Maj. Michael Stockin, an Army physician, has reached a plea deal with prosecutors after being accused by more than 40 patients of sexual misconduct. Charges against Stockin include 47 counts of abusive sexual contact and five counts of indecent viewing, making this one of the largest prosecutions by the Army of its kind. His attorney confirmed that a plea agreement had been reached and will likely be entered in January, in lieu of the trial that was scheduled to begin. News of the agreement follows the removal of recent motions hearings from the case’s calendar.
In a report aired on “CBS Mornings,” two men described alleged sexual misconduct during medical examinations by Maj. Michael Stockin at the pain management clinic at Madigan Army Medical Center. One of the men sought help for arthritis and described feeling confused by Stockin’s examination, which led to him being touched inappropriately. The other man detailed three instances of being sexually abused by Stockin, recounting a similar experience in which he was subjected to an “alternate assessment.” Both men have shared their allegations with military investigators and expected to be publicly identified as victims in the pending criminal case against Stockin.
Stockin, who remains suspended from patient care but has administrative duties at Madigan Medical Center, had previously entered a plea of not guilty in April. The trial in his case had been scheduled for January. More than a dozen alleged victims have filed civil complaints against the Army and the Defense Department, claiming negligence in failing to protect them from abuse by Stockin. If convicted on all counts, Stockin could have faced a prison sentence of more than 300 years if sentences were served consecutively. A plea agreement was confirmed by a spokesperson for the Army’s Office of Special Trial Counsel but further details will be made available on the first day of trial.
The attorney for seven of the alleged victims, including the two who spoke with CBS News, declined to comment on the plea agreement. Stockin’s attorney also declined to provide further details on the agreement. The Army has stated that Stockin remains suspended from patient care and still has administrative duties at the medical center. The plea agreement has not been reviewed by CBS News, but the Army noted that there is no mandatory minimum penalty for the charges Stockin faces. The potential consequences for Stockin if convicted of all counts emphasize the seriousness of the allegations and the impact on the victims. The plea agreement signifies a significant development in the legal proceedings surrounding Stockin’s case.
The allegations of sexual misconduct against Maj. Michael Stockin highlight the need for accountability and justice for the victims who have come forward. The plea agreement reached with prosecutors indicates that Stockin is taking responsibility for his actions, providing closure and potentially sparing the victims from the trauma of a trial. The civil complaints filed by alleged victims assert that the Army and the Defense Department were negligent in protecting them from abuse by Stockin, further emphasizing the importance of addressing systemic failures that allowed such misconduct to occur. Moving forward, the plea agreement will likely result in consequences for Stockin that reflect the severity of his actions, serving as a form of justice for the victims and a step towards preventing future incidents of sexual misconduct within the military healthcare system.
