Crime & Safety

Japanese Official Pleads Not Guilty to Domestic Violence Charges

A judge ordered the official, who works for the consulate general of Japan in San Francisco, to return to court June 14 for a preliminary hearing. He was recently arrested after his wife went to San Bruno police, claiming months of domestic abuse.

The Japanese embassy official who was pleaded not guilty Monday to domestic violence charges.

Yoshiaki Nagaya, 32, the vice consul for Japan in the country's embassy in San Francisco, appeared in the San Mateo County courthouse in South San Francisco and pleaded not guilty to 14 counts of domestic violence for allegedly beating his wife repeatedly while they lived in San Francisco and San Bruno. He also pleaded not guilty to several counts of assault with a deadly weapon.

Nagaya was then released on $350,000 bail. His bail was previously set at $25,000.

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According to the San Mateo County District Attorney's Office, Nagaya continually abused his wife during their marriage, which lasted 18 months. The accusations include stabbing his wife in the hand with a screwdriver, knocking out her tooth and stomping on her. In March, San Bruno police said Nagaya threw his wife out of their car in the parking garage of their apartment, leaving her with scrapes on her face and knees. 

Nagaya is expected to appear back in court on June 14 for a preliminary hearing. He faces 15 to 20 years in prison if convicted, the district attorney's office said.

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