Former University of Texas-Pan American professor Brian S. Butler was sentenced to 70 months in prison for child pornography charges June 10. Upon release, he will remain on parole for five years and be required to register as a sex offender for life.
The investigation into Butler began much like an episode of Dateline: To Catch a Predator; the FBI set up undercover sting operations where agents posed as child pornography dealers. In 2007, Butler, who at the time was a professor of history and philosophy, took the bait, launching a full investigation.
Ex colleague Juanita Garza worked with Butler for seven years.
“No one would have thought he could commit this crime,” she commented. “Students liked him, and he was a very good professor who has worked at the university since 2000. He was really good in class. What was going on in his mind, only God knows.”
After searching his McAllen home, agents discovered child pornography including more than 6,000 images and 200 video clips which depicted children engaging in sexual activity with adults. In the face of such overwhelming evidence, Butler was immediately arrested and detained without bail on Feb. 28, 2007.
Garza believes Butler’s sentencing is fair and she is optimistic he will respond positively to treatment.
“He probably can recover from this since he wasn’t an active pedophile. Brian was looking; he wasn’t doing it (committing the sexual act),” said Garza, a history department adviser.
However, Diana Rodriguez, a junior studying business marketing, fears the offense committed is a serious matter, which will only lead to more severe future crimes.
“I see sexual offenders as a hazard to society,” Rodriguez said. “When people leave jail they have more issues than when they went into jail. This type of person cannot recover; he will need 24-hour supervision.”
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