The case is emblematic of ongoing tensions in Okinawa, where numerous incidents involving US service members have fueled protests and calls for withdrawal.
**US Marine Sentenced to Seven Years for Sexual Assault in Okinawa**
**US Marine Sentenced to Seven Years for Sexual Assault in Okinawa**
A US Marine has received a seven-year prison sentence in Japan for sexually assaulting a woman, intensifying local anger towards US military presence in Okinawa.
A court in Japan has sentenced Lance Corporal Jamel Clayton, a 22-year-old US Marine, to seven years imprisonment for the sexual assault of a woman in Okinawa. The attack occurred last year when Clayton allegedly choked the woman from behind and attempted sexual intercourse, a ruling confirmed by the Naha District Court.
This incident is one in a series of crimes involving US servicemen in Okinawa, which houses over half of the 54,000 US military personnel in Japan. Previous incidents have sparked significant public outrage, most notably a major protest 30 years ago following the rape of a 12-year-old girl by an American serviceman. Notably, in the past year alone, four sexual assault cases involving US military members have surfaced.
In December 2024, Air Force member Brennon Washington was sentenced to five years for the rape and kidnapping of an underage girl, highlighting a troubling pattern of incidents. During the court proceedings for Clayton, prosecutors recommended a harsher sentence of ten years, emphasizing the gravity of the assault. Clayton denied the charges, with his defense team pointing to the victim's intoxication and inconsistencies in her testimony.
However, the court determined that the victim's account was credible, with Judge Kazuhiko Obata labeling the attack "vicious." The victim reportedly sustained injuries that took two weeks to heal.
The opposition to US military bases in Okinawa extends beyond criminal acts, encompassing issues such as noise pollution and environmental concerns. Although there have been proposals to relocate bases to less populated areas, many residents are advocating for their complete removal. Nevertheless, experts contend that Japan's military alliance with the United States is too entrenched, particularly in light of regional security challenges posed by China and North Korea.
