Jarvis Butts, the Detroit man already charged with the murder and suspected sexual assault of 13-year-old Na'Ziyah Harris, is now facing additional charges relating to a separate incident from 2013. As reported by CBS News Detroit, the Wayne County Prosecutor's Office charged Butts with first-degree criminal sexual conduct with a person under age 13, and third-degree criminal sexual conduct involving a then-12-year-old girl from New Boston. The alleged assault occurred at a home in Allen Park.
Butts, 42, was arraigned on Monday, and the court set his bond at $500,000 or a 10% option. A probable cause conference is set for July 7, as evidenced by court records. The victim, who is now 24, has been silent witness to these proceedings, carrying the weight of her accusations for over a decade. "More complete facts and evidence will be placed on the record in court at the preliminary examination," stated Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy, as noted by FOX 2 Detroit.
In the ongoing case of Na'Ziyah Harris, who disappeared in January 2024 after getting off her school bus, Butts is set to stand trial this fall with jury selection projected to commence on October 6. Despite the continued absence of Harris's body, Butts faces charges of first-degree premeditated murder, second-degree criminal sexual conduct, and child sexually abusive material.
In addition to the newly surfaced charge, Butts' legal complications extend further. As per FOX 2 Detroit, Prosecutor Kym Worthy has characterized him as "a classic expert groomer and pedophile," with a track record of abuses dating back to at least 2004, when he was convicted of sexually assaulting a child. In related accounts, two other individuals—now aged 20 and 11—have also alleged sexual abuse by Butts, leading to further charges of second-degree and first-degree criminal sexual conduct. These claims and trials are setting a grim pattern, illustrating a broader narrative of alleged predatory actions spanning years. Trial in the Harris murder case is scheduled to begin on August 1, as mentioned by ClickOnDetroit.
