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.
How many rapes by US service personnel is this now?
Fucking disgusting man. Get them out of Okinawa or it’s just going to keep happening.
I hope he rots in jail and japan throws away the keys.
This apparently happened inside the base gym on Camp Foster at 3am. It was a gym employee who tried to help the woman and was assaulted.
I hope this time the guy will not be sent back to the US, defended by various US politicians, etc.
Gringo go home
Not only did he destroy one women’s life but the fact he attacked the person who tried to save her too is absolutely horrifying. This dude is a straight up monster.
I’m US Army stationed on Honshu. Any service member who commits a crime abroad gives us all a bad reputation. Hope this guy rots in a Japanese prison.
They’re doing this shit in America too. It’s disgusting and these men are all on a power trip. Just scum.
[removed]
how are people like this in the Marines… where are the standards?
I remember watching a movie called Platoon. Sergent Barns was the head of the unit. He was in effect, a monster. I’m not in the military, but I suspect there are men that have personalities like his. Treating locals like they’re non-human. I’m glad she filed a report.
Worthless pos disgrace
How do they mean he was handed over to US authorities? They don’t have to authority to arrest him otherwise?
This is a big reason why Okinawans hate the military there. When I lived at Yokota as a kid, there was. A curfew for all soldiers because soldiers raping women at night was such a problem
How rare.
Pretty sure he’s on Instagram with his name, in the bio says USMC
18 comments
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.
How many rapes by US service personnel is this now?
Fucking disgusting man. Get them out of Okinawa or it’s just going to keep happening.
I hope he rots in jail and japan throws away the keys.
This apparently happened inside the base gym on Camp Foster at 3am. It was a gym employee who tried to help the woman and was assaulted.
I hope this time the guy will not be sent back to the US, defended by various US politicians, etc.
Gringo go home
Not only did he destroy one women’s life but the fact he attacked the person who tried to save her too is absolutely horrifying. This dude is a straight up monster.
I’m US Army stationed on Honshu. Any service member who commits a crime abroad gives us all a bad reputation. Hope this guy rots in a Japanese prison.
They’re doing this shit in America too. It’s disgusting and these men are all on a power trip. Just scum.
[removed]
how are people like this in the Marines… where are the standards?
I remember watching a movie called Platoon. Sergent Barns was the head of the unit. He was in effect, a monster. I’m not in the military, but I suspect there are men that have personalities like his. Treating locals like they’re non-human. I’m glad she filed a report.
Worthless pos disgrace
How do they mean he was handed over to US authorities? They don’t have to authority to arrest him otherwise?
This is a big reason why Okinawans hate the military there. When I lived at Yokota as a kid, there was. A curfew for all soldiers because soldiers raping women at night was such a problem
How rare.
Pretty sure he’s on Instagram with his name, in the bio says USMC