Jarvis Butts Sentencing: Suspect who pleaded guilty to murdering Na'Ziyah Harris in court

Published March 12, 2026 10:22 AM EDT

The man who pleaded guilty to several sexual assault cases involving minors, in addition to the murder of Na'Ziyah Harris, is set to be sentenced on Thursday.

UPDATE: Jarvis Butts sentenced to 35-60 years in prison

Jarvis Butts entered his plea in February ahead of a scheduled trial. During the hearing, he pleaded guilty in six different cases, including five counts of varying criminal sexual conduct.

His sentencing is scheduled for 12 p.m. FOX 2 will stream it live.

The backstory:

Butts was bound over for trial in early 2025 in connection with the disappearance of Na'Ziyah Harris, a teenager he allegedly developed a relationship with over several months.

Following the preliminary hearing where a judge sent him to trial, he was charged in several other cases involving second- and third-degree criminal sexual conduct involving children. 

He appeared in Detroit court for an arraignment in September involving an 8-year-old female relative. It followed several other court appearances detailing alleged sexual assaults going back more than a decade.

Related

Jarvis Butts, Detroit man accused of murder, sexually assaulting minors pleads guilty

The man charged in connection with the death and sexual assault of a 13-year-old girl, as well as several other disturbing criminal sexual conduct cases, has pleaded guilty.

The Source: Previous reporting was cited for this story. It will be updated as coverage continues. 

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