An Army anesthesiologist has pleaded guilty to the sexual abuse of dozens of patients in one of the largest such prosecutions involving a single perpetrator ever in the U.S. military.
Maj. Michael Stockin entered a guilty plea at the start of his court-martial at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington, on Tuesday, admitting to 41 violations of the Uniform Code of Military Justice, including 36 instances of abusive sexual contact and five of indecent viewing.
Stockin initially was charged in August 2023 on 23 violations of the UCMJ involving his patients at Madigan Army Medical Center. The number of charges and victims grew as the investigation expanded, with the Army Office of Special Trial Counsel eventually referring 52 charges and specifications related to allegations from 41 male patients.
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Ryan Guilds, an attorney who represents seven of Stockin's victims, said the plea deal could result in 10 to 14 years in prison for the doctor.
"There's a range of emotions [among the victims], but overall, a sense of relief. I'm very proud of the courage and bravery they've all shown in continuing to stay involved in this case and willing to participate," Guilds said during an interview with Military.com.
The Army removed Stockin from his medical duties in February 2022 amid complaints from patients of improper conduct that included fondling and improperly looking at male victims under the auspices of medical exams, according to court documents.
Stockin faced a maximum punishment of more than 330 years in prison if he was convicted of all counts, along with reduction in rank, forfeiture of all pay and benefits, and a dishonorable discharge.
Michelle McCaskill, the Army Office of Special Trial Counsel’s communications director, said she could not provide any additional details about the plea agreement involving the physician's future discharge status or other punitive measures.
"Further details of his plea agreement are not releasable at this time as the agreement is subject to the acceptance of the military judge," McCaskill said in a statement to Military.com.
The case is one of the first prosecuted by the Army Office of Special Trial Counsel, a team of independent prosecutors that now handles the service's most egregious criminal cases. The group handles cases of murder, assault, sexual assault, kidnapping, domestic violence, stalking, child pornography and harassment.
Nearly two dozen of Stockin's victims have filed claims against the Army and the Defense Department under the Federal Tort Claims Act alleging sexual abuse.
They say the Army is liable because it was negligent in hiring, supervising and retaining Stockin, and it lacked adequate protocols to keep patients safe.
In a statement Wednesday, the advocacy group Protect Our Defenders, a nonprofit organization focused on military sexual assault and harassment, expressed concern for how the Army handled the case, including the investigation into Stockin's conduct while he was working at other military installations, including Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland.
"This case highlights the systemic failures of the military's approach to addressing sexual violence," said Josh Connolly, Protect Our Defenders' senior vice president, in a statement. "Survivors of sexual assault -- especially male survivors -- are too often ignored, retraumatized and denied the basic care and support they deserve. The fact that survivors had to turn to the media just to be heard is appalling."
Stockin's lead defense attorney, Robert Capovilla, did not respond to a request for comment by publication.
Guilds said he remains concerned that the Army still has not provided attorneys or support services for many of the victims.
"The Army has failed to adequately identify and explain and provide those services to those victims," Guilds said.
