photo credit: Leonard Zhukovsky // Shutterstock
Larry Nassar, the USA Gymnasts doctor who was charged with sexual assault of 7 women has been sentenced to 40 to 175 years in prison. Even though Nassar plead guilty to only 7 women, more than 150 women stepped up to tell their stories. 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.
Former National Gymnast spoke during the hearing saying, Nassar won their allegiance with candy, Olympic trinkets and encouraging words while they were under constant scrutiny from demanding coaches.
According to CNN, in a letter he wrote 2 months after his plea deal, Nassar says “he wasn’t treated fairly and that he was a good doctor who was providing treatments.” The judge took this as an insult, telling him, “You did this for your pleasure and your control. This letter … tells me that you have not yet owned what had you did, that you still think that somehow you are right, that you are a doctor, that you’re entitled, that you don’t have to listen, and that you did treatment. I wouldn’t send my dogs to you, sir.”
Before the sentencing Nassar spoke to his victims saying, “Your words these past several days, your words, your words, have had a significant emotional effect on myself and have shaken me to my core. I also recognize that what I am feeling pales in comparison to the pain, trauma, and emotional destruction that all of you are feeling.”
Written by Clarke Jones