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Former Team USA Gymnastics Doctor Larry Nassar Has Been Charged With Sexual Assault in Texas

Former U.S. gymnastics team doctor Larry Nassar was charged with six counts of second-degree sexual assault of a child on Friday, following an investigation conducted into an elite sports center owned by coaches Bela and Martha Karolyi. Nassar is already serving decades in prison after being found guilty of criminal sexual conduct and possession of child pornography in Michigan, where more than 100 victims recounted stories of abuse during court hearings.

The most recent charges came after five former gymnasts urged an investigation into the Karolyi ranch, which is located in a secluded area of the Sam Houston National Forest, north of Houston. Numerous Olympians have trained at the facility.

On Friday, prosecutors found no evidence of wrongdoing by the Karolyis, but did charge trainer Debra Van Horn with one count of sexual assault as an “acting as a party” with Nassar. Although a statutes of limitations prevented prosecutors from charging USA Gymnastics officials for neglecting to report abuse to authorities, Walker County assistant district attorney Stephanie Stroud shared a strong statement about the organization’s “total failure” to protect athletes.

“We are bound by the law, but that in no way means there was no wrongdoing at the ranch or within the ranks of USAG,” Stroud said. “It is our belief that there was a total failure by USAG to protect the athletes that were part of their program, and to take appropriate action once they were made aware of Dr. Nassar’s actions.”

It’s unclear if Nassar will face trial in Texas. Last month, Michigan State University agreed to pay $500 million to women Nassar abused while working at the university.

‘My Voice Matters’: 147 Survivors of Larry Nassar, In Their Own Words

Judge Sentences Larry Nassar to Another 40 to 125 Years in Prison

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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.

https://twitter.com/Aly_Raisman/status/933349176125067264

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.

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