Larry Nassar Sentenced To 40 To 175 Years In Prison

<p>A Michigan sports doctor has been sentenced to 40 to 175 years in prison for sexually assaulting gymnasts and other young women and girls, capping a remarkable seven-day hearing that brought more than 150 victims or their families to court, including Olympians.</p>

Wednesday, January 24th 2018, 12:45 pm

By: News 9


A former Michigan sports doctor who parlayed his reputation and personal charm into years of sexual abuse of Olympic gymnasts and other young women was sentenced Wednesday following the riveting statements of more than 150 victims, including one of his first public accusers. Judge Rosemarie Aquilina sentenced Larry Nassar to 40 to 75 years in prison on Wednesday -- the seventh day of a remarkable hearing that has given the girls, young women and their parents a chance to confront Nassar in court. 

"I just signed your death warrant," Aquilina said, after saying earlier that Nassar will "be in darkness the rest of his life." 

"I find that you don't get it -- that you're a danger. You remain a danger," she said.

The last witness to speak at Nassar's sentencing hearing was Rachael Denhollander, a Kentucky lawyer and one of the first women to publicly identify herself as one of Nassar's young victims. Denhollander contacted Michigan State University police in 2016 after reading reports about how USA Gymnastics, which trains Olympians, mishandled complaints of sexual misconduct. Nassar worked at Michigan State and also was the national gymnastics squad's doctor. 

Denhollander said Nassar groped, fondled and penetrated her with his hands when she was a 15-year-old gymnast in Michigan. 

"Larry, I can call what you did evil and wicked because it was," Denhollander said Wednesday.

"You have become a man ruled by selfish and perverted desires," she said. 

Prosecutor Angela Povilaitis called Nassar "possibly the most prolific serial child sex abuser in history." She said Wednesday the "breadth and ripple" of Nassar's sexual abuse is "nearly infinite," and that he found competitive gymnastics to be a "perfect place" for his crimes because victims saw him as a "god" in the sport.

"To each survivor: thank you. Thank you for coming forward, for trusting us, for doing what is so hard and difficult," Povilaitis said.

"What is obvious is that a strong group of determined women can in fact change the world -- and will," she said.

"Police and prosecutors must take on hard cases, regardless of who the offender is," she said. 

Nassar, 54, also spoke Wednesday, making a brief statement. He said the words of those who have spoken over the last several days have shaken him to his core.

"I will carry your words with me for the rest of my days," he said.

He also said there are no words that describe "the depth and breadth of how sorry I am."

Nassar has pleaded guilty to assaulting seven people in the Lansing area, including Denhollander, but the sentencing hearing has been open to anyone who said they were a victim. His accusers said he would use his ungloved hands to penetrate them, often without explanation, while they were on a table seeking help for various injuries.   

The accusers, many of whom were children, said they trusted Nassar to care for them properly, were in denial about what was happening or were afraid to speak up. He sometimes used a sheet or his body to block the view of any parent in the room. 

"I'd been told during my entire gymnastics career to not question authority," a former elite gymnast, Isabell Hutchins, said Tuesday. 

The judge had been likely to be unsparing in her treatment of Nassar. Aquilina has praised the victims who have appeared in her court since Jan. 16, calling them "sister survivors," while also assuring them that their perpetrator will pay. The women have included Olympians Aly Raisman, Jordyn Wieber and McKayla Maroney. 

"Your words are vital. They are as strong as your martial arts," Aquilina told Christina Barba, who has known Nassar for decades and practices karate. "They will take him down quicker and cleaner than any kick you've got." 

Hutchins and Mattie Larson, a former national gymnast, talked about how Nassar won their allegiance with candy, Olympic trinkets and encouraging words while they were under constant scrutiny from their demanding coaches.

Brooke Hylek, a gymnast who plans to compete in college, heaped scorn on Nassar.

"I cannot believe I ever trusted you and I will never forgive you," she said Tuesday. "I'm happy you will be spending the rest of your life in prison. Enjoy hell by the way."

Larry Nassar, a former team USA Gymnastics doctor who pleaded guilty in November 2017 to sexual assault charges, stands during his sentencing hearing in Lansing, Michigan, U.S., January 24, 2018. / BRENDAN MCDERMID/REUTERS

Emily Morales had a softer message. 

"I want you to apologize to me right here," the 18-year-old told Nassar. "I want to forgive you, but I also want to hear you tell me that you regret all the hurting you caused."

He did. She replied with, "Thank you." 

Three women alleging abuse spoke with "60 Minutes" early last year, describing what they say was an emotionally abusive environment at the national team training camps at the Texas ranch run by coaches Bela and Martha Karolyi. They said the circumstances provided Nassar an opportunity to take advantage of them and made them afraid to speak up about physical or emotional pain.

"He would put his fingers inside of me and move my leg around," Jamie Dantzscher, one of the women, told Dr. Jon LaPook on "60 Minutes." "He would tell me I was going to feel a pop. And that that would put my hips back and help my back pain."

An osteopathic physician, Nassar was one of the most renowned doctors in the world of gymnastics. As a trainer or physician, he worked with Olympic and National Women's artistic gymnastic teams for more than two decades. He was usually on hand at the Karolyi ranch when the national team was training there, roughly once a month, and also present at national team competitions.   

Nassar has already been sentenced to 60 years in federal prison for child pornography crimes. He is scheduled to be sentenced next week on more assault convictions in Eaton County, Michigan.

© 2018 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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