U.S. Navy Officer Released from Japanese Prison, Returns to U.S. Amid Diplomatic Strain

Lt. Ridge Alkonis, convicted for a fatal car crash in Japan, is set to continue his sentence in the U.S., sparking a debate on due process and international prisoner transfers.

U.S. Navy officer Lt. Ridge Alkonis has been released from prison in Japan and is on his way back to the United States. He had been serving a three-year sentence for negligent driving resulting in the deaths of two Japanese citizens.
Alkonis' release was facilitated by the International Prisoner Transfer Program, a treaty between the U.S. and Japan. He is expected to continue serving his sentence in the U.S., with the length of his incarceration to be determined by the U.S. Parole Commission.
The case has strained diplomatic ties between Japan and the U.S., with Alkonis' family and supporters arguing that he suffered from altitude sickness and was denied due process in Japan. In Japan, however, Alkonis is widely viewed as a criminal.
President Biden and other top U.S. officials were personally involved in discussions leading to Alkonis' release. The details of his release and his future in the U.S. were determined by the prisoner transfer treaty and U.S. laws.
Alkonis' family has thanked the Biden administration and expressed optimism that he will be released after his case is reviewed in the U.S. They believe that when the administration is presented with the full facts of the case, they will recognize the 'absurdity' of Alkonis' conviction.

The Japan Times

New York Post

The Salt Lake Tribune