Naha District Court in Naha, Okinawa, handles a wide range of cases, including civil, criminal and family matters. Appeals are heard by the Naha branch of the Fukuoka High Court. (Keishi Koja/Stars and Stripes)

NAHA, Okinawa — A Japanese court handed a U.S. Marine a suspended sentence Tuesday after convicting him of fleeing the scene of a May drunken driving crash that injured four people, including two children.

Lance Cpl. Ivan Garciamartinez, 20, of the 12th Littoral Anti-Air Battalion, 12th Marine Littoral Regiment, 3rd Marine Division on Camp Hansen, pleaded guilty July 16 in Naha District Court to driving under the influence of alcohol, negligent driving resulting in injury and leaving the scene of an accident.

Judge Mariko Oshima sentenced Garciamartinez to two years in prison with hard labor but suspended the sentence for three years. He will not serve prison time unless he commits another offense in Japan.

Oshima in court Tuesday cited Garciamartinez’s remorse and his lack of criminal record in Japan as reasons for suspending the sentence. She also said the Marine’s insurance covered damage to the family’s car, and she expects Garciamartinez or insurance to cover medical expenses.

The 3rd Marine Division acknowledged inquiries from Stars and Stripes on Tuesday but did not immediately provide responses.

Garciamartinez was northbound on Route 58 in Naha’s Aja district at 10:29 a.m. May 25 when he struck a roadside water tank, lost control and collided with a northbound car carrying a family of five, according to Okinawa Prefectural Police.

The family’s vehicle overturned, injuring four people inside, according to the indictment read in court on July 16 by prosecutor Masatomo Saito.

A 10-year-old girl broke her sternum, requiring 11 weeks to heal, Saito said. A woman, 36, who was driving the car, injured her left thumb; her husband, 39, injured his head; and a boy, 7, suffered scratches on his chin.

Police said Garciamartinez’s blood-alcohol content after the collision was about twice Japan’s legal limit of 0.03%. By comparison, the legal limit in the United States is 0.08%.

Garciamartinez told the court he drove knowing he might still be intoxicated because his “passengers wanted to get home, so I decided to drive.”

He was traveling nearly 43 mph in a 30 mph zone when he attempted to switch lanes, according to the indictment. He was attempting to pass another car and instead, he crashed into the water tank, causing the vehicle to turn around and collide with the family’s car, he testified.

He said he didn’t report the accident because he couldn’t find his phone and saw other witnesses on their phones. He then left with his friends because they were worried about also being charged.

Naha police said they apprehended Garciamartinez more than 300 feet from the scene and escorted him back. However, he testified that he returned to the scene about 20 minutes later because he felt he “had to take responsibility.”

During his questioning, prosecutor Saito asked how Garciamartinez felt knowing the girl sustained a chest fracture.

“I feel terrible,” he said. “At the time, when I found out, I didn’t know what to say. I was shocked.”