Attorneys for convicted serial sexual predator Larry Nassar were back in court Thursday. Nassar is the former Michigan State University and USA Gymnastics sports doctor who sexually assaulted his patients under the guise of treatment for decades.
Nassar pleaded guilty to multiple charges in Eaton County and Ingham County. In both cases, he was sentenced to at least 40 years in prison. An Ingham County judge had previously denied his request for a new sentence.
And now, Eaton County Judge Janice Cunningham also says the case in her court was properly decided.
Nassar’s attorneys had tried to argue that Cunningham should not have allowed victims to talk about outside entities like Michigan State and USA Gymnastics during their impact statements.
“One speaker talked about the administration of the school, referencing MSU,” said Nassar attorney Malaika Ramsey-Heath. “And concluded by saying, ‘Larry, have fun in prison, it’s your turn to be abused.’”
Dozens of people spoke against Nassar at his Eaton County sentencing.
Cunningham said there wasn’t anything wrong with the victims bringing up outside entities and, “The victims were properly granted the right to speak about their experiences as a whole.”
Cunningham denied Nassar’s appeal saying, “This court did not engage in considering any impermissible factors when individually tailoring the defendant’s sentence within the confines of the plea agreement.”
Nassar’s attorneys said after the hearing that they’re headed for the Michigan Court of Appeals next. Because Nassar pleaded guilty, the court doesn’t have to consider his appeal.
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—Cheyna Roth is a reporter for the Michigan Public Radio network. Contact WEMU News at734.487.3363 or email us at studio@wemu.org
