MSU instructor on paid leave during criminal case

East Lansing, Mich. — An instructor and resident in the Michigan State University College of Veterinary Medicine is on paid leave following charges of criminal sexual conduct.

Takashi Higuchi, a 35-year-old Japanese citizen who is in his second contract year as a resident at MSU, earned his BVSc at Nihon University in Japan, followed by an oncology internship at Purdue University. He has been an oncology fellow at MSU since 2007 with a special interest in immunotherapy, according to the university. His residency appointment is set to expire July 31, 2010, but he will remain on paid leave until he either returns to work, his contract expires, or there is a change in his legal status, says MSU spokesperson Jason Cody.

Higuchi was arrested in October after allegedly becoming involved with an underage girl he met on an Internet dating site. He has been charged with three counts of criminal sexual conduct and is waiting for his pretrial hearing to be scheduled before a grand jury, according to the Ingham County Prosecutor's office.