LAKE COUNTY, Fla. — The Lake County Sheriff’s Office has arrested 69-year-old David Butka on charges of solicitation to commit murder following an alleged plot orchestrated from inside a jail cell. According to officials announced on Monday, Sept. 21, Butka is accused of attempting to hire a fellow inmate to kill his neighbor over a dispute involving a drone that escalated into criminal charges earlier this year.
Allegations Detail Pre-Meditated Plot
The allegations stem from an incident on July 22, where Butka was taken into custody after pleading no contest to aggravated assault. A witness reported that Butka flew a drone over their property and subsequently threw a rock at the victim’s vehicle, causing dents and marks. The conflict appears rooted in a civil dispute regarding the use of the unmanned aerial device.
While still incarcerated for the July incident, police allege that on or around Sept. 7 or 8, Butka approached another inmate to solicit murder services. Sergeant James Vachon, a public information officer for the Sheriff’s Office, stated that Butka offered $5,000 upfront from his bank account of approximately $1.3 million. The affidavit claims Butka provided detailed personal information about the intended victim, including their address, telephone number, first name, physical description, and morning schedule.
Jail Informant Reports Plot to Authorities
The plot was uncovered when a fellow inmate reported the conversation to a jail supervisor on Sept. 16, just one day before Butka was scheduled for release from custody on Sept. 17. According to police records, the inmate took detailed notes of their interaction and handed a handwritten note containing the details of the murder-for-hire plot to law enforcement officials.
Authorities allege that after receiving credit card information from Butka, the inmate’s wife deposited $300 into the inmate's commissary account. This financial transaction is cited by police as evidence supporting the solicitation claim. The two men reportedly did not know each other prior to being incarcerated together at the same facility, more context in Jury Deliberates Murder.
Denial and Current Legal Status
Butka has denied the allegations, claiming that the money discussed was intended to help the inmate retain an attorney rather than for a criminal act. Despite this defense, the Sheriff’s Office proceeded with charges based on the evidence provided by the informant.
Sergeant Vachon noted in a statement to WESH on Sept. 18 that it is not entirely clear why Butka felt the need to have the witness eliminated other than anger and revenge, particularly given that he was already scheduled for release when the solicitation occurred. As of Monday, Butka remains in custody with his bond set at $25,000 for the new charge.
