USA Gymnastics' doctor, Larry Nassar pleads guilty to 'sexually penetrating' girls as young as 10 (Details, pics)
Larry Nassar confessed to sexually penetrating multiple young girls who were as young as 10 during a court hearing on Wednesday.
As part of his plea deal, Nassar will now face at least 25 years in prison after initially being charged with 22 counts of first-degree criminal sexual conduct.
Nassar pleaded guilty to seven counts of first-degree criminal sexual conduct in Ingham County Circuit Court on Wednesday, acknowledging that he sexually penetrated the young women and that they were not old enough to give consent.
He broke down in tears at one point, while his most famous victim voiced her rage at the man who allegedly assaulted her on Twitter.'
Court referring to Larry as DOCTOR Nassar. I AM DISGUSTED. I am very disappointed,' wrote Ali Raisman.'
He does NOT deserve that. Larry is disgusting. Larry is a MONSTER not a doctor.'
Nassar said he hoped his plea would help 'to move the community forward and stop the hurting' before adding: 'I pray the rosary every day for forgiveness'
In his statement he also said: 'I want them to heal. I want this community to heal. I have no animosity toward anyone. I just want healing. It's time.'
Raisman is one of three members of the 2010 London Olympics team who has made claims against Nassar, with Gabby Douglas and McKayla Maroney also coming forward with allegations.
The victims of these offenses will now be allowed to speak at Nassar's sentencing hearing on January 12, which could put him behind bars for life based on the judge's decision.
That means that over 125 women could be addressing the predator in court.
It is not known if Douglas, Raisman of Maroney will be among them however, as it will only be those who reported incidents to Michigan State University that will be allowed to address the court.
Nassar was forced to verbally confess to each offense in court, and agreed to wearing a monitoring device and have his electronic activity monitored for life as port of the plea.
At the end of the hearing, the presiding judge had a few words for Nassar.'
You used that position of trust that you had in the most vile way -- to abuse children,' said Ingham County Judge Rosemarie Aquilina.
'I agree that now is a time of healing, but it might take them a lifetime of healing while you spend your lifetime behind bars thinking about what you did in taking away their childhood.'
Nassar is also awaiting federal sentencing after he was found in possession of pornography and is facing additional charges in another Michigan county.
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