CAMP FOSTER, Okinawa — The court-martial of the Marine accused of raping an Okinawa teenager in February is scheduled to start Friday on Camp Foster.

Staff Sgt. Tyrone L. Hadnott, 38, has been charged with rape and abusive sexual contact of a child under 16, adultery, kidnapping through luring and making a false official statement, according to a Marine release.

Hadnott has been in the Camp Hansen brig since his release from Japanese custody Feb. 28. Japanese prosecutors chose not to indict him after the 14-year-old girl withdrew her criminal complaint, citing a desire for privacy.

According to Okinawa police, Hadnott met the girl at an Okinawa City ice cream shop Feb. 10 and drove her to his off-base home, where he attempted to molest her.

She got away, but he persuaded her to get into his van with the promise that he would drive her home, Okinawa police said. Instead, Hadnott took her to a park in Chatan where he raped her, Okinawa police said.

Police said Hadnott admitted to kissing and fondling the girl but denied raping her.

The alleged rape led to protests outside the gates of Marine bases on Okinawa. Following the accusation, all status of forces agreement personnel on Okinawa and on Marine bases in mainland Japan were restricted to military installations or off-base residences for two weeks. Servicemembers on Okinawa are still under a midnight-to-5 a.m. curfew.

Hadnott waived his right to an Article 32 investigative hearing, according to the release.

If convicted in the military court, Hadnott could be sentenced to life without possibility of parole. The maximum sentence he could have faced in a Japanese court was 15 years.

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