U.S. Airman in Japan Sentenced to 5 Years for Sexual Assault of Underage Girl

The conviction has reignited local tensions over the U.S. military presence in Okinawa, where past crimes by service members have fueled opposition.

Senior Airman Brennon Washington, 25, was convicted of kidnapping and sexually assaulting a 15-year-old girl in Okinawa on December 24, 2023.
The Naha District Court sentenced Washington to five years in prison, rejecting his claims that the act was consensual and that he was unaware of the victim's age.
Security footage showed the victim attempting to communicate her age and lack of consent, which the court deemed credible evidence.
The case drew criticism after local authorities delayed reporting the incident to the Okinawa prefectural government, prompting policy changes on crime disclosure involving U.S. military personnel.
The incident has heightened long-standing tensions in Okinawa over the U.S. military presence, which has been linked to previous high-profile criminal cases.