Report: Marine charged with rape released

TOKYO, Japan (AP) -- A U.S. Marine who had been arrested over an alleged rape of a teenage girl in southern Japan has been released, Kyodo News agency reported.

Staff Sgt. Tyrone Luther Hadnott, 38, was arrested earlier this month on suspicion of raping a 14-year-old girl on the southern island of Okinawa, triggering a nationwide furor over American troop-related crimes in Japan.

Public broadcaster NHK said Hadnott was released after the girl's family dropped her criminal complaint against him.

Police said that Hadnott admitted to investigators that he forced the girl down and kissed her, but that he denied raping her. E-mail to a friend

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