LANSING (WKZO AM/FM) — Larry Nassar finally said the words that over 150 young female athletes wanted to hear, that he was not treating them medically, but abusing them sexually when he violated them, sometimes in front of their parents, in the guise of giving medical exams.
He pled guilty to seven counts of criminal sexual conduct.
Six of the counts involved girls under 15. Speaking to the Judge, Nassar apologized, calling it “a match that turned into a forest fire out of control”.
He said he hoped his plea would lead to healing.
Ingham County Judge Rosemarie Aquilina said “I agree that now is a time of healing, but it may take them a lifetime of healing while you spend your lifetime behind bars thinking about what you did in taking away their childhood.”
Judge Aquilina has set sentencing for January 12th, and invited any of the 125 victims who filed complaints with the Michigan State Police to give Victim Impact Statements.
Nassar is due in court next Wednesday to do this all over again for charges in Eaton County.
At a news conference following the hearing, former Kalamazoo Athlete Rachael DenHollander and several others also condemned officials at Michigan State University for allowing this to go on so long when complaints began rolling in years before he was finally charged.
They called for an independent investigation of the University. DenHollander was the first to press the case against Nassar, and known as “victim C” in the charges he faced.
MSU issued a statement praising the bravery of the young women who came forward but denying they were involved in any cover-up of Nassar’s behavior.
