, like, as many times I kept logging in, the number started going up,” Crowder added.

But his promised payout never came.

“I don’t want anybody else to get involved in anything like this, and whoever has got involved, I just want to come together and make it right,” Crowder said.

Earlier this year, Coulibaly denied to Barron’s that he was behind any kind of scam, saying that their reporting was, “Based on a misunderstanding of the technology and that his investors hadn’t received returns from their deals because he himself hadn’t received expected funds from a planned acquisition of his venture.”

So far, no criminal charges have been filed connected to the alleged scheme, but Coulibaly’s accusers are now hoping they can get some long-awaited resolution.