Okinawa-based sailor sentenced to five years for attempted rape of a child, other charges

A Japan-based sailor was sentenced to five years in prison after being convicted in a court-martial last week of charges stemming from the attempted sexual abuse of two children, according to court documents.

Petty Officer 2nd Class Allen J. Jewell, an operations specialist assigned to Fleet Activities Okinawa, was found guilty Friday of attempted rape of a child; attempted sexual abuse of a child through a lewd act; attempted sexual abuse of a child through indecent communication; bringing discredit to the armed forces; and indecent language.

Jewell went to an apartment Sept. 12 to commit a sexual act on a girl he believed was 8 years old, according to court documents. He arranged the meeting through someone he believed was the girl’s mother, and from Sept. 10 through Sept. 12 sent that person explicit text messages about his sexual plans for the child.

From Sept. 9-12, Jewell also texted graphic sexual messages to a person he believed was a different child younger than 16 years old, according to the charge sheet. The messages suggested Jewell believed the person was underage, saying that the two “would have to keep a low profile [because] of your age,” according to court documents.

The court documents did not reveal with whom Jewell was communicating in either case, but Naval Criminal Investigative Services agents have played such roles in the past.

Jewell will receive credit against his sentence for 170 days spent in the brig prior to his conviction. In addition to his confinement, his rate has been reduced to E-1, he will be dismissed from the Navy with a dishonorable discharge and forfeit all pay and allowances for five years, according to court documents.

It was unclear Wednesday where Jewell will serve his sentence. He must register as a sex offender once released from prison, according to court documents.

Less than a month before Jewell started his text messages, a Yokosuka-based USS Ronald Reagan sailor, Petty Officer 1st Class Gilbert Sandoval, 32, was convicted Aug. 16 of six sex crimes, including attempted sexual assault of a child.

Sandoval had sent explicit messages to an NCIS agent who made him believe she had a 7-year-old child whom he could rape. According to court testimony, he was arrested after going to an apartment intending to have sex with a 14-year-old girl with whom he’d sent explicit text messages. The recipient of those messages was actually an NCIS agent, and Sandoval was arrested.

He received a three-year prison sentence, a dishonorable discharge and a reduction to E-1.

Cmdr. Reann Mommsen, spokeswoman for Naval Force Japan, said the Navy is “committed to holding our personnel accountable for their actions and preserving good order and discipline throughout the Fleet.”

“The U.S. Navy holds its personnel to the highest standards of conduct,” she said.

doornbos.caitlin@stripes.com

Twitter: @CaitlinDoornbos

