Sexual Assault Cases at Norfolk, Virginia: 2013–2018 vs. 2019–2023
Norfolk, Virginia tried 38 courts-martial charging Article 120, sexual assault, from 2019–2023. Of these cases, 73% were contested, compared with 65% in Navy and Marine Corps Article 120 cases overall.
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Short answer: Norfolk, Virginia tried 38 courts-martial charging Article 120, sexual assault, from 2019–2023. Of these cases, 73% were contested, compared with 65% in Navy and Marine Corps Article 120 cases overall. Of contested cases that reached a verdict, 63% ended in a full acquittal (17 of 27), compared with 57% service-wide.
Most Contested Cases Ended in a Full Acquittal
Of 27 contested cases that reached a verdict, 17 ended in a full acquittal. That 63% full-acquittal rate is higher than the 57% across the rest of the Navy and Marine Corps. In 2 more cases, the accused was found not guilty of at least 1 charge and guilty of another. That is called a partial acquittal.
The rate was also higher than in the earlier period. In 2013–2018, 28 of 57 contested cases that reached a verdict ended in a full acquittal.
Most Cases Were Contested
A case is contested when the accused pleads not guilty to at least 1 charge. Of the 37 Norfolk records that list a plea, 27 were contested and 10 were guilty pleas. The 73% contested share is higher than the 65% across Navy and Marine Corps Article 120 cases.
The contested share at Norfolk rose from 66% in 2013–2018 to 73% in 2019–2023. Navy and Marine Corps records before December 2020 often omit the plea, so these counts use only the records that list it.
Sentences After a Conviction
There were 20 cases with a conviction on at least 1 charge, and 18 of those sentences included confinement (90%). The median confinement was 1.3 years, shorter than the 1.5 years in the rest of the Navy and Marine Corps. A quarter of the sentences were 5 years or longer.
Sentences longer than one year were less common than in Navy and Marine Corps Article 120 cases overall: 9 of 20 convictions (45%), compared with 55%. Sentences of more than 1 year and under 5 years made up 3 convictions (15%), compared with 36% elsewhere. Sentences of 5 years or more made up 6 convictions (30%), compared with 19%. Another 5 (25%) were 6 months to 1 year. These are adjudged sentences, before any plea-agreement cap, clemency, or appeal, and each covers every charge in the case.
| Adjudged confinement | Convictions | Share here | Share, Navy and Marine Corps Article 120 cases overall |
|---|---|---|---|
| No confinement | 2 | 10% | 11% |
| Under 6 months | 4 | 20% | 16% |
| 6 months to 1 year | 5 | 25% | 18% |
| More than 1 year, under 5 years | 3 | 15% | 36% |
| 5 years or more | 6 | 30% | 19% |
Punitive Discharges After a Conviction
Of 19 enlisted members convicted, 16 received a punitive discharge (84%): 4 bad-conduct discharges and 12 dishonorable discharges. Across the Navy and Marine Corps, the share was 83%, about the same. The 1 convicted officer or warrant officer was not dismissed.
A sentence without a punitive discharge does not rule out a later administrative separation.
Assault Was Also Charged in Most Cases
Article 120 was the only charge in 5 of the 38 cases. Article 128 (assault) was charged in 28 of them, more than any other article. Article 120b (child sexual abuse) and Article 80 (attempt) were each charged in 4, Article 134 (general article) in 3, and Article 120c (indecent recording and exposure) in 2.
Norfolk Compared With 2013–2018
The earlier period had 86 cases, about 14 a year, compared with about 8 a year in 2019–2023 (full years only). Median confinement fell from 2.5 years to 1.3 years. Punitive discharges for convicted enlisted members rose from 74% to 84%. The general court-martial share went from 85% to 92%. Convictions with confinement stayed at 90%.
Groups this size can change with a few cases, so these changes show direction, not exact size.
| 2013–2018 | 2019–2023 | |
|---|---|---|
| Cases | 86 | 38 |
| Contested (of pleas recorded) | 66% | 73% |
| Full acquittals (decided contested) | 28 of 57 | 17 of 27 |
| Convictions with confinement | 90% | 90% |
| Median confinement | 2.5 years | 1.3 years |
| Punitive discharge (enlisted) | 74% | 84% |
| General courts-martial | 85% | 92% |
Rank and Court Level
The accused included 18 junior enlisted members, 18 NCOs, and 2 officers. That is a more senior group than in Navy and Marine Corps Article 120 cases overall.
By court level, 35 cases were general courts-martial and 3 were special courts-martial. The 92% general court-martial share compares with 87% service-wide. A general court-martial can impose any lawful sentence, including long confinement and a dishonorable discharge. A special court-martial caps confinement at one year and cannot impose a dishonorable discharge.
Cases by Year and the Law
The cases were tried from March 2019 to December 2023: 15 in 2019, 4 in 2020, 5 in 2021, 7 in 2022, and 7 in 2023. They make up 19% of the 205 courts-martial at Norfolk in those years.
Article 120 was rewritten in 2012 and amended again for offenses on or after January 1, 2019. Each case is charged under the version in force when the offense happened. The records give trial dates, not offense dates, so they cannot show which version applied in a given case.
What the Records Do Not Show
These numbers include only cases that reached a courtroom. Matters resolved through nonjudicial punishment, administrative separation, or no action are not included. The records do not describe the evidence or plea terms.
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 Norfolk, Virginia that charged Article 120 (found guilty, not guilty, or both): 2013–2018 (86) and 2019–2023 (38). Comparisons use every Navy and Marine Corps case charging Article 120 in 2019–2023.
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
- Norfolk, Virginia: Court-Martial Data and Trends (hub)
- Article 120 (Rape and Sexual Assault): Court-Martial Data and Trends (hub)
- By Installation (hub)
- Norfolk, Virginia, 2013–2018: Charges, Verdicts, and Sentences in 308 Cases (the whole docket)
- What Was Tried at Norfolk, Virginia, 2019–2023? 205 Courts-Martial (the whole docket)
- What Was Tried at Norfolk, Virginia, 2024–2026? 77 Courts-Martial (the whole docket)
- Article 120 at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina Before and After 2019 (same offense, another installation)
- Sexual Assault Cases at San Diego, California: 2013–2018 vs. 2019–2023 (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 Norfolk, Virginia, 2019–2023
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.