Naha District Court. (Mainichi)
NAHA, Japan (Kyodo) — A Japanese district court on Tuesday sentenced a U.S. Marine Corps member stationed in Okinawa Prefecture to seven years in prison over an alleged sexual assault case in May last year.
Jamel Clayton, 22, has pleaded not guilty to the charge of injuring a woman in her 20s while attempting to rape her, denying any sexual intention and the use of physical force against her.
In handing down the ruling, the Naha District Court said the victim’s testimonies had “a high-level of credibility throughout.”
According to the ruling, Clayton choked her from behind in Yomitan, Okinawa, on the morning of May 26 last year and attempted to have sexual intercourse with her. She sustained injuries in both eyes that required around two weeks of treatment.
The southern prefecture hosts the bulk of U.S. military installations in Japan, and anti-base sentiment runs deep due to aircraft noise, pollution and crimes committed by American service members.
AloJapan.com