Trial begins for Army major accused of sexual assaulting, raping over a dozen victims

The military trial for an Army major accused of raping or sexually assaulting over a dozen victims began this week in Maryland. 

Major Jonathan Batt, who was previously assigned to the Defense Department’s Joint Artificial Intelligence Center, in Crystal City, Virginia, is facing 63 accusations including 15 sexual assault charges against 17 women and 10 specifications of rape, according to the Army’s Office of Special Trial Counsel. 

The trial began Monday in Fort Meade, Maryland, with the alleged attacks having occurred from 2019 to 2023, according to the publication Stars and Stripes.

Batt is also facing charges of battery, obstruction of justice, abusive sexual contact and aggravated assault, the Army Times reported. 

Nathan Freeburg, his civilian attorney, said that Batt has pleaded not guilty to all the charges and specifications. 

Batt was originally charged in October 2024 with 76 violations of the Uniform Code of Military Justice against 20 women, but some of the charges have been dropped.

Michelle McCaskill, a spokeswoman for the Office of Special Trial, told Stars and Stripes that some of the charges were dropped because the victims did not want to participate in the case. 

Some of the women have accused the major of choking them to the point of unconsciousness before raping them. Many of the accusers are expected to testify at the trial. 

Batt has chosen to be tried by a military jury, known as a panel, which will be composed entirely of officers senior to him.

The trial is set to run through June 27, McCaskill also told Stars and Stripes.