Last October, following an investigation, Michigan State University police announced a warrant had been issued for Michel Phinn for criminal sexual conduct that occurred while he was a resident doctor under the supervision of MSU’s College of Osteopathic Medicine. Phinn was arrested a little over a week after his sexual abuse came to light within the Department of Neurology.
Throughout the pendency of the case, Phinn was described by the judge and Prosecutors as a master manipulator who takes advantage of vulnerable people. The court saw him as a significant risk to the public when it denied bail.
Nearly a year after his arrest on September 18, 2019, Phinn was sentenced to five to 15 years after pleading guilty to second-degree criminal sexual conduct, assault with intent to commit sexual conduct, unauthorized access to a computer, and using a computer to commit a crime. At sentencing, Phinn maintained he was the victim in this situation. He blamed his behavior on the widespread availability of porn and asserted he was not a manipulator or a monster.
However, at the preliminary hearing, the real victims testified to Phinn’s egregious and manipulative conduct. Testimony showed that Phinn would seek them out in the Neurology Department and both victims detailed separate instances where Phinn invited them into a room only to have them walk in to him masturbating with his penis exposed. Phinn would sit next to them, many times on their desks, and scroll through photos of his penis while at the same time exposing and touching himself. One woman described being trapped at her desk with nowhere to move as Phinn reached inside her shirt and touched her breasts. The other women detailed an incident where Phinn assaulted her in the stairwell of the department by backing her into a corner and putting his hand insider her pants. All of this conduct occurred at MSU’s Department of Neurology.
Grewal Law represented a third of the plaintiffs in the MSU and Larry Nassar lawsuits, and the Grewal team was instrumental in obtaining the half a billion-dollar settlement from MSU. Currently, the award-winning lawyers at Grewal Law are fighting to hold USAG accountable for its role in allowing Larry Nassar’s sexual abuse to occur.
The lawyers at Grewal Law understand what it takes prevail against sexual predators and the institutions that allow their sexual misconduct to occur. Please contact the firm’s experienced attorneys for information regarding sexual assault support groups, and/or for a free consultation. The lawyers at Grewal Law are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to help you.
Sammie Eyde began working at Grewal Law, PLLC in April 2019. Although recently licensed in Michigan, Ms. Eyde’s experience in California as a Deputy Public Defender gave her tremendous experience in handling all phases of a criminal case from arraignment through trial and all the way to post-sentencing matters.
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