U.S. Marine indicted over sexual assault of woman in Okinawa

Some women they just meet up and go for fun without knowing well person i been working as security guy in the clubs in Japan i been seeing many people as couple argue outside door some went for help or crying for no reason due to alcohol same woman and man this is absurd you wana date a man make sure you are his or her level by understanding not just go for fun

That means he is innocent at this stage.

In Japan that is not the way things are, to the police and prosecutors, you are guilty, if arrested and charged, and you have to prove your innocence. The BEST thing he can do, IF he is in fact innocent, is keep his mouth shut and say absolutely nothing. Put it on the cops to actually gather evidence of the crime.

On the other hand, if he is guilty, he should do the full dogeza, cry constantly, apologize to anyone and everyone.

The prosecutors did not disclose whether Begaye has admitted to the charge. They indicted him on Dec 23, but said they refrained from notifying the public about the case "due to its nature."

That means he is innocent at this stage.

Michael MachidaToday 07:12 am JST

Darn. Another one. Maybe its time for America to build a man made island off the coast of Japan to keep these animals away from the general population here in Japan.

Yeah, because I never read about any crimes being committed by Japanese happening in Japan. The usual American-military haters are always ready whenever a story like this shows up but can't admit that it is rarer than the ones for the general population. No place or group anywhere has a zero crime rate.

There's this thing called a "newspaper", that tells you about things happening locally, regionally, and often globally, and they sell them in every convenience store in Japan. I think all of them. And, if you're in Okinawa, they report the crimes in Okinawa, including indecent assaults by Japanese men.

Crimes are reported, but definitely not always, and in fact the majority of crimes here are not reported publicly.

Yes, typically heinous one's are, and that is what makes this one quite unusual.

How come you never hear about all the “indecent assaults” perpetrated by Japanese men in Okinawa?

I always find it interesting that people who have never looked for something, are so angry that they have never seen it. Let me let you in on where you can find this secret information. There's this thing called a "newspaper", that tells you about things happening locally, regionally, and often globally, and they sell them in every convenience store in Japan. I think all of them. And, if you're in Okinawa, they report the crimes in Okinawa, including indecent assaults by Japanese men.

There, now you don't have to be angry and express that you are indignant on the internet anymore.

I saw this story repeatedly on Japanese news TV.

"Yes! And the government in Tokyo yawns and sips another mizuwari. Meanwhile the communist party gets more and more popular here."

Yes! been seeing a lot of those loud speaker vehicles driving around Tokyo recently too.

Darn. Another one. Maybe its time for America to build a man made island off the coast of Japan to keep these animals away from the general population here in Japan.

Speed forward to now, six months AFTER the alleged assault, and it finally hits the press, and the excuse for delay in notifying the public? Come on, that's BS, what's different from December 2021 and April 2022. here in Japan? Someone had some serious clout with the media to keep something this big (for here in Okinawa) under wraps for this long.

Isolation is the prosecutors main weapon for gaining a confession. The notion of Habeas Corpus is an alien concept to Japan's largely imbecile judges who just rubber stamp the prosecutors demands for detention and refusal of bail.

I guess many folks here are unaware of the changes in the laws regarding rape here. Used to be a time, not all that long ago, that unless the victim pressed charges, the cops couldnt do anything. THAT ticked off plenty of people down here in Okinawa, as there was a previous "alleged" assault, but the female in question, who was allegedly raped, refused to file charges, for a host of reasons.

Now the police CAN charge and prosecute rape and assault cases without the consent of the alleged victim. BUT they have to have hard evidence for it to stand up in court.

My two cents here, the alleged assault took place in October, the victim refused to press charges in the beginning, but the cops laid on the full court press and indicted him in December because of a confession.

Speed forward to now, six months AFTER the alleged assault, and it finally hits the press, and the excuse for delay in notifying the public? Come on, that's BS, what's different from December 2021 and April 2022. here in Japan? Someone had some serious clout with the media to keep something this big (for here in Okinawa) under wraps for this long.

It has been known about by the media since last October, as incidents dont just go under the radar, the media KNOWS, but what they know and print or broadcast are two different things.

If guilty, in addiion to prosecution under Japanese law, he will also face a MCJA afterwards.

Guilty or otherwise, he still will face prosecution under the UCMJ. However not for the charges you think he will. He will become AWOL at the least, and the military will NOT be able to charge him for the alleged rape, as it would be double jeopardy. As with previous cases, more than likely, they would take them back, fly them to the US, hold them for processing and the dishonorable discharge, and let them go.

Full justice in Okinawa. Nothing less.

The identity of the man has been revealed, but not the identity of the woman. I have often disagreed with this regarding this kind of allegation.

I appreciate that it is difficult for many people in Japan to understand the word "alleged", and that arrest and indictment automatically means guilty, but under Japans constitution a person is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

He'd be in less trouble if about teenager

Perhaps you mean under the UCMJ, a General Court Martial, and likely at least a dishonorable discharge and even a tour of duty in Leavenworth...in Okinawa and the open hostility, if he's guilty, he has committed what amounts to a 'political' crime and won't be regarded warmly by the bosses.

I had a roommate at my last navy command who was indicted and put on restricted-to-base status for nearly a year before he got his court martial verdict. It was for a sex crime. Then the verdict - 12 years in Leavenworth, busted to the bottom and a Bad Conduct Discharge.

Rape, molestation, sex assault, incest, pedo are all offenses in the Uniform Code of Military Justice. perhaps this offender is getting his UCMJ punishment now but since the offense occurred in a foreign land, he can be turned over to Japanese authorities for the penalties they will give him.

When I was in recruit training, we were informed, 'They're not the foreigners, you are'. If this Gyrene raped somebody in a foreign land, he gets US military punishment and can get it there too. Either way, rape is rape - a criminal offense anywhere.

The defendant is charged with sexual assault and injury. And you're already defending him? Hate Japan much?

His lawyer will defend him, which he is entitled to under Japan's constitution. By the way, like Japan a lot.

I'd sure like to know what 'due to its nature' means when it comes to hiding publication of the offence. Let's call a spade a spade - it's not 'refraining', it's hiding.

Yes this will happen repeatedly so long as you have US military bases on your turf, and the hard reality is most cases will not be reported in the media...this occurred in December and has only come to light 4 months later!- "They indicted him on Dec 23, but said they refrained from notifying the public about the case "due to its nature."

It is good he is being indicted, but it must have been some really extreme evidence to allow for that. Hopefully he is looking at dishonorable discharge and jail time.

It's another piece of evidence to the pile of reasons that the occupying forces need to be out of Okinawa, because this is sadly not the first time this has happened. I seriously doubt it will be the last either. These aren't isolated incidents

It's not just in Okinawa either, this has happened in a lot of places with a longterm occupation. South Korea has dealt with a lot of the same kind of cases.

@Monty I am happy and I feel safe because of the presence of the US military in Japan, if not the little man would be a terror, china would do what they want to do and russia would be taking Hokkaido! Speak for yourself NOT THE PEOPLE!!!

No wonder people get sick and tired of the presence of the US army in Japan

Everyone deserves a fair trial whatever the nature of the crime.

There's no need to torture detainees for a forced confession in the 21st. Century.

Alan HarrisonToday  08:11 pm JST

He has been indicted, but not tried yet. He should remain absolutely silent if there is no legal representation present, and put his defence to the judge with a lawyer present.

The defendant is charged with sexual assault and injury. And you're already defending him? Hate Japan much?

He has been indicted, but not tried yet. He should remain absolutely silent if there is no legal representation present, and put his defence to the judge with a lawyer present.

@Monty, this was someone from the US marines and not the US army. The marines think they are elite killers. The army is a step up from security guards.

U.S. Marine was indicted last December over a sexual assault resulting in injury on a woman in Okinawa Prefecture

Not the first case, and it will not be the last case.

No wonder people get sick and tired of the presence of the US army in Japan.

Okinawa is home to the bulk of U.S. military installations in Japan. Many local residents are frustrated with noise, crimes and accidents linked to the facilities.

Yes! And the government in Tokyo yawns and sips another mizuwari. Meanwhile the communist party gets more and more popular here.

Wow!

Many local residents are completely FED UP with the military presence there, according to

other media sources and this time protest are extremely hot and heavy.

"allegedly assaulted the woman with whom he had no personal acquaintance" with. 

a random hit, that fuels the flames more!

"Many local residents are frustrated with noise, crimes and accidents linked to the facilities."

That's putting it mildly, I bet the sleeper cells are planning something by now.

It's all over the local news, and in the court of public opinion, of the left-wing press here in Okinawa, he has already be tried and found guilty.

If the Crotch turned him over, the police almost certainly came with a very strong case...

he will also face a MCJA afterwards

Perhaps you mean under the UCMJ, a General Court Martial, and likely at least a dishonorable discharge and even a tour of duty in Leavenworth...in Okinawa and the open hostility, if he's guilty, he has committed what amounts to a 'political' crime and won't be regarded warmly by the bosses.

If guilty, in addiion to prosecution under Japanese law, he will also face a MCJA afterwards.

This is different from previous assaults here, particularly waiting this long to actually make this public.

There is more to the story than is being reported, and not just "due to its nature."

It's all over the local news, and in the court of public opinion, of the left-wing press here in Okinawa, he has already be tried and found guilty.