Marine cleared of rape but gets 2 years - Marine Corps News | News from Afghanistan & Iraq - Marine Corps Times

Marine cleared of rape but gets 2 years

IWAKUNI, Japan — A Marine accused in an alleged gang rape of a Japanese woman last year was sentenced to two years in prison Friday for “wrongful sexual contact and indecent acts” but cleared of rape, the U.S. military said.

Lance Cpl. Larry A. Dean, 20, was one of four Marines facing court-martial for the alleged rape of a 19-year-old woman in Hiroshima in October.

Dean was also found guilty Thursday of “fraternization and violating military orders about liberty and alcohol” but cleared of rape and kidnapping charges, according to a statement by the Marine Corps Air Station in Iwakuni in southern Japan.

Dean was also dishonorably discharged. His sentence also included the forfeiture of all pay and allowances, and a reduction in rank to private.

The other Marines charged are Gunnery Sgt. Carl M. Anderson, 39, Gunnery Sgt. Jarvis D. Raynor, 34, and Sgt. Lanaeus J. Braswell, 25. Anderson and Raynor will be court-martialed later this month and Braswell in June, Master Gunnery Sgt. John Cordero said Friday.

Japanese authorities investigated the incident, but local prosecutors dropped the case in November.