Current:Home > MyArmy doctor charged with sexual misconduct makes first court appearance -Keystone Wealth Vision
Army doctor charged with sexual misconduct makes first court appearance
View
Date:2025-04-14 08:06:21
An Army doctor made his first appearance in a military courtroom in Washington state on Friday where he faces more than 50 counts of sexual misconduct stemming from accusations brought by dozens of patients, in what could become one of the largest prosecutions by the Army of its kind.
The charges against the physician, Maj. Michael Stockin, includes 47 counts of abusive sexual contact and five counts of indecent viewing under the military code of justice, according to the Army Office of Special Trial Counsel who is prosecuting the case. In a statement after the hearing, prosecutors said that they dropped a count of abusive sexual contact "after ongoing review of the evidence."
All of the 41 alleged victims are male. The documents include allegations that he attempted to cover up sexual abuse of patients by falsely representing that it had a "medical purpose."
Stockin was expected to enter a plea of not guilty to the charges but elected to defer entering a plea at the hearing, according to prosecutors.
Robert Capovilla, an attorney for Stockin, has urged the public to withhold judgment until the case is heard, saying, "We intend to fight against every single allegation until the jury renders their verdict."
"Until then, we sincerely hope that the United States Army is fully prepared to respect Major Stockin's Constitutional rights at every phase of this process, both inside and outside of the courtroom," Capovilla said in a statement. "We urge everyone to keep an open mind, to remember Major Stockin is presumed innocent, and understand that this fight is just getting started."
"Through close collaboration with the criminal investigators, [prosecutors] thoroughly evaluated the evidence and carefully considered all the facts before referring charges in this case," the Office of Special Trial Counsel said in a statement. "We are confident that the facts and evidence support a conviction and that will be demonstrated when the case goes to trial on Oct. 7."
On Thursday, two of those former patients spoke for the first time publicly in exclusive interviews with CBS News, describing what they say was conduct that betrayed their trust. Both asked to speak anonymously out of fear of retaliation.
Both men, now retired after more than 20 years in the Army including three combat tours each, allege abuse took place under the guise of medical care.
"Being in the military at the time for 19 years, I trusted the medical doctor I was seeing," said one of the men. "I trusted Dr. Stockin."
Both say they intend to testify at Stockin's court martial, which is currently scheduled to begin in October, according to the case docket, and is slated to last more than a month.
"It's emotional, it's not something I'm used to," the other said about his upcoming testimony. "I can deal with a lot of things. I can deal with anger, I can deal with combat, but emotions and things like that — it's personal."
The investigation will remain open through the trial, according to the prosecutor's office, which says the Army's Criminal Investigation Division "will further investigate should additional victims come forward."
In the meantime, Stockin has been suspended from seeing patients, but his medical license remains active, according to the Washington State Department of Health database. Michelle McCaskill, communications director for Army OSTC, said that Stockin continues to work at Madigan in a role of an "administrative nature in a non-clinical area."
Prosecutors did not request that Stockin be held before the court martial but recently said in a statement that they "will continue to evaluate whether to request pretrial confinement based on the potential for MAJ Stockin to be a flight risk or commit further serious misconduct."
There is no mandatory minimum penalty, according to McCaskill, but if convicted on all counts, Stockin could face a prison sentence of more than 330 years if sentences were to be served consecutively.
- In:
- U.S. Army
Clare Hymes is an associate producer for the investigative unit at CBS News. She previously reported from the Justice Department and was an associate producer for the "CBS Evening News with Norah O'Donnell."
veryGood! (1)
Related
- Trump suggestion that Egypt, Jordan absorb Palestinians from Gaza draws rejections, confusion
- U.S. Nuclear Fleet’s Dry Docks Threatened by Storms and Rising Seas
- Meet the Country Music Legend Replacing Blake Shelton on The Voice
- Rihanna, Kaley Cuoco and More Stars Celebrating Their First Mother's Day in 2023
- The FTC says 'gamified' online job scams by WhatsApp and text on the rise. What to know.
- Kit Keenan Shares The Real Reason She’s Not Following Mom Cynthia Rowley Into Fashion
- Miami police prepare for protesters outside courthouse where Trump is being arraigned
- Ultra rare and endangered sperm whale pod spotted off California coast in once a year opportunity
- Selena Gomez's "Weird Uncles" Steve Martin and Martin Short React to Her Engagement
- U.S. extends temporary legal status for over 300,000 immigrants that Trump sought to end
Ranking
- Angelina Jolie nearly fainted making Maria Callas movie: 'My body wasn’t strong enough'
- Travis Barker's Kids Send Love to Stepmom Kourtney Kardashian on Mother's Day
- Biden gets a root canal without general anesthesia
- Sunnylife’s Long Weekend Must-Haves Make Any Day a Day at the Beach
- Juan Soto to be introduced by Mets at Citi Field after striking record $765 million, 15
- Denver Nuggets defeat Miami Heat for franchise's first NBA title
- Inflation grew at 4% rate in May, its slowest pace in two years
- Tabitha Brown's Final Target Collection Is Here— & It's All About Having Fun in the Sun
Recommendation
Juan Soto to be introduced by Mets at Citi Field after striking record $765 million, 15
Smart Grid Acquisitions by ABB, GE, Siemens Point to Coming $20 Billion Boom
Qantas on Brink of £200m Biojet Fuel Joint Venture
Rihanna and A$AP Rocky Celebrate Son RZA's First Birthday With Adorable Family Photos
The FTC says 'gamified' online job scams by WhatsApp and text on the rise. What to know.
Paul McCartney says AI was used to create new Beatles song, which will be released this year
In praise of being late: The upside of spurning the clock
Jill Biden had three skin lesions removed