On Wednesday morning, former USA Gymnastics doctor Larry Nassar pleased guilty to seven counts of first-degree criminal sexual conduct in a county court in Michigan. there will reportedly be more guilty pleas to come as well.
The Detroit News reports Nassar is expected to enter a guilty plea to three more counts of first-degree criminal sexual conduct in another county court next week before going to trial in December. In all, Nassar will have pleaded guilty to 10 counts stemming from nine victims of sexual abuse. Nassar had reportedly violated up to 125 victims over the years between his time with USA gymnastics and as an employee at Michigan State.
125 girls/women have filed complaints with MSU police over Nassar
— David Eggert (@DavidEggert00) November 22, 2017
State prosecutor says all 125 victims have been notified of plea deal, and they are 'ecstatic and very relieved'
— David Eggert (@DavidEggert00) November 22, 2017
So how long will Nassar be sitting in a jail cell? As the terms of his plea deal outline, Nassar, 54, now faces a minimum sentence between 25 and 40 years, and he will agree to a lifetime of electronic monitoring after he is eventually released from jail. He will not be released from his jail cell until he is 79 years old at the earliest possible release date. The exact length of the sentence will be determined by the judge, and it could even end up being longer than 40 years.
Under plea deal, Nassar's minimum sentence will be between 25-40 years. Max could be higher. Up to judge.
— David Eggert (@DavidEggert00) November 22, 2017
Nassar was the very definition of a sexual predator, using his position of power to commit sexual acts on his unsuspecting victims. As the assistant attorney general previously said to a judge, these girls had no reason to question what was being done to them by Nassar.
“He convinced these girls that this was some type of legitimate treatment,” Assistant Attorney General Angela Poviliatis said, according to the Associated Press. “Why would they question him? Why would they question this gymnastics god?”
The long list of victims abused by Nassar includes gold medalists Gabby Douglas, Aly Raisman and McKayla Maroney, who have each come forward with their own stories to raise awareness of the harm Nassar was causing to so many more.
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