Army officer faces rape, sexual assault charges involving 20 victims

*Replace: This text has been up to date to incorporate an announcement from the Military Felony Investigation Division.

An Military main faces sexual assault-related expenses involving not less than 20 alleged victims within the Washington D.C. space over a roughly three-year interval.

The Military’s Workplace of Particular Trial Counsel confirmed to Military Instances Thursday that the workplace most well-liked three expenses that embrace 76 specs of sexual assault-related expenses on Oct. 16 in opposition to Maj. Jonathan J. Batt, who’s assigned to the Joint Synthetic Intelligence Middle in Crystal Metropolis, Virginia.

A navy preliminary listening to officer beneficial Monday that the costs in opposition to Batt be referred court-martial, officers mentioned, and the particular trial counsel workplace will make the ultimate name as as to if the costs go ahead.

The Military declined to supply Batt’s cost sheet and extra particulars in regards to the offenses.

Batt faces 14 specs of rape, 20 specs of sexual assault, three specs of abusive sexual contact, 15 specs of aggravated assault by strangulation, one specification of aggravated assault by suffocation, 22 specs of assault consummated by a battery and one specification of obstructing justice, Workplace of Particular Trial Counsel spokesperson Michelle McCaskill instructed Military Instances.

The alleged offenses came about between December 2019 and February 2023 within the Washington, D.C. space, McCaskill mentioned.

Batt’s civilian protection lawyer, Phil Cave, declined remark Thursday.

“We intend to signify him vigorously and we’ve no additional remark presently,” Cave mentioned in an announcement.

McCaskill referred additional inquiries to CID. Particular Agent Mark Lunardi instructed Military Instances that Batt’s “stays an energetic and ongoing investigation.”

Batt was being detained at a navy detention facility in Chesapeake, Virginia, as of Thursday, officers mentioned.

Batt commissioned after attending the U.S. Army Academy at West Level in 2007, officers mentioned. As an infantry officer, he deployed to Afghanistan 4 instances and was beforehand assigned to the 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment, fifth Ranger Coaching Battalion, third Infantry Division, seventy fifth Ranger Regiment and third Infantry Regiment.

The most important’s awards embrace two Bronze Star Medals, two Meritorious Service Medals, 4 Military Commendation Medals, 7 Military Achievement Medals and numerous different awards.

Correction: This text has been up to date to mirror the correction date {that a} preliminary listening to officer beneficial expenses in opposition to Batt be referred to courtroom martial.