A US marine has been sentenced to four years in prison, and dishonourably discharged from the US military, for sexually abusing a 14-year-old Japanese girl.
Sergeant Tyrone Hadnott was found guilty of sexual abuse at a military court on the island of Okinawa, home to half of the 40,000 US
Hadnott had originally been accused of rape, but was found guilty of the lesser change of abusive sexual conduct.
Japanese police initially apprehended Hadnott but released him after the girl dropped charges.
US authorities then investigated the case under the strict military justice code.
The case triggered protests in Japan, with Japanese leaders calling for stricter discipline among US troops.
Japan hosts some 50,000 American troops under a security treaty, about half which are based on Okinawa.