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U.S. military to continue investigating Okinawa schoolgirl rape case

Saturday, 01 March 2008

NAHA -- United States Consul General in Naha Kevin Maher told the Mainichi Saturday that U.S. military authorities would continue the investigation into claims a U.S. Marine raped a local schoolgirl, even though the suspect has been released by police.

Maher said that Staff Sgt. Tyrone Hadnott is being held on a U.S. military base in Okinawa.

Maher said that if Japanese authorities decided to waive their right to prosecute Hadnott, U.S. military authorities would investigate the allegations against the 38-year-old Marine and punish him if necessary.

Hadnott was arrested Feb. 10 for the rape of a 14-year-old schoolgirl, but released without charges on Friday night after the alleged victim decided not to seek charges.

Hadnott had repeatedly denied ever trying to rape the schoolgirl.

Hadnott's arrest sparked a furor in Okinawa, which has a huge U.S. military presence and sex crimes by U.S. military personnel have periodically occurred in the past.

U.S. military authorities responded to the arrest by imposing a curfew, while Japan set up surveillance cameras around U.S. bases in the southernmost prefecture.

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