Tokyo (CNN) — Japanese prosecutors have charged a US Air Force member with allegedly kidnapping and raping an underage girl just before Christmas last year, according to Okinawa police on Wednesday.
Brennon R. E. Washington, 25, was indicted on March 27 for “non-consensual sexual intercourse” and “indecent kidnapping,” a court spokesperson in Naha, Okinawa’s capital, informed CNN. The US military handed Washington over to Japanese authorities on the same day.
Washington was released on bail and is currently in custody at Kadena US Air Base in Okinawa, a government spokesperson reported. His trial is set to begin on July 12, according to the Naha District Court spokesperson.
The court’s spokesperson noted that details about Washington’s legal representation are unavailable.
This prosecution coincides with efforts to strengthen the military alliance between Washington and Tokyo amid rising geopolitical tensions with China and North Korea.
The alleged rape adds to a series of criminal cases involving US personnel in Okinawa, home to one of the largest US foreign military bases. Such incidents have fueled longstanding opposition among residents to the presence of American troops and weaponry on the island.
Additionally, the deployment of V-22 Ospreys, a tiltrotor military aircraft, has sparked anger and protests in Okinawa due to recent crashes and noise complaints.
Okinawa Governor Denny Tamaki expressed that the allegations of rape and kidnapping are “extremely regrettable” and emphasized the need for a strong protest against the US military and related organizations.
Governor Tamaki also stated his office’s commitment to taking a tough stance on the situation.
Washington, the indicted serviceman, was stationed with the 18th Logistics Readiness Squadron at Kadena Air Base in Japan, as confirmed by the US Air Force.
“The 18th Wing is aware of a sexual assault allegation against a Kadena Airman involving a Japanese citizen,” said 1st Lt. Alvin G. Nelson III, spokesperson for the 18th Wing, on Wednesday.
“We understand and share the local community’s concerns regarding this case,” Nelson added, emphasizing the Wing leadership’s deep concern over the severity of the alleged crime and their cooperation with local authorities.
“All US service members are expected to uphold the highest standards, and the US military is committed to holding accountable those convicted of criminal acts,” the spokesperson asserted.
This indictment comes nearly 30 years after three US servicemen raped a 12-year-old Okinawa schoolgirl in 1995, triggering a backlash against the US military presence on the island.
In 2016, the rape and murder of a 20-year-old woman by a former US base worker in Okinawa led to mass protests in the island’s capital, with tens of thousands of residents demanding the relocation of US bases outside of Okinawa. This incident resulted in curfews for US personnel on the island.
In another crime involving US personnel in Japan, a US Navy officer killed two Japanese nationals while driving down Mount Fuji in 2021.
On March 27, the day Washington was indicted, Japan’s Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs, Masataka Okano, called for stricter discipline and lodged a protest with the US Ambassador to Japan, Rahm Emanuel, as reported by the Japanese Foreign Ministry.
