Reporters covering a U.S. airman’s sexual assault and kidnapping charges wait outside Naha District Court on Okinawa, Friday, Aug. 30, 2024. (Keishi Koja/Stars and Stripes)

NAHA CITY, Okinawa — An airman charged with sexually assaulting a minor, testifying in the case for the first time in a Japanese court on Friday, said he believed the girl was 18 and gave her consent.

Senior Airman Brennon Richard Edward Washington, 25, in his third appearance in Naha District Court in the case, answered questions posed by his attorney and the prosecution in front of three judges, with Judge Tetsuro Sato presiding over the trial.

Washington, assigned to the 18th Logistics Readiness Squadron at Kadena Air Base, said the girl told him she was 18 when they met in a Yomitan park on Dec. 24.

The girl, referred to in court as “A,” testified on Aug. 23 that she used English, Japanese and hand gestures to tell Washington that she is 15.

Washington on Friday said no hand gestures or counting actions took place that day.

“I think why she said that is it’s another fabrication of the story she is making about this case,” he said.

The girl also testified that Washington sexually assaulted her in July 2023 — fondled her and kissed her — outside a convenience store and invited her to his house nearby. In December, she recognized Washington when he brought her to the same house, she said.

Questioned by his attorney, Washington testified that the girl recalled the incident five months earlier but said she did not seem afraid of him.

“I think she told me a foreigner touched her, but that’s it,” he said.

Washington testified that after he drove “A” to his house, he asked permission to kiss her, and she agreed.

From there, Washington detailed under questioning by his attorney what happened that night.

He said he used a mix of gestures, questions and a translation app on his phone to communicate with the girl. He kissed the girl, touched her vagina both over her underwear and directly and eventually performed oral sex on her, he said in court. He said he never penetrated her with any part of his body.

The girl testified on Aug. 23 that Washington did penetrate her with his finger and tongue.

Washington said the girl gave her consent to him kissing and touching her.

“When saying bye with ‘A,’ did you ask her to keep a secret?” the defense attorney asked.

“No, I did not; I had no motivation, reason to tell her that,” Washington testified. “She said that she was 18; I had consent. I did not think, at that time, that this situation was going to be a criminal charge.”

Under cross-examination, Washington told the prosecutor, identified in court only by his last name, Hisaoka, that he had no intent to have sex with the girl.

“I touched, because of the type of mood that was happening at the time,” Washington said.

Hisaoka asked Washington if he usually engaged in kissing and petting, and offering to show someone his penis, without intending to have sex.

“I cannot answer yes or no for that question,” Washington said.

Washington also testified under cross-examination that he drank “three cans of strong chuhai,” a Japanese alcoholic drink, before going to the park.

Questioned again by his attorney, Washington said he would not have taken the girl to his house if he knew she was 15.

Washington’s case, and that of a Marine lance corporal charged in July in a separate case with attempted sexual assault, outraged Okinawa government officials, who made formal complaints to the Japanese government, the U.S. Embassy and military commands in Japan.

The Okinawa Prefectural Assembly also called for changes to the status of forces agreement governing the U.S. military population in Japan.

Closing arguments are expected on Oct. 25.