3 men facing charges in 2009 sexual assault at WMU

KALAMAZOO, Mich. (WOOD) — Three men, including a suspended Kent County juvenile probation officer, are accused of sexually assaulting a student at Western Michigan University on Feb. 8, 2009.

Authorities say the three men include suspended juvenile probation officer Karl Butler, Edgar Butler IV (Karl’s cousin) and Clifford Mathis.

Prosecutors say the three men sexually assaulted the victim together in a dorm room on campus.

In an email, Kent County Circuit Court Administrator Andy Thalhammer said “the allegations against Mr. (Karl) Butler are troubling and we take them very seriously.”

“Mr. Butler was suspended as soon as we learned of them. The charges are for an incident that occurred before his employment with the Court and they did not come to light during his pre-employment criminal background check,” Thalhammer wrote to 24 Hour News 8.

Authorities say Mathis was most recently living in Indianapolis and Edgar Butler was living in Utah.

Prosecutors say all three men were students at WMU at the time the alleged assault occurred.

Read more at WOODTV.com


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