“Please, Mom, Don’t Let Them Take Me” — Teen Rapist Breaks Down as Officers Close In on the High School Assault Case

Oklahoma City, Oklahoma — Newly released police body-camera footage has shed light on a chilling case that shook an Oklahoma community earlier this year. The video captures the moment a 17-year-old high school student, accused of a string of sexual assaults, broke down in tears as officers arrived to arrest him at his family home. “Please, Mom, don’t let them take me,” the teen sobbed, moments before being handcuffed and led away.

The arrest followed months of investigation into allegations that the student, identified in court records as J.T., had assaulted several female classmates he had dated. The victims, all students at the same suburban high school, came forward separately between late 2023 and early 2024, describing a pattern of manipulation, violence, and fear.

According to court affidavits, investigators uncovered evidence that J.T. had coerced and physically attacked multiple girls between the ages of 15 and 17. One victim told police that what began as a consensual relationship quickly turned violent. Another described being choked and left bruised after refusing his advances. The investigation also recovered digital messages that prosecutors later said revealed a disturbing pattern of threats and emotional control.

The case gained national attention not only because of the brutality of the assaults but also because of the suspect’s emotional arrest. The footage, released following the conclusion of pre-trial proceedings, shows the teen’s mother pleading with officers as they executed the warrant. “He’s just a boy,” she said, to which one officer quietly replied, “Ma’am, we have to take him in. There are victims who deserve justice.”

Prosecutors charged J.T. with multiple felonies, including first-degree rape, sexual battery, and assault by strangulation. Combined, the charges carried a potential sentence of up to 70 years in prison.

However, in a development that has divided the community, J.T. later accepted a plea deal that reduced his prison time. Under the agreement, he pled guilty to several counts of assault and sexual battery, while the rape charge was dismissed in exchange for his cooperation and completion of a rehabilitation program. He was sentenced to 15 years, with five years suspended, and will be required to register as a sex offender for life.

Victims’ families expressed mixed feelings after the sentencing. One parent, speaking through a victims’ advocate, said, “No sentence can undo what our daughters endured, but we hope this helps them heal.” Another criticized the plea deal, calling it “a failure to protect young women from violence.”

The district attorney defended the decision, saying it spared victims from testifying in open court and facing cross-examination about traumatic events. “We must balance justice with compassion,” he stated.

Since the case concluded, the school district has implemented new safety measures, including expanded counseling services and a partnership with local law enforcement to educate students about consent and reporting abuse.

The Oklahoma case continues to fuel statewide discussions about how to address sexual violence among teens — and whether the justice system adequately protects victims while holding young offenders accountable.