Dr. Larry Nassar sentenced to 175 years for assaulting gymnasts

LANSING, Mich. — After listening to the riveting pleas of more than 150 victims, a judge sentenced a Michigan doctor Wednesday to 175 years in prison for parlaying his reputation and personal charm into years of sexual abuse by molesting Olympic gymnasts and other young female athletes instead of solving their sports injuries.

Judge Rosemarie Aquilina sent Nassar to prison Wednesday, the seventh day of a remarkable hearing that has given the girls, young women and their parents a chance to confront him in court.

"Sir, I'm giving you 175 years, which is 2,100 months," Aquilina said. "I just signed your death warrant."

He faced a minimum prison term of 25 to 40 years.

Nassar spoke at his sentencing, telling his victims, "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."

Among those spoke on the last day were Rachael Denhollander, a Kentucky woman who contacted Michigan State University police in 2016 after reading reports about how USA Gymnastics, which trains Olympians, mishandled complaints of sexual misconduct. Nassar worked at Michigan State and also was the national gymnastics squad's doctor.

Nassar, 54, eventually pleaded guilty to assaulting seven people in the Lansing area, including Denhollander, but the sentencing hearing was open to anyone who said they were a victim. His 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.

"I was sexually abused by him hundreds of times without gloves or my consent," said survivor Jillian Swinehart.

The accusers -- many of whom were children -- said they trusted Nassar to care for them properly and were in denial about what was happening or were afraid to speak up. He sometimes used a sheet or his body to block the view of any parent in the room.

"I'd been told during my entire gymnastics career to not question authority," a former elite gymnast, Isabell Hutchins, said Tuesday.

Aquilina praised the victims who have appeared in her court since Jan. 16, calling them "sister survivors," while also assuring them that their perpetrator will pay. The women have included Olympians Aly Raisman, Jordyn Wieber and McKayla Maroney.

"Larry, you do realize that we, this group of women you so heartlessly abused over such a long period of time, are now a force and you are nothing," Raisman said.

"Your words are vital. They are as strong as your martial arts," Aquilina told Christina Barba, who has known Nassar for decades and practices karate. "They will take him down quicker and cleaner than any kick you've got."

Brooke Hylek, a gymnast who plans to compete in college, heaped scorn on Nassar.

"I cannot believe I ever trusted you and I will never forgive you," she said Tuesday. "I'm happy you will be spending the rest of your life in prison. Enjoy hell by the way."

Nassar has already been sentenced to 60 years in federal prison for child pornography crimes. He is scheduled to be sentenced next week on more assault convictions in Eaton County, Michigan.

Information from The Associated Press was used in this story.

Cox Media Group