Tuesday, March 27, 2001

By David Allen and Chiyomi Sumida, Okinawa bureau

NAHA — The cases against two American teens charged with car theft, arson and vandalism have been sent to the family court division of the Naha District Court.

A 19-year-old college student who lives on Kadena Air Base faces charges of car theft and vandalism for allegedly stealing a car Dec. 2 from a parking lot in Yomitan and smashing it into a storefront in Nago.

He also is charged with setting cars on fire Jan. 26 in Okinawa City and Sashiki.

A 17-year-old friend, who also lives on Kadena, is charged in the Dec. 2 incident, which resulted in about $7,300 to the car and clothing store.

The identities of the youths were withheld because they are considered minors under Japan-ese law. However, the Naha District Prosecutor’s Office has recommended they be tried as adults.

On Thursday the family court ordered the youths be detained at the Naha Juvenile Detention Center pending trial.

Police are seeking the return to Okinawa of another suspect in the case: a 19-year-old son of a U.S. servicemember who returned to the States in February. A police spokesman described him as playing a "major role" in the car theft and fires.

Okinawa police said two of the teens are sons of Air Force personnel and the suspect now in the States is the son of a Navy officer assigned to a Marine Corps Base.

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