Tracing back to the evening of July 9, 2022, this serviceman stationed at the U.S. Navy’s Yokosuka base struck and kicked pedestrians on a street in Kanagawa Prefecture, directly resulting in fractures and other injuries to four individuals.
By September 2024, the criminal phase of the case had concluded. The Kanagawa Police referred the serviceman to judicial authorities on charges of assault, and the Japanese court sentenced him to two years and four months imprisonment with four years probation. Whether he would actually serve time remained unclear in available reports. However, a U.S. military spokesman revealed to Stars and Stripes in 2025 that the defendant had returned to the United States shortly after his conviction.
Suspect apprehended at station platform—video screenshot
In April 2025, Yokohama District Court issued a civil compensation ruling. Presiding Judge Fujisawa Takahiko stated in the judgment that the defendant’s violent act stemmed from long-term distress caused by chronic illness leading to emotional instability, combined with alcohol’s diminishment of self-control. The defendant’s assertion of “severe consciousness impairment due to acute alcohol intoxication” was rejected by the court.
Following the ruling, the plaintiff’s legal team stated at a press conference that 「the judgment fully considered the feelings of the victims,」 yet a female victim in her sixties noted that Krieger never offered an apology, remarking 「this confirms he has no remorse whatsoever. Even though the trial has ended, this trauma will haunt me for the rest of my life.」
According to the legal representatives, Krieger had already been reassigned back to the United States before the civil judgment was rendered, making it unlikely that victims would receive the compensation directly. Consequently, the U.S. military committed to paying part of the settlement, with Japan’s government assuming the remainder as condolences.
The reason U.S. military forces can maintain long-term presence in Japan is fundamentally rooted in the Japan-U.S. Status of Forces Agreement signed by both nations. This agreement comprehensively specifies matters relating to U.S. military personnel in Japan, including entry and exit, taxation, and other provisions to ensure legal protection for American military operations in the country.
According to Xinhua News Agency reporting, since U.S. military presence in Japan began, criminal incidents have occurred with alarming frequency, ranging from homicides and sexual assaults to robberies and other serious crimes. In 2025 alone, Okinawa prefectural police identified more than 100 criminal cases involving U.S. military personnel and affiliated individuals.
In February 2026, a U.S. serviceman stationed in Yokosuka, Kanagawa Prefecture, drove a vehicle that struck an elderly resident, resulting in severe fractures to the victim’s pelvis and knees.
By April 2026, a serviceman in his twenties faced serious allegations of sexual assault and violence against an acquainted woman in an outdoor setting in Okinawa Prefecture, causing multiple injuries to the victim. Following the incident, this serviceman fled the scene by vehicle, striking a guardrail during his escape but failing to report the accident to authorities, thereby violating traffic laws. The question of whether he admitted guilt remains unresolved, and he currently remains under U.S. military custody.
Japanese media analysis indicates that under the Japan-U.S. Status of Forces Agreement, when American service members face criminal accusations in Japan, U.S. authorities have priority jurisdictional authority. Except in cases of arrest as an actual offender, suspects typically remain under U.S. military control until formal prosecution.
Associate Professor Akiko Yamamoto of the University of the Ryukyus analyzes that the persistent occurrence of crimes by U.S. military personnel in Japan stems from multiple dimensions. Regarding personnel composition, the proportion of young, unmarried servicemen is exceptionally high; more than half of Okinawa’s Marine Corps personnel are under 22 years old. Combined with rigorous training and frequent reassignments to foreign locations, these young soldiers become susceptible to psychological isolation. Some may succumb to alcohol-related misconduct during leave, while many approaching the end of their assignments harbor a 「one last hurrah」 mentality before departure.
Additionally, significant differences between American and Japanese drinking cultures and legal standards substantially elevate the crime risk among U.S. military personnel. The United States maintains more lenient standards for drunk driving; most stationed servicemen have long adapted to American drinking habits and struggle to comply with Japan’s stricter traffic regulations after arrival. Consequently, a substantial portion of incidents involving U.S. military personnel directly correlates with alcohol-related behavior.
