US Marine indicted for alleged rape at Okinawa military base
A U.S. Marine wearing a grin in tactical gear. The image is not related to the specific individual mentioned in the article and is used for illustrative purposes only, accessed on April 30, 2025. (Photo via Alamy)
A 27-year-old US Marine has been indicted on charges of rape and assault at an American military base in Okinawa, marking the third sexual violence case involving US military personnel on the Japanese island since mid-2024.
Austin Wedington was transferred to Japanese custody on Wednesday after being held by the US military under the bilateral Status of Forces Agreement, according to Kyodo News. The agreement governs the legal status of American military personnel stationed in Japan.
Prosecutors have not disclosed Wedington’s response to the allegations.
The incident allegedly occurred last month when Wedington raped a woman in a restroom at the base and injured another woman who attempted to intervene. The rape victim is reportedly an Okinawan resident who works as a civilian employee at the military installation.
Okinawa prefectural police referred the case to prosecutors on April 7 after conducting an investigation in collaboration with US military authorities. Police had questioned Wedington on a voluntary basis before formal charges were filed.
In response to rising tensions, US military officials and Japanese police initiated joint patrols in Okinawa City’s entertainment districts on April 18, aiming to prevent further incidents involving American personnel.
The case highlights ongoing concerns about the US military presence in Okinawa, which hosts 31 US-exclusive military facilities that account for 70.3% of American military sites in Japan by land area. Despite representing just 0.6% of Japan’s territory, the island houses approximately 25,000 US troops—roughly half of the American military personnel deployed in the country under a bilateral security agreement.
