> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.bodiesburied.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # Assault Cases at Fort Bragg: 2021–2023 vs. 2024–2026 - URL: https://www.bodiesburied.com/trends/fort-bragg-article-128-before-after-2024/ - Published: 2026-10-30T08:03:32.000Z - Updated: 2026-11-03T01:45:33.000Z - Description: Fort Bragg tried 15 Article 128 (assault) cases in 2024–2026, and 53% were contested, compared with 29% across all Army Article 128 cases. 5 of the 8 contested cases that reached a verdict ended in a full acquittal, compared with 2 of 23 in 2021–2023. - Author: Jocelyn C. Stewart - Tags: Understanding Trends, Fort Bragg, Article 128, Army [Trends](https://www.bodiesburied.com/trends/) › [By Installation](https://www.bodiesburied.com/trends/by-installation/) › [Fort Bragg](https://www.bodiesburied.com/trends/courts-martial-at-fort-bragg/) › Article 128 **Short answer:** Fort Bragg tried 15 Article 128 (assault) cases in 2024–2026, and 53% were contested, compared with 29% across all Army Article 128 cases. 5 of the 8 contested cases that reached a verdict ended in a full acquittal, compared with 2 of 23 in 2021–2023\. Article 128 was the only charge in just 1 of the 15 cases. Based on 15 cases · 2024–2026 · Army records · data updated October 24, 2026 ## More Contested Cases Than the Army Rate 8 accused contested at least one charge and 7 pleaded guilty. The 53% contested share was higher than the 29% in all Army Article 128 cases, and close to the 55% at Fort Bragg in 2021–2023. Of the 8 contested cases that reached a verdict, 5 ended in a full acquittal on all charges. In the earlier period, 2 of 23 did. ## Assault Charged With Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence Only 1 of the 15 cases charged Article 128 by itself, compared with 80 of 242 across the Army. Article 120 (sexual assault) appeared in 6, Article 128b (domestic violence) in 4, Article 134 (general article) in 4, and Article 115 (communicating threats) and Article 129 (burglary and unlawful entry) in 2 each. When an assault charge appears with a sexual assault or domestic violence charge, it can describe part of the same incident. ## Sentences After Conviction 10 cases ended in a conviction on at least one charge, and 8 of those sentences included confinement (80%). The median was 11 months, longer than the 6 months across the Army. Among the sentences with confinement, a quarter were 4.5 years or longer. 5 of 8 convicted enlisted members received a punitive discharge, compared with 77% in 2021–2023\. These are adjudged sentences, before any plea-agreement cap, clemency, or appeal. ## Then and Now Fort Bragg had 42 Article 128 cases in 2021–2023, about 14 a year, compared with about 6 a year since (full years only). The median confinement went from 8 months to 11 months. Convictions with confinement went from 78% to 80%, and the general court-martial share stayed at 86%. With 15 cases in the later period, the changes show direction only. | | 2021–2023 | 2024–2026 | | ----------------------------------- | --------- | --------- | | Cases | 42 | 15 | | Contested (of pleas recorded) | 55% | 53% | | Full acquittals (decided contested) | 2 of 23 | 5 of 8 | | Convictions with confinement | 78% | 80% | | Median confinement | 8 months | 11 months | | Punitive discharge (enlisted) | 77% | 5 of 8 | | General courts-martial | 86% | 86% | ## Forum and Rank A military judge alone decided guilt in 8 of 13 cases with the forum listed (62%). Members heard 5, all enlisted panels. The accused were 4 junior enlisted members, 8 NCOs (E-5 to E-9), and 3 officers or warrant officers, a more senior mix than all Army Article 128 cases, where 55% were junior enlisted. General courts-martial tried 12 cases and special courts-martial tried 2, with 1 not listed. The general share was 86%, compared with 75% across the Army. ## Dates, Rules, and Limits The trials ran from January 2024 to September 2026: 8 in 2024, 3 in 2025, and 4 in 2026, a partial year. They were 18% of the 85 courts-martial at Fort Bragg. Article 128 is not a covered offense, but special trial counsel who take a covered offense can also take a related assault. The records give trial dates, not offense dates, and do not show the evidence, the plea terms, or nonjudicial punishment. For what the offense covers and how it is defended, see [Article 128 on the law firm's website](https://www.ucmj-defender.com/practice-areas/court-martial/article-128/?ref=bodiesburied.com). Dates and sources for the law changes: [UCMJ change timeline](https://www.bodiesburied.com/trends/ucmj-change-timeline/). ### How We Counted Courts-martial tried at Fort Bragg that charged Article 128 (found guilty, not guilty, or both): 2021–2023 (42) and 2024–2026 (15). Comparisons use every Army case charging Article 128 in 2024–2026. Source: public court-martial records (Article 140a, UCMJ) in [Military Trial Results](https://www.bodiesburied.com/military-trial-results/), data updated October 24, 2026\. Definitions, sources, and known gaps: [how this data was built](https://www.bodiesburied.com/trends/how-the-military-trial-results-data-was-built/). Errors: content@bodiesburied.com. ## Related Analysis - [Fort Bragg: Court-Martial Data and Trends](https://www.bodiesburied.com/trends/courts-martial-at-fort-bragg/) (hub) - [Article 128 (Assault): Court-Martial Data and Trends](https://www.bodiesburied.com/trends/article-128-courts-martial/) (hub) - [By Installation](https://www.bodiesburied.com/trends/by-installation/) (hub) - [Fort Bragg Courts-Martial, 2020–2023: What 143 Cases Show](https://www.bodiesburied.com/trends/fort-bragg-courts-martial-2020-2023/) (the whole docket) - [What Was Tried at Fort Bragg, 2024–2026? 85 Courts-Martial](https://www.bodiesburied.com/trends/fort-bragg-courts-martial-2024-2026/) (the whole docket) - [Article 128 at Fort Hood Before and After 2024](https://www.bodiesburied.com/trends/fort-hood-article-128-before-after-2024/) (same offense, another installation) - [Did Assault Cases at Vilseck (Europe) Change After 2024?](https://www.bodiesburied.com/trends/vilseck-europe-article-128-before-after-2024/) (same offense, another installation) - [Army Article 128 Cases by the Numbers, 2021–2025](https://www.bodiesburied.com/trends/army-article-128-trend-2021-2025/) - [S1 H6: Shady Sh\*t Going Down at Fort Liberty](https://www.bodiesburied.com/s1h6-shady-sh-t-going-down-at-fort-liberty/) (podcast, members) - [Article 128 explained on the law firm's website](https://www.ucmj-defender.com/practice-areas/court-martial/article-128/?ref=bodiesburied.com) - [Search every case in Military Trial Results](https://www.bodiesburied.com/military-trial-results/) (members) ## Military Judges Who Presided Over Article 128 Cases at Fort Bragg, 2024–2026 - [Gregory B. Batdorff](https://www.bodiesburied.com/judge-gregory-b-batdorff/) - [John H. Cook](https://www.bodiesburied.com/judge-john-h-cook/) - [Willie F. Gore](https://www.bodiesburied.com/judge-willie-f-gore/) - [Tyler J. Heimann](https://www.bodiesburied.com/judge-tyler-j-heimann/) - [Benjamin W. Hillner](https://www.bodiesburied.com/judge-benjamin-w-hillner/) - [Michael E. Korte](https://www.bodiesburied.com/judge-michael-e-korte/) Names and links only. Each judge's record of pleas, findings, and sentences is on their Know Your Judge page, part of the [Court-Martial Characters](https://www.bodiesburied.com/judges/) membership. **Compare: federal court.** [Aggravated Assault: Federal Sentences vs. Article 128 Courts-Martial, 2016–2025](https://www.bodiesburied.com/trends/federal-aggravated-assault-vs-article-128/) **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](https://www.ucmj-defender.com/?ref=bodiesburied.com). This analysis is for education and information only. It is not legal advice, and every case is different.