PRINCETON, WV (WOAY)- Christopher Butler, a Princeton High School Resource Officer, has been charged with two counts of sexual abuse and neglect of a child. This has been an ongoing investigation dating back to 2023.
These charges come out just over a week after the former Princeton wrestling coach was arrested on similar charges. However, only the coach’s case will be handled by the Mercer County Prosecuting Attorney due to the Butler’s role in the police department.
“To get rid of any appearance of any impropriety, it’s just best for generally best for prosecutors, for another county to prosecute cases involving police officers or former police officers that have worked closely with the prosecutors here in the office or have personal relationships with prosecutors or staff here in the office,” said Brian Cochran, Mercer County Prosecuting Attorney. “So just to avoid any sort of appearance of impropriety, I felt it was best to try to get a special prosecutor assigned.”
A special prosecutor from Monroe County will be handling the case against Butler. Butler is accused of attempting to engage in sexual activity with a female student who at the time was a senior at Princeton. The indictment also alleges Butler let a student brandish a pistol in a way that endangered herself and others.
The superintendent of Mercer County Schools was unavailable to make a comment on this case as well as the prosecuting attorney from Monroe County.
This is the second person associated with Princeton Senior High School who has been charged with sexual crimes against a student. The first was former wrestling coach Travis Francisco, who currently faces several charges of sexual intercourse, sexual intrusion, or sexual contact against students by a school employee.
According to Cochran, there are no additional charges at this time.
“The next step for him. I think he waived his preliminary hearing last week,” explained Cochran. “So the next process would be the grand jury, which I anticipate that would probably be in June.”
While Child Protect of Mercer County can only speak about sexual abuse in general, and not about any specific cases, the program director did tell me the trauma that comes from it is relentless.
“We know, obviously, that abuse and neglect definitely cause trauma in all people. Specifically children, I think you know, is a little more concerning,” explained Beth Sizemore, Program Director of Child Protect of Mercer County. “Because obviously their brains are still developing and so any kind of trauma in childhood can negatively impact people as they develop.”
This is a developing story and we’ll update you as we hear more.
