After spending 537 days in custody in Japan, U.S. Navy officer Lt. Ridge Alkonis has been released and returned to the United States. Alkonis had been jailed in Japan following a car crash that resulted in the deaths of two Japanese citizens. He surrendered to Japanese authorities in July 2022 and pleaded guilty to negligent driving in May 2021. Alkonis’ family has maintained that the crash was an accident caused by him losing consciousness while driving.
The U.S. Parole Commission ordered Alkonis’ immediate release, and he was welcomed back home by his family in Los Angeles. The family expressed their relief and gratitude for his release, emphasizing that he had been unnecessarily detained for over a year and a half. They also requested privacy during this time.
Images shared by the family show Alkonis being greeted upon his release, highlighting the emotional reunion with his loved ones. The Navy officer’s case has garnered attention due to the circumstances surrounding his imprisonment and the length of time he spent in custody.
Japanese prosecutors argued that Alkonis fell asleep while driving and failed to pull over when he started feeling fatigued. However, his family has maintained that he lost consciousness due to an accident while on a trip to Mount Fuji. The details of the case and the events leading up to the crash have been the subject of ongoing debate.
In December, Alkonis was transferred into the custody of the Bureau of Prisons through a Justice Department program that allows prisoners convicted in another country to be relocated back to their home nation. This transfer paved the way for his eventual release and return to the United States.
The Navy has yet to comment on Alkonis’ release, and further details about the case are still emerging. The Associated Press has contributed to the report.
It is important to note that this article provides a comprehensive overview of Lt. Ridge Alkonis’ release from custody in Japan. The focus is on the events surrounding his imprisonment and subsequent release, as well as the contrasting perspectives on the circumstances of the car crash that led to his conviction.
