Jury selection began Tuesday in the case against William Strampel. He’s the former head of the MSU College of Osteopathic Medicine who also supervised convicted sexual predator Larry Nassar.
Updated, 6:20p.m.:
The criminal trial will get underway Thursday.
Attorneys for William Strampel and the state Attorney General’s Office agreed on a jury Wednesday.
Strampel is charged with using his position as dean to try to get sexual favors from female students. Prosecutors also say Strampel failed to properly oversee former MSU sports doctor Larry Nassar. Nassar sexually assaulted his patients for decades.
“Oh we’re ready to go," said John Dakmak, Strampel's attorney. "We’ve been ready to go a long time, we’re looking forward to this, we’re happy with our jury, and I think a lot will come to light in this case that we haven’t been able to present yet.”
A spokesman for the Attorney General’s office says their evidence will speak for itself.
Strampel is charged with two felonies and two misdemeanors.
Original post, 9:45 a.m.:
The initial jury pool started with about 180 people. That number is down to about 85.
Strampel’s attorney, John Dakmak, says the publicity surrounding this case prompted a larger than usual pool of jurors.
“This is a case that’s gotten a lot of attention,” Dakmak says. “If somebody comes in with a bias – and that’s OK if you have a bias – the lawyers need to know about it; the judge needs to know about it so we can find 12 people that are right for the case.”
Strampel faces charges of second degree criminal sexual conduct and misconduct in office, both felonies. His trial begins at 8:30 a.m. Thursday in Ingham County Circuit Court.
