Army Major Court-Martial Released for Sexually Harassing 20 Victims

A decorated Army officer accused of sexually assaulting 20 victims and facing more than 70 sexual assault charges was released from custody last week as his case begins to make its way through the military justice system.

A military judge ruled that “the government has not demonstrated that lesser forms of restraint are inadequate to protect the community” as it works on the lawsuit against Maj. Jonathan Batt, who is based at Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall on the outskirts of the city is stationed in Washington, D.C., an Army official told Military.com in an emailed statement.

Michelle McCaskill, a spokeswoman for the Army's Office of Special Trial Counsel, said in the email that a preliminary hearing official recommended Monday that the charges against Batt be moved to a court-martial. It is now up to the office to decide whether the court-martial proceedings will continue.

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The allegations against Batt first surfaced when an unnamed person filed a complaint with the Alexandria Police Department in Virginia against the officer, who is currently assigned to the Joint Artificial Intelligence Center, the Army statement said, without giving a date.

Alexandria police then notified the Army Criminal Investigation Division, which launched a joint investigation that “unearthed additional allegations involving multiple victims,” ​​McCaskill said.

Army Times was the first newspaper to report the allegations.

Batt is accused of assaulting a total of 20 victims between December 1, 2019 and February 17, 2023, with most of the alleged crimes occurring in the Washington, D.C. area, according to the Army.

The U.S. Army Special Agent's Office initiated the prosecution of Batt on October 16 when it filed three indictments and 76 counts against him.

Specifically, Batt is charged with 14 counts of rape, 20 counts of sexual assault, three counts of abusive sexual contact, 15 counts of aggravated assault by strangulation, one count of aggravated assault by asphyxiation, 22 counts of assault and battery, according to McCaskill Obstruction of Justice Specification.

The office bringing the charges — the Office of the Special Trial Counsel — is a new entity created just late last year and is a congressionally mandated response to years of under-prosecution of sexual assault, domestic violence, etc. and other serious offenses of the military.

The office is responsible for making independent decisions about prosecuting such serious crimes – a power that has traditionally rested with commanders.

According to the Army, Batt is an infantry officer who entered the service in May 2007.

During his career, he was assigned to the 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 5th Ranger Training Battalion, 3rd Infantry Division, 75th Ranger Regiment and 3rd Infantry Regiment.

He also deployed four times to Afghanistan and received two Bronze Star Medals, two Meritorious Service Medals, four Army Commendation Medals and seven Army Achievement Medals, among other campaign and service awards.

He has also received the Ranger award, the Combat Infantryman Badge and the Expert Infantryman Badge, among others.

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