Statement: Army Major Convicted of Serial Sexual Assault After Military Failed to Support 15 Victims
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 23, 2025
Brian Purchia, brian@protectourdefenders.com
Protect Our Defenders filled critical gaps in advocacy and legal representation the military failed to provide civilian victims of Army serial predator
Washington, DC – On June 23, Army Major Jonathan J. Batt was convicted of multiple charges of rape assault and obstruction of justice involving fifteen victims, including fourteen civilians and one active duty officer is his chain of command. The conviction is a critical victory for survivors and a positive sign that military justice can work when survivors are heard and supported. The conviction is a critical victory for survivors and a positive sign that military justice can work when survivors are heard and supported.
This outcome would not have been possible without the bravery of the victims who came forward and the advocacy and legal support provided by Protect Our Defenders (POD) pro bono network and its partners. The Army failed to provide civilian survivors with basic legal or advocacy services. That failure reflects a broader systemic issue: survivors were forced to rely on outside organizations when it should have been the Army’s responsibility. Yet, Congress mandated that the military inform survivors of outside support services like POD. Yet, the Pentagon Inspector General found that in 80% of cases, the military failed to inform survivors of their rights or to properly document their preferences, clear defiance of the law.
This case also raises serious questions about how Major Batt was able to operate for years at the Joint Artificial Intelligence Center in Crystal City, Virginia. Like the recent conviction of Maj. Michael Stockin – an army doctor recently convicted of sexually abusing 41 former soldier patients, this trial exposes persistent gaps in oversight, accountability, and leadership.
The conviction of Maj. Batt is a positive sign that the bipartisan military reforms POD has fought for more than a decade to achieve are beginning to show impact. But this progress is fragile, as the Trump administration and Secretary Hegseth are gutting critical oversight and victim support programs like military’s Sexual Assault Prevention and Response program.
Protect Our Defenders Senior Vice President, Josh Connolly, released the following statement:
“This conviction is a step in the right direction and proof that justice is possible when survivors are empowered and advocacy organizations step in to fill the void. It also forces us to confront hard truths, like how someone accused of assaulting more than a dozen victims was able to keep serving and move freely between posts, without intervention or accountability.
“The fact is, we are only at this point because of the bravery of the victims and the commitment of POD and our legal partners to provide services. That’s not how justice should work. The military must reckon with its failures and build a system that doesn’t rely on outsiders to ensure survivors are heard, protected, and supported.”
Protect Our Defenders Founder and CEO, Nancy Parrish, released the following statement:
“This conviction demonstrates what can happen when survivors are heard and supported within a system that has historically failed them. Let’s be clear this happened because of the extraordinary courage of survivors – moms, sisters, friends– and the relentless advocacy and victim support by POD and our amazing pro bono attorneys who fought to hold a serial predator accountable after the Army failed to act.
“Without civilian advocates, this case may never have reached trial. Congress mandated that the military inform victims of outside support services like Protect Our Defenders, yet the military continues to defiantly ignore the law, leaving survivors to navigate this complex system alone. The Army provides the best legal counsel for the accused and none for civilian victims. What’s up with that?
“This isn’t just about justice for these survivors – it’s about stopping predators and forcing the military to confront systemic failures that enabled years of abuse.
“How was Major Batt allowed to continue victimizing people for years without accountability? This conviction must mark a turning point in the military’s willingness to protect victims rather than perpetrators. Mission readiness depends on unit cohesion and trust – protecting predators destroys both.”
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