Two US service members charged with sexual assault in Japan

Two U.S. members of the armed services have been accused of sexual assault in Japan, spurring Japanese officials to speak out against what they have called troubling behavior.

One U.S. airman is charged with sexually assaulting a teenage girl in December while this month a Marine was accused of assaulting a woman and attempting to sexually assault her.

Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi, who coordinates policy for the executive branch in Tokyo, said the cases are “deplorable.”

“This should [be] taken very seriously,” he said at a Friday press briefing.

The airman, 25-year-old Brennon Washington, was indicted in March on charges of kidnapping and sexually assaulting a 16-year-old-girl.

Washington allegedly asked her to a park on the island of Okinawa in December and then invited her to his car. Washington then allegedly drove her to his home and sexually assaulted her, according to Japanese media.

Okinawa hosts around 70 percent of U.S. bases in Japan. Okinawa Vice Gov. Takekuni Ikeda met on Thursday with Brig. Gen. Nicholas Evans, commander of the 18th Wing at Kadena Air Base, and the local U.S. consul to ensure measures were being taken to prevent further action.

The Hill has reached out to the 18th Wing for comment.

In a separate incident also in Okinawa, Marine Lance Cpl. Jamel Clayton, 21, was indicted this month for allegedly choking a woman and attempting to sexually assault her on May 26, Japanese media reported.

Okinawa Gov. Denny Tamaki told local reporters on Friday that he was “outraged” by the alleged crimes.

“A vile crime has come to light once again, causing strong concern to the people of Okinawa,” he said, according to remarks carried by several Japanese media outlets.