U.S. Marine Arrested in Japan on Suspicion of Molesting Girl

Just when things were appearing relatively calm at the controversial U.S. military bases on Okinawa, a Marine was arrested Monday for allegedly molesting a 14-year-old girl.

The case threatens to exacerbate tensions over the thousands of American troops on the island. The situation peaked in 1995 after three U.S. servicemen were convicted in the rape of a 12-year-old girl.

In the latest incident, the 19-year-old suspect, a Marine based at the Futenma Air Station on the southern Japanese island, allegedly entered the unlocked apartment of a middle-school girl early Monday, lay down on top of her while she slept and kissed her “probably once or twice,” according to an Okinawa police spokesman. He said the man was naked from the waist up. No rape occurred.

The girl’s mother heard him enter the apartment and ran to the neighbors. When police arrived, the suspect was still in the building, the spokesman said.

In a statement, the U.S. Embassy in Tokyo said: “The U.S. Embassy treats all such reports with utmost seriousness, but in view of the fact that the information is incomplete, we will await the results of the police investigation before commenting further.”

Japanese police withhold names of suspects younger than 20. Police said the suspect claims that he is not guilty.

Residents of Okinawa have long complained about the noise and disruption of U.S. troops on the small island, which is host to more than half of the 47,000 American military personnel in Japan.

News reports said the Okinawa prefectural government had lodged a protest with the U.S. military and called for stricter discipline and crime prevention.

The fiercest protests in decades came in 1995, when a 12-year-old girl was abducted off the street and taken to a remote location, where she was tied up, beaten and raped. One of the three servicemen was sentenced to 6 1/2 years in prison. The two others received seven-year sentences.

The case drew apologies from U.S. officials, including President Clinton, and led to pledges to improve discipline among the troops.

The latest arrest comes less than three weeks before the start of the G-8 summit of world leaders, which will be held on Okinawa.