Larry Nassar, the former Michigan State University and USA Gymnastics physician convicted of sexually abusing girls and women over a period of decades while claiming to provide medical treatment, has been removed from Michigan’s sex offender registry thanks to a legal technicality.
Thousands of other offenders were also taken off that list after a court ruling involving how the state’s registration law can be applied.
On ۹ September, the Michigan supreme court ruled that the state’s sex offender registration act (Sora) cannot be applied retroactively to cases involving offenses committed before the law’s relevant date. Michigan’s state police, as a result, removed more than ۲۰,۰۰۰ people whose offenses occurred before ۱ July ۲۰۱۱ from the agency’s online sex offender database.
Nassar, ۶۳, was among those removed. The Eaton county prosecuting attorney’s office – which was among the agencies to prosecute him – confirmed Nassar’s absence from the registry by sharing a screenshot showing a search for his name returning zero results.
“The Michigan supreme court’s decision to eliminate Sora requirements for these offenders is deeply concerning,” the attorney’s office said in a statement. “Our community, along with the victims of these crimes, expected the registry to provide a measure of protection and awareness – assurances that have now been removed by the court’s ruling.”
In another post, the prosecutor’s office said that although officials “disagree with the court and have concern about the potential risk created by the decision”, the office is “bound to respect and follow the ruling”.
Michigan lawmakers do not have the authority to reverse the state supreme court’s decision. However, the legislature could pass new legislation that would place the affected offenders back in the database.
Nassar was sentenced in ۲۰۱۸ to as many as ۱۷۵ years in state and federal prison after being convicted of sexually abusing women and girls for decades while working at Michigan State University and serving as a doctor for Team USA Gymnastics.
As of Friday, Nassar’s projected earliest release date for his federal prison sentence was in ۲۰۶۸, when he would be ۱۰۴.
More than ۱۵۰ women and girls have accused Nassar of assault. His accusers include Olympic gold medal-winning gymnasts Aly Raisman, Simone Biles, McKayla Maroney and Gabby Douglas.
Nassar pleaded guilty in November ۲۰۱۷ to multiple counts of first-degree criminal sexual conduct. He survived being stabbed multiple times in July ۲۰۲۳ while imprisoned.
During his sentencing hearing, his accusers delivered impact statements describing the shame and trauma they said they experienced because of Nassar.
-
Information and support for anyone affected by rape or sexual abuse issues is available from the following organizations. In the US, Rainn offers support on ۸۰۰-۶۵۶-۴۶۷۳. In the UK, Rape Crisis offers support on ۰۸۰۸ ۵۰۰ ۲۲۲۲. In Australia, support is available at ۱۸۰۰Respect (۱۸۰۰ ۷۳۷ ۷۳۲). Other international helplines can be found at ibiblio.org/rcip/internl.html
