Nassar's ex-boss first MSU official to be convicted in scandal
LANSING, Mich. (FOX 2) - A jury has found an Ex-Michigan State University dean guilty of neglect in the Larry Nassar oversight, the first conviction for a university official tied to the scandal.
The former dean of the College of Osteopathic Medicine and 71-year-old, William Strampel, was also convicted of misconduct in office - but was however acquitted on a more serious criminal sexual conduct charge, which could have sent him to prison for 15 years.
He could still face up to five years in prison on the misconduct conviction.
Strampel was the first person charged after Michigan's attorney general launched an investigation in 2017 into how Michigan State handled complaints against Nassar, who pleaded guilty to molesting patients and possessing child pornography. Ex-university President Lou Anna Simon and former women's gymnastics coach Kathie Klages face charges of lying to an investigator.
Prosecutors alleged that Strampel willfully neglected a duty to enforce the limits put on Nassar in 2014 after a patient accused the doctor of sexual contact -- such as not treating patients near any sensitive areas on the body without a chaperone present. The defense said Strampel was among many officials who had a role, and said it is not a crime to use "locker room talk" no matter how offensive it may be.
During his trial, which began May 30, multiple former medical students testified about sexual comments he made during one-on-one meetings. They accused him of staring at their breasts. Women who worked as model patients during exams also testified about unprofessional and sexual comments.
Nassar was fired in 2016 after another victim went public and brought Title IX and police complaints. He was sentenced to effectively spend the rest of his life in prison in 2018 after hundreds of women and girls gave powerful statements against him in two courtrooms.
His defense also said the school's investigation cleared Nassar, and there is no evidence that Strampel purposely ignored any duty related to Nassar. He said many other people and entities at Michigan State also had a role - including the Office of Institutional Equity, the general counsel's office, the provost's office, the Health Team, the radiology chairman and people who ran sports medicine.
Nassar was fired in 2016 after another victim went public and brought Title IX and police complaints. He was sentenced to effectively spend the rest of his life in prison in 2018 after hundreds of women and girls gave powerful statements against him in two courtrooms.
Nassar also worked at Indianapolis-based USA Gymnastics, which trains Olympians.
Fox 2 reported on this story from Southfield, Mich.