Prosecutors, not police, decide formal charges under the Japanese justice system. (Akifumi Ishikawa/Stars and Stripes)

Japanese prosecutors have declined to charge a U.S. Marine accused of stealing a car, driving drunk, crashing it, and intruding into a man’s home in Iwakuni last month, according to a spokesman for the Yamaguchi District Public Prosecutors Office.

The office decided Monday to drop its case against the Marine assigned to Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, the spokesman said by phone Tuesday. He declined to explain the decision. Yamaguchi Prefectural Police identified the Marine as a 21-year-old corporal.

Prosecutors, not police, decide formal charges under Japan’s justice system.

The Marine remains under U.S. military investigation and could face “disciplinary and administrative actions” depending on the outcome, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing spokesman Maj. Joseph Butterfield wrote in an email Tuesday.

“The alleged behavior does not reflect the core values of the U.S. Marine Corps, nor does it represent the conduct of the overwhelming majority of Marines based in Japan,” he said.

Japanese police arrested the Marine on Feb. 11 on suspicion of unlawful intrusion after he allegedly entered the apartment of a 63-year-old man, according to Yamaguchi Prefectural Police.

Stars and Stripes is withholding the service member’s name because he has not been charged.

Police re-arrested him on March 4 on suspicion of stealing a car from a convenience store parking lot, crashing it into a utility pole, and then entering the apartment, according to Iwakuni police. Under Japanese law, re-arresting a suspect resets the 20-day detention limit.

Iwakuni police on March 19 recommended additional charges of theft, assault, destruction of property, destruction of structure and drinking and driving, according to the prosecutors’ spokesman.

After the crash, the Marine walked about 60 feet to an apartment building, entered through the front door, and set off a fire extinguisher before police arrested him at the scene, Iwakuni police said. No other damage was reported.

The Marine’s blood-alcohol content was above Japan’s legal limit of 0.03%, according to police, who declined to specify the exact level. By comparison, the legal limit in all 50 U.S. states is 0.08%.

The Marine and his command “cooperated fully” with the Japanese investigation, MCAS Iwakuni spokesman Maj. Gerard Farao wrote in an email Tuesday.

Some Japanese officials may speak to the press only on condition of anonymity.