The Daily Populous Friday May 2nd, 2025 evening edition
Authored by english.kyodonews.net and submitted by DungeonDefense

KYODO NEWS - Apr 30, 2025 - 21:54 | All, World, Japan

A 27-year-old U.S. Marine in Japan's Okinawa Prefecture was indicted on Wednesday for allegedly raping a woman and injuring another in a U.S. military base restroom last month, according to local prosecutors.

Austin Wedington, who was under custody by the U.S. military in line with the bilateral Status of Forces Agreement, was handed over to Japanese authorities the same day. The accord governs the legal status and conduct of U.S. military personnel in Japan.

The prosecutors have not disclosed Wedington's response to the allegations. The assault allegedly occurred in the central part of the main island of Okinawa.

Multiple sexual violence cases by U.S. service members in Okinawa have come to light since June last year, leading to four indictments to date. The southern island prefecture hosts the bulk of U.S. military facilities in Japan.

"There have been ongoing sexual assaults by U.S. military personnel despite our call for swift preventative measures," said Okinawa Gov. Denny Tamaki.

"We cannot help but have doubts regarding the education and management of U.S. military personnel. We strongly urge the implementation of more effective countermeasures," he added.

According to the indictment, Wedington choked a female civilian worker in a base lavatory before sexually assaulting her against a stall door and then stomped on the face of the woman who tried to rescue her.

Okinawa police voluntarily questioned Wedington after receiving a report. His case was referred to prosecutors on April 7.

U.S. Ambassador to Japan George Glass said in a statement that he was "disturbed" by the allegations, adding that it does not "reflect the values of the tens of thousands of U.S. servicemembers who serve here honorably."

The indictment comes as the U.S. forces and the Japanese government prepare to hold the first meeting of a forum on May 9 to "address a range of issues and improve community relations."

The forum had been created to strengthen cooperation among the U.S. military, the central Japanese government and Okinawa's government and local residents as part of efforts to prevent sexual crimes involving American military personnel.

Revelations last year by media that the central government had failed to disclose alleged sexual assault cases involving U.S. military members angered locals.

U.S. Marine suspected of raping woman at Okinawa base

U.S. Marines from Okinawa to start moving to Guam barracks in June

Responsible-Pain-620 on May 1st, 2025 at 22:46 UTC »

I visited Japan back in 2019 and my cousin, who was stationed there, couldn't hang out with me until the very last day of my trip because the base had gone in to lockdown over some rapes that transpired in Okinawa.

Cluelesswolfkin on May 1st, 2025 at 22:46 UTC »

Holy fuck shots

"We cannot help but have doubts regarding the education and management of U.S. military personnel. We strongly urge the implementation of more effective countermeasures,"

Holy fuck this guy is bonkers.

"According to the indictment, Wedington choked a female civilian worker in a base lavatory before sexually assaulting her against a stall door and then stomped on the face of the woman who tried to rescue her."

2HDFloppyDisk on May 1st, 2025 at 22:31 UTC »

Same old shit, different year. I remember arriving in Okinawa in 2004 right before bases went on lock down because some Air Force SSgt liked school girls.