Two Futenma Marines indicted on robbery charges

[thedrifter]

Two Futenma Marines indicted on robbery charges


By David Allen, Stars and Stripes
Pacific edition, Friday, November 28, 2003


NAHA, Okinawa ? Two Marines stationed at Futenma Marine Corps Air Station were indicted Tuesday in Naha District Court for robbery resulting in an injury.

Lance Cpl. Joshua M. Major, 24, and Cpl. Paul E. Mundell, 22, both assigned to the 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, were turned over to Japanese police late Tuesday, a Marine spokesman said.

Under the U.S.-Japan Status of Forces Agreement, American servicemembers are handed over to Japanese authorities once indicted.

Okinawa police said Major and Mundell assaulted a 20-year-old man about 5:55 a.m. Oct. 23 as he walked to his home in Ginowan?s Oyama District, near the Marine air station.

According to court records, they struck the man in the face several times, knocking him to the ground, and stole about 4,000 yen or about $38.

The man sustained minor injuries that required one week to heal, police said.

Military police ? who?d been alerted to the incident ? stopped Major, Mundell and a third Marine at the air station?s main gate, police said, noting the trio appeared to have been drinking.

Mundell and Major were in Marine custody pending the outcome of an investigation. The third Marine was not charged, and officials have not released his name.

?The U.S. Marine Corps has been cooperating fully with local officials during this ongoing investigation," Marine spokesman Capt. Chris Perrine said.

An Okinawa police spokesman said no attempt was made to take custody of the suspects prior to indictment because ?there was no fear of them having the opportunity to escape.?

http://www.estripes.com/article.asp...4&article=18946


Sempers,

Roger