In a shocking development within military circles, Major Michael Stockin, an Army doctor stationed at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, has admitted guilt to 41 counts of sexual misconduct, impacting numerous victims over his tenure.
His plea came on what was supposed to be the first day of his trial, as announced by Michelle McCaskill, a spokesperson for the Army’s Office of Special Trial Counsel.
This series of offenses occurred between November 2019 and April 2022.
Details of the Charges
Stockin’s guilty pleas included 36 counts of abusive sexual contact and five for “indecent viewing” of patients.
Initially, more than 50 allegations had been brought against him when he was charged in January 2024.
Following his admissions, the focus will shift to reviewing witness testimonies that correlate with his acknowledged misconduct during the upcoming trial phase.
Ryan Guilds, an attorney representing several victims, suggested that under the terms of the plea deal, Stockin may face a prison sentence estimated to be between 9.5 to 13.5 years.
In the coming week, the presiding judge is expected to rigorously assess the evidence supporting each specific charge to validate Stockin’s pleas before formally accepting them.
Systemic Issues in the Army
Once the trial wraps up and the judge accepts the plea, a sentencing phase will follow.
During this time, victims will have the opportunity to deliver their impact statements, although the timeline for this hearing is still unclear due to the case’s complexities.
The prosecution of Stockin falls under the purview of the Army’s Office of Special Trial Counsel.
This office was created last year as part of an initiative to reform how serious criminal cases are managed within the military framework, moving responsibility away from military personnel towards specialized legal counsel.
Many patients who sought Stockin’s help were dealing with chronic pain from service-related injuries.
Disturbing allegations indicate that he isolated male patients, misleading them into believing they were undergoing routine examinations, while failing to provide chaperones and engaging in inappropriate groping without protective gloves.
An investigation was triggered in February 2022 following multiple complaints, resulting in Stockin’s suspension from patient care and reassignment to non-clinical tasks.
Advocating for Victims
Attorney Christine Dunn, who represents victims in a civil lawsuit against the Army, expressed grave concerns regarding the situation.
Some of her clients reportedly continued to suffer abuse even after the Army was made aware of the allegations in February 2022.
Dunn emphasized the systemic failures within the Army that allowed such misconduct to continue unchecked, insisting that the organization must be held accountable for its negligence.
In her civil case, Dunn is pursuing $5 million in damages on behalf of each of the 21 soldiers affected.
According to Army officials, the allegations against Stockin represent one of the most extensive incidents of sexual misconduct in military history, given the alarming number of victims involved.
Source: Taskandpurpose