Ex-Michigan State dean William Strampel's preliminary hearing: 5 things to know

Matt Mencarini | Lansing State Journal

EAST LANSING - Former MSU dean William Strampel is expected to be in court Tuesday for the start of a key hearing in his criminal case.

Strampel, 70, of DeWitt, faces four criminal charges and is the first to be charged through the Michigan Attorney General's Office investigation of sexual misconduct at Michigan State University. The investigation was announced in the wake of Larry Nassar's Ingham County sentencing earlier this year and more than a year after Nassar was first charged.

In December, Strampel stepped down from his position as dean of MSU's College of Osteopathic medicine, a role where he served as one of Nassar's bosses. The university has moved to fire Strampel, who has tenure status.

In May, the AG's Office asked the state to strip Strampel of his medical license.

Here are five things to know in advance of the hearing.

Who is William Strampel?: Facts about ex-MSU dean's career and the allegations he faces

1) The hearing's importance

The preliminary hearing in Strampel's criminal case is scheduled for Tuesday and Wednesday in 54B District Court in East Lansing.

The hearing will determine if there's enough evidence for Strampel to stand trial on the charges. The AG's Office must prove probable cause, the same burden of proof required for an arrest warrant, for District Court Judge Richard Ball to move the case to the trial court level, the Ingham County Circuit Court.

During a hearing last month, Ball denied a request by the AG's Office to have additional witnesses testify during the preliminary hearing. In denying the motion, Ball, who authorized the charges, said he doesn’t need the additional testimony to properly weigh the testimony of the four reported victims during an upcoming preliminary hearing.

2) Two charges are related to Larry Nassar

Strampel faces two misdemeanors charges of willful neglect of duty related to his actions during and after the 2014 Title IX investigation of Nassar. One of those charges is for not preventing Nassar from returning to clinical duties prior to the end of the Title IX investigation.

That investigation ended in July 2014, but the criminal investigation stemming from the same incident went on for another 16 months, during which MSU allowed Nassar to see patients, the State Journal reported in December.

The other charge relates to the protocols put in place for Nassar to return to clinical duties after the end of the investigation. Strampel and Nassar met to agree on the protocols, which did not include a mechanism to ensure compliance. Strampel later told police he didn't intend to follow up to ensure Nassar was following the protocols since the Title IX investigation cleared him.

At least 20 women and girls were abused by Nassar after the end of the Title IX investigation.

> Full coverage of Larry Nassar

3) Two charges are unrelated to Nassar

Strampel faces two charges unrelated to Nassar, including his most serious charge, misconduct in office, which is a five-year felony. The AG's Office brought that charge because, according to an affidavit it filed in support of charges, Strampel used his position as dean "harass, discriminate, demean, sexually proposition, and sexually assault female students" for more than a decade.

Strampel has also been charged with fourth-degree criminal sexual conduct for reportedly groping a female student. It's a high-court misdemeanor, which means it carries a maximum sentence of two years in prison.

Strampel, through his attorney, has denied any wrongdoing.

Related: Former MSU students say William Strampel had a history of lewd behavior

4) MSU familiar with his behavior

Since Strampel was charged in January, several MSU officials have admitted that the university was aware of complaints about Strampels behavior dating back to the early 2000s.

In May, Provost June Youatt said that surveys MSU collected for Strampel's 2015 performance review included "accounts of inappropriate remarks." She said the issue was taken seriously and she discussed it with him as part of his review. He was then reappointed to another term as dean.

That same month, former MSU President Lou Anna Simon told the Michigan State Police that she first learned about Strampel's behavior in 2003, when she was MSU's provost but that the provosts who followed her would have been the right people to take action against Strampel, the Detroit Free Press reported on Sunday. In 2003, Simon was in the process of becoming MSU's president.

Timeline: Michigan State and its handling of sexual assault cases

5) MSU still paying Strampel's six-figure salary

Citing medical reasons, Strampel stepped down from his position as dean in December. In February, MSU moved to fire him, but because of his tenure status, it's a process that could stretch into 2019.

In the meantime, he is expected to continue collecting the $217,903 annual salary, along with benefits, that he earns as a faculty member. He was making $412,000 a year as dean of the college prior to stepping down.

Independent review: MSU must work on communication to fix Title IX issues

Strampel has the option of resigning or retiring as the tenure revocation process plays out, the latter option ensuring he would receive post-retirement healthcare benefits.

If the process plays out, it could include a confidential report, a university hearing committee and possible appeals by Strampel. The last time MSU revoked a faculty member’s tenure was in September of 2016, the university has said.

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Contact Matt Mencarini at (517) 267-1347 or mmencarini@lsj.com. Follow him on Twitter @MattMencarini.