Former MSU, USA Gymnastics Doctor Faces 22 New Sex Assault Charges
LANSING (WWJ/AP) - Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette says a sports doctor accused of sexually assaulting nine young gymnasts is a "disgusting, despicable monster."
Schuette spoke to reporters Wednesday after filing 22 new charges in Ingham and Eaton counties.against Dr. Larry Nassar, a former doctor at Michigan State University and at USA Gymnastics.
Schuette said the victims were girls or teens who were molested at Nassar's home, his Michigan State clinic or a gymnastics club in Eaton County.
"These 22 charges, allegations which we are certain will be upheld in a court of law, involve nine young girls who were violated, sexually assaulted, sexually abused by Dr. Nassar," Schuette said.
[View a copy of the criminal complaint. **Note: Contains explicit content]
Nassar now faces a total of 25 counts of criminal sexual conduct with potentially more to come, according to Schuette. The AG replied "absolutely" when asked if more charges are coming.
Campus Police Chief James Dunlap says his department has received more than 80 complaints about Nassar, who had a clinic at MSU where he treated members of the gymnastics team and younger regional gymnasts. He also was a doctor for USA Gymnastics, which trains Olympians.
Nassar denies any wrongdoing, and his lawyer declined to comment Wednesday.
Attorneys representing women and girls say Nassar assaulted them during treatments for back and hip pain. Many of the women have the same allegations: During the course of Nassar's treatments, the doctor allegedly inserted "his bare, ungloved and unlubricated hand" into the victim's vagina, according to a complaint. When one woman reported Nassar's disturbing "treatments" to the MSU training staff, she was allegedly told that Nassar was a world-renowned doctor and that his "inter‐vaginal adjustments" were legitimate medical treatments.
The girls ranged in age from 9 to 29 at the time. Most were minors "cloaked with innocence and trust of their youth," attorney Stephen Drew told reporters. The alleged abuse took place over a roughly 20-year period.
Nassar's accusers include 2000 Olympian Jamie Dantzscher.
"He would put his fingers inside of me, move my leg around," Dantzscher told "60 Minutes" on Sunday. "He would tell me I was going to feel a pop and that that would put my hips back and help my back pain."
In separate cases filed in 2016, Nassar is charged with possessing child pornography and molesting the daughter of family friends. During testimony last week, the now 25-year-old woman told the court her parents were friends with Nassar and the abuse happened from age 6 until age 12 during family visits to his home. She says he rubbed his genitals on her and digitally penetrated her, among other things.
Nassar was fired by Michigan State in September after the school said he violated restrictions that were put on his treatments, following a 2014 complaint. Since then, he has been the target of civil lawsuits, along with Michigan State and USA Gymnastics, which cut ties with Nassar in 2015.
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