Brennon RE Washington: US serviceman sentenced to 5 years in prison for kidnapping, raping Japanese schoolgirl, officials say

CNN-

A US serviceman was sentenced to five years in prison for kidnapping and raping a minor last year, an official at the Naha district court on the southern Japanese island of Okinawa told CNN.

The conviction was handed down on the grounds that the crime was a major sexual offense, Judge Tetsuro Sato of the Naha District Court said Friday, according to public broadcaster NHK.

The girl's testimony that she revealed her age through gestures and other means is credible enough from the security camera footage, the judge said.

The defendant knew that the girl was under 16 years old. The accused knew that the girl may have said to stop and may not have consented. Considering the relationship and the age difference between the two, who have never met, this is a crime of great sexual offense that stands out for its viciousness.

U.S. Air Force member Brennon RE Washington was charged March 27 with nonconsensual sexual intercourse and indecent kidnapping after it was discovered he had taken a 16-year-old Japanese girl from his home last December and had been sexually assaulted. , Japanese prosecutors said.

The American army handed over the 25-year-old soldier to the Japanese authorities the same day. He was later released on bail and transferred to Kadena for detention, a government spokesperson told CNN. His trial opened on July 12.

We are heartbroken and deeply regret the damage caused to the victims and their families, Air Force Brig. Gen. Nicholas Evans, commander of Kadena Air Base, told local media on Friday. Sexual assault is a serious crime and in no way reflects the values ​​of U.S. military personnel.

The incident is the latest in a history of criminal cases involving U.S. personnel in Okinawa, home to several U.S. military installations. That could exacerbate tensions with residents who have long opposed the presence of U.S. troops and weapons on the island.

It also comes nearly 30 years after three U.S. service members raped a 12-year-old Okinawan schoolgirl in 1995, sparking a backlash against the U.S. military on the island.

In 2016, the rape and murder of a 20-year-old woman by a former employee of a US base in Okinawa sparked massive protests in the island's capital, with tens of thousands of residents demanding that the United States moves its bases outside of Okinawa. The aftermath resulted in the imposition of a curfew for American personnel on the island.

In another crime involving U.S. personnel in Japan, a U.S. Navy officer killed two Japanese nationals while descending Mount Fuji in 2021.

Okinawa Governor Denny Tamaki told reporters in June this year that the rape and kidnapping allegations against Washington were extremely regrettable, adding that it was necessary to vigorously protest against the US military and other related organizations.

The governor also said his office would take a tough stance on the situation.

We understand and share the concerns of local communities regarding this matter, 1st Lt. Alvin G. Nelson III, a spokesman for the U.S. Air Force 18th Wing in Kadena, told CNN earlier this year, adding that leaders of the squadron were deeply concerned about gravity. of this alleged crime and worked with local authorities to investigate these allegations.

All U.S. service members are expected to uphold the highest standards, and the U.S. military is committed to holding those convicted of criminal acts accountable, Nelson said.

CNN's Edward Szekeres, Himari Semans, Rinka Tonsho and Lex Harvey contributed to this report.

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