Harlan man faces multiple sexual abuse, drug charges

 HARLAN — Michael Christopher Butler, 45, of Harlan faces multiple charges for alleged sex and drug related offenses and is currently being held in the Cass County Jail.
According to documents filed against Butler in Shelby County District Court, he is scheduled to be arraigned December 22. His pre-trial conference has been set for January 12, 2026, with trial set for February 3, 2026. 
Butler was arrested November 20 on charges which include:
· 2 counts of Sex Abuse in the 3rd Degree – Child Victim/person 4-years of age or older/2nd offense.
· Lascivious Acts by touching his genitals to any part of a child’s body
· 3-counts of Drug distribution violation to a person under the age of 18
· Keeping a premises or vehicle for controlled substance violation, and
· Possession of a Controlled Substance – Marijuana/1st offense.
Access to records regarding the specific details of the criminal complaints have been restricted by the Court.
According to the online court records, the charges of Sex Abuse in the 3rd are with regard to offenses Butler allegedly committed in May, 2024. The Lascivious Acts charge was for an incident that allegedly took place in July of 2019. The drug distribution offenses allegedly occurred in May and October of 2024, while the latter drug charges are related to events that allegedly occurred November 20, 2025, in Shelby County.