LANSING — Former Michigan State University dean William Strampel will spend a year in the Ingham County Jail.

Ingham County Circuit Court Judge Joyce Draganchuk sentenced Strampel to 11 months for a felony misconduct in office charge and one year each for two misdemeanor willful neglect of duty charges Wednesday, nearly two months after a jury found him guilty of the three charges. He'll serve the sentences concurrently and has one day credit for time served on each count.

Draganchuk expressed disappointment that Strampel declined to speak during his sentencing

"You could at least express sorrow for the impact that it’s had on these people," she said while determining Strampel's sentence. "You don’t have to admit criminal conduct to do that."

Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel said in a statement that Strampel's sentence sent a clear message to public officials.

"If you brandish your power to demean, insult, harass, objectify, and abuse women, you will be held accountable," Nessel said. "While Mr. Strampel’s sentence will never give back the years of pain and suffering his victims had to endure, the persistence of these courageous survivors made certain that he could no longer hide behind the title he once held to escape the reach of justice.”

Jurors found Strampel guilty in June after more than five hours of deliberation, finding he used his power as dean of MSU's College of Osteopathic Medicine to proposition and control female medical students.

The jury also determined there was enough evidence to support prosecutors' argument that Strampel displayed "complete indifference" about whether convicted sex offender Larry Nassar was following protocols meant to decrease risk for the university following a complaint of sexual assault in 2014. Nassar, who worked in the university's sports medicine clinic, is serving an effective life sentence for sexually abusing more than 500 women and girls.

Strampel avoided a potential 15-year sentence when jurors found him not guilty of a second-degree criminal sexual conduct charge. That was related to him reportedly groping Dr. Jessica Neuroth during a scholarship event in 2014 when she was a medical student.

Judge went above guidelines

Strampel's felony conviction carried a maximum sentence of five years in prison, and his misdemeanor convictions carried a maximum sentence of one year each.

Guidelines based on a variety of factors presented by both sides had recommended he serve zero to six months in jail.

But Draganchuk said she thought that was inadequate considering his actions went "beyond inappropriate behavior" and he used his position to oppress women and squash their dreams.

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Several female medical students and College of Osteopathic Medicine graduates testified during Strampel's two-week trial that when they petitioned him as dean of the school, he made sexually inappropriate comments and propositioned them for sexual favors.

Draganchuk said in the case of at least some of the women, it appeared he "overtly" suggested they trade sexual acts for the chance to continue pursuing their dream career.

Two women provided victim impact statements Wednesday, one in person and the other through a letter read by Assistant Attorney General Danielle Hagaman-Clark.

Leah Jackson said Strampel made a "deliberate choice" to talk about someone her age having sex with someone his age and questioned how he thought it was alright to do so during a professional meeting.

"He was supposed to protect us, but he chose to betray us," Jackson said.

In her written statement, Dr. Priyanka Pandey said she suffered depression and anxiety after Strampel threatened to ruin her reputation and made other threats and sexual comments during meetings.

She wrote it's "frightening" to think about the women who didn't come forward because they still worry about others holding their dream career hostage.

Jackson and Pandey both asked Draganchuk to levy the maximum sentence.

"He has taken advantage of his revered position," Pandey wrote. "He has demonstrated over and over that he has no remorse."

Draganchuk referenced that lack of remorse when deciding on a sentence, saying "someone who can’t see anything wrong at all in what they did has a longer road to reformation or rehabilitation."

Defense requested probation

Draganchuk did not follow the Attorney General's request of a 1 to 5 year sentence, but she also rejected the request from Strampel's attorney John Dakmak to limit the sentence to probation.

Dakmak asked Draganchuk to consider Strampel's professional career, saying he "dedicated his entire life to public service."

He also asked her to consider Strampel's health.

Dakmak said the recommended guidelines didn't fit the crime or any public safety interest. He pointed out Strampel had a stroke shortly before resigning as dean in December 2017 and said it destroyed half his cerebellum and still causes problems with eyesight, vertigo and more.

Dakmak added Strampel has had other health issues and also already has lost his reputation, livelihood and career.

Draganchuk acknowledged Strampel's health issues and said she verified with the Ingham County Jail that adequate care can be provided.

Others still facing charges

Strampel is the first MSU official to be sentenced to jail stemming from the Nassar investigation. Former Michigan State president Lou Anna Simon and former university gymnastics coach Kathy Klages both face criminal charges in connection with the Attorney General's investigation.

Prosecutors charged Klages in August 2018 with lying to police about her knowledge of sexual assault complaints about Nassar prior to 2016.

Her attorneys unsuccessfully argued Wednesday that she should not have been ordered to stand trial by a district court judge.

Draganchuk denied that motion, so Klages’ case is still pending in Ingham County Circuit Court.

Simon was charged in November 2018 with lying to police. Because she was interviewed at State Police facilities in Dimondale, those charges are filed in Eaton County.

A preliminary hearing to determine whether Simon will stand trial began in February and spanned seven days. It wrapped up in July, and Eaton County District Court Judge Julie Reincke is expected to rule whether to bind the case over later this year.

MSU is paying the full costs of Simon and Klages' defenses. The university is paying for half of Strampel's defense, since only two of his charges related to the Nassar scandal.

Contact reporter Megan Banta at (517) 377-1261 or mbanta@lsj.com. Follow her on Twitter @MeganBanta_1.