Ex-US Olympic Doctor Larry Nassar Sentenced To 40-175 Years In Prison For Sexual Abuse

Judge Rosemarie Aquilina sentenced former USA Olympic doctor Larry Nassar to 40-175 years in prison.

EX US OLYMPIC DOCTOR LARRY NASSAR SENTENCED TO UP TO 175 YEARS IN PRISON

Nassar was charged with sexual misconduct of over 150 women and girls during the time he was the lead doctor for the Olympic team. Separately, Nassar has been sentenced to 60 years for federal child pornography charges and has pleaded guilty to three charges of criminal sexual conduct.

During the course of the trial, the more than 150 women took to the stand and gave upsetting accounts of Nassar’s sexual abuse. In response, the doctor defended his practices and blamed the media for poisoning the minds of the women and girls who came forward. “I was a good doctor because my treatments worked, and those patients that are now speaking out are the same ones that praised and came back over and over,” Nassar wrote in the letter, which Judge Aquilina read aloud at the sentencing. “The media convinced them that everything I did was wrong and bad. They feel I broke their trust. Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned.”

Prior to that, Nassar at points broke down in tears as the young women were speaking at the stand. “There are no words that can describe the depth and breadth of how sorry I am for what has occurred,” he said in apology. “An acceptable apology to all of you is impossible to write and convey. I will carry your words with me for the rest of my days.”

The women explained that, because of the abuse, most struggled with anxiety and depression, and even self-harm. Others shared that they no longer trust doctors and are afraid of any physical touch. “Sexual abuse is so much more than a disturbing physical act,” Kyle Stephens, the first victim to speak, stated last week during trial. “It changes the trajectory of a victim’s life, and that is something that nobody has the right to do.”

Gold medalist Aly Raisman took the stand and shut down Nassar with powerful words as well. “We, this group of women you so heartlessly abused over such a long period of time, are now a force, and you are nothing,” she said. “The tables have turned, Larry. We are here. We have our voices, and we are not going anywhere.”

When Judge Aquilina handed down the sentencing on Wednesday afternoon, she made it clear why she chose up to 175 years in prison. “I’ve just signed your death warrant,” she said. “I find that you don’t get it, that you’re a danger. That you remain a danger.”