Former Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine dean William Strampel, Larry Nassar’s former boss, was charged today with misconduct in office, criminal sexual conduct, and two counts of neglect of duty.
One attorney who represents over 100 Nassar survivors has received letters and phone calls over the past 14 months about Strampel's conduct. WKAR’s Katie Cook has more.
The complaint against Strampel alleges he solicited nude photos from at least one female medical student and says he used his office to "harass, discriminate, demean, sexually proposition, and sexually assault female students in violation of his statutory duty as a public officer."
He was also charged with failing to enforce or monitor protocols set for Larry Nassar after a female patient complained of inappropriate sexual contact. Nassar is the former sports doctor who pleaded guilty to sexually abusing dozens of women and girls.
Attorney David Mittleman at Church Wyble, who represents more than 100 Nassar survivors, says he wasn’t surprised by the charges against Strampel because a number of people have contacted him about Strampel’s behavior.
“The charges are consistent with many unsolicited calls that I have received over the last 14 months. It was generally that he was quite capable, he was successful for the university, in other words he made a lot of money for the university. But he was very militaristic in nature, very bullying type of personality, domineering, and that it was worst for women who worked around him, particularly if they did not accept his unwanted advances.”
Mittleman says those who contacted him were typically former MSU employees or students. He estimates between eight and twelve people called him about Strampel, and he also received two letters from anonymous sources.
The maximum penalty for the charges against Strampel ranges from one year to five years behind bars.
