U.S. Navy Lieutenant, who was sentenced in Japan, is back in United States custody

Ridge Alkonis, the U.S. Navy Lieutenant who was sentenced to three years in prison by a Japanese court, has returned to US custody. He was sentenced because of negligent driving resulting in the death of a couple of individuals. A third person was injured in this incident. Alkonis argued that he suffered from mountain sickness, which impacted his driving. He lost consciousness and subsequently lost control of his vehicle. The Japanese court rejected that argument.

From CNN:

“After 507 days, Lt. Ridge Alkonis is on his way home to the United States. We are encouraged by Ridge’s transfer back to the United States but cannot celebrate until Ridge has been reunited with his family,” the family statement said.

Two US officials confirmed on Thursday that Alkonis is in US custody. One of those officials told CNN he is being brought back to the US under an international prisoner convention which allows individuals to serve the remainder of their confinement in their home country.

When Alkonis arrives back in the US, “he will go before an entity called the US parole commission within the Department of Justice, which will consider his case and make a determination about further confinement,” the official said.

The Department of Justice declined to comment.

Alkonis, who was stationed in Japan, was sentenced to three years in a Japanese prison in October 2021 for negligent driving resulting in the death of two people and injuries to a third person in May 2021. He said he suffered from acute mountain sickness as he was driving with his family from Mount Fuji, which caused him to lose consciousness. That argument was rejected by the court. His appeal was denied in July 2022.

CNN has additional information here.

Category: Crime, International Affairs, Navy