Army Article 120b Cases in 2023
Of 37 Army courts-martial charging Article 120b (child sexual abuse) in 2023, the median confinement after conviction was 2.7 years, compared with 6 months for all Army cases. Of convicted enlisted members, 90% received a punitive discharge, compared with 74%.
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Trends › By Offense › Article 120b › Army, 2023
Short answer: Of 37 Army courts-martial charging Article 120b (child sexual abuse) in 2023, the median confinement after conviction was 2.7 years, compared with 6 months for all Army cases. Of convicted enlisted members, 90% received a punitive discharge, compared with 74%. Of 15 contested cases that reached a verdict, 5 ended in a full acquittal (33%), lower than the 39% Army rate.
Terms of 5 Years or More Were the Most Common Band
Of 32 convictions, 30 included confinement. The median term was 2.7 years, and a quarter of the terms were 8 years or longer.
The most common band was 5 years or more, with 12 convictions (38%), compared with 8% for all Army cases in 2023. Overall, 20 of 32 convictions (62%) included more than one year, compared with 28% Army-wide. Only 3 convictions (9%) were under 6 months, compared with 39% for the Army. No confinement was given in 2 (6%).
These are adjudged sentences, as set at trial before any plea-agreement cap, clemency, or appeal. Each covers every charge in the case, not only the Article 120b finding.
The range of terms was wide. Terms went from no confinement to more than 5 years, and the 5-years-or-more band had more convictions than any other band.
| Adjudged confinement | Convictions | Share here | Share, all Army cases in 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| No confinement | 2 | 6% | 16% |
| Under 6 months | 3 | 9% | 39% |
| 6 months to 1 year | 7 | 22% | 16% |
| More than 1 year, under 5 years | 8 | 25% | 21% |
| 5 years or more | 12 | 38% | 8% |
Most Discharges Were Dishonorable
A punitive discharge was adjudged in 90% of enlisted convictions, compared with 74% for the Army: 22 dishonorable and 5 bad-conduct. The dishonorable discharge is the more severe form, and only a general court-martial can adjudge it.
Both of the 2 convicted officers or warrant officers were dismissed. A dismissal is the officer equivalent of a punitive discharge. Where a sentence includes no punitive discharge, an administrative separation can still follow, and these records do not show it.
Contested Cases in 2023
Of the 15 contested cases that reached a verdict, 5 ended in a full acquittal (33%), lower than the 39% across the Army. Another 7 (47%) ended in a partial acquittal, meaning not guilty of at least one charge or specification but guilty of another.
Army results list findings charge by charge, so partial acquittals are common. In those 7 cases, the conviction on the other charges still led to a sentence.
How the Year Compared With 2022
The number of cases went from 41 to 37. The median confinement went from 3.1 years to 2.7 years. Convictions with confinement rose from 88% to 94%. Full acquittals went from 7 of 15 to 5 of 15 contested cases that reached a verdict. Enlisted punitive discharges went from 94% to 90%.
The contested share went from 38% to 41%, and general courts-martial were 100% in both years. With groups this small, a few cases can change any of these figures.
| 2022 | 2023 | |
|---|---|---|
| Cases | 41 | 37 |
| Contested (of pleas recorded) | 38% | 41% |
| Full acquittals (decided contested) | 7 of 15 | 5 of 15 |
| Convictions with confinement | 88% | 94% |
| Median confinement | 3.1 years | 2.7 years |
| Punitive discharge (enlisted) | 94% | 90% |
| General courts-martial | 100% | 100% |
Pleas and Plea Agreements
There were 22 guilty pleas and 15 contested cases. The 41% contested share was higher than the 31% for the Army overall in 2023. A contested case is one where the accused pleads not guilty to at least one charge.
Of the 22 guilty pleas, 20 are recorded with a plea agreement, and 2 have no entry. The records show whether an agreement existed but not what it provided, including any cap on confinement.
Forum: Mostly Military Judges
The accused usually chooses whether a military judge alone or a panel of members decides guilt. A judge alone heard 30 cases. Of cases with the forum listed, 19% went to members, all 7 of them enlisted panels. Among contested cases, members heard 7 of 15 (47%).
Most judge-alone cases are guilty pleas.
Other Charges in the Same Case
Article 120b was the only charge in 12 of 37 cases. Article 134 (general article) was also charged in 15, Article 80 (attempt) in 5, Article 128 (assault) and Article 120 (sexual assault) in 4 each, and Article 128b (domestic violence) in 3.
Article 134 (general article) was charged in more of these cases than any other article. Each sentence covers all findings in the case. The data here does not separate the term for one charge from the term for another.
Rank and Location
Junior enlisted members (E-1 to E-4) made up 65% of the accused, NCOs 30%, and officers 5%. Across the Army in 2023, junior enlisted members were 56%.
Fort Stewart and Joint Base Lewis-McChord each tried 5 of these cases, Fort Hood 4, Fort Bragg 3, and Fort Polk 2. Together they tried 51% of the 37. Larger installations try more cases of every kind, so these counts alone do not mark any base as unusual.
What the Records Do Not Show
These records give trial dates, not offense dates. They do not include the evidence, plea terms, or matters handled through nonjudicial punishment or administrative separation.
For what the offense covers and how it is defended, see Article 120b on the law firm's website. Dates and sources for the law changes: UCMJ change timeline.
How We Counted
Army courts-martial with a trial date in 2023 that charged Article 120b (37 cases), compared with all Army cases that year and with 2022.
Source: public court-martial records (Article 140a, UCMJ) in Military Trial Results, data updated October 24, 2026. Definitions, sources, and known gaps: how this data was built. Errors: content@bodiesburied.com.
Related Analysis
- Article 120b (Rape and Sexual Assault of a Child): Court-Martial Data and Trends (hub)
- By Year (hub)
- Child Sexual Abuse at Army Courts-Martial, 2022: The Year in Numbers (previous / next)
- How Army Child Sexual Abuse Cases Ended in 2024 (previous / next)
- Fewer or More? Child Sexual Abuse Charges at Army Courts-Martial, 2021–2025 (the full trend)
- Child Sexual Abuse at Army Courts-Martial, 2021: The Year in Numbers
- How Army Child Sexual Abuse Cases Ended in 2025
- How Much Confinement for an Article 120b Conviction in the Army?
- Article 120b explained on the law firm's website
- Search every case in Military Trial Results (members)
Compare: federal court. Child Sexual Abuse and Enticement: Federal Sentences vs. Army Courts-Martial
About the author. Jocelyn C. Stewart is a retired Army JAG with more than 24 years of trying courts-martial and more than 200 jury trials. She hosts Where All The Bodies Are Buried and runs the Law Office of Jocelyn C. Stewart. This analysis is for education and information only. It is not legal advice, and every case is different.