Police officer faces sex allegation
A part-time Manito police officer made his initial court
appearance in Havana Thursday, after being arrested Tuesday for criminal sexual
assault and official misconduct.
Illinois State Police
officers arrested Nicholas W. Butler, 27, Tuesday after he admitted to them
during an interview that “he had met a 17-year-old girl through his official
capacity as a police officer,” according to court records.
“They subsequently
developed a relationship and eventually had sex (consensual) on one occasion,”
the records said.
Mason County State’s
Attorney Kristen Miller said she has not filed formal charges but she requested
that Butler’s bail be set at $50,000, which is an amount she typically seeks for
people charged with serious felony charges. Eighth Circuit Judge Alan D. Tucker
set the bail at $25,000, so Butler can get out of jail if he pays 10 percent of
that amount.
Butler — who has a
Delavan address listed in the court records — was arrested for criminal sexual
assault, a Class 1 felony that carries a possible prison sentence of four to 15
years upon conviction, and for official misconduct, which is a Class 3 felony
with a possible prison sentence of two to five years.
Miller told Tucker
there is no allegation of Butler using physical force, nor was she aware of any
allegation of the incident involving any drugs or alcohol.
Butler said he was
born and raised in central Illinois, but that he had left to serve in the
military and had returned to the area in September.
Manito Village Board
President Tim Sondag told GateHouse News Service that Butler was sworn in as a
part-time police officer Oct. 3. He was still in training when Manito officials
learned of the ISP investigation and was placed on administrative leave until
his arrest, according to Sondag. He was terminated from the village’s
employment upon his arrest.
Miller said she
intends to file formal charges against Butler before his scheduled appearance
with counsel, set for 10 a.m. Thursday.
Tucker appointed
Mason County Public Defender Roger Thomson to defend Butler.