An Army doctor at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, charged with sexually abusing patients, is expected to enter a guilty plea early next year, FOX 13 Seattle reports. Maj. Michael Stockin, an anesthesiologist at Madigan Army Medical Center, is facing 47 counts of abusive sexual contact and five counts of indecent viewing, following accusations from more than 40 victims. A tentative deal reportedly allows Stockin to plead guilty to some charges, though the exact details of the plea are not confirmed.
According to CBS News, Stockin's attorney, Robert Capovilla, has confirmed that a plea was reached. The trial is scheduled for January 2025, after Stockin initially entered a plea of not guilty in April. Previously reported by CBS News, victims recounted experiences that occurred under the guise of medical care, with one man describing how he was "very confused" by Stockin's examination, where he was touched inappropriately.
Additional complaints beyond the court-martial charges have emerged, as more than a dozen alleged victims have filed civil complaints. As reported by Stars and Stripes, these victims claim to have been "severely and irreparably harmed" due to negligence by the Army and the Defense Department in failing to protect them from the accused's actions.
With over 50 charges, Stockin's case is believed to be the largest number of victims in such a case in U.S. military history, per the same FOX 13 Seattle source. The Army's Office of Special Trial Counsel told CBS that an update on the docket indicating a plea had been reached is accurate but declined to comment further. Details are expected to emerge on the first day of the trial.
If convicted of all counts, the charges against Stockin could lead to a maximum sentence of more than 300 years in prison. However, the plea agreement's specifics have not been disclosed by the Army or Stockin's defense. It is currently known that Stockin remains suspended from patient care and has been assigned administrative duties at Madigan Medical Center in a non-clinical area since the allegations came to light. His court-martial is set with a military judge presiding, according to information noted on the Army's online court docket.
