US Marine jailed for sexually abusing Japanese girl
CAMP FOSTER, Japan (AFP) — A US military court on Friday sentenced a US Marine to four years in prison for sexually abusing a 14-year-old Japanese schoolgirl, in a case that triggered mass protests here.
But the court on southern Okinawa island -- home to more than half of the 40,000 US troops based in Japan -- cleared Staff Sergeant Tyrone Hadnott, 38, of rape and other charges including kidnapping through luring.
Hadnott pleaded guilty only to abusive sexual contact, although he had faced a maximum of 15 years in prison for it.
He will serve three years in confinement, with the remaining one year suspended under a plea-bargain. He also will be dishonourably discharged from the US military.
"He offended the entire country," the prosecutor said. "Marines are here to protect people in Japan, not to molest their children."
The incident outraged Japanese leaders who have called for stricter discipline on US troops, amid a string of crimes committed by US soldiers stationed in Japan, one of Washington's closest allies.
In February, Hadnott, who lived off base, picked up the girl on a motorbike and took her to his home. When she started crying, he offered to drive her to her home and allegedly raped her in his car, according to Japanese police.
Hadnott admitted touching the victim's underwear but denied raping her.
"I touched her in a sexual manner over clothing. I was gratifying my sexual desire, sir. (There is) no excuse for my action and no way to express how sorry I am," he said.
Japanese prosecutors declined to indict Hadnott after the teenager dropped the case, apparently because she did not want to be in the public glare. The military then took up the case.
During the court martial at Camp Foster, presiding judge Lieutenant Colonel David Oliver said the Marine was "ignorant of her true age" but suggested he should have made more effort to find out.
The incident rekindled memories of the gang-rape in 1995 of a 12-year-old girl by three US soldiers, which led to major protests and set in motion a process to reduce the number of US troops here.
In a separate case, prosecutors in Okinawa said Friday they had dropped charges against a US soldier accused of raping a Filipina.
Her case has drawn less attention than the alleged rape of the schoolgirl, which led to an apology by US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice in February when she visited Tokyo on her Asian tour.
Hadnott had only one witness, his mother, who told the court that his learning disability and mental immaturity must have led to the misconduct.
"For the Marine Corps of the United States, Japan, and for the family involved, I'm so, sorry," she said, weeping into a handkerchief as Hadnott rubbed his eyes.
A series of crimes linked to the US military has caused public uproar and prompted tighter restrictions on troops' movements, including a round-the-clock curfew in Okinawa for nearly two weeks after Hadnott's arrest.
"Today's verdict would not change the situation where similar incidents keep occurring," said Toshio Ikemiyagi, an Okinawa-based lawyer helping victims of crimes by US troops.
Last month, prosecutors indicted a US sailor on charges of stabbing to death a taxi driver near a US military base outside Tokyo.
Marine Corps spokesman First Lieutenant Judd Wilson said in a statement that the US military "does not tolerate sexual assault and has a comprehensive policy that reinforces a culture of prevention, response and accountability to ensure the safety, dignity and well-being of others."
