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Larry Nassar, the former USA gymnastics coach who sexually abused young athletes under the guise of medical treatment, was sentenced to 40 — 175 years behind bars.
“I just signed your death warrant,” Judge Rosemarie Aquilina said.
Nassar pleaded guilty in November to 10 counts of first-degree criminal sexual abuse for molesting young athletes. He has already been sentenced to 60 years in federal prison on child pornography charges.
More than 140 women, including Olympic medalists McKayla Maroney, Simone Biles, Gabby Douglas, and Aly Raisman, have accused Nassar of abuse, and nearly 170 spoke during his seven-day sentencing hearing in the Ingham County courthouse in Michigan.
The women accused Nassar of inserting ungloved fingers into their vaginas and rectums while they believed they were being treated for sports injuries and pains.
"He abused my trust, he abused my body, and he left scars on my psyche that will never go away," Maroney said in a statement provided to the court during sentencing. "It all started when I was 13 or 14 years old. It didn't end until I left the sport."
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Six-time Olympic medalist Aly Raisman used her impact statement to slam USA Gymnastics, saying the organization is "rotting from the inside" for empowering and enabling Nassar's sexually abusive behavior.
"I will not rest until every last trace of your influence on this sport has been destroyed like the cancer it is,” Raisman said in court.
Several athletes criticized USA Gymnastics and Michigan State University, saying they reported Nassar but nothing was done to stop his abusive behavior.
According to a Detroit News investigation, at least 14 people at Michigan State University received reports about Nassar's behavior in the 20 years before his arrest. The National Collegiate Athletic Association on Wednesday sent a letter of inquiry into how Michigan State University handled reports of Nassar's abuse.
Additionally, authorities are investigating the Karolyi Ranch, the Texas training facility where several gymnasts, including Raisman, Maggie Nichols, and Simone Biles, said they were sexually abused.
USA Gymnastics announced last week that it will no longer use the facility for training purposes. The ranch has been the most important training facility for US gymnastics for the past 16 years.
LINK: Authorities Are Investigating Karolyi Ranch, Where Gymnasts Said They Were Sexually Abused
LINK: Aly Raisman Slammed USA Gymnastics And Said The Organization "Is Rotting From The Inside"
LINK: "You Are The Spawn Of Satan": Abuse Victims Address Former USA Gymnastics Doctor In Court
LINK: Simone Biles Said She Was Sexually Abused By Former USA Gymnastics Doctor Larry Nassar
from BuzzFeed - USNews http://ift.tt/2rEifSK
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