David John Butka, 69, was charged with solicitation to commit first-degree murder after another inmate alleged he offered $5,000 to kill a neighbor who had been a witness in two of Butka’s cases. Butka denied making the request and said he discussed legal fees.
According to the probable-cause affidavit, Butka allegedly gave the inmate the neighbor’s first name, physical description, morning schedule and information for finding the home. Investigators also documented that Butka’s credit card was released to the inmate’s wife and that $300 was transferred from it to the inmate’s commissary account. A separate inmate later asked whether the inmate Butka allegedly approached intended to follow through; investigators said he indicated he did not.
Butka acknowledged discussing his pending criminal case and credit card with the inmate, but said the inmate raised the idea of killing the witness. Butka told detectives he had authorized the inmate to put $2,400 on his card for legal expenses, denied authorizing its release to the inmate’s wife and said he believed he was being defrauded. The solicitation allegation has not been proven in court.
