Larry Nassar Sentencing: ‘I Just Signed Your Death Warrant’ (Published 2018)
- ️Wed Jan 24 2018
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Nassar Likely to Die in Prison After 150 Speak
Lawrence G. Nassar, the former team doctor for the American gymnastics team, was sentenced to 40 to 175 years for sexual abuse. More than 150 victims, many of whom are former gymnasts, spoke at the sentencing hearing.
It is my privilege to sentence you to 40 years. And when I look at my cheat sheet, 40 years, just so you know and you can count it off you calendar, is 480 months. The tail end, because I need to send a message to the parole board, in the event somehow God is gracious, and I know he is. And you survive the 60 years in federal court first and then you start on my 40 years. You’ve gone off the page here, as to what I’m doing. My page only goes 100 years. Sir, I’m giving you 175 years, which is 2,100 months. I’ve just signed your death warrant.
- Jan. 24, 2018
LANSING, Mich. — The former doctor for the American gymnastics team, Dr. Lawrence G. Nassar, was sentenced to 40 to 175 years in prison on Wednesday for multiple sex crimes, capping an extraordinary seven-day hearing that drew more than 150 young women to publicly confront him and speak of their abuse.
Judge Rosemarie Aquilina, who had opened her courtroom to the young women, including several prominent Olympic athletes, bluntly made clear that Dr. Nassar, 54, was likely to die in prison.
“I just signed your death warrant,” she said as she imposed the sentence.
Given an opportunity to address the court before sentencing, Dr. Nassar apologized to the young women and, occasionally turning to them in the courtroom, said: “Your words these past several days have had a significant effect on myself and have shaken me to my core. I will carry your words with me for the rest of my days.” Several women groaned when he faced them and sobbed as he spoke.
Just before sentencing Dr. Nassar, the judge read parts of a letter he submitted to the court last week that contrasted with his stated contrition. In the letter, he complained about his treatment in a separate federal child pornography case and wrote that his accusers in this case were seeking news media attention and money. “Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned,” he wrote in the letter, eliciting audible gasps from the spectators when the judge read the line.
Judge Aquilina, who had emerged as a fierce advocate for the women, finished reading the excerpts and directed her ire at him.