Photo/Illutration The Naha District Court (Asahi Shimbun file photo)

NAHA—In a case that drew outrage in Okinawa Prefecture, a U.S. airman was sentenced to five years in prison on Dec. 13 over the abduction and rape of a girl under 16.

The Naha District Court found Brennon R.E. Washington, a 25-year-old airman stationed at the U.S. Kadena Air Base in Okinawa Prefecture, guilty of non-consensual sexual intercourse.

Washington was accused of luring the girl into a car at a park in the central part of Okinawa’s main island on Dec. 24, 2023, driving her to his home, and sexually attacking her, knowing she was under 16.

Under Japanese law, an individual can be punished under provisions for non-consensual sexual intercourse for having sex with an individual between 13 and 15 and who is at least five years younger than the suspect, regardless of consent.

During his trial, Washington claimed his innocence by saying he thought the girl was 18.

He also denied abducting the girl in order to carry out indecent acts.

Prosecutors argued that there was no consent based on security camera footage, and that Washington knew the age of the girl. She testified during the trial that she told the defendant her age.

The case drew controversy even before the trial began.

Prefectural police, prosecutors and the central government did not immediately inform the Okinawa prefectural government about the case, saying the privacy of the girl had to be protected.

That led to a review of how the central government informs prefectural governments regarding crimes connected to U.S. military personnel.

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