High Profile and Multi-Victim Courts-Martial

Multi‑victim and high profile courts‑martial are among the most challenging cases in the military justice system. They often involve dozens of witnesses, overlapping allegations, extensive expert testimony, digital forensics, and an aggressive prosecution theory built on volume rather than proof. These cases are designed to overwhelm the accused, pressure commanders and investigators, and create momentum toward conviction.

Cave & Freeburg has unparalleled experience defending service members in exactly these cases—across all branches of the military, worldwide. Our firm has repeatedly stepped into the most complex, highest‑risk prosecutions and achieved the best possible results under the circumstances.

Proven Experience in Multi‑Victim Sexual Assault and High Profile Trials

Nathan Freeburg – Lead Counsel in Nationally Significant Cases

Nathan Freeburg has served as lead defense counsel in some of the most complex and high‑profile multi‑victim courts‑martial in the modern military justice system.

The Dezwaan Case: A Full Acquittal in a Combat-Zone Prosecution

United States v. Dezwaan (U.S. Air Force)

Mr. Freeburg was lead counsel in United States v. Dezwaan, the Air Force prosecution arising from the alleged bombing at MSS Green Village in Syria, an attack in which multiple U.S. service members were injured. The case involved battlefield evidence, classified and operational issues, and an extraordinary volume of forensic and expert testimony.

At trial, Mr. Freeburg personally cross-examined every category of government expert, including explosives and blast-analysis experts, DNA analysts, digital forensic examiners, and medical experts addressing injury causation. Through disciplined, methodical cross-examination, the defense exposed critical gaps in the government’s reconstruction of events and its attribution of responsibility.

In closing argument, Mr. Freeburg presented a fully developed alibi defense that the government did not anticipate, fundamentally reframing the case at the decisive moment.

The result was a complete acquittal on all charges.

The Dezwaan case demonstrates the same core skill set required to defend complex multi-victim sexual assault prosecutions: mastery of expert-driven evidence, control of cumulative proof, and the ability to dismantle prosecution narratives built on volume rather than reliability.

Multi‑Victim Acquittals and Victories Across the Country
Mr. Freeburg has successfully defended multi‑victim sexual assault and child sexual assault courts‑martial at major installations, including:

• Eielson Air Force Base (Alaska)
• Fort Bragg (North Carolina)
• Fort Drum (New York)

These cases required dismantling prosecution narratives built on pattern evidence, coordinated witness testimony, and cumulative prejudice—often through aggressive motion practice, precision cross‑examination, and expert‑level understanding of forensic and psychological evidence.

The Batt Case: Internationally Known, Exceptionally Complex

United States v. Major Batt (U.S. Army)

Mr. Freeburg also led the defense in the internationally known Army prosecution of United States v. Major Batt—one of the most expansive multi‑victim sexual assault cases ever tried by the Army.

• More than 20 alleged victims at the outset
• A month‑long contested court‑martial
• Multiple expert witnesses across disciplines

Through relentless preparation and courtroom advocacy, Mr. Freeburg personally:

• Cross‑examined every alleged sexual assault victim
• Cross‑examined every government expert witness
• Exposed inconsistencies, credibility gaps, and investigative failures across allegations

The result: despite beginning with over 20 alleged victims, the case concluded with convictions involving only five sexual assault victims—a dramatic reduction in scope and exposure in a case designed to produce overwhelming convictions through volume alone. In addition, through relentless advocacy Mr. Freeburg was able to create numerous appellate issues which might well cause the remaining convictions to be overturned on appeal.

This outcome was not accidental. It was the product of experience, discipline, and a refusal to concede any witness, expert, or allegation without rigorous testing.

Philip D. Cave – Decades of Global Multi‑Victim Defense Experience

Philip D. Cave brings more than four decades of military justice experience to the defense of complex, multi‑victim cases worldwide. Mr. Cave has successfully defended multi‑victim prosecutions across the globe, including cases arising in Bahrain and other overseas locations.

International cases add layers of complexity—foreign witnesses, overseas evidence collection, command pressure, jurisdictional issues, and logistical challenges. Mr. Cave’s long‑standing success in these cases reflects a deep understanding of both the law and the realities of defending service members far from home.

Why Multi‑Victim Cases Require a Different Defense

Multi‑victim prosecutions are not simply “bigger” cases—they are different cases. They demand:

• Strategic control of cumulative prejudice
• Mastery of M.R.E. 403, 404(b), and 413/414 issues
• Sophisticated expert cross‑examination
• The ability to expose coordination and contamination among witnesses
• Stamina and focus over weeks—or months—of trial

Cave & Freeburg does not outsource these responsibilities. We do not delegate the hardest parts of the case. Our senior attorneys personally handle the witnesses, experts, and legal battles that decide outcomes.

Experience That Matters When Everything Is on the Line

When the government brings a multi‑victim court‑martial, it is signaling maximum exposure and maximum pressure. These cases demand counsel who have not only studied complex litigation—but have won it.

Cave & Freeburg has done so repeatedly, across branches, installations, and continents. We know how these cases are built, how they unravel, and how to defend them from the first allegation through verdict and beyond.

If you are facing a complex or multi‑victim court‑martial, experience is not optional. It is decisive.