OKINAWA CITY, Okinawa — A 42-year-old former janitor at Lester Middle School admitted in a Japanese court Wednesday that he made a student feel uncomfortable in a school restroom in February, but denied accusations that he molested the boy.

Reynaldo Saurin Silva, now a construction worker from Ginowan, pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor offense: violating a prefectural public nuisance ordinance.

During the brief hearing, the prosecution recommended a fine of 250,000 yen (about $2,500).

Silva, who said he had no intention of offending the student, was charged by Okinawa police in August after the U.S. military turned over jurisdiction because he is a Filipino with a permanent residence visa and not covered by the U.S.-Japan Status of Forces Agreement.

Department of Defense Dependents Schools officials reported that a 12-year-old student accused Silva of touching his groin Feb. 12.

Silva told the court Wednesday that he attempted to exchange a "low five" with the student and quickly offered apologies for causing the incident.

Silva is married and has two children.

Following the incident, Silva was fired from his job with a Japanese company that provides custodial services to the school.

The incident was brought to the public’s attention by the mother of another Lester student who complained that the news media ignored crimes by local residents on Americans connected to the U.S. military. At the time, all SOFA personnel on Okinawa were restricted to U.S. bases or their off-base homes following high-profile crimes allegedly committed by American servicemembers.

Silva’s defense attorney, Masayuki Akamine, asked the court for leniency, pointing out that the former janitor had no previous criminal record in the Philippines nor in Japan and that he has been in jail awaiting trial for more than two months.

"Being the sole bread earner of the family, he and his family have already received sufficient social punishment."

Sentencing is scheduled for Wednesday.