Disgraced doctor jailed for 175 yrs

Lansing ( Michigan, USA), Jan. 25: Disgraced former USA gymnastics doctor Larry Nassar was sentenced to 40 to 175 years in prison for sexually abusing scores of young girls under the guise of medical treatment.

“I’ve just signed your death warrant,” Judge Rosemarie Aquilina said as she handed down the sentence after a week of gut- wrenching testimony by over 150 of Nassar’s victims.

“You do not deserve to walk outside of a prison ever again. Anywhere you walk destruction will occur to those most vulnerable,” the Judge told the 54year- old Nassar in a tense courtroom.

Minutes ahead of the sentencing, Nassar apologised in court to his victims, who included Olympic goldmedal winners Simone Biles, Aly Raisman, Gabby Douglas and McKayla Maroney but also scores of female athletes at Michigan State University, where he worked.

“What I am feeling pales in comparison to the pain, trauma, and emotional destruction that all of you are feeling,” Nassar said, turning at several points to face his victims in court.

“There are no words to describe the depth and breadth of how sorry I am,” he said.

More than 150 women and girls accused Nassar of a pattern of serial abuse dating back two decades.

I’ve just signed your death warrant. You do not deserve to walk outside of a prison ever again. Anywhere you walk destruction will occur to those most vulnerable. — ROSEMARIE AQUILINA Judge, as she handed down the sentence to 54- year- old USA gymnastics doctor Larry Nassar for sexually abusing scores of young girls.

The final woman to deliver a statement in court was Rachael Denhollander, the first to publicly accuse Nassar of abuse and file a police report against him.

Calling for the maximum sentence, she asked the judge: “How much is a little girl worth? How much is a young woman worth.”

Denhollander said the “brazen sexual assault” upon her occurred when she was 15 years old and was carried out “with my own mother in the room,” unaware of what was going on.

“Larry found sexual satisfaction in our suffering,” Denhollander said.

“I pray you experience the soul- crushing weight of guilt,” she told the slight, bespectacled Nassar, who was dressed in a blue jumpsuit with the words “Ingham County Jail” on the back.