Police arrest Marine accused in rape of 14-year-old girl

Police arrest Marine accused in rape of 14-year-old girl
By Chisaki Watanabe - The Associated Press
Posted : Monday Feb 11, 2008 6:19:30 EST

TOKYO — A Marine accused of raping a 14-year-old girl in southern Japan was arrested Monday, but the suspect denied the allegation, police said.

Police took custody of Staff Sgt. Tyrone Luther Hadnott, 38, of Camp Courtney in Okinawa, an Okinawa police official said on condition of anonymity citing policy. Hadnott’s hometown was not immediately available. He has not been charged.

Under a mutual security pact, the U.S. has about 50,000 troops deployed around Japan. Most of them are based on Okinawa and tensions over potential accidents, land use and troop-related crimes are common.

In 1995, the rape of a schoolgirl in Okinawa by three American troops sparked large-scale protests. The three served prison terms of 6½ to seven years.

Hadnott is alleged to have offered to take the girl to her home on his motorbike Sunday, but then took her to his house instead, another local police official said.


Rest of article at: http://www.marinecorpstimes.com/news/2008/02/ap_marinerape_080211/