JBLM Army doctor accused of sexually assaulting nearly 4 dozen male patients

TACOMA, Wash. — A Joint Base Lewis-McChord (JBLM) Army doctor was formally arraigned on Friday in what has been described as the largest sexual assault case of its type in military history.

Michael Stockin said little during the brief arraignment at the Cascade Courthouse Complex as part of an Article 120 hearing. He stands accused of sexually assaulting at least four dozen men during his time as a pain management doctor at Madigan Army Hospital at JBLM.

Stockin deferred entering a plea during his first court appearance Friday, which is allowed in military court.

A charging sheet obtained by KOMO News claims that Stockin abused the soldiers under “fraudulent representation that the sexual contact served a professional purpose.”

KOMO News has seen complaints from the alleged victims who said they have been traumatized and sought mental health treatment as a result. Stockin has been barred from seeing patients since 2022, according to the Army.

The Army has stayed quiet for months as attorneys for the alleged victims have claimed the abuse may be more widespread.

A defense attorney for Stockin issued a statement that read in part, “Major Stockin and the defense team believes that the United States Army is one of the greatest organizations on the planet,” and “We urge everyone to keep an open mind, to remember Major Stockin is presumed innocent and understand that this fight is just getting started.”

But, the alleged victim’s attorney claims that the Army has failed to provide them with proper counsel and failed to immediately follow up on abuse claims. That has led the advocacy group called “Protect Our Defenders” to call for a congressional review saying, “This case exemplifies deeply serious issues within the US Military concerning access to critical support services for survivors and leadership accountability.”

Stockin’s case is scheduled to go to trial under military law in October. Stockin faces a maximum sentence of 336 years if convicted of the accusations.