U.S. Marine sentenced to 2 years in prison for 'wrongful sexual contact'

Saturday 10th May, 05:21 AM JST

The requested article has expired, and is no longer available. Any related articles, and user comments are shown below.

› Login to comment

Latest 15 of 37 Total Comments Show All

sailwind at 11:14 PM JST - 9th May

Doesn't say much for the Japanese system. They had first shot and didn't even charge this jerk. Strange though no posters slamming the J-system for not being able to put this guy away in the first place, after all have to be good guests in this country.
telecasterplayer at 12:26 AM JST - 10th May

Sailwind DOES have an excellent point. If the U.S. Marines found reasons to prosecutor and convict, why didn't the local prosecutors do THEIR jobs? The simple assumption is that the local authorities didn't want to bother with the time and expense, nor deal with an uncooperative complainant.. as long as some deal had been cut with the U.S. Authorities, who would take care of the problem without the inherent hassles.

Fighting and punishing crime is not supposed to be a matter or finance nor convenience. Just because one victim decides not to pursue, it doesn't mean the criminal will not repeat the crime upon someone else. THAT's why prosecution is necessary.
OssanULTRA at 01:48 AM JST - 10th May

Hat's off the USMC and the UCMJ. All servicemen are in effect ambassadors of our country and their conduct must be held to the highest standards. Hope this gets widely published in Japan.
Molenir at 05:05 AM JST - 10th May

The guys deserve this. And yes, it definitely shows the disparity between the Japanese and US justice system. J-Cops assume the girl is lying, or that she somehow deserves what she got. Only rarely will a case for rape be prosecuted, and only if the girl is really serious, and determined that the scumbags be punished.

In the US, it doesn't matter if theres a complaint. If they believe you are guilty of rape, they can and will prosecute you, regardless of whether or not the victim is willing to press charges. And of course theres the differences in punishment. But I won't go into that.

All I can say is, thank god for the USMC.
amerijap at 06:06 AM JST - 10th May

I just heard this news from local radio program in San Jose last night. Yeah, it's really an embarrassing moment for the soldier's families.
gogogo at 04:44 PM JST - 10th May

How can they charge him as he was 19 at the time, which makes him a minor in Japan.
VOR at 04:59 PM JST - 10th May

he was 19 but his other comprades were significantly older.

age had nothing to do with the Japanese not prosecuting.

with this trial out of the way, watch what happens to the other three.
The_Marion at 09:37 PM JST - 10th May

This man's life is finished. He can do the time, but he will NEVER get over the Dishonorable Dishcharge. My heart goes out to his mother and father.
foxyager at 10:48 PM JST - 10th May

In my opinion he should have gotten worse. Two years? He should be castrated and placed on display for the victim and her family for two years, then sent to prison for 10 years. He'll get out of prison and he most likely will not have to register a known sex offender because it was handled by the military and it was over seas. Someone has to be made a severe example so things like this stop. Two years is not enough. I hope he becomes a bad man's boyfriend in prison.
telecasterplayer at 12:39 AM JST - 11th May

The Marion's very wise statement:

My heart goes out to his mother and father.

A single crime has no shortage of victims, does it?

foxyager:

I hope he becomes a bad man's boyfriend in prison.

There's certainly nothing unnatural about the desire for revenge. But adding crime upon crime.. that's just two wrongs, isn't it?
okapake at 07:08 AM JST - 11th May

With a plea bargin it has been reduced to one year.
rtrhead1 at 10:05 AM JST - 11th May

foxyager, why should he go to prison for 10 years? He didn't rape her. She said yes to him, not the others. God, there is a lot of hate and assumptions.
foxyager at 10:02 PM JST - 11th May

In matter of physical and sexual assault on a female I have seen the effects on the person and the family. Trust is lost, feeling of decency is lost, will to overcome is lost. The man deserves severe loss. I try to tell the females that it is not their fault, but they will not listen to a man. Also I have no heart for a Bad Marine, my sister was beaten and raped by Bad Marine.
VoXman at 03:18 AM JST - 13th May

Sounds like one of those rare occasions when the US Mil actually brought some justice to the situation while the locals were totally let down by their prosecutor's office.

In addition, to all those who continue to preach the Go Home Yankee hymn. Telling the world in JT changes nothing. Tell your elected officials, and at least you should get them to explain why they continually vote for the US presence. Once you know the answer, you can be quite about it from then on. Because telling the Gaijin to go home, won't make them go home....Sorry to have to teach some about how a representative government works.
VoXman at 03:21 AM JST - 13th May

He'll get out of prison and he most likely will not have to register a known sex offender because it was handled by the military and it was over seas. Someone has to be made a severe example so things like this stop. Two years is not enough. I hope he becomes a bad man's boyfriend in prison.

Totally, agree! Lets start with Japan's sex offenders. Lets make a web site and get the stats and names etc on it today.....