A talented young jockey, Bryson Butterfly, has been sentenced to 20 years in prison for his involvement in the fatal shooting of a high school student. Butterfly, a Native American raised on a reservation in Washington State, had been gaining recognition for his skills in horse racing at various tracks in Maryland, West Virginia, and Philadelphia.
In 2023, Butterfly was arrested, along with two others, in connection with the murder of 17-year-old Elias Cieslak, who was killed in Baltimore County. Admitting to a conspiracy to commit armed robbery, Butterfly pleaded guilty in 2024 and agreed to cooperate as a witness against his co-defendants.
According to reports, Butterfly confessed to arranging a marijuana purchase from the victim, knowing that two individuals, Marcus Powell and David Lofton, intended to rob him. The fatal shot that took Cieslak’s life was fired by Powell during the ambush.
Powell accepted guilt and received a sentence of life imprisonment with 40 years suspended, while Lofton faced trial and was also sentenced to life with 50 years suspended. Lofton has since filed an appeal against the judgment.
During the court proceedings, Butterfly, dressed in an orange jumpsuit and shackled, explained that he participated out of fear when Powell arrived at his residence armed. Expressing remorse, he tearfully apologized to the victim’s family present in the courtroom.
Despite recognizing Butterfly’s regret, Judge Stacy Mayer handed down the lengthy prison term sought by the prosecutors. She emphasized the importance of holding Butterfly accountable for his role in Cieslak’s death, stating that the court could not overlook such actions.
Mayer remarked on the tragedy of seeing someone with a bright future make poor choices, underscoring the need for responsibility in such cases.