An Army officer on Tuesday was sentenced to 53 years in jail on 20 prices associated to rape, sexual assault and aggravated assault by strangulation.
Maj. Jonathan Batt’s convictions stem from six rape counts and 14 further violent sexual assault prices tied to eight of 15 girls who testified throughout a three-week court-martial at Fort Meade, Maryland, in some of the sprawling sexual abuse trials in current Military historical past.
The jury — comprised of six males and two girls — heard accounts from girls who mentioned the 40-year-old main choked them into unconsciousness, used ligatures together with rope and pillowcases, and in some instances bit them earlier than rape or assault, courtroom data present. The assaults passed off between 2019 and 2023 within the Washington, D.C., space after many of the girls met Batt by means of relationship apps.
Learn Subsequent: Military Domestic Violence Convictions Skyrocketed After Commanders Were Removed from Process
The Military initially charged Batt with 77 offenses in opposition to 20 girls, together with 14 rape counts. 5 accusers declined to testify, prompting prosecutors to streamline the indictment to 43 prices involving 15 girls; of these, Batt was convicted on counts involving eight and acquitted on the remainder.
A lot of the girls Batt met had been civilians with no connection to the Military, based on courtroom data. The entire girls agreed to go on dates with him, based on prosecutors — however most of them reported not agreeing to intercourse.
He typically pressured girls into intercourse on his boat within the Potomac River, a lot of it involving tying up victims or choking them into unconsciousness. One sufferer was a soldier. Throughout courtroom proceedings, Batt maintained the entire sexual acts had been consensual.
The fees had been introduced by the Workplace of the Particular Trial Counsel, a newly established physique created in late 2023 in response to years of criticism over the army’s dealing with of sexual assault, home violence, and different critical crimes. Mandated by Congress, the workplace was designed to function independently of the chain of command, taking prosecutorial authority out of the palms of commanders and inserting it with neutral army attorneys.
Batt is an infantry officer who entered the service in Could 2007, based on Military data. All through his profession, he served in a number of prestigious models, together with the 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment; fifth Ranger Coaching Battalion; third Infantry Division; seventy fifth Ranger Regiment; and third Infantry Regiment.
Batt deployed to Afghanistan 4 instances and amassed an extended listing of awards, together with two Bronze Star Medals, two Meritorious Service Medals, 4 Military Commendation Medals, and 7 Military Achievement Medals, in addition to the Ranger Tab, Fight Infantryman Badge, and Knowledgeable Infantryman Badge.
Associated: Military Domestic Violence Convictions Skyrocketed After Commanders Were Removed from Process
