DETROIT (Scripps News Group) — Jarvis Butts, the man charged in connection with the murder and sexual assault of 13-year-old Na’Ziyah Harris, has pleaded guilty in that case and several others.
(L) Na’Ziyah Harris was last seen on Jan. 9, 2024. (NamUS) / (R) Jarvis Butts appears in court Jan. 8, 2025. (Court TV)
The 42-year-old was charged last year in connection with Harris’ murder and sexual assault in other cases. He was set to go to trial in the Harris murder and sexual assault case later this month.
As part of the plea deals, several charges were dropped in each of those cases, including the sexual assault charge in the Na’Ziyah Harris case.
According to the Wayne County Prosecutor’s Office, Butts has pleaded guilty in six cases to second-degree murder, four counts of second-degree criminal sexual conduct, and one count of third-degree criminal sexual conduct.
The prosecutor’s office said that the sentencing agreement is part of the plea deal:
- 35 to 60 years for Second-Degree Murder
- 10 to 15 years for four counts of Second-Degree Criminal Sexual Conduct
- 10 to 15 years for one count of Third-Degree Criminal Sexual Conduct
- All to be served concurrently
He’s scheduled to be sentenced on March 12.
Butts was reportedly dating Na’Ziyah’s aunt, who also has five children with him.
Shannon Harris testified that after her niece went missing, she found inappropriate Instagram messages between Na’Ziyah and Butts.
Na’Ziyah’s body has never been found, but prosecutors alleged Butts killed the teen after he found out she was pregnant with his child.
Prosecutors also charged Butts in other cases. He was accused of the alleged sexual assault of a now-20-year-old woman when she was 8 years old and 10 years old. Butts had just been released from prison after serving nearly 10 years for sexually assaulting another child.
He was also charged in a case where he allegedly sexually assaulted a 12-year-old girl in the spring of 2013 at a home in Allen Park.
This story was originally published by Scripps News Group of Detroit.
