An Army anesthesiologist has admitted to sexually abusing numerous soldiers at Joint Base Lewis-McChord's Madigan Army Medical Center in Washington state, marking one of the largest sexual abuse cases involving a single perpetrator in U.S. military history.
Major Michael Stockin pleaded guilty Tuesday to 36 counts of abusive sexual contact and five counts of indecent viewing involving 41 male patients he treated between 2019 and 2022. The charges stemmed from incidents where Stockin, who worked as a pain management specialist, sexually abused soldiers who had sought medical care.
According to victim statements, Stockin conducted inappropriate examinations when alone with patients, including ungloved fondling of genitals during appointments for unrelated conditions like back pain and shoulder arthritis. Many victims reported feeling violated and traumatized by the encounters.
The Army launched an investigation in 2022 after receiving multiple complaints about Stockin's conduct. He was removed from patient care duties and placed in an administrative role before being formally charged in August 2023.
Under the terms of his plea agreement, Stockin could face between 10-14 years in prison. The maximum possible sentence if charges were served consecutively would be 336 years.
Twenty-two former patients have filed Federal Tort Claims Act complaints against the U.S. Army and Department of Defense, each seeking $5 million in damages. The lawsuits allege negligence in Stockin's hiring, supervision and retention.
The advocacy group Protect Our Defenders called this the largest military sexual abuse scandal in recent history and criticized the Army's handling of the case. The group's senior vice president Josh Connolly noted that many survivors, particularly male victims, faced challenges in having their reports taken seriously.
The case will now move to the sentencing phase, where multiple victims plan to deliver impact statements. Stockin's guilty plea remains subject to final approval by the military judge.