This really isn’t surprising that the Okinawa Marine that had charges dropped against him by the Okinawa police, is now being charged by the military:

The Marine accused of raping a 14-year-old Okinawa girl in February now faces court-martial charges that could send him to prison for the rest of his life.

Staff Sgt. Tyrone L. Hadnott, 38, faces multiple charges in connection with the Feb. 10 incident, according to a news release the Marine Corps issued Friday.

He has been in the brig on Camp Hansen since Feb. 28, when he was released from Japanese custody after prosecutors decided not seek a rape indictment.

If Hadnott is convicted, he faces punishment more severe than the maximum 15-year sentence he would have faced in Japanese court.

While he was being detained and questioned by Okinawa police he admitted to attempting to kiss and fondle the girl, but denied raping her, an Okinawa police spokesman said. [Stars & Stripes]

Here are the charges being brought against him:

Hadnott now faces two counts of violating Article 120 of the Uniform Code of Military Justice, specifically raping a child under the age of 16 and abusive sexual contact with a child under the age of 16.

The first charge carries a life sentence without the possibility of parole; the second carries a maximum 15-year prison sentence.

In addition, he is charged with two violations of Article 134, specifically committing adultery and kidnapping. The adultery charge carries a maximum one-year prison sentence. The “kidnapping through inveigling” charge carries a maximum of life without parole.

Article 134 is a catch-all for unspecified crimes that harm good order and discipline and bring discredit to the armed forces.

Hadnott also is charged with one count of making a false official statement, which carries a maximum five-year prison term.

I say this is unsurprising because clearly charges would be brought against him for admitting to pressing against and kissing the 14 year old like he has already admitted to doing which could be interpreted as bringing "prejudice of good order and discipline in the armed forces or was of a nature to bring discredit upon the armed forces" under Article 134.  What is interesting is that he is being charged with the Article 120 (b) specification of raping a child under the age of 16 instead of Article 120 (a) which is forced rape.  This I am interpreting to mean that the child consensually had sex with the Marine, but he is still responsible for statutory rape for having sex with a child under 16. 

By having sex with the child he then would be open to another Article 134 offense for adultery since he is separated from his Japanese wife but still technically married.  The false official statement charge would be that he originally said he only pressed up against and kissed the girl but if it is proven he did have sex with her then he lied in his statement. 

I have had people e-mail a number of stories about what really happened in this case, which were all interesting but feel free to discuss this case in the comments section. 

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