'I've signed your death warrant,' judge tells abusive ex-USA Gymnastics doctor

[webfact]

'I've signed your death warrant,' judge tells abusive ex-USA Gymnastics doctor

By Steve Friess

 

Larry Nassar, a former team USA Gymnastics doctor who pleaded guilty in November 2017 to sexual assault charges, stands with his legal team during his sentencing hearing in Lansing, Michigan, U.S., January 24, 2018. REUTERS/Brendan McDermid

 

LANSING, Mich. (Reuters) - As his victims wept in a Michigan courtroom on Wednesday, disgraced long-time USA Gymnastics team doctor Larry Nassar was sentenced to up to 175 years in prison for abusing young female gymnasts who were entrusted to his care.

 

"I've signed your death warrant," Ingham County Circuit Court Judge Rosemarie Aquilina told Nassar, following days of harrowing accounts from about 160 of his victims.

 

Spectators and victims cried, applauded and embraced as Nassar, 54, wearing a dark blue jailhouse jumpsuit, was led out of the courtroom. Rachael Denhollander, the first woman to publicly accuse him in 2016, shared a hug with Angela Povilaitis, the lead prosecutor.

 

Nassar, who served as the programme's physician through four Olympic Games, had apologised to his victims during the hearing, telling them, "I will carry your words with me for the rest of my days."

 

But Aquilina dismissed his statement as insincere and courtroom spectators gasped as the judge read aloud from a letter he wrote to her claiming he was a good doctor who was manipulated into pleading guilty.

 

Nassar, who already is serving a 60-year sentence in federal prison for child pornography convictions, also said his accusers fabricated claims to gain money and fame and wrote, "Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned."

 

"Would you like to withdraw your plea?" Aquilina asked Nassar after tossing aside his letter with evident disgust.

 

"No, your honour," Nassar said.

 

"Because you are guilty, aren't you? Are you guilty, sir?" the judge demanded.

 

After a long pause, Nassar said quietly, "I have said my plea, exactly."

 

CHANGING VIEW

 

Both the prosecution and Aquilina emphasized the broader significance of the sentencing, coming amid a national debate over sexual misconduct and abuse prompted by scandals involving powerful men from Hollywood to Washington.

 

Povilaitis said the conclusion of Nassar's case takes the victims' shame and puts it "where it belongs, right on him."

 

"At this particular moment in history, this sentence and hearing will be viewed as a turning point in how our community, our state, our nation, our culture looks at sexual abuse," she said.

 

Aquilina rattled off a series of disturbing statistics about the prevalence of sexual abuse before saying, "It stops now."

 

The sentencing followed an extraordinary weeklong hearing that saw a parade of Nassar victims tell their stories in raw and unflinching terms, describing how he used medical treatments as a cover to justify penetrating their bodies with his fingers.

 

Although Nassar only admitted to seven instances of abuse in the case, Aquilina allowed other victims to speak at his sentencing. Throughout much of the proceedings, the bespectacled Nassar sat with his head bowed, rarely making eye contact with his victims.

 

His accusers ranged from famous Olympic gold medallists like Aly Raisman to women like Denhollander, who was the last of the victims to speak on Wednesday and whom Aquilina described as "the bravest person I have ever had in my courtroom."

 

The accusers had testified Nassar won their trust with kind words and by giving them snacks forbidden by their coaches. Testimony came McKayla Maroney, a gold medallist at the 2012 London Olympics, who called Nassar a "monster human being" and a former member of the U.S. national team who said his abuse led to depression and an eating disorder.

 

Another gymnast said she was only 6 years old when Nassar began molesting. She blamed Nassar for her father's suicide once the man realized his daughter had not been lying about the abuse she endured.

 

"I've been forever changed by all of this and I will never feel small again," said Bailey Lorencen, who was an anonymous accuser until she spoke in court this week. "I have a different confidence in myself as a woman."

 

INSTITUTIONS QUESTIONED

 

In addition to his work with Olympic teams, Nassar 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.

 

The National Collegiate Athletic Association said on Tuesday it had opened an investigation into Michigan State's handling of the case. In her statement on Wednesday, Denhollander criticized the school for failing to adequately investigate complaints against Nassar dating back years.

 

In addition to Raisman, Olympic gold medallists Simone Biles, 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, the sport's governing body in the United States, 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 the wake of the scandal, following the exit last March of the federation's president and chief executive.

 

In a statement on Wednesday, Kerry Perry, who became USA Gymnastics president in December, applauded the sentence and vowed to "create a culture that empowers and supports" the programme's athletes.

 

Several companies have announced they would not continue to sponsor the federation, including AT&T Inc <T.N> on Tuesday.

 

Nassar pleaded guilty in November to seven counts of first-degree sex assault in Ingham County, as well as three additional charges in Eaton County, where he will be sentenced next week.

 

(Reporting by Steve Friess in Lansing; Additional reporting by Keith Coffman in Denver and Jonathan Allen in New York; Writing by Joseph Ax in New York; Editing by Cynthia Osterman and Bill Trott)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2018-01-25

[Get Real]

6 minutes ago, webfact said:

175 years in prison

Hell Yeah! That will give him time to repent.

[nev]

Why has the judge signed his death warrant? Is the judge presuming he will be murdered in jail.

[steven100]

3 minutes ago, nev said:

Why has the judge signed his death warrant? Is the judge presuming he will be murdered in jail.

who cares  !    he isn't a very nice chap. 

[PattayaAngel]

1 hour ago, nev said:

Why has the judge signed his death warrant? Is the judge presuming he will be murdered in jail.

 

Huh?  he won't leave alive is what the Judge meant (thought that was obvious).

[stevenl]

3 minutes ago, PattayaAngel said:

 

Huh?  he won't leave alive is what the Judge meant (thought that was obvious).

Yes, seems obvious.

 

And while I agree with the conviction, a judge should abstain from comments like that imo.

[arithai12]

And now, will the judge go with the same fury after those in the US gymnastics olympic circles who hid it all for years? One of them was a lady if I remember.

[spidermike007]

This man is sure to make some very good friends in prison. Hopefully, he will be in with the general prison population. Those guys take a real shine to pedophiles. They treat them especially well. He will be made to feel very welcome. And we can all rejoice in that outcome. A monster has been taken off the streets.

 

Though three executives resigned over this, they should have also been tried and convicted. It is impossible to think they did not know what was going on. It was so heinous, and went on for so long. And there were so many girls that were subject to his horrors. 

[dfdgfdfdgs]

2 hours ago, PattayaAngel said:

Huh?  he won't leave alive is what the Judge meant (thought that was obvious).

So that's not a death warrant is it.  Judge seems a bit dim.

[isaanbanhou]

3 minutes ago, dfdgfdfdgs said:

So that's not a death warrant is it.  Judge seems a bit dim.

Can t say I argue with the sentence though. The POS whined about having to hear so many victim impact statements.  

 

There will be a competition amongst inmates to hurt him badly, I am sure

[dfdgfdfdgs]

This sentencing hearing was a publicity stunt, with that judge reveling in the lead role.  She shouldn't be anywhere near a courtroom, at least not when TV cameras are present.  The grandstanding and some of the personal attacks (looked like pre-prepared soundbites) on the accused were entirely unnecessary to the eventual judgement and nothing short of melodrama.

 

By the end it really wouldn't have surprised me if she'd put a dog collar on him and led him around the courtroom naked.

 

A person's life (no matter how guilty the person is) should not be used as a tool to scare society.  That's not impartial.  Sentencing guidelines (you have those in the US right?) should be strictly followed without deviation.  If you want to deter society from doing wrong things, pay for some primetime ad-space or something.

Edited January 25, 2018 by dfdgfdfdgs

[dfdgfdfdgs]

On the Guardian website, his victims are being referred to as 'survivors.'  The <deleted>?

 

"A total of 156 survivors gave victim impact statements in court"

"The sentence hearing for the former USA Gymnastics team doctor Larry Nassar has heard one survivor’s mother is still being billed for sessions at which she was sexually abused"

 

Were they in the midst of a deadly tsunami when they were being abused?  Or is everybody who is still alive technically a 'survivor of life' up until this point?

 

He put his fingers inside them, right?  Yes, distressing, terrible etc, whatever.  But they're not a survivor.  By this sort of logic I should be calling myself a survivor after being mercilessly groped by men in drag when I walk down soi 4.

[digger70]

4 hours ago, nev said:

Why has the judge signed his death warrant? Is the judge presuming he will be murdered in jail.

It's a well known fact that rock spiders don't do Well in prison,,,they seem to Look After Rock spiders Veeeeery well in there.It's a one way Ticket for this Maggot.

[Jingthing]

Yeah, he deserved a life sentence plus plus as he got. 
The judge was showboating. She didn't act professionally. It's like she was auditioning for a Judge Judy reality t.v. show.

 

As far as being murdered in prison, sure he's at very high risk, but the authorities know that and he will likely be protected in some way. It's bad PR for the state for a famous prisoner to be murdered. Non-famous people don't even make the news. 

Edited January 25, 2018 by Jingthing

[Calach]

The attitude of the judge and this organised lengthy public humiliation aimed at indulging the masses appetite for vengeance give quite a poor image of Justice and are unworthy of a modern democracy. 

 

And to the usual death penalty and Old Testament kind of justice advocates : it's not as much about whether he deserves that treatment or not as it is about the image it gives of the public and the justice system that are rejoicing and wallowing in a sadistic conception of punishment. 

 

Not much has evolved since angry villagers mobs, public stoning and execution pyres, apart from the modalities. 

 

 

 

Edited January 25, 2018 by Calach

[kamahele]

9 hours ago, nev said:

Why has the judge signed his death warrant? Is the judge presuming he will be murdered in jail.

Because she gave him 175 years in jail and he won't live to see freedom again.

[dfdgfdfdgs]

3 minutes ago, kamahele said:

Because she gave him 175 years in jail and he won't live to see freedom again.

That's not what a death warrant is.  A death warrant is a permission to kill somebody.  Incarcerating somebody is not killing them, you are still alive whilst you are in prison.

 

She could have let him walk free, and still say "I'm signing your death warrant" because he will die 30 years from now a free man.  It doesn't make any sense.

[Dap]

8 hours ago, arithai12 said:

And now, will the judge go with the same fury after those in the US gymnastics olympic circles who hid it all for years? One of them was a lady if I remember.

When and IF it gets to him on the Courts Docket, his current actions show he most likely will "go with the same fury". He is not a prosecuting attorney, he is the judge. What kind of a question was that?

[punchjudy]

judge should be removed and a mistrial called.

[Jingthing]

judge should be removed and a mistrial called.

Are judges elected positions in her area? If so that might explain her over the top dramatics.

Sent from my [device_name] using http://Thailand Forum - Thaivisa mobile app

[dfdgfdfdgs]

1 hour ago, punchjudy said:

judge should be removed and a mistrial called.

Agree but this wasn't a trial it was a sentencing hearing, right?

[Puwa]

2 hours ago, dfdgfdfdgs said:

That's not what a death warrant is.  A death warrant is a permission to kill somebody.  Incarcerating somebody is not killing them, you are still alive whilst you are in prison.

 

She could have let him walk free, and still say "I'm signing your death warrant" because he will die 30 years from now a free man.  It doesn't make any sense.

She was speaking metaphorically.

[dfdgfdfdgs]

It's not a metaphor I understand.

[MyFriend You]

11 hours ago, stevenl said:

Yes, seems obvious.

 

And while I agree with the conviction, a judge should abstain from comments like that imo.

I thought it was quite appropriate, like the Cop that was shot three times by a teenager (14yo) - when his sentence was read, 90 years in prison, the cop dropped a tube of KY Jelly on the desk, said "You're gonna need this in where you're going, cute kids like you are in high demand"

Edited January 25, 2018 by TunnelRat69

[Jingthing]

I thought it was quite appropriate, like the Cop that was shot three times by a teenager (14yo) - when his sentence was read, 90 years in prison, the cop dropped a tube of KY Jelly on the desk, said "You're gonna need this in where you're going, cute kids like you are in high demand"

A cop condoning rape. Isn't that special?

Sent from my [device_name] using http://Thailand Forum - Thaivisa mobile app

[Jingthing]

She was speaking metaphorically.

She was speaking for the camera.

Sent from my [device_name] using http://Thailand Forum - Thaivisa mobile app

[Puwa]

48 minutes ago, Jingthing said:

She was speaking for the camera.

Sent from my [device_name] using http://Thailand Forum - Thaivisa mobile app
 

The difference in our comments is that I state a fact and you state an opinion. The world has room for both in concert, but once facts and opinions start arguing, I'd rather be on the fact side of things.

[Puwa]

59 minutes ago, dfdgfdfdgs said:

It's not a metaphor I understand.

I'm sorry to hear so, because it is an uncomplicated metaphor that doesn't seem to have tripped up other readers.

 

How are you with "shadow of a doubt"?  

[dfdgfdfdgs]

7 hours ago, Puwa said:

I'm sorry to hear so, because it is an uncomplicated metaphor that doesn't seem to have tripped up other readers.

 

There are at least 3 other people on this thread who have asked how her death warrant comments make any sense.  With good reason, because they don't.  The death warrant is not conceivably metaphorical because (barring suicide or murder) he is not going to die as a result of the prison sentence.  He will still be very much alive whilst serving his sentence.  She's just dim.

[PattayaAngel]

6 hours ago, dfdgfdfdgs said:

There are at least 3 other people on this thread who have asked how her death warrant comments make any sense.  With good reason, because they don't.  The death warrant is not conceivably metaphorical because (barring suicide or murder) he is not going to die as a result of the prison sentence.  He will still be very much alive whilst serving his sentence.  She's just dim.

 

You think there's a chance modern science will keep him alive for 175 years?