Larry Nassar, Former USA Gymnastics Doctor, Pleads Guilty to Sexual Assault
On Wednesday, Larry Nassar, a former USA Gymnastics team doctor, pleaded guilty to seven counts of first-degree criminal sexual assault, six of which applied to girls 15 or younger. He’s also been accused of sexual abuse by more than 130 other women, including Olympic medalists Aly Raisman, Gabby Douglas, and McKayla Maroney.
Nassar admitted in court to wielding his position as a respected doctor as a way to abuse the girls—something Raisman was especially vocal about when she opened up about her own allegations against Nassar. “I want people to know that I really didn’t know what was happening to me,” Raisman said on the Today Show earlier in November. “He was a doctor and he told me that his treatment would help heal all of my injuries. He was such a master manipulator, and I think that’s what’s important for people to understand is that these monsters are so good at manipulating you so you’re so brainwashed to think—I thought he was so nice.”
During Nassar’s sentencing in January, the 125 women who reported their assaults to Michigan State Police will be allowed to read their victim statements. Other charges were dismissed or reduced as a part of a plea bargain, according to CNN.
Nassar now faces a minimum of 25 years in prison as part of that same plea bargain.
“For all those involved, I’m so horribly sorry that this was like a match that turned into a forest fire out of control,” Nassar said in a Michigan courtroom while entering his plea. “I have no animosity toward anyone. I just want healing … We need to move forward in a sense of growth and healing and I pray (for) that.”
Judge Rosemarie Aquilina responded to Nassar’s apology by saying, “I agree that now is a time of healing, but it may take them a lifetime of healing while you spend your lifetime behind bars thinking about what you did in taking away their childhood. You violated the oath that you took, which is to do no harm, and you harmed them selfishly … They are superheroes for all of America because this is an epidemic.”
Raisman tweeted in reaction to the hearing that she was “disgusted” the court referred to Nassar as a “doctor.”
“Court referring to Larry as DOCTOR Nassar. I AM DISGUSTED. I am very disappointed. He does NOT deserve that. Larry is digusting. Larry is a MONSTER not a doctor,” she wrote.
According to CNN, as of July, Nassar has been charged with a total of “22 counts of first-degree criminal sexual conduct and 11 counts of third-degree criminal sexual conduct at the state level.” On Monday, Nassar will appear in court once again for a hearing regarding federal-level charges of receiving and possessing child pornography.
Related Stories:
–Aly Raisman Opens Up About Alleged Sexual Abuse by Former Team Doctor
–Gabby Douglas Says She Too Was Abused By Doctor Larry Nassar
–Gold-Medal Gymnast McKayla Maroney Opens Up About Abuse by Former Team Doctor