US Soldier Punished for Possessing Child Abuse Images in Okinawa

Kolby Mayer, a US soldier stationed at Kadena Air Base in Okinawa, was found guilty in a military court for possessing approximately 1,175 child sexual abuse images on his laptop and phone. Mayer was sentenced to 20 months in prison and demoted.

Scraper SystemJune 10, 2026, 05:32 PM

US Soldier Punished for Possessing Child Abuse Images in Okinawa

According to the "Stars and Stripes" newspaper, an investigation was conducted on the laptop and phone of Kolby Mayer, a soldier stationed at Kadena Air Base used by the US military in Okinawa. The investigation uncovered approximately 1,175 photos containing "child sexual abuse" material.

Mayer was found guilty in a military court of "possessing child sexual abuse material" and was sentenced to 20 months in prison and demotion.

Captain Joe Strzempko, the prosecutor responsible for military cases at US bases in Okinawa, stated regarding the verdict, "We believe this is a just outcome, delivering an appropriate punishment, bringing justice to the victims, and sending a strong message that such abuses will not be tolerated."

Mayer was transferred to the Yokosuka Military Correctional Facility southeast of Tokyo, in preparation for transfer to a US military prison. The US Department of Defense's "Army.Mil" website reported that Mayer served as an advanced operator of the Patriot missile launcher station in the artillery regiment at Kadena Air Base.

Although World War II ended in 1945, the strategically important Okinawa Island remained under US control until it was returned to Japanese sovereignty in 1972. Okinawa, which makes up 0.6% of Japan's land area, hosts 70.6% of all US military facility land across the country.

Crimes committed by US soldiers and local personnel working at military facilities have long been a source of complaints among the Okinawan people.