Posted on 01/24/2018 12:21:39 PM PST by Kaslin
USA Gymnastics doctor Larry Nassar has been sentenced to 175 years in prison at Ingham County Circuit Court in Lansing, Michigan.
"I've just signed your death warrant," Judge Rosemarie Aquilina said Wednesday, adding that she doesn't believe rehabilitation is possible.
Over the past seven days, over 150 victims explained how Nassar had taken advantage of them sexually, some of whom were Olympians. Before the sentencing hearings, Olympic gymnasts Aly Raisman, Gabrielle Douglas, Simone Biles, and McKayla Maroney all released statements explaining how Nassar had abused them. Another Olympian gymnast, Jordyn Wieber, joined Raisman as they shared their testimonies in court.
Raisman took the U.S. Olympic Committee to task too. Why didn't they do more to put Nassar behind bars? They are "shamelessly taking credit" for resignations and not accepting accountability, she charged.
"We believe you and always have," Michigan assistant attorney general Angela Povilaitis told the victims shortly before the sentencing. "You are our heroes."
Aquilina asked Nassar what he had to say prior to sentencing.
"Your words have had a significant emotional effect on myself and have shaken me to my core," Nassar said, looking directly at his victims in the court.
"There are no words to express how sorry I am," he added. "I will carry your words with me for the rest of my days."
"Are you broken because you got caught?" Aquilina wondered. She "hoped" that was not the case.
Yet, Aquilina continued to read letters Nassar had written that suggested he was anything but remorseful. What he did was "medical, not sexual," he had written. As Aquilina read his words, the courtroom grimaced.
Audible gasps in the courtroom as Judge Aquilina reads a letter from #Nassar in which he says, "Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned” and accusers are "seeking media attention & financial reward." pic.twitter.com/5mn7Ts1jGJ— Carol Costello (@CarolHLN) January 24, 2018
"I wouldn't send my dogs to you, sir," the judge concluded.
“Watch out for your cornhole, Bud.”
I agree with the judge and glad he was caught but perhaps the judge's comments would open the venue for appeal?
Does he get time off for good behavior?
” perhaps the judge’s comments would open the venue for appeal? “
Yep... She stepped over the line.
He’ll be up for parole in 87 years...
Wow, he abused 150 girls? With such high numbers of victims, clearly a serial abuser, who should never see the light of day.
He going to be getting a different form of a pelvic massage from his new cellies.
Agreed. A pox on both their houses.
Not enough!
This judge is posturing too much. Just give your damn opinion without editorial and personal feelings. Judges are supposed to be impartial, unemotional, and not vindictive. I have a feeling she may have created an opening for claim of bias if this guy appeals his sentence.
The sentencing phase was on Fox when I turned on the TV after work-I’m glad the serial sexual predator got what he deserved, but I thought the judge going on, and on, and ON was totally bizarre-she said it isn’t about me several times, but it appeared that was exactly who she wanted it to be about-she was not about to move away from those cameras until she’d had her 15 minutes-which turned into about 30 minutes. She used that high-profile case to wring every drop she could from it...
“Say hello to your new best friend, Mr. Ben Dover.”
It also opens up the chance for other appeals in similar cases she presided over.
If I were a defense attorney, I think I’d look at that judge’s self-righteous, scolding harangue as a gift...
150 victims. And 1 is way too many.
The judge’s sentence spoke for itself.
Everything after that was posturing—she is unfit for the bench.
You know, the only thing I see disgusting on this thread are the self righteous blowhards who have never had to hold a small child after they’ve been abused… and see the look of fear in their eyes… and to know that that child’s life has been changed forever because of some sick son of a bitch!
The judge (who had the microphone) in a nationally seen, hi profile case of a horrendous child abuser… did exactly what any person who has been anywhere near child abuse would want her to do.
I feel sorry for the posters on this thread to think otherwise.
This is going to be repealed and the sentence thrown out and a new trial or something.
Yep, the judge was totally out of line and this sentence will be appealed and possibly thrown out - mores the shame that those girls will/might have to go through this all over again. The judge should just should have passed sentence without comment.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.