- Pain doctor Major Michael Stockin faces 47 sexual assault charges
- Dozens of male soldiers who were treated by Stockin at Joint Base Lewis McChord Military Medical Center (JBLM) Madigan say he groped them
A high-ranking military doctor has been accused of sexually assaulting dozens of male soldiers he was treating at a U.S. military base in Washington state.
Pain doctor Maj. Michael Stockin faces 47 sexual assault charges in a case believed to be one of the largest of its kind in U.S. military history, as Fox13 reports.
Dozens of male soldiers who were treated by Stockin at Joint Base Lewis McChord Military Medical Center (JBLM) in Madigan allege he groped them under the guise of a sensory exam.
Ryan Guilds, the lawyer for several victims, told the local media outlet that his clients sometimes have bad days “because of what happened to them” or because they “realize what happened to them.”
The trial is likely to be pushed back until next year, with Guilds saying the delay makes the situation even more difficult for its clients.
Maj. Michael Stockin, a pain doctor, faces 47 sexual assault charges in a case believed to be one of the largest of its kind in U.S. military history.
Dozens of male soldiers who were treated by Stockin at Joint Base Lewis McChord (JBLM) Madigan Military Medical Center allege they were mistreated
“They are soldiers, so I think they will screw it up and do their best,” the lawyer said. “At the end of the day, they’re trying to move forward and what’s obviously a long process, and now, after today, it’s longer.”
Authorities say there could be more victims and have asked anyone with information to come forward.
Charging documents say Stockin tried to cover up the sexual abuse by claiming it had a “medical purpose,” as CBS News reports.
Last February, two of Stockin’s alleged victims spoke anonymously to CBS, saying the doctor had betrayed their trust.
One of the soldiers, who went to see the doctor for shoulder pain, said: “Me and Dr. Stockin were left alone in the room. He first checked my shoulders, then he asked me to stand up, drop my pants and pull up my dress.
‘Dr. Stockin, he was at my groin level and he started touching my genitals.
The soldier, a retired command sergeant major, said he was sexually assaulted by Stockin three times.
Another soldier, a command sergeant major who was allegedly mistreated by the doctor, said the experience left emotional trauma.
He said: “Even with my wife I couldn’t bring myself to talk about what happened… It was just very uncomfortable.”
Stockin previously worked at other military installations in Washington DC and Hawaii, but all of the victims were treated at the military hospital located at JBLM.
He did not enter a plea when he appeared in court in February, but he will still be able to enter one at a later date.
His lawyer, Robert Capovilla, said: “We understand, without exception, that in today’s political culture, the media will continue to condemn Major Stockin and pass judgment before a jury or judge even hears the evidence.” . »
Capovilla added that he intends to fight all allegations against his client.
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