Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Jamel Clayton trains at Rodriguez Live Fire Complex in Pocheon, South Korea, March 7, 2024. (Matthew Morales/U.S. Marine Corps)
NAHA, Okinawa — Prosecutors on Monday called for a 10-year prison sentence for a U.S. Marine accused of strangling and injuring a Japanese woman during an attempted sexual assault last year on Okinawa.
Lance Cpl. Jamel Clayton, 22, of Ohio, was aware he did not have the woman’s consent when he attempted to engage in sexual intercourse, prosecutor Shuhei Hisaoka said during closing arguments before a three-judge panel and six lay judges at Naha District Court.
Hisaoka argued that the woman’s testimony aligned with the physical evidence and testimony from a friend, and that Clayton’s account was inconsistent with what was presented at trial. He said only Clayton could have caused the woman’s injuries.
Defense attorney Kotaro Ito maintained Clayton’s innocence and challenged the woman’s credibility, pointing out her intoxication and inconsistencies in her recollection. Ito questioned whether Clayton would have committed the alleged acts knowing the woman’s boyfriend was in the home.
The alleged assault occurred on May 26, 2024, after the woman met Clayton on Gate 2 Street in Okinawa city. She testified that he followed her into a taxi and then to the home she shared with her boyfriend, a U.S. airman, in Yomitan village. The couple is now married.
Once inside, Clayton allegedly found her boyfriend asleep, made a remark — “I took your girl home” — and then moved with the woman to the entryway, where he strangled her multiple times, causing her to lose consciousness, she testified. She said he tried to unzip her pants but stopped when she resisted, then masturbated behind her.
Hisaoka said the testimony was corroborated by the condition of the scene and text messages the woman sent before and after the incident. A friend also testified in support of the woman’s version of events.
“[The woman] was drunk during the incident and she did not remember everything,” Hisaoka said. “But she talked about what she remembered, and that was enough and certain.”
Clayton testified that he had been invited to share the taxi and to enter the home. He said the woman told him the home belonged to her boyfriend and that they hugged before he left after she refused to share her contact information.
Ito argued it was implausible the boyfriend did not wake up if the woman had screamed during the incident and urged the court to find Clayton not guilty.
In his final statement, Clayton cited his clean criminal record in both Japan and the United States and maintained his innocence.
“I’m not going to accuse anyone,” he said. “Three people were there that day. I cannot say what happened between she and her boyfriend afterwards — after I left. I can only say what happened between her and I.”
A verdict and sentence are expected on June 24.
Under Japanese law, non-consensual sexual intercourse resulting in injury or death is punishable by up to life in prison. A conviction in the lay judge system requires at least one of the three professional judges to vote with the majority.
