|
Prosecutors have asked for a sentence of 40 to
125 years for Nassar, who is already serving a 60-year sentence
in federal prison on child pornography convictions.
About 160 of Nassar's victims have spoken at his sentencing
hearing in Ingham County Circuit Court in Lansing, Michigan
since it began on Jan. 16.
Nassar pleaded guilty in November to 10 counts of first-degree
sex assault and previously apologized in court for his crimes.
He has sat through much of the proceedings with his head bowed,
not making eye contact with the victims.
Nassar, 54, served as the USA Gymnastics physician through four
Olympic Games. He also was the team physician for the Michigan
State University gymnastics and women's crew teams, as well as
an associate professor at MSU's College of Osteopathic Medicine.
Olympic gold medalists Simone Biles, Aly Raisman, Gabby Douglas
and McKayla Maroney have gone public in recent months, saying
they were assaulted by Nassar while undergoing treatment.
Victims and others have criticized USA Gymnastics for ignoring
their complaints and have accused the federation of suppressing
their accounts in a bid to avoid bad publicity.
On Monday, three top board members resigned in wake of the
scandal and continued criticism, following the exit last March
of the federation's president and chief executive.
During the past week, Nasser's victims have given impact
statements to Judge Rosemarie Aquilina that in turns were teary
or angry as they asked for the maximum sentence for Nassar. The
judge has addressed each victim and repeatedly said she will
make certain Nassar gets a lengthy prison sentence.
"He will die there," Aquilina told one victim last week. "The
next judge he faces will be God."
Many victims also have criticized USA Gymnastics, with Raisman
last week calling it "rotten from the inside." She also called
for an independent investigation of the federation and U.S.
Olympic officials, who she said had the power to stop Nassar.
(Reporting by Steve Friess in Lansing and Keith Coffman in
Denver; Editing by Cynthia Osterman)
[© 2018 Thomson Reuters. All rights
reserved.] Copyright 2018 Reuters. All rights reserved. This material may not be published,
broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
 |
|
