An Army doctor pleaded guilty in a military court on Tuesday to sexually assaulting dozens of his patients, bringing one of the military’s largest sex abuse cases closer to resolution.

The doctor, Maj. Michael Stockin, who is currently serving at Joint Base Lewis-McChord in Washington State, was accused of touching or viewing the genitals of 41 of his male patients under the guise of medical treatment between 2019 and 2022, according to court documents.

At a hearing on Tuesday, he admitted to 36 counts of abusive sexual contact and five of indecent viewing, according to Michelle McCaskill, a spokeswoman for the U.S. Army Office of Special Trial Counsel.

The plea agreement is subject to acceptance by a military judge, who will determine whether there is enough evidence to support the plea during hearings this week. If the plea is accepted, Major Stockin faces up to 13½ years in prison, according to Ryan Guilds, a lawyer representing some of the victims.

Mr. Guilds said the plea was “an important step in the pursuit of justice.” He said the victims had chosen to come forward “despite the guilt and shame that often accompany being a victim of sexual assault, especially for male soldiers in our Army.”

Sexual assault by men against men is a widespread problem in the U.S. military, with many cases going unreported as a result of stigma and fear of retaliation, according to a government report on sexual assaults of male service personnel.