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Okinawa Marine Gets 4 Years for Teen Sex Abuse

US court martial accepts his plea to lesser charges

By Kevin Spak,  Newser Staff

Posted May 16, 2008 8:40 AM CDT
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(Newser) – The US marine accused of raping a 14-year-old Japanese girl was sentenced by court martial today to four years in prison, after pleading guilty to abusive sexual conduct, Reuters reports. The other charges against 38-year-old Sgt. Tyrone Hadnott, including rape and kidnapping, were dropped. With his plea deal, Hadnott will serve only three of the four years. He was dishonorably discharged.  

Though the case sparked massive outcry in Japan, Japanese authorities couldn’t prosecute Hadnott because his young accuser withdrew her charges. Instead he was tried under the stricter US military justice system. “This is an example of how we in the United States military will continue to hold our members accountable for their actions,” said a top US commander.

Lt. Gen. Edward A. Rice, the commander of U.S. Forces Japan, tells reporters about the verdict.
Lt. Gen. Edward A. Rice, the commander of U.S. Forces Japan, tells reporters about the verdict.   (AP Photo/Koji Sasahara)
In this March 23, 2008 file photo, some 6,000 people stage a protest rally against an assault in February of a 14-year-old girl by an American serviceman in Okinawa islands, southwestern Japan.
In this March 23, 2008 file photo, some 6,000 people stage a protest rally against an assault in February of a 14-year-old girl by an American serviceman in Okinawa islands, southwestern Japan.   (AP Photo/Itsuo Inouye, File)
In this file photo, Japanese protesters shout slogans in front of a U.S. camp in Okinawa, after a Marine was arrested on suspicion of raping a 14-year-old girl.
In this file photo, Japanese protesters shout slogans in front of a U.S. camp in Okinawa, after a Marine was arrested on suspicion of raping a 14-year-old girl.   (AP Photo)
In this February file photo, a van carrying U.S. Marine Staff Sgt. Tyrone Luther Hadnott leaves police station as he is trensferred to prosecutors in Okinawa city.
In this February file photo, a van carrying U.S. Marine Staff Sgt. Tyrone Luther Hadnott leaves police station as he is trensferred to prosecutors in Okinawa city.   (AP Photo/Kyodo News)
Lt. Gen. Edward A. Rice, the commander of U.S. Forces Japan, speaks during a press conference in Tokyo Friday, May 16, 2008.
Lt. Gen. Edward A. Rice, the commander of U.S. Forces Japan, speaks during a press conference in Tokyo Friday, May 16, 2008.   (AP Photo/Koji Sasahara)
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Japan • US military • Okinawa • military law • court martial • Tyrone Hadnott • child rape

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