Crime

Former US Olympics Doctor Jailed 175yrs For Sexually Abusing More Than 150 Female Athletes (pics)

LANSING, MI – JANUARY 16: Larry Nassar listens to victim impact statements prior to being sentenced after being accused of molesting about 100 girls while he was a physician for USA Gymnastics and Michigan State University, where he had his sports-medicine practice on January 16, 2018 in Lansing, Michigan. Nassar has pleaded guilty in Ingham County, Michigan, to sexually assaulting seven girls, but the judge is allowing all his accusers to speak. Nassar is currently serving a 60-year sentence in federal prison for possession of child pornography. (Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images)

Former US Olympic gymnastics team doctor Larry Nassar has been sentenced to 40 to 175 years following testimony from over 150 women who accuse him of abuse.
“I will carry your words with me for the rest of my days,” Nassar turned and told his victims in the courtroom.
Nassar, 54, pleaded guilty to 10 counts of sexual assault against girls and young women, including Olympians.

Some of his victims in the court room

Judge Rosemarie Aqualina told Nassar during the sentencing he will “be in darkness the rest of his life”.
“As much as it was my honour and privilege to hear the sister survivors, it was my honour and privilege to sentence you. Because, sir, you do not deserve to walk outside of a prison ever again,” she said.

She added that she would not send her dogs to the former sports doctor, adding: “I’ve just signed your death warrant”.
Following seven days of emotional testimony from Nassar’s alleged victims, he was given an opportunity to address his accusers in court.
“What I am feeling pales in comparison to the pain, trauma, and emotional destruction that all of you are feeling,” he told the packed courtroom.
“There are no words to describe the depth and breadth of how sorry I am for what has occurred,” he added.

Sitting in court throughout seven day hearing, the stories have been strikingly similar – the former USA gymnastics team doctor would call the women in for treatment, but instead of taking away their pain, he stole their innocence. Some were so young they didn’t realise until years later that they had been sexually abused.
As Larry Nassar sat in his prison overalls, just metres away from them survivor after survivor looked him in the eye and reminded him of what he’d done to them. And that’s been the most extraordinary thing about this hearing. While the content of their testimony has been harrowing, it’s also been inspiring. For survivors of sexual abuse it’s hard to relive the experience, let alone do so in front of your attacker.

His sentencing follows a series of harrowing testimony from scores of women, including Olympic gold medalist, Aly Raisman and Jordyn Weiber. Their teammates, McKayla Maroney, GabbyDouglas and Simone Biles also revealed they had been abused by Nasar.

How his ordeal began

An investigation in 2014 resulted in a three month suspension from Michigan State University (MSU), where he coached. But he continued to see patients until he was publicly accused of abuse in a 2016 report by the Indianapolis Star news paper. Last year, he was arrested and charged by Michigan officials with sexual contact with a kid.

A year later he was sentenced for child abuse images found on his computer.

See the video of the sentencing

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