*Media Advisory* Trial Begins Against DC Army Major Charged in Sexual Assault Case Involving 20+ Victims, Including Civilians
With the military failing to provide legal support to civilian victims, Protect Our Defenders is stepping in to fill the gap, offering pro-bono legal services to ensure survivors aren’t left to navigate the system alone
Washington, DC – On Monday, June 2, the trial against Army Major Jonathan J. Batt of the Joint Artificial Intelligence Center in Crystal City, Virginia, will begin in Fort Meade, Maryland. Last November, Batt was charged with sexual assault-related charges involving at least 20 alleged victims in the Washington D.C. area between December 2019 and February 2023.
Many of the victims in this case are civilians and have not been provided legal counsel or advocacy support by the Department of Defense. This failure underscores a systemic gap in services the military itself has acknowledged are critical to supporting survivors. Protect Our Defenders (POD) is stepping in to fill this gap by providing pro bono legal representation and resourcing partners to ensure these victims receive the advocacy support they deserve.
As the government pulls back on key protections—including the recent cancellation of DOJ grants for victims services—survivors are increasingly left to navigate a complex justice system alone, without the representation federal law was meant to ensure. POD remains troubled by the concerningly low staffing levels to address the military’s sexual assault crisis.
POD also provided pro bono legal support for survivors in one of the largest military sexual assault scandals in recent history, involving more than 100 victims accusing Maj. Michael Stockin, an Army doctor, of sexual assault and resulting in a 13 year prison sentence. That case, like this one, highlight the importance of the military’s Sexual Assault Prevention and Response (SAPR) program, which is being dismantled by the Trump administration.
If you are a survivor in the case involving Major Jonathan J. Batt and are seeking pro bono legal support, please find more information about POD’s Legal Services Program here.
The trial is open to the public and media. Details below:
Who: Ryan Guilds, legal representation for the survivors
Josh Connolly, Senior Vice President, Protect Our Defenders
What: Trial begins in U.S. v. Maj. Jonathan J. Batt
When: Jury selection begins June 2, 2025 at 9:00am ET
Where: 4432 Llewellyn Ave., Fort Meade, MD 20755
Protect Our Defenders Founder and CEO, Nancy Parrish, released the following statement:
“The trial of Major Batt, following the conviction of Maj. Michael Stockin, reveals just how pervasive and entrenched the military’s sexual violence crisis remains. These are not isolated failures – they are systemic, and they speak to a culture that has too often allowed abusers to operate with impunity while silencing survivors.
“The military has failed to provide legal or advocacy services to the victims in this case. That’s why Protect Our Defenders stepped in. We want to ensure civilian survivors are not left to face the system alone. We will stand by them every step of the way to ensure their voices are heard and their rights are protected.”
Protect Our Defenders Senior Vice President, Josh Connolly, former Chief of Staff for Rep. Jackie Speier (former Chairwoman of the Military Personnel Subcommittee on the House Armed Services Committee), released the following statement:
“The case against Major Batt is a glaring example of the military’s repeated failure to protect both service members and civilians from predators within its ranks. With at least 20 alleged victims and abuse spanning years, this case underscores just how broken and unaccountable the system remains – especially when civilians, who won’t receive legal representation from the military, are among the harmed.
“This is precisely why organizations like Protect Our Defenders are essential — to fill the gap when the military fails. But recent efforts by the Trump administration and Secretary Hegseth to gut protections, cancel DOJ grants for victim services, and dismantle oversight mechanisms are making it harder for survivors to receive the support they need.
“The Stockin case should have been a wake-up call. Instead, we’re watching sexual assault prevention programs erode further, and survivors are being forced to depend entirely on external support systems.
