Overview

• A Naha District Court judge ruled that 22-year-old Lance Cpl. Jamel Clayton choked and attempted to rape a woman in her 20s during an assault in Yomitan village in May 2024.
• Judge Kazuhiko Obata described the victim’s anonymous testimony provided remotely as highly credible even though Clayton denied using force.
• Prosecutors had sought a decade-long sentence but the court handed Clayton a seven-year term, and his defense is considering an appeal.
• The case has revived deep-seated anger over Okinawa’s hosting of roughly 70% of US bases in Japan and has prompted officials to press for changes to the Status of Forces Agreement.
• Both Japanese authorities and the US Marine Corps emphasized their full cooperation during the investigation and discussed measures to prevent future incidents and enhance community safety.