In a sexual abuse scandal that has reverberated across the American sports scene, former Olympic team doctor Larry Nassar was sentenced Wednesday to 40 to 175 years in prison for molesting young gymnasts and other athletes.
County Court Judge Rosemarie Aquilina delivered the sentence in a Michigan courtroom after a weeklong hearing that saw more than 150 women — including Olympic stars — come forward to confront Nassar with impassioned statements.
“I’ve just signed your death warrant,” Aquilina told Nassar, noting that he will be imprisoned an additional 60 years for separate child pornography crimes.
The 54-year-old sat with his head bowed in the Lansing courtroom during much of the morning, standing at one point to give a brief statement.
“Your words these past several days,” he said, turning toward victims in the gallery, “have had a significant emotional effect on myself and have shaken me to my core.”
Before the sentencing hearing began, Nassar complained in a letter to Aquilina that she had turned the case into a “media circus” and that he wasn’t mentally capable of listening to a week of victim statements.
Michigan Assistant Attorney General Angela Povilaitis told the court Wednesday: “He supposedly practiced osteopathic manipulative medicine but, in truth, he was actually a master manipulator … he performed no healing, only hurt.”
Nassar pleaded guilty in November to criminal sexual misconduct. He had pleaded guilty to other counts in separate proceedings beyond the child pornography.
He was charged with molesting seven girls or young women but he is accused of sexual misconduct or abuse by well over 100.
His victims — including Olympians Simone Biles, Aly Raisman, Gabby Douglas and McKayla Maroney — have said he molested them under the guise of conducting medical treatments.
Athletes and their parents were told repeatedly that when he touched and penetrated them inappropriately, he was adhering to a proven method for healing sports injuries.
For years, Nassar served in an official capacity for USA Gymnastics, Michigan State University and a well-known private gymnastics club. Victims have criticized those organizations and the U.S. Olympic Committee for ignoring initial complaints about him.
Aquilina echoed this concern, saying: “There has to be a massive investigation as to why there was inaction, why there was silence.”
Nassar’s sentencing followed several key developments earlier this week as USA Gymnastics announced the suspension of a well-known Olympic coach and the resignation of three board members.
Coach John Geddert, who led the U.S. women’s team to a gold medal at the 2012 London Olympics, had long-standing ties to Nassar and owns a Michigan gym where some of the molestations occurred.
Geddert also worked directly with Jordyn Wieber, an Olympian who last week confronted Nassar in court.
Hours before his suspension, USA Gymnastics Chairman Paul Parilla, Vice Chairman Jay Binder and Treasurer Bitsy Kelley tendered their resignations.
“We believe this step will allow us to more effectively move forward in implementing change within our organization,” new President and Chief Executive Kerry Perry said. “As the board identifies its next chair and fills the vacant board positions, we remain focused on working every day to ensure that our culture, policies and actions reflect our commitment to those we serve.”
The governing body had previously severed its relationship with the famed Karolyi Ranch, run by the husband-and-wife coaching duo of Bela and Martha Karolyi. The Huntsville, Texas, facility, which had long served as a national training center, was another site where Nassar is accused of sexual abuse.
Observers in court on Wednesday broke into applause after the hearing ended. Among them was Rachael Denhollander, a former gymnast who alerted reporters at the Indianapolis Star to Nassar’s criminal activity in the summer of 2016.
“The number of sexual assault victims Larry had was plain to me,” she told reporters. “I am very grateful for Judge Aquilina.”
