Japanese prosecutors have charged Brennon R. E. Washington, a 25-year-old US Air Force member, with allegedly kidnapping and raping an underage girl just before Christmas last year. Okinawa police confirmed the charges to CNN on Wednesday.
Washington was indicted on March 27 on charges of “non-consensual sexual intercourse” and “indecent kidnapping,” according to a court spokesperson in Naha, the capital of Okinawa. The US military handed him over to Japanese authorities on the same day.
Following his indictment, Washington was released on bail and transferred to Kadena US Air Base in Okinawa, where he is currently in custody. His trial is scheduled to begin on July 12, as per the Naha District Court spokesperson.
The incident has intensified already existing tensions between the US military presence and local residents in Okinawa, where issues related to US military personnel have historically been a source of friction. The case is being closely monitored by both Japanese authorities and US military officials.