One year. That’s how long the former dean of Michigan State University’s College of Osteopathic Medicine was sentenced to spend in jail on Wednesday.
William Strampel was convicted of using his position as dean to try to solicit sexual favors from students, and other charges.
Leah Jackson is one of Strampel’s victims. She said during her victim impact statement that when she met with Strampel about her position at the college, Strampel talked to her about naked pictures – and about women her age having sex with older men.
“I have to ask, why was he so confident in thinking he could get away with talking about these things with me in a professional, academic setting?” Jackson told Judge Joyce Draganchuk, who decided Strampel’s sentence.
John Dakmak, Strampel’s attorney, argued that Strampel should only get probation.
“We understand that he has been found guilty for his conduct and he has to answer to that,” Dakmak said before Draganchuk handed down her sentence. “But to answer for that doesn’t mean that we disregard the lifelong service that he’s provided to his nation and to Michigan State.”
Draganchuk said she was disappointed Strampel didn’t express sorrow for the impact his behavior had on the victims.
“Now maybe you don’t oppress all women, and that point’s well made,” she said. “But in this case you oppressed these women.”
Strampel was also convicted by a jury of two misdemeanors for failing to properly oversee former MSU sports doctor, Larry Nassar. Nassar was convicted last year of sexually assaulting his patients for decades.
The breakdown of the charges and sentences are as follows:
- 11 months for the felony charge of misconduct in office
- 1 year each for the two misdemeanor charges of willful neglect of duty
But because the judge sentenced Strampel to serve his sentence concurrently, he will serve all of his time at once, effectively making his total sentence one year in jail, minus one day for time already served.
