Royal Oak

Alleged serial flasher caught in Royal Oak

By Chris Jackett
C & G Staff Writer

Butkovich

ROYAL OAK — An alleged habitual flasher was recently caught by a Royal Oak police officer who apparently happened to be in the right place at the right time.

An officer was on patrol near Sixth and Washington at about 7:50 a.m. Jan. 6, when a 19-year-old man was seen running toward a parked black Cadillac CTS. Upon stopping him, the officer determined that the man was Warren resident Donovan Joseph Butkovich, and he allegedly was fleeing the scene of a crime.

Butkovich was running away from Sixth and Lafayette, where “he had just exposed his genitalia and had been fondling himself in front of a woman,” police said. There was no physical contact with the woman, but he was arrested for indecent exposure.

“The officer observed him running,” Lt. William Sawyer said. “They came across the woman before she even had the chance to call us.”

Upon his arrest, police determined Butkovich is a registered sex offender and he had several previous convictions for similar offenses. He had three previous convictions for aggravated indecent exposure and indecent exposure in Macomb County’s 16th Circuit Court in Mt. Clemens, as well as a fourth conviction for indecent exposure in Roseville’s 39th District Court.

The teen was arraigned Jan. 8 by Judge Terrence Brennan at the 44th District Court in Royal Oak. Butkovich was charged with indecent exposure by a sexually delinquent person, which is a felony that carries a possible sentence ranging from one day to life in prison.

“A lot of it has to do with the circumstances,” Sawyer said of the wide gap in the potential sentencing. “You always go back to the seriousness of the offense.”

Butkovich also faces a misdemeanor charge of minor in possession of alcohol. A cash bond was set at $50,000.

His pre-exam conference took place Jan. 11 before Brennan in 44th District Court. Butkovich pleaded not guilty and a preliminary exam was scheduled for 10 a.m. Jan. 18, court officials said. If there is sufficient evidence, he will be bound over to Oakland County’s 6th Circuit Court in Pontiac.

“They have to go to a review at District Court to make sure there’s proper evidence to be bound over to Circuit Court,” Sawyer said.

Defense attorney Scott Kozak was not available for comment by press deadline.

You can reach C & G Staff Writer Chris Jackett at cjackett@candgnews.com or at (586)279-1110.