Former USA Gymnastics and Michigan State University doctor Larry Nassar is facing another sentencing hearing, this time in Eaton County, Michigan, after he pleaded guilty to three counts of first-degree criminal sexual conduct. Nassar is expected to be sentenced on Monday, after dozens of women delivered victim impact statements over the course of the hearing, which began last Wednesday. Watch the hearing live in the player above once court is in session.
On Friday, the second day of the hearing, the father of three of Nassar’s victims asked Judge Janice Cunningham if he could have time alone “in a locked room with this demon.” When the judge naturally refused, the father, Randall Margrave, bolted towards Nassar to attack him, but was immediately taken down by court officers. Margrave was later brought back before the judge for a contempt hearing, but was let off with a stern reprimand instead of any formal punishment.
Recently, Nassar was sentenced to between 40 and 175 years in prison after pleading guilty to seven other counts of first-degree criminal sexual conduct in Ingham County. Originally, approximately 80 victim impact statements were expected at the sentencing hearing in that case, but that number increased to nearly 160 as more and more women were emboldened to step forward. Those who provided statements included Olympic gymnasts Aly Raisman, Jamie Dantzscher, and Jordyn Wieber.
Nassar may speak on his own behalf prior to the sentencing announcement. At his hearing in Ingham County, after more than 150 victims provided statements, he offered words of apology saying, “I will carry your words with me for the rest of my days.” The judge in that case, Rosemarie Aquilina, wasn’t buying it, reading Nassar’s own words from a letter he wrote to the court. The judge told Nassar, you have not yet owned what you did,” before handing down the massive sentence.
