(ATR) The landmark trial against disgraced former USA Gymnastics doctor Larry Nassar ends in another decades-long prison sentence.
A judge in Eaton Country, Michigan sentenced Nassar to 40 to 125 more years in prison for sexually assaulting and molesting hundreds of female gymnasts. The sentence handed out on Feb. 5 follows the 40-to-175-year prison term Nassar received in neighboring Ingham Country.
The last of more than 200 victim impact statements was read to the court on Friday, concluding weeks of harrowing testimonies from Nassar’s victims. The first person to publicly come forward with accusations against Nassar, Rachael Denhollander, was the last victim to read her statement on Friday.
"Tell [the girls] they are worth everything," she told Judge Janice Cunningham, according to ESPN. "Tell them they are seen. Tell them they are heard. Tell them they matter. May the rest of the world begin to live out that answer as well."
Nassar gave a small statement of regret before the court ruling on Monday.
"The words expressed by everyone that has spoken including the parents have impacted me to my innermost soul," Nassar said. "With that being said, I understand and acknowledge that it pales in comparison to the pain, trauma and emotions you all feel."
Nassar will also serve a 60-year federal prison sentence on child pornography charges. The verdicts have led to massive changes in the leadership of USA Gymnastics and Michigan State University where Nassar practiced for several years.
The trials also raised questions, especially from Nassar’s victims, as to why more was not done by USA Gymnastics and the U.S. Olympic Committee to stop or even investigate the abuse.
International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach said the IOC was "shocked and saddened" by the abuse scandal during the IOC Executive Board meeting preceding the IOC Session in 2018 Winter Olympics in PyeongChang.
Written by Kevin Nutley
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