By Marion Apio | California Local News Fellow
Inglewood Mayor James T. Butts Jr. on Monday, Sept. 21, denied allegations involving the alleged inappropriate touching of a young person, calling the claims false and announcing legal action against those bringing them forward.
Speaking at a press conference at Inglewood City Hall surrounded by his family, community leaders, education officials and a state legislator, Butts addressed statements made by Yolanda Davidson, Najee Ali, Earl Ofari Hutchinson and Leonard Redway. Davidson and Redway are District 1 City Council candidates.
“The accusations made against me by Yolanda Davidson, Najee Ali, Earl Ofari Hutchinson, and Leonard Redway are baseless, unsourced, and completely false,” Butts said.
Butts fully denied the claims and stated that his attorneys have served three individuals with cease-and-desist demands, while working to locate addresses to serve the remaining two. He accused those making the claims of relying on unverified information and failing to contact the alleged victim or the victim’s family before speaking on television and social media.
“They will be held to account,” Butts said.
Inglewood City Attorney Rick Olivarez said his office has not received an official complaint or referral regarding the matter, and no charges are pending. Olivarez noted that while the city was made aware of an allegation involving alleged inappropriate touching, his office lacks sufficient information to determine the precise circumstances.
“Accordingly, there is presently no matter before the city attorney’s office for review,” Olivarez said, adding that any formal submission would undergo standard review procedures.
Dr. James Morris, County Administrator with the Inglewood Unified School District, addressed questions regarding the district’s responsibilities as educators and mandated reporters, emphasizing the duty to protect students and maintain confidentiality.
Morris stated that on the evening the incident allegedly occurred, a political opponent of the mayor contacted him to ask if he had fulfilled his legal duties as a mandated reporter.
“I assured her that I had,” Morris said. Addressing subsequent public statements questioning whether the district had fulfilled its obligations, he added, “Throughout my career, I have never failed in my duty as a mandated reporter, nor have I ever failed to take responsibility as a school administrator.”
Assemblymember Tina McKinnor, who represents the 61st Assembly District, called for taking allegations seriously while emphasizing the critical legal distinction between an allegation and an established fact.
“An allegation is not a fact,” McKinnor said.
McKinnor noted that based on publicly available information at the time of the press conference, no police report from the family had been identified. She added that the public had not heard from the student or her parents, nor had an identified complaint been presented from the student’s school superintendent or cheer coach.
McKinnor highlighted that individuals promoting the allegations publicly acknowledged they did not personally witness the alleged event or speak directly with the student or her parents.
“Those distinctions matter,” McKinnor said, cautioning against a public rush to judgment. “We cannot allow social media to become the judge and juror.”
She urged anyone with evidence of wrongdoing to present it to appropriate authorities for an independent investigation while respecting the minor’s privacy.
The press conference opened with statements of support from local leaders and family members. Carliss Richardson McGee, president of the Inglewood Unified School District Board, welcomed attendees and praised Butts as a champion for local schools, students, teachers and families.
Butts’ daughter, Asha Butts, spoke alongside her sister, Katrina, in defense of her father’s record and integrity.
“As a law student, I’ve learned the value of integrity and the rule of law, but my father lived those values,” Asha Butts said, criticizing what she described as divisive political rhetoric.
During the conference, Butts connected the controversy to his broader record in public service and ongoing local political disputes. He outlined his 54-year career, which includes work as a police officer, deputy police chief, Santa Monica police chief and Homeland Security executive for Los Angeles World Airports.
Addressing his 16 years as mayor, Butts pointed to the city’s financial turnaround from near cash-flow insolvency, a 17.5% unemployment rate, a junk bond rating and deteriorating infrastructure.
He also addressed an ongoing dispute regarding city advertising revenue and a proposed ballot measure identified as Proposition BB. Butts said the city’s billboard advertising program, established through agreements dating back to 2014, generates approximately $8 million annually for city-owned billboards. He characterized Proposition BB as an attempt to block that revenue.
“It is my belief that we have the right to self-determination,” Butts said.
Butts framed the controversy as part of a historical pattern of outside entities portraying predominantly Black and Latino communities as unable to govern themselves. He recalled how his father moved their family from the South to California to protect his children from racialized stereotypes, stating that the current claims invoked similar tropes.
“This is about our choices. It’s about our lives. It’s about our families, our ability to build the future that we want,” Butts said. “To the political opportunists who are pushing this disgusting smear campaign, know that I will not be intimidated, nor will I be bullied.”
The press conference concluded without establishing the factual accuracy of the allegation. Butts denied the claims, and the city attorney reiterated that no formal complaint had been submitted for review.
