A US army major has been accused of raping or otherwise sexually assaulting at least 20 victims during a span of three years, according to the military branch’s office of special trial counsel.
On Thursday, the office of special trial counsel confirmed to the Army Times that it had accused Jonathan J Batt – a major assigned to the Joint Artificial Intelligence Center in Crystal City, Virginia – of three charges involving 76 specifications of sexual abuse.
In a statement to multiple military news outlets including the Army Times, Task and Purpose and Stars and Stripes, an office of special trial counsel spokesperson, Michelle McCaskill, said that the charges include 14 specifications of rape, 20 of sexual assault, three of abusive sexual contact, 15 of aggravated assault by strangulation, one of aggravated assault by suffocation, 22 of assault consummated by battery and one specification of obstructing justice.
According to McCaskill, the alleged assaults occurred between 1 December 2019 and 17 February 2023. The majority of the alleged assaults happened within the Washington DC area, she added.
“The first allegation made against Major Batt was reported to the Alexandria police department,” McCaskill told Task and Purpose. She added that the police notified the army’s criminal investigation division, which subsequently uncovered “additional allegations involving multiple victims”.
Batt served as an infantry officer since May 2007, Task and Purpose reported. From August 2009 to May 2020, he was deployed to Afghanistan four times and – among other honors – earned two Bronze Star medals for valor.
In a statement to the Army Times, Batt’s lawyer, Phil Cave, said: “We intend to represent him vigorously and we have no further comment at this time.”
According to McCaskill, Batt was placed in pre-trial confinement and was then released after a 1 November hearing.
“A military judge ordered Major Batt’s release from confinement after determining that the government had not demonstrated that lesser forms of restraint were inadequate to protect the community and assure Major Batt’s presence at trial,” McCaskill said. She added: “Since charges were preferred in this case, Major Batt has complied with all orders of his commander.”
• Information and support for anyone affected by rape or sexual abuse issues is available from the following organisations. In the US, Rainn offers support on 800-656-4673. In the UK, Rape Crisis offers support on 0808 500 2222. In Australia, support is available at 1800Respect (1800 737 732). Other international helplines can be found at ibiblio.org/rcip/internl.html
