A military doctor has pleaded guilty to sexually abusing dozens of soldiers at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, many of whom sought his care for pain management, CBS News reported.
Maj. Michael Stockin, an anesthesiologist and pain management specialist at Madigan Army Medical Center in Washington State–the nation’s second-largest Army treatment facility–faced 52 charges related to abusive sexual contact involving 41 victims, according to Michelle McCaskill, spokesperson for the U.S. Army Office of Special Trial Counsel. Stockin pleaded guilty on Tuesday to 36 counts of abusive sexual contact and five counts of indecent viewing. His guilty pleas are subject to the approval of the military judge, McCaskill noted.
Stockin’s lawyer, Robert Capovilla, has not responded to requests for comment.
Protect Our Defenders–the only national organization solely dedicated to ending the epidemic of rape and sexual assault in the military–has called the Stockin case the largest sexual abuse scandal in recent history, urging Congress to review systemic issues that allowed such abuse to occur.
In a report aired on “CBS Mornings” in February, two men recounted misconduct they endured under the guise of medical care from Stockin. One of the men, seeking help for arthritis in his shoulders, said he was initially “very confused” by the doctor’s examination.
“Myself and Dr. Stockin were left alone in the room. He first checked my shoulders and then he asked me to stand up and to pull down my pants and lift up my gown,” the man said. “Dr. Stockin, he was face level with my groin, and he started touching my genitals.”
Another victim described being abused on three separate occasions, noting that Stockin’s exams were unlike any previous medical visits. “Even with my wife, I couldn’t bring myself to talk through what happened,” he said. “It just felt very uncomfortable.”
Lawyers representing 22 of Stockin’s former patients have filed Federal Tort Claims Act complaints against the U.S. Army and Department of Defense, alleging negligence in hiring, supervising, and retaining Stockin. Each complainant is seeking $5 million in damages for emotional distress.
One serviceman’s complaint detailed the profound impact of the alleged abuse, stating he was left with “overwhelming feelings of sadness, fear, and anxiety.”
“Dr. Stockin’s guilty plea and sentencing is an important first step toward justice for the dozens of patients he sexually abused. But the story doesn’t end here,” said Christine Dunn, an attorney representing the victims. “The Army played a substantial role in allowing the rampant sexual abuse to occur in the first place. The time has come for the Army to be held accountable for its negligence.”
Joint Base Lewis-McChord (JBLM), the fifth-largest U.S. Army base located about 47 miles south of Seattle, is home to over 100,000 individuals, including 40,000 active-duty personnel, 50,000 family members, and 15,000 civilian and contract employees. Madigan Army Medical Center, the base’s medical facility, is the Army’s second-largest treatment center.
The Army launched an investigation into Stockin in 2022 after receiving multiple complaints. He was subsequently suspended from patient care and assigned administrative duties. Formal charges against him began with 23 counts in August 2023, later expanding to 52 counts involving 41 male patients treated between 2019 and 2022.
Stockin’s guilty plea was part of an agreement with prosecutors in September 2024. He formally entered his plea on Tuesday, marking the beginning of his court-martial.
Abusive sexual contact charges carry a maximum sentence of seven years per count, while indecent viewing charges carry a maximum of one year. If sentences are served consecutively, Stockin faces up to 336 years in prison, McCaskill said.
The sentencing phase will include impact statements from numerous victims, according to Dunn.
One serviceman’s complaint recounted an incident in 2021 when he visited Stockin for a pulled muscle in his lower back. He alleged Stockin instructed him to remove his pants and underwear, then fondled his genitals without wearing gloves. Three others reported similar experiences, describing exams that left them feeling violated and distressed.
“I do believe this directly led to exacerbating my drinking because I did not know how to cope with this trauma,” one victim said, explaining how he spiraled into alcohol abuse before entering outpatient rehabilitation.
Update: On Jan. 15, 2025, Stockin was sentenced to 13 years in prison, CBS News reported.
