Sexual Assault Cases at Jacksonville, Florida: 2013–2018 vs. 2020–2022
Most Article 120 (sexual assault) cases at Jacksonville, Florida in 2020–2022 were contested, and most contested cases ended in a full acquittal.
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Short answer: Most Article 120 (sexual assault) cases at Jacksonville, Florida in 2020–2022 were contested, and most contested cases ended in a full acquittal. 11 of the 13 contested cases that reached a verdict ended in a full acquittal (85%), compared with 55% in Navy and Marine Corps Article 120 cases overall. In 2013–2018, 4 of 8 did.
How Often Did a Contested Case End in a Full Acquittal?
A case is contested when the accused pleads not guilty to at least one charge. At Jacksonville, 13 of the 14 cases with a plea recorded were contested and 1 was a guilty plea. That is 93% contested, compared with 57% in all Navy and Marine Corps Article 120 cases in 2020–2022.
Of the 13 contested cases that reached a verdict, 11 ended in a full acquittal, meaning not guilty of every charge. The rate was 85%. Across the Navy and Marine Corps, 55% of contested Article 120 cases that reached a verdict ended in a full acquittal.
Then and Now
The earlier period, 2013–2018, had 16 Article 120 cases at Jacksonville over the 4 years with cases on record, about 4 a year. The later period had about 5 a year, counting full years only.
The contested share was 50% in 2013–2018 and 93% in 2020–2022. Full acquittals in contested cases that reached a verdict were 4 of 8 in the earlier period and 11 of 13 in the later one. General courts-martial made up 94% of the earlier cases and 100% of the later ones. With groups this small, a few cases either way can change a percentage by a large amount, so these changes show direction only.
| 2013–2018 | 2020–2022 | |
|---|---|---|
| Cases | 16 | 14 |
| Contested (of pleas recorded) | 50% | 93% |
| Full acquittals (decided contested) | 4 of 8 | 11 of 13 |
| Convictions with confinement | 92% | 2 of 3 |
| Median confinement | 1.2 years | 7.6 years |
| Punitive discharge (enlisted) | 82% | 0 of 3 |
| General courts-martial | 94% | 100% |
Few Convictions to Describe
Because most contested cases ended in a full acquittal, only 3 convictions appear in 2020–2022. The comparison table lists their confinement and discharge figures, but 3 sentences are too few to describe a typical sentence. Sentences in these records are as adjudged at trial, before any plea-agreement cap, clemency, or appeal.
Which Charges Came With Article 120?
All 14 cases charged at least one other article. Article 128 (assault) appeared in 13 of them. Article 120b (child sexual abuse) appeared in 2. Article 134 (general article), Article 92 (orders violation), and Article 107 (false official statement) each appeared in 1.
Rank of the Accused
NCOs made up 50% of the accused, junior enlisted members (E-1 to E-4) 36%, and officers 14%. Across all Navy and Marine Corps Article 120 cases in 2020–2022, junior enlisted members were 62% of the accused.
Count by Year
The 14 cases were tried from February 2020 to January 2022: 7 in 2020, 6 in 2021, and 1 in 2022. They were 26% of the 54 courts-martial at Jacksonville, Florida in 2020–2022.
What These Records Do Not Show
The records list charges, pleas, findings, and sentences. They do not describe the evidence or any plea terms, and they leave out cases handled by nonjudicial punishment or administrative separation. They give trial dates, not offense dates. Navy and Marine Corps records before December 2020 often omit the plea, so plea counts use only the records that list one.
For what the offense covers and how it is defended, see Article 120 on the law firm's website. Dates and sources for the law changes: UCMJ change timeline.
How We Counted
Courts-martial tried at Jacksonville, Florida that charged Article 120 (found guilty, not guilty, or both): 2013–2018 (16) and 2020–2022 (14). Comparisons use every Navy and Marine Corps case charging Article 120 in 2020–2022.
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
- Jacksonville, Florida: Court-Martial Data and Trends (hub)
- Article 120 (Rape and Sexual Assault): Court-Martial Data and Trends (hub)
- By Installation (hub)
- Jacksonville, Florida, 2013–2018: Charges, Verdicts, and Sentences in 78 Cases (the whole docket)
- What Was Tried at Jacksonville, Florida, 2019–2023? 77 Courts-Martial (the whole docket)
- What Was Tried at Jacksonville, Florida, 2024–2026? 40 Courts-Martial (the whole docket)
- Sexual Assault Cases at Norfolk, Virginia: 2013–2018 vs. 2019–2023 (same offense, another installation)
- Article 120 at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina Before and After 2019 (same offense, another installation)
- Is Navy-Marine Corps Sexual Assault Prosecution Rising or Falling? Article 120, 2017–2025
- S2 E1: Article 120 Dismissal & the Aftermath (podcast, members)
- Article 120 explained on the law firm's website
- Search every case in Military Trial Results (members)
Military Judges Who Presided Over Article 120 Cases at Jacksonville, Florida, 2020–2022
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 membership.
Compare: federal court. Sexual Abuse of an Adult: Federal Cases vs. Article 120 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.